Emilin1 links TGF-beta maturation to blood pressure homeostasis

TGF-beta proteins are main regulators of blood vessel development and maintenance. Here, we report an unprecedented link between TGF-beta signaling and arterial hypertension based on the analysis of mice mutant for Emilin1, a cysteine-rich secreted glycoprotein expressed in the vascular tree. Emilin1 knockout animals display increased blood pressure, increased peripheral vascular resistance, and reduced vessel size. Mechanistically, we found that Emilin1 inhibits TGF-beta signaling by binding specifically to the proTGF-beta precursor and preventing its maturation by furin convertases in the extracellular space. In support of these findings, genetic inactivation of Emilin1 causes increased TGF-beta signaling in the vascular wall. Strikingly, high blood pressure observed in Emilin1 mutants is rescued to normal levels upon inactivation of a single TGF-beta1 allele. This study highlights the importance of modulation of TGF-beta availability in the pathogenesis of hypertension.     

Inhibition of species of the Aspergillus section Nigri and ochratoxin a production in grapes by fusapyrone

Fusapyrone (FP), an antifungal natural compound, was tested against the three main ochratoxigenic species of the Aspergillus section Nigri. The MICs at 24 h were 6.0, 11.6, and 9.9 mug/ml for Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus tubingensis, and Aspergillus niger, respectively. Strong inhibition of growth and morphological changes were still observed at half the MIC after 7 days. The application of a 100 mug/ml FP solution in a laboratory assay on artificially inoculated grapes resulted in a significant reduction (up to 6 orders of magnitude) of A. carbonarius CFU counts. Dramatic reductions of the ochratoxin A (OTA) content, compared to the content of the positive control (average amount of OTA, 112.5 ng/g of grape; three experiments), were obtained with the application of either 100 or 50 mug/ml of FP (0.6 or 5.1 ng/g of grape, respectively).     

The value of abandoned olive groves for blackcaps (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sylvia atricapilla</Emphasis>) in a Mediterranean agroecosystem: a year-round telemetry study

The European Common Agricultural Policy has promoted the intensification of productive olive orchards and the abandonment of the unproductive ones. This strategy has resulted in a significant loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functionality of this type of agroecosystem. Here, we studied the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, a common frugivorous bird species, in an olive-dominated agroecosystem of southern Spain to assess the effects of the abandonment of olive groves and undergrowth structure on habitat selection in this species. By means of radiotelemetry, we determined habitat selection of blackcaps during both the breeding (N = 30) and the non-breeding (N = 27) seasons of 2011 and 2012. We found that outside the breeding season, olive groves were widely used by blackcaps, which invariably preferred abandoned olive groves over intensively managed ones. Additionally, deciduous woods and poplar plantation were positively selected, whereas open habitats and Pinus forests were avoided. Generally, woody habitats without undergrowth or with herbaceous undergrowth were avoided. During the breeding season, the species selected mainly riverine habitats and poplar plantations, favoring habitats with well-developed undergrowth. Our results suggest that the blackcap could benefit from maintaining patches of abandoned olive groves freely left to natural succession within intensive olive groves. In such a landscape, ecological services (i.e., seed dispersal provided by frugivorous birds) and functioning could also improve as a consequence of these measures.     

Rainfall,but not temperature,negatively affects the growth of Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus nestlings

Capsule: Growth trajectories of Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus nestlings differed between sexes and were negatively affected by rain but not by temperature during the linear growth phase (LGP).

Aims: To model the growth trajectories of Blue Tit nestlings and to identify the main ecological factors affecting them.

Methods: Sixty-five nestling Blue Tits from a population in northern Italy were weighed at regular intervals and sexed using molecular genetic techniques. The LGP period was identified and analysed to test for the influence of age, sex, hatching date, brood size, temperature and rainfall on individual daily growth rates during the LGP.

Results: Growth curves showed no pre-fledging mass loss. Body mass differed between the sexes, with males being 5% heavier than females at the pre-fledging stage. Daily growth rates during the LGP were higher for males and on non-rainy days, while they were not affected by other factors.

Conclusion: The higher daily growth rate observed in males during the LGP may determine the extent of sexual size dimorphism at the pre-fledging stage. Susceptibility of growth trajectories to environmental conditions was limited to rainfall and was similar in the two sexes. This contrasts with findings from previous studies, which found sex-biased environmental sensitivity of Blue Tit nestlings.     

Preferring thin people does not imply derogating fat people. A rasch analysis of the implicit weight attitude

Objective:

The meaning of the implicit weight attitude in individuals of different weight by distinguishing the contribution of positive and negative associations to the overall measure was investigated.

Design and Methods:

The implicit weight attitude was assessed using the Implicit Association Test. A Rasch model was used to identify which stimuli most affected the implicit measure. Explicit attitudes were assessed with a thin‐fat preference scale, and thermometer scales for both thin and fat people. The sample consists of 510 individuals categorized according to their BMI.

Results and Conclusion:

A significant implicit preference for thin relative to fat people was observed in all weight groups. In normal weight and obese individuals, the preference was mostly affected by positive stimuli (more easily associated with thin than with fat people). In underweight individuals, the preference was mostly guided by positive (more easily associated with thin than with fat people) and negative (more easily associated with fat than with thin people) stimuli. In overweight individuals, all stimuli contributed to the preference in a similar way. In all weight groups, the implicit weight attitude correlated with the explicit preference and/or the thin thermometer, whereas it never correlated with the fat thermometer. A pro‐thin bias was observed in normal weight and obese individuals, whereas both a pro‐thin and an anti‐fat bias were observed in underweight individuals. A clear preference for thin people relative to fat people was observed in overweight individuals. Therefore, uncritically interpreting the implicit preference for thin people as a sign of derogating fat people might be misleading.     

A novel type of highly negatively charged lipooligosaccharide from Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1 possessing two 4,6-O-(1-carboxy)-ethylidene residues in the outer core region.

Pseudomonas stutzeri OXI is a Gram-negative microorganism able to grow in media containing aromatic hydrocarbons. A novel lipo-oligosaccharide from P. stutzeri OX1 was isolated and characterized. For the first time, the presence of two moieties of 4,6-O-(1-carboxy)-ethylidene residues (pyruvic acid) was identified in a core region; these two residues were found to possess different absolute configuration. The structure of the oligosaccharide backbone was determined using either alkaline or acid hydrolysis. Alkaline treatment, aimed at recovering the complete carbohydrate backbone, was carried out by mild hydrazinolysis (de-O-acylation) followed by de-N-acylation using hot KOH. The lipo-oligosaccharide was also analyzed after acid treatment, attained by mild hydrolysis with acetic acid, to obtain information on the nature of the phosphate and acyl groups. The two resulting oligosaccharides were isolated by gel permeation chromatography, and investigated by compositional and methylation analyses, by MALDI mass spectrometry, and by 1H-, 31P- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. These experiments led to the identification of the major oligosaccharide structure representative of core region-lipid A. All sugars are D-pyranoses and alpha-linked, if not stated otherwise. Based on the structure found, the hypothesis can be advanced that pyruvate residues are used to block elongation of the oligosaccharide chain. This would lead to a less hydrophilic cellular surface, indicating an adaptive response of P. sutzeri OX1 to a hydrocarbon-containing environment.     

Structural determination of the O-chain polysaccharide from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, strain DSM 30205.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a Gram-negative, phytopathogenic bacterium and is characterized by an unique mode of action on dicotyledonous plants: it is able to genetically modify the host, and because of this feature, it is used as a tool for transgenic plants. Many experiments have demonstrated that lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) play an important role for the disease development, as they are involved in the adhesion process of the bacterium on the plant cell wall. Despite the wealth of information on the role of LPS on phytopathogenesis, the present paper appears as the first report on the molecular primary structure of the O-chain produced from Agrobacterium. Its repeating unit was determined by means of chemical and spectroscopical analysis, and has the following structure: (3)-alpha-D-Araf-(1-->3)-alpha-l-Fucp-(1-->.     

The linkage between O-specific caryan and core region in the lipopolysaccharide of Burkholderia caryophylli is furnished by a primer monosaccharide

From the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fraction of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia caryophylli, the linkage between O-specific caryan and core region was characterised. The LPS fraction was first treated with 48% aqueous HF at 4 degrees C and successively with 1% acetic acid at 100 degrees C. A main oligosaccharide representing the carbohydrate backbone of the core region and a portion of the caryan (three unit of caryose) was isolated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. Compositional and methylation analyses, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry and 2D NMR spectroscopy identified the structure: [carbohydrate structure: see text]. The above residues are alpha-linked pyranose rings, if not stated otherwise. Hep is L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, Car is 4,8-cyclo-3,9-dideoxy-L-erythro-D-ido-nonose and Kdo is 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid. This finding indicates that QuiNAc residue is the primer monosaccharide, which connects the core oligosaccharide to caryan O-chain.