Reconstructing marine plankton food web interactions using DNA metabarcoding

Knowledge of zooplankton in situ diet is critical for accurate assessment of marine ecosystem function and structure, but due to methodological constraints, there is still a limited understanding of ecological networks in marine ecosystems. Here, we used DNA‐metabarcoding to study trophic interactions, with the aim to unveil the natural diet of zooplankton species under temporal variation of food resources. Several target consumers, including copepods and cladocerans, were investigated by sequencing 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes to identify prokaryote and eukaryote potential prey present in their guts. During the spring phytoplankton bloom, we found a dominance of diatom and dinoflagellate trophic links to copepods. During the summer period, zooplankton including cladocerans showed a more diverse diet dominated by cyanobacteria and heterotrophic prey. Our study suggests that copepods present trophic plasticity, changing their natural diet over seasons, and adapting their feeding strategies to the available prey spectrum, with some species being more selective. We did not find a large overlap of prey consumed by copepods and cladocerans, based on prey diversity found in their guts, suggesting that they occupy different roles in the trophic web. This study represents the first molecular approach to investigate several zooplankton–prey associations under seasonal variation, and highlights how, unlike other techniques, the diversity coverage is high when using DNA, allowing the possibility to detect a wide range of trophic interactions in plankton communities.     

Effect of medium composition,genotype and age of explant on the regeneration of hexaploid plants from endosperm culture of tetraploid kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta)

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Endosperm, an ephemeral and storage tissue, serves as a source of nutrition and protection during embryo development and germination. It can be used...     

Biodiversity of yeasts isolated during spontaneous fermentation of cool climate grape musts

Archives of Microbiology - Biodiversity of native yeasts, especially in winemaking, has hidden potential. In order to use the value of non-Saccharomyces strains in wine production and to minimise...     

Effects of genetically modified human skin fibroblasts,stably overexpressing hepatocyte growth factor,on hepatic functions of cocultured C3A cells

Diseases leading to terminal hepatic failure are among the most common causes of death worldwide. Transplant of the whole organ is the only effective method to cure liver failure. Unfortunately, this treatment option is not available universally due to the serious shortage of donors. Thus, alternative methods have been developed that are aimed at prolonging the life of patients, including hepatic cells transplantation and bridging therapy based on hybrid bioartificial liver devices. Parenchymal liver cells are highly differentiated and perform many complex functions, such as detoxification and protein synthesis. Unfortunately, isolated hepatocytes display a rapid decline in viability and liver‐specific functions. A number of methods have been developed to maintain hepatocytes in their highly differentiated state in vitro, amongst them the most promising being 3D growth scaffolds and decellularized tissues or coculture with other cell types required for the heterotypic cell‐cell interactions. Here we present a novel approach to the hepatic cells culture based on the feeder layer cells genetically modified using lentiviral vector to stably produce additional amounts of hepatocyte growth factor and show the positive influence of these coculture conditions on the preservation of the hepatic functions of the liver parenchymal cells' model—C3A cells.     

Microsatellite Analysis of Genetic Population Structure of Zebu Cattle (Bos indicus) Breeds from North-Western Region of India

The present study aims to understand the existing genetic diversity and structure of six native cattle breeds (Rathi, Tharparkar, Nagori, Mewati, Gir, and Kankrej) adapted to the north-western arid and semi-arid region of India based on microsatellite loci. Various diversity estimates, mean number of alleles (12.84); effective number of alleles (5.02); gene diversity (0.769), and observed heterozygosity (0.667) reflected the existence of substantial within-breed diversity in all the investigated cattle breeds. Mean estimates of F-statistics: F_IT = 0.144 ± 0.023, F_IS = 0.071 ± 0.021, and F_ST = 0.078 ± 0.014 were significantly different from zero (P < 0.05). The interbreed relationships indicated moderate level of breed differentiation between the six cattle breeds with least differentiation between Kankrej-Mewati pair. The phylogeny structuring further supported close grouping of Kankrej and Mewati breeds. Correspondence analysis plotted Rathi, Tharparkar, and Gir individuals into three separate areas of multivariate space; whereas, Kankrej, Mewati, and Nagori cattle showed low breed specific clustering. This reflected the existence of discrete genetic structure for Tharparkar, Rathi, and Gir, the prominent dairy breeds of the region; whereas, admixture was observed for Kankrej, Mewati, and Nagori individuals.     

Design of a resilient ring for middle ear’s chamber stapes prosthesis

Abstract

This paper presents the process of designing a new elastic element replacing a membrane in the chamber stapes prosthesis (ChSP). The results of the study are volume displacement characteristics obtained for the prosthesis and physiological stapes. Simulation tests on a 3D CAD model have confirmed that a properly designed ring can stimulate perilymph with the same or greater efficacy as the physiological stapes footplate placed on the elastic annular ligament. The ChSP with a new elastic element creates a good chance of improving hearing in patients suffering from otosclerosis.     

Structural damages in adsorbed vaccines affected by freezing

This study was planned to evaluate structural damages in adsorbed vaccines affected by freezing using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray analysis of the elements. Randomly selected 42 vials of eight different types of WHO pre-qualified adsorbed freeze-sensitive vaccines from 10 manufacturers were included in the study. Vaccines were kept at 5 °C. Selected numbers of vials from each type were then exposed to ?25 °C for 24 h periods. All samples were evaluated for their structure using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray analysis of the elements and precipitation time. Scanning electron microscopy of vaccines affected by freezing showed either smooth or rough surfaced conglomerates associated with phosphate content of the precipitate. These vaccines precipitated 2–15 times faster compared to non-frozen samples. Non-frozen samples showed uniform flocculent structure either dense or dispersed. X-ray analysis of precipitates in frozen samples confirmed that the precipitate is mainly aluminium clutters. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the lattice structure of bonds between adsorbent and the antigen is broken and aluminium forms conglomerates that grow in size and weight. The precipitation time of vaccines affected by freezing is 4.5 times faster on average compared to non-frozen samples. These facts form the basis of the "shake test".     

Genetic differences in yolk testosterone levels influence maternal hormone deposition in the second laying cycle in Japanese quails

Maternally-derived yolk androgens exhibit distinct among- and within-female variations but limited data refer to inter-seasonal changes of maternal hormones in the yolk. We investigated the deposition of yolk testosterone (T) across two laying cycles in Japanese quail. To test how genetically-determined differences influence between cycle variations in yolk androgens we compared females from low (LET) and high (HET) egg T lines at the end of the first and at the beginning of the second laying cycle after an induced moult. Line differences in yolk T levels exhibited high consistency exceeding two reproductive cycles. Yolk T concentrations increased in the second laying cycle in HET but not in LET females. Plasma T levels did not differ between cycles in both lines and no line differences were found either before or after the moult indicating the presence of mechanisms limiting the increase of T concentrations in the circulation. Differences in the yolk T levels were not accompanied by changes in the egg and yolk mass. The HET quail laid eggs with heavier eggshell than the LET quail. Our results demonstrate different abilities of mothers to deposit T in their eggs over two reproductive seasons with expected consequences on the development of their progeny.