Temperature-dependent development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrolophus pygmaeus</Emphasis> and its applicability to biological control

A linear model and three nonlinear models (Logan type III, Lactin and Brière) were applied to Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) at constant temperatures and validated under diel temperature variation, and field conditions. Complete development from egg to adult, with >80% survivorship, occurred at nine constant temperatures between 15 and 32 °C. Total developmental time decreased from a maximum at 15 °C (68.48 days) to a minimum at 30 °C (18.69 days) and then increased at 32 °C (23.44 days). Optimal survival and the highest developmental rate occurred within the range of 27–30 °C. The adjusted determination coefficients were high for linear and nonlinear models (>0.89). Field validation showed high levels of accuracy in all models (≥93.4%). These valid mathematical models contribute to optimal application, field management, and mass rearing of M. pygmaeus for its applicability to biological control.     

Vitamin D,parathyroid hormone and metabolic syndrome – the PORMETS study

Background

Vitamin D (VitD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) play important roles in calcium metabolism and skeletal homeostasis. Estimates of the VitD status in several European countries show large variations between them. In addition, no national population-based estimate has been published. VitD and PTH may also play important roles in cardiovascular risk, which has been suggested to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and is very prevalent in Portugal.The goal of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and its determinants as well as PTH serum level determinants and associations of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D and PTH serum levels with MetS and its individual components in a sample of the Portuguese mainland population.

Methods

PORMETS is a national cross-sectional study that includes a total sample of 4095 adults. A subsample, including 500 participants, was randomly selected for the present study. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on personal medical histories and socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics. Blood pressure and anthropometrics measurements were performed. Fasting venous samples were collected and PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured. VitD adequacy was classified according to the Institute of Medicine, and MetS was classified according to the Joint Interim Statement recommendations. Multiple linear regression and unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between the levels of PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D and with MetS and its individual components.

Results

The prevalence of VitD deficiency was 37.7%, and MetS was present in 191 participants (38.4%). The serum PTH levels showed a positive association (OR: 1.014; 95%CI: 1.002, 1.026) with the waist circumference component of MetS. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were negatively associated with MetS (OR: 0.957; 95%CI: 0.922, 0.993) as well as with its blood pressure (OR: 0.949; 95%CI: 0.912, 0.987) and triglycerides (OR: 0.930; 95%CI: 0.892, 0.969) components.

Conclusion

This study showed a high national prevalence of hypovitaminosis D. The PTH levels showed a significant positive association with the WC component of MetS, and the VitD levels were negatively associated with the BP and triglycerides components as well as with the MetS.

     

Nomenclator botanicus for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acisanthera</Emphasis> (Melastomataceae: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marcetia</Emphasis> alliance)

Acisanthera is a genus of annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs that inhabit seasonal environments of the Neotropics. It is divided into four sections which include 22 accepted species and 17 varieties. Here, the nomenclatural history of the genus is reviewed since a species name was not assigned to the genus when it was first described. The collection of Patrick Browne later received three replacement names, which has generated different interpretations. The type collection and currently accepted names for all taxa of Acisanthera are provided.     

DNA replication stress: from molecular mechanisms to human disease

The genome of proliferating cells must be precisely duplicated in each cell division cycle. Chromosomal replication entails risks such as the possibility of introducing breaks and/or mutations in the genome. Hence, DNA replication requires the coordinated action of multiple proteins and regulatory factors, whose deregulation causes severe developmental diseases and predisposes to cancer. In recent years, the concept of “replicative stress” (RS) has attracted much attention as it impinges directly on genomic stability and offers a promising new avenue to design anticancer therapies. In this review, we summarize recent progress in three areas: (1) endogenous and exogenous factors that contribute to RS, (2) molecular mechanisms that mediate the cellular responses to RS, and (3) the large list of diseases that are directly or indirectly linked to RS.     

Identification of four novel DC-SIGN ligands on Mycobacterium bovis BCG

Dendritic-cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN; CD209) has an important role in mediating adherence of Mycobacteria species, including M. tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG to human dendritic cells and macrophages, in which these bacteria can survive intracellularly. DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin, and interactions with mycobacterial cells are believed to occur via mannosylated structures on the mycobacterial surface. Recent studies suggest more varied modes of binding to multiple mycobacterial ligands. Here we identify, by affinity chromatography and mass-spectrometry, four novel ligands of M. bovis BCG that bind to DC-SIGN. The novel ligands are chaperone protein DnaK, 60 kDa chaperonin-1 (Cpn60.1), glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and lipoprotein lprG. Other published work strongly suggests that these are on the cell surface. Of these ligands, lprG appears to bind DC-SIGN via typical protein-glycan interactions, but DnaK and Cpn60.1 binding do not show evidence of carbohydrate-dependent interactions. LprG was also identified as a ligand for DC-SIGNR (L-SIGN; CD299) and the M. tuberculosis orthologue of lprG has been found previously to interact with human toll-like receptor 2. Collectively, these findings offer new targets for combating mycobacterial adhesion and within-host survival, and reinforce the role of DC-SIGN as an important host ligand in mycobacterial infection.     

Reaction mechanism of azoreductases suggests convergent evolution with quinone oxidoreductases

Azoreductases are involved in the bioremediation by bacteria of azo dyes found in waste water. In the gut flora, they activate azo pro-drugs, which are used for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, releasing the active component 5-aminosalycilic acid. The bacterium P. aeruginosa has three azoreductase genes, paAzoR1, paAzoR2 and paAzoR3, which as recombinant enzymes have been shown to have different substrate specificities. The mechanism of azoreduction relies upon tautomerisation of the substrate to the hydrazone form. We report here the characterization of the P. aeruginosa azoreductase enzymes, including determining their thermostability, cofactor preference and kinetic constants against a range of their favoured substrates. The expression levels of these enzymes during growth of P. aeruginosa are altered by the presence of azo substrates. It is shown that enzymes that were originally described as azoreductases, are likely to act as NADH quinone oxidoreductases. The low sequence identities observed among NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase and azoreductase enzymes suggests convergent evolution.     

Structural basis of NF-κB signaling by the p75 neurotrophin receptor interaction with adaptor protein TRADD through their respective death domains

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR) is a critical mediator of neuronal death and tissue remodeling and has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The death domain (DD) of p75^NTR is an intracellular signaling hub and has been shown to interact with diverse adaptor proteins. In breast cancer cells, binding of the adaptor protein TRADD to p75^NTR depends on nerve growth factor and promotes cell survival. However, the structural mechanism and functional significance of TRADD recruitment in neuronal p75^NTR signaling remain poorly understood. Here we report an NMR structure of the p75^NTR-DD and TRADD-DD complex and reveal the mechanism of specific recognition of the TRADD-DD by the p75^NTR-DD mainly through electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, we identified spatiotemporal overlap of p75^NTR and TRADD expression in developing cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) at early postnatal stages and discover the physiological relevance of the interaction between TRADD and p75^NTR in the regulation of canonical NF-κB signaling and cell survival in CGNs. Our results provide a new structural framework for understanding how the recruitment of TRADD to p75^NTR through DD interactions creates a membrane-proximal platform, which can be efficiently regulated by various neurotrophic factors through extracellular domains of p75^NTR, to propagate downstream signaling in developing neurons.     

Conservation implications of genetic structure in the narrowest endemic quillwort from the Eastern Amazon

The quillwort Isoëtes cangae is a critically endangered species occurring in a single lake in Serra dos Carajás, Eastern Amazon. Low genetic diversity and small effective population sizes (N _e) are expected for narrow endemic species (NES). Conservation biology studies centered in a single species show some limitations, but they are still useful considering the limited time and resources available for protection of species at risk of extinction. Here, we evaluated the genetic diversity, population structure, N _e, and minimum viable population (MVP) of I. cangae to provide information for effective conservation programs. Our analyses were based on 55 individuals collected from the Amendoim Lake and 35,638 neutral SNPs. Our results indicated a single panmictic population, moderate levels of genetic diversity, and N _e in the order of thousands, contrasting the expected for NES. Negative F_IS values were also found, suggesting that I. cangae is not under risk of inbreeding depression. Our findings imply that I. cangae contains enough genetic diversity to ensure evolutionary potential and that all individuals should be treated as one demographic unit. These results provide essential information to optimize ex situ conservation efforts and genetic diversity monitoring, which are currently applied to guide I. cangae conservation plans.     

Biogenic methane contributes to the food web of a large,shallow lake

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