Autumnal emergence of Anagrus wasps,egg parasitoids of Empoasca vitis,from grapevine leaves and their migration towards brambles

• 1 The Anagrus‘atomus’ parasitoid group (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), associated with Empoasca vitis (Göthe) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), overwinters on vegetation surrounding vineyards. The emergence of parasitoid adults from grapevine leaves in autumn was studied in north‐eastern Italy, both in relation to the E. vitis egg‐laying period and to the presence of leafhoppers overwintering as eggs on Rubus bushes.
• 2 Autumnal peaks of Anagrus captured using yellow sticky traps were observed first on grapevines and then on brambles. Parasitoid captures in vineyards were observed for more than 1 month after the last first‐instar nymphs of the grape leafhoppers were noticed. Two species belonging to the A. ‘atomus’ group, Anagrus atomus and Anagrus ustulatus, were captured both on grapevines and brambles.
• 3 Parasitoids of the A.‘atomus’ group can emerge from third‐generation grape leafhopper eggs in accordance with two different development time patterns (i.e. normal or delayed). Individuals with delayed emergence required up to 2.2‐fold more time to develop from an egg to adult than individuals with normal emergence. This meant that some parasitoid adults emerged in autumn from eggs of grape leafhopper laid in August.
• 4 A delayed emergence as a result of a slower development ensures that the A.‘atomus’ parasitoid group is synchronized with the egg‐laying of leafhoppers that overwinter as eggs on Rubus spp.
• 5 Consequently, leafhoppers overwintering as eggs on brambles play a key role in the ecology of the relationship between grape leafhoppers and the A.‘atomus’ parasitoid group.

     

Synonymous mutations in the core gene are linked to unusual serological profile in hepatitis C virus infection

The biological role of the protein encoded by the alternative open reading frame (core+1/ARF) of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome remains elusive, as does the significance of the production of corresponding antibodies in HCV infection. We investigated the prevalence of anti-core and anti-core+1/ARFP antibodies in HCV-positive blood donors from Cambodia, using peptide and recombinant protein-based ELISAs. We detected unusual serological profiles in 3 out of 58 HCV positive plasma of genotype 1a. These patients were negative for anti-core antibodies by commercial and peptide-based assays using C-terminal fragments of core but reacted by Western Blot with full-length core protein. All three patients had high levels of anti-core+1/ARFP antibodies. Cloning of the cDNA that corresponds to the core-coding region from these sera resulted in the expression of both core and core+1/ARFP in mammalian cells. The core protein exhibited high amino-acid homology with a consensus HCV1a sequence. However, 10 identical synonymous mutations were found, and 7 were located in the aa(99-124) region of core. All mutations concerned the third base of a codon, and 5/10 represented a T>C mutation. Prediction analyses of the RNA secondary structure revealed conformational changes within the stem-loop region that contains the core+1/ARFP internal AUG initiator at position 85/87. Using the luciferase tagging approach, we showed that core+1/ARFP expression is more efficient from such a sequence than from the prototype HCV1a RNA. We provide additional evidence of the existence of core+1/ARFP in vivo and new data concerning expression of HCV core protein. We show that HCV patients who do not produce normal anti-core antibodies have unusually high levels of anti-core+1/ARFP and harbour several identical synonymous mutations in the core and core+1/ARFP coding region that result in major changes in predicted RNA structure. Such HCV variants may favour core+1/ARFP production during HCV infection.     

Attitudinal and demographic predictors of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) uptake during the UK catch-up campaign 2008-09: cross-sectional survey

Background and Objective

Continued suboptimal measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake has re-established measles epidemic risk, prompting a UK catch-up campaign in 2008–09 for children who missed MMR doses at scheduled age. Predictors of vaccine uptake during catch-ups are poorly understood, however evidence from routine schedule uptake suggests demographics and attitudes may be central. This work explored this hypothesis using a robust evidence-based measure.

Design

Cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire with objective behavioural outcome.

Setting and Participants

365 UK parents, whose children were aged 5–18 years and had received <2 MMR doses before the 2008–09 UK catch-up started.

Main Outcome Measures

Parents'' attitudes and demographics, parent-reported receipt of invitation to receive catch-up MMR dose(s), and catch-up MMR uptake according to child''s medical record (receipt of MMR doses during year 1 of the catch-up).

Results

Perceived social desirability/benefit of MMR uptake (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.09–2.87) and younger child age (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68–0.89) were the only independent predictors of catch-up MMR uptake in the sample overall. Uptake predictors differed by whether the child had received 0 MMR doses or 1 MMR dose before the catch-up. Receipt of catch-up invitation predicted uptake only in the 0 dose group (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.18–10.05), whilst perceived social desirability/benefit of MMR uptake predicted uptake only in the 1 dose group (OR = 9.61, 95% CI = 2.57–35.97). Attitudes and demographics explained only 28% of MMR uptake in the 0 dose group compared with 61% in the 1 dose group.

Conclusions

Catch-up MMR invitations may effectively move children from 0 to 1 MMR doses (unimmunised to partially immunised), whilst attitudinal interventions highlighting social benefits of MMR may effectively move children from 1 to 2 MMR doses (partially to fully immunised). Older children may be best targeted through school-based programmes. A formal evaluation element should be incorporated into future catch-up campaigns to inform their continuing improvement.     

A cluster-randomised trial of staff education to improve the quality of life of people with dementia living in residential care: the DIRECT study

Background

The Dementia In Residential care: EduCation intervention Trial (DIRECT) was conducted to determine if delivery of education designed to meet the perceived need of GPs and care staff improves the quality of life of participants with dementia living in residential care.

Methodology/Principal Findings

This cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted in 39 residential aged care facilities in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. 351 care facility residents aged 65 years and older with Mini-Mental State Examination ≤24, their GPs and facility staff participated. Flexible education designed to meet the perceived needs of learners was delivered to GPs and care facility staff in intervention groups. The primary outcome of the study was self-rated quality of life of participants with dementia, measured using the QOL-Alzheimer''s Disease Scale (QOL-AD) at 4 weeks and 6 months after the conclusion of the intervention. Analysis accounted for the effect of clustering by using multi-level regression analysis. Education of GPs or care facility staff did not affect the primary outcome at either 4 weeks or 6 months. In a post hoc analysis excluding facilities in which fewer than 50% of staff attended an education session, self-rated QOL-AD scores were 6.14 points (adjusted 95%CI 1.14, 11.15) higher at four-week follow-up among residents in facilities randomly assigned to the education intervention.

Conclusion

The education intervention directed at care facilities or GPs did not improve the quality of life ratings of participants with dementia as a group. This may be explained by the poor adherence to the intervention programme, as participants with dementia living in facilities where staff participated at least minimally seemed to benefit.

Trial Registration

ANZCTR.org.au ACTRN12607000417482     

Effects of hyperthyroidism on delayed rectifier K+ currents in left and right murine atria

Hyperthyroidism has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, hyperthyroidism-induced ion channel changes that may predispose to AF have not been fully elucidated. To understand the electrophysiological changes that occur in left and right atria with hyperthyroidism, the patch-clamp technique was used to compare action potential duration (APD) and whole cell currents in myocytes from left and right atria from both control and hyperthyroid mice. Additionally, RNase protection assays and immunoblotting were performed to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression levels of K(+) channel alpha-subunits in left and right atria. The results showed that 1) in control mice, the APD was shorter and the ultra-rapid delayed rectifier K(+) conductance (I(Kur)) and the sustained delayed rectifier K(+) conductance (I(ss)) were larger in the left than in the right atrium; also, mRNA and protein expression levels of Kv1.5 and Kv2.1 were higher in the left atrium; 2) in hyperthyroid mice, the APD was shortened and I(Kur) and I(ss) were increased in both left and right atrial myocytes, and the protein expression levels of Kv1.5 and Kv2.1 were increased significantly in both atria; and 3) the influence of hyperthyroidism on APD and delayed rectifier K(+) currents was more prominent in right than in left atrium, which minimized the interatrial APD difference. In conclusion, hyperthyroidism resulted in more significant APD shortening and greater delayed rectifier K(+) current increases in the right vs. the left atrium, which can contribute to the propensity for atrial arrhythmia in hyperthyroid heart.     

International Union of Physiological Sciences teaching workshop, April 7-10, 2005, Pali Mountain, California

Fifty-six physiologists from fourteen countries participated in the sixth International Union of Physiological Sciences Teaching Workshop. The four-day program included a poster session, a debate on integrative versus disciplinary curricula, and interactive lectures on evidence-based education, inquiry laboratories, and student preparation for physiology courses. Participants worked in small groups on one of four topics: developing free web-based laboratory resources, information technology, curriculum planning and design, and other issues in classroom teaching.     

Nuclear fusion occurs during mating in Candida albicans and is dependent on the KAR3 gene

It is now well established that mating can occur between diploid a and alpha cells of Candida albicans. There is, however, controversy over when, and with what efficiency, nuclear fusion follows cell fusion to create stable tetraploid a/alpha cells. In this study, we have analysed the mating process between C. albicans strains using both cytological and genetic approaches. Using strains derived from SC5314, we used a number of techniques, including time-lapse microscopy, to demonstrate that efficient nuclear fusion occurs in the zygote before formation of the first daughter cell. Consistent with these observations, zygotes micromanipulated from mating mixes gave rise to mononuclear tetraploid cells, even when no selection for successful mating was applied to them. Mating between different clinical isolates of C. albicans revealed that while all isolates could undergo nuclear fusion, the efficiency of nuclear fusion varied in different crosses. We also show that nuclear fusion in C. albicans requires the Kar3 microtubule motor protein. Deletion of the CaKAR3 gene from both mating partners had little or no effect on zygote formation but reduced the formation of stable tetraploids more than 600-fold, as determined by quantitative mating assays. These findings demonstrate that nuclear fusion is an active process that can occur in C. albicans at high frequency to produce stable, mononucleate mating products.     

Inactivation of endotoxin by human plasma gelsolin

Septic shock from bacterial endotoxin, triggered by the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules from the outer wall of Gram-negative bacteria, is a major cause of human death for which there is no effective treatment once the complex inflammatory pathways stimulated by these small amphipathic molecules are activated. Here we report that plasma gelsolin, a highly conserved human protein, binds LPS from various bacteria with high affinity. Solid-phase binding assays, fluorescence measurements, and functional assays of actin depolymerizing effects show that gelsolin binds more tightly to LPS than it does to its other known lipid ligands, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and lysophosphatidic acid. Gelsolin also competes with LPS-binding protein (LBP), a high-affinity carrier for LPS. One result of gelsolin-LPS binding is inhibition of the actin binding activity of gelsolin as well as the actin depolymerizing activity of blood serum. Simultaneously, effects of LPS on cellular functions, including cytoskeletal actin remodeling, and collagen-induced platelet activation by pathways independent of toll-like receptors (TLRs) are neutralized by gelsolin and by a peptide based on gelsolin residues 160-169 (GSN160-169) which comprise part of gelsolin's phosphoinositide binding site. Additionally, TLR-dependent NF-kappaB translocation in astrocytes appears to be blocked by gelsolin. These results show a strong effect of LPS on plasma gelsolin function and suggest that some effects of endotoxin in vivo may be mediated or inhibited by plasma gelsolin.