An integrative approach to unravel the Ceratitis FAR (Diptera,Tephritidae) cryptic species complex: a review

This paper reviews all information gathered from different disciplines and studies to resolve the species status within the Ceratitis FAR (Ceratitis fasciventris, Ceratitis anonae, Ceratitis rosa) complex, a group of polyphagous fruit fly pest species (Diptera, Tephritidae) from Africa. It includes information on larval and adult morphology, wing morphometrics, cuticular hydrocarbons, pheromones, microsatellites, developmental physiology and geographic distribution. The general consensus is that the FAR complex comprises Ceratitis anonae, two species within Ceratitis rosa (so-called R1 and R2) and two putatitve species under Ceratitis fasciventris. The information regarding the latter is, however, too limited to draw final conclusions on specific status. Evidence for this recognition is discussed with reference to publications providing further details.     

Single Nucleotide Variants in KIF14 Gene May Have Prognostic Value in Breast Cancer

Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy - Human kinesin 14 (KIF14) is one of the 70 prognostic marker genes (so-called Amsterdam profile) previously identified by the microarray of breast carcinomas, and...     

Novel glycan biomarkers for the detection of lung cancer

Lung cancer has a poor prognosis and a 5-year survival rate of 15%. Therefore, early detection is vital. Diagnostic testing of serum for cancer-associated biomarkers is a noninvasive detection method. Glycosylation is the most frequent post-translational modification of proteins and it has been shown to be altered in cancer. In this paper, high-throughput HILIC technology was applied to serum samples from 100 lung cancer patients, alongside 84 age-matched controls and significant alterations in N-linked glycosylation were identified. Increases were detected in glycans containing Sialyl Lewis X, monoantennary glycans, highly sialylated glycans and decreases were observed in core-fucosylated biantennary glycans, with some being detectable as early as in Stage I. The N-linked glycan profile of haptoglobin demonstrated similar alterations to those elucidated in the total serum glycome. The most significantly altered HILIC peak in lung cancer samples includes predominantly disialylated and tri- and tetra-antennary glycans. This potential disease marker is significantly increased across all disease groups compared to controls and a strong disease effect is visible even after the effect of smoking is accounted for. The combination of all glyco-biomarkers had the highest sensitivity and specificity. This study identifies candidates for further study as potential biomarkers for the disease.     

Bridging global and microregional scales: ploidy distribution in Pilosella echioides (Asteraceae) in central Europe

Background and Aims

A detailed knowledge of cytotype distribution can provide important insights into the evolutionary history of polyploid systems. This study aims to explore the spatial distribution of different cytotypes in Pilosella echioides at various spatial scales (from the whole distributional range to the population level) and to outline possible evolutionary scenarios for the observed geographic pattern.

Methods

DNA-ploidy levels were estimated using DAPI flow cytometry in 4410 individuals of P. echioides from 46 populations spread over the entire distribution range in central Europe. Special attention was paid to the cytotype structure in the most ploidy-diverse population in south-west Moravia.

Key Results

Five different cytotypes (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x and 6x) were found, the last being recorded for the first time. Although ploidy-uniform (di- or tetraploid) sites clearly prevailed, nearly one-quarter of the populations investigated harboured more (up to all five) cytotypes. Whereas penta- and hexaploids constituted only a minority of the samples, a striking predominance of the triploid cytotype was observed in several populations.

Conclusions

The representative sampling confirmed previous data on cytotype distribution, i.e. the spatial aggregation of mixed-ploidy populations in south-west Moravia and Lower Austria and the predominance of ploidy-uniform populations in other parts of the area investigated. Recurrent origin of polyploids from diploid progenitors via unreduced gametes and their successful establishment are considered the key factors promoting intrapopulational ploidy mixture (‘primary hybrid zones’). As an alternative to the generally accepted theory of cytotype co-existence based on the development of different means of inter-ploidy reproductive isolation, it is suggested that a long-term ploidy mixture can also be maintained in free-mating populations provided that the polyploids originate with a sufficient frequency. In addition, the prevalence (or subdominance) of the triploid cytotype in several mixed-ploidy populations represents the first evidence of such a phenomenon in plant systems with exclusively sexual reproduction.     

Impact of spruce forest and grass vegetation cover on soil micromorphology and hydraulic properties of organic matter horizon

Two organic matter horizons developed under a spruce forest and grass vegetation were chosen to demonstrate the impact of a different vegetation cover on the micromorphology, porous system and hydraulic properties of surface soils. Micromorphological studies showed that the decomposed organic material in the organic matter horizon under the grass vegetation was more compact compared to the decomposed organic material in the organic matter horizon under the spruce forest. The detected soil porous system in the organic matter horizon under the spruce forest consisted of two clusters of pores with different diameters that were highly connected within and between both clusters. The soil porous system in the organic matter horizon under the grass vegetation consisted of one cluster of pores with the larger diameters and isolated pores with the smaller diameter. The retention ability of the organic matter horizon under the grass vegetation was higher than the retention ability of the organic matter horizon under the spruce forest. Presented at the International Conference on Bioclimatology and Natural Hazards, Poľana nad Detvou, Slovakia, 17–20 September 2007.     

Male ornamentation and within-pair paternity are not associated with male provisioning rates in scarlet rosefinches Carpodacus erythrinus

As proposed by the ‘good parent model’ for evolution of secondary male ornamentation, secondary ornaments may signal male provisioning rates and, therefore, direct benefit to females. On the other hand, male parental care intensity can potentially be affected by the occurrence of extra-pair offspring in its nest. According to ‘parental investment theory’, males that lose paternity in their nests should reduce their parental care. In this study, we analyse potential relationships between intensity of parental care, male ornamentation, the occurrence of extra-pair paternity and male extra-pair fertilisation success in the scarlet rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus. Our results based on 50 observed nests indicate no effect of paternity loss on the rate of food provisioning to nestlings in scarlet rosefinches. Simultaneously, we found no evidence for an association between male ornamentation and male provisioning rates. The only male trait associated with provisioning was the ability to sire extra-pair offspring. Our data indicate that direct selection against female promiscuity is weak or absent in rosefinches.     

Construction of cryptogein mutants, a proteinaceous elicitor from Phytophthora, with altered abilities to induce a defense reaction in tobacco cells

We prepared a series of cryptogein mutants, an elicitor from Phytophthora cryptogea, with altered abilities to bind sterols and fatty acids. The induction of the early events, i.e., synthesis of active oxygen species and pH changes, in suspension tobacco cells by these mutated proteins was proportional to their ability to bind sterols but not fatty acids. Although the cryptogein-sterol complex was suggested to be a form triggering a defense reaction in tobacco, some proteins unable to bind sterols induced the synthesis of active oxygen species and pH changes. The modeling experiments showed that conformational changes after the introduction of bulky residues into the omega loop of cryptogein resemble those induced by sterol binding. These changes may be necessary for the ability to trigger the early events by elicitins. However, the ability to stimulate necrosis in suspension tobacco cells and the expression of defense proteins in tobacco plants were linked neither to the lipid binding capacity nor to the capacity to provoke the early events. On the basis of these experiments and previous results, we propose that elicitins could stimulate two signal pathways. The first one induces necroses and the expression of pathogen-related proteins, includes tyrosine protein kinases and mitogen-activated protein kinases, and depends on the overall structure and charge distribution. The second type of interaction is mediated by phospholipase C and protein kinase C. It triggers the synthesis of active oxygen species and pH changes. This interaction depends on the ability of elicitins to bind sterols.     

Serum leptin in the development of insulin resistance and other disorders in the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome mostly represented by obesity and hyperinsulinaemia connected with insulin resistance, presents the main mechanism in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the interrelations between several metabolic variables (including leptin) and factors related to insulin resistance in groups of both normal and non-diabetic hyperlipemic postmenopausal women and men of appropriate age, and to attempt to elucidate the gender differences. Two groups of patients (20 men, 20 women) with hypertriglyceridemia were compared with 30 individuals (10 men, 20 women) with normal serum triacylglycerols. Fasting serum leptin concentration, lipid parameters (triacylglycerols, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol) and BMI were measured and compared with changes in insulin parameters influencing insulin resistance (HOMA IR, insulin, intact proinsulin, C-peptide). Statistical analysis was performed using SAS/STAT software including unpaired Student's t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov's test, Spearman's rank-order correlation and multiple regression analysis. In men, the insulin sensitivity correlates with leptin only. In women insulin sensitivity is markedly influenced by a complex of factors: leptin and lipid parameters. Increased insulin resistance in men is followed mainly by the increased correlations between leptin, HOMA IR and insulin parameters. In women correlations between leptin, HOMA IR and insulin parameters were smaller, but the inverse correlation with HDL cholesterol was stronger. In postmenopausal women and also in men, serum leptin concentration contributes to insulin resistance. However in women the effect of increase in serum triacylglycerols in contribution of insulin resistance seems to be more dominant.     

Involvement of AMP-activated protein kinase in fat depot-specific metabolic changes during starvation

The mechanisms controlling fat depot-specific metabolism are poorly understood. During starvation of mice, downregulation of lipogenic genes, suppression of fatty acid synthesis, and increases in lipid oxidation were all more pronounced in epididymal than in subcutaneous fat. In epididymal fat, relatively strong upregulation of uncoupling protein 2 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase genes was found. In mice maintained both at 20 and 30 degrees C, AMP-activated protein kinase was activated in epididymal but did not change in subcutaneous fat. Our results suggest that AMPK may have a role in the different response of various fat depots to starvation.