Gardnerella vaginalis Vaginolysin (VLY)-Derived MAP8 Peptide (VLY-MAP8) Induced the Production of Egg Yolk IgY Antibodies that Inhibit Erythrocytes Lysis

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Gardnerella vaginalis produces vaginolysin (VLY), a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, responsible of the cellular lysis and epithelial...     

Weight–length relationships for 38 fish species of Barra de Navidad coastal lagoon,Jalisco, Mexico

Weight–length relationships are reported for 38 species of teleost fish belonging to 20 families. Data were collected on a regular basis from February 2011 to January 2012 in the Barra de Navidad coastal lagoon, Jalisco, Mexico. Several different types of sampling gear were used to obtain a broad range of fish lengths. These are the first records in FishBase regarding weight–lengths for eight of the species.     

Cyanobacteria-containing biofilms from a Mayan monument in Palenque,Mexico

Surfaces of buildings at the archaeological site of Palenque, Mexico, are colonized by cyanobacteria that form biofilms, which in turn cause aesthetic and structural damage. The structural characterization and species composition of biofilms from the walls of one of these buildings, El Palacio, are reported. The distribution of photosynthetic microorganisms in the biofilms, their relationship with the colonized substratum, and the three-dimensional structure of the biofilms were studied by image analysis. The differences between local seasonal microenvironments at the Palenque site, the bioreceptivity of stone and the relationship between biofilms and their substrata are described. The implications for the development and permanence of species capable of withstanding temporal heterogeneity in and on El Palacio, mainly due to alternating wet and dry seasons, are discussed. Knowledge on how different biofilms contribute to biodegradation or bioprotection of the substratum can be used to develop maintenance and conservation protocols for cultural heritage.     

Environmental,geographical and time-related impacts on avian malaria infections in native and introduced populations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus), a globally invasive species

Aim

The increasing spread of vector-borne diseases has resulted in severe health concerns for humans, domestic animals and wildlife, with changes in land use and the introduction of invasive species being among the main possible causes for this increase. We explored several ecological drivers potentially affecting the local prevalence and richness of avian malaria parasite lineages in native and introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus) populations.

Location

Global.

Time period

2002–2019.

Major taxa studied

Avian Plasmodium parasites in house sparrows.

Methods

We analysed data from 2,220 samples from 69 localities across all continents, except Antarctica. The influence of environment (urbanization index and human density), geography (altitude, latitude, hemisphere) and time (bird breeding season and years since introduction) were analysed using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) and random forests.

Results

Overall, 670 sparrows (30.2%) were infected with 22 Plasmodium lineages. In native populations, parasite prevalence was positively related to urbanization index, with the highest prevalence values in areas with intermediate urbanization levels. Likewise, in introduced populations, prevalence was positively associated with urbanization index; however, higher infection occurred in areas with either extreme high or low levels of urbanization. In introduced populations, the number of parasite lineages increased with altitude and with the years elapsed since the establishment of sparrows in a new locality. Here, after a decline in the number of parasite lineages in the first 30 years, an increase from 40 years onwards was detected.

Main conclusions

Urbanization was related to parasite prevalence in both native and introduced bird populations. In invaded areas, altitude and time since bird introduction were related to the number of Plasmodium lineages found to be infecting sparrows.     

Interaction of ethidium bromide with the transport system for monovalent cations in yeast

Summary Ethidium was found to be taken up by yeast cells in a process that, at certain concentrations has the main following characteristics: a) a substrate is required; b) it presents cooperative kinetics, withn, according to the Hill equation 3; c) ethidium can be concentrated more than 100-fold; d) the uptake is inhibited by Ca²⁺; e) the uptake of the dye is inhibited by monovalent cations with a selectivity pattern similar to that observed in their transport by yeast; f) ethidium inhibits the uptake of K⁺, and, at concentrations up to about 250 m produces a competitive inhibition on the uptake of Rb⁺; and g) ethidium produces the same effects as K⁺ on respiration and the extrusion of H⁺. It is concluded that ethidium is taken up by yeast cells in a selective way by the same transport system normally employed for monovalent cation uptake.     

Skinned muscle fibers of Aplysia: potentiation of contraction by "background" calcium and lack of effect of cyclic AMP

1. Aplysia buccal muscle E1 can be skinned with saponin in a low ionic strength medium. Pulses of calcium, which were ineffective at causing contraction in intact fibers, elicited contraction in skinned fibers. 2. Tension in skinned fibers increased at [Ca2+] greater than 10(-7) M and was maximal at 6 x 10(-7) M. 10(-5) M [Ca2+] caused irreversible damage to the fibers. 3. Fibers did not exhibit "catch", i.e. they relaxed quickly upon removal of calcium. 4. Optimal pH for tension was 7.0. 5. Contractile responses to calcium pulses were increased by raising "background" [Ca2+] to 10(-7) M. 6. Cyclic AMP (10(-4) and 10(-3) M) had no effect on tension.     

Identification and expression pattern of a new carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase gene member from Bixa orellana

Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) are a class of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a broad diversity of secondary metabolites known as apocarotenoids. In plants, CCDs are part of a genetic family with members which cleave specific double bonds of carotenoid molecules. CCDs are involved in the production of diverse and important metabolites such as vitamin A and abscisic acid (ABA). Bixa orellana L. is the main source of the natural pigment annatto or bixin, an apocarotenoid accumulated in large quantities in its seeds. Bixin biosynthesis has been studied and the involvement of a CCD has been confirmed in vitro. However, the CCD genes involved in the biosynthesis of the wide variety of apocarotenoids found in this plant have not been well documented. In this study, a new CCD1 gene member (BoCCD1) was identified and its expression was charaterized in different plant tissues of B. orellana plantlets and adult plants. The BoCCD1 sequence showed high homology with plant CCD1s involved mainly in the cleavage of carotenoids in several sites to generate multiple apocarotenoid products. Here, the expression profiles of the BoCCD1 gene were analysed and discussed in relation to total carotenoids and other important apocarotenoids such as bixin.     

Age and growth of sailfish Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw in Shaw and Nodder, 1792) from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

Age and growth of the sailfish Istiophorus platypterus were determined for the area off Mazatlan coast, Sinaloa, in the Gulf of California, between September 2002 and August 2003. The lower jaw-fork length and total weight of 572 specimens were measured, and the fourth dorsal spine was collected to determine age. The monthly variation of the sample size displayed a well-defined seasonal pattern, which peaked during the warm period (May?CNovember) and declined during the rest of the year (temperate period). Significant differences were detected in the size structure by sex during the temperate period, with females displaying larger sizes and greater abundance (Female:Male = 3.35:1). In the warm period the size structure was similar, with the sex ratio reaching F:M = 0.73:1. This suggests a different sex-related recruitment in the fishing zone, with males moving more actively than females. While female size remained relatively unchanged over the year, male size increased during the warm period. Age was estimated using the number of growth rings on the cross-sectioned fourth dorsal spine, after the number of absorbed growth rings in the vascularized zone had been estimated. Nine age groups were identified; group-5 was the most abundant, representing 31% of the catch. The trend of the monthly change in the percentage of opaque-edge spines and the average of the marginal increase rate indicated that the formation of growth rings displayed an annual pattern. The von Bertalanffy growth model was adequately fitted to age and back-calculated length data. Significant differences were detected when growth was compared between sexes; females grew faster than males.     

Aging and cerebral aminopeptidase activity

A comparative study of brain aminopeptidase activity between 18 month old male rats and young adults of 3 months has been carried out utilizing the arylamides Leu-, Arg-, Lys-, Tyr- and Asp-beta-naphthylamide as substrates. Statistical analysis of results showed no significant differences either in areas studied or for enzymatic activities detected when both ages were compared. Two different patterns of regional distribution of enzymatic activity were observed: One came to be as a result of the use of Lys-, Arg-, Leu- or Tyr-beta-naphthylamide and the other as a result of the use of Asp-beta-naphthylamide.