Malaria Plasmodium agent induces alteration in the head proteome of their Anopheles mosquito host

Despite increasing evidence of behavioural manipulation of their vectors by pathogens, the underlying mechanisms causing infected vectors to act in ways that benefit pathogen transmission remain enigmatic in most cases. Here, 2-D DIGE coupled with MS were employed to analyse and compare the head proteome of mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (Giles)) infected with the malarial parasite (Plasmodium berghei) with that of uninfected mosquitoes. This approach detected altered levels of 12 protein spots in the head of mosquitoes infected with sporozoites. These proteins were subsequently identified using MS and functionally classified as belonging to metabolic, synaptic, molecular chaperone, signalling, and cytoskeletal groups. Our results indicate an altered energy metabolism in the head of sporozoite-infected mosquitoes. Some of the up-/down-regulated proteins identified, such as synapse-associated protein, 14-3-3 protein and calmodulin, have previously been shown to play critical roles in the CNS of both invertebrates and vertebrates. Furthermore, a heat shock response (HSP 20) and a variation of cytoarchitecture (tropomyosins) have been shown. Discovery of these proteins sheds light on potential molecular mechanisms that underlie behavioural modifications and offers new insights into the study of intimate interactions between Plasmodium and its Anopheles vector.     

Evolution,diversity and interactions with past human populations of recently extinct Pholidoscelis lizards (Squamata: Teiidae) from the Guadeloupe Islands (French West-Indies)

This paper aims to demonstrate how subfossil bone remains from Pleistocene and Holocene deposits can help to reconstruct the history of recently extinct taxa through the example of Pholidoscelis lizards from the Guadeloupe Islands in the French West Indies. To achieve this, we conducted a new anatomical and zooarchaeological study of fossil Pholidoscelis remains collected from 23 archaeological and paleontological deposits on the Guadeloupe Islands from which this genus is nowadays absent. Our results shed light on the past existence of large Pholidoscelis lizards on all the Guadeloupe islands but also on the difficulties of confident specific identification for these remains. Nevertheless, we suggest a possible past occurrence of the now extinct Pholidoscelis major on nearly all of the Guadeloupe islands. In addition, we identified a new Pholidoscelis species, Pholidoscelis turukaeraensis sp. nov., on Marie-Galante Island, where no Pholidoscelis lizards were previously reported. This new species underwent an increase in size after the end of the Pleistocene period, possibly due to reduced predation pressure. We also highlight the consumption of Pholidoscelis lizards by pre-Columbian Amerindians and the huge impact of European colonization, which led to the extinction of all these lizards in less than 300 years.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:15C39436-A083-483F-B35E-78807B606904     

Host plant defenses of black (Solanum nigrum L.) and red nightshade (Solanum villosum Mill.) against specialist Solanaceae herbivore Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum, S. nigrum L.) and red nightshade ( Solanum villosum, S. villosum Mill.) are medicinal plants from the Solanaceae family that synthesize glycoalkaloids and other secondary metabolites. To recognize the potential insecticide activity of these compounds, leaf extracts (containing glycoalkaloid and methanol fractions) were tested for enzyme inhibition, antifeedant activity and toxicity. For in‐vitro glutathione S‐transferase (GST) inhibition activity, we used insecticide‐resistant Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata ( L. decemlineata; Say) midgut and fat‐body homogenate. In‐vivo toxicity and the antifeedant activity were performed using larval bioassays. The methanol extracts had greater GST inhibitory activity compared to the glycoalkaloids, as well as greater 2nd instar larvae mortality and antifeedant activity. Furthermore, the green leaf volatile compound, cis‐hex‐3‐enyl acetate, at the concentration of 5 ppm, caused 50% mortality of 2nd instar larvae. Our findings suggest the potential usefulness of S. nigrum and S. villosum extracts to control L. decemlineata.     

High-resolution habitat and bathymetry maps for 65,000 sq. km of Earth’s remotest coral reefs

Coral Reefs - With compelling evidence that half the world’s coral reefs have been lost over the last four decades, there is urgent motivation to understand where reefs are located and their...     

PAR-3 is required for epithelial cell polarity in the distal spermatheca of C. elegans

PAR-3 is localized asymmetrically in epithelial cells in a variety of animals from Caenorhabditis elegans to mammals. Although C. elegans PAR-3 is known to act in early blastomeres to polarize the embryo, a role for PAR-3 in epithelial cells of C. elegans has not been established. Using RNA interference to deplete PAR-3 in developing larvae, we discovered a requirement for PAR-3 in spermathecal development. Spermathecal precursor cells are born during larval development and differentiate into an epithelium that forms a tube for the storage of sperm. Eggs must enter the spermatheca to complete ovulation. PAR-3-depleted worms exhibit defects in ovulation. Consistent with this phenotype, PAR-3 is transiently expressed and localized asymmetrically in the developing somatic gonad, including the spermathecal precursor cells of L4 larvae. We found that the defect in ovulation can be partially suppressed by a mutation in IPP-5, an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, indicating that one effect of PAR-3 depletion is disruption of signaling between oocyte and spermatheca. Microscopy revealed that the distribution of AJM-1, an apical junction marker, and apical microfilaments are severely affected in the distal spermatheca of PAR-3-depleted worms. We propose that PAR-3 activity is required for the proper polarization of spermathecal cells and that defective ovulation results from defective distal spermathecal development.     

Biological evaluation of substituted quinolines

Several quinolines were synthesized and evaluated in vitro against several parasites (Trypanosoma brucei, T. cruzi, Leishmania infantum, L. amazonensis, Plasmodium falciparum). Then, they were evaluated in vitro (at 10 microM), against HTLV-1 transformed cells. A few of them displayed interesting activities, comparable to the reference drugs.     

Contribution of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha to the initiation of the peripheral lung response to atmospheric particulates (PM10)

Alveolar macrophages (AM) play a key role in clearing atmospheric particulates from the lung surface and stimulating epithelial cells to produce proinflammatory mediators. The present study examines the role of "acute response" cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta released by AM exposed to ambient particulate matter with a diameter of <10 microm (PM(10)) in amplifying the proinflammatory mediator expression by A549 cells and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC). The results showed that supernatants from human AM incubated 24 h with PM(10) (100 microg/ml) contained more TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, IL-6, and IL-8 than nonexposed AM supernatants. The 3-h treatment of A549 cells with PM(10)-exposed AM supernatants increased TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-8, regulated on activation normal T-cells expressed and secreted (RANTES), and leukemia inhibitory factor mRNA compared with the treatment with nonexposed AM supernatants and, compared with untreated A549 cells, additionally increased ICAM-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 mRNA. Preincubating PM(10)-exposed AM supernatants with anti-IL-1 beta antibodies reduced all the above mediators as well as VEGF mRNA expression (P < 0.05), while anti-TNF-alpha antibodies were less effective (P > 0.05), and the combination of the two antibodies most effective. When HBEC were treated similarly, anti-TNF-alpha antibodies had the greatest effect. In A549 cells PM(10)-exposed AM supernatants increased NF-kappa B, activator protein (AP)-1 and specificity protein 1 binding, while anti-TNF-alpha and anti-IL-1 beta antibodies reduced NF-kappa B and AP-1 binding. We conclude that AM-derived TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta provide a major stimulus for the production of proinflammatory mediators by lung epithelial cells and that their relative importance may depend on the type of epithelial cell target.