An Overview of Ten Italian Horse Breeds through Mitochondrial DNA

BackgroundThe climatic and cultural diversity of the Italian Peninsula triggered, over time, the development of a great variety of horse breeds, whose origin and history are still unclear. To clarify this issue, analyses on phenotypic traits and genealogical data were recently coupled with molecular screening.MethodologyTo provide a comprehensive overview of the horse genetic variability in Italy, we produced and phylogenetically analyzed 407 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region sequences from ten of the most important Italian riding horse and pony breeds: Bardigiano, Esperia, Giara, Lipizzan, Maremmano, Monterufolino, Murgese, Sarcidano, Sardinian Anglo-Arab, and Tolfetano. A collection of 36 Arabian horses was also evaluated to assess the genetic consequences of their common use for the improvement of some local breeds.ConclusionsIn Italian horses, all previously described domestic mtDNA haplogroups were detected as well as a high haplotype diversity. These findings indicate that the ancestral local mares harbored an extensive genetic diversity. Moreover, the limited haplotype sharing (11%) with the Arabian horse reveals that its impact on the autochthonous mitochondrial gene pools during the final establishment of pure breeds was marginal, if any. The only significant signs of genetic structure and differentiation were detected in the geographically most isolated contexts (i.e. Monterufolino and Sardinian breeds). Such a geographic effect was also confirmed in a wider breed setting, where the Italian pool stands in an intermediate position together with most of the other Mediterranean stocks. However, some notable exceptions and peculiar genetic proximities lend genetic support to historical theories about the origin of specific Italian breeds.     

Metagenomic Investigation of Plasma in Individuals with ME/CFS Highlights the Importance of Technical Controls to Elucidate Contamination and Batch Effects

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease causing indefinite fatigue. ME/CFS has long been hypothesised to have an infectious cause; however, no specific infectious agent has been identified. We used metagenomics to analyse the RNA from plasma samples from 25 individuals with ME/CFS and compare their microbial content to technical controls as well as three control groups: individuals with alternatively diagnosed chronic Lyme syndrome (N = 13), systemic lupus erythematosus (N = 11), and healthy controls (N = 25). We found that the majority of sequencing reads were removed during host subtraction, thus there was very low microbial RNA content in the plasma. The effects of sample batching and contamination during sample processing proved to outweigh the effects of study group on microbial RNA content, as the few differences in bacterial or viral RNA abundance we did observe between study groups were most likely caused by contamination and batch effects. Our results highlight the importance of including negative controls in all metagenomic analyses, since there was considerable overlap between bacterial content identified in study samples and control samples. For example, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteriodes were found in both study samples and plasma-free negative controls. Many of the taxonomic groups we saw in our plasma-free negative control samples have previously been associated with diseases, including ME/CFS, demonstrating how incorrect conclusions may arise if controls are not used and batch effects not accounted for.     

Electroencephalographic Patterns in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The main objective of this study is to review and summarize recent findings on electroencephalographic patterns in individuals with chronic pain. We also discuss recent advances in the use of quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG) for the assessment of pathophysiology and biopsychosocial factors involved in its maintenance over time. Data collection took place from February 2014 to July 2015 in PubMed, SciELO and PEDro databases. Data from cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies, as well as clinical trials involving chronic pain participants were incorporated into the final analysis. Our primary findings related to chronic pain were an increase of theta and alpha EEG power at rest, and a decrease in the amplitude of evoked potentials after sensory stimulation and cognitive tasks. This review suggests that qEEG could be considered as a simple and objective tool for the study of brain mechanisms involved in chronic pain, as well as for identifying the specific characteristics of chronic pain condition. In addition, results show that qEEG probably is a relevant outcome measure for assessing changes in therapeutic studies.     

Identification of the phospholipid lysobisphosphatidic acid in the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica: An active molecule in endocytosis

Phospholipids are essential for vesicle fusion and fission and both are fundamental events for Entamoeba histolytica phagocytosis. Our aim was to identify the lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA) in trophozoites and investigate its cellular fate during endocytosis. LBPA was detected by TLC in a 0.5 R_f spot of total lipids, which co-migrated with the LBPA standard. The 6C4 antibody, against LBPA recognized phospholipids extracted from this spot. Reverse phase LC-ESI-MS and MS/MS mass spectrometry revealed six LBPA species of m/z 772.58–802.68. LBPA was associated to pinosomes and phagosomes. Intriguingly, during pinocytosis, whole cell fluorescence quantification showed that LBPA dropped 84% after 15 min incubation with FITC-Dextran, and after 60 min, it increased at levels close to steady state conditions. Similarly, during erythrophagocytosis, after 15 min, LBPA also dropped in 36% and increased after 60 and 90 min. EhRab7A protein appeared in some vesicles with LBPA in steady state conditions, but after phagocytosis co-localization of both molecules increased and in late phases of erythrophagocytosis they were found in huge phagosomes or multivesicular bodies with many intraluminal vacuoles, and surrounding ingested erythrocytes and phagosomes. The 6C4 and anti-EhADH (EhADH is an ALIX family protein) antibodies and Lysotracker merged in about 50% of the vesicles in steady state conditions and throughout phagocytosis. LBPA and EhADH were also inside huge phagosomes. These results demonstrated that E. histolytica LBPA is associated to pinosomes and phagosomes during endocytosis and suggested differences of LBPA requirements during pinocytosis and phagocytosis.     

Effects of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal backgrounds and soils on olive plants growth and water relation properties under well‐watered and drought conditions

The adaptation capacity of olive trees to different environments is well recognized. However, the presence of microorganisms in the soil is also a key factor in the response of these trees to drought. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effects of different arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi coming from diverse soils on olive plant growth and water relations. Olive plants were inoculated with native AM fungal populations from two contrasting environments, that is, semi‐arid – Freila (FL) and humid – Grazalema (GZ) regions, and subjected to drought stress. Results showed that plants grew better on GZ soil inoculated with GZ fungi, indicating a preference of AM fungi for their corresponding soil. Furthermore, under these conditions, the highest AM fungal diversity was found. However, the highest root hydraulic conductivity (Lp_r) value was achieved by plants inoculated with GZ fungi and growing in FL soil under drought conditions. So, this AM inoculum also functioned in soils from different origins. Nine novel aquaporin genes were also cloned from olive roots. Diverse correlation and association values were found among different aquaporin expressions and abundances and Lp_r, indicating how the interaction of different aquaporins may render diverse Lp_r values.     

Chloride as a macronutrient increases water‐use efficiency by anatomically driven reduced stomatal conductance and increased mesophyll diffusion to CO2

Chloride (Cl^?) has been recently described as a beneficial macronutrient, playing specific roles in promoting plant growth and water‐use efficiency (WUE). However, it is still unclear how Cl^? could be beneficial, especially in comparison with nitrate (NO₃^?), an essential source of nitrogen that shares with Cl^? similar physical and osmotic properties, as well as common transport mechanisms. In tobacco plants, macronutrient levels of Cl^? specifically reduce stomatal conductance (g_s) without a concomitant reduction in the net photosynthesis rate (A_N). As stomata‐mediated water loss through transpiration is inherent in the need of C₃ plants to capture CO₂, simultaneous increase in photosynthesis and WUE is of great relevance to achieve a sustainable increase in C₃ crop productivity. Our results showed that Cl^?‐mediated stimulation of larger leaf cells leads to a reduction in stomatal density, which in turn reduces g_s and water consumption. Conversely, Cl^? improves mesophyll diffusion conductance to CO₂ (g_m) and photosynthetic performance due to a higher surface area of chloroplasts exposed to the intercellular airspace of mesophyll cells, possibly as a consequence of the stimulation of chloroplast biogenesis. A key finding of this study is the simultaneous improvement of A_N and WUE due to macronutrient Cl^? nutrition. This work identifies relevant and specific functions in which Cl^? participates as a beneficial macronutrient for higher plants, uncovering a sustainable approach to improve crop yield.     

Intrinsic competition between resident and invasive parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) that attack the West Indian fruit fly Anastrepha obliqua under field conditions

We evaluated under semi-field conditions the intrinsic competition between Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), as an invasive parasitoid, and Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) and Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) (all Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as resident parasitoids, as well as that between U. anastrephae as an invader and D. areolatus as a resident. The percentage of live D. areolatus larvae decreased by 39.8% and 29.4% following attack by D. longicaudata and U. anastrephae as invasive parasitoids, respectively. Likewise, the parasitism percentage of D. areolatus decreased by 31.5% and 60.8% under competition with the invasive parasitoids D. longicaudata and U. anastrephae, respectively. Parasitism by D. longicaudata decreased by 44.6% and 41.6% in the presence of the residents D. areolatus and U. anastrephae, respectively, while parasitism of U. anastrephae was only affected when this species was a resident. We concluded that D. areolatus is an inferior intrinsic competitor and that U. anastrephae resists the competitive presence of D. longicaudata.