Phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luciobarbus barbulus</Emphasis> (Heckel, 1847) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Luciobarbus barbulus (Heckel, 1847), a cyprinid fish of the Persian Gulf basin is re-described. Its identity is discussed and its phylogenetic relationship among the tribe Barbini is reconstructed. Luciobarbus barbulus can be distinguished from its close species, L. pectoralis by having thicker lower lip, stronger last unbranched dorsal fin ray and with stronger serration, longer barbels and posterior barbel passes the middle of the eye (vs. not reaching the middle of the eye in L. pectoralis), confirming the identity of both, as distinct species. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis based on the mtCOI sequences, placed the sequenced L. barbulus in a distinct clade corresponding to the tribe Barbini which includes Aulopyge, Barbus and Luciobarbus (three genera from Eurasia and North of Africa), sister to L. pectoralis from Orontes River with genetic distance of 1.7% applying the Kimura 2 Parameter (K2P) model.     

Reproductive biology of the endemic Iranian cichlid, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iranocichla hormuzensis</Emphasis> Coad, 1982 from Mehran River,southern Iran

We studied the reproductive biology of the endemic Iranian cichlid Iranocichla hormuzensis, a maternal mouthbrooder, in the Mehran River. Overall sex ratio was 1.44 M: 1F indicating a significant male bias. Monthly sex ratios did not differ from unity except in May and June when the sex ratios were strongly biased in favor of males. Four different reproductive indices and the high frequency of large oocytes, all suggest that the Iranian cichlid spawns at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Mircoscopic gonadal maturation stages for both males and females were correlated to the gonadosomatic indices. The maximum number of larvae in the mouth of a female was 153.     

Whole CMV Proteome Pattern Recognition Analysis after HSCT Identifies Unique Epitope Targets Associated with the CMV Status

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents a vital complication after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). We screened the entire CMV proteome to visualize the humoral target epitope-focus profile in serum after HSCT. IgG profiling from four patient groups (donor and/or recipient +/− for CMV) was performed at 6, 12 and 24 months after HSCT using microarray slides containing 17174 of 15mer-peptides overlapping by 4 aa covering 214 proteins from CMV. Data were analyzed using maSigPro, PAM and the ‘exclusive recognition analysis (ERA)’ to identify unique CMV epitope responses for each patient group. The ‘exclusive recognition analysis’ of serum epitope patterns segregated best 12 months after HSCT for the D+/R+ group (versus D−/R−). Epitopes were derived from UL123 (IE1), UL99 (pp28), UL32 (pp150), this changed at 24 months to 2 strongly recognized peptides provided from UL123 and UL100. Strongly (IgG) recognized CMV targets elicited also robust cytokine production in T-cells from patients after HSCT defined by intracellular cytokine staining (IL-2, TNF, IFN and IL-17). High-content peptide microarrays allow epitope profiling of entire viral proteomes; this approach can be useful to map relevant targets for diagnostics and therapy in patients with well defined clinical endpoints. Peptide microarray analysis visualizes the breadth of B-cell immune reconstitution after HSCT and provides a useful tool to gauge immune reconstitution.     

The relationship between established coronary risk factors and serum copper and zinc concentrations in a large Persian Cohort

IntroductionThe relationship between demographic and biochemical characteristics, including several established coronary risk factors, and serum copper and zinc was assessed in a large Iranian population sample.Materials and methodsA group of 2233 individuals, 15–65 years of age [1106 (49.5%) males and 1127 (50.5%) females] was recruited from residents of the Greater Khorasan province in northeast of Iran. Demographic data were collected using questionnaires. Coronary risk factors were determined using standard protocols, and trace elements were measured in serum using atomic absorption spectroscopy.ResultsDegree of glucose tolerance and smoking habit were not associated with serum zinc and copper levels. Serum copper levels were significantly higher in obese and hypertensive than in normal subjects (p<0.001). In the whole group and for the female subgroup, serum zinc (p<0.01) and copper (p<0.001) were both significantly lower in individuals with normal versus high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.A strong positive correlation was found between serum copper and body mass index (BMI) (r=0.85, p<0.001). Weaker positive associations were found between serum copper and calculated 10 years’ coronary risk (r=0.11, p<0.001). Serum zinc/copper ratio was strongly inversely associated with calculated 10 years’ coronary risk (r=?0.10, p<0.001). The partial Eta squared (PES) values for factors determining serum zinc were hypertension (0.007, p=0.01) and BMI (0.004, p=0.01); and for serum copper, they were gender (0.02, p=0.001), hypertension (0.004, p=0.009), and 10 years’ coronary risk for men (0.003, p=0.03) and women (0.002, p=0.07).ConclusionSignificant associations between serum trace element concentrations and several coronary risk factors, including calculated 10 years’ coronary risk scores, were found.     

Comments on the Mond Scraper, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capoeta mandica</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Cyprinidae): Re-Description,Molecular Systematics and Distribution Modeling

Capoeta mandica was originally described as C. barroisi mandica from Mond River, Persian Gulf basin, based on morphological characters and later was considered as a distinct species based on a few small specimens. However, there is still controversial debate about its systematic position and morphological characters. To resolve the issue, new collected specimens from Iranian drainage basins examined morphologically and molecularly. Results revealed that C. mandica is a distinct taxon in the Capoeta trutta group. This taxon confirms the zoogeographical separation of the Persis basin (southern Iran) by the rise in post-Pleistocene sea level, isolating rivers from the Tigris-Euphrates and western basins.     

Phylogeography of Walton’s Mudskipper,Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans, 1941 (Perciformes: Gobiidae), from the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

Mudskippers are amphibious air breathing fish with terrestrial adaptations in contrast to entirely aquatic fish. They are adapted to living on mudflats and show morphological, physiological, and behavioural features that could affect their phylogeny and phylogeography. A comparative genetic analysis was carried out on 100 specimens of the mudskipper Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans, 1941 from eight different sites along the coast of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Phylogeographic inference based on two mitochondrial markers (Cyt b and D-loop) suggests that P. waltoni populations are divided into two well-divergent clades western and eastern. This is likely related to the geohydrological history of the area during the last Pleistocene glaciations. The regional phylogeographies are apparently also influenced by ecological and geographical barriers such as salinity, water current, and the geographic position of the Strait of Hormuz.     

Response of primary human mammary tumor cell cultures to a monoclonal antibody-recombinant ricin A chain immunotoxin

Summary Malignant epithelial tumor cells were isolated and cultured from ten human mammary specimens of cancerous origin. The 260F9 monoclonal antibody (MAB) bound to frozen sections of all of the human breast tumors tested and to primary cultured cells from the tumors. Cultured cells from all ten breast tumors were sensitive to the clonal inhibitory effects of immunotoxin 260F9 MAB-recombinant ricin A chain. At an immunotoxin concentration of 200 ng/ml (about 1 nM), inhibition of colony formation was >99% for all ten tumors.