Phylogeographical patterns in Coenosia attenuata (Diptera: Muscidae): a widespread predator of insect species associated with greenhouse crops

The tiger‐fly Coenosia attenuata is a globally widespread predatory fly which is not only associated with greenhouse crops, but also occurs in open fields. It is a potential control agent against some of the more common pests in these crops. Assessing the genetic structure and gene flow patterns may be important for planning crop protection strategies and for understanding the historical processes that led to the present distribution of genetic lineages within this species. In the present study, the phylogeographical patterns of this species, based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and nuclear white and elongation factor‐1α genes, are described, revealing relatively low genetic diversity and weak genetic structure associated with a recent and sudden population expansion of the species. The geographical distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes indicates the Mediterranean as the most likely region of origin of the species. Some dispersal patterns of the species are also revaled, including at least three independent colonizations of North and South America: one from Middle East to North America with a strong bottleneck event, another from Europe to South America (Chile), with both likely to be a result of unintentional introduction, and a third one of still undetermined origin to South America (Ecuador). © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 114 , 308–326.     

A Systematic Map of Systematic Reviews in Pediatric Dentistry—What Do We Really Know?

ObjectivesTo identify, appraise and summarize existing knowledge and knowledge gaps in practice-relevant questions in pediatric dentistry.MethodsA systematic mapping of systematic reviews was undertaken for domains considered important in daily clinical practice. The literature search covered questions in the following domains: behavior management problems/dental anxiety; caries risk assessment and caries detection including radiographic technologies; prevention and non-operative treatment of caries in primary and young permanent teeth; operative treatment of caries in primary and young permanent teeth; prevention and treatment of periodontal disease; management of tooth developmental and mineralization disturbances; prevention and treatment of oral conditions in children with chronic diseases/developmental disturbances/obesity; diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental erosion and tooth wear; treatment of traumatic injuries in primary and young permanent teeth and cost-effectiveness of these interventions. Abstracts and full text reviews were assessed independently by two reviewers and any differences were solved by consensus. AMSTAR was used to assess the risk of bias of each included systematic review. Reviews judged as having a low or moderate risk of bias were used to formulate existing knowledge and knowledge gaps.ResultsOut of 81 systematic reviews meeting the inclusion criteria, 38 were judged to have a low or moderate risk of bias. Half of them concerned caries prevention. The quality of evidence was high for a caries-preventive effect of daily use of fluoride toothpaste and moderate for fissure sealing with resin-based materials. For the rest the quality of evidence for the effects of interventions was low or very low.ConclusionThere is an urgent need for primary clinical research of good quality in most clinically-relevant domains in pediatric dentistry.     

Regulation of the muscle-specific AMP-activated protein kinase alpha2beta2gamma3 complexes by AMP and implications of the mutations in the gamma3-subunit for the AMP dependence of the enzyme

The AMP-activated protein kinase is an evolutionarily conserved heterotrimer that is important for metabolic sensing in all eukaryotes. The muscle-specific isoform of the regulatory gamma-subunit of the kinase, AMP-activated protein kinase gamma3, has a key role in glucose and fat metabolism in skeletal muscle, as suggested by metabolic characterization of humans, pigs and mice harboring substitutions in the AMP-binding Bateman domains of gamma3. We demonstrate that AMP-activated protein kinase alpha2beta2gamma3 trimers are allosterically activated approximately three-fold by AMP with a half-maximal stimulation (A(0.5)) at 1.9 +/- 0.5 or 2.6 +/- 0.3 microm, as measured for complexes expressed in Escherichia coli or mammalian cells, respectively. We show that mutations in the N-terminal Bateman domain of gamma3 (R225Q, H306R and R307G) increased the A(0.5) values for AMP, whereas the fold activation of the enzyme by 200 microm AMP remained unchanged in comparison to the wild-type complex. The mutations in the C-terminal Bateman domain of gamma3 (H453R and R454G), on the other hand, substantially reduced the fold stimulation of the complex by 200 microm AMP, and resulted in AMP dependence curves similar to those of the double mutant, R225Q/R454G. A V224I mutation in gamma3, known to result in a reduced glycogen content in pigs, did not affect the fold activation or the A(0.5) values for AMP. Importantly, we did not detect any increase in phosphorylation of Thr172 of alpha2 by the upstream kinases in the presence of increasing concentrations of AMP. Taken together, the data show that different mutations in gamma3 exert different effects on the allosteric regulation of the alpha2beta2gamma3 complex by AMP, whereas we find no evidence for their role in regulating the level of phosphorylation of alpha2 by upstream kinases.     

Effects of food limitation and temperature on cladocerans from a tropical Brazilian lake

Food limitation was tested in the laboratory by individual growth and reproduction of two cladoceran species, Ceriodaphnia richardi and Daphnia gessneri, from the shallow tropical Brazilian Lake Monte Alegre. The cladocerans were fed cultivated green alga Scenedesmus spinosus in concentrations of 0.20, 0.10, 0.05, and 0.025 mg C l⁻¹. Higher biomass and growth rates occurred in the two highest-food concentrations; the two lowest ones negatively affected clutch size and first reproduction. The threshold food concentration is lower than 0.025 mg C l⁻¹ and the incipient limiting level is a value between 0.10 and 0.20 mg C l⁻¹. The largest species, D. gessneri, was more sensitive to low food concentrations. The effects of low and high temperatures (19 and 27°C) were evaluated by life table experiments with three cladocerans from the lake—Daphnia ambigua, D. gessneri, and Moina micrura—with no food limitation (1 mg C l⁻¹ of S. spinosus). Higher population growth rates for the three species were found at 27°C; better performance in most life table parameters was observed for the former two species at the highest temperature, D. gessneri being the most sensitive to the lowest temperature. There are indications that temperature is an important abiotic factor that constrains populations of cladocerans for a short period in winter in the lake, when temperature decreases to 18–19°C. However, its influence cannot be separated from a biotic factor such as food, whose effect is stronger in the cool season, when concentrations are lower and contribution of inedible algae is relatively higher.     

DNA barcoding of freshwater ichthyoplankton in the Neotropics as a tool for ecological monitoring

Quantifying and classifying ichthyoplankton is one of the most effective ways of monitoring the recruitment process in fishes. However, correctly identifying the fish based on morphological characters is extremely difficult, especially in the early stages of development. We examined ichthyoplankton from tributaries and reservoirs along the middle stretch of the Paranapanema River, one of the areas most impacted by hydroelectric projects in the Neotropics. Matching DNA sequences of the COI gene (628–648 bp) allowed us to identify 99.25% of 536 samples of eggs (293) and larvae (243) subjected to BOLD‐IDS similarity analysis with a species‐level threshold of 1.3%. The results revealed 37 species in 27 genera, 15 families and four orders, some 23.8% of documented fish species in the Paranapanema River. Molecular identification meant that we could include data from egg samples that accounted for about 30% of the species richness observed. The results in this study confirm the efficacy of DNA barcoding in identifying Neotropical ichthyoplankton and show how the data produced provide valuable information for preparing plans for conserving and managing inland waters.     

Social dynamics and individual plasticity of infant care behavior in cooperatively breeding cotton‐top tamarins

Individual variation in infant caretaking behavior is prevalent among marmoset and tamarin monkeys. Although most group members participate in infant care, the timing and amount provided differs greatly. In this study, we quantified general trends in infant carrying behavior by using a longitudinal database that included 11 years of instantaneous scan observations following 80 births of cotton‐top tamarins. Using detailed focal observations on a subset of the same families (10 births) we identified influences that affected expression of infant care at the group and individual levels. Fathers were the primary carriers and paternal carry time gradually decreased with increasing infant age. Paternal carry time also decreased significantly with an increasing number of older sibling helpers. Most fathers began to carry on the first day postpartum. However, we report circumstances in which fathers delayed carrying until almost a month postpartum. Fathers retrieved infants the most, although adult brothers' rates of retrievals peaked and surpassed fathers' rates during week 4 postpartum. Fathers delayed rejection of infants until week 4, whereas mothers rejected infants immediately and throughout the eight weeks. Nonetheless, infants climbed onto their mothers more than onto any other family member. Mothers showed a high initial investment in carrying during the first two weeks, decreasing quickly thereafter. Maternal contributions to infant carrying remained low and relatively consistent regardless of group size. However, mothers dramatically increased their infant carrying behavior in families in which fathers were absent. Older siblings cared for infants more than did younger siblings, and brothers retrieved and carried infants more than did sisters. Individual expression of infant care changed to accommodate infant needs and changed according to varying social dynamics and circumstances across litters. Am. J. Primatol. 72:296–306, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Reactive oxygen species play a role in P2X7 receptor-mediated IL-6 production in spinal astrocytes

Purinergic Signalling - Astrocytes mediate a remarkable variety of cellular functions, including gliotransmitter release. Under pathological conditions, high concentrations of the purinergic...     

Endozoochory of a dry‐fruited tree aids quarry passive restoration and seed soaking further increases seedling emergence

As practitioners promote passive restoration as a complementary approach to technical reclamation, it is imperative to know its drivers. Although the consequences of endozoochory can be crucial to passive restoration success, few experimental studies assess the use of heavily disturbed sites by seed dispersers such as carnivores and how the seeds they bring in emerge and survive. Using an indoor sowing experiment conducted in a quarry located within a natural park in Portugal, we examined for the first time how carnivore endozoochorous seeds collected in the quarry potentially influence its passive restoration, through effects on plant emergence and survival. Also, we tested whether sowing date and water soaking, relevant factors when sowings are to be carried out, would affect seedling emergence and mortality rates when compared with the effect of endozoochory. Our target species were included in the revegetation plan of the quarry, of which endozoochorous seeds of Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) were collected in sufficient number for analysis. Irrespective of the carnivore species, endozoochorous carob seeds performed similarly to untreated seeds regarding emergence rates. Endozoochorous carob seedlings showed greater mortality rates but the net result for the plant can still be the colonization of recently vacant habitats by a large proportion of viable seeds. Concerning sowing date, the later carob seeds were sown over the fruit‐ripening season the faster seedlings emerged. Water soaking increased emergence rate by 6.5 times. Broadly, sowings with previous soaking and carnivore‐mediated seed dispersal of this dry‐fruited tree can jointly enhance quarry restoration.     

Classically activated macrophages use stable microtubules for matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) secretion

As major effector cells of the innate immune response, macrophages must adeptly migrate from blood to infected tissues. Endothelial transmigration is accomplished by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-induced degradation of basement membrane and extracellular matrix components. The classical activation of macrophages with LPS and IFN-γ causes enhanced microtubule (MT) stabilization and secretion of MMPs. Macrophages up-regulate MMP-9 expression and secretion upon immunological challenge and require its activity for migration during the inflammatory response. However, the dynamics of MMP-9 production and intracellular distribution as well as the mechanisms responsible for its trafficking are unknown. Using immunofluorescent imaging, we localized intracellular MMP-9 to small Golgi-derived cytoplasmic vesicles that contained calreticulin and protein-disulfide isomerase in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. We demonstrated vesicular organelles of MMP-9 aligned along stable subsets of MTs and showed that selective modulation of MT dynamics contributes to the enhanced trafficking of MMP-9 extracellularly. We found a Rab3D-dependent association of MMP-9 vesicles with the molecular motor kinesin, whose association with the MT network was greatly enhanced after macrophage activation. Finally, we implicated kinesin 5B and 3B isoforms in the effective trafficking of MMP-9 extracellularly.