Head morphology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Osmylus fulvicephalus</Emphasis> (Osmylidae,Neuroptera) and its phylogenetic implications

External and internal head structures of Osmylus fulvicephalus were examined and described in detail. Exo- and endoskeleton, musculature, elements of the central nervous system and tracheae are compared to conditions found in other groups of Neuropterida and other endopterygote lineages. Thirty-six adult cephalic characters were compiled, combined in a datamatrix with 64 characters of the larval head, and analysed cladistically. Mainly because many data on adults remain missing, most branches in the cladogram are mostly or exclusively supported by larval features. The shortening of the mesal mandibular wall and the resulting anterior shift of the adductor tendon possibly constitute an adult groundplan apomorphy of Neuropterida. Raphidioptera and Megaloptera share distinct prognathism and the presence of a sclerotised gula. However, the orthognathous head and the absence of a gula resulted as autapomorphies of Neuroptera in our analyses. Further potential autapomorphies are the asymmetry of the mandibles as well as the respective presence of dorsolateral furrows on the head capsule, of a shovel-like extension on the ventral mandibular cutting edge, and of a row of stiff hairs on the mandible’s ventral surface. The systematic affinities of Osmylidae remain ambiguous. Osmylus is mainly characterised by plesiomorphic features of the adult head such as a complete endoskeleton, long filiform antennae, largely unmodified orthopteroid mouthparts, and particularly the nearly complete set of muscles. The placement with a clade also comprising Hemerobiidae and Chrysopidae is poorly supported. The presence of a dense vestiture of long microtrichia on the distal galeomere resulted as a synapomorphy of the three families. An apparent plesiomorphy preserved in Osmylus but absent in all other groups of Neuroptera is the presence of well developed ocelli. The present study underlines the severe shortage of detailed morphological data on the adults. Intensive study of adult structures is required for a solid reconstruction of the phylogeny of Neuropterida, especially of the hemerobiform lineage of Neuroptera.     

RhoA Ambivalently Controls Prominent Myofibroblast Characteritics by Involving Distinct Signaling Routes

IntroductionRhoA has been shown to be beneficial in cardiac disease models when overexpressed in cardiomyocytes, whereas its role in cardiac fibroblasts (CF) is still poorly understood. During cardiac remodeling CF undergo a transition towards a myofibroblast phenotype thereby showing an increased proliferation and migration rate. Both processes involve the remodeling of the cytoskeleton. Since RhoA is known to be a major regulator of the cytoskeleton, we analyzed its role in CF and its effect on myofibroblast characteristics in 2 D and 3D models.ResultsDownregulation of RhoA was shown to strongly affect the actin cytoskeleton. It decreased the myofibroblast marker α-sm-actin, but increased certain fibrosis-associated factors like TGF-β and collagens. Also, the detailed analysis of CTGF expression demonstrated that the outcome of RhoA signaling strongly depends on the involved stimulus. Furthermore, we show that proliferation of myofibroblasts rely on RhoA and tubulin acetylation. In assays accessing three different types of migration, we demonstrate that RhoA/ROCK/Dia1 are important for 2D migration and the repression of RhoA and Dia1 signaling accelerates 3D migration. Finally, we show that a downregulation of RhoA in CF impacts the viscoelastic and contractile properties of engineered tissues.ConclusionRhoA positively and negatively influences myofibroblast characteristics by differential signaling cascades and depending on environmental conditions. These include gene expression, migration and proliferation. Reduction of RhoA leads to an increased viscoelasticity and a decrease in contractile force in engineered cardiac tissue.     

On the distribution and metabolism of Fusarium-toxins along the gastrointestinal tract of endotoxaemic pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential modulatory effect of E. coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on residues of deoxynivalenol (DON), de-epoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1), zearalenone (ZEN) and its metabolites α-zearalenol (α-ZEL), β-zearalenol (β-ZEL), zearalanone (ZAN), α-zearalanol (α-ZAL) and β-zearalanol (β-ZAL) after pre- or post-hepatic administration along the gastrointestinal axis. Fifteen barrows were exposed to a naturally mycotoxin contaminated diet (4.59 mg DON/kg feed and 0.22 mg ZEN/kg feed) and equipped with jugular (ju) and portal (po) catheters. On sampling day (day 29), the barrows were infused with LPS or a control fluid (LPS, 7.5 µg/kg body weight; control, 0.9% NaCl) either pre- or post-hepatically, resulting in three infusion groups: CON_ju-CON_po, CON_ju-LPS_po and LPS_ju-CON_po. At 195 min relative to infusion start (210 min post-feeding), pigs were sacrificed and content of stomach and small intestine (proximal, medial and distal part) as well as faeces were collected. In all LPS-infused animals, higher amounts of dry matter were recovered irrespective of LPS entry site suggesting a reduced gastric emptying and a decreased gastrointestinal motility under endotoxaemic conditions. DON metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) remained unaltered by treatments and included an increase in the proportion of DOM-1 along the GIT, particularly from distal small intestine to faeces. Variables describing ZEN metabolism suggest a stimulated biliary release of ZEN and its metabolites in LPS-infused groups, particularly in the LPS_ju-CON_po group. In conclusion, the GIT metabolism of ZEN was markedly influenced in endotoxaemic pigs whereby a jugular induction of an acute phase reaction was more effective than portal LPS infusion hinting at a strong hepatic first-pass effect.     

Investigating the horizontal transmission of the Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) in a model system

Repeated applications of Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) can effectively control the codling moth (CM) in apple orchards. However, it is still unknown whether horizontal transmission of the virus from infected to uninfected larvae contributes to the efficacy of the virus insecticide. Horizontal transmission of CpGV was assayed using detached apples. In experiments using artificially applied virus dots on the apple’s surface or infected CM larvae as virus inoculum, it was found that the likelihood of infection of healthy CM larvae relied mainly on the larval behavior. The amount of virus inoculum, either applied artificially or produced by the infected larvae, impacted the infection rate only to a small degree. In the experiments, CM larvae exhibited a strong preference in entry sites, increasing the chance for horizontal transmission. Depending on the experimental design, horizontal transmission rates of about 40% were observed in laboratory assays.     

Influence of UV-B radiation and nitrogen starvation on daily rhythms in phototaxis and cell shape of Euglena gracilis

The flagellate Euglena gracilis Klebs strain Z shows phototaxis and changes cell shape between oblong and round. Both cell events show daily rhythmicity. Phototaxis was highest about 2 h after light onset with a second peak of activity 9 h later. At the same times, the cells were in their most oblong shape. During the night phase the cells were phototactically inactive and round. These rhythms were altered by environmental stress, e.g. UV-B radiation (280–320 nm) and nitrogen deficiency. Artificial UV-B radiation of 0.5 W m⁻² caused a loss in phototaxis hut the peak of activity occurred at the same time as for control cells. The transition from round to oblong cell shape was slower after UV-B radiation, but the difference between the roundest and the most oblong cell shape was unchanged. Nitrogen deficiency caused a total loss of phototaxis and the cells remained round all the time. The cells lost all their chlorophyll and were, therefore, photosynthetically inactive.     

Diet-induced obesity increases NF-κB signaling in reporter mice

The nuclear factor (NF)-κB is a primary regulator of inflammatory responses and may be linked to pathology associated with obesity. We investigated the progression of NF-κB activity during a 12-week feeding period on a high-fat diet (HFD) or a low-fat diet (LFD) using NF-κB luciferase reporter mice. In vivo imaging of luciferase activity showed that NF-κB activity was higher in the HFD mice compared with LFD-fed mice. Thorax region of HFD females displayed fourfold higher activity compared with LFD females, while no such increase was evident in males. In male HFD mice, abdominal NF-κB activity was increased twofold compared with the LFD males, while females had unchanged NF-κB activity in the abdomen by HFD. HFD males, but not females, exhibited evident glucose intolerance during the study. In conclusion, HFD increased NF-κB activity in both female and male mice. However, HFD differentially increased activity in males and females. The moderate increase in abdomen of male mice may be linked to glucose intolerance.     

Time to Culture Positivity and Sputum Smear Microscopy during Tuberculosis Therapy

Sputum smear microscopy is widely used for tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment monitoring. We evaluated the correlation between smear microscopy and time to liquid culture positivity during early tuberculosis treatment. The study included patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis hospitalized at a tuberculosis reference centre in Germany between 01/2012 and 05/2013. Patient records were reviewed and clinical, radiological and microbiological data were analysed. Sputum samples were collected before treatment initiation and weekly thereafter. A number of 310 sputum samples from 30 patients were analysed. Time to liquid culture positivity inversely correlated with smear grade (Spearman''s rho −0.439, p<0.001). There was a better correlation within the first two months vs. after two months of therapy (−0.519 vs. −0.416) with a trend to a more rapid increase in time to positivity between baseline and week 2 in patients who culture-converted within the first two months (5.9 days vs. 9.4 days, p = 0.3). In conclusion, the numbers of acid-fast bacilli in sputum smears of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and time to culture positivity for M. tuberculosis cultures from sputum are correlated before and during tuberculosis treatment. A considerable proportion of patients with culture conversion after two months of therapy continued to have detectable acid-fast bacilli on sputum smears.