The migration of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) up the Rhone: the Mediterranean history of a “mountain” species

New anthracological data on the beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), obtained through rescue excavations, allows the proposal of a new pattern of population by beech of the South of France since the Lateglacial. Due to its current ecology and distribution it is considered to be a mountain species in the Mediterranean area despite the presence of beech forests, usually described as glacial relicts, at low altitudes in the South of France and in the Rhone valley (Sainte-Baume, Valbonne and Grand Fays). Our results, combined with previous pollen and charcoal data, show both an early spread from glacial refuges and a late disappearance of the species. During the glacial period, the beech remained in the southernmost zones. From there, it first spread during the Preboreal towards outposts in the Rhone delta, and during the Atlantic along the rhodanian corridor. During the Subboreal, a retreat of beech towards the Pre-Alps and the Rhone delta can be traced. The Iron Age and the Classical period experienced the maximal concentration of beech along the Rhone river, while it became more rare in the North and in the South. During the Middle Ages, it first disappeared from these distal areas, and later also in the valley (around A.D. 1000), finally settling in its present mountainous distribution area (probably around the 14th century A.D.). Some crucial points of the proposed dynamics are further analysed: the paradoxical regression of beech in the valley during the Subboreal, the factors determining the expansion of beech from refuge areas during the Subatlantic and finally, the disappearance of the beech in the middle Rhone valley in rather recent times, a disappearance attributed to the strong human impact on the landscape.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at     

Molecular epidemiology of adenovirus infection among pediatric population with diarrhea in Asia

A total of 3,577 fecal specimens from infants and children with acute gastroenteritis in Japan, Korea and Vietnam during 1998 and 2001 were tested for adenovirus by the ELISA method. Of these, adenovirus was detected in 158 (4.4%). The detection rate of adenovirus was highest in Korea (8.7%, 20/231) followed by 5.0% (100/1,991) in Japan and 2.8% (38/1,355) in Vietnam. All adenoviruses were further serotyped by PCR-RFLP. The diversity of adenovirus serotypes including Ad2, 3, 5, 8, 31, 40 and 41 was demonstrated. Worth of note was a decrease in the rate of isolation of Ad40 (7.6%, 12/158) and a concomitant increase of Ad41 (63.9%, 101/158) to become the predominant serotype. Another interesting feature of the study was the presence of Ad3 (4.0% and 30%) and Ad8 (8.0% and 20%) in Japan and Korea, respectively, which is mainly associated with keratoconjunctivitis worldwide. Our result underscored the importance of adenovirus in association with acute gastroenteritis in Asian countries.     

Synthesis and preliminary antiproliferative evaluation of 1,3,9-triazacyclopenta[b]fluorene derivatives

Novel 1,3,9-triazacyclopenta[b]fluorene-4,10-diones and 1,3,9-triazacyclopenta[b]fluorene, analogue of ellipticine, were synthesised, and evaluated in vitro for their antiproliferative activity on various breast cancer cell lines.     

Low Persistence of Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar israelensis Spores in Four Mosquito Biotopes of a Salt Marsh in Southern France

We studied the persistence of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis (Bti) in a typical breeding site of the mosquito Ochlerotatus caspius in a particularly sensitive salt marsh ecosystem following two Bti-based larvicidal applications (Vectobac 12AS, 1.95 L/ha). The treated area was composed of four larval biotopes that differed in terms of the most representative plant species (Sarcocornia fruticosa, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Phragmites australis, and Juncus maritimus) and the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. We sampled water, soil, and plants at various times before and after the applications (from spring to autumn, 2001) and quantified the spores of B. thuringiensis (Bt) and Bacillus species. The B. cereus group accounted for between 0% and 20% of all Bacillus spp. before application depending on the larval biotope. No Bti were found before application. The variation in the quantity of bacilli during the mosquito breeding season depended more on the larval biotope than on the season or the larvicidal application. More bacilli were found in soil (10(4)-10(6) spores/g) than on plant samples (10(2)-10(4) spores/g). The abundance in water (10(5) to 10(7) spores/L) appeared to be correlated to the water level of the breeding site. The number of Bti spores increased just after application, after declining; no spores were detected in soil or water 3 months after application. However, low numbers of Bti spores were present on foliage from three of the four studied plant strata. In conclusion, the larvicidal application has very little impact on Bacillus spp. flora after one breeding season (two applications).     

Microsatellite mutations show no increases in the children of the Chernobyl liquidators

We performed a study on Belarusian "liquidators", exploring whether increase in the frequencies of germline mutations at microsatellite loci could be found in their progeny. The liquidators, mostly young males, were those involved (during 1986 and 1987) in clean-up operations in the radioactively contaminated area following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986. Many liquidators fathered children during the clean-up period and after the work had been terminated. The numbers of families studied were 64 (liquidators) and 66 (controls). A total of 72 loci (31 autosomal, one X-linked and 40 Y-linked) were used. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes and the microsatellite loci were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction with fluorescence-labelled primers. Mutations were detected as variations in the length of the loci. At the Y-linked loci, the mutation rates (expressed as number of mutations among the total number of loci for the individuals included) are 2.9 x 10(-3) (4/1392) and 2.1 x 10(-3) (3/1458) in the children of exposed and control parents, respectively. This difference is not statistically significant. At the autosomal loci, the corresponding estimates are 5.9 x 10(-3) (11/1862; exposed group) and 8.5 x 10(-3) (18/2108; control). Again, the difference is not significant. The possibility that the Belarusian population might have been unexpectedly exposed to some chemical contaminants in the environment appears unlikely in view of the finding that the spontaneous mutation rates at the same set of loci in several non-Belarusian populations were similar to those in Belarus. The estimated mean radiation dose to the liquidators was small, being about 39 mSv, and this might be one reason why no increases in mutation rates due to radiation could be found.     

High levels of endogenous nitric oxide produced after burn injury in rats arrest activated T lymphocytes in the first G1 phase of the cell cycle and then induce their apoptosis

Major physical traumas provoke a systemic inflammatory response and immune dysfunction. In a model of thermal injury in rats, we previously showed that an overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) was responsible for the collapse of lymphoproliferative responses. In the present work, we performed a time-course analysis of cell proliferation and cell death parameters in order to establish the sequence of events triggered by the high NO output in Wistar/Han rat splenocytes activated with Con A, 10 days after burn injury. We demonstrate that activated T cells from burned rats never divided whereas normal T cells underwent four division cycles. However, T cells from both burned and normal rat entered the G1 phase as shown by increase of cell size, mitochondria hyperpolarization, and expression of cyclin D1. Burned rat T cells progressed to the late G1 phase as shown by expression of the nuclear Ki-67 antigen, but they never entered the S phase. They underwent apoptosis as shown by morphological parameters, disruption of transmembrane mitochondrial potential, and DNA fragmentation. Persistent accumulation of the p53 protein accompanied these phenomena. NO synthase inhibitors antagonize alterations of cell proliferation and cell death parameters in burned rat T cells and accelerated p53 turnover.     

Conservation and Survival Adaptations of Temminck’s Red Colobus <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Procolobus badius temmincki)</Emphasis>, in Senegal

In the Fathala Forest, Saloum Delta National Park, Senegal, in 1974–1976 and 1988–2002, we studied the northernmost populations of the endangered Temminck’s red colobus (Procolobus badius temmincki). Drastic habitat changes in the last 30 yr have reduced the forests by > 50% (75% in the gallery forests used by the red colobus). The woody species diversity decreased by > 30%. Despite these changes, the red colobus population only decreased from ca. 600 to ca. 500 individuals. We examined the ecological conditions and behavioral adaptations that may have influenced survival of the population. We found that 5 major adaptations have emerged in the last 30 yr that may have influenced the survival of red colobus at Fathala: (1) frugivory, (2) terrestriality, (3) tendency to form polyspecific associations with green monkeys, (4) tendency to frequent more open habitats, and (5) use of mangrove swamps for refuge and forage. By developing these adaptations, red colobus demonstrated their ability to persist in degraded habitats of the Fathala Forest. Preserving the forest should ensure the conservation of the red colobus population there.     

Functional characterizations of novWUS involved in novobiocin biosynthesis from Streptomyces spheroides

NovW, novU, and novS gene products represent dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose 3,5 epimarase, C-methyltransferase and dTDP-glucose-4-ketoreductase involved in noviose biosynthetic pathway, respectively. We have expressed three genes to elucidate the functions of NovW, NovU, and NovS in Escherichia coli. NovW and NovU catalyze the formation of dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-5-C-methyl-L-lyxo-hexose from dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose. NovS reduces the product formed from the reaction of NovW with dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose in the presence of NADH to result in dTDP-l-rhamnose. Furthermore, a pathway for the biosynthesis of noviose is proposed.