Ranging behavior of Mahale chimpanzees: a 16 year study

We have analyzed the ranging patterns of the Mimikire group (M group) of chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. During 16 years, the chimpanzees moved over a total area of 25.2 or 27.4 km², as estimated by the grid-cell or minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods, respectively. Annually, the M group used an average of 18.4 km², or approximately 70 %, of the total home-range area. The chimpanzees had used 80 % of their total home range after 5 years and 95 % after 11 years. M group chimpanzees were observed more than half of the time in areas that composed only 15 % of their total home range. Thus, they typically moved over limited areas, visiting other parts of their range only occasionally. On average, the chimpanzees used 7.6 km² (in MCP) per month. Mean monthly range size was smallest at the end of the rainy season and largest at the end of the dry season, but there was much variability from year to year. The chimpanzees used many of the same areas every year when Saba comorensis fruits were abundant between August and January. In contrast, the chimpanzees used several different areas of their range in June. Here range overlap between years was relatively small. Over the 16 years of the study we found that the M group reduced their use of the northern part of their range and increased their frequency of visits to the eastern mountainous side of their home range. Changes in home-range size correlated positively with the number of adult females but not with the number of adult males. This finding does not support a prediction of the male-defended territory model proposed for some East African chimpanzee unit-groups.     

Phylogenetic systematics of the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda: Taeniidae)

Echinococcosis is a serious helminthic zoonosis in humans, livestock and wildlife. The pathogenic organisms are members of the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda: Taeniidae). Life cycles of Echinococcus spp. are consistently dependent on predator–prey association between two obligate mammalian hosts. Carnivores (canids and felids) serve as definitive hosts for adult tapeworms and their herbivore prey (ungulates, rodents and lagomorphs) as intermediate hosts for metacestode larvae. Humans are involved as an accidental host for metacestode infections. The metacestodes develop in various internal organs, particularly in liver and lungs. Each metacestode of Echinococcus spp. has an organotropism and a characteristic form known as an unilocular (cystic), alveolar or polycystic hydatid. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that the type species, Echinococcus granulosus, causing cystic echinococcosis is a cryptic species complex. Therefore, the orthodox taxonomy of Echinococcus established from morphological criteria has been revised from the standpoint of phylogenetic systematics. Nine valid species including newly resurrected taxa are recognised as a result of the revision. This review summarises the recent advances in the phylogenetic systematics of Echinococcus, together with the historical backgrounds and molecular epidemiological aspects of each species. A new phylogenetic tree inferred from the mitochondrial genomes of all valid Echinococcus spp. is also presented. The taxonomic nomenclature for Echinococcus oligarthrus is shown to be incorrect and this name should be replaced with Echinococcus oligarthra.     

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Part 5: Hybrid PDE3/4 inhibitors as dual bronchorelaxant/anti-inflammatory agents for inhaled administration

(?)-6-(7-Methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-4-yl)-5-methyl-4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-one (KCA-1490) exhibits moderate dual PDE3/4-inhibitory activity and promises as a combined bronchodilatory/anti-inflammatory agent. N-alkylation of the pyridazinone ring markedly enhances potency against PDE4 but suppresses PDE3 inhibition. Addition of a 6-aryl-4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-one extension to the N-alkyl group facilitates both enhancement of PDE4-inhibitory activity and restoration of potent PDE3 inhibition. Both dihydropyridazinone rings, in the core and extension, can be replaced by achiral 4,4-dimethylpyrazolone subunits and the core pyrazolopyridine by isosteric bicyclic heteroaromatics. In combination, these modifications afford potent dual PDE3/4 inhibitors that suppress histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in vivo and exhibit promising anti-inflammatory activity via intratracheal administration.     

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Part 6: Design,synthesis, and structure–activity relationships of PDE4-inhibitory pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines with anti-inflammatory activity

We previously identified KCA-1490 [(?)-6-(7-methoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-4-yl)-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-3-(2H)-pyridazinone], a dual PDE3/4 inhibitor. In the present study, we found highly potent selective PDE4 inhibitors derived from the structure of KCA-1490. Among them, N-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)-7-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-4-carboxamide (2a) had good anti-inflammatory effects in an animal model.     

Hypoxic condition-selective upconversion via triplet–triplet annihilation based on POSS-core dendrimer complexes

The influence on the efficiencies of the triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA)-supported upconversion by oxygen under biomimetic conditions was investigated. From the solution containing the dendrimer complexes based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-core dendrimer with the Pt complex of octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) and anthracene in PBS, the fluorescence emission of anthracene depending on the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations via the TTA-supported upconversion was obtained with the excitation light at 540 nm. In particular, we observed strong emission only under hypoxic conditions. In addition, it was found that the emission intensity via TTA-supported upconversion can be reversibly regulated by the DO concentrations in the solution.     

Galnt3 deficiency disrupts acrosome formation and leads to oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

Galnt3 belongs to the GalNAc transferase gene family involved in the initiation of mucin-type O-glycosylation. Male Galnt3-deficient (Galnt3 ^?/?) mice were infertile, as previously reported by Ichikawa et al. (2009). To investigate the involvement of Galnt3 in spermatogenesis, we examined the differentiation of germ cells in Galnt3 ^?/? mice. Galnt3 mRNA was most highly expressed in testis, and Galnt3 protein was localized in the cis-medial parts of the Golgi stacks of spermatocytes and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules. Spermatozoa in Galnt3 ^?/? mice were rare and immotile, and most of them had deformed round heads. They exhibited abnormal acrosome and disturbed mitochondria arrangement in the flagella. At the cap phase, proacrosomal vesicles of various sizes, which had not coalesced to form a single acrosomal vesicle, were attached to the nucleus in Galnt3 ^?/? mice. TUNEL-positive cells were increased in the seminiferous tubules. The binding of VVA lectin, which recognizes the Tn antigen (GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr), in the acrosomal regions of spermatids and spermatozoa in Galnt3 ^?/? mice was drastically reduced. Equatorin is a N, O-sialoglycoprotein localized in the acrosomal membrane and is suggested to be involved in sperm–egg interaction. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses showed a drastic reduction in the reactivity with MN9 antibody, which recognizes the O-glycosylated moiety of equatorin and inhibits sperm–egg interaction. These findings indicate that deficiency of Galnt3 results in a severe reduction of mucin-type O-glycans in spermatids and causes impaired acrosome formation, leading to oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, and suggest that Galnt3 may also be involved in the process of fertilization through the O-glycosylation of equatorin.     

Volatile Flavor Components of Dried Bonito (Katsuobushi) II. From Neutral Fraction

The aqueous extract of dried bonito (Katsuobushi) was distilled under reduced pressure. The resulting distillate with diethyl ether and the extract was separated into acidic, phenolic, basic and neutral fractions. The neutral fraction was further fractionated into ten sub-fractions by silica gel column chromatography. All these sub-fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

One hundred and sixty-five compounds were identified and 12 compounds were tentatively identified from the neutral fraction. Among them, 111 compounds were newly identified as flavor components of Katsuobushi.     

Identification of d-Erythro-Dihydroneopterin Triphosphate as a Product of Guanosine Triphosphate Cyclohydrolase from Serratia indica

Guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase (EC 3.5.4.16) was previously shown to exist in two forms (GTP cyclohydrolase D-I and D-II) in Serratia indica IFO 3759, and they were homogeneously isolated. The present study deals with the characterization of their reaction products. A fluorescent product formed from guanosine triphosphate by GTP cyclohydrolase D-II was identified as 7,8-dihydroneopterin triphosphate by its absorption spectra, phosphate analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the dephosphorylated trimethylsilyl derivative. After oxidation and dephosphorylation, the d-erythro configuration of the side chain was made clear by the elution profile on ECTEOLA-cellulose chromatography, Rf values on thin-layer chromatography and by biological activity to Crithidia fasciculata ATCC 12857. The fluorescent products from GTP cyclohydrolase D-I and D-II were indistinguishable.