Multi‐generational long‐distance migration of insects: studying the painted lady butterfly in the Western Palaearctic

Long‐range, seasonal migration is a widespread phenomenon among insects, allowing them to track and exploit abundant but ephemeral resources over vast geographical areas. However, the basic patterns of how species shift across multiple locations and seasons are unknown in most cases, even though migrant species comprise an important component of the temperate‐zone biota. The painted lady butterfly Vanessa cardui is such an example; a cosmopolitan continuously‐brooded species which migrates each year between Africa and Europe, sometimes in enormous numbers. The migration of 2009 was one of the most impressive recorded, and thousands of observations were collected through citizen science programmes and systematic entomological surveys, such as high altitude insect‐monitoring radar and ground‐based butterfly monitoring schemes. Here we use V. cardui as a model species to better understand insect migration in the Western Palaearctic, and we capitalise on the complementary data sources available for this iconic butterfly. The migratory cycle in this species involves six generations, encompassing a latitudinal shift of thousands of kilometres (up to 60 degrees of latitude). The cycle comprises an annual poleward advance of the populations in spring followed by an equatorward return movement in autumn, with returning individuals potentially flying thousands of kilometres. We show that many long‐distance migrants take advantage of favourable winds, moving downwind at high elevation (from some tens of metres from the ground to altitudes over 1000 m), pointing at strong similarities in the flight strategies used by V. cardui and other migrant Lepidoptera. Our results reveal the highly successful strategy that has evolved in these insects, and provide a useful framework for a better understanding of long‐distance seasonal migration in the temperate regions worldwide.     

Cytochrome P450 enzyme activity in five herbivorous,non-passerine bird species

We examined hepatic cytochrome P450 activity in wild and hand-reared grey partridges (Perdix perdix), capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), as well as the enzyme activity in a variety of tissues of hand-reared Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and pigeons (Columba livia). Post-mortem decrease in hepatic enzyme activity in the grey partridge was measured. Hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity was similar in wild and hand-reared grey partridges and pheasants, but the activity was significantly lower in wild than in hand-reared capercaillies, probably resulting from their phenolic-rich diet. In the tissues of both quails and pigeons 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase exhibited the highest and 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-deethylase the lowest activity. Hepatic enzyme activity was significantly higher than that in other tissues. In the small intestine some activity could be found, reflecting some intestinal detoxication capacity. Enzyme activity decreased by 34-69% during the 30-min sampling period, which confirmed the importance of equalising sampling time to obtain comparable data. Because the hand-reared birds in this study were fed the same commercial diets, we assumed that the enzyme activity values detected reflect species differences without any induction by dietary secondary compounds.     

Genetic characterization of the Guinea-Bissau family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains

In a previous study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, we identified a unique group of strains, designated here as the Guinea-Bissau family of strains, which, although genotypically closely related, phenotypically demonstrated a considerable heterogeneity. We conducted here a detailed genotypic analysis of a subset (n = 35) of these isolates. Based on the data obtained, and by comparison of known corresponding genes in mycobacteria outside the M. tuberculosis complex, we propose that the Guinea-Bissau strains belong to a unique branch of the M. tuberculosis complex tree in between classical M. tuberculosis and classical M. bovis. These observations are discussed in their significance in M. tuberculosis complex classification.     

Lysinuric Protein Intolerance (LPI) Gene Maps to the Long Arm of Chromosome 14

Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by defective transport of cationic amino acids and by hyperammonemia. Linkage analysis in 20 Finnish LPI families assigned the LPI gene locus to the proximal long arm of chromosome 14. Recombinations placed the locus between framework markers D14S72 and MYH7, a 10-cM interval in which the markers D14S742, D14S50, D14S283, and TCRA showed no recombinations with the phenotype. The phenotype was in highly significant linkage disequilibrium with markers D14S50, D14S283, and TCRA. The strongest allelic association obtained with marker TCRA, resulting in a P(excess) value of .98, suggests that the LPI gene locus lies in close proximity to this marker, probably within a distance of < 100 kb.     

TRUE IDENTITY OF THE EUROPEAN FRESHWATER ULVA (CHLOROPHYTA,ULVOPHYCEAE) REVEALED BY A COMBINED MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL APPROACH1

A set of 18 freshwater and morphologically similar marine samples of Ulva were collected from inland and coastal waters throughout Europe to assess their taxonomic identity and invasive potential. An additional 11 specimens were obtained from herbaria. The material was studied using a combination of classical morphological methods and molecular techniques; the latter included sequencing of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2) and the chloroplast RUBISCO LSU (rbcL) gene and comparison of the ITS2 secondary structure predictions. Based on classical methods, all the specimens could be determined as U. flexuosa Wulfen and could be further divided into three groups matching three infraspecific taxa. This pattern was generally well supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses. All sequenced samples formed a monophyletic lineage within Ulva, showing a putative synapomorphy in the ITS2 secondary structure. The individual subspecies corresponded to phylogenetic clusters within this lineage. In freshwater habitats, the dominant taxon was U. flexuosa subsp. pilifera, but subsp. paradoxa was also occasionally recorded. In marine habitats, only U. flexuosa subsp. flexuosa and subsp. paradoxa were located. These findings support the view that U. flexuosa subsp. pilifera is primarily a freshwater alga that probably dominates in Europe. As confirmed by the study of herbarium specimens, U. flexuosa should be regarded as indigenous, although it has a tendency to form blooms under certain conditions. Besides clarifying the identity of prevailing European freshwater Ulva, the study provides novel data concerning the distribution and morphological plasticity within the U. flexuosa complex.     

Ectodysplasin,Edar and TNFRSF19 are expressed in complementary and overlapping patterns during mouse embryogenesis

Ectodysplasin (Eda), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, and its receptor Edar are necessary components of ectodermal organ development. Analysis of their expression patterns and mutant phenotypes has shown that during mouse hair and tooth development they may be involved in signalling between separate epithelial compartments. Here we have analysed ectodysplasin and Edar expression in other embryonic mouse tissues, and show that Edar mRNA is confined to the epithelium. Ectodysplasin and Edar are expressed in separate epithelial compartments in the developing brain and the lacrimal gland. In the salivary gland ectodysplasin is expressed in the mesenchyme and Edar in the epithelium. This is the first indication of ectodysplasin-Edar signalling between the epithelium and the mesenchyme. We also studied the expression pattern of a related TNF receptor, TNFRSF19, and show that it is expressed in an overlapping domain with Edar in the tooth, mammary gland, whiskers, and limb bud suggesting a potentially redundant role.     

Genetic diversity in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex from Guinea-Bissau, West Africa

Isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) were cultured from sputum samples obtained from patients in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Twenty-eight isolates hybridising with MAC probe (AccuProbe) were further characterised by different molecular techniques: hybridisation with species-specific probes (AccuProbe) for M. avium and M. intracellulare, partial sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and PCR detection of the DT1-DT6 sequences and the macrophage-induced gene (mig). Only one of the 28 isolates reacted with the M. avium probe and four with the M. intracellulare probe. Two isolates expressed the DT1 sequence, and three the DT6. The mig was detected in 18 (64%) of the isolates. Sequencing of 16S rRNA had the greatest discriminative power of the typing methods applied, without strong correlation with any other technique. Clinical MAC isolates from Guinea-Bissau demonstrated a wide genetic diversity among the members of M. avium complex that might reflect on biotope variation.     

Daily Liquorice Consumption for Two Weeks Increases Augmentation Index and Central Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

Background

Liquorice ingestion often elevates blood pressure, but the detailed haemodynamic alterations are unknown. We studied haemodynamic changes induced by liquorice consumption in 20 subjects versus 30 controls with average blood pressures of 120/68 and 116/64 mmHg, respectively.

Methods

Haemodynamic variables were measured in supine position before and after two weeks of liquorice consumption (daily glycyrrhizin dose 290–370 mg) with tonometric recording of radial blood pressure, pulse wave analysis, and whole-body impedance cardiography. Thirty age-matched healthy subjects maintaining their normal diet were studied as controls.

Results

Two weeks of liquorice ingestion elevated peripheral and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure (by 7/4 and 8/4 mmHg, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 2-11/1-8 and 3-13/1-8, respectively, P<0.05), and increased extracellular volume by 0.5 litres (P<0.05 versus controls). Also augmentation index adjusted to heart rate 75/min (from 7% to 11%, 95% CI for change 0.3-7.5, P<0.05) and aortic pulse pressure (by 4 mmHg, 95% CI 1-7, P<0.05) were elevated indicating increased wave reflection from the periphery. In contrast, peripheral (−3/−0.3 mmHg) and central blood pressure (−2/−0.5 mmHg), aortic pulse pressure (−1 mmHg), and augmentation index adjusted to heart rate 75/min (from 9% to 7%) decreased numerically but not statistically significantly without changes in extracellular volume in the control group. Heart rate, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, and pulse wave velocity did not differ between the groups.

Conclusions

Two weeks of daily liquorice consumption increased extracellular volume, amplified pressure wave reflection from the periphery, and elevated central systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Trial Registration

EU Clinical Trials Register EudraCT 2006-002065-39</url>ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01742702","term_id":"NCT01742702"}}NCT01742702