Studying the non‐thermal effects of terahertz radiation on E. coli/pKatG‐GFP biosensor cells

Studies of the impact of terahertz radiation on living objects present a significant interest since its use for security systems is currently considered promising. We studied the non‐thermal impact of terahertz radiation on E. coli/pKatG‐gfp biosensor cells. The Novosibirsk free electron laser (NovoFEL), which currently has the world's highest average and peak power, was used as the source of terahertz radiation. We demonstrated that exposure to terahertz radiation at the wavelengths of 130, 150, and 200 µm and a power of 1.4 W/cm² induces changes in green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence values and thus induces the expression of GFP in E. coli/pKatG‐gfp biosensor cells. Possible mechanisms of the E. coli response to non‐thermal exposure to terahertz radiation are discussed. Bioelectromagnetics 34:15–21, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the outer-membrane-protein genes of Chlamydiae, and its implication for vaccine development

Examination of 18 complete and 6 partial sequences of the major outer- membrane protein from 24 chlamydiae isolates was used to reconstruct their evolutionary relationships. From this analysis, assuming that the clades with 100% bootstrap support are correct, come the following conclusions: (1) The tree of these sequences is not congruent with the phylogeny of the hosts, and thus host switching would seem to have occurred, thereby limiting the extent to which there has been coevolution of parasite and host. (2) The tree is also noncongruent with clustering by type of cell infected, thereby limiting the extent to which there has been coevolution of parasite and the cell type that it infects. (3) The tree is also noncongruent with clustering by the organ infected (eyes or genitalia), thereby limiting the extent to which there has been coevolution of parasite and the organ that it infects. (4) The tree is also noncongruent with genital strains arising from lymphogranuloma venereum strains. (5) The tree is also noncongruent with the geographic site at which the isolates were obtained, thereby limiting the extent of divergence explained by geographic separation. (6) There are estimated to be 185 amino acid positions that are invariable (as opposed to unvaried) in the major outer-membrane protein. There are 10 unvaried positions in the variable domains, of which 9 appear to be invariable, giving some reason to hope that development of a vaccine might be possible. (7) The rate of change of this protein is too small to see increased divergence over the time span of isolation of these genes, giving hope to any vaccine having longevity. Bootstrapping supports those portions of the tree on which the first five conclusions above depend. The picture that these results provide is more one of pathogen versatility than one of coevolutionary constraints. In addition, we examined 10 60-KDa, outer-membrane protein- 2 genes, all but one of which were from these same strains. The tree was not, among the trachomatis strains, congruent with the major-outer- membrane protein tree, suggesting that gene exchange could be occurring among strains. Moreover, there is an apparent slowdown in divergence in this gene, among the trachomatis strains.      

On the Route of the Biological Subunit of the Commission for the Study of Productive Resources of the Yakut ASSR,Headed by L.V. Bianchi and A.I. Ivanov,in Central Yakutia in 1926

Entomological Review - The routes of the biological subunit of the Yakut complex expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences for the study of the productive resources of the Yakut ASSR, working on...     

One new and one little known species of Chrysidid wasps of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysis</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera,Chrysididae) from the northern Caucasus

A new species, Chrysis vicana sp. n., and the previously unknown male of Ch. neobule are described. The basic morphological differences between the new species and the closely related Chrysis neobule Sem. are given. Chrysis vicana differs from Ch. neobule in the presence of an intense blue sheen on the tegulae and the 1st antennal segment, in the clearly pronounced and short frontal carina, in the coloration of abdominal sternite II, in the brown tarsi, almost black venation, and closed radial vein of the wings. Chrysis vicana is recorded on clay and sandy slopes, and Ch. neobule, on clay and sandy slopes and in dead woods in the middle part of the Kuma River basin (Stavropol Territory).     

Signaling function of phagocytic NADPH oxidase: Activation of MAP kinase cascades in phagocytosis

Until recently, the production of reactive oxygen species by NADPH oxidase has been considered only in the context of the oxidative damage to pathogens inside the phagosome. However, homologues of phagocytic NADPH oxidase have been found in almost all cell types, where they produce hydrogen peroxide and thereby regulate the initial intracellular stages of MAP kinase cascades. In the present work, the activation of two MAP kinase cascades, p38 and Erk1/2, during phagocytosis has been studied. It was found that phagocytosis activates both cascades. The activation of Erk1/2 is dependent, and the activation of p38 is not dependent, on the activity of NADPH oxidase. Therefore, the activation of MAP kinases in phagocytes during phagocytosis occurs by a mechanism similar to that operating in nonphagocytic cells, indicating the universality of the function of NADPH oxidases in different cell types.     

Western Palaearctic phylogeography of an inquiline oak gall wasp,Synergus umbraculus

Insect‐induced galls on plants comprise species‐rich but self‐contained communities of herbivores and natural enemies. In the present study, we focus on galls induced by cynipid gall wasps on oaks, and on the least‐known trophic level that these galls contain: inquilines. These insects, also cynipids, feed on gall tissue and are an abundant but taxonomically poorly understood part of an otherwise well‐studied system. We used DNA sequence data to examine spatial patterns in the genetic diversity of Synergus umbraculus Olivier 1791 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini), a widespread species attacking many host galls across the Western Palaearctic. Analysis of 239 cytochrome b sequences revealed eight haplogroups showing significant phylogeographic pattern across the Western Palaearctic, corresponding to putative glacial refugia in Iberia, Central Europe, Turkey, and Iran. There were significant genetic discontinuities across the Pyrenees and the Anatolian diagonal but no impact of the Alps, suggesting that significant discontinuities have biotic rather than physical causes. Detailed analysis of sites in the Carpathian Basin reveal a high diversity and low spatial structure, and identify Central Europe as the source of colonists for Quaternary colonization of Germany, France, and Britain. We found no evidence for host‐associated differentiation of S. umbraculus lineages associated with the most common cynipid host galls, suggesting frequent shifts within the host gall assemblage by inquiline lineages. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102 , 750–764.