Molecular and in vitro Characterization of Field Isolates of Bovine Herpesvirus-1

Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is distributed worldwide and is a major pathogen in cattle, being the causal agent of a variety of clinical syndromes. The aim of this study was to isolate and to characterize (molecular and biological characterization) BoHV-1 from 29 immunosuppressed animals. It was possible to obtain 18 isolates, each from a different animal, such as from the respiratory and reproductive tracts. In some cases the cytopathic effect was visible 12 hours post-inoculation, and became characteristic after 36-48 hours. Biological characteristics were evaluated and compared with Iowa and Colorado-1 reference strains, and differences were found in plaque size, virus titer measured by TCID50 and PFU/mL, and one step virus curves. These results showed that some isolates had a highly virulent-like behavior in vitro, compared to the reference strains, with shorter eclipse periods, faster release of virus into the supernatants, and higher burst size and viral titer. There were no differences in glycoprotein expression of BoHV-1 isolates, measured by Western blot on monolayers. Moreover, using restriction endonucleases analysis, most of the viruses were confirmed as BoHV-1.1 and just one of them was confirmed as BoHV-1.2a subtype. These findings suggest that some wild-type BoHV-1 isolates could be useful as seeds to develop new monovalent vaccines.     

Morphological and functional aspects of the temporal bone articular tubercle morphology inHomo erectus andHomo sapiens

The morphological variability of the temporal articular tubercle was studied inHomo erectus andHomo sapiens. Five configurations have been defined. There is a high heterogeneity amongHomo erectus. The Neandertal lineage and that leading toHomo sapiens sapiens are more homogenous, each of them exhibits a high frequency of one configuration. This study has also focused on the functional implications of this variation. A theoretical approach to two different configurations of the articular tubercle is considered in the same bony, muscular and ligamentary context. This suggests that the configuration which consists of a transverse concavity is, for the mandible depression, concomitant with a slight functional disadvantage in comparison with the cylindrical configuration. It appears that a midfacial projection allows for a compensation of this disadvantage. It is concluded that this model can be proposed for Neandertals which present a very concave articular tubercle and a typical midfacial projection.     

结核休眠菌与巨噬细胞自噬

结核休眠菌是残存于人体巨噬细胞内处于代谢静止期的极微量结核分枝杆菌(MTB),了解其生物学特性和相关作用机制对MTB潜伏感染新靶点药物的研究具有重要意义。巨噬细胞作为机体固有免疫和适应性免疫的重要组成部分,是清除胞内感染的MTB的首要屏障。巨噬细胞可以通过自噬途径清除MTB,而处于休眠状态的MTB可以逃避巨噬细胞的杀伤而持续存在。此外,目前有关休眠菌如何逃逸巨噬细胞自噬的具体机制也并不十分明确,本文则对休眠菌及其与巨噬细胞自噬相关研究的最新进展作一综述。     

Localization of choline acetyltransferase in laminae of the rat olfactory tubercle

Abstract: We report the distribution of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the laminae of the rat olfactory tubercle. Within its posterior medial portion, the tubercle contains three parallel histological laminae that can be separated by cutting tangential sections from frozen tissue. ChAT was measured in homogenates of consecutive sections (16 μm) cut parallel to these laminae. The distribution of ChAT activity, as a function of tubercle depth, showed a broad peak centered at 500 μm from the ventral surface of the brain. Enzyme activity measured at this depth (85 pmol acetylcholine formed/μg protein/h) was 2 1/2 times greater than that measured in the outermost, plexiform, layer. Stereotaxic injections of kainic acid (1 μg in 1 μ1) made directly into the tubercle were used to eliminate intrinsic neurons. Three days after injection, histological examination revealed the almost total absence of neuronal cell bodies and the proliferation of glial cells. The greatest decreases in ChAT activity (50%) were seen at depths of 300–600 μm whereas no loss of activity occurred in the plexiform layer.     

Wolffian duct differentiation by physiological concentrations of androgen delivered systemically

In developing mammalian males, conversion of the Wolffian ducts into the epididymides and vasa deferentia depends on androgen secretion by the testes, whereas in females these ducts remain in a vestigial form or regress. However, there is continuing uncertainty whether the androgen needs to be delivered locally, either by diffusion from the adjacent testis or, by secretion into the lumen of the duct, or whether circulating androgens maintain and virilize the Wolffian ducts. To resolve this uncertainty, we transplanted either day 0-2 or day 8-9 post-partum testes beneath the flank skin of three groups of neonatal (days 0-1) female tammar wallabies, where they developed and secreted physiological levels of hormones. The Wolffian ducts of all these females were retained and had formed extensive epididymides when examined at days 25, 34 and 87 after birth. In the two older groups of females, sampled after the time of prostatic bud formation, the urogenital sinus was virilized and there was extensive prostatic development similar to that of normal males of the same age, showing that androgen secretion had occurred. Virilization of the Wolffian ducts occurred during an early but short-lived window of sensitivity. This study provides the first clear evidence that under physiological conditions virilization can be mediated by circulating androgen.     

Experimental demonstration of possible cryptic female choice on male tsetse fly genitalia

A possible explanation for one of the most general trends in animal evolution - rapid divergent evolution of animal genitalia - is that male genitalia are used as courtship devices that influence cryptic female choice. But experimental demonstrations of stimulatory effects of male genitalia on female reproductive processes have generally been lacking. Previous studies of female reproductive physiology in the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans suggested that stimulation during copulation triggers ovulation and resistance to remating. In this study we altered the form of two male genital structures that squeeze the female's abdomen rhythmically in G. morsitans centralis and induced, as predicted, cryptic female choice against the male: sperm storage decreased, while female remating increased. Further experiments in which we altered the female sensory abilities at the site contacted by these male structures during copulation, and severely altered or eliminated the stimuli the male received from this portion of his genitalia, suggested that the effects of genital alteration on sperm storage were due to changes in tactile stimuli received by the female, rather than altered male behavior. These data support the hypothesis that sexual selection by cryptic female choice has been responsible for the rapid divergent evolution of male genitalia in Glossina; limitations of this support are discussed. It appears that a complex combination of stimuli trigger female ovulation, sperm storage, and remating, and different stimuli affect different processes in G. morsitans, and that the same processes are controlled differently in G. pallidipes. This puzzling diversity in female triggering mechanisms may be due to the action of sexual selection.     

Multiple male morphs in the leaf‐footed bug Mictis longicornis (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

Species within the coreid clade (Hemiptera: Coreidae) can often be observed competing in intrasexual competitions over access to mates and territories. Coreids that partake in these competitions typically possess sexually dimorphic hind legs that are used to strike and squeeze their rivals. In addition to their weaponized legs, some coreid species also possess sexually dimorphic abdominal tubercles, which are assumed to be sexually selected weapons. Still, much remains unknown about the morphology of these structures. Here, using the species Mictis longicornis Westwood, we investigate the frequency distribution and static allometry of abdominal thickness, a measure that includes tubercle length. Furthermore, we also investigate the morphological relationship between abdominal tubercles and weaponized hind legs. We find that male abdominal thickness is best explained by a bimodal distribution, thereby describing the first observed male polymorphism in the coreid clade; a phenomenon typically associated with alternative reproductive tactics. Additionally, we find that major males are characterized primarily by having large weaponized legs and abdominal tubercles, which further suggests that abdominal tubercles are used in male–male competition.     

1724例女性生殖道支原体感染调查及耐药性分析

目的了解本地区女性生殖道支原体的感染现状及耐药情况,为临床用药提供指导。方法采用生殖道支原体检测试剂盒,对2012年8月至2013年4月解放军第44医院妇科门诊就诊的1 724例女性生殖道标本进行支原体培养及药敏检测,并对结果做统计学分析。结果 1 724例女性生殖道支原体感染率为43.6%,其中单纯Uu感染占85.1%;单纯Mh感染占3.7%;Uu合并Mh感染占11.2%。感染人群中21-40岁年龄段占85.2%。支原体对交沙霉素、强力霉素、美满霉素耐药率较低,对环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星、红霉素及司帕沙星的耐药率较高,单纯Mh及Uu合并Mh感染对抗菌药物的耐药率高于单纯Uu感染。结论女性生殖道支原体感染以单纯Uu为主,感染人群多见于21-40岁,支原体对常用抗菌药物出现了不同程度的耐药性,建议临床根据药敏结果合理用药,以减少耐药菌株的产生。     

Morphological variations in the pre-imaginal development of the ponerine ant Diacamma ceylonense

In the present paper, the larval development of the queenless ponerine ant Diacamma ceylonense is studied. Four instars were identified on the basis of cuticular processes – tubercles and spinules – which show discontinuous variation during growth and provide precise and reliable external morphological criteria for instar discrimination. In the first three instars, the larva possesses a striking proboscis, which disappears between the third and fourth instars. Larval weight increased around 50‐fold in the 21 days of larval life between eclosion and pupation (mean weight for first instar = 0.37 mg; for fourth instar = 20 mg). In addition, the morphology of the gemmae, structures resembling vestigial wings in workers, is described in nymphae.     

Gradual acquisition of the developmental capacity to differentiate adult structures by the genital disc of Drosophila melanogaster

Summary Diplo-X flies homozygous for the transform-er-2 ^ts (tra-2 ^ts) mutation develop into females at 16° C, while they develop into males at 29° C (Belote and Baker 1982). By means of this conditional mutation, we have carried out a detailed analysis of the development of the genital disc. Temperature shifts between 16 and 29° C, in both directions, and temperature pulses at 29° C, have been applied during the larval growth of tra-2 ^ts homozygous diplo-X flies, and the external derivatives of the genital disc have been analysed. Genital discs shifted from 16 to 29° C rapidly lose their capacity to differentiate female genital structures, while they become able to differentiate male genital structures whose inventory is more complete the earlier in larval development the temperature shift is carried out; moreover, duplicated male genital structures were observed. In the shift from 29 to 16° C, the genital disc loses its capacity to differentiate male genital structures, while it becomes able to differentiate female genital structures. The inventory of male structures is smaller, and the inventory of the female structures is more complete, the earlier in larval development the temperature is shifted. No duplicated female or male genital structures were observed in the downshift experiment. With respect to the analia, the shift from 16 to 29° C resulted in the quick formation of pure male anal plates, while in the opposite shift the formation of pure female anal plates occurred gradually. Moreover, the time course for the dorsal and ventral anal plates to show normal female phenotype was different: when the dorsal anal plates were completely normal, it was still possible to find incomplete ventral anal plates. In the pulse experiment at 29° C, the genital disc is able to differentiate both female and male genital structures, although the inventory of the latter ones was not complete. In addition, the capacity of the genital disc to differentiate male genital structures depended on the duration of the temperature pulse. The anal plates were always female, although they showed a reduction in their size, the ventral female anal plate being more affected than the dorsal one. No male anal plates were observed. The results have revealed that the genital disc follows a sequence in its capacity to differentiate female or male adult structures. We suggest that this sequence reflects the sequence of determination events occurring in the genital disc during its larval growth. In addition, results shown here provide evidence for the existence in the female genital primordium of a set of cells capable of giving rise either to female genital structures (ventral vaginal plates) or to male genital structures (hypandrium and penis apparatus). We also present evidence supporting the previous idea of two primordia for the anal plates.