Morphological and Molecular Identification of Spirometra Tapeworms (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) from Carnivorous Mammals in the Serengeti and Selous Ecosystems of Tanzania

Spirometra tapeworms (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) collected from carnivorous mammals in Tanzania were identified by the DNA sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), and by morphological characteristics. A total of 15 adult worms were collected from stool samples and carcasses of Panthera leo, Panthera pardus, and Crocuta crocuta in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania. Three Spirometra species: S. theileri, S. ranarum and S. erinaceieuropaei were identified based on morphological features. Partial cox1 sequences (400 bp) of 10 specimens were revealed. Eight specimens showed 99.5% similarity with Spirometra theileri ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MK955901","term_id":"1796114604","term_text":"MK955901"}}MK955901), 1 specimen showed 99.5% similarity with the Korean S. erinaceieuropaei and 1 specimen had 99.5% similarity with Myanmar S. ranarum. Sequence homology estimates for the ITS1 region of S. theileri were 89.8% with S. erinaceieuropaei, 82.5% with S. decipiens, and 78.3% with S. ranarum; and 94.4% homology was observed between S. decipiens and S. ranarum. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with 4 species of Spirometra and 2 species of Dibothriocephalus (=Diphyllobothrium). By both ML and BI methods, cox1 and ITS1 gave well supported, congruent trees topology of S. erinaceieuropaei and S. theileri with S. decipiens and S. ranarum forming a clade. The Dibothriocephalus species were sisters of each other and collectively forming successive outgroups. Our findings confirmed that 3 Spirometra species (S. theileri, S. ranarum, and S. erinaceieuropaei) are distributed in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania.     

Testosterone as a factor modifying the toxicity of ekatin for the Pharaoh quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh). I. Mature birds

1. Testosterone reduces the haemolytic action of Ekatin on the morphotic blood elements by accelerating maturation of erythroblastic cells. 2. Testosterone, by accelerating the metabolism of the pesticide causes a defective defence processes of the organism by decreasing the number of macrophages. 3. Intoxication of androgenised birds with Ekatin leads to a breakdown of the systemic adaptive mechanisms by rapid and early switching on the adrenal cortex in response to the stress caused by poisoning.     

Efficient apoptosis and necrosis induction by proteasome inhibitor: bortezomib in the DLD-1 human colon cancer cell line

The inhibition of the 26S proteasome evokes endoplasmic reticulum stress, which has been shown to be implicated in the antitumoral effects of proteasome inhibitors. The cellular and molecular effects of the proteasome inhibitor—bortezomib—on human colon cancer cells are as yet poorly characterized. Bortezomib selectively induces apoptosis in some cancer cells. However, the nature of its selectivity remains unknown. Previously, we demonstrated that, in contrast to normal fibroblasts, bortezomib treatment evoked strong effect on apoptosis of breast cancer cells incubated in hypoxic and normoxic conditions. The study presented here provides novel information on the cellular effects of bortezomib in DLD-1 colon cancer cells line. We observe twofold higher percentage of apoptotic cells incubated for 48 h with 25 and 50 nmol/l of bortezomib in hypoxic conditions and four-, fivefold increase in normoxic conditions in comparison to control cells, incubated without bortezomib. It is of interest that bortezomib evokes strong effect on necrosis of DLD-1 colon cancer cell line. We observe the sixfold increase in necrosis of DLD-1 cells incubated with 25 or 50 nmol/l of bortezomib for 48 h in hypoxia and fourfold increase in normoxic conditions in comparison to adequate controls. We suggest that bortezomib may be candidates for further evaluation as chemotherapeutic agents for human colon cancer.     

Ethylene and IAA interactions in the inhibition of photoperiodic flower induction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pharbitis nil</Emphasis>

It has been shown that both IAA and ethylene application inhibit flower induction in the short-day plant Pharbitis nil. However application of IAA has elevated ethylene production in this plant, as well. Strong enhancement of ethylene production is also correlated with the night-break effect, which completely inhibits flowering. In order to determine what the role of IAA and ethylene is in the photoperiodic flower induction in Pharbitis nil, we measured changes in their levels during inductive and non-inductive photoperiods, and the effects of ethylene biosynthesis and action inhibitors on inhibition of flowering by IAA. Our results have shown that the inhibitory effect of IAA on Pharbitis nil flowering is not physiological but is connected with its effect on ethylene biosynthesis.     

Distribution of elements in rabbit liver lobule

The elemental composition of rabbit liver was determined by the PIXE and micro-PIXE methods. The mean concentrations of P, S, Cl, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Rb measured by both methods were similar. The latter method also allowed for localization of elements within lobule territory. It has been found that some elements are more prevalent in the veins (Cl, Fe) and others in the liver parenchyma (P, Cu, Zn). Moreover, Zn showed the characteristic intralobular distribution. Some methodological aspects of microbeam application to biological materials were also discussed.     

Microbial transformation of neutral fraction and upgraded neutral fraction of Polish tall oil

Summary Microbial transformations of neutral fraction (NF) and upgraded neutral fraction (UNF) of Polish tall oil byMycobacterium sp. MB 3683 were performed. Final metabolites and yields were compared to bioconversion of pure -sitosterol. Additionally, origin of a new metabolite —5-androsta-3,6,17-trione was proved by transformation of UNF in the presence of labeled -sitosterol.