The increased population of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa L.) in Europe

In this paper the recent population changes of the Wild Boar in different European countries is analysed through the study of hunting statistics. A simultaneous increase in numbers is observed throughout the whole area during the period 1965–1975. From 1975 onwards the population stabilizes itself apart from in peripheral areas like Finland. Potentially favourable factors which play a part in this process are discussed and certain reproductive and dispersive characteristics which favour its invasive behaviour are discussed.     

Partitioning of gonococcal LPS into phenol and water: Different LPS composition of in vivo and in vitro selected variants

Abstract Depending on the culture conditions, Pyrodictium occultum cells revealed two different types of fibers with significant differences in their width in the electron microscope. During growth on elemental sulfur preferentially fibres with a diameter of about 23 nm (type I) were produced. When elemental sulfur was substituted by thiosulfate fibers with a diameter of around 15 nm (type II), were the main appendages. Both types form hollow cylinders consisting of helically arranged sub-units with a wall thickness of 2–3 nm. A triple- layered unit membrane could not be found.     

Gynoecium structure in Sapindales and a case study of Trichilia pallens (Meliaceae)

Journal of Plant Research - Sapindales is a monophyletic order within the malvid clade of rosids. It represents an interesting group to address questions on floral structure and evolution due to a...     

Quantitative imaging of protein interactions in the cell nucleus

Over the past decade, genetically encoded fluorescent proteins have become widely used as noninvasive markers in living cells. The development of fluorescent proteins, coupled with advances in digital imaging, has led to the rapid evolution of live-cell imaging methods. These approaches are being applied to address biological questions of the recruitment, co-localization, and interactions of specific proteins within particular subcellular compartments. In the wake of this rapid progress, however, come important issues associated with the acquisition and analysis of ever larger and more complex digital imaging data sets. Using protein localization in the mammalian cell nucleus as an example, we will review some recent developments in the application of quantitative imaging to analyze subcellular distribution and co-localization of proteins in populations of living cells. In this report, we review the principles of acquiring fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy measurements to define the spatial relationships between proteins. We then discuss how fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) provides a method that is independent of intensity-based measurements to detect localized protein interactions with spatial resolution. Finally, we consider potential problems associated with the expression of proteins fused to fluorescent proteins for FRET-based measurements from living cells.     

The Neisseria gonorrhoeae lpxLII gene encodes for a late-functioning lauroyl acyl transferase, and a null mutation within the gene has a significant effect on the induction of acute inflammatory responses

LPS is a fundamental constituent of the outer membrane of all Gram-negative bacteria, and the lipid A domain plays a central role in the induction of inflammatory responses. We identified genes of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae lipid A biosynthetic pathway by searching the complete gonococcal genome sequence with sequences of known enzymes from other species. The lpxLII gene was disrupted by an insertion-deletion in an attenuated aroA mutant of the gonococcal strain MS11. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipid A analysis demonstrated that the lpxLII mutant had synthesized an altered LPS molecule lacking a single lauric fatty acid residue in the GlcN II of the lipid A backbone. LPS of the lpxLII mutant had a markedly reduced ability to induce the proinflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 from human macrophages and IL-8 from polymorphonuclear cells. This study demonstrates that the lpxLII gene in gonococci encodes for a late-functioning lauroyl acyl transferase that adds a lauric acid at position 2' in the lipid A backbone. The presence of lauric acid at such a position appears to be crucial for the induction of full inflammatory responses by N. gonorrhoeae LPS.