Occurrence of Amblycerus species in Cordia trichotoma seeds and their influence on germination

Forest species can have their seeds damaged by granivorous insects, especially by those in their larval stage. In this context, this study aims to report the occurrence of Amblycerus species in Cordia trichotoma seeds, to describe their main damage to seeds and effects on germination, as well as their associated hymenopteran parasitoids. Therefore, seven trees were selected in the municipality of Taquaruçu do Sul, RS, Brazil. Fruits were collected weekly from the medium third of the tree crown, from the beginning of their formation until total dehiscence. To examine the damage caused by granivorous insects within the fruits, 15 fruits from each tree were sectioned with a scalpel. Furthermore, 10 fruits from each tree were stored individually in clear plates to verify the occurrence and identification of granivorous insect species. Evidence of the damage caused to seeds was verified through the germination test by comparing preserved and damaged seeds, with four repetitions of 25 seeds each. The species Amblycerus longesuturalis and Amblycerus profaupar (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) were found associated with fruits of C. trichotoma. Female insects predominantly laid eggs on the superior part between the marcescent calyx and the fruit, and larvae perforated the fruit tegument to start consuming seed embryos and reserves. Bruquine larvae are parasitized by Hymenoptera of Bracon, Mirax, Omeganastatus and Triapsis genera. In conclusion, the germination of C. trichotoma seeds is significantly affected by emergence orifices caused by granivorous species.     

Identification of distinct capsule types associated with Serratia marcescens infection isolates

Serratia marcescens is a versatile opportunistic pathogen that can cause a variety of infections, including bacteremia. Our previous work established that the capsule polysaccharide (CPS) biosynthesis and translocation locus contributes to the survival of S. marcescens in a murine model of bacteremia and in human serum. In this study, we determined the degree of capsule genetic diversity among S. marcescens isolates. Capsule loci (KL) were extracted from >300 S. marcescens genome sequences and compared. A phylogenetic comparison of KL sequences demonstrated a substantial level of KL diversity within S. marcescens as a species and a strong delineation between KL sequences originating from infection isolates versus environmental isolates. Strains from five of the identified KL types were selected for further study and electrophoretic analysis of purified CPS indicated the production of distinct glycans. Polysaccharide composition analysis confirmed this observation and identified the constituent monosaccharides for each strain. Two predominant infection-associated clades, designated KL1 and KL2, emerged from the capsule phylogeny. Bacteremia strains from KL1 and KL2 were determined to produce ketodeoxynonulonic acid and N-acetylneuraminic acid, two sialic acids that were not found in strains from other clades. Further investigation of KL1 and KL2 sequences identified two genes, designated neuA and neuB, that were hypothesized to encode sialic acid biosynthesis functions. Disruption of neuB in a KL1 isolate resulted in the loss of sialic acid and CPS production. The absence of sialic acid and CPS production also led to increased susceptibility to internalization by a human monocytic cell line, demonstrating that S. marcescens phagocytosis resistance requires CPS. Together, these results establish the capsule genetic repertoire of S. marcescens and identify infection-associated clades with sialic acid CPS components.     

Sustained fixation induced changes in phoria and convergence peak velocity

Purpose

This study sought to investigate the influence of phoria adaptation on convergence peak velocity from responses located at different initial vergence positions.

Methods

Symmetrical 4° convergence step responses and near dissociated phoria (measured at 40 cm from the subject''s midline) were recorded from six subjects with normal binocular vision using an infrared limbus tracking system with a haploscope. Two different sustained fixations (1° and 16° convergent rotation along the subject''s midline) were used to study whether phoria had an influence on the peak velocity of convergence responses located at two initial vergence positions (1° or ‘far’ steps and 12° or ‘near’ steps).

Results

Phoria was significantly adapted after a sustained fixation task at near (16°) and far (1°) (p<0.002). A repeated measures ANOVA showed that convergence far steps were significantly faster than the near steps (p<0.03). When comparing convergence steps with the same initial vergence position, steps measured after near phoria adaptation were faster than responses after far adaptation (p<0.02). A regression analysis demonstrated that the change in phoria and the change in convergence peak velocity were significantly correlated for the far convergence steps (r = 0.97, p = 0.001). A weaker correlation was observed for the near convergence steps (r = 0.59, p = 0.20).

Conclusion

As a result of sustained fixation, phoria was adapted and the peak velocity of the near and far convergence steps was modified. This study has clinical considerations since prisms, which evoke phoria adaptation, can be prescribed to help alleviate visual discomfort. Future investigations should include a systematic study of how prisms may influence convergence and divergence eye movements for those prescribed with prisms within their spectacles.     

Survey of black howler (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alouatta pigra</Emphasis>) and spider (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ateles geoffroyi</Emphasis>) monkeys in the Mayan sites of Calakmul and Yaxchilán,Mexico and Tikal,Guatemala

Surveys of populations of spider and howler monkeys were conducted at the Mayan sites of Calakmul and Yaxchilán, Mexico and Tikal, Guatemala. The forests in which these sites are found are part of the largest landmass of tropical rain forests present in Mesoamerica, encompassing about 4 million ha. Triangulation of monkey vocalization combined with ground surveys was used to determine the presence of howler and spider monkey groups. Howler monkey mean troop size at these sites varied from 6.6±2.1 individuals in Yaxchilán to 7.5±1.9 in Calakmul to 8.7±2.2 in Tikal. Density estimates varied from 12.8 individuals/km² in Yaxchilán to 15.2 individuals/km² in Calakmul to 17.8 individuals/km² in Tikal. Mean spider monkey subgroup size varied from 4.7±2.6 individuals in Tikal to 5.6±3.0 individuals in Yaxchilán to 7.7±3.8 individuals in Calakmul. Spider monkey density varied from 17.0 individuals/km² in Yaxchilán to 17.2 individuals/km² in Calakmul to 56.4 individuals/km² in Tikal. All sightings of both howler and spider monkeys at the three sites were in undisturbed rain forest vegetation and spider monkeys in general were more frequently sighted at higher tree heights than howlers. We discuss the value of further acquiring data on howler and spider monkey populations existing in extensive forest tracts and on the conservation value for both primate species of the forests surrounding the Mayan ruins found in this area of Mesoamerica.     

Mitogen activated protein kinases SakAHOG1 and MpkC collaborate for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence

Here, we investigated which stress responses were influenced by the MpkC and SakA mitogen‐activated protein kinases of the high‐osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway in the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. The ΔsakA and the double ΔmpkC ΔsakA mutants were more sensitive to osmotic and oxidative stresses, and to cell wall damaging agents. Both MpkC::GFP and SakA::GFP translocated to the nucleus upon osmotic stress and cell wall damage, with SakA::GFP showing a quicker response. The phosphorylation state of MpkA was determined post exposure to high concentrations of congo red and Sorbitol. In the wild‐type strain, MpkA phosphorylation levels progressively increased in both treatments. In contrast, the ΔsakA mutant had reduced MpkA phosphorylation, and surprisingly, the double ΔmpkC ΔsakA had no detectable MpkA phosphorylation. A. fumigatus ΔsakA and ΔmpkC were virulent in mouse survival experiments, but they had a 40% reduction in fungal burden. In contrast, the ΔmpkC ΔsakA double mutant showed highly attenuated virulence, with approximately 50% mice surviving and a 75% reduction in fungal burden. We propose that both cell wall integrity (CWI) and HOG pathways collaborate, and that MpkC could act by modulating SakA activity upon exposure to several types of stresses and during CW biosynthesis.     

High osmolarity glycerol response PtcB phosphatase is important for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence

Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungal pathogen that is capable of adapting to different host niches and to avoid host defenses. An enhanced understanding of how, and which, A. fumigatus signal transduction pathways are engaged in the regulation of these processes is essential for the development of improved disease control strategies. Protein phosphatases are central to numerous signal transduction pathways. To comprehend the functions of protein phosphatases in A. fumigatus, 32 phosphatase catalytic subunit encoding genes were identified. We have recognized PtcB as one of the phosphatases involved in the high osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) pathway. The ΔptcB mutant has both increased phosphorylation of the p38 MAPK (SakA) and expression of osmo‐dependent genes. The ΔptcB strain was more sensitive to cell wall damaging agents, had increased chitin and β‐1,3‐glucan, and impaired biofilm formation. The ΔptcB strain was avirulent in a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. These results stress the importance of the HOG pathway in the regulation of pathogenicity determinants and virulence in A. fumigatus.     

DNA loops generate intracentromere tension in mitosis

The centromere is the DNA locus that dictates kinetochore formation and is visibly apparent as heterochromatin that bridges sister kinetochores in metaphase. Sister centromeres are compacted and held together by cohesin, condensin, and topoisomerase-mediated entanglements until all sister chromosomes bi-orient along the spindle apparatus. The establishment of tension between sister chromatids is essential for quenching a checkpoint kinase signal generated from kinetochores lacking microtubule attachment or tension. How the centromere chromatin spring is organized and functions as a tensiometer is largely unexplored. We have discovered that centromere chromatin loops generate an extensional/poleward force sufficient to release nucleosomes proximal to the spindle axis. This study describes how the physical consequences of DNA looping directly underlie the biological mechanism for sister centromere separation and the spring-like properties of the centromere in mitosis.     

Atorvastatin and Fluoxetine Prevent Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Evoked by Glutamate Toxicity in Hippocampal Slices

Atorvastatin has been shown to exert a neuroprotective action by counteracting glutamatergic toxicity. Recently, we have shown atorvastatin also exerts an antidepressant-like effect that depends on both glutamatergic and serotonergic systems modulation. Excitotoxicity is involved in several brain disorders including depression; thus, it is suggested that antidepressants may target glutamatergic system as a final common pathway. In this study, a comparison of the mechanisms involved in the putative neuroprotective effect of a repetitive atorvastatin or fluoxetine treatment against glutamate toxicity in hippocampal slices was performed. Adult Swiss mice were treated with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, p.o.), once a day during seven consecutive days. On the eighth day, animals were killed and hippocampal slices were obtained and subjected to an in vitro protocol of glutamate toxicity. An acute treatment of atorvastatin or fluoxetine was not neuroprotective; however, the repeated atorvastatin or fluoxetine treatment prevented the decrease in cellular viability induced by glutamate in hippocampal slices. The loss of cellular viability induced by glutamate was accompanied by increased D-aspartate release, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production, and impaired mitochondrial membrane potential. Atorvastatin or fluoxetine repeated treatment also presented an antidepressant-like effect in the tail suspension test. Atorvastatin or fluoxetine treatment was effective in protecting mice hippocampal slices from glutamate toxicity by preventing the oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.