European checkerspots (Melitaeini: Lepidoptera,Nymphalidae) are not aposematic – the point of view of great tits (Parus major)

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Composition and biological activity of submerged mycelium of the xylotrophic basidiomycete Lentinus edodes

The composition of submerged mycelium of Lentinus edodes, grown in laboratory fermenters, has been studied. The mycelium contained 23-24% proteins, 8-9% lipids, up to 1800 mg% phenolic substances, and a significant amount of inorganic substances, including calcium and iron. The fungus produced up to 5.0% intracellular and 3.5-4.0 g/l extracellular polysaccharides. The submerged mycelium stimulated the development of humoral immune response elicited by sheep red blood cells.     

ONTOGENETIC NICHE SHIFT IN THE BRACHIOPOD TEREBRATALIA TRANSVERSA: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LOSS OF ROTATION ABILITY AND ALLOMETRIC GROWTH

Abstract: Many articulated brachiopods experience marked life habit variations during ontogeny because they experience their fluid environment at successively higher Reynolds numbers, and they can change the configuration of their inhalant and exhalant flows as body size increases. We show that the extant brachiopod Terebratalia transversa undergoes a substantial ontogenetic change in reorientation governed by rotation around the pedicle. T. transversa′s reorientation angle (maximum ability to rotate on the pedicle) decreases during ontogeny, from 180 degrees in juveniles to 10–20 degrees in individuals exceeding 5 mm, to complete cessation of rotation in individuals larger than 10 mm. Rotation ability is substantially reduced after T. transversa achieves the adult lophophore configuration and preferred orientation with respect to ambient water currents at a length of 2.5–5 mm. We hypothesize that the rotation angle of T. transversa is determined mainly by the position of ventral and dorsal points of attachment of dorsal pedicle muscles relative to the pedicle. T. transversa shows a close correlation between the ontogenetic change in reorientation angle and ontogeny of morphological traits that are related to points of attachment of dorsal pedicle muscles, although other morphological features can also limit rotation in the adult stage. The major morphological change in cardinalia shape and the observed reduction of rotation affect individuals 2.5–10 mm in length. The position of ventral insertions of dorsal pedicle muscles remains constant, but contraction of dorsal pedicle muscles is functionally handicapped because dorsal insertions shift away from the valve midline, rise above the dorsal valve floor, and become limited by a wide cardinal process early in ontogeny (<5 mm). The rate of increase of cardinal process width and of distance between dorsal pedicle muscle scars substantially decreases in the subadult stage (5–10 mm), and most of the cardinalia shell traits grow nearly isometrically in the adult stage (>10 mm). T. transversa attains smaller shell length in crevices than on exposed substrates. The proportion of small‐sized individuals and population density is lower on exposed substrates than in crevices, indicating higher juvenile mortality on substrates prone to grazing and physical disturbance. The loss of reorientation ability can be a consequence of morphological changes that strengthen substrate attachment and maximize protection against biotic or physical disturbance (1) by minimizing torques around the pedicle axis and/or (2) by shifting energy investments into attachment strength at the expense of the cost involved in reorientation.     

Modification of the phospholipid composition of the cardiomyocyte sarcolemma in izadrin-induced myocarditis

A modification of phospholipid composition in rat cardiomyocyte sarcolemma occurring during isadrin myocarditis has been investigated. The fractions of sphingomyelin (SphM), phosphatidylserine (PhS), phosphatidylinositol (PhI), phosphatidylcholine (PhCh), phosphatidylethanolamine (PhEA) have been isolated. The shifts in phospholipid composition during isadrin myocarditis expressing in increase of the amount of choline-containing (PhCh + SphM) and decrease of acid (PhS + PhI) phospholipids have been revealed. During the isadrin myocarditis the incorporation of DL-[3-14C] serine in the fraction of total protein increases and in the fraction of total lipids decreases. The maximum incorporation of the label into total lipids in normal occurs faster than in case of myocarditis. The dynamics of the label distribution between metabolically related PhS, PhEA and PhCh indicates that PhS is the precursor of PhEA, the later being the precursor of PhCh. The label redistribution between PhS, PhEA and PhCh occurs by the sequence of metabolic transformations and by the direct base-exchange reactions. The intensity of the latter has been estimated by the incorporation of radioactive serine into phospholipids of the sarcolemma in vitro. The data obtained demonstrate the inhibitory action of isadrin myocarditis.     

The characteristics of the microflora isolated in bovine endometritis]

117 pure bacterial cultures of numerous species isolated by the authors at acute postnatal pyo-catarrhal cattle endometritis have been studied for their virulence and resistance to 18 antibiotics with the aim to determine their etiologic role in the development of the given pathology and to make a prediction estimation of possible therapeutic and preventive efficiency of the antibiotics. The experiments on white mice have revealed pathogenic properties and virulence in most studied strains of bacteria of different species. The studied microflora is, mainly, resistant practically to all 18 tested antibiotics. A direct dependence is established between virulence of the microflora, isolated in case of endometritis, and its resistance to antibiotics.     

The microflora in suppurative-catarrhal endometritis in cattle

Microflora isolated from cattle with acute postnatal pus-catarrhal endometritis has been studied. It is shown that the given pathology is caused by associations of different bacterial species. 284 strains isolated from the uterus content of 63 sick animals have been identified, their properties being studied. Pathogenic gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive pus-producing cocci are responsible for the studied pathology. Considerable inoculation capacity has been established for conditionally pathogenic microorganisms of different species and genera whose role in pathogenesis is to be found out.     

Changes in fatty acids contents and growth characteristics in transformed oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Spring oilseed rapeBrassica napus L. ssp.oleifera cv. HM-81 was transformed with T_L-DNA of the Ri plasmid of the agropine strainAgrobacterium rhizogenes 15834. Selfed progenies (R₂ and R₃ generations) were studied for changes in values of growth characteristics and fatty acids contents. Transformants are ‘homozygous’ for T_L-DNA. Both generations of transformants differed significantly from the nontransformed control plants in reduced length, lower number of pods per plant, lower total mass of seeds and the higher number of branches. The contents of palmitic, linoleic and linolenic acids were significantly higher in transformants when compared with the control. On the contrary, the contents of both stearic and oleic acids were in most of transformants significantly lower. Only traces of erucic acid (less than 0.05 % ) were found, both in transformed and nontransformed plants.