Effect of different larval rearing temperatures on the productivity (Ro) and morphology of the malaria vector Anopheles superpictus Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae) using geometric morphometrics

Temperature affects both the biology and morphology of mosquito vectors. Geometric morphometrics is a useful new tool for capturing and analyzing differences in shape and size in many morphological parameters, including wings. We have used this technique for capturing the differences in the wings of the malaria vector Anopheles superpictus, using cohorts reared at six different constant temperatures (15°, 20°, 25°, 27°, 30°, and 35° C) and also searched for potential correlations with the life tables of the species. We studied wing shape in both male and female adults, using 22 landmarks on the wing in relation to ecological parameters, including the development rate. The ecological zero was calculated as 9.93° C and the thermal constant as 296.34 day‐degrees. The rearing temperature affects egg, larval, and pupal development and also the total time from egg to adult. As rearing temperatures increased, longevity decreased in both sexes. In An. superpictus, R_o value and productivity correlated with the statistically significant gradual deformations in the wing shape related to size in both sexes. These deformations directly linked to differences in immature rearing temperatures. Analysis using PCA and UPGMA phenograms showed that although wings of females became narrower dorsoventrally as the temperature increased, they became broader in males. Comparisons of the wing landmarks indicated the medial part of the wing was most affected by larval rearing temperatures, showing relatively more deformations. Algorithmic values of the life tables were determined in correlation with the results of geometric morphometrics. Comparisons of centroid sizes in the cohorts showed that overall wing size became smaller in both sexes in response to higher rearing temperatures.     

Distribution and altitudinal structuring of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in southern Anatolia, Turkey: their relation to human cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The two Old World genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, were both recorded in southern Anatolia in Turkey. Phlebotomus species predominated and comprised about 93% of the entire collection (3,172 specimens). Out of the sixteen species identified, two belonged to the genus Sergentomyia: S. dentata and S. theodori. The remaining fourteen species in the genus Phlebotomus were grouped under four subgenera including some species that are elsewhere known to act as vectors of human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Most of the Phlebotomus were P. tobbi (32.5%), but P. papatasi, P. transcaucasicus, P. halepensis, P. galilaeus, P. sergenti, P. syriacus, P. neglectus, P. simici, P. alexandri, P. similis, P jacusieli, P. perfiliewi, and P. brevis were also identified. There were two associations of sand fly fauna with altitudinal gradient; the first one at relatively higher altitudes and the second one at lower altitudes. The transition between these two assemblages was within the range of 800-1,000 m. It is likely that Adana and Hatay provinces are transitional areas between western and eastern Anatolia. Mountains do not appear to be important geographical barriers for sand fly distribution. We also found that the proven vector P. sergenti is a widely distributed species throughout southern Anatolia and this species, together with its closely related species P. similis, shows sympatry in Konya Province.     

The 3'-amido and 5'-amido analogues of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate; interaction with cAMP-specific proteins.

The sensitivity for recognition of adenosine 3:5'-monophosphate (cAMP) by its coordinate proteins towards chemical changes in the six-membered cyclic phosphate ring has been investigated. A comparison of the interaction parameters of the 3' and 5'-amido analogues (I, II) and of unsubstituted cAMP has been made using two different protein kinases and the phosphodiesterase from bovine heart. Binding affinity and the capacity of the amido analogues to stimulate the phosphotransferase activity of the kinases is greatly reeuced relative to cAMP, the 3'-position being more sensitive towards the modification than the 5'-position. The coordinate noncyclic derivatives, 3'-deoxy-3'-amino-5'-AMP (IV) and 5'-deoxy-5'-amino-3'-amp (iii), were also tested. Surprisingly activity towards protein kinases was found to be considerable for the 5'-deoxy-5'-amino-3'-AMP (III), while the 3'-deoxy-3'-amino-5'-AMP (IV) is practically inactive. A possible reason for this is that the noncylic 5'-analogue (III) may be able to assume a cyclic structure maintained by internal salt formation. The phosphodiesterase splits both cyclic amido analogues but with reduced rates compared to that of natural cAMP. Kinetic data obtained from different methods reveal a stronger affinity for the 5'-analogue (I) than the 3'-analogue (II) for the active site, although the reaction rate at saturated substrate concentration is significantly higher with II than with I. The properties of the amido and the noncyclic amino analogues are discussed with available data from chemotaxis of the cellular slime moulds. Furthermore data of the respective methylene cyclic derivatives are used for a more comprehensive comparison. The above is interpreted in terms of the electronic features of the substitutions and of the changes in bond distances or angles upon replacement of O by NH or CH2 in the cyclic phosphate ring (obtained from X-ray work).     

Forebrain projections of the pigeon olfactory bulb

The olfactory system of the pigeon (Columba livia) was examined. Our electrophysiological and experimental neuroanatomical (Fink-Heimer technique) data showed that axons from the olfactory bulb terminated in both sides of the forebrain. The cortex prepiriformis (olfactory cortex), the hyperstriatum ventrale and the lobus parolfactorius comprised the uncrossed terminal field. The crossed field included the paleostriatum primitivum and the caudal portion of the lobus parolfactorius, areas which were reached through the anterior commissure. In this report the relationships between areas that receive olfactory information and the possible roles that olfaction plays in the birds' behavior are discussed.     

Sandfly-Borne Phlebovirus Isolations from Turkey: New Insight into the Sandfly fever Sicilian and Sandfly fever Naples Species

BackgroundMany studies have presented virus sequences which suggest the existence of a variety of putative new phleboviruses transmitted by sandflies in the Old World. However, in most of these studies, only partial sequences in the polymerase or the nucleoprotein genes were characterised. Therefore to further our understand of the presence and potential medical importance of sandfly-borne phleboviruses that circulate in southern Anatolia, we initiated field campaigns in 2012 and 2013 designed to identify, isolate and characterise phleboviruses in sandflies in this regionConclusions/SignificanceThe results indicate that a variety of phleboviruses are co-circulating in this region of southern Anatolia. Based on our studies, these new viruses clearly belong to genetic groups that include several human pathogens. However, whether or not Toros and Zerdali viruses can infect humans and cause diseases such as sandfly fever remains to be investigated.     

Predicting the success of an invader: Niche shift versus niche conservatism

Invasive species can encounter environments different from their source populations, which may trigger rapid adaptive changes after introduction (niche shift hypothesis). To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether postintroduction evolution is correlated with contrasting environmental conditions between the European invasive and source ranges in the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. The comparison of environmental niches occupied in European and source population ranges revealed more than 96% overlap between invasive and source niches, supporting niche conservatism. However, we found evidence for postintroduction genetic evolution by reanalyzing a published ddRADseq genomic dataset from 90 European invasive populations using genotype–environment association (GEA) methods and generalized dissimilarity modeling (GDM). Three loci, among which a putative heat‐shock protein, exhibited significant allelic turnover along the gradient of winter precipitation that could be associated with ongoing range expansion. Wing morphometric traits weakly correlated with environmental gradients within Europe, but wing size differed between invasive and source populations located in different climatic areas. Niche similarities between source and invasive ranges might have facilitated the establishment of populations. Nonetheless, we found evidence for environmental‐induced adaptive changes after introduction. The ability to rapidly evolve observed in invasive populations (genetic shift) together with a large proportion of unfilled potential suitable areas (80%) pave the way to further spread of Ae. albopictus in Europe.     

Structure of eicosapentaenoic and linoleic acids in the cyclooxygenase site of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase-1

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases-1 and -2 (PGHSs) can oxygenate 18-22 carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids, albeit with varying efficiencies. Here we report the crystal structures of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2 n-6) bound in the cyclooxygenase active site of Co(3+) protoporphyrin IX-reconstituted ovine PGHS-1 (Co(3+)-oPGHS-1) and compare the effects of active site substitutions on the rates of oxygenation of EPA, LA, and arachidonic acid (AA). Both EPA and LA bind in the active site with orientations similar to those seen previously with AA and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHLA). For EPA, the presence of an additional double bond (C-17/C-18) causes this substrate to bind in a "strained" conformation in which C-13 is misaligned with respect to Tyr-385, the residue that abstracts hydrogen from substrate fatty acids. Presumably, this misalignment is responsible for the low rate of EPA oxygenation. For LA, the carboxyl half binds in a more extended configuration than AA, which results in positioning C-11 next to Tyr-385. Val-349 and Ser-530, recently identified as important determinants for efficient oxygenation of DHLA by PGHS-1, play similar roles in the oxygenation of EPA and LA. Approximately 750- and 175-fold reductions in the oxygenation efficiency of EPA and LA were observed with V349A oPGHS-1, compared with a 2-fold change for AA. Val-349 contacts C-2 and C-3 of EPA and C-4 of LA orienting the carboxyl halves of these substrates so that the omega-ends are aligned properly for hydrogen abstraction. An S530T substitution decreases the V(max)/K(m) of EPA and LA by 375- and 140-fold. Ser-530 makes six contacts with EPA and four with LA involving C-8 through C-16; these interactions influence the alignment of the substrate for hydrogen abstraction. Interestingly, replacement of Phe-205 increases the volume of the cyclooxygenase site allowing EPA to be oxygenated more efficiently than with native oPGHS-1.     

Production of nuclear transfer-derived swine that express the enhanced green fluorescent protein.

The ability to add or delete specific genes in swine will likely provide considerable benefits not just to agriculture but also to medicine, where pigs have potential as models for human disease and as organ donors. Here we have transferred nuclei from a genetically modified fibroblast cell line to porcine oocytes, matured in vitro under defined culture conditions, to create piglets expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein. The nuclear transfer-derived piglets were of normal size, although some mild symptoms of "large offspring syndrome" were evident. These experiments represent a next step towards creating swine with more useful genetic modifications.     

Recovery of visual functions in a mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis

The visual process is initiated by the photoisomerization of 11-cis-retinal to all-trans-retinal. For sustained vision the 11-cis-chromophore must be regenerated from all-trans-retinal. This requires RPE65, a dominant retinal pigment epithelium protein. Disruption of the RPE65 gene results in massive accumulation of all-trans-retinyl esters in the retinal pigment epithelium, lack of 11-cis-retinal and therefore rhodopsin, and ultimately blindness. We reported previously (Van Hooser, J. P., Aleman, T. S., He, Y. G., Cideciyan, A. V., Kuksa, V., Pittler, S. J., Stone, E. M., Jacobson, S. G., and Palczewski, K. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 97, 8623-8628) that in Rpe65-/- mice, oral administration of 9-cis-retinal generated isorhodopsin, a rod photopigment, and restored light sensitivity to the electroretinogram. Here, we provide evidence that early intervention by 9-cis-retinal administration significantly attenuated retinal ester accumulation and supported rod retinal function for more than 6 months post-treatment. In single cell recordings rod light sensitivity was shown to be a function of the amount of regenerated isorhodopsin; high doses restored rod responses with normal sensitivity and kinetics. Highly attenuated residual rod function was observed in untreated Rpe65-/- mice. This rod function is likely a consequence of low efficiency production of 11-cis-retinal by photo-conversion of all-trans-retinal in the retina as demonstrated by retinoid analysis. These studies show that pharmacological intervention produces long lasting preservation of visual function in dark-reared Rpe65-/- mice and may be a useful therapeutic strategy in recovering vision in humans diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene, an inherited group of early onset blinding and retinal degenerations.