Incubation in Mice Provides a Signal for the Differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigotes to Trypomastigotes1

The differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes into trypomastigotes was studied in diffusion chambers sub-cutaneously implanted in mice. Using epimastigotes of the Tulahuén strain, transformation was first evident at 16 h after implantation and reached its maximum (92% trypomastigotes) by 24 h. Shortly before their differentiation into trypomastigotes, epimastigotes were found to develop resistance to lysis by the alternative pathway of complement. Furthermore, implantation of stationary-phase (as opposed to log-phase) parasites resulted in the accumulation of large numbers of complement-resistant epimastigotes in the chambers. These observations suggest that epimastigotes pass through a complement-resistant transitional stage before differentiating into trypomastigotes and that transformation may require cell division. In a further series of experiments, epimastigotes recovered 7 h after implantation in mice were found to differentiate into trypomastigotes when cultured in vitro for an additional 17 h at 37°C. This observation indicates that the events which trigger the morphologic transformation of epimastigotes into trypomastigotes can be dissociated operationally from the differentiation process itself.     

谷子秸秆不同部位水浸液对3种杂草的化感作用

通过测定种子萌芽期生物学指标和盆栽苗期生理指标,研究谷子不同部位(叶片、茎秆)不同浓度(原液、10倍稀释液、50倍稀释液、100倍稀释液)浸提液对反枝苋、藜、狗尾草3种谷田恶性杂草的化感作用。结果表明: 谷子叶片、茎秆水浸提液对3种杂草均存在显著化感作用,且不同浓度浸提液化感作用存在差异,总体表现为原液有抑制作用,稀释液(10、50、100倍)有促进作用。叶片、茎秆浸提液原液处理下,反枝苋、藜、狗尾草的发芽率分别下降了63.9%、37.3%和41.7%,根长仅为对照的27.8%、37.8%和18.4%,芽长仅为对照的34.5%、27.7%和17.6%,净光合速率为对照的66.6%、89.9%和88.2%,蒸腾速率为对照的69.0%、87.5%和56.1%,原液对3种杂草的综合化感效应指数为-0.699、-0.716和-0.795,表现出较强的化感抑制作用。稀释液处理下化感促进作用随稀释倍数增加呈先上升后下降趋势,其中50倍稀释液促进作用最强,3种杂草的发芽率、根长和芽长均与对照达到差异显著水平,综合化感效应指数分别为0.261、0.217和0.165。谷田伴生杂草大量生长与谷子秸秆中化感物质淋溶有关。     

Revision of the Euthalia phemius complex (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) based on morphology and molecular analyses

Adults of the Euthalia phemius complex, which is composed of three South‐East Asian nymphalid species, Euthalia phemius, Euthalia ipona, and Euthalia euphemia, were genetically analysed by examining mitochondrial and nuclear genes. The E. phemius complex was also examined morphologically, with particular emphasis on wing markings and male genitalia. No significant differences amongst the three species in the complex were detected with respect to either genetic distance or genital morphology. We therefore conclude that the three currently recognized Euthalia species belong to a single species. Accordingly, E. ipona is synonymized with E. phemius. Euthalia euphemia is treated as a subspecies of E. phemius. Type specimens of all taxa and a synonymic list for the E. phemius complex are also given. In addition, we briefly discuss the evolution and biogeography of the species complex. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164 , 304–327.     

Phylogeography of lions (Panthera leo ssp.) reveals three distinct taxa and a late Pleistocene reduction in genetic diversity

Lions were the most widespread carnivores in the late Pleistocene, ranging from southern Africa to the southern USA, but little is known about the evolutionary relationships among these Pleistocene populations or the dynamics that led to their extinction. Using ancient DNA techniques, we obtained mitochondrial sequences from 52 individuals sampled across the present and former range of lions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct clusters: (i) modern lions, Panthera leo ; (ii) extinct Pleistocene cave lions, which formed a homogeneous population extending from Europe across Beringia (Siberia, Alaska and western Canada); and (iii) extinct American lions, which formed a separate population south of the Pleistocene ice sheets. The American lion appears to have become genetically isolated around 340 000 years ago, despite the apparent lack of significant barriers to gene flow with Beringian populations through much of the late Pleistocene. We found potential evidence of a severe population bottleneck in the cave lion during the previous interstadial, sometime after 48 000 years, adding to evidence from bison, mammoths, horses and brown bears that megafaunal populations underwent major genetic alterations throughout the last interstadial, potentially presaging the processes involved in the subsequent end-Pleistocene mass extinctions.     

Ancient DNA sequences point to a large loss of mitochondrial genetic diversity in the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) since the Pleistocene

Prior to the Holocene, the range of the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) spanned from France to the Northwest Territories of Canada. Although its distribution subsequently contracted to the steppes of Central Asia, historical records indicate that it remained extremely abundant until the end of the Soviet Union, after which its populations were reduced by over 95%. We have analysed the mitochondrial control region sequence variation of 27 ancient and 38 modern specimens, to assay how the species’ genetic diversity has changed since the Pleistocene. Phylogenetic analyses reveal the existence of two well‐supported, and clearly distinct, clades of saiga. The first, spanning a time range from >49 500 ¹⁴C ybp to the present, comprises all the modern specimens and ancient samples from the Northern Urals, Middle Urals and Northeast Yakutia. The second clade is exclusive to the Northern Urals and includes samples dating from between 40 400 to 10 250 ¹⁴C ybp. Current genetic diversity is much lower than that present during the Pleistocene, an observation that data modelling using serial coalescent indicates cannot be explained by genetic drift in a population of constant size. Approximate Bayesian Computation analyses show the observed data is more compatible with a drastic population size reduction (c. 66–77%) following either a demographic bottleneck in the course of the Holocene or late Pleistocene, or a geographic fragmentation (followed by local extinction of one subpopulation) at the Holocene/Pleistocene transition.     

Effect of spent cotton stalks on color removal and chemical oxygen demand lowering in olive oil mill wastewater by white rot fungi

Wastewater from olive oil mill was decolorized (and its chemical oxygen demand reduced in static cultivation) using the fungiCoriolus versicolor, Funalia trogii, Phanerochœte chrysosporium andPleurotus sajor-caju. The effect of cotton stalk on decolorizing and COD removing capability was demonstrated.P. chrysosporium (in 20% medium with cotton stalk) reduced the COD by 48% and color by 58%,F. trogii (in 30% medium with cotton stalk) by 51 and 55%, respectively.     

Serum selenium and gluthathione-peroxidase activities and their interaction with toxic metals in dialysis and renal transplantation patients

Selenium, aluminum, cadmium, and magnesium concentrations and gluthathione-peroxidase activities in sera of 35 healthy individuals, 30 renal transplants, and 30 hemodialysis patients were measured. Serum selenium, aluminum, and cadmium concentrations in both groups of patients were higher than the controls (p<0.001), whereas the serum gluthathione-peroxidase levels were lower (p<0.001). According to our results, it can be concluded that the patients receiving hemodialysis are subjected to more toxic elements than the transplantation patients. These findings imply that dietary selenium supplement may be suggested in renal failure for the detoxification of elements, such as cadmium and mercury. The essential trace element selenium takes part not only in the direct protection of endothelial cells against the accumulation of aggressive oxygen species, but also in the preventions of the toxic effects of cadmium or in the modulation of the active calcium transport.