Bioaccumulation and Effects of Heavy Metals in Crayfish: A Review

Metal pollution is a global problem which represents a growing threat to the environment. Because of bioaccumulation and negative effects of heavy metals, their bioavailability needs to be monitored. Many studies showed accumulation of metals in crayfish tissues as dose- and time-dependent without significant differences in tissue concentration levels comparing males and females. Muscles and exoskeleton were considered as specific for accumulation of mercury and nickel, respectively. Cadmium, zinc, copper, lead, and chromium accumulated mainly in hepatopancreas. By analyzing these specific tissues, it is possible to deduce the bioavailability and, by presumption, the level of environmental pollution by specific metals. However, in the case of zinc and copper, their utility is limited to assessing bioavailability because rapid depuration of these metals renders them less useful for long-term environmental monitoring programs. The literature reporting heavy metal impacts on freshwater crayfish, with reference to accumulation levels, is reviewed and summarized with respect to their suitability as bioindicators. Summarized published data from unpolluted or control localities can be used as referential values in crayfish, and consequently help with evaluation of monitored sites.     

Allele distributions of two novel SNPs within the sheep Cyp19 gene

Oestrogen is an important regulator of reproduction and growth. The key enzyme of oestrogen biosynthesis, aromatase cytochrome P450, is encoded by the Cyp19 gene. In order to generate genetic markers for the sheep Cyp19 gene, two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), one located in promoter 2 (P2), the other one in intron 9 (I9), were identified by a comparative sequencing approach. The allele distributions of both SNPs were investigated by means of Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR‐RFLP) in five economically relevant sheep breeds (British Milk Sheep, Carranzana, Latxa Black Face, Latxa White Face, Merino) and three ancient Hungarian breeds kept as gene reserves (Cikta, Racka, Tsigai). In British Milk Sheep, only the intronic SNP was present whereas in Merino, Cikta, Racka, Tsigai, Carranzana, Latxa Black Face and Latxa White Face, both SNPs could be found. This indicates that the newly identified SNPs can be used as markers for the Cyp19 locus in various sheep breeds.     

Traditional maintenance breeding of landraces: 2. Practical and theoretical considerations on maintenance of variation of landraces by farmers and gardeners

Maintenance breeding of landraces is discussed. Various practical andtheoretical advices, presented in the literature to collectors of genebankshave been used to compare these with the methods applied by farmers.Although most farmers realize the utmost importance of yield stability, theyand their ancestors experienced that maintenance breeding could better bereplaced by seed replacement. A few crops such as rootstock rose andespecially maize, form exceptions. In these crops the farmers actually collect`hips', or ears for the next generation. However, they also apply seedreplacement from time to time.More research is needed to obtain better knowledge about the level ofvariation of a landrace grown for various generations before and after seedreplacement.     

Einfluß der Mineralstoffversorgung auf die Prädisposition von Phaseolus vulgaris gegen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. et Magn.) Br. et Cav. I. Wirkung verschiedener Nährstoffe und des Blattalters auf die Symptomausprägung

Influence of mineral nutrition on the predisposition of Phaseolus vulgaris against Colletrotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc.et Magn.) Br.et Cav. I. Effects of different mineral nutrients and leaf-age on the disease severity 1. The N-concentration between 2–12 mMol N/I did hardly influence the disease, higher concentrations up to 52 mMol/I led to a severe disease increase. Potassium at concentrations of 5–10 mMol/I showed little effect on disease, higher concentrations up to 50 mMol also strongly increased the predisposition. 2. Calcium had a remarkable influence on symptom expression. Lower concentrations (1.15–0.25 mMol/I) increased the symptoms, higher concentrations up to 4.25 mMol/I reduced the disease, but only at a high disease level resulting from high N- or K-concentration. 3. The influences of Mg, P and Fe were of minor importance. 4. Usually, bean-leaves show resistance against C. lindermuthianum when the leaves are old. This is prevented by high N- and K-concentrations. 5. The change of predisposition related to the N- and K-concentration in the nutrient solution was confirmed with 3 additional bean varieties (‘Comtessa’ ‘Perry Marrow’, ‘Pizzaro’). No further increase of disease severity could be achieed with variety ‘Wavero’ which was generally very sensitive. 6. The monogenic resistance of incompatible combinations (‘Titan’/δ and ‘Titan’/λ) could not be changed with high N- or K-concentrations.     

Powdery Mildew Resistance in a Collection of Chinese Barley Varieties

One hundred and forty-seven Chinese barley varieties maintained at the Gene Bank of the National Barley Improvement Centre, Zhejiang, and 84 progenies from these varieties were tested at the seedling stage for their reaction to 32 selected pathotypes of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Eighteen resistance spectra were identified comprising single or combined resistances from eight known (Ml(Bw), Ml(Ch), Mla7, Mla8, Mla9, Mla13, MlaRu4 and Mlg) and six unknown resistance genes. The most frequent gene was Ml(Bw), which was found in 69 varieties and previously detected in only a few European winter barley varieties. The genes Mla8 and Ml(Ch) were also often present, but other resistance genes were rare. After inoculation, considerably fewer pathogen colonies were observed in ‘Aiganqi’ and one line of ‘Tong5’. Twenty varieties were composed of lines with different resistance genes. China is likely to be a region of origin of the genes Ml(Bw), Mla7, as well as three unknown genes found in original landraces and perhaps another three unknown genes detected in cultivars bred in China. The resistances of varieties from the Zhejiang province and those originating from 11 other Chinese provinces were quite different. Unfortunately, none of the varieties are promising sources of resistance to powdery mildew and China does not seem to be a region suitable for identifying such sources.     

Influence of soil and host plant crop on the genetic diversity of Azospirillum amazonense isolates

The genetic structure of Azospirillum amazonense populations isolated from the rhizosphere soil and washed and surface-sterilised roots of rice, maize and sorghum plants, cropped simultaneously in two different soils (clay loam and sandy loam) was characterised. Genetic diversity was measured by restriction fragment length polymorphism of the amplified 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer region (RISA-RFLP) and cluster analysis. Four genetically distinct clusters of isolates were observed with 78% similarity, suggesting that the A. amazonense population was heterogeneous at the strain level regardless of the soil type or host plant. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) demonstrated that the host plant had a highly significant selective effect on the genetic structure of this species, especially on those isolates intimately associated with them, but also to a lesser extent on isolates from the rhizosphere and washed roots. The soil type also had a highly significant selective effect on A. amazonense genetic diversity, especially for those isolates from the rhizosphere soil. The selective effect of the soil type combined with that of the host plant suggests that environmental factors, such as soil texture and composition of exudates provided by C₃ or C₄ plants, play major roles in the overall genetic structure of A. amazonense populations associated with these cereals.     

Inactivation of TNF signaling by rationally designed dominant-negative TNF variants

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key regulator of inflammatory responses and has been implicated in many pathological conditions. We used structure-based design to engineer variant TNF proteins that rapidly form heterotrimers with native TNF to give complexes that neither bind to nor stimulate signaling through TNF receptors. Thus, TNF is inactivated by sequestration. Dominant-negative TNFs represent a possible approach to anti-inflammatory biotherapeutics, and experiments in animal models show that the strategy can attenuate TNF-mediated pathology. Similar rational design could be used to engineer inhibitors of additional TNF superfamily cytokines as well as other multimeric ligands.     

Early γ oscillations synchronize developing thalamus and cortex

During development, formation of topographic maps in sensory cortex requires precise temporal binding in thalamocortical networks. However, the physiological substrate for such synchronization is unknown. We report that early gamma oscillations (EGOs) enable precise spatiotemporal thalamocortical synchronization in the neonatal rat whisker sensory system. Driven by a thalamic gamma oscillator and initially independent of cortical inhibition, EGOs synchronize neurons in a single thalamic barreloid and corresponding cortical barrel and support plasticity at developing thalamocortical synapses. We propose that the multiple replay of sensory input in thalamocortical circuits during EGOs allows thalamic and cortical neurons to be organized into vertical topographic functional units before the development of horizontal binding in adult brain.     

Radar soundings of the subsurface of Mars

The martian subsurface has been probed to kilometer depths by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding instrument aboard the Mars Express orbiter. Signals penetrate the polar layered deposits, probably imaging the base of the deposits. Data from the northern lowlands of Chryse Planitia have revealed a shallowly buried quasi-circular structure about 250 kilometers in diameter that is interpreted to be an impact basin. In addition, a planar reflector associated with the basin structure may indicate the presence of a low-loss deposit that is more than 1 kilometer thick.