Socio-spatial organization reveals paternity and low kinship in the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) in Costa Rica

Ectophylla alba is a tent-making bat that roosts in mixed-sex clusters comprising adults and offspring. Our goal was to determine the genetic identity of individuals belonging to different roosting groups. We tested the hypothesis of kin selection as a major force structuring group composition. We used 9 microsatellites designed for E. alba to determine the genetic identity and probability of parentage of individuals. We analyzed parentage and kinship using the software ML-Relate, GenAIEx, and Cervus. The obtained relationship probabilities (0.5) revealed a clear maternal relationship between female adults and offspring with allele compatibility, and at least 5 relationships between male adults and pups. We found a low degree of relatedness within roosting groups. Between roosting groups at different sites, the mean probability of a half-sibling relationship ranged from 0.214 to 0.244 and, for full-sibling relationship, from 0.383 to 0.553. Genetically, adult individuals were poorly related within clusters, and kinship as an evolutionary force could not explain group membership.     

Fusarium confers protection against several mycelial pathogens of pepper plants

Inoculation of nonhost pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) plants with the tomato wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL), caused no symptoms and the fungus was not recovered from any part of the plant. FOL, however, partially protected pepper plants from subsequent infection with Phytophthora capsici , Verticillium dahliae or Botrytis cinerea by significantly reducing the percentage of diseased plants and the appearance and intensity of symptoms. FOL did not inhibit the mycelial growth of these pathogens in vitro . The protection induced by FOL against Botrytis was inhibited by 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP), an inhibitor of ethylene perception, suggesting the involvement of this hormone in the signalling of FOL-induced resistance. The activities of β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase 48 h after FOL induction were similar to those in control plants. Chitinase activity, however, was higher in the stems of plants inoculated with FOL. A study of the levels of phenolic compounds revealed that cell-wall-bound phenolics were more abundant in plants treated with FOL, especially in stems, while soluble phenolic contents did not differ.     

Chemical restraint of peccaries with tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine or tiletamine/zolazepam and butorphanol

Objective To evaluate the use of a combination of tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine (TZX) in collared and white‐lipped peccaries and to compare its efficacy as an anesthetic technique with that of tiletamine/zolazepam and butorphanol (TZB). Study design Prospective experimental trial. Animals Seven white‐lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) (four females and three males) and four collared peccaries (Tayasu tajacu) (two males and two females). Methods Animal immobilization was attempted with TZX and TZB (IM) on two different occasions. Heart and respiratory rates (HR, RR), rectal temperature (RT), sedation, muscle relaxation, posture, auditory response and analgesia were evaluated every 15 minutes during immobilization. Induction, anesthesia, standing and walking time were determined after drug administration. Results Doses for white‐lipped peccaries were 1.23 ± 0.26 mg kg^?1 (mean ± SD) of TZ and 1.23 ± 0.26 mg kg^?1 of X, and 1.46 ± 0.09 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 0.14 ± 0.008 mg kg^?1 of B; doses for collared peccaries were 1.51 ± 0.29 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 1.51 ± 0.29 mg kg^?1 of X and 1.68 ± 0.02 mg kg^?1 of TZ and 0.17 ± 0.002 mg kg^?1 of B. In white‐lipped peccaries, both drug combinations provided a smooth induction and good immobilization for more than an hour. Anesthesia and standing times were significantly longer in animals given TZB, whereas walking time was significantly longer in animals given TZX. A significant decrease in HR was observed with both treatments. Respiratory rate decreased significantly with TZX, but the rate remained higher than with TZB. Induction and recovery quality in white‐lipped peccaries was better with TZB than with TZX. Neither protocol provided adequate immobilization in collared peccaries. Conclusion and clinical relevance At the doses described, TZB is effective in providing a long period of immobilization, whereas TZX is adequate for short to medium immobilization in white‐lipped peccaries. Neither drug combination was effective in collared peccaries at the doses given.     

Taenia solium oncosphere antigens induce immunity in pigs against experimental cysticercosis

Immunity to Taenia solium infection was investigated using an experimental intramuscular oncosphere infection assay (IMOA) model in pigs. Three naturally infected pigs with cysticercosis were treated with oxfendazole (OFZ), a drug demonstrated to kill cysts in porcine muscle. These animals were then challenged with oncospheres but did not develop any cysts while three uninfected pigs that were similarly challenged, did develop intramuscular cysts. In another study, two groups of three pigs each were immunized with crude T. solium oncosphere and metacestode antigens, respectively, and tested with the IMOA. Immunization with crude oncosphere antigens (OAs) induced 100% protection, while metacestode antigens provided only partial protection. Immunoblots showed that pigs with complete immune protection to oncosphere intramuscular challenge had antibodies to two OAs at 31.3 and 22.5 kDa, respectively. Antibody to these two antigens was absent in pigs immunized with metacestodes or in uninfected control pigs. This study demonstrated the presence of two antigens that are unique to the oncosphere. Although, antibody to these two antigens is consistently present in pigs that are protected from an oncosphere intramuscular challenge their role in preventing infection by T. solium larval cysts is still hypothetical.     

Experimental infection model for Taenia solium cysticercosis in swine. Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru

A novel method for infecting pigs with Taenia solium using an intramuscular innoculum of oncospheres was investigated in a series of five experiments in 18 animals. The model is simple to perform, requires a minimal number of oncospheres, permits multiple infections per animal, and decreases the variation inherent in oral infection models. This intramuscular oncosphere assay (IMOA) may provide a valuable tool to evaluate therapeutic agents or potential vaccines for cysticercosis.     

Use of whole blood for spectrophotometric determination of cholinesterase activity in dogs

Whole blood has been compared with erythrocytes and plasma for spectrophotometric cholinesterase determination in the dog. Cholinesterase activity was characterized using two substrates: acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine. Acetylcholinesterase was the only form of cholinesterase present on erythrocytes and hydrolysed only acetylthiocholine. Butyrylcholinesterase (pseudocholinesterase) was predominant in plasma, hydrolysing mainly butyrylthiocholine. Based on these results, a method based on the use of two substrates (acetylthiocholine for monitoring acetylcholinesterase and butyrylthiocholine for determining butyrylcholinesterase) in the same whole blood sample is recommended for canine cholinesterase analysis. This way of monitoring both enzymes can be easily automated, yielding good within (CVs < 5%) and between-run (CVs < 7%) precision.     

The Influence of Heavy Metals and Mineral Nutrient Supply on Bituminaria bituminosa

With a view to the selection of plants for the re-vegetation of contaminated, semi-arid land, two populations of the perennial species Bituminaria bituminosa (Fabaceae) from the south of Spain were studied: one (“LA”) from a non-contaminated soil and the other (“C2”) from a similar soil having elevated total levels of Pb and Zn (1,112 and 4,249 μg g^?1, respectively). For sand-cultured plants receiving nutrient solution, flow cytometry showed that heavy metals, at the concentrations measured in aqueous extracts from contaminated soils, had only slight genotoxic effects on root tip cell nuclei. Both populations were also grown in both soils, in two pot experiments. In the first, shoot biomass of LA and C2 in the contaminated soil was decreased to similar extents, with respect to the “clean” soil. Tissue heavy metal concentrations were unlikely to have been phytotoxic, except in the case of shoot Zn for population LA, but there were tissue deficiencies of P and K for populations LA and C2, respectively. In the second pot assay, the stimulation of growth by NPK fertiliser confirmed that even though this soil had high total heavy metal levels, nutrient availability was the principal factor limiting growth. The lesser transport of heavy metals (Cd, Mn and Zn) to the shoot by the population from the contaminated site is a factor that should be considered when selecting B. bituminosa lines for the phytostabilisation of such sites.     

Mass spectrometry of intact V-type ATPases reveals bound lipids and the effects of nucleotide binding

The ability of electrospray to propel large viruses into a mass spectrometer is established and is rationalized by analogy to the atmospheric transmission of the common cold. Much less clear is the fate of membrane-embedded molecular machines in the gas phase. Here we show that rotary adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases)/synthases from Thermus thermophilus and Enterococcus hirae can be maintained intact with membrane and soluble subunit interactions preserved in vacuum. Mass spectra reveal subunit stoichiometries and the identity of tightly bound lipids within the membrane rotors. Moreover, subcomplexes formed in solution and gas phases reveal the regulatory effects of nucleotide binding on both ATP hydrolysis and proton translocation. Consequently, we can link specific lipid and nucleotide binding with distinct regulatory roles.     

Behavior of monosaccharides, phenolic compounds, and color of red wines aged in used oak barrels and in the bottle

A red wine with appropriate basic quality characteristics for aging was stored in oak barrels for 12 months and then bottled and aged for a further 6 months. The same ambient conditions of temperature and humidity were maintained throughout the entire aging process. The barrels used were made from three different species of oak by four different cooperages and had been used for at least two years. Analysis of variance and principal component analysis were run on the values for hexoses, pentoses, total anthocyanins, ortho-diphenols, low- and high-polymer polyphenols, and color parameters to study the behavior of the monosaccharides and polyphenols in response to the factors of aging time, the oak variety employed, and the source cooperage where the barrels had been made. Time trends for all the phenolic components were directly related to aging time, with low-polymeric polyphenols (LPPs) being the most affected by wood type and source cooperage. Wine color was defined by a basic red color which decreased with aging time in the barrel and was altered by yellowish pigment components differing for each of the barrels in which oxidative aging took place and by increased stability of the blue copigments. Principal component analysis showed that samples of the same source wine aged in different barrels tended to be grouped together according to each of the aging intervals considered.     

Comparative study of equine bone marrow and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells

Reasons for performing study: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represent an attractive source for regenerative medicine. However, prior to their application, fundamental questions regarding molecular characterisation, growth and differentiation of MSCs must be resolved. Objectives: To compare and better understand the behaviour of equine MSCs obtained from bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (AT) in culture. Methods: Five horses were included in this study. Proliferation rate was measured using MTT assay and cell viability; apoptosis, necrosis and late apoptosis and necrosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression levels of 7 surface marker genes were quantified using RT‐qPCR and CD90 was also analysed by flow cytometry. Differentiation was evaluated using specific staining, measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity and analysis of the mRNA expression. Results: High interindividual differences were observed in proliferation in both cell types, particularly during the final days. Statistically significant differences in viability and early apoptosis of cultured AT‐ and BM‐MSCs were found. The highest values of early apoptosis were observed during the first days of culture, while the highest percentage of necrosis and late apoptosis and lowest viability was observed in the last days. Surface marker expression pattern observed is in accordance to other studies in horse and other species. Osteogenic differentiation was evident after 7 days, with an increasing of ALP activity and mRNA expression of osteogenic markers. Adipogenic differentiation was achieved in BM‐MSCs from 2 donors with one of the 16 media tested. Chondrogenic differentiation was also observed. Conclusions: Proliferation ability is different in AT‐MSCs and BM‐MSCs. Differences in viability and early apoptosis were observed between both sources and CD34 was only found in AT‐MSCs. Differences in their osteogenic and adipogenic potential were detected by staining and quantification of specific tissue markers. Potential relevance: To provide data to better understand AT‐MSCs and BM‐MSCs behaviour in vitro.