Production of Induced Secondary Metabolites by a Co-Culture of Sponge-Associated Actinomycetes,Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163

Two sponge-derived actinomycetes, Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163, were grown in co-culture and the presence of induced metabolites monitored by ¹H NMR. Ten known compounds, including angucycline, diketopiperazine and β-carboline derivatives 1–10, were isolated from the EtOAc extracts of Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163. Co-cultivation of Actinokineospora sp. EG49 and Nocardiopsis sp. RV163 induced the biosynthesis of three natural products that were not detected in the single culture of either microorganism, namely N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamide (11), 1,6-dihydroxyphenazine (12) and 5a,6,11a,12-tetrahydro-5a,11a-dimethyl[1,4]benzoxazino[3,2-b][1,4]benzoxazine (13a). When tested for biological activity against a range of bacteria and parasites, only the phenazine 12 was active against Bacillus sp. P25, Trypanosoma brucei and interestingly, against Actinokineospora sp. EG49. These findings highlight the co-cultivation approach as an effective strategy to access the bioactive secondary metabolites hidden in the genomes of marine actinomycetes.     

Tricyclic Guanidine Alkaloids from the Marine Sponge Acanthella cavernosa that Stabilize the Tumor Suppressor PDCD4

A cell-based high-throughput screen that assessed the cellular stability of a tumor suppressor protein PDCD4 (Programmed cell death 4) was used to identify a new guanidine-containing marine alkaloid mirabilin K (3), as well as the known compounds mirabilin G (1) and netamine M (2). The structures of these tricyclic guanidine alkaloids were established from extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited cellular degradation of PDCD4 with EC₅₀ values of 1.8 μg/mL and 2.8 μg/mL, respectively. Mirabilin G (1) and netamine M (2) are the first marine natural products reported to stabilize PDCD4 under tumor promoting conditions.     

Mixing methods – assessment of potential benefits for natural resources planning

Multi-objective forest planning is a multi-methodological endeavor whose success largely depends on how well the combined use of different methods contributes to the goals of the planning. This review assessed the benefits of mixing methods in natural resources planning. A sample of 30 peer-reviewed research articles was analyzed using an evaluation framework, designed based on democracy and planning theories, and participatory planning literature, including four dimensions: transparency, flexibility, consensus building, and operability. According to analyses, mixing different types (i.e. qualitative and quantitative) of methods generally yields greater benefits than the combination of similar methods. The subsample of 12 planning cases that utilized simulation-optimization software (SOS) appeared operable and moderately transparent, whereas flexibility and consensus building were often lacking. In comparison to the wide scholarly discussion on multi-methodology and mixing methods, it was observed that successful mixing examples in natural resource planning are still scarce and there are weaknesses in bridging the methods together. There is an evident need to pursue and to better communicate the benefits of mixing. Some good mixing examples utilizing SOS provided evidence that forest planning processes would make an excellent venue for studying the benefits and caveats of using mixed methods.     

The formation of terrestrial food webs in glacier foreland: Evidence for the pivotal role of decomposer prey and intraguild predation

We investigated the structure of invertebrate food webs at three glacier foreland sites of an age of 2-34, ca. 60 and ca. 120 years in the European Alps at 2250-2450 m asl. The trophic structure was investigated by analyzing stable isotope ratios of ¹⁵N/¹⁴N and ¹³C/¹²C. The results suggest that the formation of terrestrial food webs during early primary succession heavily relies on prey out of the decomposer system with Collembola being most important. The diet of decomposers likely is based predominantly on allochthonous humus material blown in by wind and deposited by the retreating glacier. Irrespective of the successional stage the animal community consisted mainly of generalist predators with a number of species occurring at each of the successional stages. The results suggest that terrestrial food web formation is associated with a prolongation of food chains caused mainly by predator species switching their diet to include other predators, i.e. by intraguild predation. This suggests that generalist predators, such as cursorial spiders, carabid beetles, harvestman and centipedes, switch prey and include other predators if these are becoming more abundant, i.e. if ecosystems become more productive. Intraguild predation results in complex food webs with high linkage density which likely affects food web functioning and stability.     

Congenital diaphragmatic eventration in two closely related British Shorthair cats

Two closely related British Shorthair cats, which died after surgery performed in the dorsal position, were presented for dissection. In both, a thin, flaccid, enlarged transparent tendinous diaphragmatic portion protruded cranially into the thoracic cavity, forming a cupola in which left, right medial and quadrate hepatic lobes were encased in both cats and the stomach in one cat. Microscopically, no muscle fibres were observed in the membrane, but numerous hepatocytes and bile ducts were incorporated in its central part. The anomaly was diagnosed as a congenital diaphragmatic eventration.     

Molecular assay for the detection of Cochlosoma anatis in house flies and turkey specimens by polymerase chain reaction

A 1520 bp region of Cochlosoma anatis mtDNA 16S gene was subjected to DNA sequencing and a 466 bp portion was compared with other protozoan 16S sequences to develop PCR primers specific for C. anatis. This PCR diagnostic method allowed identification of C. anatis from house flies, Musca domestica L., turkey gut, and fecal samples within 6 h after field-collected samples reached the laboratory. House flies detected carrying C. anatis using the diagnostic 374 bp amplicons represented the first record of this protozoan in house flies.     

Effects of oral potassium supplementation on acid-base status and plasma ion concentrations of horses during endurance exercise

OBJECTIVE: To compare effects of oral supplementation with an experimental potassium-free sodium-abundant electrolyte mixture (EM-K) with that of oral supplementation with commercial potassium-rich mixtures (EM+K) on acid-base status and plasma ion concentrations in horses during an 80-km endurance ride. ANIMALS: 46 healthy horses. PROCEDURE: Blood samples were collected before the ride; at 21-, 37-, 56-, and 80-km inspection points; and during recovery (ie, 30-minute period after the ride). Consumed electrolytes were recorded. Blood was analyzed for pH, PvCO2, and Hct, and plasma was analyzed for Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+, lactate, albumin, phosphate, and total protein concentrations. Plasma concentrations of H+ and HCO3-, the strong ion difference (SID), and osmolarity were calculated. RESULTS: 34 (17 EM-K and 17 EM+K treated) horses finished the ride. Potassium intake was 33 g less and Na+ intake was 36 g greater for EM-K-treated horses, compared with EM+K-treated horses. With increasing distance, plasma osmolarity; H+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, phosphate, lactate, total protein, and albumin concentrations; and PvCO2 and Hct were increased in all horses. Plasma HCO3-, Ca2+, and Cl- concentrations were decreased. Plasma H+ concentration was significantly lower in EM-K-treated horses, compared with EM+K-treated horses. Plasma K+ concentrations at the 80-km inspection point and during recovery were significantly less in EM-K-treated horses, compared with EM+K-treated horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increases in plasma H+ and K+ concentrations in this endurance ride were moderate and unlikely to contribute to signs of muscle fatigue and hyperexcitability in horses.     

Evaluation of genetic and metabolic predispositions and nutritional risk factors for pasture-associated laminitis in ponies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate genetic and metabolic predispositions and nutritional risk factors for development of pasture-associated laminitis in ponies. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. ANIMALS: 160 ponies. PROCEDURES: A previous diagnosis of laminitis was used to differentiate 54 ponies (PL group) from 106 nonlaminitic ponies (NL group). Pedigree analysis was used to determine a mode of inheritance for ponies with a previous diagnosis of laminitis. In early March, ponies were weighed and scored for body condition and basal venous blood samples were obtained. Plasma was analyzed for glucose, insulin, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids, and cortisol concentrations. Basal proxies for insulin sensitivity (reciprocal of the square root of insulin [RISQI]) and insulin secretory response (modified insulin-to-glucose ratio [MIRG]) were calculated. Observations were repeated in May, when some ponies had signs of clinical laminitis. RESULTS: A previous diagnosis of laminitis was consistent with the expected inheritance of a dominant major gene or genes with reduced penetrance. A prelaminitic metabolic profile was defined on the basis of body condition, plasma triglyceride concentration, RISQI, and MIRG. Meeting > or = 3 of these criteria differentiated PL- from NL-group ponies with a total predictive power of 78%. Determination of prelaminitic metabolic syndrome in March predicted 11 of 13 cases of clinical laminitis observed in May when pasture starch concentration was high. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prelaminitic metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy ponies is comparable to metabolic syndromes in humans and is the first such set of risk factors to be supported by data in equids. Prelaminitic metabolic syndrome identifies ponies requiring special management, such as avoiding high starch intake that exacerbates insulin resistance.     

Coxofemoral joint radiography in standing cattle

The objective of this study was to establish a technique for radiographic examination of the coxofemoral joint and adjacent bony structures in standing cattle. Left (or right) 30° dorsal-right (or left) ventral radiographic views of the coxofemoral joint region of standing cattle (n = 10) with hind limb lameness were evaluated retrospectively. In addition, an experimental study of oblique laterolateral views of the coxofemoral joint region of a bovine skeleton at angles of 15-45° was carried out to determine the optimal position for visualization of the hip region. In the 10 clinical patients, the bodies of the ilium and ischium, the acetabulum and proximal third of the femur could be assessed. Six of these cattle had fractures of the body of the ilium and body of the ischium, five with and one without involvement of the acetabulum, two had craniodorsal and one caudoventral luxation of the femur and one had a femoral neck fracture. The described laterodorsal-lateroventral radiographs of the hip region in standing cattle were suitable for assessing the coxofemoral joint, the proximal aspect of the femur and parts of the ischium, ilium and pubis. After testing the optimal angle on the skeleton, it was seen that distortion and superimposition were minimized by positioning the X-ray beam at an angle of 25° to the horizontal plane. It can be concluded that the described technique improves the evaluation of injuries of the coxofemoral region in cattle. With the appropriate angle, the technique can also be applied in recumbent cattle.