First records of marine tardigrades (Arthrotardigrada) from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands,Spain)

Marine tardigrades are very poorly known and up to now only c. 200 taxa have been reported around the world (mostly from European coasts). In a marine algae sample, collected on the coast of Fuerteventura island (Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands), six specimens of three marine Arthrotardigrada species were found: Archechiniscus minutus Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo, 1987, Styraconyx craticulus (Pollock, 1983) and Styraconyx sargassi Thulin, 1942. This is the third record of marine tardigrades from the Canary Islands. In this paper we also list all heterotardigrades known from marine environments around Africa.     

Phagocytic and oxidative burst activity of phagocytic cells in peripheral blood and uterine washings in cows with clinical endometritis before and after intrauterine use of cephapirin and methisoprinol

The aim of the study was to evaluate phagocytic and killing activity of phagocytic cells in blood and uterine flush of cows with endometritis before and after intrauterine (i.u.) administration of cephapirin and methisoprinol. The research was carried out on 28 cows with clinical endometritis. Animals were divided into four groups, each composed of seven cows, depending on the i.u. treatment used: Group A—cephapirin; Group B—methisoprinol; Group C—cephapirin and methisoprinol at the same time; and a control group—without medication. Using flow cytometry technique, the phagocytic activity of granulocytes and monocytes was identified, as well as the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils in the peripheral blood and uterine washings. Summarizing the results of the research, i.u. infusion of cephapirin caused a reduction in the phagocytic and killing activity of phagocytes. The i.u. use of methisoprinol increased phagocytic and killing activity of phagocytes in the uterus. Administering both listed substances simultaneously showed a decrease in phagocytosis, presumably due to the dominating inhibitor effect of the antibiotic. However, also an increase of mean fluorescence intensity was observed, presumably caused by the methisoprinol. Intrauterine use of immunostimulatory substances, can improve the effectiveness of the treatment of endometritis in cows.     

Histopathological studies of the heart in three lines of broiler chickens

1. The aim of this study was to analyse the morphological lesion pattern of the heart of broiler chickens (Cobb 500, Hubbard F15 and Ross 308) during fattening with no clinical signs of disease and to determine the most susceptible period for the occurrence of morphological lesions.

2. The most frequently diagnosed lesions in each genetic line were degeneration of the fibres with vacuolation, congestion of cardiac muscle, oedema and vacuolisation of the Purkinje cells.

3. The highest numbers of morphological lesions were observed on d 38, 31 and 10 of life. The lesions were most numerous in the septum, followed by the left and right ventricles.

4. Ischaemic cardiomyocytes were also most numerous on d 38 of life and in the left ventricle.

5. Overload of cardiac muscle, prolonged hypoxia and increasing body weight on d 38 are the likely reasons for the largest number of lesions and ischaemic fibres, which may lead to heart failure.

     

Effectiveness and mode of action of phosphonate inhibitors of plant glutamine synthetase

BACKGROUND: Aiming at the rational design of new herbicides, the availability of the three‐dimensional structure of the target enzyme greatly enhances the optimisation of lead compounds and the design of derivatives with increased activity. Among the most widely exploited herbicide targets is glutamine synthetase. Recently, the structure of a cytosolic form of the maize enzyme has been described, making it possible to verify whether steric, electronic and hydrophobic features of a compound are in agreement with inhibitor–protein interaction geometry. RESULTS: Three series of compounds (aminophosphonates, hydroxyphosphonates and aminomethylenebisphosphonates) were evaluated as possible inhibitors of maize glutamine synthetase. Aminomethylenebisphosphonate derivatives substituted in the phenyl ring retained the inhibitory potential, whereas variations in the scaffold, i.e. the replacement of the second phosphonate moiety with a hydroxyl or an amino residue, resulted in a significant loss of activity. A kinetic characterisation showed a non‐competitive mechanism against glutamate and an uncompetitive mechanism against ATP. A docking analysis suggested the mode of bisphosphonate binding to the active site. CONCLUSION: Results made it possible to define the features required to maintain or enhance the biological activity of these compounds, which represent lead structures to be further exploited for the design of new substances endowed with herbicidal activity. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biopesticides – towards increased consumer safety in the European Union

The introduction of new food safety regulations in the European Union has resulted in the withdrawal of many synthetic active substances used in plant protection products, in light of their potential or actual harmful effect on human and animal health, as well as on the environment. Alternatives to these compounds are being developed – naturally occurring pesticides, also referred to as biopesticides. The use of biopesticides in crop protection leads to decreased levels of pesticide residues in foods, and as a result to lower risk levels for the consumer. Biologically active agents defined as biopesticides are varied, and therefore application of the same environmental and consumer safety criteria to all of them is impossible. This presents serious complications in the approval of these pesticides as active plant protection products and in their registration. It needs to be stressed that, in the registration procedure of the European Union, biopesticides are subject to the same regulations as synthetic active substances. This situation has resulted in the need to introduce numerous new provisions in the legislation, as well as the preparation of new guidelines facilitating the registration of biopesticides. These activities aim to promote naturally originating pesticides. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reaction of Armillaria ostoyae to forest soil microfungi

Fungi isolated from the oak (Quercus robur) rhizosphere were tested for their effects on rhizomorph formation and growth of 16 isolates of Armillaria ostoyae sampled in three localities in western Poland. The number of rhizomorphs, number of rhizomorph apices, and rhizomorph length and weight increased most in the presence of Penicillium lanosum, Penicillium notatum, Cylindrocarpon destructans, Penicillium spinulosum and Mycelium radicis atrovirens α and, to a lesser extent, in the presence of Nectria grammicospora. Inhibition of rhizomorph formation was caused by Trichoderma hamatum and Trichoderma viride in two A. ostoyae isolates and by M. radicis atrovirens α and P. spinulosum in one A. ostoyae isolate. It is suggested that variation in sensitivity to microbial stimulation within A. ostoyae is associated with the environmental and nutritional conditions of its original habitat. Isolates from nutrition‐rich localities, with 20% of the land area covered by deciduous trees, were particularly susceptible to stimulation by rhizosphere fungi.     

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infection in equids

A cross-sectional study was carried out on equids (horses, mules and donkeys) in Andalusia, Southern Spain, to assess the level of exposure to equine piroplasmosis and to investigate risk factors associated with these infections. At least one animal seropositive for Theileria equi and/or Babesia caballi was detected in 222/380 (58.4%) herds sampled by competitive inhibition ELISAs. The seroprevalences for B. caballi and T. equi were 13.2% and 56.1%, respectively; there was serological evidence of co-circulation of both piroplasms in 10.8% of herds. Antibodies against equine piroplasms were detected in 286/537 (53.3%) animals; 61 (11.4%) were seropositive for B. caballi, 270 (50.3%) were seropositive for T. equi and 24 (8.4%) were seropositive for both T. equi and B. caballi.There was a significantly higher seroprevalence of B. caballi in mules (32.1%) compared with donkeys (17.0%) and horses (7.9%), and a significantly higher seroprevalence of T. equi in mules (66.1%) in comparison with horses (48.6%), but not donkeys (47.2%). There were significant differences in prevalence of both piroplasms among locations; the seroprevalence of B. caballi ranged from 0 to 22.5%, while the seropositivity to T. equi ranged from 26.7 to 63.3%. A multiple logistic regression model indicated that the risk factors associated with a higher T. equi seroprevalence were increased age, presence of ticks and vaccination against other diseases. Risk factors associated with a higher seroprevalence of B. caballi were species (mules compared to horses), entry of horses in the last 6 months, presence of ticks and presence of shelter. The findings indicate widespread exposure to equine piroplasmosis in Southern Spain.     

Protein resources of wildSecale species

Summary The aim of this study was to find the eventual sources of increased protein content and of the changed balance between exogenic amino acids in caryopses protein of 9 wildSecale species (S. chaldicum Fed.,S. Kuprijanovii Grossh.,S. anatolicum Boiss.,S. montanum Guss.,S. silvestre Host,S. ancestrale Zhuk.,S. afghanicum Vav.,S. dighoricum Vav.,S. segetale Roshev.). A comparison was completed between the previous cited wild species and low and high protein rye cultivars ofS. cereale L. species, from the point of their amino acid composition and the ultrastructure of endosperm proteins. The wild species surpassed the cultivated varieties in protein content, useful protein content, and as much as twice the direct amount of some of the most important, from a nutritional point of view, amino acids, e.g. lysine or methionine. The first limiting amino acids were for wild species isoleucine, threonine and lysine. The wild species with the highest protein content differed significantly from the cultivated species in the amounts of protein matrix surrounding the starch granules in the deeper layers of endosperm cells.

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Proteinressourcen vonSecale-Wildarten

Zusammenfassung Von 9Secale-Wildarten (S. chaldicum Fed.,S. kuprijanovii Grossh.,S. anatolicum Boiss.,S. montanum Guss.,S. silvestre Host,S. ancestrale Zhuk.,S. afghanicum Vav.,S. dighoricum Vav.,S. segetale Roshev.) wurde das Protein der Karyopsen daraufhin untersucht, ob es darunter Sippen mit einem verbesserten Proteingehalt und einem geänderten Verhältnis von exogenen Aminosäuren gibt. Die genannten Wildarten wurden mit proteinreichen und proteinarmen Zuchtsorten vonS. cereale L. hinsichtlich der Aminosäure-Anteile und der Ultrastruktur des Endosperm-Proteins verglichen. Die Wildarten übertrafen die Zuchtsorten im Eiweißgehalt und im 'nutzbaren Eiweißgehalt und enthielten etwa die doppelte Menge der (unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Ernährung) wichtigsten Aminosäuren, wie Lysin und Methionin. Die ersten limitierenden Aminosäuren waren für die Wildarten Isoleucin, Threonin und Lysin. Die Wildarten mit dem höchsten Proteingehalt unterschieden sich signifikant in den Ausmaßen der Proteinmatrix, die die Stärkekörner von tiefer gelegenen Endospermzellen umgibt, von der Kulturart.

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Secale L.

(S. chaldicum Fed., S. kuprijanovi Grossh., S. anatolicum Boiss., S. montanum Guss., S. silvestre Host, S. ancestrale Zhuk., S. afghanicum Vav., S. dighoricum Vav., S. segetale Roshev.) ë . S. cereale L., , , . , , ( ) , . , . , ë .

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Presented as poster

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The authors thank M.Mauszyska and R.Izdebski for propagation of rye materials used in this research.