Dr. Walther Horn,Berlin-Dahlem,zum 60. Geburtstag

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Weitere Fälle von Massenauftreten der FliegeChloropisca notata flavifrons Macq. (Chloropidae) und nahe verwandter Arten

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MHC class II risk haplotype associated with canine chronic superficial keratitis in German Shepherd dogs

Canine chronic superficial keratitis (CSK) is an inflammatory ocular disease of an autoimmune origin leading to blindness if untreated. The main symptoms of CSK are progressive, bilateral vascularisation, fibrous tissue formation and pigmentation of the anterior corneal stroma. Although CSK is found in many breeds it is most prevalent in German Shepherd dogs (GSDs). Since Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II is associated with several autoimmune diseases in dogs we investigated the possible role of DLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 in GSDs affected with CSK. Our study population included 25 healthy controls and 30 CSK dogs. Most of the affected dogs were females suggesting a female predisposition. We identified 11 unevenly distributed haplotypes of which DLA-DRB1*01501/DQA1*00601/DQB1*00301 was significantly associated with the CSK dogs (OR=2.67, CI=1.17-6.44, p=0.02). We also found that overall homozygosity of MHC class II increases risk for CSK (OR=4.37, CI=1.27-18.46, p=0.02) and homozygosity of the risk haplotype by over eight-fold (OR=8.5, 95% CI=1.4-224, p=0.017). This study identifies a MHC class II risk haplotype for CSK in GSD and further supports the autoimmune origin of the disease.     

LUPA: a European initiative taking advantage of the canine genome architecture for unravelling complex disorders in both human and dogs

The domestic dog offers a unique opportunity to explore the genetic basis of disease, morphology and behaviour. Humans share many diseases with our canine companions, making dogs an ideal model organism for comparative disease genetics. Using newly developed resources, genome-wide association studies in dog breeds are proving to be exceptionally powerful. Towards this aim, veterinarians and geneticists from 12 European countries are collaborating to collect and analyse the DNA from large cohorts of dogs suffering from a range of carefully defined diseases of relevance to human health. This project, named LUPA, has already delivered considerable results. The consortium has collaborated to develop a new high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Mutations for four monogenic diseases have been identified and the information has been utilised to find mutations in human patients. Several complex diseases have been mapped and fine mapping is underway. These findings should ultimately lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying complex diseases in both humans and their best friend.     

Actinomycetes from Red Sea Sponges: Sources for Chemical and Phylogenetic Diversity

The diversity of actinomycetes associated with marine sponges collected off Fsar Reef (Saudi Arabia) was investigated in the present study. Forty-seven actinomycetes were cultivated and phylogenetically identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and were assigned to 10 different actinomycete genera. Eight putatively novel species belonging to genera Kocuria, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Rhodococcus were identified based on sequence similarity values below 98.2% to other 16S rRNA gene sequences available in the NCBI database. PCR-based screening for biosynthetic genes including type I and type II polyketide synthases (PKS-I, PKS-II) as well as nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) showed that 20 actinomycete isolates encoded each at least one type of biosynthetic gene. The organic extracts of nine isolates displayed bioactivity against at least one of the test pathogens, which were Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, human parasites, as well as in a West Nile Virus protease enzymatic assay. These results emphasize that marine sponges are a prolific resource for novel bioactive actinomycetes with potential for drug discovery.     

Physiologische und ökologische Forschungen als Grundlagen praktischer Maßnahmen

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