The benefit of native uniqueness in a local red cattle breed from Northern Germany

During last decades, native uniqueness decreased in local livestock breeds due to the introgression of high‐yielding breeds. Recovery of native uniqueness became important because of conservation aspects regarding native genetic diversity and native traits. Thereby the expectation exists, that the relation between native uniqueness and genetic gain is contradictory. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of native uniqueness on performance traits and the total merit index in a local red cattle breed from Northern Germany. Data contained a pedigree file of 178,255 Red Dual‐Purpose cattle, 809 target genotypes and 3,581 reference genotypes from introgressed breeds. Native genetic contributions were tested for correlation with performance traits of milk yield, longevity, foundation, somatic cells, fertility and maternal calving and the total merit index. The study revealed that native uniqueness is favourably related to longevity (0.16), foundation (0.23), and somatic cells (0.08), and the total merit index (0.10). Selection on native uniqueness could probably lead to an increased longevity, udder health and genetic gain of the Red Dual‐Purpose cattle. Moreover, it was shown that the Red Dual‐Purpose cattle was not upgraded through introgression of high‐yielding breeds.     

Bayes and diagnostic testing

Interpretation of the result of a diagnostic test depends not only on the actual test result(s) but also on information external to this result, namely the test's sensitivity and specificity. This external information (also called prior information) must be combined with the data to yield the so-called updated, posterior estimates of the true prevalence and the test characteristics. The Bayesian approach offers a natural, intuitive framework in which to carry out this estimation process. The influence of the prior information on the final result may not be ignored. Guidance for the choice of prior information not in conflict with the data can be obtained from a set of statistics and indices (DIC, p(D), Bayes-p).     

Expression of TOLL-like receptors (TLR) by bovine antigen-presenting cells-potential role in pathogen discrimination?

Invading pathogens are controlled by the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Adaptive immunity, mediated by B and T lymphocytes, recognises pathogens via high affinity receptors. However, the establishment of a primary adaptive immune response is not rapid enough to eradicate invading microorganisms as it involves cell proliferation, gene activation and protein synthesis. More rapid defence mechanisms are provided by innate immunity, which recognises invading pathogens by germ-line-encoded pattern recognition receptors. Recent evidence shows that this recognition can mainly be attributed to the family of TOLL-like receptors (TLR). Binding of pathogen-associated molecular patterns to TLR induces the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and up-regulates expression of co-stimulatory molecules, subsequently initiating the adaptive immunity. In this paper, we will discuss the current knowledge with regards to the TLR, and in particular the bovine family of TLR. In addition, we will show the expression of TLR mRNA in bovine antigen-presenting cell subsets, summarise the discovery and the critical roles of TLR2 in host defence against Mycobacteria, and provide evidence for a mycobacteria species-specific response of bovine macrophages.     

Classification of Dutch and German avian reoviruses by sequencing the sigma C protein

We have amplified, cloned and sequenced (part of) the open reading frame of the S1 segment encoding the sigma C protein of avian reoviruses isolated from chickens with different disease conditions in Germany and The Netherlands during 1980 up to 2000. These avian reoviruses were analysed phylogenetically and compared with sequences of avian reoviruses in the Genbank database. The avian reoviruses could be grouped in 5 different genotyping clusters and this classification was identical when the sequences were compared of the 5' end, the 3' end or the whole open reading frame of the sigma C protein. Therefore sequencing of either part of the gene encoding the sigma C protein seems to be reliable for classification. We were unable to identify a correlation between sigma C sequences of the avian reoviruses and the disease condition they were isolated from. The sequences found in The Netherlands and in Germany are, like those in Taiwan, more dispersed than the known avian reovirus sigma C sequences in the USA and Australia. We did not establish temporal or geographic differences in the avian reoviruses studied.     

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.     

Serine-7 of the RNA polymerase II CTD is specifically required for snRNA gene expression

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcribes genes that encode proteins and noncoding small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). The carboxyl-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of mammalian RNA Pol II, comprising tandem repeats of the heptapeptide consensus Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5-Pro6-Ser7, is required for expression of both gene types. We show that mutation of serine-7 to alanine causes a specific defect in snRNA gene expression. We also present evidence that phosphorylation of serine-7 facilitates interaction with the snRNA gene-specific Integrator complex. These findings assign a biological function to this amino acid and highlight a gene type-specific requirement for a residue within the CTD heptapeptide, supporting the existence of a CTD code.     

Ceramide triggers budding of exosome vesicles into multivesicular endosomes

Intraluminal vesicles of multivesicular endosomes are either sorted for cargo degradation into lysosomes or secreted as exosomes into the extracellular milieu. The mechanisms underlying the sorting of membrane into the different populations of intraluminal vesicles are unknown. Here, we find that cargo is segregated into distinct subdomains on the endosomal membrane and that the transfer of exosome-associated domains into the lumen of the endosome did not depend on the function of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery, but required the sphingolipid ceramide. Purified exosomes were enriched in ceramide, and the release of exosomes was reduced after the inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinases. These results establish a pathway in intraendosomal membrane transport and exosome formation.     

Mutations in dynein link motor neuron degeneration to defects in retrograde transport

Degenerative disorders of motor neurons include a range of progressive fatal diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Although the causative genetic alterations are known for some cases, the molecular basis of many SMA and SBMA-like syndromes and most ALS cases is unknown. Here we show that missense point mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain result in progressive motor neuron degeneration in heterozygous mice, and in homozygotes this is accompanied by the formation of Lewy-like inclusion bodies, thus resembling key features of human pathology. These mutations exclusively perturb neuron-specific functions of dynein.     

Comment on "Nonreciprocal light propagation in a silicon photonic circuit"

We show that the structure demonstrated by Feng et al. (Reports, 5 August 2011, p. 729) cannot enable optical isolation because it possesses a symmetric scattering matrix. Moreover, one cannot construct an optical isolator by incorporating this structure into any system as long as the system is linear and time-independent and is described by materials with a scalar dielectric function.     

A case study of capture-recapture methodology using scrapie surveillance data in Great Britain

We applied capture–recapture methodology (CRC) to data from three surveillance sources (statutory notification, abattoir survey (AS) and fallen stock (FS) survey) to estimate the number of holdings infected with scrapie in Great Britain and to assess the sensitivity of the surveillance network. Between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2003, 144 holdings were identified by the three sources. Using CRC modelling techniques, we estimated a minimum lower bound for the total number of holdings infected as 642. A biologically plausible positive dependence between the statutory reporting and the fallen stock survey was found statistically significant. The sensitivity of the three sources combined was very low. The integration of the three overlapping sources provided a better understanding of the interactions within the surveillance network. However, the scarcity of the data and reduced overlapping among sources only allowed for very cautious inferences to be drawn about the true proportion of scrapie affected holdings in the national population. Future surveys and surveillance activities should be planned such that the resulting data can be used more effectively as part of CRC modelling approaches.