Effect of Quorum Sensing Inducers and Inhibitors on Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Induced by Wolbachia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) in American Serpentine Leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae): Potential Tool for the Incompatible Insect Technique

Agricultural crops around the world are attacked by approximately 3,000–10,000 species of pest insect. There is increasing interest in resolving this problem using environmentally friendly approaches. Wolbachia (Hertig), an insect endosymbiont, can modulate host reproduction and offspring sex through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). The incompatible insect technique (IIT) based on CI-Wolbachia is a promising biological control method. Previous studies have reported an association between CI and Wolbachia density, which may involve a quorum sensing (QS) mechanism. In this study, we investigated the effect of manipulating QS in Wolbachia using several chemicals including 3O-C12-HSL; C2HSL; spermidine (QS inducers), 4-phenylbutanoyl; and 4-NPO (QS inhibitors) on American serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii [Burgess]), an agricultural pest. The results showed that inducing QS with 3O-C12-HSL decreased the proportion of hatched eggs and increased Wolbachia density, whereas QS inhibition with 4-phenylbutanoyl had the opposite effects. Thus, manipulating QS in Wolbachia can alter cell density and the proportion of hatched eggs in the host L. trifolii, thereby reducing the number of insect progeny. These findings provide evidence supporting the potential efficacy of the IIT based on CI-Wolbachia for the environmentally friendly control of insect pest populations.     

Effects of arginine supplementation on growth performance and plasma arginine,ornithine and citrulline dynamics of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study aimed to re‐evaluate the effect of excessive arginine supplementation on growth and feed efficiency of rainbow trout, and to assess the effect of dietary arginine supplementation on hepatic amino acid composition, expression of arginase Ⅱ (ARG 2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) genes in the intestine, and plasma arginine, ornithine, citrulline and urea levels at 0, 6, 12 and 18 hr‐postprandial. Rainbow trout (body weight: 60.5–65 g) were fed diets containing 1.47 (control [CTRL]), 3.89 (3.89A) and 5.64% (5.64A) arginine for nine weeks. Higher muscle protein content was observed in 3.89A than CTRL (p < 0.05). In postprandial study, plasma arginine of 5.64A kept increased until 12 hr‐postprandial and reached identical value (around 150 µg/ml) until 18 hr‐postprandial in 5.64A. Significant increase of plasma arginine level was only observed in arginine supplemented group. Meanwhile, plasma citrulline level in CTRL was significantly higher than in 5.64A at 18 hr‐postprandial. A significantly higher hepatic citrulline level was also observed in CTRL than in 5.64A (p < 0.05). Significantly higher plasma and hepatic free ornithine level was observed in 5.64A than CTRL while significantly higher expression of intestinal ARG2 and HSP70 was found in arginine supplemented groups. These results suggest that citrulline availability seems to be stimulated by arginine deficiency in the CTRL and the presence of arginase in the intestine to regulate excess dietary arginine.     

Artoindonesianin L, a new prenylated flavone with cytotoxic activity from Artocarpus rotunda.

A new prenylated flavone, named artoindonesianin L (1), was isolated from Artocarpus rotunda (Hout) Panzer (Moraceae). Its structure was elucidated as on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Along with this new compound, four known phenolic compounds were also isolated from this plant and identified as artonins M (2) and E (3), cycloartobiloxanthone (4) and artonin O (5). All these compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against murine P388 leukemia cells.     

Diptoindonesin A,a new C-glucoside of epsilon-viniferin from Shorea seminis (Dipterocarpaceae)

A new C-glucoside of epsilon-viniferin, named diptoindonesin A (1), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the tree bark of Shorea seminis, together with the known stilbene oligomers (-)-ampelopsin A (2), (-)-alpha-viniferin (3), and (-)-hopeaphenol (4). The structure of 1 was determined from spectroscopic evidence.     

Estimating occupancy of a data deficient mammalian species living in tropical rainforests: Sun bears in the Kerinci Seblat region, Sumatra

Tropical mammals represent some of the most threatened species, but also the least known because they tend to be difficult to study. To objectively evaluate the conservation status of these species, standardized methods are urgently required. The sun bear Helarctos malayanus is a case in point: it is cryptic, difficult to detect and consequently classified on the IUCN Red List as Data Deficient, and the highest priority for bear conservation research. In this study, we apply a detection/non-detection sampling technique using camera trap data with environmental covariates to estimate sun bear occupancy from three tropical forest study areas with different levels of degradation and protection status in Sumatra. Sun bear detections, and encounter rates, were highest in one of the primary forest study areas, but sun bear occupancy was highest in the degraded forest study area. Whilst, sun bears were recorded at a greater proportion of camera placements in degraded forest, these records were often on only one occasion at each placement, which greatly increased the final occupancy estimate. Primary forests with their large fruiting trees undoubtedly represent good sun bear habitat, but our results indicate that degraded forest can also represent important habitat. These forests should therefore not be considered as having limited conservation value and assigned to other uses, such as oil palm production, as has previously happened in Sumatra. Estimating occupancy between years will yield information on the population trends of sun bears and other tropical mammals, which can be used to provide more reliable conservation assessments.     

Conserving tigers Panthera tigris in selectively logged Sumatran forests

The response of most large carnivores to selective logging is poorly understood. On the one hand, selective logging may represent loss of important habitat, yet, on the other hand, selective logging may increase browse availability for a terrestrial ungulate prey base, thereby indirectly benefiting large carnivores. Using a camera trap-based sampling method, we estimate tiger density in two primary-selectively logged forest areas that straddle Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra. We then investigate potential differences between the habitat use of tigers: within these study areas and forest types; and, within the finer-scale landscape features associated with these covariates. Across the mixed forest study areas, tiger density estimates (adult individuals/100 km² ± S.E.) of 2.95 ± 0.56 and 1.55 ± 0.34 were produced. However, within these areas, tigers showed a preference for primary over degraded forest, and this was related to the greater accessibility of degraded forest sites to people, e.g., through their proximity to roads. Presently, the majority of Sumatran tigers occur within large tracts of primary forest, but these extend outside of the island’s protected area borders, and these unprotected forests are especially at risk from the high levels of deforestation in Sumatra. As forest is cleared, previously remote, and therefore safer, tracts of primary forest become accessible and, eventually, degraded. Yet, from our study, degraded forest in combination with primary forest supported sufficiently high tiger densities and can, therefore, make an important contribution to tiger conservation. It is therefore essential to lessen the detrimental effects of accessibility through increasing law enforcement and destroying ex-logging roads.     

Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 for Predicting the Severity of COVID-19 Lung Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction:Lung injury is common in COVID-19 patients. The severity of lung injury appears to be reflected in serum KL-6, a glycoprotein expressed on type II alveolar epithelium. This study aims to assess the role of serum KL-6 in reflecting the severity of lung injury in COVID-19 patients. Methods:A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and ProQuest. Articles were screened based on several eligibility criteria and assessed for study quality using NOS. Results:This systematic review included four studies involving a total of 151 adult COVID-19 patients. Pooled analysis revealed that serum KL-6 was significantly higher in severe patients (SMD = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.69–1.63) with moderately high pooled sensitivity (79%; 95% CI = 61–91%) and specificity (86%; 95% CI = 72–95%). Conclusion:High serum KL-6 may depict more severe lung injury in COVID-19 patients with moderately high sensitivity and specificity. Key Words: Biomarker, COVID-19, Infectious disease, Krebs von den Lungen-6, Lung injury     

伴生有金雀花、黑麦草的辐射松幼苗Allophanic土壤磷肥驱动的各磷形态变化

对盆栽的伴生有金雀花(Cytisus scoparius)、黑麦草(Lolium multiflorum)的辐射松(Pinus radiata)幼苗施用3种浓度(O,50,100 μg·g-1)的三过磷酸钙,14个月后测定缺磷Allophanic土壤中各磷形态变化,确定根际土壤中施加的磷肥的去向.结果表明,施加磷肥增加了根际土壤中NaOH-Pi、NaOH-P0和H2SO4-Pi的浓度,但是减少了土壤残留磷的含量,而树脂磷浓度维持不变,在这种土壤中树脂磷浓度仍然较低(1 to 3μg·g-1).施加到土壤里的磷肥,有机磷的回收率最高(40%-49%),这是因为这种土壤具有较高的磷固定能力(92%),其次是不稳定有机磷(7%-19%).在磷肥缺乏或不施加磷肥的情况下,辐射松根际土壤中有机磷浓度低于周边土壤以及金雀花、黑麦草根际土壤.这可能与磷肥缺乏条件下,根系和菌根产生较高的草酸盐而释放部分磷到根际土壤中有关.但此观点需要进一步的研究检验.     

Artoindonesianin L, a new prenylated flavone with cytotoxic activity from Artocarpus rotunda

A new prenylated flavone, named artoindonesianin L (1), was isolated from Artocarpus rotunda (Hout) Panzer (Moraceae). Its structure was elucidated as on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Along with this new compound, four known phenolic compounds were also isolated from this plant and identified as artonins M (2) and E (3), cycloartobiloxanthone (4) and artonin O (5). All these compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against murine P388 leukemia cells.