The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Germany--an established Neozoon as host and vector for parasites and other pathogenes

Some invasive wildlife species have the potential to act as additional host and vector species for parasitic and other infectious diseases. We used the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonides), a carnivore species that has its origin in Asia, as an example to demonstrate biological and ecological prerequisites which enables an invasive species to occupy a new habitat permanently. Studies conducted during the last ten years identified a total of 23 endoparasites, two ectoparasites, six bacterial or protozoan species and five viruses, found in the Nyctereutes procyonoides ussuriensis subspecies in its newly occupied range or in N. procyonoides koreensis in its original range. Results of studies in Finland and Germany furthermore showed that biological characteristics of the raccoon dog make this carnivore an appropriate host or vector for a variety of parasites and infectious diseases. This may result in a growing importance of this invasive carnivore for the epidemiology of transmissible diseases in Germany. Especially with regard to zoonotic disease outbreaks, the raccoon dog should therefore be paid more attention in disease prevention and eradication strategies.     

Fenbendazole. I. Structure-activity relationships

Substitution of alkyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamates by phenoxy- or phenylthio-groups in the 5-position results in an increase in anthelmintic activity. The biological spectrum is altered by substitution of the phenyl ring. A sulphonic ester substituent in the 5-position of the benzimidazole nucleus also increases anthelmintic activity.     

BKCa-Cav channel complexes mediate rapid and localized Ca2+-activated K+ signaling

Large-conductance calcium- and voltage-activated potassium channels (BKCa) are dually activated by membrane depolarization and elevation of cytosolic calcium ions (Ca2+). Under normal cellular conditions, BKCa channel activation requires Ca2+ concentrations that typically occur in close proximity to Ca2+ sources. We show that BKCa channels affinity-purified from rat brain are assembled into macromolecular complexes with the voltage-gated calcium channels Cav1.2 (L-type), Cav2.1 (P/Q-type), and Cav2.2 (N-type). Heterologously expressed BKCa-Cav complexes reconstitute a functional "Ca2+ nanodomain" where Ca2+ influx through the Cav channel activates BKCa in the physiological voltage range with submillisecond kinetics. Complex formation with distinct Cav channels enables BKCa-mediated membrane hyperpolarization that controls neuronal firing pattern and release of hormones and transmitters in the central nervous system.     

Poultry manure and banana waste are effective biofertilizer carriers for promoting plant growth and soil sustainability in banana crops

The aims of our study were to compare the effectiveness of poultry manure (PM) and banana waste (BW), with regard to their use as inoculant carriers of a bacterial consortium constituted by strains of Azospirillum, Azotobacter and P-solubiliser bacteria and to establish the most efficient dose of biofertilizer for a soil cultivated with banana (Musa paradisiaca AAA Simmonds), with respect to improving plant performance and soil physical and microbiological properties. Six months after planting, plant growth had increased with increase in dose of the biofertilizers applied. The biofertilizer prepared on BW enhanced the density of P-solubiliser bacteria, the concentrations of available P and foliar P to a greater extent than with the biofertilizer prepared on PM. The increases produced by the biofertilizer prepared on PM for the soil aggregate stability, enzymatic activities and the labile carbon fractions were highly correlated to the dose applied. Both biofertilizers can be considered potentially useful as inoculant carriers of PGPR but the usefulness of BW appears to be restricted to moderate doses of application (≤3%).     

Improved method for comparing abundance data for soil zoological field studies

Soil bulk density varies among sites as well as microhabitats, and in different years at the same site. Bulk density is a highly variable parameter that introduces undefined but significant errors to abundance field data of soil microfauna when given in individuals per g soil dry mass (sdm). Such data are not comparable among sites, microhabitats and years and they are unsuitable for comparative ecological field studies. Soil corer sampling technique, defined as soil surface square units (e.g. 1 cm²), is recommended to overcome the methodological imprecision of estimating abundance of soil microfauna from field studies in ind·g sdm. This removes consideration of variable soil bulk density and enables us to establish abundance values directly in ind·cm⁻² without any recalculations. Resultant data are comparable both spatially and temporally. Abundance data as individuals per m² is a commonly used unit for soil meso-, macro- and megafauna.

Résumé

La densité apparente du sol est extrêmement variable aussi bien selon les sites que selon les microhabitats, ainsi que selon les différentes années sur un même site. La variabilité de ce paramètre induit des erreurs mal définies, mais significatives, dans l'estimation des abondances de la microfaune du sol lorsque celles-ci sont produites en termes de nombre d'individus par gramme de sol sec. De telles données ne sont pas comparables entre sites, microhabitats, ou années, et ne sont donc pas utilisables pour des études d'écologie comparative. La méthode d'échantillonnage par carottage du sol sur une surface connue (par exemple 1 cm²) est recommandée afin de maîtriser l'imprécision liée aux estimations par poids de sol sec. Cela permet de s'affranchir du paramètre de densité apparente du sol et permet de donner directement des valeurs d'abondance en nombre d'individus par cm² sans aucun calcul. Les données ainsi exprimées sont comparables, à la fois spatialement et temporellement. Le nombre d'individus par m² est une unité communément utilisée pour la méso-, macro- et mégafaune.     

Assessment of somaclonal variability in hop (Humulus lupulus L.) in vitro meristem cultures and clones by molecular methods

In vitro meristem tissue cultures are used for production of virus-free rootstocks of hop (Humulus lupulus L.). Because use of plant tissue cultures is associated with occurrence of somaclonal variability, we assessed somaclonal variability in hop meristem in vitro cultures before and after thermotherapy by different molecular methods (RFLP, RAPD, STS, ISSR and AFLP) and compared it with existing clonal variability of Osvald's clones 31, 72 and 114. No molecular differences were observed between mother plants and in vitro mericlones by RFLP and STS analyses. Amplified molecular differences were found in RAPD and ISSR products of one from five in vitromericlones cvs. Eroica (E5) and Southern Brewer (SB2), respectively. Similarities with mother plants were 0.965 and 0.913 (JSC), respectively. Specific amplified polymorphic products were found for every mericlone and mother plant in AFLP reactions and variability of DNA sequence ranged from 0.824 to 0.993 (JSC). This variability was very similar to determined intra-clonal variability within Osvald's clones 31, 72 and 114 by AFLP analysis. Inter-clonal variability of DNA sequence was exactly higher than intra-clonal variability of DNA sequence in these clones. The molecular differences between Osvald's clone 72 normal and meristem derived were not verifiable. Thermotherapy increased frequency of molecular changes, since amplified differences were found in 14 from 20 in vitro mericlones of cv. Eroica, in 6 from 11 in vitro mericlones of cv. Yeoman and in 15 from 23 in vitro mericlones of cv. Southern Brewer by RAPD and ISSR analyses.     

Beitrag zur Bekämpfung der Straßentauben in Städten

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Trends and controls of Holocene floodplain sedimentation in the Rhine catchment

Holocene floodplain sedimentation in the Rhine catchment is controlled by human and climate impacts. Intricate river behaviour modifies the fluvial response to the external impacts making cause–effect analysis difficult, especially on large spatial scales. To better understand the relative importance and interdependencies of external and internal controls, temporally resolved floodplain sedimentation rates are established using three different methods: i) floodplain storage studies on the trunk stream, ii) depth/age-analysis of overbank deposits from different parts of the catchment and iii) cumulative frequency distributions of ¹⁴C-ages from floodplain deposits from various parts of the catchment. The applied methodology strongly differs with the available temporal resolution and the size of the corresponding catchment. All three methods show a strong increase in sedimentation rate for more recent periods that can be linked to increasing human impact. Evidences for climate impacts and intricate river behaviour are less clear and hindered by insufficient temporal resolution of the currently available data.     

Molecular Variability of the Capsid Protein of the Prune Dwarf Virus

Sequences of the capsid protein gene and the preceding intergenic region of eleven isolates of prune dwarf virus from central Europe were determined. The isolates were obtained from plum, cherry and peach trees. Comparison of all sequenced isolates (including two sequences published previously) revealed high (88%) conservation of the capsid protein gene. The highest degree of identity was observed in the C-terminal half, where only 13 amino acid substitutions could be observed in contrast to the N-terminal half with 22 substitutions. No reasonable correlation between amino acid substitutions and host species and/or geographic origin of the isolates was observed. Alignment with capsid protein genes of other ilarviruses revealed apple mosaic virus, elm mottle virus, lilac ring mottle virus and prunus necrotic ringspot virus as the most related to prune dwarf virus. Unlike the isolates of related prunus necrotic ringspot virus all the isolates of prune dwarf virus shared extensive conservation of the intergenic region. Portions of RNA3 were selected for design of universal primers for PCR detection.