Methoden zur Massensammlung europäischer Adelgidenräuber und Hinweise auf ihre Ökologie

Zusammenfassung Zur Bekämpfung der von Europa nach Nordamerika verschlepptea Tannenwolläuse (GattungDreyfusia) wurden in den Jahren 1954–1966 rund 321 000 aphidophage Coleopteren. (3 Arten) und 1 008 000 Dipteren (6 Arten) in Europa gesammelt und in Amerika freigelassen. Im Laufe der Jahre konnten die Sammelmethoden verbessert und Kenntnisse ü ber die Ökologie der Räuber gewonnen werden, über die berichtet wird. Sie betreffen die ArtenAphidecta obliterata L.,Pullus impexus Muls.,Laricobius erichsonii Rosenh.,Aphidoletes thompsoni Möhn,Cremifania nigrocellulata Czerny,Leucopis n. sp.Neoleucopis obscura Hal.,Leucopis atratula Ratz. undMetasyrphus lapponicus Zett.     

Immunohistochemical study of matrix metalloproteinases‐2 and ‐9, macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases‐1 and ‐2 in normal,purulonecrotic and fungal infected equine corneas

Objective Determine the effects of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)‐2, ‐9, macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 (MIP‐2), tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐1 and ‐2 by immunohistochemical expression in fungal affected and purulonecrotic corneas. Procedure Paraffin‐embedded equine corneal samples; normal (n = 9), fungal affected (FA; n = 26), and purulonecrotic without fungi (PN; n = 41) were evaluated immunohistochemically for MMP‐2, ‐9, MIP‐2, TIMP‐1 and ‐2. The number of immunoreactive inflammatory cells was counted and statistics analyzed. Western blot was performed to detect MMP‐2, MMP‐9, TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 proteins. Results Matrix metalloproteinases‐2, ‐9, MIP‐2, TIMP‐1 and ‐2 immunoreactivity was identified in corneal epithelium of normal corneas, and in corneal epithelium, inflammatory cells, keratocytes, and vascular endothelial cells of both FA and PN samples. Inflammatory cell immunoreactivity was significantly higher in FA and PN samples than in the normal corneas. There was positive correlation between MMP‐2 and MIP‐2, MMP‐9 and MIP‐2, and MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 in inflammatory cell immunoreactivity in FA samples. There was positive correlation between MMP‐9 and MIP‐2, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐2, MIP‐2 and TIMP‐1, and MIP‐2 and TIMP‐2 in inflammatory cell immunoreactivity in PN samples. Western blot confirmed the presence of all four proteins in equine corneal samples. Conclusion Increased immunoreactivity of MMP‐2 and ‐9 in FA and PN samples is indirectly related to MIP‐2 through its role in neutrophil chemo‐attraction. Tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase‐1 and TIMP‐2 are up‐regulated in equine purulonecrotic and fungal keratitis secondary to MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expression. The correlation between MMPs ‐2 and ‐9, MIP‐2, TIMPs ‐1 and ‐2 suggests that these proteins play a specific role in the pathogenesis of equine fungal keratitis.     

Analysis of blood gases,serum fat and serum protein: a new approach to estimate survival chances of stranded Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups from the German North Sea

Background

Facing numerous challenges, such as illness, storms or human disturbance, some harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups lose contact to their dams and are found abandoned along the North Sea coast. In Schleswig-Holstein, pups with the prospect of surviving rehabilitation are admitted to the Seal Center Friedrichskoog. Despite elaborate clinical health assessments on admission, including differential hematology, in 2010, 17% of 108 admitted pups did not survive the first 20 days. The death rate during the years 2006 and 2009 varied between 9 and 19%. To broaden the spectrum of variables which could be predictive for survival, blood gas and serum analyses were performed for 99 pups using venous blood. Variables included total CO₂, pH, partial CO₂, HCO₃^–, base excess and anion gap as well as glucose, urea nitrogen, sodium, potassium and chloride. Moreover, total serum protein and fat (triglyceride) concentrations were measured for all pups on admission.

Results

Repeated measurements of 12 randomly selected individuals revealed a significant (p = 0.002) positive influence of time in rehabilitation on triglyceride concentrations. This trend probably shows the improvement of the pups’ nutritional status as a consequence of the shift from milk replacer formula to fish. No such positive influence was detected for total protein concentrations though. Hematologic values, including blood gases, were not predictive for survival.

Conclusions

For the first time blood gas values are reported in this study for a large sample size (N = 99) of seal pups (regardless of their health status). The ranges and medians calculated from the data can serve as a stepping stone towards the establishment of reference values for neonate harbor seals. However, future investigations on the development of blood gases in harbor seals with different health conditions and ages over time are necessary to allow for a better understanding of acid–base regulation in harbor seals.     

Mutations in the pericentrin (PCNT) gene cause primordial dwarfism

Fundamental processes influencing human growth can be revealed by studying extreme short stature. Using genetic linkage analysis, we find that biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the centrosomal pericentrin (PCNT) gene on chromosome 21q22.3 cause microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) in 25 patients. Adults with this rare inherited condition have an average height of 100 centimeters and a brain size comparable to that of a 3-month-old baby, but are of near-normal intelligence. Absence of PCNT results in disorganized mitotic spindles and missegregation of chromosomes. Mutations in related genes are known to cause primary microcephaly (MCPH1, CDK5RAP2, ASPM, and CENPJ).     

An alternative flavin-dependent mechanism for thymidylate synthesis

Although deoxythymidylate cannot be provided directly by ribonucleotide reductase, the gene encoding thymidylate synthase ThyA is absent from the genomes of a large number of nonsymbiotic microbes. We show that ThyX (Thy1) proteins of previously unknown function form a large and distinct class of thymidylate synthases. ThyX has a wide but sporadic phylogenetic distribution, almost exclusively limited to microbial genomes lacking thyA. ThyX and ThyA use different reductive mechanisms, because ThyX activity is dependent on reduced flavin nucleotides. Our findings reveal complexity in the evolution of thymidine in present-day DNA. Because ThyX proteins are found in many pathogenic microbes, they present a previously uncharacterized target for antimicrobial compounds.