Mass spectrometry of intact V-type ATPases reveals bound lipids and the effects of nucleotide binding

The ability of electrospray to propel large viruses into a mass spectrometer is established and is rationalized by analogy to the atmospheric transmission of the common cold. Much less clear is the fate of membrane-embedded molecular machines in the gas phase. Here we show that rotary adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases)/synthases from Thermus thermophilus and Enterococcus hirae can be maintained intact with membrane and soluble subunit interactions preserved in vacuum. Mass spectra reveal subunit stoichiometries and the identity of tightly bound lipids within the membrane rotors. Moreover, subcomplexes formed in solution and gas phases reveal the regulatory effects of nucleotide binding on both ATP hydrolysis and proton translocation. Consequently, we can link specific lipid and nucleotide binding with distinct regulatory roles.     

Intensive beach management as an improved sea turtle conservation strategy in Mexico

We evaluate the role of intensive beach management, meaning intense patrolling and nest reburial to a central hatchery, as a strategy for improving the success of sea turtle conservation at nesting sites in Mexico. We report the results of an experimental program at Playa Cuixmala, Jalisco, western Mexico. Sea turtle conservation efforts in Mexico have, in general, poor results because of lack of funds, which leads to insufficient beach protection and severe negative effects of nest removal on hatching success and sex ratios. Alternative strategies are needed to optimize limited resources. We predicted that intensive beach management, which included intense patrolling and careful nest reburial, could be an effective way to maximize nest survival and hatchling release under limited financial and human resources. The results of our 9-year study were very positive. Survival rate increased several fold during the study period. Hatching success and sex ratios were not significantly different between in-situ and removed nests. Survival in removed nests was, however, much higher that in-situ nests, because of predation and beach erosion. In total, the small (3 km length) Playa Cuixmala became the second most productive sea turtle nesting beach in the region because of these concentrated efforts. Intense beach management can be an important technique for sea turtle conservation, and can be properly applied to small beaches or the most productive sections of large beaches.     

Seed and oil yields of Moringa oleifera variety Periyakalum-1 introduced for oil production in four ecosystems of South America

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a member of Moringaceae family which grows throughout most of the tropics, and is native to sub-Himalayan tracts of north west India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Moringa seed concentrates 35-45% oil which is considered a great natural cosmetic emollient almost total natural absence of color and odor, and high oleic acid concentration (>73%). To assess their production potential in the Arid Chaco, The Yungas Tropical Forest, Tropical Lowland Forest, and in the Sub-Humid Chaco Ecosystems of South America, a comparative trial was undertaken to determine their seed yield and oil content. Arid Chaco Ecosystem: significant (P < 0.05) difference in seed yields among years were found, with 176.17 and 481.25 kg/tree recorded for 1- and 2-year-old trees, respectively. Sub-Humid Chaco Ecosystems: the difference in seed yield and oil percentage between years was significant (P < 0.05). Comparison between years showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher seed yields, and significantly (P < 0.05) lower oil percentage for the two years old trees, than for the one year old trees. The oil/tree content was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for two years old trees than for one-year-old trees. Yungas Tropical Forest Ecosystem: seed oil percentage was significant (P < 0.05) higher in one-year-old trees than in seeds of two years old trees. Overall: over the tree years, oil percentage was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for seeds produced at the Arid Chaco than at the Sub-Humid Chaco. The seed/tree yields and the oil/tree content were no significantly (P < 0.05) different among the three ecosystems. However, when oil percentage per tree and seed yield/tree were combined trees from Sub-Humid Chaco and from Yungas Tropical Forest yielded significantly (P < 0.05) higher oil content compared to that from Arid Chaco trees.     

Effects of no‐take area size and age of marine protected areas on fisheries yields: a meta‐analytical approach

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often promoted as tools for biodiversity conservation as well as for fisheries management. Despite increasing evidence of their usefulness, questions remain regarding the optimal design of MPAs, in particular concerning their function as fisheries management tools, for which empirical studies are still lacking. Using 28 data sets from seven MPAs in Southern Europe, we developed a meta‐analytical approach to investigate the effects of protection on adjacent fisheries and asking how these effects are influenced by MPA size and age. Southern European MPAs showed clear effects on the surrounding fisheries, on the ‘catch per unit effort’ (CPUE) of target species, but especially on the CPUE of the marketable catch. These effects depended on the time of protection and on the size of the no‐take area. CPUE of both target species and the marketable catch increased gradually by 2–4% per year over a long time period (at least 30 years). The influence of the size of the no‐take area appeared to be more complex. The catch rates of the entire fishery in and around the MPA were higher when the no‐take areas were smaller. Conversely, catch rates of selected fisheries that were expected to benefit most from protection increased when the no‐take area was larger. Our results emphasize the importance of MPA size on its export functions and suggest that an adequate, often extended, time frame be used for the management and the evaluation of effectiveness of MPAs.     

Hematology and serum chemistry values of the lesser rhea (Pterocnemia pennata) raised in Patagonian farms (Argentina).

Hematologic and serum chemistry values were determined for chicks, juveniles, and adult farmed lesser rheas (Prerocnemia pennata). Blood samples were taken during March-April 1998 from the brachial veins of lesser rhea, including 64 chicks, 24 juveniles, and 36 adults, raised in Patagonian farms (Argentina). Lesser rhea chicks had significantly lower erythrocyte counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin, red cell indices, and copper than did the juveniles and adult individuals. No significant differences were observed between females and males. Most values were similar to those reported for other ratites. The data obtained provide hematologic and serum chemistry values for lesser rhea from farms.     

Influence of Water Stress on the Chemical Composition of Seeds of Two Lupins (Lupinus albus and Lupinus mutabilis)

We have performed chemical proximate analysis and determined the carbohydrate profile of mature seeds of Lupinus albus, cv. Rio Maior and Lupinus mutabilis, cv. Potosi plants, either well watered (ww) or subjected to a water-stress period (imposed from the 15th to 35th day after anthesis). Protein content from lupin seeds was 450 and 320 g kg⁻¹ of seed on dry weight basis, for ww plants, respectively, of L. albus and L. mutabilis. Water stress did not affect protein content. The oil content of ww plants was about 120 g kg⁻¹ of seed dry weight for L. albus and 180 g kg⁻¹ of seed dry weight for L. mutabilis. Water stress reduced those values of half. The sugar content was about 90 g kg⁻¹ for L. albus and 50 g kg⁻¹ of seed dry weight for L. mutabilis, in ww plants. Water stress led to an increase in sugar content to 200 and 130 g kg⁻¹ of seed dry weight, respectively, for L. albus and L. mutabilis. The α-galactosides amounted to 70 % of the total sugars (raffinose being 30 % and stachyose, 40 %) and sucrose was about 20 % of the total sugars. Water stress increased total carbohydrates and increased the sucrose/α-galactoside ratio, although reducing raffinose content and increasing sucrose content.     

Participation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis

The vectorial competence of the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus is discussed in relation to the epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis, taking into account its strict association with dogs and the low indices of natural infection presented by its known vector, the phlebotomine sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. In order to evaluate natural infection by Leishmania chagasi and the infectivity of these parasites in the tick, 39 specimens (6 females, 11 males and 22 nymphs) of R. sanguineus were removed from 21 dogs showing diverse symptoms of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL). Six ticks (15.4%) gave positive results for the genus Leishmania using the PCR technique. To determine the infectivity of the parasites, 36 hamsters were inoculated orally and peritoneally with macerates of ticks removed from nine dogs symptomatic for visceral leishmaniasis. After 6 months the hamsters were sacrificed and necropsied. Serum was removed for IFAT, as well as spleen and liver fragments to make imprint smears and for PCR. Eight (88.9%) of these dogs presented ticks that were infective for 14 hamsters (41.2%), 12 (85.7%) of them infected peritoneally and two (14.3%) orally. PCR revealed 27 smears (40.9%) to be positive, 20 (62.5%) of them infected peritoneally and seven (20.6%) orally. IFAT showed 14 positive animals (41.2%). Based on these findings, we suggest that the vectorial capacity of R. sanguineus for L. chagasi should be evaluated further, opening new perspectives in the epidemiology of ZVL.