Intracellular bacterial biofilm-like pods in urinary tract infections

Escherichia coli entry into the bladder is met with potent innate defenses, including neutrophil influx and epithelial exfoliation. Bacterial subversion of innate responses involves invasion into bladder superficial cells. We discovered that the intracellular bacteria matured into biofilms, creating pod-like bulges on the bladder surface. Pods contained bacteria encased in a polysaccharide-rich matrix surrounded by a protective shell of uroplakin. Within the biofilm, bacterial structures interacted extensively with the surrounding matrix, and biofilm associated factors had regional variation in expression. The discovery of intracellular biofilm-like pods explains how bladder infections can persist in the face of robust host defenses.     

Optimal swimming speeds reflect preferred swimming speeds of brook charr (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus fontinalis</Emphasis> Mitchill, 1874)

Several measures have been developed to quantify swimming performance to understand various aspects of ecology and behaviour, as well as to help design functional applications for fishways and aquaculture. One of those measures, the optimal swimming speed, is the speed at which the cost of transport (COT) is minimal, where COT is defined as the cost of moving unit mass over unit distance. The experimental protocol to determine the optimal swimming speed involves forced-swimming in a flume or respirometer. In this study, a 4.5–m-long tilted raceway with gradually increasing upstream water speed is used to determine a novel, behaviourally based swimming parameter: the preferred swimming speed. The optimal swimming speed and the preferred swimming speed of brook charr were determined and a comparison of the two reveals that the optimal swimming speed (25.9 ± 4.5 cm s⁻¹ or 1.02 ± 0.47 bl s⁻¹) reflected the preferred swimming speed (between 20 cm s⁻¹ or 0.78 ± 0.02 bl s⁻¹ and 25 cm s⁻¹ or 0.95 ± 0.03 bl s⁻¹). The preferred swimming speed can be advantageous for the determination of swimming speeds for the use in aquaculture studies.     

Participatory epidemiology: approaches, methods, experiences

Participatory epidemiology (PE) is an evolving branch of veterinary epidemiology which uses a combination of practitioner communication skills and participatory methods to improve the involvement of animal keepers in the analysis of animal disease problems, and the design, implementation and evaluation of disease control programmes and policies. This review describes the origins of PE and how the application of PE requires attention to both a participatory approach and participatory methods, supported by triangulation of data with conventional veterinary diagnostic methods. The review summarizes the various adaptations and uses of PE, including the design of primary veterinary service delivery systems, veterinary research and disease surveillance. In contrast to conventional data collection methods, an integral aspect PE is the concept of applying and evaluating new disease control programmes or surveillance systems in partnership with animal owners. In the developing regions where PE has been most commonly used, this action-orientated approach raises important challenges for veterinary institutions with limited financial resources. Information derived from PE studies can also question longstanding disease control policies and norms, nationally and internationally.     

Contributions of stomatal infiltration and cuticular penetration to enhancements of foliar uptake by surfactants

Radiolabelled deoxyglucose (DOG) and glyphosate were used to investigate the effects of certain non-ionic surfactants on the kinetics of foliar uptake in three species. ‘Silwet L-77’ (5 g litre^?1), an organosilicone surfactant, enabled spray solutions to infiltrate stomata, providing uptake of DOG into Vicia bean (50%), oat (35%) and wheat (20%) within 10 min of application. ‘Silwet Y-12301’, another organosilicone, also induced stomatal infiltration but to a lesser extent; unlike L-77, this was attenuated by partial stomatal closure. A third organosilicone, ‘Silwet L-7607’, and two conventional surfactants, ‘Triton X-45’ (OP5) and ‘Agral 90’ (NP9), did not induce stomatal infiltration. The effective minimum concentration of L-77 required to enable infiltration of stomata was 2 g litre^?1. The uptake of glyphosate into bean did not differ from that of DOG but the ‘Roundup’ formulation of glyphosate partially antagonised the infiltration provided by L-77. Addition of surfactants did not increase the rate of cuticular penetration of DOG into bean but total uptake was increased, except by NP9, either via infiltration (L-77 and Y-12301) or by extending the period during which penetration occurred (L-7607 and OP5). The surfactants had a variable effect on rates of penetration of DOG into wheat and oat. In general, foliar uptake followed an exponential timecourse which was largely complete within 6 h and only rarely approached 100% of the applied chemical. The stomatal infiltration provided by L-77 caused an increase in translocation of DOG in bean.     

Retrospective evaluation of measles antibody titers in vaccinated captive gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

Retrospective analyses of banked serum samples and medical records from captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Lincoln Park Zoo showed that vaccination of gorillas with a human vaccine induced antibody production. No significant relationship was found between the groups that received one, two, or three vaccinations and the probability of seroconversion. These data also suggested that antibodies in western lowland gorillas persist for at least 11 yr. This information is useful in the assessment of vaccination protocols for captive gorillas and in the implementation of preventive care in wild gorilla populations.     

Doxorubicin and BAY 12-9566 for the treatment of osteosarcoma in dogs: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to assess the efficacy of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor in prolonging posttreatment survival for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma after treatment with amputation and doxorubicin chemotherapy. HYPOTHESIS: Survival will be prolonged in dogs receiving BAY 12-9566. ANIMALS: The study included 303 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma. METHODS: Dogs were treated with doxorubicin (30 mg/m2) every 2 weeks for 5 treatments starting 2 weeks after amputation. Dogs were randomly allocated to receive a novel nonpeptidic biphenyl inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, BAY 12-9566; 4-[4-4-(chlorophenyl)phenyl]-4-oxo-2S-(phenylthiomethyl) butanoic acid) or placebo after doxorubicin chemotherapy. RESULTS: Median survival for all 303 dogs was 8 months; and 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 35%, 17%, and 9%, respectively. Treatment with BAY 12-9566 did not influence survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that increasing age (P = .004), increasing weight (P = .006), high serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P = .012) and high bone ALP (P < .001) were independently associated with shorter median survival times. Additional analyses on available data indicated that as the number of mitotic figures in the biopsy increased (P = .013), and as plasma active MMP-2 concentrations increased (P = .027), the risk of dying increased. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Doxorubicin is an effective adjuvant to amputation in prolonging survival for dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma.     

The Kaikōura earthquake in southern New Zealand: Loss of connectivity of marine communities and the necessity of a cross‐ecosystem perspective

相似文献   

Re-imagining the precautionary approach to make collaborative fisheries management inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Fisheries science uses quantitative methods to inform management decisions that reflect cultural preferences which, in turn, indirectly influence the states of ecosystems. To date, it has largely supported Eurocentric preferences for the commodification of marine organisms under the tenets of maximum sustainable yield, whereby abundances are intentionally maintained far below their historical baselines despite broader socio-ecological trade-offs. In contrast, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) adhere to the principle of “take only what you need and leave lots for the ecosystem,” implementing lower fishery removals to support socio-ecological resilience. Despite the power imbalance favouring Eurocentric preferences in decision-making, fisheries scientists increasingly recognize that the pairing of IKS and Western science, or Two-Eyed Seeing, would lead to more holistic management goals. For recognition to transcend tokenism, meaningful collaborations and co-governance structures underlying knowledge co-production must carry through to legislated policy changes. Using recent co-governance developments for fisheries management and spatial protections involving federal, provincial and Indigenous governments in Pacific Canada, we illustrate how the precautionary approach, including reference points and harvest control rules broadly applied in international fisheries, could be revised to make collaborative fisheries management compatible with IKS and improve biodiversity and fisheries protections. Our recommendations may create socio-economic trade-offs at different timescales for commercial fishers. Pre-empting that challenge, we discuss IKS-compatible economic approaches for addressing shorter term costs arising from reduced exploitation rates. Although our case study derives from Pacific Canada, the insights provided here are broadly applicable elsewhere in the world.