An approach for ensuring minimum protected area size in systematic conservation planning

One of the most efficient approaches for designing protected area (PA) networks is to use systematic conservation planning software. A number of software packages are available and all of them include a spatial cost or constraint component in their prioritisation algorithms, which allow the user to determine the level of fragmentation of the final PA system. Many conservation planners want to set minimum PA size thresholds, as small PAs are less viable and more expensive to manage, but this can only be achieved with existing software packages by repeatedly reducing the fragmentation levels of the PA system until every PA meets the threshold. Such an approach is inefficient because it increases the size of every PA, not just the smaller ones. Here we describe MinPatch, a software package developed to overcome this problem by manipulating outputs from the Marxan conservation planning software, so that every PA meets the user-defined size threshold. We then investigate the impacts of this approach with a dataset from the Maputaland Centre of Endemism, and find that using MinPatch to meet the PA thresholds is a much more efficient approach than using Marxan alone. We also show that setting a minimum PA threshold can have important effects on where new PAs are located when compared with Marxan outputs. Based on these results, we recommend that conservation planners use MinPatch whenever they want each PA in a network to meet a minimum size threshold.     

p62/SQSTM1 expression in canine mammary tumours: Evolutionary notes

Recent studies highlighted the role of autophagy as a cardinal regulatory system for homeostasis and cancer‐related signalling pathways. In this context, the deregulated expression of p62 – Sequestosome1 (p62/SQSTM1) – a protein acting both as an autophagy receptor and signalling hub, has been associated with tumour development and chronic inflammation. Multiple clinical studies test drugs targeting autophagy, and even more research is on the way to clinical trials. However, no comparative investigations have been carried out to identify adequate preclinical models to assess p62‐based medicine. In veterinary oncology the role of p62 in cancer‐related pathways has been largely ignored. We compared p62 sequences in multiple organisms and found that canine p62 significantly diverges from the humans and from other animals sequences. Then, we chart by immunohistochemistry the expression levels of p62 in canine mammary tumours. A total of 66 tumours and 10 non‐neoplastic mammary samples were examined. The expression of p62 was higher in normal tissue and adenomas than carcinomas, with lowest levels of p62 protein detected in high grade carcinomas. In all cases examined the tumour stroma appeared to be p62‐negative. Taken together our results would suggest that in dogs the association between p62 expression and cancer cells overturns that reported in human breast carcinoma, where p62 accumulates in malignant cells as compared to normal epithelium. Thus, at least in canine mammary tumours, p62 should be not considered a tumour‐rejection antigen for an anti‐cancer immunotherapy.     

Wood colour in Lapacho (Tabebuia serratifolia): chemical composition and industrial implications

This study is aimed at relating the colour of Tabebuia serratifolia (Bignoniaceae family) wood to its chemical composition and technological characteristics, such as hardness and gluing, important for the manufacture of wood flooring. Samples with standard wood colour and evident chromatic anomalies were subjected to CIELAB colorimetric and gas-chromatography analyses. Red and yellow wood colour is associated with the presence of lapachol and dehydro-α-lapachone, respectively, whereas large amounts of polyphenols were found in black parts, together with other quinone compounds. Wood is hardest where lapachol gives rise to a yellow chromatic zone (L1). Delamination tests have shown that polyphenols affect lamella bonding strength. The results may be used by the wood flooring industry to identify the chemical constituents of T. serratifolia according to its colour and foresee possible problems during the production process.     

Cytotoxic Polyketide Metabolites from a Marine Mesophotic Zone Chalinidae Sponge-Associated Fungus Pleosporales sp. NBUF144

Two new polyketide natural products, globosuxanthone F (1), and 2′-hydroxy bisdechlorogeodin (2), were isolated from the fungus Pleosporales sp. NBUF144, which was derived from a 62 m deep Chalinidae family sponge together with four known metabolites, 3,4-dihydroglobosuxanthone A (3), 8-hydroxy-3-methylxanthone-1-carboxylate (4), crosphaeropsone C (5), and 4-megastigmen-3,9-dione (6). The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectra (HRESIMS) data. The absolute configuration of 1 was further established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 1–5 were evaluated for cytotoxicity towards CCRF-CEM human acute lymphatic leukemia cells, and it was found that 1 had an IC₅₀ value of 0.46 µM.     

Diagnosis and outcome of nasal polyposis in 23 dogs treated medically or by endoscopic debridement

This study describes the clinical, diagnostic, and pathological characteristics of canine nasal polyps and how they responded to medical, endoscopic, and surgical treatments. The database of a multi-center veterinary endoscopy group was searched from 2010 to 2018. All dogs with a histological diagnosis of nasal polyposis that were undergoing endoscopic investigation (N = 23), were included. Clinical signs at presentation were sneezing (91%), nasal discharge (83%), stertor (74%), and frontonasal deformation (17%). Skull radiography on 13 dogs had alterations in 77% of cases, including turbinate lysis (6/13), increased radiopacity of one (4/13) or both (6/13) nasal cavities, and lysis of the nasal vomer bone (3/13). Nasal polyposis had a characteristic endoscopic appearance. There were clinical and diagnostic similarities between this cohort of dogs and dogs with nasal neoplasia, although dogs with nasal polyps were often younger and polypoid tissue was external to the nose. Steroid therapy alone was not effective in treating polyposis in dogs; however, endoscopic debulking with a laser and forceps was more effective.     

Antifungal activity of chili pepper extract with potential for the control of some major pathogens in grapevine

BACKGROUND

In recent years, biofungicides have drawn increasing interest in vineyards for a more sustainable integrated and copper-limited pest management. Among alternatives, botanicals could represent valuable tools, being rich sources of biologically active compounds. Conversely to the well-known antioxidant and biological properties in relation to health benefits, investigation on bioactivity of hot pungent Capsicum sp. products against fungal phytopathogens in vineyards is still scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed at exploring the biologically active compounds profile of a chili pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) pod extract and its antimicrobial properties against some of the major fungal and Oomycetes pathogens of grapevine, including Botrytis cinerea Pers., Guignardia bidwellii (Ellis) Viala & Ravaz and Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni.

RESULTS

The ethyl acetate-extracted oleoresin from the most pungent varieties was rich in capsaicinoids and polyphenols (371.09 and 268.5 μg mg⁻¹ dry weight, respectively). Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids and quercetin derivatives were the most abundant, while carotenoids represented only a minor fraction. The oleoresin was efficient to inhibit all three pathogenic fungi and ED₅₀ values were determined, evidencing that G. bidwellii was the more sensitive (0.233 ± 0.034 mg mL⁻¹).

CONCLUSION

The results suggested a potentiality of chili pepper extract for the control of some important grapevine pathogens, their possible application being helpful for the recommended limitation in extensive use of copper in vineyard. The complex mixture of high amounts of capsaicinoids, associated to specific phenolic acids and other minor bioactive components might contribute to the observed antimicrobial action of chili pepper extract. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Regeneration of Polylepis australis Bitt. in the mountains of central Argentina

Polylepis australis woodlands range from northern to central Argentina. They support a high number of endemisms (both plants and animals) and constitute the main cover type in watersheds contributing to retain soil and catch water. Natural regeneration of P. australis in the Córdoba mountains, Argentina, was studied in two communities dominated by P. australis: shrublands and woodlands. The main objectives of the study were: (1) to characterize shrublands and woodlands in terms of physical (physical and chemical soil properties) and biological (Polylepis’ growth form, fern and moss cover) characteristics; (2) to describe P. australis’ soil seed bank and compare seedling and sapling establishment between both communities. The presence of seedlings as well as saplings was quantified, and soil samples were taken so as to characterize the seed bank.

Results showed significant differences in habitat conditions between shrublands and woodlands. Seedlings’ density was higher in the shrublands, while no differences appeared regarding the sapling numbers. A negative correlation was found between seedling numbers and total community cover as well as mosses and ferns cover. Seed density in the soil bank was higher in the woodlands, but overall seed viability was less than 5%. In the shrublands, the most critical stage of the species regeneration cycle was the transition from seedling to sapling, while in the woodlands the main “filter” occurred during seed germination. The low number of saplings observed in both units suggests a stagnation of P. australis regeneration, which could be translated into an unlikely expansion of the species throughout the Córdoba mountains.