The effects of maternal nutrition during the first 50 d of gestation on the location and abundance of hexose and cationic amino acid transporters in beef heifer uteroplacental tissues

We hypothesized that maternal nutrition during the first 50 d of gestation would influence the abundance of hexose transporters, SLC2A1, SLC2A3, and SLC2A5, and cationic amino acid transporters, SLC7A1 and SLC7A2, in heifer uteroplacental tissues. Angus-cross heifers (n = 43) were estrus synchronized, bred via artificial insemination, and assigned at breeding to 1 of 2 dietary intake groups (CON = 100% of requirements to achieve 0.45 kg/d of BW gain or RES = 60% of CON intake) and ovariohysterectomized on day 16, 34, or 50 of gestation (n = 6 to 9/d) in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Uterine cross-sections were collected from the horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, sectioned at 5 µm, and stained via immunofluorescence for transporters. For each image, areas of fetal membrane (FM; chorioallantois), luminal epithelium (ENDO), superficial glands (SG), deep glands (DG), and myometrium (MYO) were analyzed separately for relative intensity of fluorescence as an indicator of transporter abundance. Analysis of FM was only conducted for days 34 and 50. No transporters in target areas were influenced by a day × treatment interaction (P ≥ 0.06). In ENDO, all transporters were differentially abundant from days 16 to 50 of gestation (P ≤ 0.04), and SLC7A2 was greater (P = 0.05) for RES vs. CON. In SG, SLC7A1 and SLC7A2 were greater (P ≤ 0.04) at day 34 vs. day 16. In DG, SLC2A3 and SLC7A1 were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for CON vs. RES heifers; furthermore, SLC7A1 was greater (P < 0.01) at day 50 vs. days 16 and 34 of gestation. In MYO, SLC7A1 was greater (P < 0.01) for CON vs. RES and was greater (P = 0.02) at days 34 and 50 vs. day 16. There were no differences in FM (P ≥ 0.06). Analysis of all uterine tissues at day 16 determined that SLC2A1, SLC2A3, and SLC7A2 were all differentially abundant across uterine tissue type (P < 0.01), and SLC7A1 was greater (P = 0.02) for CON vs. RES. Analysis of all uteroplacental tissues at days 34 and 50 demonstrated that all transporters differed (P < 0.01) across uteroplacental tissues, and SLC7A1 was greater (P < 0.01) for CON vs. RES. These data are interpreted to imply that transporters are differentially affected by day of gestation, and that hexose and cationic amino acid transporters are differentially abundant across utero-placental tissue types, and that SLC7A1 is responsive to maternal nutritional treatment.     

Multilobular tumor of bone in the mandible of a dog

An 8-year-old Siberian husky dog was presented for a mass involving the rostral mandible. Intraoral radiographs demonstrated diffusely irregular bone and displacement of all mandibular incisor teeth. The mass was diagnosed as a grade I multilobular tumor of bone based on incisional biopsy. A bilateral rostral mandibulectomy was performed with tumor negative margins. Oral examination at 14-months following surgery indicated normal healing with minimal side effects and no evidence of tumor recurrence.     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of enrofloxacin and a low dose of amikacin administered via regional intravenous limb perfusion in standing horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameters of enrofloxacin and a low dose of amikacin administered via regional IV limb perfusion (RILP) in standing horses. ANIMALS: 14 adult horses. PROCEDURES: Standing horses (7 horses/group) received either enrofloxacin (1.5 mg/kg) or amikacin (250 mg) via RILP (involving tourniquet application) in 1 forelimb. Samples of interstitial fluid (collected via implanted capillary ultrafiltration devices) from the bone marrow (BMIF) of the third metacarpal bone and overlying subcutaneous tissues (STIF), blood, and synovial fluid of the radiocarpal joint were collected prior to (time 0) and at intervals after tourniquet release for determination of drug concentrations. For pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analyses, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 16 microg/mL (amikacin) and 0.5 microg/mL (enrofloxacin) were applied. RESULTS: After RILP with enrofloxacin, 3 horses developed vasculitis. The highest synovial fluid concentrations of enrofloxacin and amikacin were detected at time 0; median values (range) were 13.22 microg/mL (0.254 to 167.9 microg/mL) and 26.2 microg/mL (5.78 to 50.0 microg/mL), respectively. Enrofloxacin concentrations exceeded MIC for approximately 24 hours in STIF and synovial fluid and for 36 hours in BMIF. After perfusion of amikacin, concentrations greater than the MIC were not detected in any samples. Effective therapeutic concentrations of enrofloxacin were attained in all samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In horses with orthopedic infections, RILP of enrofloxacin (1.5 mg/kg) should be considered as a treatment option. However, care must be taken during administration. A dose of amikacin > 250 mg is recommended to attain effective tissue concentrations via RILP in standing horses.     

Development of transgenic fungi that kill human malaria parasites in mosquitoes

Metarhizium anisopliae infects mosquitoes through the cuticle and proliferates in the hemolymph. To allow M. anisopliae to combat malaria in mosquitoes with advanced malaria infections, we produced recombinant strains expressing molecules that target sporozoites as they travel through the hemolymph to the salivary glands. Eleven days after a Plasmodium-infected blood meal, mosquitoes were treated with M. anisopliae expressing salivary gland and midgut peptide 1 (SM1), which blocks attachment of sporozoites to salivary glands; a single-chain antibody that agglutinates sporozoites; or scorpine, which is an antimicrobial toxin. These reduced sporozoite counts by 71%, 85%, and 90%, respectively. M. anisopliae expressing scorpine and an [SM1](8):scorpine fusion protein reduced sporozoite counts by 98%, suggesting that Metarhizium-mediated inhibition of Plasmodium development could be a powerful weapon for combating malaria.     

Glucosinolate aglucones and analogues: insecticidal properties and a QSAR

Naturally occurring aglucones of three glucosinolates (sinigrin, glucotropaeolin, and epi-progoitrin) were tested for fumigation activity against the house fly, Musca domestica, and the lesser grain borer, Rhizopertha dominica. A total of eight natural aglucones were evaluated in the bioassays. Two aglucones of sinigrin showed efficacy against both species which was comparable with that of a commercial fumigant, chloropicrin. None of the aglucones tested was comparable in activity to dichlorvos. Aglucones of glucotropaeolin were also insecticidal, but not to the same level as the sinigrin aglucones. The aglucones of epi-progoitrin were only slightly effective as fumigants. A quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) was developed for synthetic analogues of the sinigrin and glucotropaeolin aglucones. An electronic parameter, σ*, provided the best predictor of activity in R. dominica, whereas a hydrophobicity parameter, π, best predicted activity in M. domestica. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Genetic basis and origin of resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors in Amaranthus palmeri from Spain and Italy

BACKGROUND

Amaranthus palmeri is an aggressive annual weed native to the United States, which has become invasive in some European countries. Populations resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors have been recorded in Spain and Italy, but the evolutionary origin of the resistance traits remains unknown. Bioassays were conducted to identify cross-resistance to ALS inhibitors and a haplotype-based genetic approach was used to elucidate the origin and distribution of resistance in both countries.

RESULTS

Amaranthus palmeri populations were resistant to thifensulfuron-methyl and imazamox, and the 574-Leu mutant ALS allele was found to be the main cause of resistance among them. In two Spanish populations, 376-Glu and 197-Thr mutant ALS alleles were also found. The haplotype analyses revealed the presence of two and four distinct 574-Leu mutant haplotypes in the Italian and Spanish populations, respectively. None was common to both countries, but some mutant haplotypes were shared between geographically close populations or between populations more than 100 km apart. Wide genetic diversity was found in two very close Spanish populations.

CONCLUSION

ALS-resistant A. palmeri populations were introduced to Italy and Spain from outside Europe. Populations from both countries have different evolutionary histories and originate from independent introduction events. ALS resistance then spread over short and long distances by seed dispersal. The higher number and genetic diversity among mutant haplotypes from the Spanish populations indicated recurrent invasions. The implementation of control tactics to limit seed dispersal and the establishment of A. palmeri is recommended in both countries. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in chilli CM-334 infected by Phytophthora capsici and Nacobbus aberrans

We tested the hypothesis that PAL activity in chilli plants CM-334 inoculated with Nacobbus aberrans (Na) alone or in combination with Phytophthora capsici (Pc), is lower than in those inoculated only with Pc. At 21 days after nematode inoculation, inoculated plants showed a significant (P < 0.01) reduction of 48% in PAL activity compared to those non-inoculated in two separate experiments. In two other tests, where plants were inoculated with the oomycete 21 days after inoculation with the nematode, PAL activity at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h after inoculation with Pc was significantly higher (Tukey, P < 0.01) in plants inoculated only with Pc than in plants inoculated only with Na or both pathogens (Na+Pc).     

A survey of Lolium rigidum populations in citrus orchards: Factors explaining infestation levels

The presence of herbicide‐resistant Lolium rigidum in Mediterranean (Spanish) citrus orchards was reported in 2005 and it poses a serious threat to crop management. The main objective of this research was to investigate which components could be responsible for the persistence of annual ryegrass populations in Mediterranean mandarin and orange orchards. This is the first study regarding L. rigidum populations in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Surveys were conducted in 55 commercial citrus orchards in eastern Spain in 2013 by interviewing technicians who were working in cooperatives about crop management. The level of infestation by L. rigidum and the presence of harvester ants (Messor barbarus) then were estimated in the same orchards. The variables were subjected to a two‐dimensional analysis and both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted for each of the three L. rigidum density levels that had been established. The multivariate models showed the significant factors that were associated with various L. rigidum densities: (i) at a low density, the herbicides that were applied, the number of applications in 2013 and the type of irrigation (flood or drip); (ii) at a medium density, the presence of harvester ants; and (iii) at a high density, the herbicides that were applied in 2013. The results indicated that drip irrigation and one application of glyphosate mixed with other herbicides (or herbicides other than glyphosate) were associated with a lower L. rigidum density. The alternative management options that are presented here should help farmers to reduce weed problems in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Future research is required to better understand the presence of herbicide‐resistant populations, as well as the possible beneficial presence of granivorous ant species.