Aparna Mariyam Thomas, Guilherme G. Verocai, John Soghigian
et al.
The caribou (Rangifer tarandus sspp.) is a keystone wildlife species in northern ecosystems that plays a central role in the culture, spirituality and food security of Indigenous People. The Arctic is currently experiencing an unprecedented rate of climate change, including warming temperatures and altered patterns of precipitation. These environmental changes can facilitate the transmission of arthropod-borne parasites, such as filarioid nematodes.Filarioids are an important cause of morbidity and occasional mortality in Rangifer in Fennoscandia, however, much of the ecology and epidemiology of these parasites in caribou in North America, including Canada, remains unknown. We aimed to determine the parasitic diversity and geographic distribution of filarioid nematodes in three Canadian designatable units (DU) of caribou (barren-ground, boreal and Dolphin & Union) from Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Newfoundland & Labrador. Genomic DNA extracted from 768 blood samples was screened for filarioid nematodes using real-time PCR. The positive samples were Sanger sequenced to identify the parasite present. Based on the sequencing results, we identified Setaria yehi and Onchocerca cervipedis s.l. We then standardized a TaqMan probe based duplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) protocol for the simultaneous detection of S. yehi and O. cervipedis s.l. Based on real-time PCR results, 8/768 samples were positive. Setaria yehi and O. cervipedis s.l. were present in 4 separate samples (0.5%) each. Using ddPCR, 68/192 samples were positive (35.4%). Setaria yehi DNA was detected in 57/192 positive samples (29.7%), O. cervipedis s.l. DNA was present in 22/192 samples (11.5%) and 11/192 samples (5.7%) had co-infections. Setaria yehi was detected in all three DUs tested. Onchocerca cervipedis s.l. were found in barren-ground and boreal caribou, but not from the Dolphin and Union caribou.Through this broad-based survey and through developing and implementing advanced molecular methodologies, we have documented the apparent distribution and diversity of S. yehi and O. cervipedis s.l. in parts of three Canadian DUs of caribou. The knowledge gained from this study provides baseline data and methodology for the further elucidation of the epidemiology of these parasites in North America.
Bhavani Paramashivan, Rajkumar Thamarai, Kalidass Subramaniam
et al.
Abstract Probiotics offer significant health advantages as they enter the digestive system via diet or water intake, playing a crucial role in enhancing immunity, growth, gastrointestinal microbiota, and feed attribute. The main objective of study was to focus on the impact of probiotic functional feed (PFF) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to challenges from Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The investigation aims to analyze the genes linked to immunity, hemato-biochemical indices, and the immunological response in tilapia. PFF is a vital component of fish feed production, providing suitable nutrition for various ages and stages to promote healthy growth. The study comprises four treatments: CPF-1 (control group, diet included solely of basal fish feed), the 20% of PFF2 (Rossellomorea marisflavi spp. (DAS-SCF02–1 × 104), PFF3 (Agrococcus spp. (RKDAS1-1 × 106), and PFF4- (DAS-SCF02–1 × 104 + RKDAS1 (1 × 107). A total of 150 Nile tilapia juveniles, weighing 2.56 ± 1.26 g, were administered PFF in triplicates. Significant improvements were observed in hematological indices, encompassing white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (Htc), and blood performance (BP) in probiotic-treated groups compared to control. Biochemical analysis revealed lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in fish fed with probiotics, accompanied by increased total protein, albumin, and globulin levels. Furthermore, probiotic-fed fish exhibited heightened blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Immunological assessments demonstrated increased lysozyme activity, intracellular superoxide anion production, reactive nitrogen species synthesis, and myeloperoxidase activity in probiotic-fed groups. Immune gene expression analysis revealed up-regulation of stress response, cytokine signaling, and immune defense-related genes (HSP70, IL-1β, I C3, IFN-α, IFN-γ, GF1, GH, IL-1, and Lyz). In a Vibrio challenge study, probiotic-fed fish exhibited improved survival rates, underscoring the protective effects of probiotics against bacterial infections. Overall, this research underscores the multifaceted benefits of probiotic supplementation in enhancing the health and immunity of tilapia.
Marie Abitbol, Caroline Dufaure de Citres, Gabriela Rudd Garces
et al.
During the last twenty years, minimal white spotting associated with blue eyes was selected by feline breeders to create the Altai, Topaz, and Celestial breeds. Additionally, certain breeders introduced this trait in their lineages of purebred cats. The trait has been called “dominant blue eyes (DBE)” and was confirmed to be autosomal dominant in all lineages. DBE was initially described in outbred cats from Kazakhstan and Russia and in two purebred lineages of British cats from Russia, as well as in Dutch Maine Coon cats, suggesting different founding effects. We have previously identified two variants in the <i>Paired Box 3 (PAX3)</i> gene associated with DBE in Maine Coon and Celestial cats; however, the presence of an underlying variant remains undetermined in other DBE breeding lines. Using a genome-wide association study, we identified a single region on chromosome C1 that was associated with DBE in British cats. Within that region, we identified <i>PAX3</i> as the strongest candidate gene. Whole-genome sequencing of a DBE cat revealed an RD-114 retrovirus LTR (long terminal repeat) insertion within <i>PAX3</i> intron 4 (namely NC_018730.3:g.206975776_206975777insN[433]) known to contain regulatory sequences. Using a panel of 117 DBE cats, we showed that this variant was fully associated with DBE in two British lineages, in Altai cats, and in some other DBE lineages. We propose that this NC_018730.3:g.206975776_206975777insN[433] variant represents the <i>DBE<sup>ALT</sup></i> (<i>Altai Dominant Blue Eye</i>) allele in the domestic cat. Finally, we genotyped DBE cats from 14 lineages for the three <i>PAX3</i> variants and showed that they were not present in four lineages, confirming genetic heterogeneity of the DBE trait in the domestic cat.
Due to the pet and goods trade, several animals are now present in regions outside of their traditional native ranges. A peculiar situation has arisen in mantises, insects that are becoming more popular as pets: two genera (Hierodula and Tenodera) have begun to spread around the world, with two Hierodula species overlapping in Europe and two Tenodera species doing the same in North America. Such an event can lead to possible competition with both local taxa and alien congeneric sister species; the latter may reduce the impact of one of the invaders. Additionally, the situation allows the comparisons of niche shifts in displaced mantises, allowing us to understand whether such animals respect general patterns shown in terrestrial ectothermic invasive species. To do this, I adapted scripts from previous publications for analyzing niche overlap (Schoener’s D), niche expansion (E), and unfilling (U) through the centroid shift, overlap, unfilling, and expansion (COUE) scheme using presence records from GBIF and iNaturalist Research-Grade observations and bioclimatic variables available in BIOCLIM, selected according to variance inflation factor (VIF) values. I also evaluated the overlap between the sister species in the non-native range with D. Overall, there was relatively high niche expansion and unfilling patterns shared among the taxa, although species tended to have low abiotic overlap between native and alien ranges, and a relatively high niche overlap was present among congeneric species in the shared non-native area. However, such analyses may be biased due to chosen variables, taxonomic uncertainty, and lack of information on mantises’ ecology; particularly, the situation regarding H. tenuidentata/transcaucasica should be monitored and clarified, given the higher potential invasion risk of these species compared to other mantises and the uncertainties regarding which populations have reached Europe. Additionally, the biology of alien mantises should be studied in more detail in both native and non-native environments given the current critical lack of information.
The world economy has met the challenges of two crises in the current century: the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the 2020-2021 COVID-19 crisis. Crises inflict enormous damage on markets, destroy supply chains, change business activity, cause collapse in important consumer categories, etc. But crises are an accelerator of processes and create many opportunities: new markets and chains of added value, new options for growth, business restructuring, changing the business model, optimizing cash flows, etc. This report presents the results of an empirical study on the impact of the COVID crisis on the economy of public industrial companies. Four quantitative and qualitative economic indicators are used. The performance of different groups of companies during the crisis is compared. Trends have been revealed, conclusions have been drawn and recommendations for using the opportunities have been formed.
Ben Thuy, Mats E. Eriksson, Manfred Kutscher
et al.
Due to the fragility of the ophiuroid (brittle star) skeleton, the bulk of the group’s fossil record consists of dissociated ossicles preserved as microfossils. In spite of their great potential as basis for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, however, ophiuroid ossicles from the Paleozoic have received very little attention so far. Here, we provide an exhaustive taxonomic assessment of such fossils retrieved from sieving residues from the Silurian of Gotland, Sweden. This material was used in a previous study to describe two key taxa that allowed constraining the origin of the extant ophiuroid clade. The remaining taxa belonging to that same lineage are described in the present paper. The evidence at hand suggests that the stem of the extant ophiuroid clade was formed by two genera, Ophiopetagno and Ophiolofsson gen. nov., including six and five species, respectively, and spanning at least the upper Llandovery through upper Ludlow. We conclude that Ophiopetagno and Ophiolofsson represent sister genera that coexisted through most of the Silurian in the shallow tropical seas of Gotland. They underwent repeated body size reductions in correlation with environmental perturbations, with Ophiopetagno paicei eventually giving rise to Muldaster haakei; the first member of the living Ophiuroidea. Herein, we also introduce two new clades, Ankhurida clade nov. and Ophiovalida clade nov., and the following eight new species: Ophiolofsson joelmciveri gen. et sp. nov., O. obituary gen. et sp. nov., O. immolation gen. et sp. nov., O. archspire gen. et sp. nov., O. hendersonorum gen. et sp. nov., Ophiopetagno bonzo sp. nov., O. kansas sp. nov., O. doro sp. nov.; and two probably new species in open nomenclature: Ophiopetagno sp. 1, and Ophiopetagno sp. 2.
Sarah Al-Nasser, Maha Hamadien Abdulla, Noura Alhassan
et al.
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health issue. Although chemotherapy is the first-line treatment, its effectiveness is limited due to drug resistance developed in CRC. To overcome resistance and improve the prognosis of CRC patients, investigating new therapeutic approaches is necessary. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Using human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29) and metastatic CRC (SW620) cell lines, the potential anticancer properties of a newly synthesized compound 1-(Isobutyl)-3-(4-methylbenzyl) benzimidazolium chloride (IMBZC) were evaluated by performing MTT cytotoxicity, cell migration, and colony formation assays, as well as by monitoring apoptosis-related protein and gene expression using Western blot and reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction technologies. <i>Results:</i> Tested at various concentrations, the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC<sub>50</sub>) of IMBZC on HT29 and SW620 cell growth were determined to be 22.13 µM (6.97 μg/mL) and 15.53 µM (4.89 μg/mL), respectively. IMBZC did not alter the cell growth of normal HEK293 cell lines. In addition, IMBZC inhibited cell migration and significantly decreased colony formation, suggesting its promising role in suppressing cancer metastasis. Mechanistic analyses revealed that IMBZC treatment increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins p53 and Bax, while decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, thus indicating the induction of apoptosis in IMBZC-treated CRC cells, compared to untreated cells. Additionally, the addition of IMBZC to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs (i.e., 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) resulted in an increase in the cytotoxic potential of the drugs. <i>Conclusions</i>: This study suggests that IMBZC has substantial anticancer effects against CRC cells through its ability to induce apoptosis, inhibit cancer cell migration and colony formation, and enhance the cytotoxic effects of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. These findings indicate that IMBZC could be a promising chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of CRC. Further research should be conducted using in vivo models to confirm the anti-CRC activities of IMBZC.
Giacomo Zaccone, Alessio Alesci, Doaa M. Mokhtar
et al.
The recognition and elimination of invading pathogens are vital for host survival. Macrophages play a central role in host protection and cells functionally reminiscent of vertebrate macrophages are present in all multicellular organisms. A pattern responsible for bacterial recognition found on the surface of macrophages is CD14. These cells possess a repertoire of antimicrobial molecules stored in their granules and lysosomes. Polarization states observed in mammalian macrophages termed M1 and M2 also likely exist in fish macrophages. Markers for macrophage subtypes are slowly but definitively emerging in fish species. In the present study cell markers such as CD14, acetylcholine, alpha 7 acetylcholine nicotinic receptor (nAChR) subtype, the inducible nitric oxidase synthase (iNOS), and the antimicrobial peptide piscidin 1 are reported for the first time in the intestinal macrophages of both catfish <i>Heteropneustes fossilis</i> (Bloch, 1794) and the African bonytongue <i>Heterotis niloticus</i> (Cuvier, 1829) along the anterior and the posterior axis and the concentric muscle layers. Many antimicrobial effector responses of vertebrate macrophages including respiratory burst and NO induction are similar across the diverse animal taxa. Antibodies against calbindin coupled with ones to VAChT and tubulin revealed the localization of myenteric and submucosal plexuses, which are made up of enteric neurons, glial cells, and nerves near macrophages. Current studies allow for the elucidation of multiple roles of macrophages in disease models providing an insight into their in vivo function in fish.
Abstract Polar ecosystems are experiencing amongst the most rapid rates of regional warming on Earth. Here, we discuss ‘omics’ approaches to investigate polar biodiversity, including the current state of the art, future perspectives and recommendations. We propose a community road map to generate and more fully exploit multi-omics data from polar organisms. These data are needed for the comprehensive evaluation of polar biodiversity and to reveal how life evolved and adapted to permanently cold environments with extreme seasonality. We argue that concerted action is required to mitigate the impact of warming on polar ecosystems via conservation efforts, to sustainably manage these unique habitats and their ecosystem services, and for the sustainable bioprospecting of novel genes and compounds for societal gain.
Continuando a revisão das varias ordens dos mamíferos ate agora encontrados dentro dos limites do Estado de São Paulo, tratamos aqui dos Xenartros (tatus, tamanduás e preguiças) e dos Marsupials (gambas e cuícas). São os Xenartros uma ordem quase exclusivamente sul-americana, bem representada no Estado de São Paulo, onde, sobretudo os tatus, são muito conhecidos e cágados por toda a parte. O mesmo porem não acontece com a maioria dos Marsupials, dos quais, a não ser os gambas, habituais moradores dos centros povoados, as restantes minúsculas espécies são pouco conhecidas pelas populações rurais do interior que, em geral, as confunde com os ratos. Como nas revisões precedentes, (1) tomamos por base a coleção de peles e crânios atualmente existente no Departamento de Zoologia, redescrevendo várias espécies e subéspecies e atualizando, na medida do possível, a nomenclatura.
Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research, conservation, and management, and abundant images are acquired every day. Efficient real-time instance segmentation networks can help ecologists label and study wild animals. However, existing deep convolutional neural networks require a large number of annotations and labels, which makes them unsuitable for small datasets. In this paper, we propose a two-stage method for the instance segmentation of wildlife, including object detection and contour approximation. In the object detection stage, we use FSOD (few-shot object detection) to recognize animal species and detect the initial bounding boxes of animals. In the case of a small wildlife dataset, this method may improve the generalization ability of the wild animal species recognition and even identify new species that only have a small number of training samples. In the second stage, deep snake is used as the contour approximation model for the instance segmentation of wild mammals. The initial bounding boxes generated in the first stage are input to deep snake to approximate the contours of the animal bodies. The model fuses the advantages of detecting new species and real-time instance segmentation. The experimental results show that the proposed method is more suitable for wild animal instance segmentation, in comparison with pixel-wise segmentation methods. In particular, the proposed method shows a better performance when facing challenging images.
Wiesław Piotr Świderek, Joanna Gruszczyńska, Anna Winnicka
Udder diseases (<i>mastitis</i>) are a serious cause of economic losses in sheep breeding as they have a negative impact on lamb rearing and the quality of dairy products. Thus far, progress in treatment and prevention of these diseases has been insufficient—giving ground for searching possibilities of using natural immunity to combat mastitis. This study aims to assess the relationship between the microsatellite polymorphism of selected <i>Ovar-</i>MHC genes and the health status of the mammary gland of sheep. The research is carried out on sheep of the Polish Heath and Polish Lowland breeds. In ovine milk, the SCC and the percentage of the lymphocyte subpopulation are assessed. Based on genomic DNA, molecular analysis of the <i>Ovar-</i>MHC gene fragments (<i>OLADRB1, OLADRB2, OMHC1</i>) polymorphism is performed. Significant differences are found in SCC level and the percentage of lymphocytes (CD4, CD8, CD19) in the milk depending on the alleles of the <i>Ovar-</i>MHC genes. Alleles of 488 bp (<i>DRB1</i>) and 284 bp (<i>DRB2</i>) are found more frequently in sheep, which milk contained <200 × 10<sup>3</sup>/mL SCC, while in carriers of the 508 bp (<i>DRB1</i>) and 272 bp (<i>DRB2</i>) alleles, SCC level in milk is significantly higher (>200 × 10<sup>3</sup>/mL). The obtained results justify the need for further research to better understand the genetic basis of mastitis, and to search for effective molecular markers that can be used in breeding practice.
The properties of fruits produced by the blue honeysuckle hybrid cultivar Berel under different pollination conditions while grown in the north-east of China and in West Siberia were examined. The frequent incidence of leaves chlorosis and partenocarphy of Lonicera caerulea L. was recorded for the first time.
Christoph J. Völter , Megan L. Lambert , Ludwig Huber
From an early age, children explore their environment in a way suggesting that they reason about causal variables and seek causal explanations. Indeed, following extensive studies of problem-solving abilities in chimpanzees, Povinelli (Folk Physics for Apes, Oxford University Press, 2000) proposed that this ability to reason about unobservable variables is unique to humans. Following on from this, Povinelli and Dunphy-Lelii (Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 55(2), 187–195, 2001) addressed the question whether chimpanzees would explore objects with the aim of elucidating unobservable and surprising object properties. Chimpanzees, unlike preschool children, did not show increased object exploration following a change in the unobservable properties of an object. We critically discuss these findings and argue that more research using a greater variety of methods and with a larger number of species is required to support the hypothesis that only humans engage in explanation seeking. We conclude by highlighting avenues for future research based on developmental and comparative research aimed at object exploration and information seeking conducted since the original investigation by Povinelli and Dunphy-Lelii.
The Achelata, lobsters lacking claws and having a phyllosoma larva, are divided into two families, the Palinuridae or spiny lobsters and the Scyllaridae or slipper lobsters. Within the Palinuridae adults of two groups were identified by Parker (1884), the Stridentesthat are capable of producing sounds, and the Silentesthat are not known to produce sounds. The Stridentes employ a file-like structure on the dorsal surface of the cephalon and a plectrum consisting of a series of ridges on the proximal segment of the second antenna to produce their sounds. All species of Achelata hatch as an unpigmented thin phyllosoma larva. The phyllosoma larva of the Stridentes have a presumptive file-like structure on the dorsal cephalon. A similar file-like structure is found on the cephalon of one species of Silentes, Palinurellus wienckki, and some but not all of the phyllosoma larvae of the Scyllaridae. No presumptive plectrum is found on the second antenna of any of the phyllosoma larvae. Presence of a presumptive file-like structure on phyllosoma larvae of Silentes and Scyllaridae suggests that the ability to produce sounds may have been lost secondarily in the Silentes and Scyllaridae.
Naoki Fujiwara Tsujii, Kotone Tokunaga, Toshiharu Akino
et al.
The Japanese queenless ponerine ant Diacamma sp. from Japan employs tandem running during nest relocation, in which a leader ant guides nestmate followers one at a time. We replicated this process by presenting one entire abdominal part of a leader, except for the petiole to followers. When the abdominal part had been rinsed with n-hexane, however, it attracted significantlyfewer followers. This suggests that chemicals on the leader’s abdominal part evoke tandem running. Dissection of abdominal major exocrine glands revealed that the Dufour’s gland was the source of this chemical signal. The chemicals were eluted in the hydrocarbon fraction by silica-gel column chromatography, and the quantitatively major component was estimated as heptadecene (C17:1) through gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS) analysis. The position of the double bond was estimated to be between the 8th and 9th carbons through analysis of the epoxidized compound. Only (Z)-isomers of 8-heptadecene evoked tandem running in the followers. We identified the tandem running pheromone of this ant species to be (Z)-8- heptadecene. (163)