Phylogenetic analyses of the proteins involved in encapsulation signaling pathways in ants: Encapsulation pathways in ants

One of the major evolutionary transitions is the shift from solitary to social lifestyle, which involved a plethora of behavioral and physiological changes in social entities. Group living has several advantages as the evolution of collective defense mechanisms. It may also affect the individual immune system either due to the efficiency of social immune defenses or because of the high transmission frequency of pathogens. Individual defense consists of the innate and acquired immune components. In insects, there are two signaling pathways (Toll and Jak/Stat) that result in the expression of specific immune genes, which, in their turn, encode peptides, proteins and activate innate immune responses like encapsulation. The main aim of our study was to verify whether transition to eusocial lifestyle is reflected in proteins involved in immune responses. We carried out phylogenetic analyses of 15 proteins involved in encapsulation signaling pathways in ants. We also included four other social insect groups, bees, sweat bees, social wasps, and termites, and three solitary insect groups, as fruit flies, braconid wasps, and megachilid bees. Ants grouped separately from other insect groups in most cases, however, there were some notable exceptions mostly in the case of pattern recognition proteins, probably correlating with differences in potential pathogens. No major differences were revealed though between solitary and social insects with respect to proteins involved in encapsulation

A laboratory experimental assessment of the sensibility of Rana temporaria tadpoles to the effects of car traffic-associated seismic disturbances: Effects of seismic disturbance on Common frog larvae

Vibrations generated by road traffic are considered to be a form of physical environmental pollution. Nonetheless, the effect of this disturbance in natural habitats, and in particular on the aquatic stage of amphibians, received very little attention from the scientific community. This study aims to assess the direct effect of mechanical waves and the consequent water turbidity on the aquatic larval stage of Rana temporaria by exposing an experimental group to laboratory-induced vibrations and comparison with a non-exposed control group. Our results show that this kind of pollution had no significant effect on the development rate, the length of the larval period, and the mortality of the larvae. However, we identified a significant effect on the size of animals, both during the larval period, and at metamorphosis. This result raises concern about the long-term risks to the amphibian population exposed to this type of low-profile pollution

Antibacterial activity of Garcinia kola and Hunteria umbellata extracts on bacterial isolates from consumed sachet water in Edo State, Nigeria: Antibacterial activity of G. kola and H.umbellata on bacterial isolates from sachet water

Water is an essential resource and its purity should not be negotiated when it comes to human consumption. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of Garcinia kola and Hunteria umbellata seed and epicarp on some bacterial isolates from sachet water. Duplicate samples of ten brands of sachet water were purchased from sales outlets around Ugbowo community, Benin City. Plate count techniques, minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of the extracts were adopted in this investigation. Heterotrophic bacterial counts revealed highest range of 3.72±0.50x102 cfu/mL in EJ water and lowest in IB water (0.00±0.0 x102 cfu/mL) while total coliform counts revealed its highest value in EJ water (3.62±0.30x102 cfu/mL) and lowest value (0.00±0.0 x102cfu/mL), in OL, IB, NOS and UNI water. Aeromonas sp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aereus and Enterobacter sp. were isolated. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile revealed varying zones of inhibition of 4 mm for Aeromonas sp., for Garcinia Kola and 20 mm recorded against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus sp. for Hunteria umbellata epicarp extract. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of susceptible bacteria to Hunteria umbellata and Garcinia kola extract were 6.25mg/mL and 12.5mg/mL, respectively, except Aeromonas sp. which had 50 mg/mL. Hunteria umbellata epicarp had a greater bactericidal effect of 6.25mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus, while Garcinia kola had its greatest bactericidal effect on Enterobacter sp. with a minimum bactericidal concentration of 12.5mg/mL. This study has revealed the potentials of Hunteria umbellata epicarp and Garcinia kola as effective natural therapeutic agents against some harmful bacteria, preventing their pathogenic effect

Exploring protein - protein interaction in cell physiology by reviewing the role of dynein-dynactin interaction as a representative example

Protein-protein interactions are essential for the normal function of cells and are involved in various cellular processes. These interactions can occur through a variety of mechanisms, including hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. Changes in protein-protein interactions can alter the normal function of the cell and lead to various diseases. Understanding protein-protein interactions is important for the development of therapeutic approaches targeting these interactions for the treatment of diseases. In this article, I will discuss the role of protein-protein interactions in normal cellular function, the consequences of changes in these interactions, and the importance and significance of understanding these interactions by using the example of dynein-dynactin

Entomological diversity associated with tomato cultivation under organic shelter in the El-Outaya Region, Biskra (Algeria): Entomological diversity associated with tomato cultivation under organic shelter

The aim of the present work is to determine harmful and beneficial insects associated with tomato greenhouse cultivation in the arid region of El-Outaya (Biskra, Algeria). Insect trapping was conducted using yellow water plates and yellow glue traps. Faunistic data have revealed the presence of 2754 individuals distributed on seven orders, 33 families and 38 species of insects. From specific point of view, the majority of these insects were represented by potential insect pests with sixteen phytophagous species amongst them three species attacking tomatoes. Whereas nine species are predators and two pollinators. Our results can be used to plan strategies for the management of harmful pests and beneficial insects associated with the tomato greenhouse crops in this locality

Differential expression of hsa_circ_0064357 and hsa_circ_0064358 between oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral lichen planus

Background/aims: Reliable biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity and the potential to discriminate precancerous or early lesions from oral cancer improve scientific assessment and early detection. Dysregulated circRNAs play a critical role in the occurrence and progression of malignant biological behaviors of OSCC. The study of potential diagnostic roles of hsa_circ_0064357 and hsa_circ_0064358 in early diagnostic of precancerous lesions such as OLP to OSCC as the most common type of head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was the focus of present research. Methods: The differential expression of hsa_circ_0064357, hsa_circ_0064358, and RAF1 target gene predicted using CircInteractome and Circbase databases between OSCC (n=30), OLP (n=10) tissues and their adjacent normal tissues were evaluated by qRT-PCR. The potential diagnostic value of circRNAs was identified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: hsa_circ_0064357 and hsa_circ_0064358 were identified to be lowly expressed, while RAF1 was upregulated in OSCC and OLP tissues more than adjacent normal tissues. Low expression of circRNAs was markedly correlated with TNM stages of OSCC patients. ROC analysis revealed AUC of 0.962 and 0.965 for hsa_circ_0064357 and hsa_circ_0064358, respectively, suggesting that circRNAs can serve as novel diagnostic biomarkers for early detection of OSCC. Conclusion: hsa_circ_0064357 and hsa_circ_0064358 might be involved in the progression and metastasis of OSCC and could be used as promising novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and the clinical monitoring of the malignant transformation of OLP into OSCC

Global warming and avifauna from the Argeş River dam basins (Southern Romania) – long term study case

An attempt to find a link between the global warming, manifested on local scale, and the dynamics of the winter avifauna recorded on the Vâlcele, Budeasa, Bascov, Piteşti and Goleşti Dam Basins from ROSPA0062 Lacurile de acumulare de pe Argeş was achieved in the paper. Based on the data collected between 1999 and 2020 during the MidWinter (the Winter Census of the Wetland Birds), some major conclusions were drawn: the climate change resulted from the analyse of the air temperature registered in the area and it was noticeable in some measure on the phenology of the birds; it influenced the dynamics of the avifauna, as total number of species and individuals, as well as the strength of every species; also, other local and extern elements, like the process of silting of the dam basins, the direct anthropogenic pressure, were involved here. Mestecaneanu et Gava (PDF) Article history: Received: 21 February 2022; Revised: 23 March 2022; Accepted: 20 May 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022

A comparative assessment of artificial and natural energy drinks in the epididymal and testicular milieu

Artificial and natural energy drinks are both taken for increased energy, physical stamina, and alertness, although they differ in composition. This study investigated the effects of artificial and natural energy drinks on the testicular milieu in male pubertal rats. Eighteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 rats each and all animals had access to food ad libitum. Group 1: (control) received water only; Group 2: (artificial energy drink- AED) received AED; Group 3: (natural energy drink- NED) received NED. A dose of 1.41ml/day/150g animal was administered and this lasted for 28 days. Sperm and testicular variables, biochemical parameters, and hormonal assays were carried out.  There were significant decreases in the levels of testosterone, Lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and 17β- Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in AED and NED groups when compared to the control group. There was a marked increment in sperm abnormalities in the NED group when compared to AED and control groups. Also, the intake of AED led to an elevated level of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase compared to the control while a significant reduction was observed in the NED group when compared to the AED group. Artificial and natural energy drinks although consumed for strength and vigor distorted epididymis and testicular integrity via alteration of the testicular metabolism, lowering sperm quality and androgenic hormones in pubertal male Wistar rats

Natural strategies of preventing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity – a review

oai:ojs2.studiabiologia.reviste.ubbcluj.ro:article/4Cardiotoxicity is one of the worst long-term effects of cancer therapy and doxorubicin is one of the main compounds responsible for cardiovascular complications. There are several biologically active compounds that can alleviate or prevent cardiotoxicity through multiple directions. Therefore, one of the aims of this paper is to emphasize the mechanisms by which several naturally occuring substances can improve the cardiac activity after drug-induced cardiotoxicity. The second part of this paper aims to update the molecular mechanism by which physical exercise and nutrition improve the life of a person with cardiovascular disease. The data collected showed that an active life and following a diet rich in polyphenols, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, may enhance the cardiovascular activity after exposure cu cardiotoxic drugs.

Cuticle structure of Carpathian endemic species: Trachelipus trilobatus (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) described with the scanning electron microscope

The cuticle is the interface between an animal and its environment; thus, it has a special importance. In Arthropods, the cuticle is not uniform, having numerous formations, which is also the case of epigeic terrestrial isopods. Our study presents data on cuticle surface morphology, obtained with a scanning electron microscope, of an endemic terrestrial isopod species, Trachelipus trilobatus. Here we present SEM images of some external morphological features of this species, which were previously described only at the light microscope. Although T. trilobatus was frequently encountered in caves, the aspect of its cuticle is characteristic for an epigeic isopod, presenting numerous micro-scales, spines, and tricorn sensilla, which are considered hygroreceptors. This fact proves that originally T. trilobatus is an epigeic species, which secondarily adapted to karst areas with caves. Nevertheless, it regularly leaves the caves and the limestone cracks and emerges on the soil surface. Therefore, T. trilobatus is able to receive information about environmental humidity, especially on the soil surface, which, when unfavorable, causes the species retreat into caves or cracks. Climatic fluctuations from the glacial periods could direct T. trilobatus to this environment and way of life, modifying its morphology, but not its cuticle. Cupsa et al (PDF) Article history: Received: 15 February 2022; Revised: 24 April 2022; Accepted: 23 May 2022; Available online: 30 June 2022