Case-control study of apoE gene polymorphism in young CHD patients and controls in the Serbian population

Apolipoprotein E displays polymorphism with three common alleles, e2, e3, and e4. The aim of this research was to determine apoE gene polymorphism in a group of healthy patients and a group of patients with CHD, and to reveal the relation between anthropometric and biochemical parameters and the apoE genotype. In CHD group significantly higher values of blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI and fat %, triglycerides, insulin (HOMA IR) and CRP were found. A statistically significant higher presence of the e3e4 genotype and e4 allele was detected in the CHD group. Statistically significant differences between waist circumference, BMI, insulin and HOMA IR were found between subjects with e3e3 and e3e4 genotypes

An assessment of the genetic diversity in the wild boar population from the Podunavlje-Podravlje hunting area

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An integrated approach to delimiting species borders in the genus Chrysotoxum Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Syrphidae), with description of two new species

Integrative taxonomy tests the validity of taxa using methods additional to traditional morphology. The existence of two different morphotypes in specimens identified as Chrysotoxum vernale Loew (Diptera: Syrphidae) prompted their taxonomic study using an integrative approach that included morphology, wing and male-surstylus geometric morphometrics, genetic and ecological analyses. As a result, a new species is recognised, Chrysotoxum montanum Nedeljković & Vujić sp. nov., and C. vernale is re-defined. A lectotype and paralectotypes are designated for C. vernale to stabilize this concept. An additional species, Chrysotoxum orthostylum Vujić sp. nov., with distinctive male genitalia is also described. The three species share an antenna with the basoflagellomere shorter than the scape plus pedicel and terga with yellow fasciae not reaching the lateral margins. This study confirms the value of integrative approach for resolving species boundaries.Financial support was provided by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (projects OI173002 and III43002), the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development (project ‘Genetic resources of agro-ecosystems in Vojvodina and sustainable agriculture’), the Transnational Access to Research Infrastructures activity in the FP7 of the EC (ExpeER project, TA visit ‘STEPS’) and the FP7 EU project, Innosense

DNA barcoding applied: identifying the larva of Merodon avidus (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The immature stages of phytophagous hoverflies and their plant hosts are mostly unknown. This paper describes the larva of Merodon avidus Rossi, 1790 (Diptera: Syrphidae), based on material collected from Đerdap National Park in Serbia. Larvae were found in the bulbs of Ornithogalum L. (Hyacinthaceae) and in the surrounding soil. DNA barcoding was used to identify the species and scanning electron microscopy was used to describe the morphological characteristics of Merodon avidus. Reared material previously identified as Merodon constans (Rossi, 1794) is shown to belong to M. hurkmansi Marcos-García, Vujić & Mengual, 2007.This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, Grant No. 173002 and Grant No. 43002, the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development, Grant No. 114-457-2173/2011-01 and by the project Status and Trends of European Pollinators, FP7-ENV-2009-1-244090 (STEP)

Genetic variability of pheasant (Phasianus spp) in breeding station Ristovača

One of the possible reasons for pheasant population number decline in past several years might be loss of adaptability in populations originated from breeding stations caused by inbreeding depression. Due to fact that adaptability is a consequence of genetic structure of the populations, the aim of this paper was the analysis of genetic variability in pheasant population from breeding station Ristovaca using molecular markers. Allozyme variability of 20 putative gene loci was detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Polymorphism was revealed in 5 loci: Est-1, Pgd, Sod, Gpi-2 and Odh. The values of genetic variability measures - heterozigosity polymorphism, fixation indices and H/P ratio indicate low level of genetic variability and possible presence of inbreeding depression within pheasant population

Varijabilnost kontrolnog regiona mitohondrijalne DNK divljih svinja zapadnog Balkana

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is one of most abundant game species in hunting areas of Balkan region. The large fraction of pre-glacial genetic diversity in wild boar populations from the Balkans was addressed due to high proportion of unique mtDNA haplotypes found in Greece, indicating Balkan as main refugial area for wild boars. The aim of the present study is to characterize mitochondrial DNA control region variability in wild boars from different areas in the West Balkan region, in order to evaluate level of genetic variability, to detect unique haplotypes and to infer possible structuring. The total number of 163 individuals from different sampling localities were included in the study. A fragment of the mtDNA control region was amplified and sequenced by standard procedures. Population genetic analyses were performed using several computer packages: BioEdit, ARLEQUIN 3.5.1.2., Network 4.6.0.0 and MEGA5. Eleven different haplotypes were identified and haplotype diversity was 0.676, nucleotide diversity 0.0026, and the average number of nucleotide differences (k) 1.169. The mismatch distribution and neutrality tests indicated the expansion of the all populations. It is shown that high level of genetic diversity is present in the wild boars from the West Balkan region and we have managed to detect regional unique haplotypes in high frequency. Genetic diversity differences have been found in regional wild boar groups, clustering them in two main clusters, but further speculations on the reasons for the observed clustering are prevented due to restricted informativness of the single locus marker. Obtained knowledge of genetic variation in the wild boar may be relevant for improving knowledge of the phylogeny and phylogeography of the wild boars, but as well as for hunting societies and responsible authorities for the effective control of wild boar populations.Divlja svinja (Sus scrofa) je jedna od najbrojnijih vrsta divljači u lovnim područjima Balkana. Na osnovu velikog broja jedinstvenih haplotipova u populacijama divljih svinja Grčke, zaključeno je da se veliki deo pre-glacijalnog genetičkog diverziteta ovih populacija zadržao na Balkanskom poluostrvu, koje je označeno kao glavni refugijum za divlje svinje. Cilj ovog rada je karakterizacija varijabilnosti kontrolnog regiona mitohondrijalne DNK kod divljih svinja sa različitih lokaliteta Zapadnog Balkana, u svrhu utvrđivanja genetičke varijabilnosti, detekcije jedinstvenih haplotipova i definisanja moguće struktuiranosti populacije. Ukupno su analizirane 163 jedinke sa različitih lokaliteta. Deo kontrolnog regiona mtDNK je umnožen i sekvenciran standardnim metodama. Populaciono-genetička analiza urađena je pomoću programskih paketa za analizu sekvenci: BioEdit, ARLEQUIN 3.5.1.2., Network 4.6.0.0 and MEGA5. Nađeno je jedanaest haplotipova i diverzitet haplotipova je iznosio 0.676, diverzitet nukleotida 0.0026, dok je prosečan broj nukleotidnih razlika bio 1.169. Test unimodalne distribucije i testovi neutralnosti pokazali su ekspanziju svih populacija. Pokazan je visok nivo genetičkog diverziteta u populacijama divljih svinja Zapadnog Balkana i detektovani su haplotipovi jedinstveni za regione u visokoj frekvenciji. Razlike u genetičkom diverzitetu pokazane su u regionalnim grupama, i klaster analiza je pokazala prisustvo dve odvojene grane, ali konačan zaključak o stepenu struktuiranosti nije mogao biti donet, zbog ograničene informativnosti jednog genskog markera. Dobijeni rezultati o genetičkoj varijabilnosti divljih svinja relevantni su za rekonstrukciju filogenije i filogeografije ove vrste divljači, ali i za organizacije odgovorne za efektivnu kontrolu populacija divljih svinja

The genus Xanthogramma Schiner, 1861 (Diptera: Syrphidae) in southeastern Europe, with descriptions of two new species

Examination of 122 specimens of Xanthogramma Schiner, 1861 (Diptera: Syrphidae) from varied localities in Europe (+Turkey) resulted in the description of two new species (X. aeginae Ricarte, Nedeljković, and Vujić new species and X. pilosum Nedeljković, Ricarte, and Vujić new species), as well as new data on six other species. Most of the examined material originated from the Balkan Peninsula and Greek islands. New species concepts were supported by morphological and molecular evidence. Relationships among the eight studied species were analysed and discussed based on the data of nuclear (ITS2) and mitochondrial (COI) genes sequences. An identification key to the European species of Xanthogramma is provided. Lectotypes are designated for Doros decoratum Zetterstedt, 1843, Lasiophthicus novus Rondani, 1857, Syrphus laetus Fabricius, 1794, Syrphus ornatus Meigen, 1822, and Xanthogramma nobilitatum Frey, 1946.Financial support was provided by the Serbian Ministry of Education and Science (projects OI173002 and III43002), the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development (project “Genetic resources of agro-ecosystems in Vojvodina and sustainable agriculture”), the FP7 EU project, Innosense, and the H2020 project “ANTARES” (664387), Antonio Ricarte’s position at the University of Alicante is funded by the Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia de Conocimiento)

Korelacija tehnoloških pokazatelja kvaliteta hleba i Glu-1 kvalitetne vrednosti pšenice

It is experimentally proved that repolymerisation of high molecular weight (HMW) glutenins determines visco-elastic dough properties. The aim of this paper was the analysis of correlation between bread-making quality parameters and Glu-1 quality score in wheat, according to Payne (1987) and Pogna et al. (1992). It is found that alleles at Glu-D1 locus show the most significant positive correlation with bread-making quality parameters. It is also proved that there is a significant positive correlation between alleles at Glu-A1 locus and crumb structure, resistance to extension and loaf volume.Cilj rada bio je da se odredi korelacija između tehnoloških pokazatelja kvaliteta hleba i Glu-1 kvalitetne vrednosti, određene prema Payne (1987) i Pogna i sar. (1992). Ustanovljeno je da aleli Glu-D1 lokusa pokazuju najveći broj značajnih pozitivnih korelacija sa parametrima kvaliteta hleba. Utvrđeno je da postoje značajne pozitivne korelacije između alela Glu-1 lokusa i vrednosnog broja sredine hleba (koji predstavlja ocenu kvaliteta vekne), otpora rastezanju i zapremine vekne (ml/100g brašna)

Assessment of genetic diversity within the Merodon ruficornis species group (Diptera: Syrphidae) by RAPD analysis

As one of the most distinct groups in the hoverfly genus Merodon, the monophyletic ruficornis species group has been the focus of several studies using different approaches. Molecular methods have shown incongruences between morphological and molecular data. In the present study, we investigated four species of the Merodon ruficornis group (i.e. M. loewi, M. armipes, M. papillus and M. hoplitis) with the aim of detecting intra- and interspecific genetic diversity, and we examined the usefulness of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) in an integrative taxonomic approach to species delimitation. Analysis of Nei’s genetic variation over all loci showed that genetic diversity for the analyzed Merodon species was h=0.24. Based on UPGMA, PCoA and Bayesian clustering analyses, our results clearly differentiated four groups that correspond to the four morphologically-defined Merodon species. Among the analyzed species, M. armipes and M. hoplitis showed the lowest level of genetic divergence; M. loewi was clearly separated from both M. armipes and M. papillus. Based on our data, we propose the use of RAPD-PCR as an additional tool for resolving taxonomic problems within Merodon. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no.173002

Gradual loss of genetic diversity of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. populations in the invaded range of central Serbia

As an invasive allergenic weed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. causes serious public health and economic problems in invaded ranges of Europe. Over the last two decades, while expanding toward southern parts of Serbia, this common ragweed has become a very troublesome plant species in the whole country. Considering the importance of genetic studies in understanding of invasive species, our main objectives in this study were to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic structure of Ambrosia artemisiifolia populations from Central Serbia, a relatively recently invaded region. Comparing values of genetic measures obtained by microsatellite analyses, a number of differences were detected in genetic diversity between sampled populations. Allelic richness-r (ranged from 5.42 to 7.80), the mean number of alleles per locus-NA (5.8-8.4) and the mean number of rare alleles per locus-NR (2.8-5.8) have quite similar ranges across populations. We observed greater genetic variability in populations from the northern part of investigated area than in southern populations. Based on pairwise Fst values, AMOVA results and PCo Analysis, moderate differentiation among population was detected, while the STRUCTURE analysis clearly separated SR-Kru and SR-Les. Data obtained for analyses of differentiation and gradual losses of genetic diversity of sampled populations provides useful information about invasion dynamics of common ragweed in recently invaded region. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173002 and the Secretariat for Science and Tehnological Development, Province of Vojvodina (No. 114-457-2173/2011-01