Prawdopodobieństwo wystąpienia różnych patologii ciąży w rodzinach nosicieli translokacji chromosomowych wzajemnych angażujących chromosom 13

Summary Objectives: The aim of study was to estimate the probability rates for unfavorable pregnancy outcomes in carriers of reciprocal chromosomal translocations involving 13 chromosome (RCT-13q). Material and methods: We collected total empirical data about 232 pregnancies of 56 carriers coming from 28 pedigrees. RCT classification was based on classic cytogenetic methods for interpretation of breakpoint position. The probability rates of particular type of pathology related to the total number of pregnancies after ascertainment correction have been calculated with the help of Stengel-Rutkowski and Stene method. Results: The risk figures for unbalanced offspring after 2:2 disjunction and adjacent-1 segregation for the whole group of pedigrees were calculated as 5.2+/-1.7% (9/173) – medium risk, for maternal (MAT) and paternal (PAT) carriers were about 6.2+/-2.3% (7/173) and 4.8+/-3.3% (2/42) respectively. Considering different segment lengths of 13q, similar values for shorter and longer segments were obtained [4.3+/-1.9% (5/115) for 13q21→qter and 7.0+/-3.3% (4/58) for 13q12→qter]. The risk figures for miscarriages as 36.4+/-3.6% (63/173) and for stillbirths/early death as 4.6+/-31.6% (8/173) were obtained. The risk figures for unbalanced offspring after 3:1 disjunction were calculated as 7.7+/-7.45 (9/13). Conclusions: 1. Risk figures for different pregnancy outcomes are differ among particular forms of pathology 2. Probability rate for unbalanced progeny at birth was calculated as a medium risk and similar values for carriers of different segments of 13q were obtained 3. Probability rate for miscarriages was high but risk for stillbirths/early deaths of newborn was low 4. No differences in values of rate for particular forms of pathology were found for maternal and paternal carriers of RCT -13q.Streszczenie Cel pracy: Celem badań było oszacowanie prawdopodobieństwa wystąpienia różnych patologii ciąży w rodzinach nosicieli translokacji chromosomowych wzajemnych angażujących długie ramię chromosomu 13 (TCW-13q). Materiał i metody: Materiał do analizy stanowiły dane empiryczne i cytogenetyczne o 232 ciążach 56 nosicieli, uzyskane z 28 rodowodów nosicieli TCW ryzyka pojedynczego niezrównowaęenia segmentu angażujących chromosom 13. Prawdopodobieństwo wystąpienia różnych patologii ciąży oszacowano metodą Stengel-Rutkowski i Stene. Wyniki: Prawdopodobieństwo urodzenia dziecka z niezrównoważonym kariotypem w rodzinach nosicieli TCW z udziałem chromosomu 13 po segregacji 2:2 rozdziale przyległym typu 1 wynosiło 5,2+/-1,7% (9/173) – ryzyko średnie; po segregacji 3:1 ryzyko wynosiło 7,7+/-7,4% (9/13) – ryzyko średnie. W przypadku nosicielstwa matczynego (MAT) osiągnęło wartość 6,2+/-2,3% (7/173), zaś ojcowskiego (PAT) wartość 4,8+/-3,3% (2/42). Rozpatrując poszczególne segmenty chromosomu 13, prawdopodobieństwo miało następujące wartości: segment 13q21.2→qter - 4,3+/-1,9% (5/115), segment 13q12→qter – 7+/-3,3% (4/58). Ryzyko utraty ciąży na skutek ciąż obumarłych określono na 4,6+/-1,6% (8/173), natomiast ryzyko poronień samoistnych 36,4+/-3,6% (63/173). Wnioski: 1. Wielkości prawdopodobieństwa wystąpienia poszczególnych patologii ciąży w rodzinach nosicieli TCW-13q są różne. 2. Wielkość prawdopodobieństwa urodzenia dziecka z niezrównoważonym kariotypem należy do grupy ryzyka średniego; uzyskano podobne wartości w rodzinach nosicieli poszczególnych segmentów chromosomu 13. 3. Wielkość ryzyka genetycznego poronień samoistnych należy do grupy ryzyka wysokiego i jest wyższe w stosunku do ryzyka ciąż obumarłych przed terminem porodu (grupa ryzyka niskiego). 4. Nie stwierdzono różnic w wielkości wskaźników ryzyka dla poszczególnych form patologii ciąży w zależności od płci nosiciela

Adipokines and Insulin Resistance in Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

We examined the association between adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, and resistin), radiotherapy, measurement of body fat, and insulin resistance among young adult survivors of childhood cancer (CCS). Materials and Methods. Seventy-six survivors were included (mean age 24.1±3.5 years). Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). The serum levels of adipokines were assayed by immunoassays. Fat mass was evaluated by DXA. Results. Mean adiponectin level and mean body FAT were higher in the examined females than in males (10009±6367 ng/mL versus 6433±4136 ng/mL, p<0.01; 35.98±9.61% versus 22.7±7.46%, p<0.001). Among CCS, one of 75 patients met the criteria of insulin resistance, and in 14 patients there was impaired fasting glucose. The multiple regression model for females showed that leptin/adiponectin ratio (LA ratio) significantly affected HOMA-IR (increase of 0.024 per each unit of LA ratio; p<0.05). Radiotherapy had no effect on serum adipokines and IR. Conclusion. The observed results support the hypothesis that adiponectin might be associated with insulin resistance and it can not be ruled out that changes in the mean level of adiponectin per FAT mass or leptin/adiponectin ratio may precede the occurrence of insulin resistance in the future

Evaluation of Suppressed Mite Reproduction (SMR) Reveals Potential for Varroa Resistance in European Honey Bees (Apis melliferaL.)

Simple Summary The miteVarroa destructorrepresents a great threat to honey bees and the beekeeping industry. The opportunity to select and breed honey bees that are naturally able to fight the mite stands a sustainable solution. This can be achieved by evaluation of the failure of mite reproduction (SMR, suppressed mite reproduction). We conducted a large European experiment to assess the SMR trait in different populations of honey bees spread over 13 different countries, and representing different honey bee populations. The first goal was to standardize and validate the SMR evaluation method, and then to compare the SMR trait between the different populations. Our results indicate that it is necessary to examine at least 35 brood cells infested by a single mite to reliably estimate the SMR score of any given colony. Several colonies from our dataset display high SMR scores, indicating that this trait is present within the European honey bee populations. No major differences could be identified between countries for a given population, or between populations in different countries. This study shows the potential to increase selection efforts to breedV. destructorhoney bee resistant populations. In the fight against theVarroa destructormite, selective breeding of honey bee (Apis melliferaL.) populations that are resistant to the parasitic mite stands as a sustainable solution. Selection initiatives indicate that using the suppressed mite reproduction (SMR) trait as a selection criterion is a suitable tool to breed such resistant bee populations. We conducted a large European experiment to evaluate the SMR trait in different populations of honey bees spread over 13 different countries, and representing different honey bee genotypes with their local mite parasites. The first goal was to standardize and validate the SMR evaluation method, and then to compare the SMR trait between the different populations. Simulation results indicate that it is necessary to examine at least 35 single-infested cells to reliably estimate the SMR score of any given colony. Several colonies from our dataset display high SMR scores indicating that this trait is present within the European honey bee populations. The trait is highly variable between colonies and some countries, but no major differences could be identified between countries for a given genotype, or between genotypes in different countries. This study shows the potential to increase selective breeding efforts ofV. destructorresistant populations

Causes and Scale of Winter Flights in Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera Carnica ) Colonies

Winter honey bee losses were evaluated during the two overwintering periods of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. The research included dead bee workers that fell on the hive bottom board (debris) and the ones that flew out of the hive. Differences were observed in the number of bees fallen as debris between the two periods, whereas the number of bees flying out was similar in both years. No differences were found between the numbers of dead bees in strong and weak colonies. The percentage of bees flying out of the colony increased in the presence of Nosema spores, Varroa infestation, increased average air temperature, and insolation during the day. In addition, both the presence of Nosema and insolation during the day had an impact on the number of bees that died and fell on the hive board

Susceptibility of Bee Larvae to Chalkbrood in Relation to Hygienic Behaviour of Worker Bees in Colonies of Chosen Races of Honeybee (Apis Mellifera )

The susceptibility of bee larvae to Ascosphaera apis infestation and the hygienic behaviour of worker bees in relation to A. apis infected and freeze-killed brood were evaluated in three races of bees: Apis mellifera carnica, Apis mellifera caucasica, and Apis mellifera mellifera. Experimental bee colonies were evaluated in field conditions during the three beekeeping seasons. The lowest percentage of infected larvae was observed in car GR1 and mel A colonies (8.5% and 15%, respectively) and the highest in car Mr and cau P colonies (21% and 24.3%, respectively). Bees in the car GR1 and mel A colonies removed mummified brood in a shorter period of time (6.5 and 7.1 days on average, respectively) than car Mr and cau P colonies (above 8 days). Bees in the mel A and car GR1 colonies cleaned significantly more cells with freeze-killed brood within 24 and 48 hours (above 70% and 80% on average, respectively) than car Mr and cau P colonies (on average 10 - 20% lower cleaning rate). A low correlation coefficient was found for the susceptibility of larvae to A. apis infection and hygienic behaviour

Balling Behavior of Workers Toward Honey Bee Queens Returning from Mating Flights

During natural mating honeybee queens can get lost due to drifting, predators or other cases. In this work, the balling of queens returning from flights by worker bees originating from the same colony was observed. Three subspecies of bees Carniolan, Caucasian and European Black Bee were tested. Research was conducted in both spring and summer, but in the former in newly created colonies, while in the latter in new and earlier used ones. Generally 15.2% of queens were balled and in total 30.2% of queens were lost during mating flights. 269 queens performed 785 mating flights, and 5.2% of those finished with balling. Three times more queens were balled when returning from mating flight rather than orientation flight. Subspecies matches or mismatches of queens and workers in nucleuses did not significantly affect the balling or its frequency. Additionally, no bee subspecies characterized stronger tendencies to ball a queen. Worker bees from newly created nucleuses treated queens similarly to the ones in nucleuses earlier used. However, significantly more queens had been balled during the spring in comparison to summer. There were days with higher balling of queens. During some days the weather was very unstable and unpredictable with such anomalies as heat waves, thunderstorms or sudden drops in insolation. Most of the queens were balled at the entrance while returning from flight and only a few inside the hive. In the research, clear causes of balling were not found, but some factors can be excluded

Performance of Bee Colonies Headed by Queens Instrumentally Inseminated with Semen of Drones Who Come from a Single Colony or Many Colonies

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of honey bee worker diversity within the colony on: development, honey productivity, and wintering. Two different levels of diversity within the colony were tested. The appropriate levels of diversity within the colony were obtained by selecting drones for inseminating the queens. Lower genetic diversity was obtained in the colonies headed by a queen inseminated with semen collected from drones originating from a single colony. Higher genetic diversity was obtained in the colonies with queens inseminated with semen from drones of 30 different colonies. Colonies with a higher genetic variation of workers in the colonies had greater levels of functional characteristics. However, apart from the number of dead bees in winter, the genetic diversity level of the workers on the colony development and honey production, did not have a significant influence. There was an averaging effect observed concerning that male component in the colonies with a higher genetic variation of workers - on honey yield, when compared to the non-additive effect of the best drones

Maternal Inheritance in Hybrids of Three Honey Bee Subspecies

The identification of honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies is often based on the measurements of workers’ fore-wings. The interpretation of the measurements can be difficult because the phenotype of workers is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Moreover, it is not clear how the phenotype is affected by maternal inheritance. We have used the methodology of geometric morphometrics to verify if hybrids of honey bee subspecies and their backcrosses are more similar to either the father or mother colony. The comparison was based on fore-wing venation of three honey bee subspecies: A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasica, A. m. mellifera. First generation hybrids and backcrosses of those subspecies were obtained through instrumental insemination. Workers of the hybrids were compared with their parental colonies. The shape of wing venation was more similar to the maternal than to parental colony. This phenomenon was particularly visible in first generation of hybrids but it was also present in backcrosses. There were also symptoms of genetic dominance of some subspecies but this effect interacted with maternal inheritance and was difficult to interpret

Hygienic Behaviour of Honeybee Colonies with Different Levels of Polyandry and Genotypic Composition

Honey bee queens were inseminated with diluted, homogenised semen collected from a few dozen drones. This procedure was carried out to increase the diversity of the queens’ offspring, which is in comparison to the offspring of queens inseminated with semen from only a few drones coming from one colony. Queens and drones were mated within carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica) subspecies, but 3 selected lines were used. Queens were reared from one line and drones from the same line, and two additional lines differing in hygienic behaviour wherein in one of them that trait was strongly evident. The aim of this study was to examine whether the level of enhanced genetic variability in colonies and simultaneously the participation of hygienic bees, would increase the performance of hygienic behaviour. Overall hygienic behaviour of colonies with a lower and greater genetic variability did not differ significantly and amounted to 52.1 and 47.0%, respectively. Colonies within the lower variability group, in which drones from line selected in hygienic behaviour performance were used for inseminating queens, had a significantly greater percent of cleaned pupae than other colonies (63.2%). Hygienic behaviour in other colonies was more dependent on the gene quotas of hygienic bees in the colonies rather than on the level of polyandry

Characterization of Immune Response towards Generation of Universal Anti-HA-Stalk Antibodies after Immunization of Broiler Hens with Triple H5N1/NA-HA-M1 VLPs

(1) Background: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) promptly evade preexisting immunity by constantly altering the immunodominant neutralizing antibody epitopes (antigenic drift) or by procuring new envelope serotypes (antigenic shift). As a consequence, the majority of antibodies elicited by infection or vaccination protect only against closely related strains. The immunodominance of the globular head of the main glycoprotein has been shown to mask the immunogenicity of the conserved regions located within the hemagglutinin (HA) protein. It has been shown that the broadly neutralizing universal antibodies recognize the HA2 domain in headless hemagglutinin (HA-stalk). Therefore, the HA-stalk is a highly conserved antigen, which makes it a good candidate to be used in universal vaccine development against AIVs. (2) Methods: Sf9 insect cells were used to produce triple H5N1/NA-HA-M1 influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) via co-expression of neuraminidase, hemagglutinin and matrix proteins from a tricistronic expression cassette. Purified influenza VLPs were used to immunize broiler hens. An in-depth characterization of the immune response was performed with an emphasis on the pool of elicited universal antibodies. (3) Results: Our findings suggest, that after vaccination with triple H5N1/NA-HA-M1 VLPs, hens generate a pool of broad-spectrum universal anti-HA-stalk antibodies. Furthermore, these universal antibodies are able to recognize the mammalian-derived HA-stalk recombinant proteins from homologous H5N1 and heterologous H7N9 AIVs as well as from the heterosubtypic human H1N1 influenza strain. (4) Conclusions: Our findings may suggest that highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 HA protein contain functional epitopes that are attractive targets for the generation of broad-spectrum antibodies against AIVs in their native hosts