Morphological and molecular data from Madeira support the persistence of an ancient lineage of Taxus baccata

Macaronesia is an important biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean bioclimatic region, hosting a number of endemics, and encompassing outstanding refugia for ancient Tertiary plant lineages. We investig past occurrence and present distribution of yew (Taxus baccata L.) in the Madeiran archipelago, providing preliminary morphological and genetic descriptions and addressing conservation issues. Fifty-eight individuals presently occur in 19 micro-populations, as probable survivors of the continued yew exploitation across the centuries. Plants were characterized and compared with Euro-Mediterranean provenances by leaf morphology, anatomy, nuclear ITS (Internal Trascribed Spacer) and plastid trnS-trnQ DNA markers. The Madeiran provenance showed peculiar leaf size and morpho-anatomical characters. DNA sequences revealed a basal position of Madeiran yew in the Baccata phylogenetic clades along with the Azorean provenance. Gathered data suggest the survival of a lineage of T. baccata different from those on the continent, and with a possible closer derivation from the species' ancestors. Such evidences provide a base for identifying a great phylo- and phytogeographical interest of the Macaronesian provenance, and confirm the role of the archipelagos to preserve relict flora and lineages. The risk of extinction of Madeiran yew also calls for conservation strategies and restoration programs for a prompt species rescue. © 2013 Copyright Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica, Università di Firenze.s

Therapeutic manipulation of immune tolerance in allergic disease

Immune tolerance - the adaptation of the immune system to external antigens or allergens - might be therapeutically manipulated to restore normal immunity in conditions such as allergy, asthma and autoimmune diseases. The field of allergen-specific immunotherapy is experiencing exciting and novel developments for the treatment of allergic and autoimmune diseases, and recent insights into the reciprocal regulation and counter-balance between different T-cell subsets is foreseen to facilitate new strategies for immunointervention. This Review highlights current knowledge of immunomodulatory therapies for the manipulation of immune tolerance and highlights recent approaches to improve allergen-specific immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic diseases