Abeilles et plantes dans une zone de transition entre la forêt pluviale atlantique et la forêt à Araucaria dans le sud du Brésil

The community of native bees from a transition area between Atlantic rain forest and Araucaria forest in Joinville, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, was studied regarding to species richness, relative abundance, floral resources and plant interactions. Observations were made monthly from 2008 to 2009, using entomological nets. 710 individuals of 88 species were sampled from the five bee subfamilies existing in Brazil. The bees were sampled on 62 plant species from 29 families. The most visited plant families were Asteraceae (48 %), Lamiaceae (10 %), Saxifragaceae (9 %) and Rosaceae (8 %). The bee subfamily with the highest species diversity was Halictinae (44 %), followed by Apinae (38 %), Andreninae (11 %), Megachilinae (8 %) and Colletinae (1 %). The subfamilies abundance sequence was: Apinae (81 %), Halictinae (12 %), Andreninae and Megachilinae (both 3 %) and Colletinae (less than 1 %). Apis mellifera L. was the most abundant species (42 %), followed by Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) (14 %) and Plebeia sp. This study depicts a system with asymmetric interactions shown by the species grouping, with a predominance of general relationships, revealing the relative importance of abundance for mutual networks nesting. The results from the network metrics evaluated reveal a robust and diverse web, in a recurrent feature of biodiversity structuringLa communauté d'abeilles indigènes d'une zone de transition entre la forêt pluviale atlantique et la forêt à Araucaria, à Joinville, état de Santa Catarina, Brésil, a été étudiée en ce qui concerne la richesse en espèces, l'abondance relative, les ressources florales et les interactions avec les plantes. Les observations ont été effectuées mensuellement de 2008 à 2009, en utilisant des filets entomologiques. Ont été échantillonnés 710 individus de 88 espèces des cinq sous-familles d'abeilles existant au Brésil. Les abeilles ont été prélevées sur 62 espèces de plantes de 29 familles. Les familles végétales les plus visitées ont été les Asteraceae (48 %), Lamiaceae (10 %), Saxifragaceae (9 %) et Rosaceae (8 %). La sous-famille d'abeilles présentant la plus grande diversité d'espèces a été celle des Halictinae (44 %), suivie par les Apinae (38 %), Andreninae (11 %), Megachilinae (8 %) et Colletinae (1 %). La séquence en abondance d'individus, par sous-familles, a été: Apinae (81 %), Halictinae (12 %), Andreninae et Megachilinae (les deux 3 %) et Colletinae (moins de 1 %). Apis mellifera L. est l'espèce la plus abondante (42 %), suivie par Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) (14 %) et Plebeia sp. L'étude dépeint un système avec des interactions asymétriques, démontré par le groupement des espèces, avec une prédominance de relations générales, révélant l'importance relative de l'abondance pour l'imbrication des réseaux mutuels. Les mensurations de réseau évaluées dévoilent un lacis robuste et diversifié, un trait récurrent dans la structuration de la biodiversité

Impaired protein translation in Drosophila models for Charcot–Marie–Tooth neuropathy caused by mutant tRNA synthetases

Dominant mutations in five tRNA synthetases cause Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) neuropathy, suggesting that altered aminoacylation function underlies the disease. However, previous studies showed that loss of aminoacylation activity is not required to cause CMT. Here we present a Drosophila model for CMT with mutations in glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS). Expression of three CMT-mutant GARS proteins induces defects in motor performance and motor and sensory neuron morphology, and shortens lifespan. Mutant GARS proteins display normal subcellular localization but markedly reduce global protein synthesis in motor and sensory neurons, or when ubiquitously expressed in adults, as revealed by FUNCAT and BONCAT. Translational slowdown is not attributable to altered tRNA[superscript Gly] aminoacylation, and cannot be rescued by Drosophila Gars overexpression, indicating a gain-of-toxic-function mechanism. Expression of CMT-mutant tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase also impairs translation, suggesting a common pathogenic mechanism. Finally, genetic reduction of translation is sufficient to induce CMT-like phenotypes, indicating a causal contribution of translational slowdown to CMT.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM17151

Recommended standards for conducting and reporting ethnopharmacological field studies

Ethnopharmacological relevance: What are the minimum methodological and conceptual requirements for an ethnopharmacological field study? How can the results of ethnopharmacological field studies be reported so that researchers with different backgrounds can draw on the results and develop new research questions and projects? And how should these field data be presented to get accepted in a scientific journal, such as the Journal of Ethnopharmacology? The objective of this commentary is to create a reference that covers the basic standards necessary during planning, conducting and reporting of field research. Materials and methods: We focus on conducting and reporting ethnopharmacological field studies on medicinal plants or materia medica and associated knowledge of a specific people or region. The article highlights the most frequent problems and pitfalls, and draws on published literature, fieldwork experience, and extensive insights from peer-review of field studies. Results: Research needs to be ethical and legal, and follow local and national regulations. Primary ethnopharmacological field data need to be collected and presented in a transparent and comprehensible way. In short this includes: 1) Relevant and concise research questions, 2) Thorough literature study encompassing all available information on the study site from different disciplines, 3) Appropriate methods to answer the research questions, 4) Proper plant use documentation, unambiguously linked to voucher specimens, and 5) Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the collected data, the latter relying on use-reports as basic units. Conclusion: Although not exhaustive, we provide an overview of the necessary main issues to consider for field research and data reporting including a list of minimal standards and recommendations for best practices. For methodological details and how to correctly apply specific methods, we refer to further reading of suggested textbooks and methods manuals

Medicinal plant use in two Andean communities located at different altitudes in the Bolívar Province, Peru

Ethnopharmacological relevance The study documents current medicinal plant knowledge and use in two Andean communities and depicts the dynamic nature of ethnobotanical relationships by illustrating cultural integration of biomedicine and local plant medicine into a complementary system. Aim of the study In order to elucidate the importance of medicinal plants, the following research questions were addressed: Which position do medicinal plants have in the local health care system? Which plants are used medicinally, and do they differ between the communities? Is their use supported pharmacologically? Materials and methods Fieldwork was done for seven months in 2010. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 120 informants in Uchumarca and Pusac/San Vicente de Paúl, and the medicinal plant species mentioned by the informants were vouchered. Results In total, 2776 plant remedy use reports were recorded. Most people in both communities know at least some medicinal plants, usually from their parents, grandparents, sometimes from books. There are different types of local plant specialists, who are consulted above all for the treatment of diseases thought to have a magical origin or for recommendations of plants to treat minor diseases. Overall, 140 medicinal plants were documented, with a conformity of over 90% between the communities. The effective use of the most frequently cited medicinal plants is supported by scientific literature. Most uses were reported for the treatment of gastrointestinal (17%), nervous (14%), respiratory (14%), urological (13%) and dermatological diseases (8%); nervous diseases were more prevalent in the mountain community, while dermatological and urological diseases were more common in the valley. Conclusions People combine medicinal plant use and biomedicine depending on the kind of disease, their beliefs, and their economic situation. The local use of different available medical resources is reflected by the combination of related epistemologies to explain disease causes. Medicinal plant use and biomedicine complement each other to form the local health care system

Bees and plants in a transition area between Atlantic rain forest and Araucaria forest in Southern Brazil

The community of native bees from a transition area between Atlantic rain forest and Araucaria forest in Joinville, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, was studied regarding to species richness, relative abundance, floral resources and plant interactions. Observations were made monthly from 2008 to 2009, using entomological nets. 710 individuals of 88 species were sampled from the five bee subfamilies existing in Brazil. The bees were sampled on 62 plant species from 29 families. The most visited plant families were Asteraceae (48 %), Lamiaceae (10 %), Saxifragaceae (9 %) and Rosaceae (8 %). The bee subfamily with the highest species diversity was Halictinae (44 %), followed by Apinae (38 %), Andreninae (11 %), Megachilinae (8 %) and Colletinae (1 %). The subfamilies abundance sequence was : Apinae (81 %), Halictinae (12 %), Andreninae and Megachilinae (both 3 %) and Colletinae (less than 1 %). Apis mellifera L. was the most abundant species (42 %), followed by Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) (14 %) and Plebeia sp. This study depicts a system with asymmetric interactions shown by the species grouping, with a predominance of general relationships, revealing the relative importance of abundance for mutual networks nesting. The results from the network metrics evaluated reveal a robust and diverse web, in a recurrent feature of biodiversity structuring.Abeilles et plantes dans une zone de transition entre la forêt pluviale atlantique et la forêt à Araucaria dans le sud du Brésil. La communauté d’abeilles indigènes d’une zone de transition entre la forêt pluviale atlantique et la forêt à Araucaria, à Joinville, état de Santa Catarina, Brésil, a été étudiée en ce qui concerne la richesse en espèces, l’abondance relative, les ressources florales et les interactions avec les plantes. Les observations ont été effectuées mensuellement de 2008 à 2009, en utilisant des filets entomologiques. Ont été échantillonnés 710 individus de 88 espèces des cinq sous-familles d’abeilles existant au Brésil. Les abeilles ont été prélevées sur 62 espèces de plantes de 29 familles. Les familles végétales les plus visitées ont été les Asteraceae (48 %), Lamiaceae (10 %), Saxifragaceae (9 %) et Rosaceae (8 %). La sousfamille d’abeilles présentant la plus grande diversité d’espèces a été celle des Halictinae (44 %), suivie par les Apinae (38 %), Andreninae (11 %), Megachilinae (8 %) et Colletinae (1 %). La séquence en abondance d’individus, par sous-familles, a été : Apinae (81 %), Halictinae (12 %), Andreninae et Megachilinae (les deux 3 %) et Colletinae (moins de 1 %). Apis mellifera L. est l’espèce la plus abondante (42 %), suivie par Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) (14 %) et Plebeia sp. L’étude dépeint un système avec des interactions asymétriques, démontré par le groupement des espèces, avec une prédominance de relations générales, révélant l’importance relative de l’abondance pour l’imbrication des réseaux mutuels. Les mensurations de réseau évaluées dévoilent un lacis robuste et diversifié, un trait récurrent dans la structuration de la biodiversité.Dubet da Silva Mouga Denise Monique, Furta do Noble Caroline, Goudard Bussmann Daniela Beatriz, Krug Cristiane. Bees and plants in a transition area between Atlantic rain forest and Araucaria forest in Southern Brazil. In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 67, n°3, 2012. pp. 313-327

Early suppression of basophil activation during allergen-specific immunotherapy by histamine receptor 2

BACKGROUND: Early desensitization of FcεRI-bearing mast cells and basophils has been demonstrated in allergen-specific immunotherapy and drug desensitization. However, its mechanisms have not been elucidated in detail. Histamine is one of the main mediators released on FcεRI triggering of basophils and mast cells, and it exerts its functions through histamine receptors (HRs). OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate HR expression on basophils of patients undergoing venom immunotherapy (VIT) and its effect on allergen, IgE, and FcεRI cross-linking-mediated basophil function and mediator release. METHODS: Basophils were purified from the peripheral blood of patients undergoing VIT and control subjects and were studied functionally by using real-time PCR, flow cytometry and ELISA assays. RESULTS: Rapid upregulation of H2R within the first 6 hours of the build-up phase of VIT was observed. H2R strongly suppressed FcεRI-induced activation and mediator release of basophils, including histamine and sulfidoleukotrienes, as well as cytokine production in vitro. CONCLUSION: Immunosilencing of FcεRI-activated basophils by means of selective suppression mediated by H2R might be highly relevant for the very early induction of allergen tolerance and the so-called desensitization effect of VIT

First Results of the ROBEX Analogue Mission Campaign: Robotic Deployment of Seismic Networks for Future Lunar Missions

This paper presents first results of the analog mission campaign which was performed between the 12th of June and the 10th of July 2017 on Mount Etna in Europe, Italy. The aim of the ROBEX demonstration mission is to test and validate a complex robotic mission. This includes highly autonomous tasks with supervision from scientists to guarantee measurement of real and scientifically relevant data. The main scientific objective of the ROBEX mission, the detailed analysis of the lunar crust layers, that is replaced by the analysis of Etna lava layers in the demo mission, has been guiding the developments of the last four years. As key missions, a seismic network has been deployed and a seismic profile measurement has been conducted using only robots on the landing site. Additional experiments consisted of long term autonomous navigation, multi-robot mapping and exploration of craters as well as experiments with the aim of geological analyses and probe selection. During the one month analog campaign, a realistic mission scenario has been built up, including a control station approximately 30 km from the remote site