Molecular genetics in aquaculture

Great advances in molecular genetics have deeply changed the way of doing research in aquaculture, as it has already done in other fields. The molecular revolution started in the 1980’s, thanks to the widespread use of restriction enzymes and Polymerase Chain Reaction technology, which makes it possible to easily detect the genetic variability directly at the DNA level. In aquaculture, the molecular data are used for several purposes, which can be clustered into two main groups. The first one, focused on individuals, includes the sex identification and parentage assignment, while the second one, focused on populations, includes the wide area of the genetic characterization, aimed at solving taxonomic uncertainties, preserving genetic biodiversity and detecting genetic tags. For the future, the increase in the number of molecular markers and the construction of high density genetic maps, as well as the implementation of genomic resources (including genome sequencing), are expected to provide tools for the genetic improvement of aquaculture species through Marked Assisted Selection. In this review the characteristics of different types of molecular markers, along with their applications to a variety of aquaculture issues are presented

Genetic variability in tench (Tinca tinca L.) as revealed by PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA

Four mitochondrial DNA segments, ND1, ND6, cyt b and D-loop, were analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment lenght polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 14 tench (Tinca tinca L.) populations located in Europe and Asia; also data on five Italian populations previously analysed for the same mtDNA segments were included in the study. All the considered segments were polymorphic and originated a total of 9 composite haplotypes, which were clustered into two haplogroups, A and B, possibly corresponding to the Western and Eastern phylogroups previously described in tench. Nine out of 19 populations showed polymorphism, with haplotype diversity ranging from 0.246 to 0.643 and nucleotide diversity from 0.009 to 0.078. Seventy-five percent of the pairwise comparisons were significant, indicating a high between-population variability. The Neighbour-Joining tree revealed the presence of three clusters, including purepopulations, with only A or B haplogroup, and mixedpopulations, with both haplogroups. The possibility of identifying populations with different haplotypes has practical implications for both conservation and supportive stocking

Vitamin D in Prevention of Autoimmune Diseases

Vitamin D is essential for the regulation of the immune system. In recent years, the role of vitamin D in the control of several autoimmune conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and others has been investigated. The aim of this review was to define the level of knowledge on vitamin D's role in these disorders, as well as the preventive and therapeutic role of vitamin D supplementation. Relevant studies published over the last 20 years were identified via a PubMed/Medline (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) search using the keywords: vitamin D, autoimmune disease, and prevention. Vitamin D deficiency or impaired function of the enzymes necessary for its activity has been shown to affect the onset and severity of the autoimmune diseases examined. Vitamin D supplementation appears useful in the support therapy of IBD. Its role in celiac disease, autoimmune hepatitis, T1DM, and autoimmune thyroiditis is unclear. In conclusion, further studies are needed to define whether vitamin D is a cause or a result of the most common autoimmune, extra-skeletal diseases, such as IBD. Vitamin D should be provided to all newborns during their first year of life. Afterwards, the vitamin D supplementation regimen should be tailored to the presence of risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and/or specific disease

OHB-I Nanosatellite Constellation for Earth Observation: A Contribution to Iride

IRIDE is an End-To-End System consisting of: Several LEO constellations (Upstream Segment). A ground operational infrastructure (Downstream Segment). Services for the Italian public administration (Service Segment). IRIDE is unique since it provides microwave imaging (Synthetic Aperture Radar, SAR), optical imaging at various spatial resolutions and in different frequency ranges, including panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and infrared bands

Problems Associated With the Assessment of Local Site Effects Through a Multidisciplinary Integrated Study: The Case of Fivizzano’s Town (Italy)

The evaluation of local site effects, by means of ground response analyses, is a very complex and difficult task, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. This is operative philosophy expressed by VEL Project (Valutazione degli Effetti Locali), sponsored by Tuscany Region, to the aim to seismic risk characterization in the main seismic areas (i.e. Garfagnana, Lunigiana, Amiata, Valtiberina and Mugello). One of the most important urban centres, involved in the multidisciplinary activity of the VEL project, is certainly the town of Fivizzano located nearby the city of Massa, which was strongly damaged during the earthquake of September 1920 (the strongest seismic event occurred in Northern Apennines in the latest centuries). Remarkably good macroseismic information is available about the destructive impact yielded at Fivizzano by this earthquake (e.g. number of casualties, level of damage of buildings, etc). The main objective of this paper is to identify the occurrence of possible local site effects in the Fivizzano’s area following the 1920 earthquake and to quantify them by means of one and two-dimensional site response analysis. The input data required for study were obtained through a comprehensive geological survey and a multi disciplinary underground exploration of the area