36 research outputs found
Translocations as Experiments in the Ecological Resilience of an Asocial Mega-Herbivore
Species translocations are remarkable experiments in evolutionary ecology, and increasingly critical to biodiversity conservation. Elaborate socio-ecological hypotheses for translocation success, based on theoretical fitness relationships, are untested and lead to complex uncertainty rather than parsimonious solutions. We used an extraordinary 89 reintroduction and 102 restocking events releasing 682 black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) to 81 reserves in southern Africa (1981–2005) to test the influence of interacting socio-ecological and individual characters on post-release survival. We predicted that the socio-ecological context should feature more prominently after restocking than reintroduction because released rhinoceros interact with resident conspecifics. Instead, an interaction between release cohort size and habitat quality explained reintroduction success but only individuals' ages explained restocking outcomes. Achieving translocation success for many species may not be as complicated as theory suggests. Black rhino, and similarly asocial generalist herbivores without substantial predators, are likely to be resilient to ecological challenges and robust candidates for crisis management in a changing world
Managing the challenge of chemically reactive metabolites in drug development
The normal metabolism of drugs can generate metabolites that have intrinsic
chemical reactivity towards cellular molecules, and therefore have the potential to alter
biological function and initiate serious adverse drug reactions. Here, we present an
assessment of the current approaches used for the evaluation of chemically reactive
metabolites. We also describe how these approaches are being used within the
pharmaceutical industry to assess and minimize the potential of drug candidates to cause
toxicity. At early stages of drug discovery, iteration between medicinal chemistry and drug
metabolism can eliminate perceived reactive metabolite-mediated chemical liabilities
without compromising pharmacological activity or the need for extensive safety
evaluation beyond standard practices. In the future, reactive metabolite evaluation may
also be useful during clinical development for improving clinical risk assessment and risk
management. Currently, there remains a huge gap in our understanding of the basic
mechanisms that underlie chemical stress-mediated adverse reactions in humans. This
Review summarizes our views on this complex topic, and includes insights into practices
considered by the pharmaceutical industry