Taxonomic and geographic catalogue of the Coleoptera belonging to the family Meloidae of Mexico

94 páginas.[ES] Se presenta un catálogo taxonómico de los representantes mexicanos de la familia Meloidae que incluye un listado revisado de sinonimias, localidades típicas y registros geográficos publicados de cada una de las especies. La fauna mexicana incluye en la actualidad 255 especies vivientes y una fósil, distribuidas en 21 géneros de las subfamilias Meloinae, Nemognathinae y Tetraonycinae. En el último catálogo general, Blackwelder (1945) recogió la presencia en México de 160 especies de esta familia, casi 100 especies menos de las que se conocen en la actualidad y sin embargo, la cifra actual parece encontrarse aún lejos de la real, ya que existen muchas especies ampliamente distribuidas al norte de la frontera con los Estados Unidos cuya presencia es muy probable en territorio mexicano. En cuanto a la taxonomía y nomenclatura de las especies, en este catálogo se propone el uso de los nombres Epicauta dugesi Werner, 1957 y Tegrodera erosa extincta Beauregard, 1890; se incluyen tres sinonimias nuevas de Nemognatha chrysomeloides (Linnaeus, 1763) (N. atra Beauregard, 1890; N. pallidicollis Beauregard, 1890 y N. violacea Beauregard, 1890) y otra de E. dugesi (Epicauta tamara Adams & Selander, 1979); se designa lectotipo para Lytta koltzei var. minor Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 con el propósito de solucionar el problema taxonómico generado tras la designación inválida de lectotipo de L. k. var. cyanescens; y finalmente se consideran como especies posiblemente a excluir del listado de Meloidae de México a Cissites maculata (Swederus, 1787) y Tetraonyx (Tetraonyx) bimaculatus (Klug, 1825).[EN] A comprehensive taxonomic catalogue of the Mexican representatives of the family Meloidae is presented. The catalogue includes a revised synonymical list including type localities and published geographical records for all known species. The Mexican Fauna of Meloidae currently includes 255 extant species, plus one only known from the fossil conrecord, arranged in 21 genera within the subfamilies Meloinae, Nemognathinae and Tetraonycinae. The last comprehensive catalogue published (Blackwelder, 1945) recorded the presence of 160 species of Meloidae in México, almost 100 species less than the current known number. However the current number of species seems to be far below the actual number, since many species widely distributed along the northern border, within the United States, are likely to be found also in Mexico. Regarding taxonomic and nomenclatural changes, in this catalogue we propose the use of the names Epicauta dugesi Werner, 1957 and Tegrodera erosa extincta Beauregard, 1890; we propose three new synonymies for Nemognatha chrysomeloides (Linnaeus, 1763) (N. atra Beauregard, 1890; N. pallidicollis Beauregard, 1890 and N. violacea Beauregard, 1890) and one for E. dugesi (Epicauta tamara Adams & Selander, 1979); we designate lectotype for Lytta koltzei var. minor Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 with the goal of resolving the taxonomic problem generated by the previous invalid designation of lectotype for L. k. var. cyanescens; and finally we consider Cissites maculata (Swederus, 1787) and Tetraonyx (Tetraonyx) bimaculatus (Klug, 1825) as species to be possibly excluded from the Mexican checklist.Este trabajo ha contado para su realización con los proyectos CGL2004-04680-C10-10/BOS y CGL2007-64621 del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, lo que nos ha facilitado el apoyo logístico necesario. La visita a la colección del Magyar Természettudomány Múzeum (HNHM) en Budapest ha sido financiada por el proyecto Synthesys «European Commission´s Research Infrastructure Action».Peer reviewe

Sobre la presència de Teucrium pumilum i Teucrium libanitis (Lamiaceae) a la província de València.

12p. fotog.color.[EN] About the presence of Teucrium pumilum and Teucrium libanitis (Lamiaceae) in the Valencian province, Spain.- Teucrium pumilum and T. libanitis have been cited from Valencia province (Spain) since the middle of the XXth Century from the gypsic soils in the Valle de Ayora-Cofrentes shire. The analysis of specimens and labels is not conclusive; no specimen would certify the presence of any of these taxa. The field identification and their inclusion in a phyotosociological table (relevé) by Rivas Goday are the only basis of their presence in the territory in a particular moment of the recent Spanish botanical history. Additionally, the unique herbarium specimen from Valencia, impossible to assign a concrete geographic locality, which was traditionally assigned to T. pumilum by some authors, is actually its congeneric T. carolipaui.[ES] Sobre la presencia de Teucrium pumilum y Teucrium libanitis (Lamiaceae) en la provincia de Valencia.- Teucrium pumilum y T. libanitis son dos especies que han sido citadas como presentes en la provincia de Valencia desde mediados del siglo XX, para los yesos que afloran en la comarca del Valle de Ayora-Cofrentes. El análisis de las etiquetas de los pliegos de los herbarios no es concluyente; ningún pliego testigo certificaría la presencia de estas especies. La determinación de visu por parte de Rivas Goday, y su inclusión en una tabla de inventarios fitosociológica, son el único fundamento de su existencia en la zona en algún momento determinado de la reciente historia botánica española. Además, para T. pumilum, el pliego de herbario que tradicionalmente se ha asignado a la cita valenciana se trata de una confusión en la determinación por parte de algunos autores con su congénere T. carolipaui, siendo imposible al mismo tiempo asignar una localidad geográfica concreta a este material.[CAT] Sobre la presència de Teucrium pumilum i Teucrium libanitis (Lamiaceae) a la província de València.- Teucrium pumilum i T. libanitis són dues espècies que han estat citades com a presents a la província de València des de mitjans del segle XX, sobre els guixos que afloren a la comarca de la Vall d’Aiora-Cofrents. L’anàlisi de les etiquetes dels plecs dels herbaris no és concloent; cap plec testimoni certificaria la presència d’aquestes espècies. La determinació de visu per part de Rivas Goday, i la seva inclusió en una taula d’inventaris fitosociològica, són l’únic fonament de la seva existència a la zona en un moment determinat de la recent història botànica espanyola. A més, per a T. pumilum, el plec d’herbari que tradicionalment s’ ha assignat a la cita valenciana es tracta d’una confusió en la determinació per part d’alguns autors amb el seu congènere.Peer reviewe

Разработка устройства сканирования пучков используемых для производства изотопов

Expression of the C(4)-specific phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (C(4)-PEPC) gene in maize (Zea mays) is regulated in a tissue-specific manner, but affected by light and nutrient availability. We manipulated these stimuli in a combinatorial manner and analyzed concomitant changes in histone acetylation of the nucleosomes associated with the C(4)-PEPC gene in relation to transcriptional activity and steady-state mRNA levels. Whereas the transition from the lowest activity to an intermediate activity was observed in the absence of histone acetylation, the light-induced boost to full activity was associated with strong enhancement of the acetylation of both histones H3 and H4 limited to the gene region. Once activated by light, prolonged darkness was necessary to reduce both transcription and, in parallel, histone acetylation. Unexpectedly, histone acetylation was also induced in bundle sheath cells, although the transcriptional activity did not respond to illumination in this tissue. Furthermore, we were able to down-regulate the promoter by nitrogen depletion in the light without any decrease in the hyperacetylation of histone H4. When plants kept in prolonged darkness were nitrogen depleted and then exposed to light, transcription was not induced, but the promoter chromatin became hyperacetylated. We suggest a model where inhibition of a histone deacetylase in the light triggers H4 hyperacetylation at the C(4)-PEPC gene promoter regardless of the transcriptional activity of the gene. Our data indicate that an understanding of the interplay between histone modification and transcription requires analysis of signal integration on promoters in vivo

Molecular and functional differentiation of murine macrophage subtypes

Macrophages can be differentiated ex vivo from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells, so-called bone marrow derived macrophages (BM macrophages), but also from embryonic stem cells resembling the embryonic/fetal development of macrophages, so-called ES macrophages. I hypothesized, that ES macrophages may represent a source of naïve macrophages resembling the embryonic macrophage subtype, which should be non-inflammatory, highly proficient in apoptotic cell clearing and tissue remodeling, and should facilitate scar-free wound healing. In contrast, BM macrophages are thought to represent a macrophage subtype predominantly mediating inflammation related immune responses and antigen presentation. ES macrophages were to be molecularly and functionally characterized in vitro in comparison to BM macrophages. To this end, I employed genome wide expression profiling, activation profiling, surface marker profiling, and functional assays testing endocytosis, adhesion, antigen presentation, and cell migration. Surface marker profiling and gene expression analysis revealed similar expression of the macrophage specific markers CD14, CD115, F4/80, and CD68 in BM and ES macrophages. In contrast, the two macrophage subtypes differed in the expression of the receptor repertoire involved in endocytosis of foreign body particles, calciprotein particles and apoptotic cells. This involved Toll-like receptors 4 and 6 and macrophage scavenger receptor 2, and resulted in higher clearing capacity in BM macrophages in comparison to ES macrophages. Developmental profiling revealed that ES macrophages resembled a liver hematopoietic embryonic or an adult macrophage subtype. Both macrophage subtypes were classified as resident macrophages that could be differentiated into prefusion osteoclasts, and showed differential activation properties concerning the classical and alternative activation pathway. BM macrophages were more sensitive to pro-inflammatory stimuli (classical activation), whereas ES macrophages showed stronger reaction to alternative activation and deactivation stimuli. Gene expression analysis revealed IL-1 and IL-3-dependent differential expression of coagulation factors and MHC I and II molecules in BM and ES macrophages, but an inductor-independent up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression in the latter macrophage subtype. Functional analysis revealed that BM macrophages had a higher and more prolonged cross-presentation capacity in comparison to ES macrophages, whereas ES macrophages showed higher proteolytic activity in cell culture supernatant. The differential expression of integrins was associated with a higher adherence capacity of ES macrophages, e.g. on laminin and collagen types I and III. The transmigration properties of the two macrophage subtypes showed the complex network of the interplay between MMP secretion and integrin adhesion and was influenced by the interaction potential of the two macrophage subtypes with the endothelial monolayer. Macrophages are key players during all phases of wound healing, strongly associated with the severity of inflammation and the level of scar formation. Investigation of the influence of the two macrophage subtypes on wound healing in an in vivo-tail wound model showed diminished wound contraction, delayed eschar shedding and delayed wound closure in both macrophage-treated wound types compared to cell-free treated control wounds. Furthermore, macrophage-treatment of wounds resulted in prolonged neutrophil influx and prolonged inflammatory response. ES macrophage-treatment resulted in a higher cellularity of the wound after complete wound closure, mainly caused by fibroblast accumulation. These findings confirmed the hypothesis that BM macrophages resemble a macrophage subtype predominantly mediating inflammation related immune responses and tissue homeostatis, thus classified as M1 macrophage according to Mantovani and colleagues (Mantovani et al. 2004). My original hypothesis held that ES macrophages should be non-inflammatory and predominantly involved in apoptotic cell clearing and tissue remodeling, resembling an embryonic/fetal macrophage subtypes, thus probably mediating scar-free healing. Contrary to this hypothesis, the present study showed that ES macrophages efficiently mediated inflammation related processes, showed less clearing capacity and were associated with fibroblast accumulation in tail wounds after complete re-epithelialization, eventually resulting in fibrosis. Consistent with the activation profiles, ES macrophages thus do not constitute an embryonic/fetal, but rather an alternatively activated macrophage subtype of the M2 type according to current classification criteria (Mantovani et al. 2004)

Molecular and functional differentiation of murine macrophage subtypes

Macrophages can be differentiated ex vivo from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells, so-called bone marrow derived macrophages (BM macrophages), but also from embryonic stem cells resembling the embryonic/fetal development of macrophages, so-called ES macrophages. I hypothesized, that ES macrophages may represent a source of naïve macrophages resembling the embryonic macrophage subtype, which should be non-inflammatory, highly proficient in apoptotic cell clearing and tissue remodeling, and should facilitate scar-free wound healing. In contrast, BM macrophages are thought to represent a macrophage subtype predominantly mediating inflammation related immune responses and antigen presentation. ES macrophages were to be molecularly and functionally characterized in vitro in comparison to BM macrophages. To this end, I employed genome wide expression profiling, activation profiling, surface marker profiling, and functional assays testing endocytosis, adhesion, antigen presentation, and cell migration. Surface marker profiling and gene expression analysis revealed similar expression of the macrophage specific markers CD14, CD115, F4/80, and CD68 in BM and ES macrophages. In contrast, the two macrophage subtypes differed in the expression of the receptor repertoire involved in endocytosis of foreign body particles, calciprotein particles and apoptotic cells. This involved Toll-like receptors 4 and 6 and macrophage scavenger receptor 2, and resulted in higher clearing capacity in BM macrophages in comparison to ES macrophages. Developmental profiling revealed that ES macrophages resembled a liver hematopoietic embryonic or an adult macrophage subtype. Both macrophage subtypes were classified as resident macrophages that could be differentiated into prefusion osteoclasts, and showed differential activation properties concerning the classical and alternative activation pathway. BM macrophages were more sensitive to pro-inflammatory stimuli (classical activation), whereas ES macrophages showed stronger reaction to alternative activation and deactivation stimuli. Gene expression analysis revealed IL-1 and IL-3-dependent differential expression of coagulation factors and MHC I and II molecules in BM and ES macrophages, but an inductor-independent up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression in the latter macrophage subtype. Functional analysis revealed that BM macrophages had a higher and more prolonged cross-presentation capacity in comparison to ES macrophages, whereas ES macrophages showed higher proteolytic activity in cell culture supernatant. The differential expression of integrins was associated with a higher adherence capacity of ES macrophages, e.g. on laminin and collagen types I and III. The transmigration properties of the two macrophage subtypes showed the complex network of the interplay between MMP secretion and integrin adhesion and was influenced by the interaction potential of the two macrophage subtypes with the endothelial monolayer. Macrophages are key players during all phases of wound healing, strongly associated with the severity of inflammation and the level of scar formation. Investigation of the influence of the two macrophage subtypes on wound healing in an in vivo-tail wound model showed diminished wound contraction, delayed eschar shedding and delayed wound closure in both macrophage-treated wound types compared to cell-free treated control wounds. Furthermore, macrophage-treatment of wounds resulted in prolonged neutrophil influx and prolonged inflammatory response. ES macrophage-treatment resulted in a higher cellularity of the wound after complete wound closure, mainly caused by fibroblast accumulation. These findings confirmed the hypothesis that BM macrophages resemble a macrophage subtype predominantly mediating inflammation related immune responses and tissue homeostatis, thus classified as M1 macrophage according to Mantovani and colleagues (Mantovani et al. 2004). My original hypothesis held that ES macrophages should be non-inflammatory and predominantly involved in apoptotic cell clearing and tissue remodeling, resembling an embryonic/fetal macrophage subtypes, thus probably mediating scar-free healing. Contrary to this hypothesis, the present study showed that ES macrophages efficiently mediated inflammation related processes, showed less clearing capacity and were associated with fibroblast accumulation in tail wounds after complete re-epithelialization, eventually resulting in fibrosis. Consistent with the activation profiles, ES macrophages thus do not constitute an embryonic/fetal, but rather an alternatively activated macrophage subtype of the M2 type according to current classification criteria (Mantovani et al. 2004)

Considerations on inhibition approaches for proinflammatory functions of ADAM proteases

Proteases of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family mediate the proteolytic shedding of various surface molecules including cytokine precursors, adhesion molecules, growth factors, and receptors. Within the vasculature ADAM10 and ADAM17 regulate endothelial permeability, transendothelial leukocyte migration, and the adhesion of leukocytes and platelets. In vivo studies show that both proteases are implicated in several inflammatory pathologies, for example, edema formation, leukocyte infiltration, and thrombosis. However, both proteases also contribute to developmental and regenerative processes. Thus, although ADAMs can be regarded as valuable drug targets in many aspects, the danger of severe side effects is clearly visible. To circumvent these side effects, traditional inhibition approaches have to be improved to target ADAMs at the right time in the right place. Moreover, the inhibitors need to be more selective for the target protease and if possible also for the substrate. Antibodies recognizing the active conformation of ADAMs or small molecules blocking exosites of ADAM proteases may represent inhibitors with the desired selectivities