Application of reverse vaccinology for the identification of epitope candidates from Rickettsia rickettsii

Rocky mountain spotted fever is a severe disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii that frequently causes the death of the patients. As there are not effective vaccines for this disease, we employed reverse vaccinology to find epitope candidates useful for vaccine development. To apply this bioinformatics, we used the following online software: ProPred1, RANKPEP, and HLA binding, to evaluate 143 amino acid sequences in the genome of Rickettsia rickettsii (NC_009882 Sheila Smith). This strategy allowed us to identify 19 epitope sequences with affinity to HLA I alleles: A0201, A24; HLA-B: B3501, B3901

Application of reverse vaccinology for the identification of epitope candidates from Rickettsia rickettsii

643-647Rocky mountain spotted fever is a severe disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii that frequently causes the death of the patients. As there are not effective vaccines for this disease, we employed reverse vaccinology to find epitope candidates useful for vaccine development. To apply this bioinformatics, we used the following online software: ProPred1, RANKPEP, and HLA binding, to evaluate 143 amino acid sequences in the genome of Rickettsia rickettsii (NC_009882 Sheila Smith). This strategy allowed us to identify 19 epitope sequences with affinity to HLA I alleles: A0201, A24; HLA-B: B3501, B3901

Impact of landscape configuration and composition on pollinator communities across different European biogeographic regions

IntroductionHeterogeneity in composition and spatial configuration of landscape elements support diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects, but this is likely dependent on taxonomic group, spatial scale, weather and climatic conditions, and is particularly impacted by agricultural intensification. Here, we analyzed the impacts of both aspects of landscape heterogeneity and the role of climatic and weather conditions on pollinating insect communities in two economically important mass-flowering crops across Europe. MethodsUsing a standardized approach, we collected data on the abundance of five insect groups (honey bees, bumble bees, other bees, hover flies and butterflies) in eight oilseed rape and eight apple orchard sites (in crops and adjacent crop margins), across eight European countries (128 sites in total) encompassing four biogeographic regions, and quantified habitat heterogeneity by calculating relevant landscape metrics for composition (proportion and diversity of land-use types) and configuration (the aggregation and isolation of land-use patches). ResultsWe found that flower-visiting insects responded to landscape and climate parameters in taxon- and crop-specific ways. For example, landscape diversity was positively correlated with honey bee and solitary bee abundance in oilseed rape fields, and hover fly abundance in apple orchards. In apple sites, the total abundance of all pollinators, and particularly bumble bees and solitary bees, decreased with an increasing proportion of orchards in the surrounding landscape. In oilseed rape sites, less-intensively managed habitats (i.e., woodland, grassland, meadows, and hedgerows) positively influenced all pollinators, particularly bumble bees and butterflies. Additionally, our data showed that daily and annual temperature, as well as annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality, affects the abundance of flower-visiting insects, although, again, these impacts appeared to be taxon- or crop-specific. DiscussionThus, in the context of global change, our findings emphasize the importance of understanding the role of taxon-specific responses to both changes in land use and climate, to ensure continued delivery of pollination services to pollinator-dependent crops

Impact of landscape configuration and composition on pollinator communities across different European biogeographic regions

Introduction: Heterogeneity in composition and spatial configuration of landscape elements support diversity and abundance of flower-visiting insects, but this is likely dependent on taxonomic group, spatial scale, weather and climatic conditions, and is particularly impacted by agricultural intensification. Here, we analyzed the impacts of both aspects of landscape heterogeneity and the role of climatic and weather conditions on pollinating insect communities in two economically important mass-flowering crops across Europe. Methods: Using a standardized approach, we collected data on the abundance of five insect groups (honey bees, bumble bees, other bees, hover flies and butterflies) in eight oilseed rape and eight apple orchard sites (in crops and adjacent crop margins), across eight European countries (128 sites in total) encompassing four biogeographic regions, and quantified habitat heterogeneity by calculating relevant landscape metrics for composition (proportion and diversity of land-use types) and configuration (the aggregation and isolation of land-use patches). Results: We found that flower-visiting insects responded to landscape and climate parameters in taxon- and crop-specific ways. For example, landscape diversity was positively correlated with honey bee and solitary bee abundance in oilseed rape fields, and hover fly abundance in apple orchards. In apple sites, the total abundance of all pollinators, and particularly bumble bees and solitary bees, decreased with an increasing proportion of orchards in the surrounding landscape. In oilseed rape sites, less-intensively managed habitats (i.e., woodland, grassland, meadows, and hedgerows) positively influenced all pollinators, particularly bumble bees and butterflies. Additionally, our data showed that daily and annual temperature, as well as annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality, affects the abundance of flower-visiting insects, although, again, these impacts appeared to be taxon- or crop-specific. Discussion: Thus, in the context of global change, our findings emphasize the importance of understanding the role of taxon-specific responses to both changes in land use and climate, to ensure continued delivery of pollination services to pollinator-dependent crops

La Red Internacional de Inventarios Forestales (BIOTREE-NET) en Mesoamérica: avances, retos y perspectivas futuras

Conservation efforts in Neotropical regions are often hindered by lack of data, since for many species there is a vacuum of information, and many species have not even been described yet. The International Network of Forest Inventory Plots (BIOTREE-NET) gathers and facilitates access to tree data from forest inventory plots in Mesoamerica, while encouraging data exchange between researchers, managers and conservationists. The information is organised and standardised into a single database that includes spatially explicit data. This article describes the scope and objectives of the network, its progress, and the challenges and future perspectives. The database includes above 50000 tree records of over 5000 species from more than 2000 plots distributed from southern Mexico through to Panama. Information is heterogeneous, both in nature and shape, as well as in the geographical coverage of inventory plots. The database has a relational structure, with 12 inter-connected tables that include information about plots, species names, dbh, and functional attributes of trees. A new system that corrects typographical errors and achieves taxonomic and nomenclatural standardization was developed using The Plant List (http://theplantlist.org/) as reference. Species distribution models have been computed for around 1700 species using different methods, and they will be publicly accessible through the web site in the future (http://portal.biotreenet.com). Although BIOTREE-NET has contributed to the development of improved species distribution models, its main potential lies, in our opinion, in studies at the community level. Finally, we emphasise the need to expand the network and encourage researchers willing to share data and to join the network and contribute to the generation of further knowledge about forest biodiversity in Neotropical regions

Fecundity and morphological description of the eggs of Psorophora cyanescens (Coquillett, 1902) (Diptera: Culicidae) by scanning electron microscopy

Taxonomic studies on mosquitoes are based on the morphological description of larvae and adults. However, few studies have focused on the morphological description of eggs despite their taxonomic value. The description of mosquito eggs by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allows more detailed descriptions of the ornamentation of the egg, which can provide diagnostic characters of the species. The objective of the work was to describe the eggs of Psorophora cyanescens by SEM and provide fecundity data for the species. In general, Ps. cyanescens eggs are elliptical and very wide. The exochorion is characterized by polygon pattern, where each polygon consists of longitudinal ridges joined by cross-ridges defining regular "hexagonal" areas. Each longitudinal ridge consisting by a small tubercle. The small tubercles are irregular, rectangular, rounded, or tubular. The ornamentation of the exochorion also has long and conical tubercles throughout the egg region. The micropylar apparatus located in the anterior region of the egg has a prominent, continuous and thickness collar. Psorophora cyanescens laid mature eggs at 2.5 days post-feeding. The mean number of eggs per female was 82.20 (± 13.31). This is the first study that describes the ultrastructure of the morphology of the eggs of Ps. cyanescens by SEM. With the contribution of the present work, there are five species of the genus Psorophora whose eggs morphology is described by SEM: Ps. albigenu, Ps. albipes, Ps. columbiae, Ps. cyanescens, and Ps. ferox.Los estudios taxonómicos sobre mosquitos se basan en la descripción morfológica de larvas y adultos. Sin embargo, son pocos los estudios enfocados en la descripción morfológica de los huevos a pesar de su valor taxonómico. La descripción de los huevos de mosquitos mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB) permite obtener imágenes más detalladas de la ornamentación del huevo, los cuales pueden proporcionar caracteres diagnósticos de la especie. El objetivo del trabajo fue describir los huevos de Psorophora cyanescens por MEB y proporcionar datos de fecundidad de la especie. En general, los huevos de Ps. cyanescens son de forma elíptica y muy anchos. El exocorión se caracteriza por un patrón de polígono, donde cada polígono consta de crestas longitudinales unidas por crestas cruzadas que definen áreas "hexagonales" regulares. Cada cresta longitudinal consiste en un pequeño tubérculo. Los pequeños tubérculos son irregulares, rectangulares, redondeados o tubulares. La ornamentación del exocorión también presenta largos tubérculos cónicos en toda la región del huevo. El aparato micropilar ubicado en la región anterior del huevo tiene un collar prominente, continuo y grueso. Psorophora cyanescens puso huevos maduros a los 2.5 días después de la alimentación sanguínea. El número promedio de huevos por hembra fue de 82.20 (± 13.31). Este es el primer estudio que describe la ultraestructura de la morfología de los huevos de Ps. cyanescens mediante MEB. Con el aporte del presente trabajo, son cinco las especies del género Psorophora que cuentan con la descripción de la morfología de los huevos mediante MEB: Ps. albigenu, Ps. albipes, Ps. columbiae, Ps. cyanescens, and Ps. ferox

Incorporating antenna detections into abundance estimates of fish

Autonomous passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag antennas are commonly used to detect fish marked with PIT tags but cannot detect unmarked fish, creating challenges for abundance estimation. Here we describe an approach to estimate abundance from paired physical capture and antenna detection data in closed and open mark-recapture models. Additionally, for open models, we develop an approach that incorporates uncertainty in fish size, because fish size changes through time (as fish grow bigger) but is unknown if fish are not physically captured (e.g., only detected on antennas). Incorporation of size uncertainty allows for estimation of size-specific abundances and demonstrates a generally useful method for obtaining state-specific abundances estimates under state uncertainty. Simulation studies comparing models with and without antenna detections illustrate that the benefit of our approach increases as a larger proportion of the population is marked. When applied to two field data sets, our approach to incorporating antenna detections reduced uncertainty in abundance substantially. We conclude that PIT antennas hold great potential for improving abundance estimation, despite the challenges they present.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Nutraceutical components, antioxidant activity and color of eleven varieties of prickly pear (<i>Opuntia</i> sp.)

In Mexico, there are 50 recorded varieties of the prickly pear fruit. National production covers only the white-pulp fruit, but other red varieties have export potential; however, their nutraceutical properties are unknown. The pulp and peel (underutilized tissue) of the pigmented fruits of the genus Opuntia sp. are marketed on a limited basis. They represent an alternative source of stable pigments (betalains), which are associated with antioxidant properties, for the agroindustry. The objective was to assess the content of nutraceutical components, antioxidant activity, and peel and pulp color of 11 varieties of the prickly pear fruit that are marketed on a small scale. Statistical analysis revealed that Roja Villanueva peel had the highest betalain content (39.97 mg 100 g-1 FW). Alteña Blanca peel demonstrated the highest concentration of phenolic compounds (618.39 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW), whereas Alteña Roja had the highest ascorbic acid content (37.14 mg AAE 100 g-1 FW). The greatest nutraceutical potential was observed in the pulp of the non-marketed Tzaponopal Rojo variety of the species O. robusta var. larreyi, due to the high antioxidant activity (0.0183 mg mL-1), as well as the darkest color (‹ hue value, 12.31) and the lowest lightness (‹ luminosity, 19.31), which coincides with the highest betalain concentration