A Chromosomal Inversion Unique to the Northern White-Cheeked Gibbon

The gibbon family belongs to the superfamily Hominoidea and includes 15 species divided into four genera. Each genus possesses a distinct karyotype with chromosome numbers varying from 38 to 52. This diversity is the result of numerous chromosomal changes that have accumulated during the evolution of the gibbon lineage, a quite unique feature in comparison with other hominoids and most of the other primates. Some gibbon species and subspecies rank among the most endangered primates in the world. Breeding programs can be extremely challenging and hybridization plays an important role within the factors responsible for the decline of captive gibbons. With less than 500 individuals left in the wild, the northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys leucogenys, NLE) is the most endangered primate in a successful captive breeding program. We present here the analysis of an inversion that we show being specific for the northern white-cheeked gibbon and can be used as one of the criteria to distinguish this subspecies from other gibbon taxa. The availability of the sequence spanning for one of the breakpoints of the inversion allows detecting it by a simple PCR test also on low quality DNA. Our results demonstrate the important role of genomics in providing tools for conservation efforts

Travelers With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Cured Without Systemic Therapy

Guidelines recommend wound care and/or local therapy as first-line treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. An analysis of a referral treatment program in 135 travelers showed that this approach was feasible in 62% of patients, with positive outcome in 83% of evaluable patient

Investigation on AlN epitaxial growth and related etching phenomenon at high temperature using high temperature chemical vapor deposition process.

International audienceThick MN layers were grown by high temperature chemical vapor deposition (HTCVD) on 8 degrees off-axis (0 0 0 1) 4H-SiC, on-axis (0 0 0 1) 6H-SiC and on-axis (0 0 0 1) AlN templates between 900 degrees C and 1600 degrees C. The experimental set-up consists of a vertical cold-wall reactor working at low pressure in which the reactions take place on a graphite susceptor heated by induction. The reactants used are ammonia (NH(3)) and aluminum chlorides (AlCl(x)) species in situ formed via Cl(2) reaction with high purity aluminum wire. As-grown AlN layers have been characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Optical Profilometry, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy. In this study, the influence of the deposition temperature and the N/Al ratio in the gas phase is studied in order to stabilize epitaxial growth. The epitaxy on AlN template is favored using a low N/Al ratio in the gas phase and a high temperature above 1400 degrees C. The crystalline quality of epitaxial AlN layers is found to increase with increasing deposition temperature from 1400 to 1500 degrees C. Growth rates up to 14 mu m h(-1) have been reached for epitaxial AlN layers. An important etching phenomenon is also observed at high temperature: apparition of pin holes certainly around threading dislocations at 1400-1500 degrees C and substrate etching at 1600 degrees C. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Mycobacterium pinnipedii: Transmission from South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) to Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus bactrianus) and Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus)

Tuberculosis infections caused by Mycobacterium (M.) pinnipedii in a South American sea lion, Bactrian camel, and Malayan tapirs kept in two zoological gardens spanning a time period of 5 years are reported. The zoos were linked by the transfer of one tapir. Conventional bacteriological and molecular methods were applied to detect the pathogen. Spoligotyping and MIRU/VNTR-typing performed to assess the genetic similarity revealed identical molecular characteristics of the isolates from all animals involved. Anti-tuberculosis antibodies were detected using ELISA and a recently developed serological rapid test. The study shows that: (i) using molecular methods, the assessment of the genetic relationship of infectious agents helps to confirm the routes of infection, and that (ii) immunological tests may help to detect tuberculosis infections ante mortem more reliably and early. This would prevent the transfer of tuberculosis by asymptomatic animals