Bone-marrow derived cells do not contribute to new beta-cells in the inflamed pancreas

The contribution of bone-marrow derived cells (BMCs) to a newly formed beta-cell population in adults is controversial. Previous studies have only used models of bone marrow transplantation from sex-mismatched donors (or other models of genetic labeling) into recipient animals that had undergone irradiation. This approach suffers from the significant shortcoming of the off-target effects of irradiation. Partial pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) is a mouse model of acute pancreatitis with a modest increase in beta-cell number. However, the possibility that recruited BMCs in the inflamed pancreas may convert into beta-cells has not been examined. Here, we used an irradiation-free model to track the fate of the BMCs from the donor mice. A ROSA-mTmG red fluorescent mouse was surgically joined to an INS1Cre knock-in mouse by parabiosis to establish a mixed circulation. PDL was then performed in the INS1Cre mice 2 weeks after parabiosis, which was one week after establishment of the stable blood chimera. The contribution of red cells from ROSA-mTmG mice to beta-cells in INS1Cre mouse was evaluated based on red fluorescence, while cell fusion was evaluated by the presence of green fluorescence in beta-cells. We did not detect any red or green insulin+ cells in the INS1Cre mice, suggesting that there was no contribution of BMCs to the newly formed beta-cells, either by direct differentiation, or by cell fusion. Thus, the contribution of BMCs to beta-cells in the inflamed pancreas should be minimal, if any

TWO NEW SPECIES OF CEPHALINE GREGARINES (APICOMPLEXA : CEPHALINA) FROM COMMERCIAL MARINE PRAWNS

Two species of cephaline gregarines, Nematopsis dobsonin.sp. and N. kannurensis n.sp. infecting the marine prawns, Metapenaeus dobsoni and M. monoceros have been reported, respectively

Phylogenetic position of Pleurogenoides species (Plagiorchiida: Pleurogenidae) from the duodenum of Indian skipper frog, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Amphibia: Dicroglossidae) inhabiting the Western Ghats, India

Two species of digenetic trematodes of the genus Pleurogenoides viz., P. cyanophlyctiShinad & Prasadan (2018a) and P. euphlyctiShinad & Prasadan (2018b) have been described from India. Information regarding the molecular data of various species of the genus Pleurogenoides Travassos, 1921 is virtually lacking. This study addresses the application of molecular markers to validate the phylogenetic position of P. cyanophlycti and P. euphlycti. In the present study, two species P. cyanophlycti and P. euphlycti were collected between January 2016 to October 2017, infecting the freshwater frogs inhabiting the Western Ghats, India. In the present study, the two species were identifi ed morphologically and by PCR amplification of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene. Phylogenetic tree results clearly demonstrate that both P. cyanophlycti and P. euphlycti belongs to the family Pleurogenidae Looss, 1899. Based on these results, we presented and discussed the phylogenetic relationships of P. cyanophlycti and P. euphlycti within family Pleurogenidae from India. Phylogenetic analyses showed that P. cyanophlycti and P. euphlycti cluster according to their vertebrate host and revealed an important congruence between the phylogenetic trees of Pleurogenoides and of their vertebrate hosts. P. cyanophlycti and P. euphlycti clearly constitute a separate, sister branch with other species of the genera, Pleurogenoides, Pleurogenes (=Candidotrema), Prosotocus and Brandesia. The present study firstly provides important information about the molecular study and phylogenetic analysis of P. cyanophlycti and P. euphlycti. This study will also serve as a baseline for Pleurogenoides species identifi cation for further studies

Traditional fishing activities enhance the abundance of selected waterbird species in a wetland in India

Abstract Background Waterbirds are globally declining as a result of habitat loss, alteration or degradation. Fishing activities may affect waterbird distribution, abundance and diversity, and traditional fishing activities often enhance waterbird abundance. We tested this hypothesis by studying the abundance and diversity of selected common waterbird species in the Kadalundi–Vallikkunnu Community Reserve, a globally significant wetland in southwestern India in relation to fishing activities. Methods We monitored waterbird abundance four times a month from 2012 to 2015 using direct observation method during low tide. Traditional bamboo fish traps were deployed during the first and third weeks of each month. ANOVAs (one-way and multi-way) were used to examine how waterbird counts diversity varied in relation to years, seasons and period of fishing traps. Additionally we conducted a linear regression to examine the relationship between fish occurrence and waterbird counts and diversity. Results Waterbird counts varied with years and seasons, with the maximum counts being recorded during the post-monsoon (winter). Individual species varied in their responses to trap deployment. Small waterbird species usually forage in shallow shorelines, increased during trap deployment whereas the larger waterbirds were not affected by trap deployment because they tend to hunt in deeper waters. The total fish captured was an important predictor of both waterbird abundance and diversity. Conclusion In this study we documented a positive association between traditional fish trap deployment and waterbird counts and diversity. Providing high quality habitats for waterbirds as well as effective sustainable livelihoods through traditional fisheries is a critical management issue

Spider diversity (Arachnida; Araneae) in different plantations of Western Ghats, Wayanad region, India: spider diversity in Western Ghats, Wayanad

The study was conducted to explore the spider diversity in different plantations of Western Ghats Wayanad, Kerala state, India. The investigation was carried out for the period from February 2019 to February 2020. A total of 100 species belonging to 74 genera under 20 families were recorded from the selected habitats. This represents 51% families recorded from the Western Ghats, Kerala. The highest species richness was found in the coffee plantation (site A) with 56 species belonging to 12 families. The tea plantation (site B) recorded 27 species belonging to 11 families. The rubber plantation (site C) showed the lowest species richness with 17 species belonging to ten families. Guild structure analyses of the collected spiders revealed nine functional groups viz.., orb-web builders, stalkers, ambushers, cob-web builders, ground runners, foliage runners, tent web builders, sheet-web builders and funnel web builders. The pattern and the architecture of webs varied among different families. During the period of study, five different web patterns were recorded- orb web, tent web, cob web, sheet web and funnel web. It is concluded that the structure of the vegetation is expected to influence the diversity of spiders in different plantations

Placental growth factor in beta cells plays an essential role in gestational beta-cell growth

ObjectivePancreatic beta cells proliferate in response to metabolic requirements during pregnancy, while failure of this response may cause gestational diabetes. A member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family, placental growth factor (PlGF), typically plays a role in metabolic disorder and pathological circumstance. The expression and function of PlGF in the endocrine pancreas have not been reported and are addressed in the current study.Research design and methodsPlGF levels in beta cells were determined by immunostaining or ELISA in purified beta cells in non-pregnant and pregnant adult mice. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 8 carrying a shRNA for PlGF under the control of a rat insulin promoter (AAV–rat insulin promoter (RIP)–short hairpin small interfering RNA for PlGF (shPlGF)) was prepared and infused into mouse pancreas through the pancreatic duct to specifically knock down PlGF in beta cells, and its effects on beta-cell growth were determined by beta-cell proliferation, beta-cell mass and insulin release. A macrophage-depleting reagent, clodronate, was coapplied into AAV-treated mice to study crosstalk between beta cells and macrophages.ResultsPlGF is exclusively produced by beta cells in the adult mouse pancreas. Moreover, PlGF expression in beta cells was significantly increased during pregnancy. Intraductal infusion of AAV–RIP–shPlGF specifically knocked down PlGF in beta cells, resulting in compromised beta-cell proliferation, reduced growth in beta-cell mass and impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Mechanistically, PlGF depletion in beta cells reduced islet infiltration of trophic macrophages, which appeared to be essential for gestational beta-cell growth.ConclusionsOur study suggests that increased expression of PlGF in beta cells may trigger gestational beta-cell growth through recruited macrophages

Pancreatic duct cells as a source of VEGF in mice

Protostars and young stars are strongly spatially ‘clustered’ or ‘correlated’ within their natal giant molecular clouds. We demonstrate that such clustering leads to the conclusion that the incident bolometric radiative flux upon a random young star/disc is enhanced (relative to volume-averaged fluxes) by a factor that increases with the total stellar mass of the complex. Because the Galactic cloud mass function is top-heavy, the typical star in our Galaxy experienced a much stronger radiative environment than those forming in well-observed nearby (but relatively small) clouds, exceeding fluxes in the Orion Nebular Cluster by factors of ≳30. Heating of the circumstellar disc around a median young star is dominated by this external radiation beyond ∼50 au. And if discs are not well shielded by ambient dust, external ultraviolet irradiation can dominate over the host star down to sub-au scales. Another consequence of stellar clustering is an extremely broad Galaxy-wide distribution of incident flux (spanning >10 decades), with half the Galactic star formation in a substantial ‘tail’ towards even more intense background radiation. We also show that the strength of external irradiation is amplified superlinearly in high-density environments such as the Galactic Centre, starbursts, or high-redshift galaxies