Polyctenidae (Hemiptera: Cimicoidea) species in the Afrotropical region: Distribution, host specificity, and first insights to their molecular phylogeny

Polyctenidae bugs are rarely studied, hematophagous, and highly specialized ectoparasites of bats. There are only 32 described species worldwide, including six species in the Afrotropical region. Knowledge on these parasites is limited, and most studies are restricted to the New World polyctenid species. Here we report additional records of Adroctenes horvathi from Kenya and South Africa, as well as Hypoctenes faini from Rwanda. We present an updated list of published polyctenid records in the Afrotropical region indicating their host specificity and their geographical distribution. We report global infection patterns and sex ratio of polyctenids based on previously published data, including Old and New World species. Lastly, we demonstrate the first molecular phylogeny of Polyctenidae, showing their phylogenetic relationship with the closely related family Cimicidae

Development of Molecular Methods for Rapid Differentiation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Vaccine Strains from Field Isolates.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum is among the most economically significant mycoplasmas causing production losses in poultry. Seven melt-curve and agarose gel-based mismatch amplification mutation assays (MAMAs) and one PCR are provided in the present study to distinguish the M. gallisepticum vaccine strains and field isolates based on mutations in the crmA, gapA, lpd, plpA, potC, glpK, and hlp2 genes. A total of 239 samples (M. gallisepticum vaccine and type strains, pure cultures, and clinical samples) originating from 16 countries and from at least eight avian species were submitted to the presented assays for validation or in blind tests. A comparison of the data from 126 samples (including sequences available at GenBank) examined by the developed assays and a recently developed multilocus sequence typing assay showed congruent typing results. The sensitivity of the melt-MAMA assays varied between 101 and 104M. gallisepticum template copies/reaction, while that of the agarose-MAMAs ranged from 103 to 105 template copies/reaction, and no cross-reactions occurred with other Mycoplasma species colonizing birds. The presented assays are also suitable for discriminating multiple strains in a single sample. The developed assays enable the differentiation of live vaccine strains by targeting two or three markers/vaccine strain; however, considering the high variability of the species, the combined use of all assays is recommended. The suggested combination provides a reliable tool for routine diagnostics due to the sensitivity and specificity of the assays, and they can be performed directly on clinical samples and in laboratories with basic PCR equipment

The impact of DMARD and anti-TNF therapy on functional characterization of short-term T-cell activation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - A follow-up study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a systemic dysfunction of T-cells. In this study we tested the impact of DMARD and anti-TNF agents on short-term activation characteristics of T-cells. We enrolled 12 patients with newly diagnosed RA (naïve RA) who were treated with methothrexate (MTX) and glucocorticsteroid (GCS) and 22 patients with established RA non responding to conventional DMARD therapy who were treated with different anti-TNF agents. Nine healthy volunteers served as controls. Blood samples were taken at baseline, then at 4th and 8th week of therapy. The characteristics of several intracellular activation processes during short-term activation of T-cells including cytoplasmic Ca2+ level, mitochondrial Ca2+ level, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) generation were determined by a novel flow-cytometry technique. At baseline, the tested processes were comparable to controls in naïve RA. During GCS therapy, cytoplasmic Ca2+ level and ROS generation decreased. After the addition of MTX to GCS cytoplasmic Ca2+ level became comparable to controls, while ROS generation decreased further. In DMARD non responders, cytoplasmic Ca2+ level was higher than controls at baseline. The cytoplasmic Ca2+ level became comparable to controls and ROS generation decreased during each of the three anti-TNF-α agent therapies. Mitochondrial Ca2+ level and NO generation were unaltered in all of the patient groups. These results indicate that intracellular machinery is affected in T-cells of RA patients. This may alter the behavior of T-cells during activation. Different therapeutic approaches may modulate the abnormal T-cell functions. © 2014 Szalay et al

Ungulate browsing shapes climate change impacts on forest biodiversity in Hungary

Climate change can result in a slow disappearance of forests dominated by less drought-tolerant native European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and oak species (Quercus spp.) and further area expansion of more drought-tolerant non-native black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) against those species in Hungary. We assumed that the shift in plant species composition was modified by selective ungulate browsing. Thus, we investigated which woody species are selected by browsing game. We have collected data on the species composition of the understory and the browsing impact on it in five different Hungarian even-aged forests between 2003 and 2005. Based on these investigations the non-native Robinia pseudoacacialiving under more favourable climatic conditions was generally preferred (Jacobs’ selectivity index: D=0.04±0.77), while the nativeFagus sylvatica and Quercus spp. (Q. petraea, Q. robur), both more vulnerable to increasing aridity, were avoided (D=-0.37±0.11;-0.79±0.56;-0.9±0.16; respectively) among target tree species. However, economically less or not relevant species, e.g. elderberry (Sambucus spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.) or common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) were the most preferred species (D=0.01±0.71; -0.12±0.58; -0.2±0.78, respectively). Our results imply that biodiversity conservation, i.e. maintaining or establishing a multi-species understory layer, can be a good solution to reduce the additional negative game impact on native target tree species suffering from drought. Due to preference for Robinia pseudoacaciaselective browsing can decelerate the penetration of this species into native forest habitats. We have to consider the herbivorous pressure of ungulates and their feeding preferences in planning our future multifunctional forests in the light of climate change impacts

Effectiveness of the Gerundium Youth Educating Program in Hungary

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Patient Attitudes Toward Transplantation as Preferred Treatment Modality in Different Stages of Renal Disease

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Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events

Changing precipitation dynamics is one of the most important mechanisms that, by affecting the water regime, modifies the physical and chemical environment of aquatic assemblages. Thus, hydrological extremes can be considered as key drivers that shape algal assemblages and lead to diversity changes even in large rivers. Here, we investigated the long-term changes in the benthic diatom composition of the R´ aba River (River Raab), the watershed of which experienced continuous loss of precipitation in the last five years. We aim to answer the main question: Do one-off drought events and trend-like (continuous) precipitation decrease result in similar changes within diatom assemblages of this perennial river? Because, it has been already demonstrated that resilience and resistance of assemblages may vary depending on whether the drought occurs regularly or only occasionally. Our results demonstrated that one-off dry events hardly affected either assemblages’ composition or biodiversity. In contrast, continuously decreasing precipitation (drying period) had a pronounced effect on taxa and trait distribution and resulted in a significant decrease in taxonomic diversity and in functional richness. It is important to stress that the observed deteriorating diversity anticipates that a lasting drought period is likely to upset the ecological balance of the ecosystem and lead to remarkable natural damage. Since the climate scenarios project extremes in water regime in the near future, including longer periods of low precipitation, any knowledge that predicts changes in microflora can help to develop action plans by authorities to save lotic ecosystems