Experimental hybridization and reproductive isolation between two sympatric species of tephritid fruit flies in the Anastrepha fraterculus species group

Among tephritid fruit flies, hybridzation has been found to produce local adaptationand speciation, and in the case of pest species, induce behavioral and ecological alterations that can adversely impact efficient pest management. The fraterculus species group within Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a rapidly radiating aggregate, which includes cryptic species complexes, numerous sister species, and several pest species. Molecular studies have highlighted the possibility of introgression between A. fraterculus and A. obliqua. Reproductive isolation has been studied among morphotypes of the A. fraterculus species complex as a tool for species delimitation. Here we examined the existence and strength ofprezygotic and postzygotic isolation between sympatric populations of two closely related species within the highly derived fraterculus group (A. fraterculus and A. obliqua), coexisting in nature. Although adults of both species showed a strong tendency for assortative mating, a small proportion of hybrid pairings in both directions were observed. We also observed asymetric postzygotic isolation, with one hybrid cross displaying a strong reduction in fecundity and F1 egg fertility. Survival was greater for the progeny of homotypic and hybrid crosses in the maternal host. There was a marked female biased sex ratio distortion for both F1 hybrid adults. Hybridization between A. fraterculus and A. obliqua in nature may be difficult but possible; these two species display stronger reproductive isolation than all pairsof species previously examined in the A. fraterculus species complex. Asymetric postzygotic isolation is suggestive of Wolbachia mediated cytoplasmic incompatibilities that may be exploited in area-wide pest management.Fil: Rull Gabayet, Juan Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiologicos; ArgentinaFil: Tadeo, Eduardo. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Lasa, Rodrigo. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Rodríguez, Christian L.. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Altuzar Molina, Alma. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; MéxicoFil: Aluja, Martín. Instituto de Ecología A. C. . Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores; Méxic

Characterization of the microbiota associated to Pecten maximus gonads using 454-pyrosequencing

A next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach was used to study the microbiota associated to Pecten maximus broodstock, applying pyrosequencing of PCR-amplified V1-V4 16S rRNA gene regions. We analysed the resident bacterial communities in female and male scallop gonads before and after spawning. DNA samples were amplified and quality-filtered reads were assigned to family and genus taxonomic levels using the Ribosomal Database Project classifier. A total of 18,520 sequences were detected, belonging to 13 phyla, including Proteobacteria (55%), Bacteroidetes (11,7%), Firmicutes (3%), Actinobacteria (2%) and Spirochaetes (1,2%), and 110 genera. The major fraction of the sequences detected corresponded to Proteobacteria, Beta- and Gammaprotebacteria being the most abundant classes. The microbiota of P. maximus gonad harbour a wide diversity, however differences on male and female samples were observed, where female gonad samples show a larger number of genera and families. The dominant bacterial genera appeared to be Delftia, Acinetobacter, Hydrotalea, Aquabacterium, Bacillus, Sediminibacterium, Sphingomonas, and Pseudomonas that were present among the four analysed samples. This next generation sequencing technique, applied for the first time in P. maximus (great scallop) gonads was useful for the study of the bacterial communities in this mollusc, unravelling the great bacterial diversity in its microbiota. [Int Microbiol 19(2): 93-99(2016)]Keywords: Pecten maximus · gonads microbiota · next-generation sequencing (NGS) · molluscs pathogens · aquacultur

The role of ArlRS and VraSR in regulating ceftaroline hypersusceptibility in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are a global health problem. New control strategies, including fifth-generation cephalosporins such as ceftaroline, have been developed, however rare sporadic resistance has been reported. Our study aimed to determine whether disruption of two-component environmental signal systems detectably led to enhanced susceptibility to ceftaroline in S. aureus CA-MRSA strain MW2 at sub-MIC concentrations where cells normally continue to grow. A collection of sequential mutants in all fifteen S. aureus non-essential two-component systems (TCS) was first screened for ceftaroline sub-MIC susceptibility, using the spot population analysis profile method. We discovered a role for both ArlRS and VraSR TCS as determinants responsible for MW2 survival in the presence of sub-MIC ceftaroline. Subsequent analysis showed that dual disruption of both arlRS and vraSR resulted in a very strong ceftaroline hypersensitivity phenotype. Genetic complementation analysis confirmed these results and further revealed that arlRS and vraSR likely regulate some common pathway(s) yet to be determined. Our study shows that S. aureus uses particular TCS environmental sensing systems for this type of defense and illustrates the proof of principle that if these TCS were inhibited, the efficacy of certain antibiotics might be considerably enhanced.This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation grants (AR 310030-169404), (WLK 10030-146540 and 10030-192784). MV was supported by FNS (Fonds National Suisse) through project funding 10030-146540. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and interpretation or the decision to submit the work for publication

Ready-to-use silkworm sericin: finding the best starting point

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impacto del proceso de enseñanza endoscópica en la detección de adenomas colónicos

ResumenAntecedentesEl impacto que el proceso de entrenamiento endoscópico ejerce sobre la calidad de la colonoscopia en un medio hispanoamericano es escasa.ObjetivoDeterminar el efecto del entrenamiento en la técnica de colonoscopia sobre la detección de adenomas.Materiales y métodosEntre julio del 2012 y julio del 2013, 3 médicos recibieron entrenamiento en colonoscopia por parte de 4 endoscopistas experimentados; Las colonoscopias realizadas por endoscopistas en entrenamiento supervisados fueron comparadas con aquellas realizadas por endoscopistas experimentados.ResultadosSe incluyeron 318 colonoscopias realizadas por alguno de los 3 endoscopistas en entrenamiento bajo supervisión y 367 realizadas por alguno de los endoscopistas entrenados. El análisis univariado mostró una diferencia no significativa en la tasa de detección de adenomas (30.4 vs. 24.7%; p = 0.09). En el análisis multivariado, la tasa de detección de adenomas fue significativamente mayor en las colonoscopias realizadas por alguno de los 3 endoscopistas en entrenamiento (odds ratio = 1.72 [1.19-2.48]).ConclusiónEl involucramiento de endoscopistas en formación tiene un efecto positivo sobre la detección de adenomas.AbstractBackgroundThere has been little reported experience in the Latin American hospital setting in relation to the impact of the endoscopic training process on colonoscopy quality.AimsTo determine the effect that training in the technique of colonoscopy has on adenoma detection in an Argentinian teaching hospital.Material and methodWithin the time frame of July 2012 and July 2013, 3 physicians received training in colonoscopy from 4 experienced endoscopists. The colonoscopies performed by the supervised trainees were compared with those carried out by the experienced endoscopists.ResultsA total of 318 colonoscopies performed by any one of the 3 supervised trainees and 367 carried out by any one of the experienced endoscopists were included. The univariate analysis showed a non-significant difference in the detection rate of adenomas (30.4 vs. 24.7%, P=.09). In the multivariate analysis, the detection rate of adenomas was significantly higher in the colonoscopies performed by one of the 3 trainees (odds ratio = 1.72 [1.19-2.48]).ConclusionsThe supervised involvement of endoscopic trainees has a positive effect on adenoma detection

Is Social Media a New Type of Social Support? Social Media Use in Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study

This study examines Spanish adults’ social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic using mixed-methods to assess and understand frequency, context, and changes in social media use during two critical time points in Spain. We conducted semi-structured interviews in April 2020, and two waves of surveys (April 2020, April 2021) among Spanish adults. We coded and analyzed qualitative data related to social media use during the first lockdown period in Spain using Dedoose software; and ran descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess changes in social media use over the two survey waves related to perceived social support and loneliness. Participants ranged in age from 18–92 and were representative of the Spanish population’s sociodemographics. Interview data show that WhatsApp was most commonly used, and that social media allowed for social support and engaging in healthy behaviors. Survey data show that women and individuals aged 18–34 had the greatest increases in social media use. Statistically significant associations were found between social support and loneliness with social media use. Our results show that promoting social media use as an emotional resource for social support in times of crisis or isolation can minimize loneliness and can be a beneficial tool for general worldwide crises.This research was supported by pilot grant funding from the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) at University of Connecticut

Overview of the JET results in support to ITER

The 2014-2016 JET results are reviewed in the light of their significance for optimising the ITER research plan for the active and non-active operation. More than 60 h of plasma operation with ITER first wall materials successfully took place since its installation in 2011. New multi-machine scaling of the type I-ELM divertor energy flux density to ITER is supported by first principle modelling. ITER relevant disruption experiments and first principle modelling are reported with a set of three disruption mitigation valves mimicking the ITER setup. Insights of the L-H power threshold in Deuterium and Hydrogen are given, stressing the importance of the magnetic configurations and the recent measurements of fine-scale structures in the edge radial electric. Dimensionless scans of the core and pedestal confinement provide new information to elucidate the importance of the first wall material on the fusion performance. H-mode plasmas at ITER triangularity (H = 1 at beta(N) similar to 1.8 and n/n(GW) similar to 0.6) have been sustained at 2 MA during 5 s. The ITER neutronics codes have been validated on high performance experiments. Prospects for the coming D-T campaign and 14 MeV neutron calibration strategy are reviewed.Peer reviewe

Negotiating alternative femininities? Gender identity construction in female Basque pelota players

© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The aim of this paper is to explore how female players of Basque pelota (pelotaris) construct their gender identity in a traditionally masculine sport. The theory of performativity is used to understand how females negotiate, resist or challenge the dominant gender discourse. Data were collected through 10 in-depth interviews with players. Through inductive analysis we found that the sociocultural context surrounding Basque pelota reinforces the binary system of gender embodiment, which includes hegemonic masculinities and idealised femininities. However, our findings also suggest that whilst some players adhere to this dominant discourse, others actively resist and transgress it through the embodiment of alternative identities. In doing this, these players create new and inclusive identities, therefore escaping a simplistic binary and embracing a multiplicity of gender identities. As a result, they can become active agents in the promotion of equity in sport