Genetic confirmation of the first Mediterranean record of Holacanthus africanus Cadenat, 1951

The first Mediterranean record of the pomacanthid Holacanthus africanus, caught within the Maltese waters, was assigned based on morphological and meristic characters. However, molecular and genetic analyses are required to confirm the taxonomic determination and avoid misidentification given the abundance of closely-related Pomacanthidae species and the biogeographic significance of this record for the Mediterranean. At the species level, the analyzed specimens gave a 99.7% identity match with H. africanus. This study represents yet another example of molecular analyses supplementing the conclusions of conventional morphological identification exercises.peer-reviewe

Assessing worth of marine protected areas for the protection of threatened biodiversity using IUCN Red List and Red List Index. A pilot study in six mediterranean areas

Abstract The Mediterranean marine region is considered one of the world's biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities due the high occurrence of rare and threatened species, endemism and high species richness. However, several pressure such as losses and alterations of habitats are ongoing and in order to increase conservation in this sea region, many marine protected areas were established, including Natura 2000 sites. The latter are areas designated under the Habitat and Bird Directives for the conservation of species in need of strict protection, so that they can reach a favourable conservation status. Species conservation status is also assessed through the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. The aim of our study was to test whether IUCN Red List and the related Red List Index RLI (which aggregates in a single value all the information on conservation status of a particular set of species) can be used as a metrics to characterize MPAs, and orienting, consequently, local marine conservation policies. A pilot study was undertaken in the six Sicilian MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) and results highlighted that Egadi Island has a low RLI value (meaning that the MPA hosts many species with a threatened status) while the Capo Gallo MPA, at the opposite, as an high RLI value (i.e.less threatened species); the other four MPAs. Egadi, Pelagie, and Ustica showed similar distribution frequencies of Red List categories having similar RLI values. Biological resource use, natural system modifications, invasive species, and pollution all account for 90% of assessed threats. Outcomes of our study showed that IUCN indicators should be considered as a tool to: assess the conservation status of set of species in protected areas; drive prioritization in the decision process in order to support an effective management conservation plan; designate new MPAs

Yet another angelfish species for the Mediterranean - the first record of Holacanthus africanus Cadenat, 1951 from Maltese waters, Central Mediterranean

The first documented record of the Guinea angelfish, Holacanthus africanus, for the Mediterranean is hereby reported, through the capture of two individuals within Maltese coastal waters. The fish were submitted as a contribution to the Spot the Alien Fish citizen science campaign. Considerations are made on the possible introduction pathway used by the species to reach these waters, including the aquarium trade or association with a towed oil platform.peer-reviewe

Flavouring extra-virgin olive oil with aromatic and medicinal plants essential oils stabilizes oleic acid composition during photo-oxidative stress

Essential oils (EOs) from medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are well-known as natural antioxidants. Their addition to extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) can contribute to reducing fat oxidation. The main aim of this study was to improve both food shelf-life and aromatic flavour of EVOO, adding different EOs of Sicilian accessions of common sage, oregano, rosemary and thyme. The morphological and production characteristics of 40 accessions of MAPs were preliminarily assessed. EOs from the most promising accessions of MAPs were analysed by gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry. Photo-oxidative studies of the EOs were carried out and the determination of the EVOO fatty acids obtained from 4 Italian olive varieties was also made. EO content was on average 1.45% (v/w) for common sage, 3.97% for oregano, 1.42% for rosemary and 5.90% for thyme accessions. The highest average EO yield was found in thyme (172.70 kg ha1) whilst the lowest (9.30 kg ha1) in rosemary accessions. The chemical composition of EOs was very different in the four MAPs in the study. No significant change of oleic acid percentage was detected in the mixture of EVOO with EO samples. The results seem to highlight the presence of an antioxidant effect of EOs on EVOO

The nucleic acid-binding protein PcCNBP is transcriptionally regulated during the immune response in red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii

Gene family encoding cellular nucleic acid binding proteins (CNBP) is well conserved among vertebrates; however, there is limited knowledge in lower organisms. In this study, a CNBP homolog from the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii was characterised. The full-length cDNA of PcCNBP was of 1257 bp with a 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of 63 bp and a 3′-UTR of 331 bp with a poly (A) tail, and an open-reading frame (ORF) of 864 bp encoding a polypeptide of 287 amino acids with the predicted molecular weight of about 33 kDa. The predicted protein possesses 7 tandem repeats of 14 amino acids containing the CCHC zinc finger consensus sequence, two RGG-rich single-stranded RNA-binding domain and a nuclear localization signal, strongly suggesting that PcCNBP was a homolog of vertebrate CNBP. The PcCNBP transcript was constitutively expressed in all tested tissues of unchallenged crayfish, including hepatopancreas, gill, eyestalk, haemocytes, intestine, stomach and cuticle with highest expression in haemocytes, intestine, gills and hepatopancreas. The mRNA expression of PcCNBP in haemocytes was modulated at transcriptional level by different immune challenges, suggesting its involvement in the immune response of P. clarkii during both bacteria and viruses infection

Insulin-like Growth Factor II mRNA-Binding Protein 1 Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth through the Surveillance of CDC25A mRNA

: A number of data indicate that the sources of different kinds of PDAC may be discovered at the transcription/transduction stage. RNA metabolism is manipulated at various steps by different RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and the deregulation or irregular activity of RBPs is known to contribute to tumor promotion and progression. The insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein family (IMPs), and IMP1 in particular, has been linked with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients; however, little is known about its contribution in PDAC carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the function of IMP1 in PDAC. To evaluate IMP1 expression and correlation with PDAC prognosis, we utilized several public databases. Using a specific siRNA IMP1, we analyzed cell death and cell cycle progression in PDAC cell lines and 3D spheroids. the role of IMP1 was also evaluated in vivo in a panc-1-derived tumor xenograft murine model. Public data suggest that PDAC patients with higher expression of IMP1 showed poor overall and progression-free survival. IMP1 silencing leads to reduced cell growth in PDAC cells and three-dimensional spheroids. Abrogation of IMP1 in PDAC cells showed lower levels of CDC25A, increased phosphorylation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2, and accumulation of PDAC cells in the G1 phase. immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that IMP1 binds CDC25A mRNA, thus controlling cell-cycle progression. Ultimately, we proved that suppression of IMP1 blocked in vivo growth of Panc-1 transferred into immunodeficient mice. Our results indicate that IMP1 drives the PDCA cell cycle and represents a novel strategy for overcoming PDCA cell proliferation

Smad7 Sustains Stat3 Expression and Signaling in Colon Cancer Cells

: Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells contain elevated levels of active signal transducer and the activator of transcription (Stat)-3, which exerts proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects. Various molecules produced in the CRC tissue can activate Stat3, but the mechanisms that amplify such an activation are yet to be determined. In this paper, we assessed whether Smad7, an inhibitor of Transforiming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1 activity, sustains Stat3 expression/activation in CRC cells. Both Smad7 and phosphorylated (p)/activated-Stat3 were more expressed in the tumoral areas of CRC patients, compared to the normal adjacent colonic mucosa of the same patients, and were co-localized in primary CRC cells and CRC cell lines. The knockdown of Smad7 with a Smad7 antisense oligonucleotide (AS) reduced p-Stat3 in both unstimulated and interleukin (IL)-6- and IL-22-stimulated DLD-1 and HCT116 cells. Consistently, reduced levels of BCL-xL and survivin, two downstream signaling targets of Stat3 activation, were seen in Smad7 AS-treated cells. An analysis of the mechanisms underlying Smad7 AS-induced Stat3 inactivation revealed that Smad7 AS reduced Stat3 RNA and protein expression. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed the direct regulatory effect of Smad7 on the Stat3 promoter. RNA-sequencing data from the Tumor, Normal and Metastatic (TNM) plot database showed a positive correlation between Smad7 and Stat3 in 1450 CRC samples. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence supporting the theory that Smad7 positively regulates Stat3 function in CRC

DNA Barcoding as a tool for Zoological Taxonomy: Identification of bony fish in the Mediterranean Sea

The description of all the species present in nature is a vast task to be fulfilled by using the classical approach of morphological description of the organisms. In recent years, the traditional taxonomy, based primarily on identification keys of species, has shown a number of limitations in the use of the distinctive features in many animal taxa and inconsistencies with the genetic data. Furthermore, the increasing need to get a true estimate of biodiversity has led Zoological Taxonomy to seek new approaches and methodologies to support the traditional methods. The classification procedure has added modern criteriasuch as the evolutionary relationships and the genetic, biochemical and morphological characteristics of the organisms.Until now the Linnean binomial was the only abbreviated code associated with the description of the morphology of a species. The new technologies aim to achieve a short nucleotide sequence of the DNA to be used as an unique and solely label for a particular species, a specific genetic barcode. For both morphological and genetic approaches, skills and experience are required. Taxonomy is one of zoological disciplines that has been benefited from the achievements reached by modern molecular biotechnology. Using a molecular approach it is possible to identify cryptic species, to establish a family relationship between species and their membership of taxonomic categories or to reconstruct the evolutionary history of a taxon