113 research outputs found
Observations of Heterospecific Courtship Behaviour in an Isolated Population of Rossâs Gulls (Rhodostethia rosea)
Heterospecific sexual behaviour is notable because it should be strongly deterred by natural and sexual selection. Here we report observations of both male and female Rossâs Gulls (Rhodostethia rosea) routinely engaging in sexual displays directed towards other species during the breeding season at a small, remote colony in the Canadian High Arctic. We suggest that in small, reproductively isolated populations, directing stereotyped courtship displays towards heterospecific partners may allow individuals to advertise fitness and experience to both male and female conspecifics and also accelerate hormonal development and readiness to mate during the brief and unpredictable High Arctic breeding season.Le comportement sexuel hĂ©tĂ©rospĂ©cifique est remarquable, car celui-ci devrait ĂȘtre fortement dissuadĂ© par la sĂ©lection naturelle et sexuelle. Ici, nous faisons mention dâobservations de mouettes rosĂ©es mĂąles et femelles (Rhodostethia rosea) exhibant rĂ©guliĂšrement des comportements sexuels envers dâautres espĂšces pendant la saison de reproduction dans une petite colonie Ă©loignĂ©e de lâExtrĂȘme-Arctique canadien. Nous suggĂ©rons quâau sein des petites populations reproductivement isolĂ©es, le fait dâaxer la pariade stĂ©rĂ©otypĂ©e sur des partenaires hĂ©tĂ©rospĂ©cifiques pourrait permettre aux individus de faire Ă©tat de leur forme physique et de leur expĂ©rience Ă leurs congĂ©nĂšres mĂąles et femelles, en plus dâaccĂ©lĂ©rer le dĂ©veloppement hormonal et lâĂ©tat de prĂ©paration Ă lâaccouplement pendant la brĂšve saison imprĂ©visible de reproduction dans lâExtrĂȘme-Arctique
Breeding Habitats and New Breeding Locations for Rossâs Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) in the Canadian High Arctic
Published accounts list only four breeding sites for Rossâs gull (Rhodostethia rosea) in North America, but the discovery of additional breeding sites in Queenâs Channel, Nunavut, adds to growing evidence that this species is established as a regular breeder in the Canadian High Arctic despite its current status as a Threatened Species in Canada. We present nine breeding records of Rossâs gull in Canada. Five are from Queenâs Channel alone, and these include two new breeding records from 2011. The geographic proximity and similarity in topography, microhabitat, and interspecific nesting associÂations that characterize Rossâs gull nesting sites in the Canadian High Arctic suggest that additional surveys of surrounding suitable habitat would confirm a stable and globally significant breeding population of this very poorly known species in North America.Selon des donnĂ©es dĂ©jĂ publiĂ©es, il nâexiste que quatre lieux de reproduction de la mouette rosĂ©e (Rhodostethia rosea) en AmĂ©rique du Nord. Cependant, la dĂ©couverte de nouveaux lieux de reproduction dans le chenal Queens, au Nunavut, vient renforcer les preuves selon lesquelles cette espĂšce est Ă©tablie en tant quâoiseau nicheur rĂ©gulier dans lâExtrĂȘme-Arctique canadien, mĂȘme si elle fait actuellement partie de la liste des espĂšces menacĂ©es au Canada. Nous prĂ©sentons neuf enregisÂtrements relatifs Ă la reproduction de la mouette rosĂ©e au Canada. Cinq de ces enregistrements sont relatifs au chenal Queens, dont deux nouveaux enregistrements de reproduction qui datent de 2011. La proximitĂ© gĂ©ographique et les similitudes sur le plan de la topographie, du microhabitat et des associations de nidification interspĂ©cifiques caractĂ©risant les lieux de reproduction de la mouette rosĂ©e dans lâExtrĂȘme-Arctique canadien laissent entendre que des levĂ©s supplĂ©mentaires dâhabitats environnants convenables permettraient de confirmer une population dâoiseaux nicheurs stable et gĂ©nĂ©ralement importante de cette espĂšce trĂšs peu connue en AmĂ©rique du Nord
Prokineticin 2 upregulation in the peripheral nervous system has a major role in triggering and maintaining neuropathic pain in the chronic constriction injury model
The new chemokine Prokineticin 2 (PROK2) and its receptors (PKR1 and PKR2) have a role in inflammatory pain and
immunomodulation. Here we identified PROK2 as a critical mediator of neuropathic pain in the chronic constriction injury (CCI)
of the sciatic nerve in mice and demonstrated that blocking the prokineticin receptors with two PKR1-preferring antagonists (PC1
and PC7) reduces pain and nerve damage. PROK2 mRNA expression was upregulated in the injured nerve since day 3 post injury
(dpi) and in the ipsilateral DRG since 6 dpi. PROK2 protein overexpression was evident in Schwann Cells, infiltrating macrophages
and axons in the peripheral nerve and in the neuronal bodies and some satellite cells in the DRG. Therapeutic treatment of
neuropathic mice with the PKR-antagonist, PC1, impaired the PROK2 upregulation and signalling. This fact, besides alleviating
pain, brought down the burden of proinflammatory cytokines in the damaged nerve and prompted an anti-inflammatory repair
program. Such a treatment also reduced intraneural oedema and axon degeneration as demonstrated by the physiological skin
innervation and thickness conserved in CCI-PC1 mice. These findings suggest that PROK2 plays a crucial role in neuropathic pain
and might represent a novel target of treatment for this disease
Halogenated triazinediones behave as antagonists of PKR1: in vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization
Different prokineticin receptor antagonists, based on the triazinedione scaffold, were synthesized by a new efficient method. Here we demonstrated that 5-benzyltriazinedionessubstituted in position para of the benzyl group with halogens provide compounds endowed with interesting selectivity for the Prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1). BRET technology indicates that such substitutionresults in increased affinity for thePKR1.The affinity for PKR2, always in ïM range, was never significantly affected by the para-halogen-benzyl pharmacophores. The analog bearing a para-bromobenzyl pharmacophore (PC-25) displayed the highest affinity for PKR1 (~18 times higher than the reference PC-1 that bears apara-ethyl benzyl group) and the highest selectivity (~300 times). The other halogen substitutedanalogs (PC-7, PC-18 and PC-35), showed selectivity for PKR1 more than 100 times higher than for PKR2. Using transgenic mice lacking one of the two PKRs we demonstrated that all these compounds were able to abolish the Bv8-induced hyperalgesia in mice still expressing the PKR1 at doses lower than those necessary to abolish hyperalgesia in mice expressing only the PKR2. The dose ratio reflected the in- vitro evaluated receptor selectivity
Increasing incidence of HIVâ associated tuberculosis in Romanian injecting drug users
Background: A high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) among HIVâpositive injecting drug users (IDUs) may fuel the TB epidemic in the general population of Romania. We determined the frequency and characteristics of TB in HIVâinfected IDUs referred to a national centre. / Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of all newlyâdiagnosed HIVâpositive IDUs admitted to Victor Babes Hospital, Bucharest, between January 2009 and December 2014. Socioâdemographics, clinical characteristics and outcomes of HIV/TB coâinfected IDUs were compared to HIVâpositive IDUs without TB. / Results: 170/598 (28.5%) HIVâinfected IDUs were diagnosed with TB. The prevalence increased from 12.5% in 2009 to 32.1% in 2014 (P < 0.001). HIV/TB coâinfected individuals had lower median CD4 cell counts 75 (vs. 450/mm3, P < 0.0001) and higher median HIV viral loads 5.6 log10 (vs. 4.9 log10, P < 0.0001) when presenting to healthcare services. 103/170 (60.6%) HIV/TB coâinfected IDUs were diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were common, with 18/105 (17.1%) of patients having MultiâDrug Resistant (MDR) disease. Higher mortality rate was associated with TB coâinfection (P < 0.0001), extraâpulmonary TB (P = 0.0026) and extensively drug resistant TB (P = 0.024). / Conclusions: Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasing problem in HIVâinfected IDUs in Romania. Presentation is often with advanced HIV, significant TB drug resistance and consequent outcomes are poor
The impact of viral mutations on recognition by SARS-CoV-2 specific TÂ cells.
We identify amino acid variants within dominant SARS-CoV-2 TÂ cell epitopes by interrogating global sequence data. Several variants within nucleocapsid and ORF3a epitopes have arisen independently in multiple lineages and result in loss of recognition by epitope-specific TÂ cells assessed by IFN-Îł and cytotoxic killing assays. Complete loss of TÂ cell responsiveness was seen due to Q213K in the Aâ01:01-restricted CD8+ ORF3a epitope FTSDYYQLY207-215; due to P13L, P13S, and P13T in the Bâ27:05-restricted CD8+ nucleocapsid epitope QRNAPRITF9-17; and due to T362I and P365S in the Aâ03:01/Aâ11:01-restricted CD8+ nucleocapsid epitope KTFPPTEPK361-369. CD8+ TÂ cell lines unable to recognize variant epitopes have diverse TÂ cell receptor repertoires. These data demonstrate the potential for TÂ cell evasion and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance for variants capable of escaping TÂ cell as well as humoral immunity.This work is supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC); Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS), China; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and UK Researchand Innovation (UKRI)/NIHR through the UK Coro-navirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC). Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples and collation of data wasundertaken by the COG-UK CONSORTIUM. COG-UK is supported by funding from the Medical ResearchCouncil (MRC) part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI),the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR),and Genome Research Limited, operating as the Wellcome Sanger Institute. T.I.d.S. is supported by a Well-come Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (110058/Z/15/Z). L.T. is supported by the Wellcome Trust(grant number 205228/Z/16/Z) and by theUniversity of Liverpool Centre for Excellence in Infectious DiseaseResearch (CEIDR). S.D. is funded by an NIHR GlobalResearch Professorship (NIHR300791). L.T. and S.C.M.are also supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Medical Countermeasures Initiative contract75F40120C00085 and the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) inEmerging and Zoonotic Infections (NIHR200907) at University of Liverpool inpartnership with Public HealthEngland (PHE), in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Oxford.L.T. is based at the University of Liverpool. M.D.P. is funded by the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical ResearchCentre (BRC â IS-BRC-1215-20017). ISARIC4C is supported by the MRC (grant no MC_PC_19059). J.C.K.is a Wellcome Investigator (WT204969/Z/16/Z) and supported by NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centreand CIFMS. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or MRC
Landslide databases in the Geological Surveys of Europe
Acceso electrĂłnico sĂłlo desde el IGMELandslides are one of the most widespread geohazards in Europe, producing significant social and economic impacts. Rapid population growth in urban areas throughout many countries in Europe and extreme climatic scenarios can considerably increase landslide risk in the near future. Variability exists between European countries in both the statutory treatment of landslide risk and the use of official assessment guidelines. This suggests that a European Landslides Directive that provides a common legal framework for dealing with landslides is necessary. With this long-term goal in mind, this work analyzes the landslide databases from the Geological Surveys of Europe focusing on their interoperability and completeness. The same landslide classification could be used for the 849,543 landslide records from the Geological Surveys, from which 36% are slides, 10% are falls, 20% are flows, 11% are complex slides, and 24% either remain unclassified or correspond to another typology. Most of them are mapped with the same symbol at a scale of 1:25,000 or greater, providing the necessary information to elaborate European-scale susceptibility maps for each landslide type. A landslide density map was produced for the available records from the Geological Surveys (LANDEN map) showing, for the first time, 210,544 km2 landslide-prone areas and 23,681 administrative areas where the Geological Surveys from Europe have recorded landslides. The comparison of this map with the European landslide susceptibility map (ELSUS 1000 v1) is successful for most of the territory (69.7%) showing certain variability between countries. This comparison also permitted the identification of 0.98 Mkm2 (28.9%) of landslide-susceptible areas without records from the Geological Surveys, which have been used to evaluate the landslide database completeness. The estimated completeness of the landslide databases (LDBs) from the Geological Surveys is 17%, varying between 1 and 55%. This variability is due to the different landslide strategies adopted by each country. In some of them, landslide mapping is systematic; others only record damaging landslides, whereas in others, landslide maps are only available for certain regions or local areas. Moreover, in most of the countries, LDBs from the Geological Surveys co-exist with others owned by a variety of public institutions producing LDBs at variable scales and formats. Hence, a greater coordination effort should be made by all the institutions working in landslide mapping to increase data integration and harmonization.Earth Observation and Geohazards Expert Group (EOEG), EuroGeoSurveys, the Geological Surveys of Europe, BĂ©lgicaGeohazards InSAR Laboratory and Modeling Group, Instituto GeolĂłgico y Minero de España, EspañaRisk and Prevention Division, Bureau de Recherches GĂ©ologiques et MiniĂšres, FranciaEngineering Geology Department, Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, GreciaGeoHazard team, Geological Institute of Romania, RumanĂaGeological Survey of Slovenia, EsloveniaCroatian Geological Survey, CroaciaItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Geological Survey of Italy, ItaliaSwiss Federal Office for the Environment, SuizaGeological Survey of Austria, AustriaPolish Geological Institute, National Research Institute, PoloniaGeological Survey of Ireland, IrlandaCzech Geological Survey, RepĂșblica ChecaFederal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, AlemaniaGeological Survey of Norway, NoruegaCyprus Geological Survey, ChipreGeological Survey of Sweden, SueciaInstitut CartogrĂ fic i GeolĂČgic de Catalunya, EspañaBritish Geological Survey, Reino UnidoGeological Survey of Slovakia, EslovaquiaGeological Survey of Lithuania, LituaniaFederalni zavod za geologiju, Bosnia y HerzegovinaGeological Survey of Estonia, EstoniaLaboratĂłrio Nacional de Energia e Geologia, PortugalGeological Survey of Hungary, HungrĂaNorwegian Water and energy Directorate of Norway, Norueg
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