Does inbreeding affects developmental stability in Drosophila subobscura populations?

In the present paper, we focused on the coadaptive aspect of genetic variability at population level and its relation to genomic stress such as inbreeding. The paper evaluates the effects of an experimental reduction of average heterozygosity after fourteen generations of systematic inbreeding in laboratory conditions, on developmental stability in Drosophila subobscura populations from two ecologically and topologically distinct habitats, knowing that they possess a certain degree of genetic differences due to their different evolutionary histories. The aims were to analyze: (i) the variability change of wing size (length and width) among the inbred lines from both populations; (ii) the relations between homozigosity and level of fluctuating asymmetry as a potential measure of developmental instability, in inbred lines originating from two populations. Results for the wing size showed similar between line variability pattern across generations of systematic inbreeding in both populations. The obtained results suggest that variability of fluctuating asymmetry as a measure of developmental instability can not be related to homozygosity due to inbreeding per se, in both experimental populations.Rad je fokusiran na ko adaptivni aspekt genetičke varijabilnosti na nivou populacije i u odnosu na genomski stres kao što je inbriding. Analizirani su efekti eksperimentalnog smanjenja prosečne heterozigotnosti nakon 14 generacija sistematskog inbridinga u laboratorijskim uslovima na razvojnu stabilnost Drosophila subobscura populacija sa dva ekološki i topološki odvojena staništa, znajući da one poseduju odredjeni stepen genetičke diferencijacije usled različitih evolutivnih istorija. Ciljevi rada su bili da se analizira: (i) varijabilnost u promeni veličine krila (dužine i širine) medju inbidingovanim linijama i populacijama; (ii) odnosi izmedju homozigotizacije i nivoua fluktuirajuće asimetrije kao potencijalne mere razvojne nestabilnosti u inbridingovanim linijama obe populacije. Rezultati veličine krila pokazuju sličnu varijabilnost medju linijama obe populacije kroz generacije inbridinga. Dobijeni rezultati sugerišu da varijabilnost fluktuirajuće asimetrije kao mere razvojne nestabilnosti ne mogu biti povezani sa homozigotizacijom usled inbridinga per se, u obe eksperimentalne populacije.Projekat ministarstva br. 17301

Genetic and morphological analyses indicate that the Australian endemic scorpion Urodacus yaschenkoi (Scorpiones: Urodacidae) is a species complex

BackgroundAustralian scorpions have received far less attention from researchers than their overseas counterparts. Here we provide the first insight into the molecular variation and evolutionary history of the endemic Australian scorpion Urodacus yaschenkoi. Also known as the inland robust scorpion, it is widely distributed throughout arid zones of the continent and is emerging as a model organism in biomedical research due to the chemical nature of its venom.MethodsWe employed Bayesian Inference (BI) methods for the phylogenetic reconstructions and divergence dating among lineages, using unique haplotype sequences from two mitochondrial loci (COXI, 16S) and one nuclear locus (28S). We also implemented two DNA taxonomy approaches (GMYC and PTP/dPTP) to evaluate the presence of cryptic species. Linear Discriminant Analysis was used to test whether the linear combination of 21 variables (ratios of morphological measurements) can predict individual’s membership to a putative species.ResultsGenetic and morphological data suggest that U. yaschenkoi is a species complex. High statistical support for the monophyly of several divergent lineages was found both at the mitochondrial loci and at a nuclear locus. The extent of mitochondrial divergence between these lineages exceeds estimates of interspecific divergence reported for other scorpion groups. The GMYC model and the PTP/bPTP approach identified major lineages and several sub-lineages as putative species. Ratios of several traits that approximate body shape had a strong predictive power (83–100%) in discriminating two major molecular lineages. A time-calibrated phylogeny dates the early divergence at the onset of continental-wide aridification in late Miocene and Pliocene, with finer-scale phylogeographic patterns emerging during the Pleistocene. This structuring dynamics is congruent with the diversification history of other fauna of the Australian arid zones.DiscussionOur results indicate that the taxonomic status of U. yaschenkoi requires revision, and we provide recommendations for such future efforts. A complex evolutionary history and extensive diversity highlights the importance of conserving U. yaschenkoi populations from different Australian arid zones in order to preserve patterns of endemism and evolutionary potential

Inflammation, nutritional status, pufa profile and outcome in hemodialysis patients

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) include a significant percentage of malnourished patients with other risk factors: dyslipoproteinemia, insulin resistance, increased oxidative stress and inflammation that together impair endothelial function. Abnormal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) patterns are reported in patients with ESRD. The basic mechanisms of these disorders are connected with changes in cell functions at the membrane level. Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We have examined the association between atherosclerotic risk factors and nutritional status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Mortality was followed for up to 18 month. Forty-three HD patients were examined (20 males, 23 females, ages 55±12 years). Nutritional and inflammatory markers, including serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), were measured. There was significant positive correlation between the plasma albumin level and CRP. Significant correlation was found between plasma the cholesterol level and some PUFA. Increasing inflammation and endothelial dysfunction predict the development of vascular disease. We report on the relationship between inflammatory markers and nutritional parameter, indices of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular risk factors in patients on hemodialysis

Does inbreeding affects developmental stability in Drosophila subobscura populations?

In the present paper, we focused on the coadaptive aspect of genetic variability at population level and its relation to genomic stress such as inbreeding. The paper evaluates the effects of an experimental reduction of average heterozygosity after fourteen generations of systematic inbreeding in laboratory conditions, on developmental stability in Drosophila subobscura populations from two ecologically and topologically distinct habitats, knowing that they possess a certain degree of genetic differences due to their different evolutionary histories. The aims were to analyze: (i) the variability change of wing size (length and width) among the inbred lines from both populations; (ii) the relations between homozigosity and level of fluctuating asymmetry as a potential measure of developmental instability, in inbred lines originating from two populations. Results for the wing size showed similar between line variability pattern across generations of systematic inbreeding in both populations. The obtained results suggest that variability of fluctuating asymmetry as a measure of developmental instability can not be related to homozygosity due to inbreeding per se, in both experimental populations.Rad je fokusiran na ko adaptivni aspekt genetičke varijabilnosti na nivou populacije i u odnosu na genomski stres kao što je inbriding. Analizirani su efekti eksperimentalnog smanjenja prosečne heterozigotnosti nakon 14 generacija sistematskog inbridinga u laboratorijskim uslovima na razvojnu stabilnost Drosophila subobscura populacija sa dva ekološki i topološki odvojena staništa, znajući da one poseduju odredjeni stepen genetičke diferencijacije usled različitih evolutivnih istorija. Ciljevi rada su bili da se analizira: (i) varijabilnost u promeni veličine krila (dužine i širine) medju inbidingovanim linijama i populacijama; (ii) odnosi izmedju homozigotizacije i nivoua fluktuirajuće asimetrije kao potencijalne mere razvojne nestabilnosti u inbridingovanim linijama obe populacije. Rezultati veličine krila pokazuju sličnu varijabilnost medju linijama obe populacije kroz generacije inbridinga. Dobijeni rezultati sugerišu da varijabilnost fluktuirajuće asimetrije kao mere razvojne nestabilnosti ne mogu biti povezani sa homozigotizacijom usled inbridinga per se, u obe eksperimentalne populacije.Projekat ministarstva br. 17301

The study of chromosomal inversion polymorphism of Drosophila subobscura over years in two different habitats from mountain Goč

We analyzed changes in the genetic structure of two ecologically distinct populations of Drosophila subobscura by assessing inversion polymorphism parameters for over years. The frequencies of gene arrangements on all five chromosomes show variability in each population. Several chromosomal arrangements appeared for the first time in both populations. Significant difference in the overall distribution of gene arrangements between first and last year of study (1998/2006) in beach wood population of D. subobscura is found for chromosome A (a sex chromosome) and autosomes J and E, while in oak wood population the overall frequency of gene arrangements differ for autosomes J, E and O. The present significant changes of the particular gene arrangements are specific for each population and result in significant differences in comparisons at the level of individual chromosomes between years of study. Although overall heterozygosity remained unchanged over the years in beech habitat, it is significantly reduced in oak population in the fourth year. The obtained results indicate that population structure may significantly depend on short-term and long-term microclimatic changes in habitats. Based on the results to date, monitoring of microevolutionary changes using D. subobscura and its relatives seems a promising way to study the effects of global changes.Analizirane su promene u genetičkoj strukturi dve ekološki odvojene populacije Drosophila subobscura, određivanjem parametara inverzionog polimorfizma tokom više godina. Učestalosti genskih aranžmana na svih pet hromozoma pokazuju varijabilnost u svakoj od populacija. Nekoliko aranžmana se pojavljuje po prvi put u obe populacije. Značajna razlika u ukupnoj distribuciji genskih aranžmana između prve i poslednje godine istraživanja (1998/2006) dobijena je u populaciji D. subobscura iz bukove šume za hromozom A (polni hromozom) i za autozome J i E, dok se u populaciji iz hrastove šume ukupna učestalost genskih aranžmana razlikuje za autozome J, E i O. Dobijene značajne promene učestalosti određenih genskih aranžmana specifične su za svaku populaciju i rezultuju u značajnim razlikama u poređenjima na nivou pojedinačnih hromozoma između godina istraživanja. Mada ukupna heterozigotnost ostaje nepromenjena tokom više godina u populaciji iz bukove šume, ona se značajno smanjuje u populaciji iz hrasta u četvrtoj godini istraživanja. Dobijeni rezultati pokazuju da genetička struktura populacije može značajno da zavisi od kratkoročnih i dugoročnih mikroklimatskih promena u staništima. Na osnovu dosadašnjih rezultata, monitoring mikroevolutivnih promena korišćenjem D. subobscura i srodne vrste predstavlja dobar put u istraživanjima efekta globalnih promena.Projekat ministarstva br. 14301

Effects of Dietary Milled Seed Mixture on Fatty Acid Status and Inflammatory Markers in Patients on Hemodialysis

Background. Plant seeds have gained interest for their health benefits due to their fatty acid content. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary consumption of milled sesame/pumpkin/flax seed mixture on glycemic control, serum lipids, phospholipid fatty acid status, and inflammatory factors in patients on hemodialysis. Methods. Thirty patients with well nutrition status (18 male, 12 female) were enrolled in the study. Participants consumed 30 g of milled sesame/pumpkin/flax (6 g/6 g/18 g, resp.) seeds mixture added to their habitual diet. Results. Total n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and levels of linoleic, dihomo-gamma-linolenic (DGLA), arachidonic, alpha-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid were increased after 12 weeks of supplementation. A significant decrease of the serum triglyceride level (P lt 0.001), glucose, insulin, calculated IR HOMA (P lt 0.05), and inflammatory markers (TNF-alpha, IL-6, and hs-CRP,P lt 0.001) was observed after seed mixture treatment. The serum levels of CRP and TNF-alpha negative correlate with ALA, DHA, and DGLA. Conclusion. Results of this study indicated that dietary milled sesame/pumpkin/flax seed mixture added to a habitual diet lowered triglyceride and CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6 levels, affect glycemic control and improved fatty acid profile and pruritus symptoms in hemodialysis patients

The study of chromosomal inversion polymorphism of Drosophila subobscura over years in two different habitats from mountain Goč

We analyzed changes in the genetic structure of two ecologically distinct populations of Drosophila subobscura by assessing inversion polymorphism parameters for over years. The frequencies of gene arrangements on all five chromosomes show variability in each population. Several chromosomal arrangements appeared for the first time in both populations. Significant difference in the overall distribution of gene arrangements between first and last year of study (1998/2006) in beach wood population of D. subobscura is found for chromosome A (a sex chromosome) and autosomes J and E, while in oak wood population the overall frequency of gene arrangements differ for autosomes J, E and O. The present significant changes of the particular gene arrangements are specific for each population and result in significant differences in comparisons at the level of individual chromosomes between years of study. Although overall heterozygosity remained unchanged over the years in beech habitat, it is significantly reduced in oak population in the fourth year. The obtained results indicate that population structure may significantly depend on short-term and long-term microclimatic changes in habitats. Based on the results to date, monitoring of microevolutionary changes using D. subobscura and its relatives seems a promising way to study the effects of global changes.Analizirane su promene u genetičkoj strukturi dve ekološki odvojene populacije Drosophila subobscura, određivanjem parametara inverzionog polimorfizma tokom više godina. Učestalosti genskih aranžmana na svih pet hromozoma pokazuju varijabilnost u svakoj od populacija. Nekoliko aranžmana se pojavljuje po prvi put u obe populacije. Značajna razlika u ukupnoj distribuciji genskih aranžmana između prve i poslednje godine istraživanja (1998/2006) dobijena je u populaciji D. subobscura iz bukove šume za hromozom A (polni hromozom) i za autozome J i E, dok se u populaciji iz hrastove šume ukupna učestalost genskih aranžmana razlikuje za autozome J, E i O. Dobijene značajne promene učestalosti određenih genskih aranžmana specifične su za svaku populaciju i rezultuju u značajnim razlikama u poređenjima na nivou pojedinačnih hromozoma između godina istraživanja. Mada ukupna heterozigotnost ostaje nepromenjena tokom više godina u populaciji iz bukove šume, ona se značajno smanjuje u populaciji iz hrasta u četvrtoj godini istraživanja. Dobijeni rezultati pokazuju da genetička struktura populacije može značajno da zavisi od kratkoročnih i dugoročnih mikroklimatskih promena u staništima. Na osnovu dosadašnjih rezultata, monitoring mikroevolutivnih promena korišćenjem D. subobscura i srodne vrste predstavlja dobar put u istraživanjima efekta globalnih promena.Projekat ministarstva br. 14301