Le stagioni degli amori e delle nascite di Propithecus verreauxi: comportamenti a confronto

Propithecus verreauxi, appartenente alla famiglia Indriidae, è una specie di proscimmia diurna endemica del Sud e del Sud-Ovest del Madagascar, caratterizzata da un sistema sociale di tipo multi-male/multi-female a dominanza femminile (Jolly, 1966). Il ciclo riproduttivo strettamente stagionale di Propithecus verreauxi prevede che gli accoppiamenti si concentrino all’interno della stagione umida, durante la quale le risorse alimentari sono abbondanti, mentre le nascite si verificano all’interno della stagione secca, nel periodo di scarsità di cibo (Jolly, 1966; Richard et al., 2000). Lo scopo del mio studio è quello di analizzare le dinamiche sociali in una specie altamente stagionale come Propithecus verreauxi, misurando quantitativamente i comportamenti sociali, olfattivi e agonistici che la caratterizzano e osservando come questi varino in relazione alla stagione considerata. Tra i comportamenti sociali, il grooming è stato analizzato come possibile indicatore dei rapporti che intercorrono tra maschi e femmine nel periodo riproduttivo, in cui il conflitto di interessi tra i due sessi è elevato. La distribuzione di questo comportamento tra le due stagioni ha indicato anche una sua possibile funzione, ovvero quella di “merce di scambio” per l’accesso alle femmine in estro (mating market) (Barrett e Henzi, 2001; Noë e Hammerstein, 1994, 1995; Hemelrijk et al., 1992; Colmenares et al., 2002). Tenendo conto del “bimorfismo sessuale” che caratterizza i maschi di Propithecus verreauxi, abbiamo esaminato come l’attività di grooming, effettuata dai maschi verso le femmine, potesse variare in rapporto allo status sociale del maschio. I maschi subordinati mostrano una maggiore attività di grooming nella stagione riproduttiva. Dato che il comportamento olfattivo riveste un ruolo fondamentale per la comunicazione in questa specie abbiamo esaminato come l’attività di sniffing e di overmarking dei maschi variassero in base al tipo di marcatura deposta dalle femmine, ottenendo risultati che indicano che l’urina femminile potrebbe essere altamente informativa a proposito del loro stato riproduttivo. Le interazioni aggressive sono numerose solo nella stagione riproduttiva, in cui l’ottenimento dell’accoppiamento diventa lo scopo principale di ogni individuo e inasprisce le relazioni inter-individuali. La società di tipo non despotico e le relazioni sociali tipicamente tolleranti di questa specie si manifestano nel basso livello di conflitti nella stagione nascite e nel venir meno della gerarchia lineare che contraddistingue il periodo riproduttivo

Affinity chromatography of ovine casein

Abstract Sheep milk casein was separated into two fractions: one containing α s1 -plus β- and the other α s2 plus κ-caseins by affinity chromatography on activated thiol-Sepharose 4B. Milk samples were from the Leccese breed with the most common electrophoretic pattern. Electrophoresis of the chromatographic fractions on SDS-PAGE and on starch urea gel at pH 8.6 and 1.7 clarified the electrophoretic pattern of whole casein. Acidic pH electrophoresis of the two fractions obtained by affinity chromatography may be useful for investigations on the polymorphism of the casein fractions

Identification and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the myosin VA (MYO5A) gene and its exclusion as the causative gene of the dilute coat colour locus in rabbit

[EN] Classical genetic studies have identified different coat colour loci in rabbit and comparative analyses have established corresponding loci across species. In particular, the rabbit dilute locus is determined by a recessive coat colour mutation that modifies the basic colours influenced by the agouti and extension mutations. In mice, similar phenotypic effects are determined by a similarly named locus. This locus encodes the myosin VA (Myo5a) gene, whose protein product is an unconventional myosin that plays an essential role in melanosome transport in the melanocytes. We selected the same gene as a strong candidate for explaining the dilute coat colour in rabbit. To this end, 1399 bp were re-sequenced, spanning 4 exons out of 41 exons and a portion of intronic regions of the rabbit MYO5A gene to identify polymorphisms that could be useful to confirm or exclude this gene as causative of the rabbit dilute locus. Nine polymorphisms were identified, one of which was used to follow the segregation of the blue and black colours in a Checkered Giant F1 family. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysed did not co-segregate with the two colours. These results excluded the MYO5A gene as determinant of the dilute locus in rabbit. The two alleles of this SNP were also present in several other breeds with different coat colours, further indicating that this marker is not associated with the dilute mutation in rabbits. Other candidates should be investigated to identify the causative gene of this locus in rabbit.We thank several rabbit breeders and Associazione Nazionale Coniglicoltori Italiani (ANCI) for their collaboration in the sampling of biological materials. This work was supported by RFO and FAGenomicH project funds from the University of Bologna.Fontanesi, L.; Scotti, E.; Dall'olio, S.; Oulmouden, A.; Russo, V. (2012). Identification and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the myosin VA (MYO5A) gene and its exclusion as the causative gene of the dilute coat colour locus in rabbit. World Rabbit Science. 20(1):35-41. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2012.1033SWORD354120

Investigation of a short interspersed nuclear element polymorphic site in the porcine vertnin gene: Allele frequencies and association study with meat quality, carcass and production traits in Italian Large White pigs

A 291 bp short interspersed nuclear element (SINE) insertion in the porcine vertnin (VRTN) gene on porcine chromosome 7 was shown to affect vertebral number and several production traits: allele Q (with the insertion) increases vertebral number compared to the wild type allele (WT, without insertion). In this study we genotyped this polymorphism in eight pig breeds (Italian Large White, Italian Duroc, Italian Landrace, Cinta Senese, Mora Romagnola, Casertana, Apulo Calabrese, and Nero Siciliano) and in Italian wild boars to evaluate allele frequency distribution of the two alleles. Allele Q was the most frequent in Italian Landrace and Italian Duroc (0.738 and 0.545, respectively) whereas it was the less frequent in all other breeds and was absent in wild boars. Association study was carried out in two Italian Large White samples. These two groups of animals were constituted by performance tested pigs for which estimated breeding values (EBV) and random residuals (RR) for several traits (average daily gain, back fat thickness, feed: gain ratio, lean cuts and ham weight) were calculated: i) 270 pigs chosen without any criteria (random group), that were also measured for several meat quality traits; ii) 560 gilts with extreme and divergent EBV for back fat thickness. For these animals vertebral number was not available. Results of the association analyses indicated that allele Q was associated with a lower ham weight, confirming indirectly, the negative correlation reported by other studies between vertebral number and this trait. No other trait was associated with the analysed VRTN polymorphism

Reduced representation libraries from DNA pools analysed with next generation semiconductor based-sequencing to identify SNPs in extreme and divergent pigs for back fat thickness

The aim of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that could be associated with back fat thickness (BFT) in pigs. To achieve this goal, we evaluated the potential and limits of an experimental design that combined several methodologies. DNA samples from two groups of Italian Large White pigs with divergent estimating breeding value (EBV) for BFT were separately pooled and sequenced, after preparation of reduced representation libraries (RRLs), on the Ion Torrent technology. Taking advantage from SNAPE for SNPs calling in sequenced DNA pools, 39,165 SNPs were identified; 1/4 of them were novel variants not reported in dbSNP. Combining sequencing data with Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip genotyping results on the same animals, 661 genomic positions overlapped with a good approximation of minor allele frequency estimation. A total of 54 SNPs showing enriched alleles in one or in the other RRLs might be potential markers associated with BFT. Some of these SNPs were close to genes involved in obesity related phenotypes

Analysis of Horse Myostatin Gene and Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Breeds of Different Morphological Types

Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative modulator of muscle mass. We characterized the horse (Equus caballus) MSTN gene and identified and analysed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in breeds of different morphological types. Sequencing of coding, untranslated, intronic, and regulatory regions of MSTN gene in 12 horses from 10 breeds revealed seven SNPs: two in the promoter, four in intron 1, and one in intron 2. The SNPs of the promoter (GQ183900:g.26T>C and GQ183900:g.156T>C, the latter located within a conserved TATA-box like motif) were screened in 396 horses from 16 breeds. The g.26C and the g.156C alleles presented higher frequency in heavy (brachymorphic type) than in light breeds (dolichomorphic type such as Italian Trotter breed). The significant difference of allele frequencies for the SNPs at the promoter and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) on haplotypes indicates that these polymorphisms could be associated with variability of morphology traits in horse breeds

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a retrospective single-center experience

Background & aims: Very few data are available in literature about the role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and previous studies are mainly case reports and case series on a very small number of patients and nodules. In this study, we aimed to evaluate effectiveness and safety of RFA for the treatment of unresectable ICC. Methods: This is a retrospective observational cohort study comprising all consecutive patients treated with RFA for unresectable ICC at Policlinico Sant'Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. Primary endpoint was Local Tumor Progression-Free Survival (LTPFS) while Overall Survival (OS) was also assessed as secondary endpoint. Results: From January 2014 to June 2019, 29 patients with 117 nodules underwent RFA. Technique effectiveness 1 month after RFA was 92.3%; median LTPFS was 9.27 months. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that LTPFS was significantly related to tumor size ≥20 mm. At a median follow up of 39.9 months, median OS from the date of RFA was 27.5 months, with an OS of 89%, 45% and 11% at 1, 2 and 4 years, respectively. Number of overall lesions and the sum of their diameter at the moment of the first RFA significantly affected OS in multivariate analysis. Minor and major complication rates were 14% and 7%, respectively. Conclusion: Tumor size ≥20 mm was associated with lower LTPFS, representing a potential useful threshold value. A careful evaluation of tumor burden appears as a crucial element in choosing the best therapeutic strategy in unresectable ICC

Exploiting phenotype diversity in a local animal genetic resource: identification of a single nucleotide polymorphism associated with the tail shape phenotype in the autochthonous Casertana pig breed

Casertana is a local pig breed mainly raised in Central-South regions of Italy. Pigs of this breed are considered the descendants of the ancient Neapolitan population that largely influenced the constitution of the modern commercial pigs. The pigs of this breed are usually curly-tailed, like several other domestic pig populations. However, Casertana population shows some variability for this trait, including animals having straight tail as observed in wild boars. In this study, we run, for the first time, a genome wide association study (GWAS) comparing the curly tailed (no. = 53) and straight tailed (no. = 19) Casertana pigs to identify genomic regions associated with the tail shape phenotype in Sus scrofa. All animals were genotyped with the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip v.2. GEMMA software was used in the GWAS for which we were able to correct for stratification in the analysed cohort. A single nucleotide polymorphism (rs81439488), located on porcine chromosome 12, was significantly associated with the investigated trait. This marker is close to the SRY-box 9 (SOX9) gene that encodes for a transcription factor that is required during sequential steps of the chondrocyte differentiation pathway, notochord maintenance and skeletogenesis. As the shape of the tail could be important in relation to the problem of tail biting in pigs, the obtained results might open new perspectives for defining selection programs answering indirectly animal welfare issues. This work demonstrated that autochthonous animal genetic resources might be used to disclose genetic factors affecting peculiar traits by exploiting segregating phenotypes and genetic variability

Analysis of BTA6 in Bruna Italiana and Pezzata Rossa cattle assayed with 2,535 SNPs

A high density SNP marker panel (54,000 SNPs) was used to investigate the genome of 775 Bruna Italiana and 493 Pezzata Rossa bulls. Observed and expected heterozygosities were calculated overall and per chromosome. In both breeds, values were not significantly different. Bos taurus Chromosome 6 (BTA6), carrying the casein loci, was analysed in higher detail. Overall, 2,535 markers were assayed on this chromosome. After discarding monomorphic markers, those having more than 10 missing values, and those having minor allele frequency below 2%, 1,814 and 2,061 SNPs were retained in Bruna Italiana and Pezzata Rossa, respectively. To detect signatures of ancient and recent selection, we calculated FIS inbreeding coefficient values of all BTA6 polymorphic markers, within sliding windows of groups of 5 adjacent SNPs and within 122 adjacent regions spanning 1 Mb intervals. These preliminary analyses indicated that genotyping of several thousand SNPs potentially allows the detection of the footprint of selection dodging the confounding effects of the population demographic history (i.e., effective population size, genetic structure, and mating pattern). A wider understanding of how and where selection shaped patterns of genetic variation along the genome may provide important insights into the dynamics of evolutionary change, facilitating both the identification of functionally significant genomic regions and genotype-phenotype correlations. Outlining such regions could allow focusing the fine mapping strategy to identify candidate genes and causative mutations affecting important economic or adaptive traits