A mélyfagyasztás hatásainak vizsgálata az emberi ivarsejtekre morfológiai és funkcionális paraméterek alapján = Investigation of the effects of cryopreservation on morphological and functional parameters of human gametes

-35 normozoospermiás, 27 oligozoospermiás és 42 asthenozoospermiás férfi ondómintájához pentoxyphyllin-t adtunk, emelkedő koncentrációban. Meghatároztunk azt az ideális pentoxyphyllin koncentrációt, amely leginkább javította a minta motilitását a kiindulási értékhez képest. - A komputervezérelt fagyasztóberendezés programozásának beállításával meghatároztuk az ideális fagyasztási algoritmust. - A komputervezérelt fagyasztóberendezéssel végzett ondófagyasztást követő felolvasztás után pentoxyphyllin hozzáadásával vizsgáltuk a motilitást. Az optimális motilitásnövelő hatást 0,75 mmol/l pentoxphyllin-koncentráció esetén kaptuk. -74 donormintát fagyasztottunk le. Összesen 197 asszonyt kezeltünk a fagyasztott mintákkal, amely összesen 280 intrauterin inszeminációs ciklust jelentett. Randomizáltan 71 ciklusban használtunk pentoxyphyllin-nel kezelt mintát. A többi ciklus kontrollként szolgált. A kumulatív terhességi arány a három ciklusra vonatkoztatva 38,2% vs. 38,0%. A különbség nem szignifikáns. -Mivel petefészek fagyasztás igénye a vizsgálati időszakban összesen két alkalommal merült fel, amelyek közül csak egy alkalommal sikerült fagyasztható mintát nyerni a petefészek-szövetből, ezért az ezzel kapcsolatos vizsgálatokat nem tudtuk elvégezni. - Eddigi eredményeinket tudományos közlemények és előadások formájában ismertettük hazai és nemzetközi folyóiratokban és fórumokon. Egy PhD disszertáció készült a fenti anyag felhasználásával. | A total of 35 normozoospermic, 27 oligozoospermic and 42 asthenozoopermic semen samples were supplemented with pentoxyphyllin in increasing concentration to define the optimal pentoxyphyllin concentration, that most effective for improving the motility of the semen sample comparing to the original value. We determined the ideal freezing algorithm with the help of an automatic computerized freezer. Motility was assessed after pentoxyphyllin supplementation of the post-thaw samples. The maximal motility increase was found at 0.75 mmol/l pentoxyphyllin concentration. A total of 74 donor semen sample was frozen, and 197 women were treated with the frozen samples in 280 intrauterine insemination cycles. Randomly, pentoxyphyllin supplemented samples were used in 71 cycles, and the cycles without using pentoxyphyllin treated samples were served as control. Cumulative pregnancy rates for the three cycles were 38.2% vs. 38.0%. The difference was not significant. As demand and endorsement of ovarium tissue cryopreservation were only two times during the study period, and in one case of them the extraction of freezable sample from the ovary was unsuccessful, hence we were not able to complete this part of the study. The reached results were presented as articles in national and international journals and presentations on national and international congresses. With the use of the above mentioned results one PhD thesis has been submitted

Vírusok és molekuláris genetikai alterációk szerepe conjunctivalis, colorectalis, és anogenitalis elváltozások carcinogenezisében = The role of viruses and molecular genetic alterations in conjunctival, colorectal and anogenital carcinogenesis

Colorectalis daganatok miatt eltávolított biopszia mintákból Magyarországon először nukleinsav hybridizációs próbával mutattuk ki a human papillomavirusokat (HPV). 802 cervix mintából 432 esetben mutattunk ki nukleinsav hybridizációs próbával HPV-t. Randomszerűen 105 mintát választottunk ki consensus PCR és "short" fragmenteket amplifikáló módszerrel a HPV-k kimutatására. Összesen 41 mintából mutattunk ki HPV-t. RFLP módszert alkalmaztunk a HPV típus meghatározására. Mindkét módszert adaptáltuk real-time PCR (RT-PCR) módszerhez. 191 tünetmentes páciens cervix mintáiból consensus HPV PCR amplifikáció után kiválasztottuk a pozitív mintákat, melyeket az ún. "short" fragmenteket amplifikáló PCR módszerrel (az eredeti mintákat felhasználva) amplikonokat állítottunk elő. Linear array módszerrel meghatároztuk a HPV típusokat. A HPV-k kimutatására és egyidejűleg történő vírustípus kimutatására microchip módszert terveztünk. | Biopsy samples from operated colorectal carcinomas were used for the detection of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) by the nucleic acid hybridization probe, for the first time in Hungary. 432 of 802 cervix samples were positive by the nucleic acid hybridization probe. Randomly, 105 of the 432 samples were determined by both consensus and short fragment PCR methods. HPVs were detected in 41 samples. The HPV types were determined by the RFLP method. Both methods were adapted to the real-time PCR (RT-PCR) method. Cervix samples from asymptomatic patients (N = 191) were amplified with the consensus PCR method. In the event of positivity, the short fragment PCR method was performed to determine the HPV types by the linear array method. Simultaneously, a microchip method was designed for the detection of HPVs and determination of the HPV types

Megaphylogeny resolves global patterns of mushroom evolution

Mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes) have the greatest morphological diversity and complexity of any group of fungi. They have radiated into most niches and fulfil diverse roles in the ecosystem, including wood decomposers, pathogens or mycorrhizal mutualists. Despite the importance of mushroom-forming fungi, large-scale patterns of their evolutionary history are poorly known, in part due to the lack of a comprehensive and dated molecular phylogeny. Here, using multigene and genome-based data, we assemble a 5,284-species phylogenetic tree and infer ages and broad patterns of speciation/extinction and morphological innovation in mushroom-forming fungi. Agaricomycetes started a rapid class-wide radiation in the Jurassic, coinciding with the spread of (sub)tropical coniferous forests and a warming climate. A possible mass extinction, several clade-specific adaptive radiations and morphological diversification of fruiting bodies followed during the Cretaceous and the Paleogene, convergently giving rise to the classic toadstool morphology, with a cap, stalk and gills (pileate-stipitate morphology). This morphology is associated with increased rates of lineage diversification, suggesting it represents a key innovation in the evolution of mushroom-forming fungi. The increase in mushroom diversity started during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic radiation event, an era of humid climate when terrestrial communities dominated by gymnosperms and reptiles were also expanding.Fil: Varga, Torda. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; HungríaFil: Krizsán, Krisztina. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; HungríaFil: Földi, Csenge. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; HungríaFil: Dima, Bálint. Eötvös Loránd University; HungríaFil: Sánchez-García, Marisol. Clark University; Estados UnidosFil: Lechner, Bernardo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez-Ramírez, Santiago. University of Toronto; CanadáFil: Szöllosi, Gergely J.. Eötvös Loránd University; HungríaFil: Szarkándi, János G.. University Of Szeged; HungríaFil: Papp, Viktor. Szent István University; HungríaFil: Albert, László. Hungarian Mycological Society; HungríaFil: Andreopoulos, William. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Angelini, Claudio. Jardin Botanico Nacional Ma. Moscoso; República DominicanaFil: Antonín, Vladimír. Moravian Museum; República ChecaFil: Barry, Kerrie W.. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Bougher, Neale L.. Western Australian Herbarium; AustraliaFil: Buchanan, Peter. Manaaki Whenua-landcare Research; Nueva ZelandaFil: Buyck, Bart. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; FranciaFil: Bense, Viktória. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; HungríaFil: Catcheside, Pam. State Herbarium Of South Australia; AustraliaFil: Chovatia, Mansi. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Cooper, Jerry. Manaaki Whenua-landcare Research; Nueva ZelandaFil: Dämon, Wolfgang. Oberfeldstrasse 9; AustriaFil: Desjardin, Dennis. San Francisco State University; Estados UnidosFil: Finy, Péter. Zsombolyai U. 56.; HungríaFil: Geml, József. Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Países BajosFil: Haridas, Sajeet. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Hughes, Karen. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Justo, Alfredo. Clark University; Estados UnidosFil: Karasinski, Dariusz. Polish Academy of Sciences; Poloni

A role for female ornamentation in the facultatively polygynous mating system of collared flycatchers

In a polygynous mating system, females settling with already mated males often experience low mating success due to the reduced parental contribution of the male. However, there are numerous factors that may still make it advantageous for some females to choose this mating status. Facultative polygyny is believed to be dominated by male advertisement and female choice. Although quality differences and competition among females are increasingly recognized as important determinants of polygynous settlement patterns, the importance of signals of female quality in this mating system is largely unknown. Here we examined the relationship of the white wing patch size (WPS) of female collared flycatchers, a phenotypically plastic and age-dependent ornament, with social mating status, while controlling for settlement date and age. At the population level, monogamous, primary, and secondary females did not differ in WPS. However, the primary female of individual males was more ornamented than the secondary female, and this difference declined with increasing distance between primary and secondary nests. Secondary female ornamentation increased, whereas that of the primary female did not change with nest distance. These results suggest a subtle role for female ornamentation at polygynous mating. Future studies should therefore take into account mating status when assessing the costs and benefits of female signals. Moreover, patterns in quality-indicating female traits may contribute to the explanation of differences in reproductive success among females of different mating status. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.

Haemoproteus infection status of collared flycatcher males changes within a breeding season

In ecological studies of haemosporidian parasites, prevalence is typically considered as a stable attribute. However, little is known about the possible within-host dynamics of these parasites that may originate from environmental fluctuations, parasite life cycles and the ability of hosts to suppress or clear infection. We sampled the blood of male collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis twice within a breeding season and investigated the determinants of initial infection status and change in infection status. We found that older males tended to be initially more infected at courtship. Change in infection status was unrelated to male traits, but a widespread disappearance of Haemoproteus pallidus infection from the blood was detected between courtship and nestling rearing. The probability of change in infection status increased with the time elapsed between sampling occasions. This suggests that the disappearance of infection from the blood was due to either an active parasite suppression mechanism or the beginning of the latent phase in the parasite life cycle. Initial infection status or disappearance of infection from the blood showed no correlation with breeding success. These results show that H. pallidus infection status and thus prevalence are dynamically changing attributes and this has widespread practical and ecological implications.Peer Reviewe

Aggressive behavior of the male parent predicts brood sex ratio in a songbird

Brood sex ratio is often affected by parental or environmental quality, presumably in an adaptive manner that is the sex that confers higher fitness benefits to the mother is overproduced. So far, studies on the role of parental quality have focused on parental morphology and attractiveness. However, another aspect, the partner's behavioral characteristics, may also be expected to play a role in brood sex ratio adjustment. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether the proportion of sons in the brood is predicted by the level of territorial aggression displayed by the father, in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). The proportion of sons in the brood was higher in early broods and increased with paternal tarsus length. When controlling for breeding date and body size, we found a higher proportion of sons in the brood of less aggressive fathers. Male nestlings are more sensitive to the rearing environment, and the behavior of courting males may often be used by females to assess their future parental activity. Therefore, adjusting brood sex ratio to the level of male aggression could be adaptive. Our results indicate that the behavior of the partner could indeed be a significant determinant in brood sex ratio adjustment, which should not be overlooked in future studies. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.Peer Reviewe

Laying date and polygyny as determinants of annual reproductive success in male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis): A long-term study

Annual reproductive success (ARS) is one of the main components of lifetime reproductive success, a reliable measure of individual fitness. Previous studies often dealt with ARS and variables potentially affecting it. Among them, long-term studies that consider multiple factors at the same time are particularly important in understanding the adaptive value of different phenotypes. Here, we used an 18-year dataset to quantify the ARS of male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) on the basis of recruited offspring. We simultaneously assessed the effect of start of breeding, age, polygyny, body size and the expression of forehead patch (a sexually selected trait). The success of early breeding individuals was appreciably higher than late birds; however, breeding too early was also disadvantaged, and males that bred around the yearly median breeding date had the highest ARS. Polygynous males were more successful in years with good food supply, while in years with low food availability, they did not produce more recruits than monogamous males. The age of males, their forehead patch size and body size did not affect the number of recruits. Our findings support the importance of breeding date and suggest stabilizing selection on it in the long term. We also show that polygyny is not always advantageous for males, and its fitness pay-off may depend on environmental quality. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.Peer Reviewe

Applications of fluorescence resonance energy transfer for mapping biological membranes

BIBFORM004719 újratöltv

Malaria parasites, immune challenge, MHC variability, and predator avoidance in a passerine bird

Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology. All rights reserved. Several hypotheses predict a relationship between parasite burden and risk-taking behavior, but the underlying causal mechanisms are poorly understood due to the scarcity of experimental studies and the neglected focus on immune defense. Here, in 3 sets of field studies on the collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis, we investigated how among-male variation in flight initiation distance (FID, the distance at which an individual flee a potential predator) is linked to among-male variation in health status. First, we correlatively assessed the relationship between FID and the prevalence of haemosporidian blood parasites. We found no difference in risk-taking behavior between parasitized and nonparasitized individuals rejecting a hypothesis that predicts that malaria infection status affects the costs of predator avoidance. Second, we performed an immune challenge experiment, in which randomly chosen birds were injected with a novel antigen (sheep red blood cell) and their change in FID was compared with birds that received a placebo treatment. This experiment revealed no evidence for the immunological treatment affecting risk-taking behavior, thus we failed to obtain support for the hypothesis that posits that immediate health status mediates decisions about when to flee a predator. Finally, we detected a negative relationship between the number of alleles of the major histocompatibility complex and FID. This result, in concordance with the above negative results, supports the >avoidance> hypothesis that states that only individuals with efficient immune defense machinery are able to bear the costs of risk-taking that can emerge through the increased infection rates of risk-taker individuals.Peer Reviewe

Unravelling the relationships between life history, behaviour and condition under the pace-of-life syndromes hypothesis using long-term data from a wild bird

The hypothesis of pace-of-life syndromes (POLS) predicts relationships between traits including life history traits and risk-taking behaviour that can be mediated by the trade-off between current and future reproductive value. However, alternative causal mechanisms may also generate covariance among these traits without trade-offs. We investigated the relationships between survival to the next year, current reproductive investment and risk-taking behaviour (flight initiation distance) in male collared flycatchers, Ficedula albicollis, using long-term data. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to uncover whether the associations among traits are mediated by a common latent factor that determines how individuals balance the trade-off between current and future reproductive value. As trade-offs could be concealed when there are differences in resource acquisition between individuals, we also included potential causes of these differences, body mass and body size, in the analysis. We found that risk-taking behaviour was positively related to reproductive investment and negatively to survival to the next year as could be predicted if investment into a risky behaviour is traded against future prospects. However, the most supported SEM model also suggested that survival to the next year was positively related to current reproductive investment, contrary to predictions of a hypothesis based on trade-off. These results remained qualitatively similar when controlling for body condition. In conclusion, we only could derive partial support for the POLS hypothesis. We suggest that aspects of individual quality, and not only trade-offs, should also be considered when interpreting the relationships between life history and behavioural traits.[Significance statement] We investigated the association between two life history components (survival to the next year and current reproductive effort) and risk-taking behaviour, relying on long-term records from a passerine bird, to investigate the predictions of the pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) hypothesis. Using structural equation modelling, we found support for a causal model that implies that risk-taking negatively affects survival to the next year and that survival to the next year and current reproductive effort are strongly and positively associated. Controlling for the effect of body condition did not fundamentally change these relationships. We could not find conclusive evidence for the investigated traits being mediated by a common underlying factor, as generally predicted by the POLS hypothesis. However, the sign of the relationship between risk-taking behaviour and survival to the next year was as predicted by the POLS hypothesis.This study was supported by funds from the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (K-75618, K-101611, K-105517, K-115970) and by funds from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness in Spain (CGL2015-70639-P)