Geographic variation in adult survival and reproductive tactics of the mosquito Aedes albopictus

Climate differences across latitude can result in seasonal constraints and selection on life history characters. Since Aedes albopictus (Skuse) invaded North America in the mid-1980s, it has spread across a range of approximate to 14 degrees latitude and populations in the north experience complete adult mortality due to cold winter temperatures that are absent in the south. Life table experiments were conducted to test for differences in the adult survival and reproductive schedules of Ae. albopictus females from two populations from the northern (Bloomington, IN [BL] and Manassas, VA [VA]; approximate to 39 degrees N) and southern (Tampa, FL and Fort Myers, FL; approximate to 27-28 degrees N) extremes of the species distribution in North America. Regardless of population origin, age-specific hazard rate increased with reproductive output and decreased with number of bloodmeals. Larger females took fewer bloodmeals, and they had greater hazard rates than did smaller females. There were no consistent differences between northern versus southern populations in resource allocation between reproduction and maintenance, reproduction over time, and reproductive investment among offspring, suggesting that latitudinal variation in climate is probably not a main selective factor impinging on adult mortality and reproductive schedules. One possible effect of climate on geographic differences in life history was detected. BL had lower survivorship, lower lifetime reproductive output, and lower adult reproductive rate than did all other populations. This result may be an indirect result of lower egg survivorship due to the severity of winter in BL compared with other populations, including VA at approximately the same latitude. Such a scenario may make the BL population more prone to extinction, irregularly recolonized from more favorable sites, and thus more susceptible to founder effects, genetic drift, and inbreeding, resulting in lower mean values of fitness-related traits

Avaliação de ganho de peso e peso a desmama em bezerros pantaneiros e pantaneiro X nelore, criados a pasto.

O bovino Pantaneiro é uma raça local brasileira que possui entre outras características, grande adaptabilidade às condições ambientais extremas aos quais são submetidos esses animais, no seu habitat natural, o Pantanal. Devido ao sério risco de extinção, a Embrapa Pantanal e parceiros têm dedicado suas pesquisas a conservação e uso desse patrimônio genético, divulgando suas potencialidades como forma de estimular a criação dessa raça em diferentes sistemas produtivos. Com o objetivo de avaliar o ganho de peso diário (GPD) e peso a desmama (PD) de animais da raça Pantaneiro e mestiços Pantaneiro X Nelore, foram coletados pesos de machos e fêmeas ao nascimento e próximo a idade de desmama. Não houve diferença de GPD entre os grupamentos raciais para ambos os sexos. A média de GPD de bezerras Pantaneiras e mestiças foi 0,575 kg/dia e 0,654 kg/dia, respectivamente. Para bezerros Pantaneiros e mestiços, os valores encontrados foram 0,643 kg/dia e 0,692 kg/dia, respectivamente. Não houve diferença de médias comparadas para o peso a desmama entre os grupamentos raciais para ambos os sexos. A média de PD, ajustado para 205 dias, de bezerras Pantaneiras e mestiças foi 148,3 kg e 161,6 kg, respectivamente. Para bezerros Pantaneiros e mestiços, os valores encontrados foram 161,7 kg e 172,3 kg, respectivamente. Os resultados encontrados foram semelhantes aos descritos na literatura para raça Nelore, principal raça bovina criada em sistema extensivo a pasto, em áreas de Cerrado. Sendo assim, considera-se que a inclusão de bovinos Pantaneiros pode ser uma alternativa viável do uso desse patrimônio genético em sistemas produtivos de cria

Activation of minority-variant Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites following artesunate + amodiaquine treatment in a 23-year old man with relapsing malaria in Antananarivo, Madagascar

In endemic areas, Plasmodium vivax relapses are difficult to distinguish from new infections. Genotyping of patients who experience relapse after returning to a malaria-free area can be used to explore the nature of hypnozoite activation and relapse. This paper describes a person who developed P. vivax malaria for the first time after travelling to Boriziny in the malaria endemic coastal area of Madagascar, then suffered two P. vivax relapses 11 weeks and 21 weeks later despite remaining in Antananarivo in the malaria-free central highlands area. He was treated with the combination artesunate + amodiaquine according to the national malaria policy in Madagascar. Genotyping by PCR-RFLP at pvmsp-3α as well as pvmsp1 heteroduplex tracking assay (HTA) showed the same dominant genotype at each relapse. Multiple recurring minority variants were also detected at each relapse, highlighting the propensity for multiple hypnozoite clones to activate simultaneously to cause relapse

Association between alleles of the waxy gene and traits of grain quality in Philippine Seed Board rice varieties

The association between alleles of the Waxy gene, defined by the number of CT repeats on exon 1, and traits of grain quality was carried out using 47 Philippine Seed Board rice varieties. The major alleles of the Waxy gene in the set of 47 were (CT), (CT) (CT)and (CT)20. Varieties were divided into four clusters based on the metric of each trait of grain quality. (CT) (27-32% amylose content (AC)) and (CT) (22-30% AC) were mainly in clusters 3 and 4 (hard texture), and (CT) (20-24% AC) and (CT) (18- 27% AC) were exclusively in grain quality cluster 1 (soft texture) and 2 (medium texture). (CT) associated negatively with AC in this set. Only six (CT) and one (CT) rices were in cluster 4 (high-AC low-GT) and had high RVA consistency (final viscosity - trough viscosity) > 200 RVU. (CT) seemed to be the preferred source of low-intermediate AC in the Philippine rice breeding program, followed by (CT)

Alpine plants are on the move: Quantifying distribution shifts of Australian alpine plants through time

Aim Alpine plant species’ distributions are thought to have been shifting to higher elevations in response to climate change. By moving upslope, species can occupy cooler and more suitable environments as climate change warms their current ranges. Despite evidence of upslope migration in the northern hemisphere, there is limited evidence for elevational shifts in southern hemisphere plants. Our study aimed to determine if alpine plants in Australia have migrated upslope in the last 2 to 6 decades. Location Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, Australia. Methods We collated historic occurrence data for 36 Australian alpine plant species from herbarium specimens and historic field observations and combined these historic data with modern occurrence data collected in the field. Results Eleven of the thirty-six species had shifted upslope in mean elevation and four species showed downslope elevational shifts. The rate of change for upslope shifts varied between 4 and 10 m per year and the rate of change for most downslope shifts was between 4 and 8 m per year, with one species shifting downslope at a high rate of 18 m per year. Additionally, some species showed shifts upward in their upper range edge and/or upward or downward shifts in their lower range edge. Five species also showed range contractions in the difference between their lower and upper range edges over time, while two showed range expansions. We found no significant differences in elevational shifts through time among herbaceous dicotyledons, herbaceous monocotyledons and shrubs. Main Conclusions Plant elevational shifts are occurring rapidly in the Australian alpine zone. This may allow species to persist under climate change. However, if current warming trends continue, several species within the Australian alpine zone will likely run out of suitable habitat within a century

Descrição de sistemas de criação tradicionais de ovinos da Nhecolândia, Pantanal, MS.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal resgatar o conhecimento empírico sobre o sistema de criação tradicional de ovinos no Pantanal, caracterizando-o e descrevendo-o a partir de oito fazendas da sub-região da Nhecolândia, Pantanal, MS. Devido a crescente demanda do mercado por carne ovina, os produtores do Pantanal podem diversificar a produção animal. A região apresenta potencial para a produção de ovelhas pantaneiras para cruzamentos no planalto, produção de cordeiros (orgânicos), produção de subsistência da fazenda, entre outros. Para tanto, há a necessidade de desenvolver práticas sustentáveis de manejo da ovinocultura no Pantanalbitstream/item/80589/1/CT94.pd

Commensal microbiota modulates larval foraging behaviour, development rate and pupal production in Bactrocera tryoni

Project Raising Q-fly Sterile Insect Technique to World Standard (HG14033) is funded by the Hort Frontiers Fruit Fly Fund, part of the Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative developed by Hort Innovation, with co-investment from Macquarie University and contributions from the Australian Government. BN is supported by an international Research Training Program (iRTP) scholarship from Macquarie University (NSW, Australia).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Uréia sérica, escore corporal e peso de fêmeas bovinas mantidas em pastagem nativa, Pantanal Mato-Grossense-do-Sul.

Neste trabalho objetivou-se avaliar as variações nos níveis de uréia sérica e suas relações com o peso e escore corporal de animais pertencentes a um rebanho de cria, nos períodos seco e chuvoso, na sub-região da Nhecolândia, Pantanal de Mato Grosso do Sul.bitstream/item/80587/1/CT95.pd

Correlação genótipo-fenótipo em pacientes brasileiras com síndrome de Rett

BACKGROUND: Rett syndrome (RS) is a severe neurodevelopmental X-linked dominant disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. PURPOSE: To search for point mutations on the MECP2 gene and to establish a correlation between the main point mutations found and the phenotype. METHOD: Clinical evaluation of 105 patients, following a standard protocol. Detection of point mutations on the MECP2 gene was performed on peripheral blood DNA by sequencing the coding region of the gene. RESULTS: Classical RS was seen in 68% of the patients. Pathogenic point mutations were found in 64.1% of all patients and in 70.42% of those with the classical phenotype. Four new sequence variations were found, and their nature suggests patogenicity. Genotype-phenotype correlations were performed. CONCLUSION: Detailed clinical descriptions and identification of the underlying genetic alterations of this Brazilian RS population add to our knowledge of genotype/phenotype correlations, guiding the implementation of mutation searching programs.INTRODUÇÃO: A síndrome de Rett é uma grave doença do neurodesenvolvimento ligada ao X dominante, causada por mutações no gene MECP2. OBJETIVOS: Identificar mutações de ponto no gene MECP2 e estabelecer uma correlação entre as principais mutações encontradas e o fenótipo. MÉTODO: Avaliação clínica de 105 pacientes, seguindo um protocolo estabelecido. A identificação de mutações de ponto foi realizada em DNA de sangue periférico por sequenciamento da região codificante do gene amplificada por PCR. RESULTADOS: Em 68% dos pacientes observou-se o quadro clássico da síndrome. Mutações de ponto patogênicas foram encontradas em 64,1% dos pacientes e em 70,42% das pacientes com o quadro clássico. Quatro novas variações de seqüência foram identificadas e sua natureza sugere patogenicidade. Correlações genótipo-fenótipo foram estabelecidas. CONCLUSÃO: Descrições clínicas detalhadas desta população brasileira de pacientes acrescenta conhecimento às correlações genótipo-fenótipo nesta grave condição, que podem auxiliar na implantação de programas de triagem de mutações