The effects of cadmium or zinc multigenerational exposure on metal tolerance of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The effects of ten generational zinc or cadmium pre-exposure on metal tolerance among beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua individuals were compared. These effects were assessed in animals from the 11th generation, reared on a diet either uncontaminated or contaminated with metal (cadmium or zinc). The survival rate of larvae and the degree of metal accumulation (in larvae, pupae and moths; among larval organs: gut and fat body) were analysed. Catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione transferase activity in larval organs of individuals subjected to different metal treatments were also measured. Animals transferred from control rearing to metals (cadmium or zinc) in the 11th generation, as well as those from multigenerational zinc treatment, but not from multigenerational cadmium treatment, had a significantly lower survival rate than control animals. Insects from the groups with the high metal treatment had high bioaccumulation factors (above 3.7 and 2.3 following cadmium and zinc, respectively). Cadmium (but not zinc) pre-exposure had a significant effect on metal accumulation in larvae. Multigenerational metal pre-exposure seemed to have mainly a negative effect on glutathione transferase activity in the gut of larvae from the 11th generation, in the case of the individuals exposed to metal other than that used in pre-exposure treatment or kept in control conditions. However, in the case of zinc pre-exposure, such effect was only apparent when zinc was replaced by cadmium. The long-term effect of cadmium on catalase activity in larvae was found

Cross tolerance in beet armyworm : long-term selection by cadmium broadens tolerance to other stressors

Long lasting exposure of animals to stressing factor may lead to the selection of population able to cope with the stressor at lower cost than unexposed individuals. The aim of this study was to assess whether 130- generational selection of a beet armyworm to cadmium in food might have induced tolerance also to other stressors. The potential tolerance was assessed by means of unspecific stress markers: HSP70 concentration, DNA damage level, and energy budget indices in L5 larval instars of beet armyworm. The animals originated from Cd-exposed and control strains exposed additionally in a short-term experiment to high/low temperature or pesticide—spinosad. The application of the additional stressors caused, in general, an increase in the levels of studied parameters, in a straindependent manner. The most significant increase was found in HSP70 level in the individuals from the Cd-strain exposed to various spinosad concentration. Therefore, multigenerational contact with cadmium caused several changes that enable the insect to survive under a chronić stress, preparing the organism to the contact with an additional, new stressor. This relationship may be described as a sort of cross tolerance. This may, possibly, increase the probability of population survivorship and, at the same time, decrease the efficiency of pesticide-based plant protection efforts

Ileal transposition in rats influenced glucose metabolism and HSP70 levels

Objective: Ileal transposition procedure (IT), in combination with sleeve gastrectomy, is widely used to induce diabetes remission and to control related metabolic abnormalities. A transposition of a long segment of distal ileum in obese Zucker rats improved glucose tolerance 6 months after IT. The premise of our study was to to examine the long - term effects of ileum transposition on the liver glycolytic enzymes content in a euglycemic group of operated Zucker rats. Methods: Twenty male Zucker rats underwent either the transposition of 50% distal ileum or a sham surgery. Six months after surgery, liver tissue concentrations of glycogen synthase kinase alpha (GSK-3α), glucose 6-phosphatase (G6PC), glycogen phosphorylase (PYGM) and phosphofructokinase (PFK) and HSP70 were assessed by immunoenzymatic methods. Results: HSP70 values were significantly higher in the IT group compared to SHAM. G6PC liver concentrations in the IT group were almost 1.45-fold lower than in the SHAM operated rats. Statistical analyses (F-test) showed HSP70 levels were significantly related to caveolin-1and SHAM group. Conclusions: Lowered glycolytic enzyme concentrations assessed in the liver suggest positive effects on glucose metabolism in long-term observations

Experimental investigation of the use of sharp edges for the production of positive ions in field-ionization mass spectrometry

Various commercial razor blades have been tested for field ionization performance and compared with edges prepared electrochemically from platinum and tungsten foils. The results are correlated with data obtained from electron micrographs of the various edges. It is concluded that tungsten edges offer the best compromise between field ionization efficiency and durability of the edge

Nickel in Soil Modifies Sensitivity to Diazinon Measured by the Activity of Acetylcholinesterase, Catalase, and Glutathione S-Transferase in Earthworm Eisenia fetida

Nickel in typical soils is present in a very low concentration, but in the contaminated soils it occurs in locally elevated concentrations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nickel in the concentrations of 300 (very high, close to LOEC for reproduction) and 900 (extremely high, close to LOEC for mortality) mg/kg dry soil on the life history and acetylcholinesterase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase activities in earthworm Eisenia fetida and to establish how nickel modifies the sensitivity to organophosphorous pesticide—diazinon. Cocoons production and juveniles’ number were significantly lower only in groups exposed to Ni in the concentration of 900 mg/kg dry soil for two months. Diazinon administration diminished the AChE activity in the GI tract and in the body wall. The interaction between diazinon and nickel was observed, and, in consequence, the AChE activity after the pesticide treatment was similar to controls in worms preexposed to nickel. Both pesticide administration and exposure to nickel caused an increase in the GST activity in examined organs and CAT activity in body wall. Both biometric and development data and simple enzymatic analysis, especially the AChE and GST, show a Ni pretreatment effect on the subsequent susceptibility to pesticide

Native Taxa of Ferns in the Municipal Botanical Garden in Zabrze

Na terenie Miejskiego Ogrodu Botanicznego w Zabrzu zgromadzono 33 taksony (w tym 27 gatunków) rodzimych paproci, należących do 9 rodzin. Większość tych paproci rośnie na dwóch pagórkach w południowo-centralnej części ogrodu, a pozostałe w stawach w południowo-zachodnim i południowo-wschodnim jego sektorze. Jest to pierwsze opracowanie opisujące kolekcję rodzimych taksonów paproci w polskim ogrodzie botanicznym.In the area of the Municipal Botanical Garden in Zabrze, 33 taxa (including 27 species) of native ferns, belonging to nine families, have been gathered. Most of these ferns grow on two mounds in the south-central part of the garden, and the rest in ponds in the south-west and south-east sectors of the garden. This is the first study describing the collection of native fern taxa in the Polish botanical garden.The research was self-financed by the authors

Acetylcholinesterase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activity in beet armyworm ( Spodoptera exigua ) exposed to nickel and/or diazinon

The effect of single and combined action of nickel and pesticide (diazinon) on enzymes activity (glu- tathione S-transferase, catalase and acetylcholinesterase) in the digestive tract, body wall and fat body as well as basic growth parameters (life span and body mass) of Spodoptera exigua were investigated under laboratory conditions. The experiment was carried out on two nickel treated groups [300 (NiI) and 900 (NiII) mg Ni · kg –1 dry weight of the culture medium] and a control group. The results showed that mor- tality of caterpillars in NiII group was higher (51.1%) when compare with the controls. The body mass of the caterpillars in the NiI group was higher by 20% than in the control group, and the body mass of the pupae in the NiII group was lower by 22% than in the control group. Exposure to nickel influenced AChE, GST and catalase activity in the body wall (increase up to 66%) and GI tract, while in the fat body the above-mentioned activity remained unchanged. The pesticide application caused a strong, about 70% reduction in AChE activity in GI tract, while in case of GST activity pesticide treatment resulted in mul- tidirectional response depending on the organ. Nickel pre-treatment affects the susceptibility to pesticide, which is manifested in a lower activity of GST and catalase in the fat body (from 26 to 36%), when com- pare with the other experimental groups

Wpływ ropopochodnych zanieczyszczeń glebowych na aktywność esterazową dżdżownic Lumbricus terrestris

Among biomarkers of exposure the suitability of esterases especially carboxylesterases (CarE), metabolizing wide array of xenobiotics being important for organismal functioning, was very often underlined. Moreover, neurotoxic effects of constituents of petroleum products may be exert by inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) isozymes in animals. Here, we examined esterase activity toward acetylthiocholine iodide and ρ-nitrophenyl acetate in earthworms Lumbricus terrestris reared through four weeks on loamy sand soil contaminated with petroleum products (unleaded petrol, used engine oil), in two weeks intervals. Such contamination was simulated in one m3 volume soil containers, at a dose of 6 g . kg–1 of dry soil (experimental field in Mydlniki, Krakow suburb, Poland; 50.0815oN, 19.84730oE). We compared the effects of these contaminants action in soil collected in the year of treatment and one year later. We evaluated also effects of animals rearing on soil unremediated and remediated with "cocktail" of microorganism, and also checked the enzymatic activities response in two weeks intervals. We found lower ChE activity in animals reared on petroleum derivatives contaminated soil when compared with control animals, but only in the case of four weeks rearing on soil collected in the year of treatment. Similar response of ChE in animals reared on soil collected a year after the treatment, but estimated in earlier period of time – after two weeks exposure to petrol unleaded contamination was observed. CarE activity characterized higher variability with time than ChE activity. Generally, the activity of CarE lowered from the beginning to the end of the rearing (in all experimental groups). Animals reared on remediated soil, in most cases, had higher ChE activity than those reared on unremediated soil (control and diesel oil exposed animals)

Accumulation of heavy metals and antioxidant responses in Vicia faba

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of soil contamination by selected metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead or zinc) on the antioxidant response of Vicia faba plants. The levels of the antioxidants: glutathione, proline, non-protein thiols, as well as guaiacol peroxidase and catalase activities were measured in the upperparts of plants. Additionally, the potential bioavailability of metals in the soil and their concentrations in V. faba plants were compared. Treatment with metal caused the problem of an elevation in its bioavailability in soil and its concentration in leaves and stems. The most serious problems seemed to be metal elevations in soil, especially Zn and Ni as well as in the aerial parts of V. faba plants. The antioxidant responses appeared to be metal specific. The elevation of guaiacol peroxidase activity in leaves and stems as well as the proline in leaves was the only more general reaction to metal exposure. Upon analysis of the effects of soil metal contamination on V. faba plants, we recommend the use of some measurements such as guaiacol peroxidase activity and proline level as useful tools in biological monitoring

Detection of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in patients with ulcerative colitis

Purpose: Ulcerative colitis (UC) as a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), presumed to occur as a consequence of increased immune responses to intestinal microbiota in genetically susceptible individuals. Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) strains are important intestinal bacteria that can be involved in IBD. The aim of this study was to design a quantitative assay for detection of B. fragilis and ETBF and also to find their association with UC. Methods: Ninety-five biopsies were collected from patients with UC (n = 35) and with no IBD (nIBD, n = 60). All the specimens were cultured in Bacteroides bile esculin agar medium. Specific primers and probes were designed for quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) based on 16S rRNA and bft genes sequences of ETBF. Results: The bft genes were detected in 51.4% of UC samples and 1.6% of nIBD samples, respectively. In UC patients, 37.1% of samples with diarrhea and 11.4% of samples without diarrhea, harbored the bft gene. Mean value of the number of ETBF with bft gene in UC and nIBD samples were 4.46 ן 102 and 1.96, respectively. Likewise these result for 16S rRNA gene in UC and nIBD samples were 2.0 × 103 and 8.4 × 103, respectively. Conclusions: There was no significant association between presence and numbers of 16S rRNA gene of B. fragilis and UC. ETBF was detected more in UC specimens and biopsies of UC patients with diarrhea than in the control group. These data demonstrated that ETBF is associated with development of UC and as a causative agent for the development of diarrhea in these patients. © 2017 The Author(s)