In memoriam Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Hildegard Strübing (8.5.1922 - 18.5.2013), with a complete bibliography

An obituary for Hildegard Strübing (1922 - 2013

Red list and checklist of the planthoppers and leafhoppers

Erstmalig wird für das Land Berlin eine Rote Liste der Zikaden vorgelegt, außerdem eine aktualisierte Gesamtartenliste. Von insgesamt 337 Arten gelten demnach 39 Arten als verschollen, 25 als vom Aussterben bedroht (Kategorie 1), 5 als stark gefährdet (Kategorie 2) und 15 als gefährdet (Kategorie 3). 20 Arten gelten als gefährdet mit unbekannten Ausmaß (Kategorie G), 14 Arten als extrem selten (Kategorie R), 12 Arten wurden auf die Vorwarnliste gesetzt (Kategorie V) und für 14 Arten wurde der Befund „Daten defizitär“ gestellt (Kategorie D). Für drei Arten wurde eine besondere Verantwortlichkeit Berlins festgestellt, die Schmuckseggenzirpe (Cicadula ornata), die Braune Kragenzirpe (Anoplotettix fuscovenosus) und die Dünenzirpe (Pinumius areatus). Die beiden erstgenannten kommen deutschlandweit nur in Berlin vor, die letztere weist hier Schwerpunktvorkommen auf.We present, for the first time, a Red List of the planthoppers and leafhoppers of the federal state of Berlin, as well as an updated checklist. Altogether 337 species have been recorded so far, 39 of them are considered as regionally extinct (category 0), 25 as critically endangered (category 1), 5 as endangered (category 2), 15 as vulnerable (category 3), 20 as indeterminate (category G), 14 rare (category R), 12 near-threatened (category V). The data base is deficient (category D) for 14 further species. Berlin is assigned a particular responsibility for conservation of Cicadula ornata, Anoplotettix fuscovenosus and Pinumius areatus. The first two species are in Germany so far only known from Berlin. For the latter species most recent German records are from Berlin

The nymph of Zyginella pulchra Löw, 1885: (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae)

Das fünfte Larvenstadium von Zyginella pulchra Löw (Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) wird beschrieben und mit anderen Laubgehölze besiedelnden Typhlocybinae verglichen.The 5th instar nymph of Zyginella pulchra Löw (Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) is described and compared with other tree-associated typhlocybine species

Zur Zikadenfauna der Kiesgrube Käppelin in Weil am Rhein (Baden-Württemberg): (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha)

In der Kiesgrube „Käppelin“ in Weil am Rhein wurde über mehrere Jahre die Zikadenfauna untersucht. Es konnten insgesamt 77 Arten nachgewiesen werden, darunter zwei Erstfunde für Deutschland (Empoasca decedens, Kybos digitatus) und zwei weitere für Baden-Württemberg (Macropsis remanei, Pentastiridius beieri). Außerdem kommen im Untersuchungsgebiet 10 Zikadenarten vor, welche auf der Roten Liste stehen (nur „harte“ Gefährdungskategorien). Die Mehrheit der dokumentierten Arten ist arboricol, besonders auf verschiedenen Weidenarten. Ferner können aus dem Gebiet mehrere wärmeliebende, südeuropäische Zikadenarten sowie drei Neozoen vermeldet werden. Die Kiesgrube „Käppelin“ ist jedoch vor allem von großer Bedeutung als Ersatzstandort für Arten, die na-türlicherweise die heute kaum mehr vorhandenen Kies- und Schotterbänke unregulierter Flüsse besiedeln.Contribution to the Auchenorrhyncha fauna of the gravel quarry “Käppelin” in Weil am Rhein (Baden-Württemberg, Germany). – The leafhopper and planthopper fauna of the gravel quarry "Käppelin" in Weil am Rhein (Baden-Württemberg. SW Germany) has been studied for several years. A total of 77 species has been reported, including two new species for Germany (Empoasca decedens, Kybos digitatus) and another two new species for Baden-Württemberg (Macropsis remanei, Pentastiridius beieri). Moreover, 10 of the reported species are listed as threatened according to the Red List. The majority of the collected species is arboricolous, particularly associated with willows. In addition, several xerothermophilous species from southern European and three invasive species were found. However, the gravel quarry "Käppelin" is especially important as a substitute habitat for species that natu-rally colonize the now barely existing gravel banks of unspoilt rivers

Courtship behaviour and vibrational communication of the planthopper Apartus michalki (Wagner, 1948): (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae)

Paarungsverhalten und Vibrationskommunikation von Apartus michalki (Wagner, 1948) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae). – Cixiidae benötigen, wie alle sich sexuell reprodu- zierende Taxa, eine Reihe von Erkennungsmerkmalen, um potentielle Paarungspartner zu identifizieren und zu lokalisieren (specific mate recognition system = SMRS). Zwar ist der Einsatz von akustischen und/oder substratgebundenen Signalen als Teil des SMRS bei Hemipteren bekannt und weit verbreitet, die Kenntnisse zum Paarungsverhalten bei Cixiiden sind jedoch noch lückenhaft. In diesem Beitrag dokumentieren wir zum ersten Mal die Vibrationskommunikation bei Apartus michalki zusammen mit weiteren Beobachtungen zum Paarungsverhalten dieser Art.Cixiidae require a set of clues in order to recognize and localize potential conspecific partners for mating (specific mate recognition system = SMRS). The use of acoustic and/or vibrational signals as part of the SMRS is ubiquitous in Hemiptera. However, the general knowledge of the mating behaviour of Cixiidae is still patchy. Here we report for the first time evidence for vibrational communication in Apartus michalki along with observations of the courtship behaviour

Fenretinide-induced caspase-8 activation and apoptosis in an established model of metastatic neuroblastoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Resistance of high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma (HR-NB) to high dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) raises a major therapeutic challenge in pediatric oncology. Patients are treated by maintenance CT. For some patients, an adjuvant retinoid therapy is proposed, such as the synthetic retinoid fenretinide (4-HPR), an apoptotic inducer. Recent studies demonstrated that NB metastasis process is enhanced by the loss of caspase-8 involved in the Integrin-Mediated Death (IMD) process. As the role of caspase-8 appears to be critical in preventing metastasis, we aimed at studying the effect of 4-HPR on caspase-8 expression in metastatic neuroblasts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used the human IGR-N-91 <it>MYCN</it>-amplified NB experimental model, able to disseminate <it>in vivo </it>from the primary nude mouse tumor xenograft (PTX) into myocardium (Myoc) and bone marrow (BM) of the animal. NB cell lines, <it>i.e.</it>, IGR-N-91 and SH-EP, were treated with various doses of Fenretinide (4-HPR), then cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTS proliferation assay, apoptosis by the propidium staining method, gene or protein expressions by RT-PCR and immunoblotting and caspases activity by colorimetric protease assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The IGR-N-91 parental cells do not express detectable caspase-8. However the PTX cells established from the primary tumor in the mouse, are caspase-8 positive. In contrast, metastatic BM and Myoc cells show a clear down-regulation of the caspase-8 expression. In parallel, the caspases -3, -9, -10, Bcl-2, or Bax expressions were unchanged. Our data show that in BM, compared to PTX cells, 4-HPR up-regulates caspase-8 expression that parallels a higher sensitivity to apoptotic cell death. Stable caspase-8-silenced SH-EP cells appear more resistant to 4-HPR-induced cell death compared to control SH-EP cells. Moreover, 4-HPR synergizes with drugs since apoptosis is restored in VP16- or TRAIL-resistant-BM cells. These results demonstrate that 4-HPR in up-regulating caspase-8 expression, restores and induces apoptotic cell death in metastatic neuroblasts through caspase-8 activation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study provides basic clues for using fenretinide in clinical treatment of HR-NB patients. Moreover, since 4-HPR induces cell death in caspase-8 negative NB, it also challenges the concept of including 4-HPR in the induction of CT of these patients.</p

Dr. Sabine Walter zum 70. Geburtstag

Dr. Sabine Walter zum 70. Geburtstag&nbsp;For the 70th birthday of Dr. Sabine Walte

Zur Fauna der Zikaden, Wanzen und Augenfliegen des Kaiserstuhls: (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha et Heteroptera; Diptera: Pipunculidae)

On the fauna of hemipteran bugs (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha et Heteroptera) and big-headed flies (Diptera: Pipunculidae) of the Kaiserstuhl, southwestern Germany. – Field records of 157 Auchenorrhyncha species gathered on field excursionsto five sites in the Kaiserstuhl Hill during the 9th Auchenorrhyncha Meeting, June 14th - 15th 2002, are presented. Particularly noteworthy was the first German record of the leafhopper Arocephalus sagittarius Rib., which was so far only known from southwestern Europe, and the very rare Edwardsiana smreczynskii Dwor., which is known only from less than 10 localities in Poland, Slowakia, Germany, Switzerland and France. Two further species, which are known in Germany only from this locality, notably Cixidia pilatoi D'Urso &amp; Gugl. and Phlepsius intricatus (H.-S.), were no more found