Range extension of Trionyx spiniferus emoryi into Utah (Reptilia)

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Posttranslational modification of mammalian AP endonuclease (APE1)

A key issue in studying mammalian DNA base excision repair is how its component proteins respond to a plethora of cell-signaling mediators invoked by DNA damage and stress-inducing agents such as reactive oxygen species, and how the actions of individual BER proteins are attributed to cell survival or apoptotic/necrotic death. This article reviews the past and recent progress on posttranslational modification (PTM) of mammalian apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease 1 (APE1).     

ALCAM/CD166 adhesive function is regulated by the tetraspanin CD9

ALCAM/CD166 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules (Ig-CAMs) which mediates intercellular adhesion through either homophilic (ALCAM–ALCAM) or heterophilic (ALCAM–CD6) interactions. ALCAM-mediated adhesion is crucial in different physiological and pathological phenomena, with particular relevance in leukocyte extravasation, stabilization of the immunological synapse, T cell activation and proliferation and tumor growth and metastasis. Although the functional implications of ALCAM in these processes is well established, the mechanisms regulating its adhesive capacity remain obscure. Using confocal microscopy colocalization, and biochemical and functional analyses, we found that ALCAM directly associates with the tetraspanin CD9 on the leukocyte surface in protein complexes that also include the metalloproteinase ADAM17/TACE. The functional relevance of these interactions is evidenced by the CD9-induced upregulation of both homophilic and heterophilic ALCAM interactions, as reflected by increased ALCAM-mediated cell adhesion and T cell migration, activation and proliferation. The enhancement of ALCAM function induced by CD9 is mediated by a dual mechanism involving (1) augmented clustering of ALCAM molecules, and (2) upregulation of ALCAM surface expression due to inhibition of ADAM17 sheddase activity.     

Phoretic behaviour of Attacobius attarum (Roewer, 1935) (Araneae: Corinnidae: Corinninae) dispersion not associated with predation?

Attacobius attarum spiders exhibit a phoretic behaviour on the winged sexual of Atta leaf-cutting ants during their mating flight. However, it is unclear if this behaviour is for dispersion or to facilitate the predation of ants in the new colonies. A nest of Atta sexdens was monitored on the day of the mating flight, and the winged ants, as well as the spiders, were collected. The results obtained corroborate the hypothesis that phoretic behaviour is commonly used for dispersion of the spider A. attarum, predominantly females. Of these spiders, 64 individuals of A. attarium were collected, of which 62 were females (96.9%) and two were males (3.1%). Regarding the winged leaf-cutting ants sampled, 378 females and 361 males were collected, totaling 739 individuals. Of these, 64 individuals (8.7%) had a spider attached to its back for phoretic dispersal and none was observed on the queens after the nuptial flight. In our study, A. attarum females perform phoretic dispersal into the environment on winged leaf-cutting ants but do not settle in the new nests.     

HIV/AIDS: modified stem cells in the spotlight

Since HIV/AIDS was first recognized in 1981, an urgent need has existed for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat the disease. Due to the current antiretroviral therapy not being curative, human stem cell-based therapeutic intervention has emerged as an approach for its treatment. Genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) possess the potential to self-renew, reconstitute the immune system with HIV-resistant cells, and thus control, or even eliminate, viral replication. However, HSCs may be difficult to isolate in sufficient number from HIV-infected individuals for transplantation and/or re-infusion of autologous HSCs preparations would also include some contaminating HIV-infected cells. Furthermore, since genetic modification of HSCs is not completely efficient, the risk of providing unprotected immune cells to become new targets for HIV to infect could contribute to continued immune system failure. Therefore, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) should be considered a new potential source of cells to be engineered for HIV resistance and subsequently differentiated into clonal anti-HIV HSCs or hematopoietic progeny for transplant. In this article, we provide an overview of the current possible cellular therapies for treating HIV/AIDS.     

At the crossroads from Asia to Europe: spring migration of raptors and black storks in Dadia National Park (Greece)

Migrating raptors and black storks (Ciconia nigra) were studied in Dadia National Park, Greece, during spring 2003–2005. Vantage points and transects were used to evaluate magnitude, phenology, local variation and direction. We observed 23 species and 2030 individuals, including 715 common buzzards (Buteo buteo), 547 black storks and 136 short-toed eagles (Circaetus gallicus). Species-specific migration peaks were detected, starting in the second half of March, e.g. common buzzard, short-toed eagle, black stork, and ending early May, e.g. Levant sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes), red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus). Most raptors were observed in the Evros valley, which may function as a migration corridor. The average direction of passing raptors was north. Species’ proportions and phenology in the study area were similar to those in neighbouring Bosphorus and Marmara Flyways. Further migration monitoring should be established in the area, which will provide important information not least to inform wind farm development location.     

Air Pollution,Government Pollution Regulation,and Industrial Production in China

Over the last four decades, a severe deterioration in air quality has accompanied China's rapid industrialization. As a result, the Chinese government has implemented stricter policies and regulation to control air pollution. In this paper, the authors create a measure of government policies on air pollution by tracking all pollution-related government announcements in Chinese newspapers. The authors then use this variable, along with measures of actual pollution, to investigate how air pollution,industrial production, and government policies on air pollution are interrelated. The authors conduct this investigation nationwide, as well as in five large cities in China. A vector autoregression model suggests that, nationwide, government policies seem to decrease air pollution without significantly affecting industrial production. However, the effect appears to be short-lived, dissipating after a few months. In addition, the authors find that the dynamic relationship among these variables differs by city. For instance, following an adverse air quality shock in Beijing, government efforts to control pollution seem to have an ameliorating city-wide effect, decreasing local air pollution in subsequent months. In Shanghai and Guangzhou, while the local government reacts to adverse air pollution shocks,the ameliorating effects are not statistically significant. In Chengdu and Shenyang, the authors detect no significant local government reaction to adverse air pollution shocks. Moreover, in these cities, local government policies do not impart a statistically measurable effect on air pollution.