Another alien terrestrial planarian in the United Kingdom: Australopacifica atrata (Steel, 1897) (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Continenticola)

Black terrestrial planarians, 5 mm to 3 cm long, have been found in five locations in the United Kingdom, the earliest in 2015. They are identified as Australopacifica atrata (Steel, 1897), a species originally described from New South Wales, Australia. A detailed systematic discussion of original and later descriptions, all of which are of external features only and with no morphological details, is given in support of this identification. Sectioned specimens show partly mature ovaries and ventral testes though none show any development of the copulatory apparatus. They reproduce freely by fission. They appear to be generalist scavengers, having been found feeding on a dead slow worm, a dead mouse, an earthworm and also on rotten fruit. In captivity they feed on chicken liver, squashed slugs and earthworms. It is assumed that they have been inadvertently introduced to the UK and distributed through horticultural activity.

Deaminase-Dead Mouse APOBEC3 Is anIn VivoRetroviral Restriction Factor

ABSTRACTThe apolipoprotein B editing complex 3 (APOBEC3) proteins are potent retroviral restriction factors that are under strong positive selection, both in terms of gene copy number and sequence diversity. A common feature of all the members of the APOBEC3 family is the presence of one or two cytidine deamination domains, essential for cytidine deamination of retroviral reverse transcripts as well as packaging into virions. Several studies have indicated that human and mouse APOBEC3 proteins restrict retrovirus infection via cytidine deaminase (CD)-dependent and -independent means. To understand the relative contribution of CD-independent restrictionin vivo, we created strains of transgenic mice on an APOBEC3 knockout background that express a deaminase-dead mouse APOBEC3 due to point mutations in both CD domains (E73Q/E253Q). Here, we show that the CD-dead APOBEC3 can restrict murine retrovirusesin vivo. Moreover, unlike the wild-type protein, the mutant APOBEC3 is not packaged into virions but acts only as a cell-intrinsic restriction factor that blocks reverse transcription by incoming viruses. Finally, we show that wild-type and CD-dead mouse APOBEC3 can bind to murine leukemia virus (MLV) reverse transcriptase. Our findings suggest that the mouse APOBEC3 cytidine deaminase activity is not required for retrovirus restriction.IMPORTANCEAPOBEC3 proteins are important host cellular restriction factors essential for restricting retrovirus infection by causing mutations in the virus genome and by blocking reverse transcription. While both methods of restriction functionin vitro, little is known about their role duringin vivoinfection. By developing transgenic mice with mutations in the cytidine deamination domains needed for enzymatic activity and interaction with viral RNA, we show that APOBEC3 proteins can still restrictin vivoinfection by interacting with reverse transcriptase and blocking its activity. These studies demonstrate that APOBEC3 proteins have evolved multiple means for blocking retrovirus infection and that all of these means functionin vivo.

Does larder-hoarding affect the condition of chicks in urban kestrels?

Hoarding by urban kestrels and its subsequent exploitation significantly increases the frequency and regularity of feeding during the early stage of the nestling period. Twelve kestrels’ nests situated in various part of the city were chosen to test whether hoarding could affect the chicks’ condition. Four nests (with 22 nestlings) were provided with food — one dead mouse per chick per day (F group) and 8 (43 nestlings) were used as a control group (NF). Nestlings were weighed daily, and the length of their tarsus was also measured when the oldest chick in the nest was 11 days old. 50% of the NF nests experienced a decrease in the number of nestlings but no nestlings were lost in any of the F nests. However, no significant differences were found between the groups either in body mass or tarsus length. A possible reason was the behaviour of the adults which could be interpreted as the regulation of the frequency of prey delivery depending on its presence or absence in the nest.

Seasonal variability in brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) response to lures

In continuing investigations of brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, attraction to carrion odor, we hypothesized that the attractiveness of live or dead and visually apparent or concealed lures varies seasonally. We determined that lure condition (live or dead mouse lures) and sensory cues (visually apparent or concealed lure) interact among wet and dry seasons. Concealed carrion lures were more effective during the dry season than the wet season, but the effectiveness of live mouse lures showed less seasonal variability. We identified weather variables that covary with observed seasonal trends in capture rates and investigated the influence of recent feeding on snake response to lures. Data suggest that live mouse lure capture rates correlate with wind and dead mouse capture rates correlate with rainfall. Recently fed and satiated snakes were not less responsive to lures but were less active than unfed snakes. Snakes held for over 2 years were less responsive than recently captured snakes. More intensive studies will be required to determine cause-and-effect relationships between lure type, seasonality, and snake behavior.

CHANGES OF BLOOD PLASMA ELEMENT CONTENTS IN X-RAY IRRADIATED MICE BY PIXE ANALYSIS

The quantitative changes of elements in blood plasma were observed with the passage of time after X-ray whole body irradiation with 12 Gy on C57BL/6J mice by PIXE method. From 4 days after irradiation, dead mouse was found and all mice died by 8 days. Hematocrit (Ht) values indicated a decrease from the 1st day, but on days 3 and 4 there was a small rise. Finally the values became 64 % of that of non-irradiated control on day 7, it was just before death. By analysis with PIXE method, 15 elements were observable in blood plasma of control mice. The elements such as P, S, Cl, K, Ca and Cr were abundant and Fe and Br followed. As trace elements, the peaks of Zn, Cu and Ni were clearly observed. After irradiation, K and Ca decreased on day 1st, afterwards increased gradually. On the contrary, the elements, S, Cl, were rather stable. While Fe decreased from 1st day, Cu increased from the day 2. Zn and Ni showed intensely down and rise in amount, and decreased on day 7. The results of possible measurement of the changes in amount of these elements of blood plasma suggest PIXE method is an easy and useful way for diagnosis.