Genetic Diversity of the Surubim-Do-Iguaçu, a Giant Catfish Species Threatened with Extinction: Recommendations for Species Conservation

Steindachneridion melanodermatum is the largest catfish of the Lower Iguaçu River and is endangered due to the habitat fragmentation caused by dams. Currently, the wild population’s last refuge is restricted to an area of 190 km. This study presents the first analysis of its genetic diversity and population structure, using microsatellite loci and mtDNA. The population has an adequate level of genetic diversity, but signs of a recent bottleneck were observed. The Baixo Iguaçu Hydroelectric Power Plant has recently fragmented the population and threatened it with extinction in a reduced area of nearly 30 km. Based on our results, we strongly advise against the stocking of breeding specimens below the Salto Caxias HPP to not compromise the integrity of the native gene pools at the receptor sites. In addition, we recommend manual fish transposition, trap-and-haul, to maintain the genetic connectivity of individuals upstream and downstream of the dam as a conservation strategy. Furthermore, studies on behavior and swimming capacities, and suitable fishways for this species must be developed. We strongly recommend that the Lower Iguaçu River and its tributaries be protected and preserved as free from additional barriers to prevent future habitat disruption for the benefit of S. melanodermatum and several other endemic and endangered species.

Evaluating mitigation translocations for better biodiversity outcomes

<p>The expansion of urban areas and associated loss of natural areas due to development are greatly contributing to global biodiversity loss. Furthermore, development produces direct harm to wildlife and their habitat. In New Zealand, lizards and their habitat are legally protected and damage due to development of a natural area must be avoided or mitigated whenever possible. Mitigation translocations, the intentional relocation of individuals from the site to be developed to a receptor site, have become commonly used to meet legal obligations; however, mitigation translocations do not guarantee survival of individuals or population success at the receptor site. I aimed to evaluate the success of a mitigation translocation case study, proactively plan receptor sites for a mitigation translocation, and develop a framework for selecting and preparing receptor sites to provide better mitigation translocation outcomes, particularly for herpetofauna. I evaluated the short-term success of a mitigation translocation case study using results from post-release monitoring at receptor sites. This is one of the first studies to provide multiple post-release monitoring sessions and detail recapture rates and body condition changes of lizards at receptor sites with and without resident populations following mitigation translocation. I expanded upon commonly used receptor site selection criteria and translocation data management systems by proactively studying and preparing receptor sites in regional parks, including conducting pilot surveys to evaluate resident populations. Recapture rates were similar between receptor sites (9% and 11.8%) and the limited number of recaptured individuals showed an increase in body condition from the time of salvage to intervals of one- and two-years post-release. Presence of residents was not found to have an effect on recapture rates or body condition changes. Implementation of enhanced site selection criteria resulted in approval of six sites within three protected areas for future mitigation translocations. These sites had low numbers of resident lizards present, if at all. A geodatabase was developed to store results from receptor site evaluations before and after translocation. Together, the improved criteria and geodatabase fit into a framework for selecting and preparing receptor sites to improve outcomes of mitigation translocations of herpetofauna. The framework produced has potential to be used at a national level, in collaboration with ecologists, iwi, and community groups, and for a variety of species. Mitigation translocations should be re-evaluated as the go-to method to mitigate damage to lizards due to development; however, if they must continue, it is essential that best practices are used, and results are published so that outcomes can improve for biodiversity.</p>

Evaluating mitigation translocations for better biodiversity outcomes

<p>The expansion of urban areas and associated loss of natural areas due to development are greatly contributing to global biodiversity loss. Furthermore, development produces direct harm to wildlife and their habitat. In New Zealand, lizards and their habitat are legally protected and damage due to development of a natural area must be avoided or mitigated whenever possible. Mitigation translocations, the intentional relocation of individuals from the site to be developed to a receptor site, have become commonly used to meet legal obligations; however, mitigation translocations do not guarantee survival of individuals or population success at the receptor site. I aimed to evaluate the success of a mitigation translocation case study, proactively plan receptor sites for a mitigation translocation, and develop a framework for selecting and preparing receptor sites to provide better mitigation translocation outcomes, particularly for herpetofauna. I evaluated the short-term success of a mitigation translocation case study using results from post-release monitoring at receptor sites. This is one of the first studies to provide multiple post-release monitoring sessions and detail recapture rates and body condition changes of lizards at receptor sites with and without resident populations following mitigation translocation. I expanded upon commonly used receptor site selection criteria and translocation data management systems by proactively studying and preparing receptor sites in regional parks, including conducting pilot surveys to evaluate resident populations. Recapture rates were similar between receptor sites (9% and 11.8%) and the limited number of recaptured individuals showed an increase in body condition from the time of salvage to intervals of one- and two-years post-release. Presence of residents was not found to have an effect on recapture rates or body condition changes. Implementation of enhanced site selection criteria resulted in approval of six sites within three protected areas for future mitigation translocations. These sites had low numbers of resident lizards present, if at all. A geodatabase was developed to store results from receptor site evaluations before and after translocation. Together, the improved criteria and geodatabase fit into a framework for selecting and preparing receptor sites to improve outcomes of mitigation translocations of herpetofauna. The framework produced has potential to be used at a national level, in collaboration with ecologists, iwi, and community groups, and for a variety of species. Mitigation translocations should be re-evaluated as the go-to method to mitigate damage to lizards due to development; however, if they must continue, it is essential that best practices are used, and results are published so that outcomes can improve for biodiversity.</p>

Natural Compounds as Target Biomolecules in Cellular Adhesion and Migration: From Biomolecular Stimulation to Label-Free Discovery and Bioactivity-Based Isolation

Plants and fungi can be used for medical applications because of their accumulation of special bioactive metabolites. These substances might be beneficial to human health, exerting also anti-inflammatory and anticancer (antiproliferative) effects. We propose that they are mediated by influencing cellular adhesion and migration via various signaling pathways and by directly inactivating key cell adhesion surface receptor sites. The evidence for this proposition is reviewed (by summarizing the natural metabolites and their effects influencing cellular adhesion and migration), along with the classical measuring techniques used to gain such evidence. We systematize existing knowledge concerning the mechanisms of how natural metabolites affect adhesion and movement, and their role in gene expression as well. We conclude by highlighting the possibilities to screen natural compounds faster and more easily by applying new label-free methods, which also enable a far greater degree of quantification than the conventional methods used hitherto. We have systematically classified recent studies regarding the effects of natural compounds on cellular adhesion and movement, characterizing the active substances according to their organismal origin (plants, animals or fungi). Finally, we also summarize the results of recent studies and experiments on SARS-CoV-2 treatments by natural extracts affecting mainly the adhesion and entry of the virus.

RISPR-Cas9: a weapon against COVID-19

In current pandemic circumstances, novel coronavirus is a salutary challenge for all over the world and coronavirus used the host cell for replication. Coronavirus usually use the host cellular products to perform their basic functions. Various specific target sites also present in coronavirus proteins for target-specific therapy such as small inhibitor molecule for viral polymerase or prevent the attachment of viruses to the receptor sites for vaccination purpose. The virus attaches to ACE2 receptors and uses enzyme to cleave translated products which encodes for various enzymes like RNA polymerase, helicase etc. The system needs some processes which lead for the disturbance and make the virus unable to replicate. The recombinant DNA technology makes a great advancement in every field of life with a number of importance in agriculture, industries, and clinics. It is used to manipulate the genetic material of living organism for the purpose of producing desirable products such as disease resistant crops, treatment of cancer, genetic disease and viral disease. Thus, for the purpose of antiviral strategies, the specific technique called CRISPR/Cas9 is used, and this technique has the capability to target specific nucleotide sequence inside the genome of coronavirus.

High levels of pyrethroid resistance and super-kdr mutations in the populations of tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus, in Iran

Background The tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus, is an important ectoparasite causing various health problems. This species is mainly confined to tropical regions; however, insecticide resistance, global warming, and globalization have changed its distribution map. Molecular information on pyrethroid resistance, which is essential for the development of control programs, is unknown for C. hemipterus in expanded areas. The present study was designed to determine the permethrin resistance status, characterize the pyrethroid receptor sites in voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene, and identify the resistance-related mutations in the populations of tropical bed bug in Iran. Methods Live bed bugs were collected, and adults of C. hemipterus were selected for bioassay and molecular surveys. Bioassay was performed by tarsal contact with permethrin 0.75% in mixed-sex of samples. Conventional and quantitative TaqMan and SYBR Green real-time PCR assays were conducted to characterize the vgsc gene and genotypes of studied populations. Results In the bioassay tests, the mortality rates were in the range of 30.7–38.7% and 56.2–77.4% in 24 and 48 h, respectively. The knockdown rates of studied populations were in the range of 32.2–46.6% and 61.5–83.8% in the first and second days, respectively. The KT50 and KT90 values in the Cimex lectularius Kh1 strain were presented as 5.39 and 15.55 h, respectively. These values in the selected populations of C. hemipterus varied from 27.9 to 29.5 and from 82.8 to 104.4 h, respectively. Knockdown time ratios (KR50 and KR90) in these populations varied from 5.17 to 6.17-fold compared with those of the C. lectularius Kh1 strain. Fragments of vgsc gene with 355 bp and 812 bp were amplified. Analysis of sequences revealed the A468T substitution, kdr-associated D953G, and super-kdr M918I and L1014F mutations in all populations. Conclusions The specific/sensitive, safe, and rapid diagnostic assays developed in this study are recommended for detection of kdr/super-kdr mutations and frequency of mutant alleles. The presence of super-kdr mutations and high resistance to permethrin in all the populations necessitate the reconsideration of control approaches against C. hemipterus. Graphical Abstract

Case Report: Can Inhaled Adenosine Attenuate COVID-19?

This case report demonstrates a small repetition of the case series carried out in Italy wherein inhaled adenosine was administered to patients experiencing severe and worsening coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The two cases are important not only because they were the first of their type in the United States, but also because both patients were DNR/DNI and were therefore expected to die. Study repetition is vitally important in medicine. New work in pharmacology hypothesizes that adenosine-regulator proteins may play a role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, adenosine, by interacting with cell receptor sites, has pluripotent effects upon inflammatory cells, is anti-inflammatory, and is important in tissue hypoxia signaling. Inhaled adenosine is potentially safe; thousands have received it for asthmatic challenge testing. The effects of adenosine in these two cases were rapid, positive, and fit the pharmacologic hypotheses (as seen in prior work in this journal) and support its role as a therapeutic nucleoside.

Dynamic navigation and technical improvements in zygomatic surgery

The rehabilitation of the severely atrophied edentulous maxilla poses a great challenge to surgeons and prosthodontics that work on this particular area. The classic approach implies bone augmentation techniques by means of bone grafting, bone distraction techniques, tilted and short implants. All of these require major surgery, sometimes associated with morbidity at donor and receptor sites and functional rehabilitation of the patient must occur in two surgical stages. Since the development of the zygomatic implants by Per-Ingvar Branemark, there’s an alternative to bone grafting techniques, using the body of the zygomatic bone as major point of anchorage to an intraoral osteointegrated implant. This procedure allows the patient to regain orofacial function in only one surgical stage, with high predictability, less morbidity, time spend and costs. In this scientific article the authors present a set of technical improvements in the zygomatic implant (S.I.N. - Implant System, São Paulo, Brazil) in combination with a new dynamic navigation system called StealthStation™ (Medtronic, Dublin, Irland) used for the first time in this type of surgery.

Low-Cost Laser Micromachining Super Hydrophilic–Super Hydrophobic Microgrooves for Robotic Capillary Micromanipulation of Microfibers

Capillary self-alignment technique can achieve highly accurate and fast alignment of micro components. Capillary self-alignment technique relies on the confinement of liquid droplets at receptor sites where hydrophobic–hydrophilic patterns are widely used. This paper reports a low-cost microsecond pulse laser micromachining method for fabrication of super hydrophilic–super hydrophobic grooves as receptor sites for capillary self-alignment of microfibers. We investigated the influence of major manufacturing parameters on groove sizes and wetting properties. The effects of the width (20 µm–100 µm) and depth (8 µm–36 µm) of the groove on the volume of water droplet contained inside the groove were also investigated. We show that by altering scanning speed, using a de-focused laser beam, we can modify the wetting properties of the microgrooves from 10° to 120° in terms of the contact angle. We demonstrated that different types of microfibers including natural and artificial microfibers can self-align to the size matching super hydrophilic–super hydrophobic microgrooves. The results show that super hydrophilic–super hydrophobic microgrooves have great potential in microfiber micromanipulation applications such as natural microfiber categorization, fiber-based microsensor construction, and fiber-enforced material development.

SARS-CoV-2 genome variants epidemiology surveillance in Ethiopia and dynamic mutational changes of structural S Spike protein through computational analysis

Objective: This study aims to identify the variants of SARS-CoV-2 that were circulating in Ethiopia and spot dynamic mutational changes of spike antigenicity based on genome data analysis to put forward preventative measurement against pandemic. Results: The SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Ethiopia were confirmed to be evolutionary related to RaTG13 and SL- bat coronavirus and Spike receptor sites were conserved. The clade distribution of the genome was reflected as GH, GR and other O and intended for new variants. 3 female samples were detected as Variants of Interest VUI202012/01GRY B.1.1.7 which Pango linage B.1.1.7 was originated from the UK. Despite 21 notable mutations, 71% D614G, 28% D614X, 35% N501Y and 21% NSP5-S284G mutation occurred predominantly in our genome samples and could have antigenicity and infectivity effects. Mutation on N440K was perceived as antigenic-drift in a sample and potency resist SER-52 antibody neutralization and vaccine escape.