Chlorpyrifos degradation by combined solar photo-Fenton and bacterial metabolism and simultaneous toxicity analysis in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Chlorpyrifos (CP) is a widely used insecticide that has been used extensively, contributing towards a negative impact on public health concerns and associated ecosystems. Bioremediation is one of the key biological methods used for reducing these environmental toxicants. The present study examined the effectiveness of a combined process including solar photo-Fenton process followed by bacterial degradation using Ochrobactrum sp. CPD-03 for effective CP degradation in wastewater. Results showed that solar photo-Fenton treatment had CP degradation efficiency of ~42% in 4 h with a final degradation efficiency of ~92% in 96 h upon combined bacterial degradation. Simultaneous survivability of zebrafish (Danio rerio) was also studied during CP degradation. Compared to control, adult zebrafishes showed increased survivability following the addition of CPD-03 in water resulting a reduced CP concentration. CP toxicity in wastewater had caused acetylcholinesterase inhibition in zebrafish; however, this inhibition is due to absence of CP degrading bacteria. Therefore, a combined approach would influence for regulating CP degradation in wastewater along with simultaneous survival of Danio rerio.

Tanggap fungsional predator Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) dan Micraspis lineata (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) terhadap kutukebul Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) dan kutudaun Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and the aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) are important pests in tomato and chilli pepper. These pests directly attack and as a viral vector can decrease the production of tomato and chili pepper. Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) and Micraspis lineata (Thunberg) are predator beetles of B. tabaci and M. persicae. This study aimed to know the potential predation of M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata as a predator of B. tabaci and M. persicae. Completely randomized factorial design using 2 factors consist of type and density of prey with 3 replicates used in this study. The potency of predatory coccinellidae as predator of B. tabaci and M. persicae was evaluated in 2 observations, i.e. predation and functional response assay. Based on logistic regression analysis, both of M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata showed characteristic of type I functional, this means that the higher density of prey, the ability and predation rate of M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata were also increased. The predator M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata were more effective to control M. persicae than B. tabaci. M. sexmaculatus was the effective predator to control adult of M. persicae.

Haploinsufficiency of the mouse Tshz3 gene leads to kidney dysfunction

Renal tract defects and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) deficits represent the phenotypic core of the 19q12 deletion syndrome caused by the loss of one copy of the TSHZ3 gene. While a proportion of Tshz3 heterozygous (Tshz3+/lacZ) mice display ureteral defects, no kidney defects have been reported in these mice. The purpose of this study was to characterize the expression of Tshz3 in adult kidney as well as the renal physiological consequences of embryonic haploinsufficiency of Tshz3 by analyzing the morphology and function of Tshz3 heterozygous adult kidney. Here, we described Tshz3 expression in the smooth muscle and stromal cells lining the renal pelvis, the papilla and glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) of the adult kidney. Histological analysis showed that Tshz3+/lacZ adult kidney had an average of 29% fewer glomeruli than wild type kidney. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of Tshz3+/lacZ glomeruli revealed ultrastructural defects. Compared to wild type, Tshz3+/lacZ mice showed no difference in their urine parameters but lower blood urea, phosphates, magnesium and potassium at 2 months of age. At the molecular level, transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes related to inflammatory processes in Tshz3+/lacZ compare to wild type (WT; control) adult kidneys. Lastly, analysis of the urinary peptidome revealed 33 peptides associated with Tshz3+/lacZ adult mice. These results provide the first evidence that in the mouse Tshz3 haploinsufficiency leads to cellular, molecular and functional abnormalities in the adult mouse kidney.

A role for Sfrp2 in cardiomyogenesis in vivo

Cardiomyogenesis, the process by which the body generates cardiomyocytes, is poorly understood. We have recently shown that Sfrp2 promotes cardiomyogenesis in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine if Sfrp2 would similarly promote cardiomyogenesis in vivo. To test this hypothesis, we tracked multipotent cKit(+) cells in response to Sfrp2 treatment. In control adult mice, multipotent cKit(+) cells typically differentiated into endothelial cells but not cardiomyocytes. In contrast, Sfrp2 switched the fate of these cells. Following Sfrp2 injection, multipotent cKit(+) cells differentiated solely into cardiomyocytes. Sfrp2-derived cardiomyocytes integrated into the myocardium and exhibited identical physiological properties to preexisting native cardiomyocytes. The ability of Sfrp2 to promote cardiomyogenesis was further supported by tracking EdU-labeled cells. In addition, Sfrp2 did not promote the formation of new cardiomyocytes when the cKit(+) cell population was selectively ablated in vivo using a diphtheria toxin receptor–diphtheria toxin model. Notably, Sfrp2-induced cardiomyogenesis was associated with significant functional improvements in a cardiac injury model. In summary, our study further demonstrates the importance of Sfrp2 in cardiomyogenesis.

Levels of cross-resistance to pyrethroids conferred by the Vssc knockdown resistance allele 410L+1016I+1534C in Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti is a primary vector of viral pathogens and is responsible for millions of human infections annually that represent critical public health and economic costs. Pyrethroids are one of the most commonly used classes of insecticides to control adult A. aegypti. The insecticidal activity of pyrethroids depends on their ability to bind and disrupt the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC). In mosquitoes, a common mechanism of resistance to pyrethroids is due to mutations in Vssc (hereafter referred as knockdown resistance, kdr). In this study, we found that a kdr (410L+V1016I+1534C) allele was the main mechanism of resistance in a pyrethroid-resistant strain of A. aegypti collected in Colombia. To characterize the level of resistance these mutations confer, we isolated a pyrethroid resistant strain (LMRKDR:RK, LKR) that was congenic to the susceptible Rockefeller (ROCK) strain. The full-length cDNA of Vssc was cloned from LKR and no additional resistance mutations were present. The levels of resistance to different pyrethroids varied from 3.9- to 56-fold. We compared the levels of resistance to pyrethroids, DCJW and DDT between LKR and what was previously reported in two other congenic strains that share the same pyrethroid-susceptible background (the ROCK strain), but carry different kdr alleles (F1534C or S989P + V1016G). The resistance conferred by kdr alleles can vary depending on the stereochemistry of the pyrethroid. The 410L+1016I+1534C kdr allele does not confer higher levels of resistance to six of ten pyrethroids, relative to the 1534C allele. The importance of these results to understand the evolution of insecticide resistance and mosquito control are discussed.

Do floral resources affect fitness of adult Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus 1758) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)?

The introduction of flowering plants into orchards can increase functional biodiversity in pome fruit cultivation. Plants provide nectar, pollen and prey resources supporting pollinators and natural enemies. However, pests may also benefit from floral diets and a careful selection of plants is necessary to reduce any risk of pest proliferation. The codling moth Cydia pomonella is a major pest in apple growing worldwide and adults are known to consume sugars. The impact of floral diets (parsnip, wild carrot, coriander, red clover) on longevity, fecundity and fertility of adult codling moth was examined under laboratory conditions. In general, male moths lived longer than females, regardless of dietary treatments. Moths survived longest when supplied with parsnip flowers as a floral diet. Contrary to carrot, coriander resulted in higher longevity of adult C. pomonella compared to moths provided with red clover as a negative control. Adult nutrition on floral diets did not affect fecundity substantially. As expected, the majority of eggs were laid within the first week. Prolongation of moths’ lifespan by floral diets did not significantly increase the total number of eggs laid in contrast to a diet with 25% sucrose solution. According to these results, the risk of inadvertently promoting codling moth when growing selected flowering plants in the orchard will be rather low, because the fitness of the moths and especially the reproduction of the females will not be substantially enhanced.

Participation of Somatic Stem Cells, Recognized by a Unique A3 Antibody, in Mucosal Epithelial Regeneration in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)–Induced Rat Colonic Lesions

A3, generated as a monoclonal antibody against rat malignant fibrous histiocytoma cells, recognizes somatic stem cells in rats. We analyzed the distribution of A3-positive cells in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)–induced colonic lesions consisting of regenerating mucosa and fibrosis. Male 6-week-old F344 rats were administered 5% DSS in drinking water for 5 to 7 days, and lesions at recovery stage were also examined. In untreated control adult colons, A3-positive cells are localized around the crypts where stem cell niche is formed. Histopathologically, in colons of DSS-administered rats, mucosal atrophy, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis were observed in the lamina propria; thereafter, mucosal epithelia were desquamated, and crypts were decreased gradually with decrease in surrounding A3-positive cells. At the early recovery stage, crypts showed regeneration with reappearance of A3-positive cells. Interestingly, A3-positive cells aggregated in desquamated mucosa surface of fibrosis. Aggregated A3-positive cells coexpressed with vimentin, Thy-1, and partly CK19 but did not react simultaneously with α-SMA. Likely, aggregated A3-positive cells may be rescue cells with nature of both mesenchymal and epithelial cells to maintain self-renewal after injury in the colon. A3 antibody would become a useful tool to investigate the participation of stem cells in rat colonic lesions.

Comparison of microwave ablation and chemical cautery used to control adult idiopathic recurrent anterior epistaxis

ObjectiveThis study compared the efficacy of microwave ablation and silver nitrate cautery as treatments for idiopathic recurrent anterior epistaxis in adults.MethodsA case series with chart review was conducted. Adults with recurrent anterior epistaxis intra-operatively treated via microwave ablation or silver nitrate chemical cautery of the anterior nasal septum were enrolled. The primary outcomes were the proportion of patients in each group for whom bleeding ceased within 24 hours of treatment, and the time to successful haemostasis. The secondary outcomes were re-bleeding rates at 1 and 12 weeks and 6 months, and complications.ResultsThe haemostasis success rate within 24 hours’ treatment of convex lesions was significantly higher in the microwave ablation group than in the cautery-only group. Of patients with convex lesions, the recurrence rate to six months was significantly higher in the cautery group than in the microwave ablation group, but this was not the case for those with flat lesions.ConclusionMicrowave ablation afforded rapid and simple haemostasis for adults with recurrent anterior epistaxis in an out-patient setting. Microwave ablation had significant advantages compared to silver nitrate cautery when used to treat epistaxis in patients with convex lesions.