Genetic variability of dairy cattle breeds in Lithuania

Large numbers of different scientific studies are conducted to preserve the breeds and improve the existing ones by introducing the variability of the plate genes, which best shows the phenotypic characteristics that can improve the health of dairy cattle and the quality of their production. The main purpose of this study was to perform an analysis of genetic variability of Lithuanian cattle breeds. Three subpopulation groups were studied: Lithuanian Black and White (95 individuals), Lithuanian Red (49), and Lithuanian White and Red (48). Bovine genetic material was genotyped using a total of 11 fluorescent microsatellite primers to estimate genetic variability. All loci presented a high degree of polymorphism and a total of 292 different alleles (Na) were detected. Thirty-two private alleles were detected in all evaluated subpopulations. After completing pairwise population assignment, which is based on the distribution of allelic frequencies, three populations showed the tendency to group into three separate clusters. However, the performed Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA), which is based on genetic distances, showed no anticipated clear grouping. Bayesian structure analysis revealed three genetic clusters. Analysis of FST (0.001–0.027) and Nei genetic distance (0.029–0.084) revealed that the genetic diversity of inter subpopulation in cattle groups was estimated to be lower than the genetic diversity of intra subpopulation.

Contribution to the knowledge of the terrestrial isopod fauna of Lithuania

The present survey provides records on terrestrial isopods from southern and north-western parts of Lithuania. Isopods were sampled manually by checking substrates in eight habitats (several types of forest and anthropogenic environment) between 2014 and 2016. In total, seven species were recorded. The common European species Trachelipus rathkii was noted as the most frequent isopod in all studied habitats from southern Lithuania. Porcellionides pruinosus, found in the habitat of anthropogenic activity, was recorded for the first time from Lithuania. Based on the data of the present study and previous surveys, the 14 species of terrestrial isopods are recorded in Lithuania and the current state of knowledge about Lithuanian isopod is summarised.

Differentiation of Paratischeria and Neotischeria gen. nov. (Lepidoptera, Tischeriidae), with a description of new, mostly Asteraceae-feeding species from Central and South America

We describe a new genus, Neotischeria Diškus & Stonis, gen. nov., and four new species of trumpet moths. Three of them are trophically associated with Asteraceae plants: Neotischeria ochripennata Diškus & Remeikis, sp. nov. and N. longa Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., discovered from the western part of the equatorial Andes, N. conexa Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., discovered from the eastern part of the central Andes, and N. poseidonia Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., discovered from Guatemala (the host plant is unknown; it is presumed to be a Malvaceae plant). We briefly discuss the diagnostics of Neotischeria gen. nov. by differentiating it from the most similar Paratischeria Diškus & Stonis and Astrotischeria Puplesis & Diškus. We also newly combine seven formerly Paratischeria species, including P. neotropicana Diškus & Stonis, with Neotischeria and designate the latter species as the type species of a new genus. The new species are illustrated with photographs of the male and, if available, the female genitalia and the leaf mines. We also provide the first documentation of the hitherto little-known Peruvian Neotischeria capnota (Meyrick) deposited at NHMUK (London).

Taxonomic papers as published products of the biodiversity inventory: if not the Impact Factor (IF) or Quartiles (Q), then what determines their importance estimated on the basis of the Research Interest Score?

This study is uniquely based on the Research Interest Score (RGRI) and not on other existing bibliometric criteria for evaluation of published biological inventory products (articles and monographs). RGRI is a ResearchGate.net score that measures scientists’ interest in the publication and is based on its citations, recommendations, and reads. Our data revealed that high RGRI scores of publications were generally not determined by the journal’s Impact Factor (IF) or high quartiles (Q). However, open access to publications undoubtedly creates the strongest preconditions for the rise of RGRI. The importance and popularity of a publications can also be affected by its various other characteristics, for example, international collaboration of authors, ecological issues such as plant-insect interactions, and even the wording of the publication title.

Investigation of mTOR, JAK/STAT, and Hedgehog pathways inhibitor effect on the proliferation of haematological cancer cell lines

Constitutively activated JAK/STAT signaling pathway is a common feature of the BCR/ABL-negative classic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). JAK2 small-molecule inhibitors have been proven to be clinically efficacious; however, they are not mutation-specific and competent enough to suppress neoplastic clonal haematopoiesis. There is a need for exploring new therapeutic strategies for MPN. Additional signaling systems, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Hedgehog, are a potential treatment target. The aim of this study was to characterise and compare the effects of specific JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and Hedgehog signaling inhibitors in haematological cell cultures. JAK2 p.V617F mutated SET-2 and JAK2 wild-type UT-7 human cell lines were employed in our study. The effect of specific signaling pathway inhibitors was studied as time- and dose-response experiments. Viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion and alamarBlue assays. IC50 values were used to compare the effectiveness of inhibitors in decreasing cell viability. Independent sample t-test was used for statistical comparisons between experimental groups. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Our results indicate that all specific inhibitors progressively reduced the number of viable cells as the concentration and exposure duration increased. Inhibitors impaired the proliferation of JAK2 mutated cells at significantly lower doses compared to wild-type JAK2 cell line. These in vitro data indicate that JAK/STAT and alternative PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Hedgehog inhibitors have a potential anti-proliferative efficacy. Future studies, involving direct screening of PI3K/Akt/ mTOR, JAK/STAT, and Hedgehog signaling molecules activity, at gene and protein level in cell-based MPN model, are required.

Morphometric measurements of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)(L., 1758) in Lithuania

In Lithuania, the number of European pond turtles Emys orbicularis decreased between 1975 and 2010, but increased significantly between 2010 and 2014, when the LIFE project was implemented. During this project, an ecological network was created, habitats were restored in protected areas, and European pond turtle nesting areas were protected from predators. Very few morphometric measurements of European pond turtles are carried out in Lithuania. The purpose of this study was to perform morphometric measurements, assess migration, spread, and morphometric size variation. Morphometric measurements of juvenile European pond turtles showed that the morphometric indicators depended on the place of habitation: males from Juodabalė Zoological Reserve (Meteliai Regional Park) are smaller than females. Also, female turtles from Meteliai Regional Park are larger than both males and females from Kučiuliškė Herpetological Reserve. When comparing the morphometric indicators of males and females at ten months of age, sexual dimorphism is already observed: the shell height, the width of the head, carapace, and plastron of a females are already bigger than those of males.

Bartonella spp. in cats

Bartonella spp. are gram-negative, haemotropic bacteria infecting both a wide range of animals and humans. The currently known vectors of Bartonella spp. are fleas, ticks, lice, and sand flies. Domestic cats are the main reservoir for B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, and B. koehlerae. Bartonella infections in cats vary from mild to deadly and, since they usually have no specific symptoms, they are often underestimated. This review provides information on Bartonella infections in cats, their biology, and pathogenicity.

Re-examination of the previously neglected Central Asian Bucculatrix macrognathos and the consequent transfer of this species to Aristotelia, Gelechiidae, with a synonymisation of A. tyttha, syn. nov.

Recent morphological re-examination of the previously neglected Central Asian Bucculatrix macrognathos Puplesis & Diškus, 1996 revealed that this species actually belonged to Aristotelia Hübner, Gelechiidae and resulted in the synonymisation of another Central Asian species, A. tyttha Falkovitsh & Bidzilya, 2003, syn. nov. The paper provides, for the first time, a photographic documentation of the male genitalia of Aristotelia macrognathos (Puplesis & Diškus) (comb. nov.). The female genitalia are also described and illustrated for the first time.

Utilization of spare substances of Zea mays L. seeds during germination under the combined effect of growth regulators and presence or absence of light

Functional changes in the source-sink system of maize sprouts under combination of external (light/dark) and hormonal (gibberellic acid/retardant) factors during germination were studied. It was found that the phytohormone action significantly increased the coleoptile, root and seedling length, dry matter mass of organs, both in light and in dark. Tebuconazole caused the opposite effect due to its retardant action. The inactivation of endogenous phytohormone was confirmed by less intensive use of seed substances, the minimum dry matter of root and coleoptile and lower reserve utilization rates under tebuconazole influence, in particular under photomorphogenesis condition. The non-maximum mass of cotyledons may indicate a kind of optimization of use of reserves under tebuconazole treatment. Gibberellin stimulated starch breakdown in both light and dark, but starch usage was higher in dark. The lower content of sugar in the seeds of skotomorphic plants in control and under gibberellin action was explained by intense outflow for the organogenesis needs. Gibberellin stimulated the hydrolysis of reserve protein after intensive starch hydrolysis in dark. Specific gibberellin regulation of phosphorus outflow for the organogenesis processes under the photo- and skotomorphogenesis conditions and no regulation for potassium under photomorphogenesis conditions were found.

Substitutions of the NBS1 gene and clinicopathological characteristics of young breast cancer patients

The purpose of this study was to determine characteristics potentially related to NBS1 mutations and polymorphisms in young (≤50 years of age) breast cancer patients. Blood from 80 breast cancer patients was collected. NBS1 mutations c.657_661del, p.R215W, p.I171V, and polymorphisms c.8360G>C, c.30537G>C were genotyped by the PCR-RFLP method. Two-sided Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the odds ratio. No carriers of the c.657_661del, p.R215W and p.I171V mutations were found. NBS1 c.8360G>C logistic regression analysis showed that GC and CC genotypes compared with GG genotype had decreased risk of low grade tumour, 2.885-fold (OR = 2.885, 95% CI 0.173–0.735, P = 0.005) and 2.186-fold (OR = 2.186, 95% CI 0.188–0.888, P = 0.024), respectively. 8360 CC genotype (OR = 3.034, 95% CI 0.156–0.778, P = 0.010) significantly increased the chances of HER2 amplification compared to GG genotype. NBS1 8360 GC genotype had a higher risk for breast cancer progression (OR = 1.673, 95% CI 0.233–0.915, P = 0.027). The homozygote 8360 CC carriers had approximately a six times higher risk for the disease progress (OR = 5.946, 95% CI 0.098–0.585, P = 0.002). The prevalence of triple negative breast cancer type was significantly higher in individuals with NBS1 8360 CC genotype (OR = 2.186, 95% CI 0.188–0.888, P = 0.024). Regarding c.30537G>C polymorphism, none of the genotypes had a significant influence on pathological characteristics. NBS1 gene c.8360G>C polymorphism might be associated with breast cancer aggressiveness in young breast cancer patients.