Genetic structure of Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations from Turkey revealed by mitochondrial DNA markers

Ceratitis capitata is one among the most destructive and economically important agricultural pests worldwide. Despite its economic significance, the population structures of this pest have remained relatively unexplored in the eastern Mediterranean basin. Using two mitochondrial markers, the present study aimed to examining the population genetic structure and diversity of C. capitata populations in Turkey, the region that covers a large part of the eastern Mediterranean area. Our results revealed that the Turkish Mediterranean fruit fly populations are characterized by low levels of genetic diversity and limited population differentiation. For comparison purposes, wemerged the sequences identified in the present study with the previously reported sequences from acrossthe world into the data matrix. The haplotype network showed that, unlike the African samples the Mediterranean samples and samples from the new world (America, Pacific region and Australia) did not show any clear pattern of geographical structuring, which indicates that the Mediterranean basin, particularly the eastern Mediterranean region populations, may have played a moreimportant role in the colonization of C. capitata populations to the new world. The results also revealed a close genetic relationship between the Turkish and Iranian populations, suggesting that the Iranian C. capitata populations probably originated from Turkey.

Discovery of new bioactive natural products from fungi of unique ecological niches / 国际药学研究杂志

The biodiversity of fungi in taxonomy and the biotopes in which they inhabit leads to the production of a variety of secondary metabolites that display a broad range of bioactivities, from which some very important medicines have been discovered. Even though the fungal secondary metabolites are an important source of drug leads, it has become increasingly difficult to discover new natural product scaffolds due to extensive screening of common soil fungi. Those special types of fungi have been largely neglected, presumably due to the difficulty in collecting and culturing of the organisms. Therefore, fungi of significantly underexplored taxonomic and ecological groups provide limitless metabolic potential for the production of new bioactive natural products, and systematic investigations of these fungal species will definitely play a key role in the discovery of new drug leads and understanding the chemical and biological bases for their living strategies. During the past four years, our research group has mainly focused on special types of fungi as sources of new bioactive metabolites, such as the endophytic fungi and the Cordyceps-colonizing fungi. Some results from this work are summarized herein.

Composição e diversidade de anfíbios anuros em dois ambientes de Mata Atlântica no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil / Composition and diversity of A nuran amphibians in two Atlantic Forest environments in Southeastern Brazil, Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, São Paulo, Brazil

A Mata Atlântica é caracterizada pela elevada riqueza e endemismo de espécies, e é um dos 25 hotspots de biodiversidade mundiais. Apresentamos informações sobre a composição e diversidade de espécies de anfíbios anuros em dois ambientes com diferentes graus de perturbação no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, SP, uma área de Mata Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil. Amostramos um açude em área alterada e uma lagoa em área preservada, através de procura auditiva e encontros ocasionais em 36 noites de observação em cada ambiente. As duas áreas foram comparadas em relação à composição, riqueza, dominância e abundância relativa de espécies. Apesar de próximos, cerca de 400 m, apenas duas espécies foram comuns aos dois ambientes. Na área alterada registramos 10 espécies (N = 518) e dominância de 46,7 por cento de Hypsiboas albopunctatus, e na área preservada 11 espécies (N = 656) e dominância de 36,0 por cento de Dendropsophus giesleri. A riqueza não foi significativamente diferente nos dois ambientes. A dominância estimada por rarefação na área preservada foi significativamente menor em relação à observada na área alterada. A capacidade das populações de algumas espécies em colonizar a área alterada, tolerâncias fisiológicas distintas entre as espécies e a dependência de microambientes específicos para a reprodução são possíveis fatores responsáveis pelos padrões observados. Sugerimos que alterações adicionais da cobertura original de Mata Atlântica na reserva poderão resultar em um decréscimo na diversidade alfa, devido a eliminação de espécies ecologicamente dependentes de ambientes florestais, e um conseqüente aumento na diversidade beta, resultante da colonização de espécies de área alterada ecologicamente mais generalistas. A riqueza ligeiramente maior e principalmente a menor dominância observada na área preservada indicam ser esta uma área que apresenta maior diversidade de espécies. Assim, a presença de florestas pouco perturbadas e/ou conservadas...

The Atlantic Forest is characterized by its high species richness and endemism, and is one of the 25 hotspots of biodiversity around the world. We present information on composition and diversity of anuran amphibians in two environments with different degrees of disturbance in Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, São Paulo state, an area of Atlantic Rain Forest in southeastern Brazil. We sampled an artificial pond in a disturbed area and a pond in a preserved area by audio sampling and incidental encounters, in 36 nights in each habitat. We compared the species composition, richness, dominance, and relative abundance between the two habitats. Despite distant only ca. 400 m, we recorded only two species in common between the two habitats. We recorded in the disturbed area 10 species (N = 518) with 46.7 percent of dominance of Hypsiboas albopunctatus; and in the preserved habitat we recorded 11 species (N = 656) with 36.0 percent of dominance of Dendropsophus giesleri. Richness was not significantly different between the habitats. The estimated dominance by rarefaction in the preserved habitat was significantly lower than that in the disturbed habitat. The capability of some species populations in colonizing the disturbed habitat, the distinct physiological tolerance among species, and the dependence on specific microhabitats for reproduction are possible factors related to the observed patterns. We suggest that additional alterations of the Atlantic Forest cover inside the reserve might result in a decrease of alpha-diversity by eliminating forest dependent species, as well as a consequently increase in beta-diversity by the colonization of open area species that are ecologically more generalist. The slightly higher richness and mainly lower dominance observed in the preserved area indicate it is the habitat with higher species diversity. Thus, the presence of old-growth and/or conserved forests in the reserve is essential to maintain the local...

Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Colonizing in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Rats Brain / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)colonization in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE)rats brain.Methods Models of 7-day-old newborn rats with HIE brain injury were established.Meanwhile,on the same day,MSCs were transplanted with Hoechst 33258 for 24 hours into rats models marked by flurescent nucleotide dye injected through caudal vein or with stereotactic instrument.After 15-30 days,then MSCs were detected with fluorescene microscope.Results With the improved rice methods,HIE animal model was successfully attained.Majority of MSCs were distributed in the cortex,hippocampus of the lesioned hemisphere,especially in the forehead.And abtained a good fusion with HIE rats brain tissue.Conclusion Human umbilical cord blood MSCs can be cultured,when transplanted into the HIE rats model,they can move into intracranial,and integer with rats brain tissue.