Volume 71, Issue 11

The staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) element can carry resistance genes to antibiotics, disinfectants, and heavy metals, contributing to the survival of strains in the environment and causing difficulties in the treatment of staphylococcal infections. Methicillin resistance in staphylococci, which is of particular clinical significance, is encoded by staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec ). Despite the importance of the SCC element and description of multiple nucleotide sequences, the information about its origin and evolution is still scarce. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of SCC elements that is unique in the use of whole SCC sequences. A phylogenetic tree for a noteworthy number of 81 SCC elements based on global sequence alignment was constructed. The SCC clustering did not reflect the genetic relationships of bacteria containing the SCC elements, but was done according to type, determined by the combination of mec gene complex class and ccr gene complex type. The results emphasise the horizontal gene transfer as a means of spread of SCC elements in bacterial strains. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of SCC emergence, evolution, and dissemination.

There is an increasing demand for novel antibiotics that are highly effective, but simultaneously reveal minimal side effects. Currently, major sources of antibiotics are found among bacterial genus Streptomyces and among fungal genera Penicillium and Aspergillus. Chaetomium represents the largest genus of the family Chaetomiaceae actually containing more than 100 described species. This rather complex genus has been reported as a rich source of secondary metabolite products with important biological activities, such as enzyme-inhibitory, antitumour, cytotoxic, antimalarial and also antibiotic effects. One of them, chaetomin, a part of Chaetomium cochliodes antimicrobial equipment was discovered already in the early period of antibiotics discovery, but later not investigated in sufficient detail. In this contribution we have studied Chaetomium cochliodes Palliser CCM F-232 for its possible antibacterial properties. For comparisons, a closely related fungus Chaetomium globosum was also employed. Antibacterial properties of Chaetomium sp. were tested on natural bacterial isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis . We performed several antimicrobial tests with a correlating output. Antibacterial effects of these filamentous fungi were demonstrated either by the presence of susceptibility zones on solid agar media in the case of S. aureus or by growth inhibition in liquid broth in the case of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis .

Aegilops longissima (2 n = 2 x = 14, S l S l ), has extensive allelic variations of glutenin subunits that are considered as useful gene sources for wheat quality improvement. The Chinese Spring 1S l (1B) chromosome substitution line CS-1S l (1B)showed superior dough properties and breadmaking quality due to the introgression of novel glutenin subunits encoded by 1S l genome. In this study, we identified one novel 1S l -encoded low molecular weight glutenin B-subunit 1S l LMW-s from CS-1S l (1B). Its complete encoding sequences were isolated and designated as 1S l LMW-s with 960 bp encoding 318 amino acid residues. Molecular characterization demonstrated that the deduced 1S l LMW-s subunit had a rather large and regular repeated sequence domain, including a high proportion of glutamine residues (about 44%) in the repeats (consensus sequence PPFSQQQQ). A total of 31 SNPs were detected at different positions of encoding sequences. The secondary structure prediction revealed higher β -strand and α -helix content present in 1S l LMW-s. Phylogenetic tree revealed that 1S l LMW-s had close evolutionary relationship with other s-type low molecular weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GSs) genes from different Triticum and Aegilops genomes, which was divergent from LMW-s type gene subfamily at 3.92–5.23 million years ago (MYA). LMW-GSs play a key role in improving breadmaking quality. Abundant expression and specific structural features could contribute to superior gluten quality, including larger and more regular repeated domain, higher proportion of glutamine residues and higher β -strand and α -helix content. This could facilitate the formation of stronger dough structure and superior breadmaking quality. Our work demonstrated that S l genome had potential glutenin gene resources, and particularly 1S l LMW-s gene could be useful for wheat quality improvement

Plants, as most eukaryotic organisms, harbor several genes encoding a reverse transcriptase domain. The majority of them are part of transposable elements (TEs) and/or retroviral genomes that have been inserted into their genomes. However, there are some examples of RT domain-containing genes that have been endogenized during plant evolution; these genes appear to display functions other than “selfish” maintenance and replication of TEs, and subjected to host gene regulation. In the present work we have analyzed a subset of genes in Arabidopsis with an RT domain (RVT) containing a zinc finger motif (Znf), termed RVT-Znf domain, with structural characteristics of endogenous genes i.e., contain potential upstream regions as well as 5’UTR, and 3’UTR, and are not flanked by retroelement features. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes, based on the RVT-Znf domain, indicates that there are three clades, the members of which having additional domains. When compared to additional sequences, RVT-Znf formed a cluster that is more closely related to non-LTR retrotransposons and group II introns. Extant data from microarray databases indicate that several Arabidopsis genes are expressed. These data indicate that these RTs may have been endogenized. Possible roles for these genes are discussed.

Guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) plays an essential role in regulating the forms of Rac/Rop between GDP-bound inactivity and GTP-bound activity in plants. In this paper, we reported a stress-responsive GDI gene ( OsRhoGDI2 ) from rice ( Oryza sativa L.). We analyzed the transcript levels of OsRhoGDI2 gene in various tissues, organs, and developmental stages to obtain information about its function. We further researched the expression patterns of OsRhoGDI2 gene in response to abiotic stress signals. qRT-PCR demonstrated that OsRhoGDI2 was distinctly expressed in various plant tissues and organs at different levels. The expression of OsRhoGDI2 was also highly salty and drought inducible, it also moderately responded to Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA), abscisic acid (ABA), and Indole-3-acetic Acid (IAA), treatment but was only slightly affected by 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments. Nevertheless, reduced expression conferred hypersensitivity to gibberellin (GA) stress in rice. The promoter of OsRhoGDI2 gene was used to drive β -glucuronidase ( GUS ) gene expression. Results of GUS histochemical staining showed the tissue-specific expression patterns of OsRhoGDI2 , and GUS gene expression in two-week-old transgenic rice seedling exhibited relatively similar patterns under different stresses of the transgenic rice lines. These results provided insights into the characteristics and roles of the OsRhoGDI2 gene during development and strongly suggested that OsRhoGDI2 may play direct or indirect roles in the tolerance to different stresses in rice and may serve as a basis for further functional studies.

Genetics and chemicals relatedness among three Euphorbia species ( Euphorbia prostrata Aiton, Euphorbia peplus L . and Euphorbia terracina L.) were analysed by RAPD, ISSR markers and GC-MS technique. RAPD profiling pattern revealed that E. peplus and E . terracina in one cluster with similarity value (44.37%) while the lowest value (29.14%) between E. prostrata and E . terracina . ISSR profiling pattern revealed that E . prostrata and E . terracina in one cluster with similarity value (46.75%) and the lowest similarity value (37.87%) between E . prostrata and E . peplus . The sum results of RAPD and ISSR data revealed that E . peplus and E . terracina in one cluster with similarity value (44.69%) while the lowest value (36.88%) between E . prostrata and E . peplus . Sixty-eight chemicals pattern revealed that E . prostrata and E . peplus in one cluster with similarity value (39.71%) while the lowest value (25.0%) between E . prostrata and E . terracina . Super tree (RAPD, ISSR and phytocomponents) revealed that E . peplus and E . terracina in one cluster with similarity value (43.04%) while the lowest value (36.08%) between E . terracina and E . prostrata . In conclusion, biosystematics tools including biomarkers and chemical compounds can be applied to investigate relatedness of Euphorbia species and probably to other plant taxa.

Well-preserved habitats provide us with insights into natural Chilopoda communities, which is an important reference point for comparison, bioindication, and protection purposes. The forest-steppe nature reserve “Bielinek” is one of the most precious natural sites in Poland. The plant cover of the reserve is of a relict type – it has survived since the postglacial climatic optimum. Qualitative and quantitative studies on Chilopoda resulted in the collection of 2,690 specimens of 14 species from three orders: Lithobiomorpha (7 species), Geophilomorpha (6), and Scolopendromorpha (1). The diversity of habitats to a small extent affect the species composition of Chilopoda – the number of species reported from wetter sites (elm forest, beech forest) was 12, whereas in the dry xerothermic slope 9 species were found. The most numerous and the most common species were Schendyla nemorensis , Lithobius forficatus , Geophilus truncorum , G. flavus , and Lithobius agilis . The superdominant position in the community was occupied by S. nemorensis , whereas eudominants included G. flavus , G. truncorum , L. agilis , and Cryptops hortensis . The dominance structures were subject to seasonal changes, and they were the most distinct in summer and winter. The average density of centipedes was 59.8 specimens m −2 (min 10 – max 207). The centipede community in the “Bielinek” should be considered as relict. The obtained results significantly expand our knowledge on the Central European centipede communities. They constitute valuable material for bioindication and environmental protection purposes.

Aphis craccivora and Aphis fabae were found to infest broad bean in Egypt. Aphis craccivora was found to be more dominant than A. fabae; A. craccivora was collected from nine locations that represented different agroecosystems in Egypt. At the same time, A. fabae was found in one location only. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in mtDNA Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) were used to differentiate A. fabae and geographically related populations of A. craccivora in Egypt. For this purpose COI primers were designed and registered in GenBank. The primers were successful in detecting genetic variations between both related Aphis species as well as among different geographic populations of A. craccivora . Fourteen SNPs were found to differ among two biotypes of A. craccivora in the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt, probably due to environmental variations in the two different ecosystems.

This paper presents a study of the composition of Carabidae and Scarabaeidae among other surface-active Coleoptera along with their seasonal fluctuation, species richness and relative abundance in three alfalfa hay fields from Kopais Valley (Greece) over a period of systematic samplings (June 2008 to May 2010). Field A was cut monthly (about 4 times per year) and field B bimonthly (3 times), although no field was sprayed. Field C was cut monthly and sprayed with the insecticide bifenthrin three times during the growing season. In total, 48 species of soil Coleoptera belonging to 11 families (particularly Carabidae and Scarabaeidae) were recorded. The family Carabidae was dominated by autumn breeders, with a spring and autumn activity-density peak. Agricultural management did not cause differences in the estimated number of species.

We compared the macro-moth assemblages of four forests from which one is extended on the Ukrainian and three on the Hungarian side of the Bereg lowland, and additionally one in the adjacent part of the Hungarian plain (NE of Carpathian Basin). The data were collected by light trapping during at least in five years in all sites. Numerous faunistically significant and/or rare species were recorded. The species composition, faunal types and ecological components were rather similar in all sites, dominated by widely distributed Euro-Siberian species but with considerable participation of Boreo-Continental and Holo-Mediterranean – West Asiatic species. Considering the ecological connections of the species, the largest part of the assemblage is composed by species of different types of deciduous forests (oak woods and hardwood gallery forests) but also with significant proportion of wetland components (marshy-boggy habitats and tall forb communities) and generalist species. The similarity of the species composition proved to be high in all dominant taxonomical groups (Geometridae, Erebidae and Noctuidae, including the most diverse subfamilies). Several species have high conservation significance.

Alluvial forests of southeastern Moravia and adjacent Slovakia and Austria have frequent massive mosquito outbreaks due to flooding from the Morava and Dyje rivers. Flooding occurs almost regularly in spring due to snowmelt and irregularly in summer after heavy rain. Mosquito occurrence after spring flooding is less serious and involves several species. Much greater occurrence is seen after summer flooding. Calamities in such periods are caused mainly by Aedes sticticus and Ae. vexans . Flooding at the turn of summer to autumn is rare and, when it does occur, usually is not followed by substantial increases in mosquito abundance. Mosquito numbers rapidly decline during October, with captures at the month’s end only in exceptionally warm autumns. In 2014, however, summer-type weather accompanied by heavy storms continued through mid-September. Subsequent temperatures were above the monthly average, leading to an additional mosquito generation and calamity. Mosquito activity was comparable with that of summer calamities. The dominant species was Ae. vexans , an important vector of several diseases in the area, mainly virus Ťahyňa. It is thus apparent that late floods concurrent with exceptionally warm weather can bring a mosquito calamity under Central European conditions even in autumn.

The relationship between the temperature, the precipitation of the breeding season’s months, and the annual proportions of the first year birds such as the indicators of the breeding success were examined by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) having targeted nine common passerine species. The results of our study have shown that the high April and May temperature has been favourable for the breeding of the partial and the short-distance migrants, the common blackbird (Turdus merula ) and the Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) . This is confirmed by the fact that the highest annual capture (164) of the hatching year of the Eurasian blackcap was in 2009, when there was the mildest April during the study period (13.57°C), while the lowest annual capture (15) was in 2002, when there was the second coolest April (9.78°C). The common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) was a wet spring-tolerant species. There was negative correlation between April, May, June temperature and proportion of young great tit. The relationships between the annual captures of first year birds and the climate variables could not be identified with the methods used for the European robin (Erithacus rubecula) , the common whitethroat (Sylvia communis) , the lesser whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) and the blue tit (Parus caeruleus) . The temperature in July was the most important climate factor for the breeding success of the long-distance migrant European pied flycatcher (Fycedula hypoleuca) .

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of application of exogenous hyaluronic acid (HA) of various molecular weights on the cells of human immune system. Two cell lines HL-60 and U-937 with various ability to differentiation were chosen. HL-60 cells were differentiated to macrophages and granulocytes, whereas U-937 only to macrophages. For all investigated cell systems the most cytotoxic effect, indicated as a decrease of cell viability, was found at HA dose equal to 200 mg/L. However, greater effect was observed for differentiated cells and at longer exposure to HA. The possibility of HA interaction with both specific receptors and membrane lipids was tested by determination of biotin-labelled HA binding to cell surface and analysis of physicochemical parameters of model membranes.