Biosystems Diversity (E-Journal - Dnipro National University)
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Antimicrobial and therapeutic effect of probiotics in cases of experimental purulent wounds
Get PDFProbiotics based on bacteria of the genus Bacillus with a multifactorial mechanism of action are considered as a possible alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of purulent wounds. The aim of the study was to determine the antimicrobial and therapeutic effect of the Arederma probiotic preparation containing probiotic strains of the genus Bacillus in an experimental model of a purulent wound in animals. The antimicrobial efficacy of the probiotic against test strains and clinical isolates of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms was studied using the method of delayed antagonism. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Streptococcus pyogenes K-7 were used to model a purulent wound. From the surface of the wounds, bacteria of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas genera and Enterobacteriaceae family were sown on appropriate selective media for the cultivation and enumeration of different groups of microorganisms by generally accepted microbiological research methods. The formation of a purulent wound in rabbits caused by mechanical skin damage and subsequent double infection with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Streptococcus pyogenes K-7 strains was accompanied with a pronounced inflammatory process, necrosis, the formation of purulent exudate and general intoxication. Representatives of the genera Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, microscopic fungi and, to a lesser extent, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas were found on the surface of purulent wounds, which confirmed the development of the infectious-inflammatory process. Treatment of purulent wounds with a suspension of probiotic preparation once a day for 4 days led to their faster healing (gradual attenuation of the inflammatory process, reduction of edema and discharge, as well as their disappearance) compared with untreated purulent wounds (control). Representatives of the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus genera, as well as microscopic fungi, presented in purulent wounds treated with probiotic preparation in much smaller numbers than in the control, and bacteria of the Pseudomonas genus and the Enterobacteriaceae family were not detected at all. The effective antimicrobial effect of this probiotic preparation against opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms was confirmed by in vitro studies. Therefore, the Arederma probiotic preparation showed an effective therapeutic and antimicrobial effect in the experimental model of a purulent wound in animals, so it can be recommended for further preclinical and clinical studies
Composition of pigment complex in leaves of soybean plants, inoculated by Bradyrhizobium japonicum, subject to metal nanocarboxylates and various-levels of water supply
Get PDFA distinctive feature of legumes is the ability to combine two most important processes: photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. However, the course of those processes, and therefore seed potential of those crops depend on a number of biotic and abiotic factors, the commonest being drought. Therefore, interest in physical-biochemical resistance of the plant organism to abiotic stress factors is increasing, as well as search for optimum ways to increase its adaptability. Success of adaptation of a plant’s organism to unfavourable environmental factors is known to largely depend on optimal functioning of assimilative apparatus. Some indicators of the condition of the apparatus are the content and ratio of photosynthesis pigments. Therefore, we aimed at determining the reaction of the pigment complex of Glycine max (L.) Merr. plants, grown against the background of optimal and insufficient watering, to inoculation of seeds with rhizobia bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum, cultivated using nanocarboxylates of chromium, cobalt, iron, copper and germanium. Research has shown that utilization of germanium nanocarboxylate as a component of inoculative suspension led to the highest content of chlorophylls in leaves of soybean of the studied variants in the blossoming phase during optimal watering, as well as significant increase in the content of carotenoids compared with the control plants regardless of the level of watering. At the same time, this element caused no significant effect on the chlorophyll content in plants grown in drought. It was confirmed that among soybean plants that were in stress conditions (blossoming phase) for two weeks, the highest content of chlorophylls was in leaves of plants grown from seeds inoculated with rhizobial suspension with addition of chromium and copper nanocarboxylates, which caused 25.3% and 22.8% increase in chlorophyll а, 29.4% and 32.3% in chlorophyll b and 26.4%% and 23.8% in them respectively, compared with the control. Furthermore, chromium and copper nanocarboxylates stimulated the content of carotenoids in the same plants, though it was less expressed than after adding germanium nanocarboxylate. The highest content of photosynthetic pigments in plants after the watering was resumed (phase of bean formation) was in cases of applying chromium and germanium nanocarboxylates. It was confirmed that the most efficient way to protect the pigment complex of soybean plants during drought was using chromium and germanium nanocarboxylates as components of inoculation suspension. The results we obtained indicate the possibility of applying chromium nanocarboxylate in the technology of cultivating soybean in the conditions of water deficiency as an effective way to improve biosynthesis of chlorophylls, as well as using germanium nanocarboxyllate as a component that provides a high level of activity of protective mechanisms of the pigment system of soybean, associated with resisting stress caused by water deficiency
New finds of naked amoebae
Get PDFFindings of naked amoebae in various habitats of Ukraine and other territories are presented. Saccamoeba sp., Thecamoeba similis (Greeff, 1891) Lepşi, 1960, Vexillifera bacillipedes Page, 1969, Vannella lata Page, 1988, Acanthamoeba sp., Willaertia magna De Jonckheere, Dive, Pussard & Vickerman, 1984 were identified based on morphological data and molecular genetic research methods. All these species of amoebae are characterized according to our own observations and measurements and the published data. The amoebae we found belong to three classes (Tubulinea, Discosea, Heterolobosea), six orders (Euamoebida, Thecamoebida, Dactylopodida, Vannellida, Centramoebida, Schizopyrenida), six families (Hartmannellidae, Thecamoebidae, Vexilliferidae, Vannellidae, Acanthamoebidae, Vahlkampfiidae) and six genera (Saccamoeba, Thecamoeba, Vexillifera, Vannella, Acanthamoeba, Willaertia). W. magna was the least common in water bodies of different regions of Ukraine; Saccamoeba sp., V. bacillipedes in the studied water bodies are either uncommon species or occupy the middle position in terms of frequency of occurrence In the water bodies of Ukraine T. similis, V. lata, Acanthamoeba sp. are both the least common and the most common species, or occupy the middle position in terms of frequency of occurrence. The following ecological groups of naked amoebae have been identified in relation to temperature: eurythermal, psychrophilic stenothermal, thermophilic stenothermal. In relation to the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water: euryoxidic and stenooxidic. Three species of amoebae can withstand either a wide range of values of organic substances dissolved in water, or belong to stenobiont species. The recorded amoebae belong to monotactic (Saccamoeba sp.), striate (T. similis), dactylopodial (V. bacillipedes), fan-shaped (V. lata), acanthopodial (Acanthamoeba sp.) and eruptive (W. magna) morphotypes
Molecular revision of Rhagiini sensu lato (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae): Paraphyly, intricate evolution and novel taxonomy
Get PDFDue to classical taxonomy, the subfamily Lepturinae is divided into two large tribes Rhagiini s.l. and Lepturini s.l. However, this division is clearly artificial and does not correspond to the evolutionary relationships between the groups of genera with different morphologies that are part of these two tribes. However, there is a consensus among researchers supporting the monophyly of Lepturini s.l. while there is no such consensus for Rhagiini s.l. Over the past three decades, there have been several attempts to revise the tribe Rhagiini s.l. and divide it into smaller tribes. These attempts were somewhat successful based on larval and adult morphology. In general, eight tribes are distinguished within Rhagiini s.l. These include Teledapini, Xylosteini, Encyclopini, Oxymirini, Enoploderini, Rhamnusiini, Rhagiini and Sachalinobiini. However, the new system of Rhagiini s.l. is not always unambiguously accepted by different researchers, which causes discussions among experts. First of all, this is due to the fact that this system is only partially natural and far from fully reflects the phylogeny not only of Rhagiini s.l., but also of entire subfamily Lepturinae. In addition to the classical morphologic methods of studies, the use of the modern molecular phylogenetic methods opens up wide prospects for solving this puzzle. However, there have been very few such studies. Moreover, all of them were based on the use of only one gene. In this study, I used a general time-reversible (GTR) model of sequence evolution based on three mitochondrial (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, COI) and two nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA) genes. My analysis yielded a well-resolved phylogenetic maximum likelihood tree, which clearly demonstrates the paraphyly of Rhagiini s.l. It consists of at least three clades representing different and distantly related evolutionary branches: 1) PaRh, 2) OSaXyR-SEP, 3) GAC. The extant Rhagiini s.l. are mostly heterogeneous relict groups with an intricate evolutionary and phylogeographic history. Most of these groups are represented by one or very few species, often isolated geographically on different continents. In particular, numerous cases of parallel and convergent evolution and homoplasy, a chimeric combination of plesiomorphic and apomorphic morphological characters, were found in all clades. Therefore, the evolutionary "tree" of Rhagiini s.l. is more like a "bush" with numerous relict branches. Finally, I proposed a new taxonomic model of Rhagiini s.l., which is the most consistent with their natural phylogeny, with new developments in nomenclature
Vegetation of the southern part of the Caspian Coast and its nutritional value
Get PDFTo provide the food safety of the population around the globe, including Azerbaijan, it is relevant to develop scientific and practical basics for preservation of natural forage plants, efficient use, improvement of biodiversity, and also prevention of degradation processes in phytodiversity. From this perspective, the composition of vegetation is important for assessing the dynamics of productivity, quality of feeds, norms of cattle grazing and parameters of ecological evaluation of plants and soils which are common in the grazing area, in meadow-steppe phytocenoses, which are a valuable resource of livestock breeding on the Caspian Coast. We analyzed the parameters of meadow-steppe vegetation, common in yellow-podzolized soils. Meadow-steppe vegetation that is used as a natural feeding ground varies by species composition, structure of communities and productivity
Application of remote sensing data for monitoring eutrophication of floodplain water bodies
Get PDFThe aim of this article was to investigate the influence of structural features of the floodplain water network on the spatial and temporal dynamics of chlorophyll-a concentration as an indicator of eutrophication. The research was conducted in the waters of the “Dnipro-Orilskiy” Nature Reserve. The geographic information base with polygonal objects which represented water bodies of the reserve was created on the basis of detailed geographical maps and the high resolution space images. The water bodies were characterized using such parameters as the distance of the water body centroid from the nearest shore of the Dnipro River, the area of the water body, the order of the water body and the connectivity of the water body. Chlorophyll-а concentration was estimated based on the surface algal bloom index. The information was obtained about 148 water bodies, 141 of which are water bodies in the floodplain of the Dnipro River. The area of floodplain water bodies within the reserve was 3.28 million m2. The area of floodplain water bodies ranged from 300–232,500 m2. Trophic State Index allows us to estimate the trophic level of Dnipro River waters as mesotrophic, water bodies of first and second order as eutrophic, and water bodies of third and fourth order as hypereutrophic. The dynamics of chlorophyll-a content in water followed the seasonal course of temperatures. The concentration was lowest in the cold period of the year and reached its maximum in the second half of summer. The autumn decrease occurred at the end of September. The seasonal course of air temperature was superimposed on the peculiarities of the temperature regime of a particular water body, which depended on its depth and flow rate. The time, water body area, distance from the Dnipro River channel, connectivity and order of water bodies were the statistically significant predictors of chlorophyll concentration in water and were able to explain 85% of the variation of this indicator. The increase in chlorophyll-a concentration with increasing order of a water body is due to a decrease in the intensity of water exchange and a decrease in the depth of water bodies of higher order. An increase in the order of a water body is accompanied by a branching network of water bodies, the ability of water bodies to clear sediments decreases. Sediment accumulation leads to a decrease in their depth. Warming of shallow ponds and accumulation of organic matter in them are factors of intensive growth of blue-green algae. The evacuation of surplus organic matter, which results from mass vegetation development with excessive nutrient inputs, is a key driver of the eutrophic regime of water bodies. The increasing importance of regulatory processes develops in agreement with an increase in chlorophyll-a concentration in a water body. The importance of the considered factors reaches the highest level in summer time, when simultaneous maximum warming of water bodies and minimum water level in them take place. Accordingly, the differences between deep and relatively cool water bodies and shallow water bodies that warm up quickly, which significantly stimulates the growth of organic mass, reach the greatest contrast. The spatial patterns of variation in chlorophyll-a concentration have a complex multiscale structure, indicating the multiple nature of the acting factors. The spatial variability was represented as a composition of broad-scale and medium-scale spatial processes. The broad-scale process is most dependent on connectivity, whereas for the medium-scale process the leading one is the effect of water body order
Urban park layers: Spatial variation in plant community structure
Get PDFHorizontal structure of natural plant communities attracted the attention of researchers for a long time, while the problem of horizontal structure of urban park plantations was not studied sufficiently. Species richness of different tiers of park plantation in the large industrial city of Dnipro (Ukraine) was revealed in this study. Also features of variation in the structure of plant communities at different spatial levels were revealed, the influence of park plantation canopy on the understory and herbaceous layer of the park. There were 30 plant species in the tree layer of the park plantation. The most common species were Robinia pseudoacacia L., Acer platanoides L., A. negundo L., Gleditsia triacanthos L., Aesculus hippocastanum L., Populus carolinensis Moench. The variance-to-mean ratio revealed that 13 tree species were randomly distributed throughout the park, and 14 species were aggregated. The number of occurrences of a given tree species per site and variance-to-mean ratio were positively correlated. The numerous tree species showed a tendency of aggregated distribution within the park. Sixteen plant species were found in the understory. Among them, the most abundant species were Acer platanoides L., A. negundo L., A. pseudoplatanus L., Sambucus nigra L., Robinia pseudoacacia L. Eight species were found to be randomly distributed over the park area, and eight species showed an aggregate distribution. The number of species encountered in the understory and variance-to-mean ratio were positively correlated. In the herbaceous stand, 99 plant species were found, of which Chelidonium majus L., Viola odorata L., Impatiens parviflora DC., Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch., Geum urbanum L. predominated. The variance-to-mean ratio of all species was significantly less than unity, indicating regular spatial distribution. The values of alpha- and gamma-diversity of the plant community in separate layers are very different. The highest gamma diversity was found for the herbaceous stand, while the diversity of the tree stand and understory was significantly lower. Alpha biodiversity of the tree stand and the understory did not practically differ. Beta diversity values between the layers are very close, and beta diversity is practically equal for tree stand and herbaceous layer. Thus, we can assume that the mechanisms of species turnover for the plant communities of different layers are determined by the common causes. The spatial broad-scale component was able to explain 8.2% of community variation, the medium-scale component was able to explain 4.2% of community variation, and the fine-scale component was able to explain 0.7% of community variation. The understory is the most sensitive to the environmental factors, the herbaceous stand is somewhat less sensitive, and the tree stand is the least sensitive to the environmental factors. The environmental factors in this study are represented by a set of variables. The spatial variation of the stand is predominantly influenced by the factors of trophicity and moisture of the edaphotope. These same factors also act on the herbaceous stand and understory, but along with them are included the environmental variables, which are determined by the architectonics of the crown space and thus the light regime, which is regulated by the tree stand. It is important to note that the variation of the communities of the different layers of the park plantation is subject to spatial patterns. The herbaceous and understory variation is more spatially structured than the tree stand variation. The spatial patterns can arise as a result of the influence of spatially structured environmental factors and as a result of factors of a neutral nature. The latter aspect of variation is best described by the pure spatial component of community variation
Distribution and management of Fallopia japonica in riparian biotopes in Slovakia and Austria
Get PDFGlobally, invasive species represent a serious threat to biodiversity and to the ecosystem. As an undesirable part of riparian ecosystems, invasive plants form continuous growths on the banks of watercourses. One of the biggest problems at river bank sites is Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr, which is an extremely invasive and aggressive weed. The topic of the interaction of flow and invasive plant species in shore stands is rich and presents a wide range of possibilities for research. The presented paper brings the results of our studies on the invasions of F. japonica in chosen riparian vegetation sites in Austria and Slovakia from 2011–2020 (36 stands). Our research was aimed at the survey on the changes in the distribution (spread) of F. japonica at the selected river sites; assessment of the impact of the watercourse regime on the spread of F. japonica; monitoring of the population growth dynamics of F. japonica and assessment of possibilities for effective eradication of F. japonica in context of the riparian vegetation management. We used standard techniques of field survey, mapping, flow modeling/simulation, and laboratory experiments. Our research results showed that water streams are not primary invasion starters until there is a flood. As long as flooding does not exceed the critical speed of the water stream, there is no direct damage to the invasive plant. The water body can be a secondary trigger for plant invasion at normal speeds. In addition, F. japonica reproduction ability directly conditions its population dynamic growth. We can report that selective invasion removal adapted to local conditions can be most suitable and beneficial for municipalities
Features of the exogenic development of Passalurus ambiguus (Nematoda, Oxyuroidae) at different temperature regimes
Get PDFPassalurosis is a prevalent disease among helminthiases of domestic rabbits. This invasion is caused by the nematode Passalurus ambiguus (Nematoda, Oxyuroidae), which is cosmopolitan and localized in the cecum and colon of rabbits. Passalurosis is highly contagious and capable of unlimited spread, due to the biological characteristics of its pathogen, such as the conditions that ensure maximum preservation of parasites at exogenous stages of their development. Experimental research in the laboratory established the timing of development of P. ambiguus eggs isolated from the gonads of female helminths, depending on temperature regimes and features of their growth and development. According to the morphological features of Passalurus eggs, four stages were distinguished in their exogenous development: zygote, cleavage and formation of blastomeres, formation of larvae and motile larvae. Depending on the cultivation temperature, the duration of embryogenesis ranged from 4 to 9 days, and egg viability ranged from 59.3% to 72.7%. The most favourable temperature regime for the development of P. ambiguus eggs was the temperature of 35 °C, at which 72.7% of eggs with motile larvae were formed within 4 days. At this temperature, the zygote stage lasted for 1 day of cultivation, the stage of cleaving and formation of blastomeres occurred on days 1–2, the stage of larval formation on days 1–3, and the stage of formation of motile larva on days 3–4. At lower temperatures, the term of development of Passalurus eggs increased, and the number of viable eggs decreased. At temperatures of 30 °С and 25 °С, the development of Passalurus eggs took place during 5 and 7 days, respectively, and the viability was 66.7% and 62.7%. At these temperatures, the zygote stage lasted 1–2 and 1–3 days, the stage of cleaving and formation of blastomeres occurred on days 1–3 and 1–4, the stage of larval formation lasted from days 2–4 and 2–6, and the stage of formation of motile larvae took place on days 3–5 and 4–7, respectively. The least favourable temperature for the development of P. ambiguus eggs was the temperature of 20 °С, at which the formation of motile larvae occurred in 9 days, and their viability was only 59.3%. At this temperature, the zygote stage lasted 1–4 days, the stage of cleaving and blastomere formation occurred on days 2–6, and the larval formation stage on days 3–8, and the motile larval stage happened on days 5–9. The growth and development of P. ambiguus eggs was accompanied by significant changes in morphometric parameters, such as the increase in egg width and thinning of egg shell at the egg shell plug. The obtained data will allow preventive measures to be effectively implemented on rabbit farms that are susceptible to pinworms, taking into account the terms of exogenous development of pathogens in different seasons
The quantitative composition of micromycetes under cereal crops in chernozem soils in the Left-Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine
Get PDFSoil microorganisms are an important component of agrocenoses, which due to physiological and genetic features respond quickly to changes in the quality of the soil environment. Each plant in the rhizosphere forms a specific composition of the microflora which depends on the phase of plant development and soil-climatic conditions. The objective of our study was the quantitative composition of ecological and trophic groups of rhizosphere soil micromycetes of different crops in chernozem soils in the Left-Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. According to the results of research, it was determined that the rhizosphere soil under different crops – winter wheat, rye and oats in Chernihiv region – is characterized by the largest number of pedotrophic micromycetes. This indicates that the soil contains a sufficient amount of organic matter. The rhizosphere soils under winter wheat and spring barley in Kiev region were characterized by a larger number of pathogenic micromycetes and amylolytic and cellulolytic ecological-trophic groups. This indicates the intensive use of plant protection products. The rhizosphere soil under onions in experimental fields in Kharkiv region was characterized by a high number of the cellulolytic group. This indicates the presence of cellulose-destroying microorganisms. According to the results of statistical analysis, it was found that the number of micromycetes in the rhizosphere soil of the studied varieties of crops was in direct correlation with the value of the hydrothermal coefficient (НTC) in the vegetation period. Weather conditions during the research vegetation period differed by agrometeorological indicators. The characteristic feature was a contrast of differences in air temperature and unequal distribution of rainfall, which affected the composition of the soil mycobiocenosis. The vegetation period of 2021 in Kyiv region was characterized by a sufficiently moist hydrothermal coefficient which increased to1.81 while in Chernihiv, Kharkiv regions drought prevailed, but in some months the HTC increased to 1.32–1.54. It has been shown that the higher the HTC, the greater the number of micromycetes in all study regions