19 research outputs found
Black timber bark beetle (Curculionidae Scolytinae, Xylosandrus germanus) in Šentvid forest district
No full textTujerodni črnolesni ambrozijski podlubnik Xylosandrus germanus je bil v Sloveniji prvič najden leta 2000 v okolici Nove Gorice, med letoma 2008 in 2010 pa je bila vrsta najdena tudi na več lokacijah v okolici Ljubljane. Glavni namen naše naloge je bil potrditi prisotnost in ugotoviti velikost populacije X. germanus v revirju Šentvid (Krajevna enota Škofljica). Spremljanje vrste smo izvajali s pastmi iz odpadnih plastenk, ki smo jih naredili sami. Pasti so bile postavljene v treh različnih gozdnih sestojih, in sicer smo v vsakem sestoju postavili 4 pasti z različnimi atraktanti (etanol, denaturiran etanol, kombinacija etanola in ?-pinena ter kontrolna past brez atraktanta). Pasti smo spremljali osem tednov, v obdobju med 26.4.2017 in 20.6.2017, jih tedensko praznili, ulov pa determinirali v Laboratoriju za varstvo gozdov, Oddelka za gozdarstvo in obnovljive gozdne vire BF. Potrdili smo prisotnost X. germanus v revirju Šentvid (KE Škofljica). Ujeli smo 11.460 osebkov vrste X. germanus, kar je v skupnem ulovu predstavljalo kar 90,09 % celotnega ulova hroščev oziroma 95,30 % celotnega ulova podlubnikov. Naši rezultati kažejo, da ni večjih razlik v učinkovitosti privabljanja vrste X. germanus med testiranimi atraktanti, glede na število ujetih osebkov X. germanus pa lahko trdimo, da so tudi doma narejene pasti iz odpadnih plastenk primerno orodje za izvajanje monitoringa tujerodnih ambrozijskih podlubnikov.In Slovenia the presence of the non-native Black timber bark beetle (Xylosandrus germanus) was first recorded in the vicinity of Nova Gorica yet in the period between 2008 and 2010 the species was already detected on several locations in the vicinity of Ljubljana. The main aim of the current BSc thesis was to confirm the presence and determine the actual population density of X. germanus in Šentvid forest district (Škofljica regional unit). Population monitoring was conducted via the trapping system incorporating disposable plastic bottles which were designed by the author of the thesis. Four traps were deployed in each of the three selected forest stands where the targeted populations were lured by various attractants (ethanol, denatured ethanol, a blend of ethanol and α-pinene, un-baited control traps). The traps, which were monitored within the period of eight weeks, i.e. between 26th April 2017 and 20th June 2017, were emptied on a weekly basis, and the catch was subsequently determined in the Laboratory for Forest Protection at the Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources BF. The analysis confirmed the presence of the non-native X. germanus beetle within the targeted sites. A total of 11,460 X. germanus individuals were collected, which comprised 90,09 % of all the captured beetles (Coleoptera) specimens, or 95,30 % of all captured bark beetle specimens. No significant differences were established in the attractiveness rates among the employed attractant agents. The large number of collected X. germanus specimens undoubtedly confirms that home-made traps from disposable plastic bottles represent a suitable monitoring tool for the non-native bark beetle population
Hungarian Orientalist Gyula Germanus And Abdülmec?D Efend? in the Light of "Events And Witnesses"
No full textMacar edebiyatının önemli isimlerinden olan oryantalist yazar Gyula Germanus (1884-1979) Osmanlı İmparatorluğu ve Türkleri yakından tanıyan yabancıların başında gelmektedir. 1903-1906 yılları arasında başlayan bu tanışma, I. Dünya Savaşı yıllarında da devam etmiştir. Türk-Macar ilişkilerinin iyice güçlendiği I. Dünya Savaşı yıllarında, önce 1915"te Macar Hilâl-i Ahmer Komitesi (A Magyar Felhold Bizottsága) aracılığı ile Macaristan"dan Türkiye"ye gönderilen malzemenin nakliyatından sorumlu bir irtibat subayı olarak Türkiye"ye gelen, Çanakkale Cephesi ile ilgili anıları bulunan Germanus, 1918 yılında Richard Fricsay"ın yönetimindeki ordu orkestrasının Türkiye"deki konserinin organizasyonu göreviyle tekrar İstanbul"a gelmiştir. Bu gelişinde sanata düşkünlüğü ile tanınan ve sadece resim değil, Batı müziği ile de ilgilenen Abdülmecid Efendi ile tanışmıştır. Germanus"un İstanbul ve Osmanlı topraklarından birçok Arap ülkesine, Hindistan"a kadar uzanan hayatı ile ilgili anıları, "Tények es Tanúk" (Olaylar ve Tanıklar) adlı eserde bir araya getirilmiştir. Olaylar ve Tanıklar"da yer alan "A vörös felhold szolgalátában" (Hilâli Ahmer ,,in Hizmetinde) adlı bölüm, Germanus"un 1915 ve 1918 yılındaki seyahatleri ve anıları ile ilgilidir. Bu bölümde Abdülmecid Efendi ile ilgili anıları da yer almaktadır. I. Dünya Savaşı yıllarındaki Osmanlı İmparatorluğu"nun siyasi ve sosyo-kültürel bakımdan bir yabancının gözüyle değerlendirilmesi açısından oldukça önemli olan bu anılar, Abdülmecid Efendi ile de ilgili son derece önemli bilgilerle beraber dönemin Türk-Macar ilişkileri çerçevesinde değerlendirilmiştir.One of the important names of Hungarian literature, author Gyula Germanus is one of the prominent figures knowing Ottoman Empire and Turks closely. His acquaintance with the Empire and Turks started in 19031906 and continued during 1st World War. During the years of 1st World War when Turkish-Hungarian relations gained strength, Germanus was sent to Turkey as a liaison officer responsible for the transportation of the materials sent from Turkey by Hungarian Hilal-i Ahmer Committee (A Magyar Felhold Bizottsá ga) in 1915 and he had some memories about Ç anakkale front and then in 1918, he came back to Istanbul for the organization of army orchestra under the leadership of Richard Fricsay. When he was in Istanbul, he met Abdü lmecid Efendi, who was known for his keenness on art and interest in western music. Germanus travelled from Istanbul to many Arabian countries and India and he published his memories experienced during these travels in the book entitled " Té nyek es Tanú k" (Events and Witnesses). The section called " A vö rö s felhold szolgalá tá ban" (Hilâ l-i Ahmer ,,in Hizmetinde) in Events and Witnesses is about his travels and memories in 1915 and 1918. In this section, there are his memories about Abdü lmecid Efendi. These memories are quite important for evaluating Ottoman Empire from political and socio-cultural aspects during 1st World War from the eyes of a foreigner and very important information about Abdü lmecid Efendi are discussed in relation to Turkish-Hungarian relations
Immunotherapy with mutated onchocystatin fails to enhance the efficacy of a sub-lethal oxytetracycline regimen against Onchocerca ochengi
No full textHuman onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, has been successfully controlled by a single drug, ivermectin, for over 25 years. Ivermectin prevents the disease symptoms of severe itching and visual impairment by killing the microfilarial stage, but does not eliminate the adult parasites, necessitating repeated annual treatments. Mass drug administration with ivermectin does not always break transmission in forest zones and is contraindicated in individuals heavily co-infected with Loa loa, while reports of reduced drug efficacy in Ghana and Cameroon may signal the development of resistance. An alternative treatment for onchocerciasis involves targeting the essential Wolbachia symbiont with tetracycline or its derivatives, which are adulticidal. However, implementation of antibiotic therapy has not occurred on a wide scale due to the prolonged treatment regimen required (several weeks). In the bovine Onchocerca ochengi system, it has been shown previously that prolonged oxytetracycline therapy increases eosinophil counts in intradermal nodules, which kill the adult worms by degranulating on their surface. Here, in an "immunochemotherapeutic" approach, we sought to enhance the efficacy of a short, sub-lethal antibiotic regimen against O. ochengi by prior immunotherapy targeting onchocystatin, an immunomodulatory protein located in the adult female worm cuticle. A key asparagine residue in onchocystatin was mutated to ablate immunomodulatory activity, which has been demonstrated previously to markedly improve the protective efficacy of this vaccine candidate when used as an immunoprophylactic. The immunochemotherapeutic regimen was compared with sub-lethal oxytetracycline therapy alone; onchocystatin immunotherapy alone; a gold-standard prolonged, intermittent oxytetracycline regimen; and no treatment (negative control) in naturally infected Cameroonian cattle. Readouts were collected over one year and comprised adult worm viability, dermal microfilarial density, anti-onchocystatin IgG in sera, and eosinophil counts in nodules. Only the gold-standard antibiotic regimen achieved significant killing of adult worms, a profound reduction in microfilarial load, and a sustained increase in local tissue eosinophilia. A small but statistically significant elevation in anti-onchocystatin IgG was observed for several weeks after immunisation in the immunotherapy-only group, but the antibody response in the immunochemotherapy group was more variable. At 12 weeks post-treatment, only a transient and non-significant increase in eosinophil counts was apparent in the immunochemotherapy group. We conclude that the addition of onchocystatin immunotherapy to a sub-lethal antibiotic regimen is insufficient to induce adulticidal activity, although with booster immunisations or the targeting of additional filarial immunomodulatory proteins, the efficacy of this strategy could be strengthened
Fictionalization of Space: Ottoman Conquest of Egypt (1517) in the narrative by Louis Tuberon
No full textW artykule przedstawiono analizę fragmentów Pamiętników o czasach moich Ludwika Tuberona, w których m.in. opisywał on osmański podbój Egiptu w 1517 roku. Przedmiotem rozważań są: wiedza Ludwika Tuberona na temat geografii Egiptu oraz źródła, z jakich czerpał informacje o topografii tego kraju opisując współczesne sobie wypadki.The author presents an analysis of excerpts from the Memoirs of My Times of Louis Tuberon de Crieva, in which, among others, he described the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517. The subject of the discussion is: Louis Tuberon’s knowledge of the geography of Egypt and the sources from which he drew information about the topography of this country describing contemporary events. The Dalmatian chronicler discussed the causes of the Ottoman Sultan Selim I’s expedition against the Egyptian Mameluk and the course of the war campaign. His account includes a description of the route of the Ottoman army march, together with an indication of the topographic points that were on that route. Tuberon also mentioned the operations of the Ottoman fleet. To conclude, the author relied on ancient literature and Ottoman propaganda messages, and his geographical descriptions are mainly literary. Ancient literature, not geographical reality, created the mental map of the Dalmatian [email protected] Warszawski, Wydział Dziennikarstwa, Informacji i BibliologiiArrian F., 2004, Wyprawa Aleksandra Wielkiego, przeł. H. Gesztoft-Gasztold, wstęp i komentarze J. Wolski, Wrocław.Edhem H. (wyd.), 1916, Tagebuch der ägyptischen Expedition des Sultans Selim I. aus Feriduns Sammlung der Staatsschriften, Weimar.Juliusz Cezar, 1990, O wojnie domowej, przeł. J. Parandowski, Warszawa.Pauzaniasz, 2005, Wędrówka po Helladzie. Księgi I, II, III i VII, przeł. J. Niemirska-Pliszczyńska, Wrocław.Ptolemaeus C., 1482, Cosmographia, wyd. Nicolaus Germanus, Lienhart Holle, Ulm.Salmon W.H. (wyd.), 1921, An Account of the Ottoman Conquest of Egypt in the Year A.H. 922 (A.D. 1516), London.Tuberon de Crieva L., 2016, Pamiętniki o czasach moich, wyd. P. Wróbel, J. Bonarek, KrakówKrzywy R., 2013, Wędrówki z Mnemozyne. Studia o topice dawnego podróżopisarstwa, Warszawa.Oman Ch., 2015, Sztuka wojenna w XVI wieku, Oświęcim.Quintanar J., Khan S.D., Fathy M.S., Zalat A.-F.A., 2013, Remote sensing, planform, and facies analysis of the Plain of Tineh, Egypt for the remains of the defunct Pelusiac River, “Sedimentary Geology” 297, s. 16–30.Raymond A., 2005, Kair, Warszawa.Rybicka E., 2014, Geopoetyka. Przestrzeń i miejsce we współczesnych teoriach i praktykach literackich, Kraków.Said E., 1983, Travelling Theory, w: idem, The World, the Text, and the Critic, Cambridge.Tafiłowski P., 2019, Pomiędzy cywilizacjami. Wojna i praktyki komunikacyjne na pograniczu chrześcijańsko-muzułmańskim na przełomie średniowiecza i ery nowożytnej, Oświęcim.Westphal B., 2011, Geocriticism: Real and Fictional Spaces, transl. R.T. Tally Jr., New York.Winter M., 2008, The Ottoman Occupation, w: The Cambridge History of Egypt, vol. I, Islamic Egypt, 640–1517, wyd. C.F. Petry, Cambridge, s. 490–516.475
A worm's best friend: recruitment of neutrophils by <i>Wolbachia</i> confounds eosinophil degranulation against the filarial nematode <i>Onchocerca ochengi</i>
No full text
Onchocerca ochengi
, a filarial parasite of cattle, represents the closest relative of the human pathogen,
Onchocerca volvulus
. Both species harbour
Wolbachia
endosymbionts and are remarkable in that adult female worms remain viable but sessile for many years while surrounded by host cells and antibodies. The basis of the symbiosis between filariae and
Wolbachia
is thought to be metabolic, although a role for
Wolbachia
in immune evasion has received little attention. Neutrophils are attracted to
Wolbachia
, but following antibiotic chemotherapy they are replaced by eosinophils that degranulate on the worm cuticle. However, it is unclear whether the eosinophils are involved in parasite killing or if they are attracted secondarily to dying worms. In this study, cattle infected with
Onchocerca ochengi
received adulticidal regimens of oxytetracycline or melarsomine. In contrast to oxytetracycline, melarsomine did not directly affect
Wolbachia
viability. Eosinophil degranulation increased significantly only in the oxytetracycline group; whereas nodular gene expression of bovine neutrophilic chemokines was lowest in this group. Moreover, intense eosinophil degranulation was initially associated with worm vitality, not degeneration. Taken together, these data offer strong support for the hypothesis that
Wolbachia
confers longevity on
O. ochengi
through a defensive mutualism, which diverts a potentially lethal effector cell response.
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Parasite-derived microRNAs in host serum as novel biomarkers of helminth infection
No full textBackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNA that play important roles in disease processes in animals and are present in a highly stable cell-free form in body fluids. Here, we examine the capacity of host and parasite miRNAs to serve as tissue or serum biomarkers of Schistosoma mansoni infection.Methods/Principal FindingsWe used Exiqon miRNA microarrays to profile miRNA expression in the livers of mice infected with S. mansoni at 7 weeks post-infection. Thirty-three mouse miRNAs were differentially expressed in infected compared to naïve mice (>2 fold change, p<0.05) including miR-199a-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-214 and miR-21, which have previously been associated with liver fibrosis in other settings. Five of the mouse miRNAs were also significantly elevated in serum by twelve weeks post-infection. Sequencing of small RNAs from serum confirmed the presence of these miRNAs and further revealed eleven parasite-derived miRNAs that were detectable by eight weeks post infection. Analysis of host and parasite miRNA abundance by qRT-PCR was extended to serum of patients from low and high infection sites in Zimbabwe and Uganda. The host-derived miRNAs failed to distinguish uninfected from infected individuals. However, analysis of three of the parasite-derived miRNAs (miR-277, miR-3479-3p and bantam) could detect infected individuals from low and high infection intensity sites with specificity/sensitivity values of 89%/80% and 80%/90%, respectively.ConclusionsThis work identifies parasite-derived miRNAs as novel markers of S. mansoni infection in both mice and humans, with the potential to be used with existing techniques to improve S. mansoni diagnosis. In contrast, although host miRNAs are differentially expressed in the liver during infection their abundance levels in serum are variable in human patients and may be useful in cases of extreme pathology but likely hold limited value for detecting prevalence of infection
The Church of Christ in early Bernicia: forerunners and foundation
No full textA firmly multidlsciplinary approach starts from a theological definition of the Church as the Body of Christ, and Christians as empowered by the Holy Spirit, the possibility of miracle, and the reality of warfare with demons are taken seriously, and scholarly belief in them defended. They are made the subject of excursuses. Hagiographic writings are treated with cautious respect. Bernicia, land and people, and its relationship to its neighbours are considered. In a demographic excursus the view that Dark Age life-span was short is rebuffed. Part two discusses the life and mission of the Church in sub-Roman Britain. In our area evidence for this proves to be largely limited to the shadowy activities of Ninian and Kentigern, therefore further evidence of the status of the British church in the fifth and sixth centuries is sought in Patrick’s Confession and Gildas's De Excidlo Britɸmniae. A new model for the latter - the sermon of the protomartyr Stephen - is proposed; as is a new exegesis of D. E. B. c.69, which may have Implications for our understanding of the persistence of Pelagian beliefs. An excursus considers the significance of white stones in association with Christian burial. The origins of the mission of Augustine are considered briefly. Part three considers the mission of Paulinus in detail, in particular the reasons for its collapse; in contrasting it with the Celtic mission misslological principles are cited. A reappraisal of Paulinus's retreat, more favourable to him than that normally held, is reached by invoking wartime experience. The discipline of obstetrics is involved to advance the theory that /Ethelburh's delivery was premature; also earlier to re-examine the Herbert Ian account of Kentigern's conception, where the 'something contrary to sound doctrine' is identified, against the hitherto standard view, as the apparent approval, by Servanus, of extramarital coitus. The final establishment of the Church in Bernicia is seen as occurring principally as the result of Aidan's mission, but with valid contributions from the British and Roman traditions. That Simeon of Durham gave the credit for this foundation to Oswald is found Justifiable. A new genealogical tree of Oswy has been constructed, and maps have been provided
Co-Administration of Adjuvanted Recombinant Ov-103 and Ov-RAL-2 Vaccines Confer Protection against Natural Challenge in A Bovine Onchocerca ochengi Infection Model of Human Onchocerciasis
No full textOnchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, is a neglected tropical disease mainly of sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide, an estimated 20.9 million individuals live with infection and a further 205 million are at risk of disease. Current control methods rely on mass drug administration of ivermectin to kill microfilariae and inhibit female worm fecundity. The identification and development of efficacious vaccines as complementary preventive tools to support ongoing elimination efforts are therefore an important objective of onchocerciasis research. We evaluated the protective effects of co-administering leading O. volvulus-derived recombinant vaccine candidates (Ov-103 and Ov-RAL-2) with subsequent natural exposure to the closely related cattle parasite Onchocerca ochengi. Over a 24-month exposure period, vaccinated calves (n = 11) were shown to acquire infection and microfilaridermia at a significantly lower rate compared to unvaccinated control animals (n = 10). Furthermore, adult female worm burdens were negatively correlated with anti-Ov-103 and Ov-RAL-2 IgG1 and IgG2 responses. Peptide arrays identified several Ov-103 and Ov-RAL-2-specific epitopes homologous to those identified as human B-cell and helper T-cell epitope candidates and by naturally-infected human subjects in previous studies. Overall, this study demonstrates co-administration of Ov-103 and Ov-RAL-2 with Montanide™ ISA 206 VG is highly immunogenic in cattle, conferring partial protection against natural challenge with O. ochengi. The strong, antigen-specific IgG1 and IgG2 responses associated with vaccine-induced protection are highly suggestive of a mixed Th1/Th2 associated antibody responses. Collectively, this evidence suggests vaccine formulations for human onchocerciasis should aim to elicit similarly balanced Th1/Th2 immune responses
Analysis of gene expression from the Wolbachia genome of a filarial nematode supports both metabolic and defensive roles within the symbiosis
No full textThe α-proteobacterium Wolbachia is probably the most prevalent, vertically-transmitted symbiont on Earth. In contrast with its wide distribution in arthropods, Wolbachia is restricted to one family of animal-parasitic nematodes, the Onchocercidae. This includes filarial pathogens such as Onchocerca volvulus, the cause of human onchocerciasis or 'River Blindness'. The symbiosis between filariae and Wolbachia is obligate, although the basis of this dependency is not fully understood. Previous studies suggested that Wolbachia may provision metabolites (e.g., haem, riboflavin and nucleotides) and/or contribute to immune defence. Importantly, Wolbachia is restricted to somatic tissues in adult male worms, whereas females also harbour bacteria in the germline. We sought to characterise the nature of the symbiosis between Wolbachia and O. ochengi, a bovine parasite representing the closest relative of O. volvulus. Firstly, we sequenced the complete genome of Wolbachia strain wOo, which revealed an inability to synthesise riboflavin de novo. Using RNA-seq, we also generated endobacterial transcriptomes from male soma and female germline. In the soma, transcripts for membrane transport and respiration were upregulated, while the gonad exhibited enrichment for DNA replication and translation. The most abundant Wolbachia proteins, as determined by geLC-MS, included ligands for mammalian Toll-like receptors. Enzymes involved in nucleotide synthesis were dominant among metabolism-related proteins, whereas the haem biosynthetic pathway was poorly represented. We conclude that Wolbachia may have a mitochondrion-like function in the soma, generating ATP for its host. Moreover, the abundance of immunogenic proteins in wOo suggests a role in diverting the immune system towards an ineffective antibacterial response
Stage-specific Proteomes from Onchocerca ochengi, Sister Species of the Human River Blindness Parasite, Uncover Adaptations to a Nodular Lifestyle.
No full textDespite 40 years of control efforts, onchocerciasis (river blindness) remains one of the most important neglected tropical diseases, with 17 million people affected. The etiological agent, Onchocerca volvulus, is a filarial nematode with a complex lifecycle involving several distinct stages in the definitive host and blackfly vector. The challenges of obtaining sufficient material have prevented high-throughput studies and the development of novel strategies for disease control and diagnosis. Here, we utilize the closest relative of O. volvulus, the bovine parasite Onchocerca ochengi, to compare stage-specific proteomes and host-parasite interactions within the secretome. We identified a total of 4260 unique O. ochengi proteins from adult males and females, infective larvae, intrauterine microfilariae, and fluid from intradermal nodules. In addition, 135 proteins were detected from the obligate Wolbachia symbiont. Observed protein families that were enriched in all whole body extracts relative to the complete search database included immunoglobulin-domain proteins, whereas redox and detoxification enzymes and proteins involved in intracellular transport displayed stage-specific overrepresentation. Unexpectedly, the larval stages exhibited enrichment for several mitochondrial-related protein families, including members of peptidase family M16 and proteins which mediate mitochondrial fission and fusion. Quantification of proteins across the lifecycle using the Hi-3 approach supported these qualitative analyses. In nodule fluid, we identified 94 O. ochengi secreted proteins, including homologs of transforming growth factor-β and a second member of a novel 6-ShK toxin domain family, which was originally described from a model filarial nematode (Litomosoides sigmodontis). Strikingly, the 498 bovine proteins identified in nodule fluid were strongly dominated by antimicrobial proteins, especially cathelicidins. This first high-throughput analysis of an Onchocerca spp. proteome across the lifecycle highlights its profound complexity and emphasizes the extremely close relationship between O. ochengi and O. volvulus The insights presented here provide new candidates for vaccine development, drug targeting and diagnostic biomarkers
