5,340 research outputs found
Parena (Parena) picipes Shi & Liang 2023, sp. nov.
No full text[30] Parena (Parena) picipes sp. nov. Habitus: Figs 62A, 62B. Male genitalia: Fig. 63. Gonocoxites of ovipositor: Fig. 11O. Type locality. Borneo, Sabah, Trus Madi forest Reserve, N5.4430, E116.4512, 1182 m. Type material. Holotype (IZAS, Fig. 62A): male, body length= 8.5 mm, board mounted, " Borneo: Sabah, Keningau / district, Jungle Girl Camp / N5.4430, E116.4512; 1182 m / Shi H.L. & Liu Y. Lgt. light trap / Ins. Zoo. CAS. 2016.IV.28 N", "HOLOTYPE / Parena (Parena) / picipes sp. nov. / des. Shi H.L. 2022" [red label] . Paratypes (IZAS): 3 males, 5 females, same data as the holotype, with different date from 2016.IV.24 to 2016.V.2 . Diagnostic characters. Dorsum reddish brown, elytra with black lateral stripes, without metallic lustre, elytra lateral margins black; legs with apical third of femora and entire tibiae black; postgenae without suborbital setae; median lobe of aedeagus stout, right margin weakly sinuate before apex, apical lamella narrow, LL 1.5 times LW, apex slightly bent dorsally. Comparisons. P. picipes sp. n. is distinguishable by its black tibiae among all Parena species with elytral lateral stripes. It is most similar to P. nigrolineata and P. amamiooshimensis, but different in the black color of tibiae, femoral apices, and elytra lateral margins. The new species also has the male genitalia very different from the other two species. Compared to P. nigrolineata, the new species is different in the median lobe stouter (AL/AW 4.4–4.6, versus 5.3–6.0 in P. nigrolineata) and apical lamella much narrower (LL 1.5 times LW, versus LL slightly greater than LW in P. nigrolineata). Compared to P. amamiooshimensis, the new species is different in median lobe less stout and apical lamella much narrower. Description. Body length 8.5–9.3 mm; body median-sized in the genus, subconvex. Color. Dorsum mostly reddish brown, elytra with black lateral stripes, without trace of metallic lustre; mouthparts yellowish brown, inner margin of mandibles black; antennae bicolor with sharp contrast, antennomeres 1–2 brown, antennomere 3 brown to piceous; the rests black to pitchy brown; pronotum reddish brown, lateral margins slightly darkened; elytra with lateral black stripes, sixth to ninth intervals and elytra lateral margins completely black, median red patch usually widest to fifth striae, lateral stripes widely continuous at apex, reaching interval 2 or 3 at base; venter reddish brown, mesosternal process dark brown; legs with apical third of femora and entire tibiae black, tarsomeres dark brown. Head with sparse fine punctures on vertex; frons with V-shaped depression; eyes large and strongly prominent; tempora short, abruptly narrowed behind eyes, length of tempora plus neck-constriction approximately one-third of diameter of eye; postgenae without suborbital setae. Antennae barely reaching pronotal base. Labrum nearly quadrate, apex nearly straight; mandibles short and wide; mentum with a pair of minute median setae, barely visible in some specimens, lateral lobes short and wide, inner margins strongly oblique, outer margins completely rounded, epilobes wide. Pronotum rounded-hexagon, PW/PL = 1.34–1.40, usually slightly wider than head, PW/HW = 1.00–1.09, widest at anterior third, lateral explanations slightly wide; lateral margins fully rounded at anterior half and then strongly narrowed to base with shallow sinuation before posterior angles; posterior angles obtuse, rounded at apex; anterior margin nearly straight at middle; posterior margin gradually oblique at sides; disc convex, usually with very fine transverse wrinkles. Elytra weakly convex, slightly dilated to apex. Striae shallowly incised, with rows of fine punctures; intervals slightly convex, with sparse fine punctures about half dense as interval punctures. Disc with very faint depressions near basal third of intervals 3 to 6, lateral sides slightly depressed near anterior third. Elytral basal pore present on base of first stria; interval 3 with three discal setigerous pores: first one on level of scutellar apex, adjacent to stria 3; second one slightly before middle, adjacent to stria 3; third one on apical eighth, adjacent to stria 2; interval 9 with 21–23 umbilicular pores. Apical truncation indistinct, evenly rounded, sutural angles indistinct. Venter. Apex of abdominal sternite VII very shallowly emarginate in males, straight in females, with two setae on each side in both sexes. Males with biseriate adhesive setae on apical half of mesotarsomere 1 ventrally, and almost full length of mesotarsomeres 2–3. Male genitalia (Fig. 63). Median lobe of aedeagus slightly stout (AL/AW = 4.4–4.6); in lateral view, ventral margin almost straight near middle, apical lamella slightly bent to dorsum; in dorsal view, right margin slightly sinuate before apex, apical lamella narrow, LL 1.5 times LW, slightly narrowed to apex, apex rounded. Endophallus with distinct flared basal expansion of primary sclerite; flagellum extending to the base of apical orifice; apical sclerite narrowly V-shaped, well chitinized, basal core distinct, ovate, heavily chitinized; squamate sheath heavily scaled, basal sheath larger than apical sheath; squamate sac heavily scaled and well divided, near middle of median lobe, dorsal-right to squamate sheath; proximal and distal sacs laterally compressed, forming a pair of file-like pieces in dorsal view, distal sac slightly smaller and closer to apex than proximal one. Female genitalia. Gonocoxite II (Fig. 11O) of ovipositor nearly quadrate, slightly wider than length, apex slightly concave, slightly pointed near inner apical angle, with three ensiform setae on inner apical angle, two on outer apical angle. Distribution (Map 10, green). Only known from the type locality in N. Boreno. Etymology. The scientific name of the new species is derived from Latin meaning black legs. The black-colored tibiae is one of the most important diagnostic character of the new species.Published as part of Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the genus Parena Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Metallicina), pp. 1-144 in Zootaxa 5286 (1) on pages 104-106, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5286.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/795893
Structural and functional analysis of the pro-domain of human cathelicidin, LL-37
No full textCathelicidins form a family of small host defense peptides distinct from another class of cationic antimicrobial peptides, the defensins. They are expressed as large precursor molecules with a highly conserved pro-domain known as the cathelin-like domain (CLD). CLDs have high degrees of sequence homology to cathelin, a protein isolated from pig leukocytes and belonging to the cystatin family of cysteine protease inhibitors. In this report, we describe for the first time the X-ray crystal structure of the human CLD (hCLD) of the sole human cathelicidin, LL-37. The structure of hCLD, determined at 1.93 Å resolution, shows the cystatin-like fold and is highly similar to the structure of the CLD of the pig cathelicidin, protegrin-3. We assayed the in vitro antibacterial activities of hCLD, LL-37 and the precursor form, pro-cathelicidin (also known as hCAP18), and we found that the unprocessed protein inhibited the growth of Gramnegative bacteria with efficiencies comparable to the mature peptide, LL-37. In addition, the antibacterial activity of LL-37 was not inhibited by hCLD intermolecularly, since exogenously added hCLD had no effect on the bactericidal activity of the mature peptide. hCLD itself lacked antimicrobial function and did not inhibit the cysteine protease, cathepsin L. Our results contrast with previous reports of hCLD activity. A comparative structural analysis between hCLD and the cysteine protease inhibitor stefin A showed why hCLD is unable to function as an inhibitor of cysteine proteases. In this respect, the cystatin scaffold represents an ancestral structural platform from which proteins evolved divergently, with some losing inhibitory functions
Natalia LL - artystka neoawangardowa
No full textThe paper shows Natalia Lach-Lachowicz (Natalia LL) as a neo avant-garde artist whose works in a specific maximalistic way are very close to the main currents of avant-garde trends: new mediality (photography), minimalism, conceptualism, performance, bodyart, pop-art, and feminist art. The author of the article concentrates mainly on the mutual influences of conceptualism, consumptionism, and feminism in Natalia LL’s works and pays attention to the emancipatory potential of her works of the seventies and the eighties
Parena (Bothynoptera) gonggaica Shi & Liang 2023, sp. nov.
No full text[22] Parena (Bothynoptera) gonggaica sp. nov. Habitus: Fig. 47A. Male genitalia: Fig. 48. Type locality. Sichuan, Luding County, Hailuogou, N29.605, E102.080, 1940 m. Type material. Holotype (IZAS, Fig. 47A): male, body length = 6.6 mm, board mounted, "Hailuogou, Luding, Sichuan / 27-VII-2007 / alt. 1940 m Liu, Zhang, Zhou, & Bi lgt." [in Chinese], " HOLOTYPE / Parena (Bothynoptera) / gonggaica sp. nov. / des. Shi H.L. 2022" [red label] . Diagnostic characters. Dorsum reddish yellow, elytra with four black spots: a pair of basal spots distant from elytra base, not covering first discal pore; a pair of subapical spots adjacent to interval 1, each of them large and oblique-rounded, divergent from each other toward the elytral base, interval 1 yellow between the two subapical spots; labrum apex straight; median lobe of aedeagus well narrowed at apex, apical lamella narrow and long, LL subequal to LW. Comparisons. The new species is distinguished in subgenus Bothynoptera by its unique elytra pattern. It is most similar to another new species, P. triguttata sp. n., which may be sympatric with it. These two new species differ as follows: (1) in P. gonggaica, the dorsal background color is dark reddish yellow, but in P. trigutata, it is vivid reddish yellow, slightly brighter than P. gonggaica sp. n.; (2) in P. gonggaica, the elytra basal spots are more distant from elytra base, not covering first discal pore on interval 3, but in P. trigutata, the basal spots cover the first discal pore; (3) in P. gonggaica, the elytra subapical patch (composed of two nearly adjacent spots) is concave at the anterior margin, and the interval 1 is yellow between the patches, but in P. trigutata, the subapical patch is extended anteriorly at its anterior margin, and the first interval is black inside the patch; and (4) in P. gonggaica, the median lobe of the aedeagus is more narrowed toward the apex and apical lamella is longer, LL equal to LW, whereas in P. trigutata, the apical lamella is shorter, LW much greater than LL. There are other two species (P. taiwana and P. emarginata sp. n.) that also have four black patches on the elytra, but in these species the subapical spots are well separated, not adjacent to the middle. Description. Body length 6.6 mm; body relatively narrow for the genus; dorsum without microsculpture. Color. Dorsum mostly dark reddish yellow; frons with a triangular light patch, clypeus yellow, mouthparts, and antennae yellow, apices of mandibles dark. Pronotum slightly lighter on lateral explanations and subbasal region. Elytra base dark reddish yellow, gradually graded to light reddish yellow at basal fourth of inner intervals and to half of outer intervals; elytra with four black spots: a pair of basal spots far distant from elytra base, length between first and second setigerous pore on interval 3, extended from interval 4 to inner half of interval 6; a pair of subapical spots adjacent to elytral interval 1, each of them large and oblique-rounded, at widest point extended to inner half of interval 6, divergent from each other toward the elytral base, interval 1 yellow between them. Scutellum, epipleura, legs and venter reddish yellow. Head glabrous on vertex and occiput; eyes large and strongly prominent; tempora short, abruptly narrowed behind eyes, length of tempora plus neck-constriction approximately one-third of diameter of eye; postgenae with a pair of suborbital setae, as long as supraorbital setae. Antennae extended beyond elytral base by length of only one antennomere. Labrum nearly quadrate, apex straight; mandibles short and wide; mentum with a pair of long median setae, lateral lobes short, apex narrow, inner margins strongly oblique, outer margins rounded, epilobes rather wide. Pronotum nearly rectangular, PW/PL = 1.40, about same width as head, PW/HW = 1.03, widest at anterior third, lateral explanations slightly wide; lateral margins fully rounded at anterior half and then narrowed to base with distinct sinuation before posterior angles; posterior angles weakly pointed outwards, forming rectangular angles with rounded apex; anterior margin nearly straight at middle; posterior margin oblique at sides; disc convex, with very fine transverse wrinkles. Elytra weakly convex, slightly dilated to apex. Striae shallowly incised, with rows of fine punctures, striae absent at elytra apical eighth; intervals slightly convex, with sparse fine punctures. Disc without depression, lateral sides slightly depressed near anterior third. Elytral basal pore present on base of stria 1; interval 3 with three discal setigerous pores: first one on a level much behind scutellar apex, adjacent to stria 3; second one slightly before middle, adjacent to stria 3; third one on apical eighth, adjacent to stria 2; interval 9 with 18–19 umbilicular pores. Apical truncation indistinct, evenly rounded, sutural angles indistinct. Venter. In male, apex of abdominal sternite VII straight, with two setae on each side. Male with biseriate adhesive setae on apical end of mesotarsomere 2 and apical two-thirds of mesotarsomere 3. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus very stout, AL/AW = 3.7; in lateral view, ventral margin weakly expanded near middle, apical lamella slightly bent to dorsum; in dorsal view, apex strongly narrowed and bent to right, apical lamella narrow, LL subequal to LW. Endophallus with squamate sac not divided. Female unknown. Distribution (Map 8, cyan). China (Sichuan). Only known by the holotype collected from Hailuogou. Etymology. The scientific name of the new species " gonggaica " is derived from the type locality of the new species. It was collected from the foot of the famous mountain, Gongga Mt. in the central part of Sichuan Province, China.Published as part of Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the genus Parena Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Metallicina), pp. 1-144 in Zootaxa 5286 (1) on pages 80-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5286.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/795893
Parena (Bothynoptera) triguttata Shi & Liang 2023, sp. nov.
No full text[23] Parena (Bothynoptera) triguttata sp. nov. Habitus: Figs 47B, 47C. Male genitalia: Fig. 49. Gonocoxites of ovipositor: Fig. 11J. Type locality. Sichuan, Kangding County, Yangchang valley, N30.127, E102.161, 1650 m. Type material. Holotype (IZAS, Fig. 47B): male, body length= 6.4 mm, board mounted, " Sichuan prov., Kangding county / Guza town, Yangchang valley " [in Chinese], "23.VII.05 / Wen Liang" [in Chinese], "Tsuga"[in Chinese], "IOZ(E)1891837", "HOLOTYPE / Parena (Bothynoptera) / emarginata sp. nov. / des. Shi H.L. 2022" [red label] . Paratype (IZAS): 1 female, " CHINA, Sichuan, Ebian / county, Heizhugou forestry / park, mixed forest / N29.03432 E102.98993 ", " 1800 m, 2012.VI.17, / on vegetation. / HUANG Hao lgt", "IOZ(E)1700239", "PARATYPE / Parena (Bothynoptera) / triguttata sp. nov. / des. Shi H.L. 2022" [red label] . Diagnostic characters. Dorsum reddish yellow, elytra with three black patches: a pair of basal spots close to elytra base, covering first discal pore; subapical spots completely continuous at elytral suture, forming single large median patch with anterior margin projected to elytral basal third, interval 1 black inside median patch; labrum with apex straight; median lobe of aedeagus not narrowed at apex, apical lamella short, LW much greater than LL. Comparisons. The new species is distinguished within subgenus Bothynoptera by its unique elytra pattern. It is very similar to P. gonggaica sp. n. Externally, they are only slightly different in the elytra pattern and occur in the same general geographical area. However, their very different male genitalia support their status are distinct species. Description. Body length 6.4–7.0 mm; body relatively narrow for the genus; dorsum without microsculpture. Color. Dorsum mostly vivid reddish yellow, head and pronotum slightly darker than elytra; mouthparts and antennae yellow, apices of mandibles dark. Pronotum with disc slightly darker than sides. Elytra with three black patches: a pair of elongate spots slightly distant from elytra base, length between level of scutellar apex and elytra basal third, width from intervals 4 to 6, its inner margin covering first setigerous pore on interval 3; subapical spots continuous at elytral suture, forming single large median patch near apical third of elytra, extended to interval 6 at its widest point, anterior margin extended to elytral basal third, interval 1 black inside subapical patch. Scutellum, epipleura, legs, and venter reddish yellow. Head with very sparse punctures and short wrinkles on vertex and occiput; eyes large and strongly prominent; tempora short, abruptly narrowed behind eyes, length of tempora plus neck-constriction approximately one-third of diameter of eye; postgenae with a pair of suborbital setae, as long as supraorbital setae. Antennae extended beyond elytral base by length of only one antennomere. Labrum nearly quadrate, apex straight; mandibles short and wide; mentum with a pair of long median setae, lateral lobes short and wide, inner margins strongly oblique, outer margins completely rounded, epilobes wide. Pronotum nearly rectangular, PW/PL = 1.32–1.35, about same width as head, PW/HW = 1.00–1.04, widest at anterior third, lateral explanations slightly wide; lateral margins fully rounded at anterior half and then narrowed to base with distinct sinuation before posterior angles; posterior angles weakly pointed outwards, forming rectangular angles with rounded apex; anterior margin nearly straight at middle; posterior margin oblique at sides and slightly sinuate at middle; disc convex, with very fine transverse wrinkles. Elytra weakly convex, slightly dilated to apex. Striae shallowly incised, with rows of fine punctures, almost reaching elytral apices; intervals slightly convex, with sparse fine punctures. Disc without depression, lateral sides slightly depressed near anterior third. Elytral basal pore present on base of stria 1; interval 3 with three discal setigerous pores: first one on a level much behind scutellar apex, adjacent to stria 3; second one slightly before middle, adjacent to stria 3; third one on apical eighth, adjacent to stria 2; interval 9 with 22–23 umbilicular pores. Apical truncation indistinct, evenly rounded, sutural angles indistinct. Venter. In both sexes, apex of abdominal sternite VII straight, with two setae on each side. Males with biseriate adhesive setae on apical third of mesotarsomere 2 and apical two-thirds of mesotarsomere 3. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus very stout, length / median width = 3.6; in lateral view, ventral margin weakly expanded near middle, apical lamella not bent to dorsum; in dorsal view, apical portion slightly narrowed and strongly bent to right, apical lamella wide, LL much smaller than LW, apex widely rounded. Endophallus with squamate sac well divided. Female genitalia. Gonocoxite II of ovipositor nearly quadrate, length slightly less than basal width, apex slightly concave, with six or seven ensiform setae, two or three near each angle, one near middle of apical margin. Distribution (Map 8, orange). China (Sichuan). Only known from two specimens from Kangding and Ebian respectively. Etymology. The scientific name of the new species is composed of two Latin roots, " tri- " meaning three and " gutt- " meaning spots, referring to the three black patches on elytra.Published as part of Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the genus Parena Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Metallicina), pp. 1-144 in Zootaxa 5286 (1) on pages 82-83, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5286.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/795893
Energy flux in isotropic turbulence under large variations of external forcing
No full textWe investigate the response of energy flux in isotropic turbulence to step-function like perturbation in external forcing at large length scales. From both physical experiments and direct numerical simulations, we measured the evolution of the Eulerian velocity structure functions, such as , , before and after the perturbation in forcing. In both cases, we observed the cascade of the energy excess at large scales cascade through scales to the dissipative range, which can be used to study the dynamics of the cascade, and in particular, to estimate the relevant time scales
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No full textElevated LL-37/FPR2 Axis and its Regulatory Role for Gingival Fibroblasts in Periodontitis
No full textIntroduction and aims: LL-37, an antimicrobial peptide with dual pro-/anti-inflammatory roles, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, yet its specific action through its receptor Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the expression profile of the LL-37/FPR2 axis in periodontitis and its regulatory effects on gingival fibroblasts (GFs). Methods: Fifty-seven periodontitis patients and fifty-seven healthy controls were included to assess the levels of LL-37 and FPR2 in gingival tissues, gingival crevicular fluid and GFs, as well as to assess their correlation with disease progression. Primary human GFs were isolated and subsequently stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide alongside varying concentrations of LL-37. To elucidate the functional role of FPR2 in this system, targeted gene silencing was performed using small interfering RNA. Results: Both LL-37 and FPR2 were upregulated in gingival tissues or gingival crevicular fluid from periodontitis patients, showing a significant positive correlation. FPR2 expression increased in GFs under periodontal inflammatory conditions, and high concentration of LL-37 exacerbated pro-inflammatory response in GFs via FPR2. Clinically, elevated LL-37 and FPR2 correlated with disease severity, particularly in patients with higher LL-37 expression. Patients with co-upregulation of both LL-37 and FPR2 exhibited more severe periodontitis. Conclusions: The LL-37/FPR2 axis was co-upregulated in periodontitis-affected gingival tissues and correlated with disease severity. The LL-37/FPR2 axis exacerbated pro-inflammatory response in GFs under periodontal inflammatory conditions, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for mitigating periodontal inflammation. Clinical Relevance: We found that the co-upregulation of LL-37/FPR2 in periodontitis-affected gingival tissues, positively correlates with clinical parameters (PD/CAL). These findings provide new insights into the dual role of LL-37 in periodontal inflammation and suggest novel strategies for targeted therapy by selectively inhibiting high-concentration LL-37/FPR2 signaling
The modulatory effect of TLR2 on LL-37-induced human mast cells activation
No full textThe sole and endogenous anti-microbial peptide LL-37 is a significant effector molecule in the innate host defense system. Apart from its broadly direct anti-microbial activity, the peptide also activates mast cell in respect of allergic diseases and inflammation. On the other hand, mast cell can be activated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) which are at the center of innate immunity. It was the aim of the study to illustrate the modulatory effect of TLR2 ligands peptidoglycan (PGN) and tripalmitoyl-S-glycero-Cys-(Lys)4 (Pam3CSK4) on LL-37 induced LAD2 cells (a human mast cell line) activation. LL-37 induced LAD2 cells degranulation and the release of IL-8. TLR2 ligands didn't induce LAD2 cells degranulation, but triggered the release of IL-8. Incubation with PGN or Pam3CSK4 significantly suppressed LL-37-induced degranulation through inhibition of calcium mobilization from LAD2 cells. Similarly, the release of IL-8 was inhibited when LAD2 cells were co-stimulated with TLR2 ligands and LL-37. Studies with inhibitors of key enzymes involved in mast cell signaling indicated that the release of IL-8 induced by TLR2 ligands and LL-37 involved the activation of the PI3K, ERK, JNK and calcineurin signaling pathways. In contrast, p38 activation down-regulated the release of IL-8 induced by TLR2 ligands and LL-37. Taken together, these observations suggest that activation of human mast cells by LL-37 could be modified by TLR2 ligands and the function of human mast cells could be switched from allergic reactions to innate immune response. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.National Natural Science Foundation of China [81271755, 81371737]; Guangdong Natural Science Foundation [2014A030313708]; Shenzhen Research Grant [CXZZ20140416144209739, JCYJ20130329110752142, KQCX20120803145850990]SCI(E)[email protected]; [email protected]
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