Conserved Regions Research Articles

Analysis of Vpr Genetic Variations between Chinese Major Circulating Recombinants CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC.

HIV-1 CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC recombinant strains are responsible for more than 80% of new infections in China since the beginning of the 2000s. These two strains may have distinct genetic mutations, which resulted in distinct patterns of pathogenesis related to the viral gene, Vpr. The amino acid pattern and genetic diversity of Vpr were analyzed and characterized in HIV-1 CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC HIV-1 strains. The Vpr gene was amplified from extracted viral RNA and DNA sequencing was performed using an ABI3730 analyzer. The positional amino acid composition, genetic variation and distance of Vpr sequence were analyzed by Bio-Edit 7.2 and Mega 6.01 software packages. A total of 162 CRF01_AE and 80 CRF07_BC derived Vpr sequences were obtained by DNA sequencing. CRF01_AE patients showed higher viral load and lower CD4 counts than CRF07_BC patients (P<0.05). Higher genetic distance and more polymorphic amino acids were found in CRF01_AE Vpr than CRF07_BC Vpr (P<0.05). The common conservative amino acid region was identified as 29EAVRHFP35 in both CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. Of note, the R77Q mutation was found in both the most recently Chinese derived CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE Vpr. CRF01_AE derived Vpr has higher genetic variation and pathogenesis in comparison to the CRF07_BC strain.

Dry conifer forest restoration benefits Colorado Front Range avian communities.

Fire suppression has increased stand density and risk of severe, stand-replacing wildfire in lower elevation dry conifer forests of western North America, threatening ecological function. The U.S. Forest Service's Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) aims to mitigate impacts to ecological function, while mandating effectiveness monitoring to verify restoration success. Expected benefits include improved conditions for biodiversity, but relatively few empirical studies evaluate restoration effects on biodiversity. We applied the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions program to survey birds in relation to CFLRP treatments along the Colorado Front Range in 2015-2017. We employed hierarchical models to analyze species occupancy and richness at 1972 points nested within 141 1-km2 grid cells. Our objectives were to investigate (1) species occupancy relationships with treatments at local (point) and landscape (grid) spatial scales, (2) potential mechanisms for treatment relationships considering species and treatment relationships with forest structure and composition (i.e., habitat relationships), and (3) treatment and habitat relationships with species richness. The data supported positive and negative point-level treatment relationships, suggesting uneven species distributions between treated and untreated points. At the grid scale, however, we only found positive species relationships with percent area treated, and accordingly, grid-level species richness increased with treatment extent. Potential mechanisms for treatment relationships included treatments generating foraging opportunities for aerial insectivores by opening the canopy, improving conditions for ground-associated species by increasing herbaceous growth, and limiting opportunities for shrub-nesting species by reducing shrub cover. Landscape-scale patterns suggest CFLRP treatments can benefit avian communities by generating habitat for open-forest species without necessarily eliminating habitat for closed-forest species. Our results provide evidence for a commonly expected but rarely verified pattern of increased species richness with forest heterogeneity. We suggest restoration treatments will most benefit forest bird diversity by reducing canopy cover, encouraging herbaceous ground cover, limiting ladder fuel species, and encouraging shrub diversity in canopy openings, while maintaining some dense forest stands on the landscape.

The problems of preservation of ethnic identity of the Belarusian diaspora in Soviet and post-Soviet Armenia

The object of this research is the problems of preservation of ethnic identity of the Belarusian diaspora in Armenia during Soviet and post-Soviet period. Interethnic families comprise the current Belarusian community in Armenia. These scattered ethnic groups are the soft target for assimilation processes in the predominantly conservative and monoethnic regions of Armenia. The article presents a brief overview on the history of Belarusian diaspora of Yerevan and Belarusian ethnic groups in the Armenian regions since its formation until the present. Certain backbone characteristics of the concept of diaspora are described. The novelty consists in the division of Belarusian diaspora of Armenia into Belarusian diaspora of Yerevan and ethnic groups of the regions of the Republic of Armenia. A comparative analysis of these fundamentally different communities allowed better understanding the problems that threaten the existence of Belarusian diaspora in Armenia. Analysis is conducted on the basic factors of ethnic identity of the Belarusian diaspora in Armenia. The article reviews the factors that contribute to assimilation and ethnic transformation of Belarusian ethnic groups of the Republic of Armenia and the diaspora of Yerevan. In Yerevan, Belarusian ethnic identifiers are being replaced by the Russians, while in rural areas of Armenia even Russian indicators are being dislodged by the local ethnic components, which can result in fatal assimilation.

Central Italian “Tabernacula”: A Survey

This paper aims to provide an in-depth survey of grand-scale medieval Italian tabernacles and other types of closing altarpieces with all of their wings – or substantial parts thereof – still preserved (1200-1435). Most such altarpieces, enclosing a statue of the Virgin Mary or a Saint, come from the culturally homogeneous and generally conservative regions of the Central Apennines, in particular from Abruzzo. Structure, provenance, original location, function, patronage, iconography are only a few of the many questions raised by the surviving examples here discussed within a broader European frame.Notwithstanding the great variety and composite character of medieval altar furnishings, three major types of medieval Italian closing retables will be here described – according to Claude Lapaire’s formal classification (1969 and 1972): the tabernacle-altarpiece in the strict sense of the word, i.e. an open ciborium with the pedestal, rear wall, and canopy, equipped with carved or painted bi-fold wings; the polygonal tabernacle-altarpiece (“le retable à tabernacle polygonal”); and the cupboard-altarpiece (“le retable en forme d’armoire”). In Central Apennine regions all of these types coexisted throughout the fourteenth century at least, resisting the spread of Tuscan polyptychs.

Lessons learned from comparing spatially explicit models and the Partners in Flight approach to estimate population sizes of boreal birds in Alberta, Canada

Abstract Estimating the population abundance of landbirds is a challenging task complicated by the amount, type, and quality of available data. Avian conservationists have relied on population estimates from Partners in Flight (PIF), which primarily uses roadside data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). However, the BBS was not designed to estimate population sizes. Therefore, we set out to compare the PIF approach with spatially explicit models incorporating roadside and off-road point-count surveys. We calculated population estimates for 81 landbird species in Bird Conservation Region 6 in Alberta, Canada, using land cover and climate as predictors. We also developed a framework to evaluate how the differences between the detection distance, time-of-day, roadside count, and habitat representation adjustments explain discrepancies between the 2 estimators. We showed that the key assumptions of the PIF population estimator were commonly violated in this region, and that the 2 approaches provided different population estimates for most species. The average differences between estimators were explained by differences in the detection-distance and time-of-day components, but these adjustments left much unexplained variation among species. Differences in the roadside count and habitat representation components explained most of the among-species variation. The variation caused by these factors was large enough to change the population ranking of the species. The roadside count bias needs serious attention when roadside surveys are used to extrapolate over off-road areas. Habitat representation bias is likely prevalent in regions sparsely and non-representatively sampled by roadside surveys, such as the boreal region of North America, and thus population estimates for these regions need to be treated with caution for certain species. Additional sampling and integrated modeling of available data sources can contribute towards more accurate population estimates for conservation in remote areas of North America.

Analysis of KRT5 and KRT14 gene mutations and mode of inheritance in Iranian patients with clinical suspicion of Epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa simplex is a hereditary skin disorder caused by mutations in several genes such as KRT5 and KRT14 . Skin fragility in basal keratinocytes presence regions led to the cytolysis of epidermis and blistering. Aim of this study was to detect the molecular defects in KRT5 and KRT14 genes hot spots in patients with clinical suspicion of EBS and investigation of their probable genotype-phenotype correlations. Methods: Exons 1 and 6-7 of KRT5 and exons 1 and 4-7 of KRT14 amplification and mutation detection were performed by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing, respectively. Novel variants pathogenicity evaluated by bioinformatics tools. Results: Nine important variants detected in seven different patients within 6 Iranian families affected by Epidermolysis bullosa simplex, of which four variants were novel. Three patients had a mottled pigmentation phenotype [G96D (p.Gly96Asp) and F97I (p.Phe97Ile) in KRT5 ]. One of them showed a Dowling–Meara phenotype [A417P (p.Ala417Pro) and E477D (p.Glu477Asp) in KRT5 ] and another had a Koebner type phenotype [R397I (p.Arg397Ile) and Q444* (p.Gln444Ter) in KRT5 ]. A novel variant [G92E (p.Gly92Glu) in KRT5 ] in a double heterozygous state with a challenging variant [A413T (p.Ala413Thr) in KRT14 ] identified in one patient with Koebner type phenotype. Also, a previously reported mutation [I377T (p.Ile377Thr) in KRT14 gene] identified in this study. Conclusion: The results of molecular data analysis showed that the most severe phenotypes were associated with mutations in highly conserved regions. In some cases, different inheritance modes were observed.

DNA priming vaccination to induce T cell responses to subdominant conserved HIV epitopes

Abstract Background HIV sequence diversity and epitope immunodominance exerted by the variable regions are hurdles in the development of an effective AIDS vaccine. We developed novel DNA vaccine regimens to redirect T cell responses to highly conserved regions (CE) in the HIV proteome. Methods Rhesus macaques were primed with DNA expressing CE immunogen and boosted with a combination of DNAs expressing CE and/or full-length (FL) immunogens. Different prime-boost protocols were compared. The CE prime/CE+FL boost vaccination co-delivered in the same anatomical site was compared to delivery of CE and FL DNA in contralateral sites. Results CE prime/CE+FL boost regimens induced high and broad CTL responses which cannot be achieved using FL DNAs only. Thus, priming with CE DNA profoundly alters the immunodominance exerted by the variable non-CE regions, promoting responses to subdominant CE. This vaccine regimen is currently tested in clinical trials (HVTN 119, ACTG A5369). Comparison of same site vs contralateral vaccine delivery showed that separating CE and FL DNA resulted in increased breadth of T cell responses to non-CE while maintaining CTL responses to CE. Separating the immunogens at the prime allows for induction of independent primary adaptive responses by targeting the two vaccine components to distinct lymph nodes and preventing interference. Conclusions HIV DNA vaccine regimens comprising CE as prime and native immunogens as boost induce responses to subdominant epitopes, maximizing breadth and focusing the immune response against vulnerable regions of the virus. Separating the immunogens results in broader epitope recognition. This has implications for many vaccine protocols promoting induction of protective responses.

Pantai Taman-Pacitan ecotourism development: Conservation and community empowerment orientation

Ecotourism is a form of tourism that is closely linked to the principle of conservation. Thus, ecotourism is right and beneficial in maintaining the integrity and authenticity of ecosystems in natural areas, particularly turtle conservation areas. Ecotourism is synergized to turtle conservation as it has such features: (1) Conservation, the use of biodiversity does not damage the natural source, also it does not cause negative impact whereas it is very environmentally friendly, (2) Education, by improving community’s awareness and changing their behavior about the need for conservation of living natural resources and their conservation, (3) Economy, ecotourism provides economic benefits and spur regional development; and (4) Active role of community, this is done by building partnership with local communities for the development of ecotourism. Based on the issues, “IbW Conservation and Ecotourism Ngadirojo District Pacitan Region” was done by (1) Making a model of tourism activities that is environmentally, ecologically, socially, and economically beneficial to local communities and to the sustainability of natural resources, (2) Assessing the object of tourist attraction in flora and fauna conservation areas, in this case sea turtles and their ecosystems, so that can synergize with ecotourism activities, and (3) Making a model of local community-based tourist institution. The method implemented to achieve the objectives was “Community Empowerment through Ecotourism” which is described as follow: (1) Land Conservation, value and travel product, (2) Creation of an ecotourism atmosphere that all people who live in the area will gain the benefit, (3) The development of tourism activities that carry the excellence of the physical, economic, socio-cultural aspects of the local, (4) The solid image of ecotourism activities in the region that is supported by the readiness of all stakeholders, and (5) Integration of turtle theme conservation and ecotourism area with other supporting tourism products in the Regency. Pacitan Construction of facilities that have been carried out are: (1) developing the forest of eternity, (2) ecological restoration of coastal forests, (3) making sea water wells for turtle ponds, (4) nursery of coastal forest vegetation, (5) construction of marine biota ponds and sanitation facilities, (6) construction of shelters and gazebos, (7) construction of parking lot, and (8) widening of the ecotourism ring road. The next stage plans are: (1) ecotourism community empowerment, (2) strengthening the ecotourism area, and (3) revitalization of marine biota ponds.

Too Red for Crowdfunding: The Legitimation and Adoption of Crowdfunding Across Political Cultures

Institutional change is typically studied at the organizational field level; we leverage political culture to examine how the context in which these fields are embedded influence processes of institutional change within such fields. Specifically, we look at the effect of conservative political culture on legitimation and adoption of crowdfunding in the United States. We find that crowdfunding is less popular and more slowly legitimated in conservative regions. However, we also find that crowdfunding’s legitimacy is more important in these regions and that once a legitimacy threshold is reached, the adoption of crowdfunding in conservative regions surpasses that in liberal regions.

A summary of bird mortality at photovoltaic utility scale solar facilities in the Southwestern U.S.

Recent trends in renewable energy development in the United States (U.S.) show that new installed capacity of utility-scale solar energy has exceeded 30% of total installed capacity of all sources per year since 2013. Photovoltaic solar energy provides benefits in that no emissions are produced; however, there are potential impacts from photovoltaic solar development on birds that include habitat loss and potential for collision mortality. Only 2 papers in the peer-reviewed literature present fatality information from fatality monitoring studies at a photovoltaic utility-scale solar energy facility; however, more data exists in unpublished reports. To provide a more comprehensive overview of bird mortality patterns, we synthesized results from fatality monitoring studies at 10 photovoltaic solar facilities across 13 site-years in California and Nevada. We found variability in the distribution of avian orders and species among and within Bird Conservation Regions, and found that water-obligate birds, which rely on water for take-off and landing, occurred at 90% (9/10) of site-years in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts Bird Conservation Region. We found that a cause of mortality could not be determined for approximately 61% of intact carcasses, and that approximately 54% of all carcasses were feather spots, introducing uncertainty into the interpretation of the fatality estimates. The average annual fatality estimate we calculated for photovoltaic solar (high-end estimate of 2.49 birds per megawatt per year) is lower than that reported by another study (9.9 birds per megawatt per year) that included one photovoltaic facility. Our results provide a summary of fatalities in bird conservation regions where the facilities are located, but expanding our conclusions to new regions is limited by the location of facilities with fatality monitoring data.

Community science validates climate suitability projections from ecological niche modeling.

Climate change poses an intensifying threat to many bird species and projections of future climate suitability provide insight into how species may shift their distributions in response. Climate suitability is characterized using ecological niche models (ENMs), which correlate species occurrence data with current environmental covariates and project future distributions using the modeled relationships together with climate predictions. Despite their widespread adoption, ENMs rely on several assumptions that are rarely validated in situ and can be highly sensitive to modeling decisions, precluding their reliability in conservation decision-making. Using data from a novel, large-scale community science program, we developed dynamic occupancy models to validate near-term climate suitability projections for bluebirds and nuthatches in summer and winter. We estimated occupancy, colonization, and extinction dynamics across species' ranges in the United States in relation to projected climate suitability in the 2020s, and used a Gibbs variable selection approach to quantify evidence of species-climate relationships. We also included a Bird Conservation Region strata-level random effect to examine among-strata variation in occupancy that may be attributable to land-use and ecoregional differences. Across species and seasons, we found strong evidence that initial occupancy and colonization were positively related to 2020 climate suitability, illustrating an independent validation of projections from ENMs across a large geographic area. Random strata effects revealed that occupancy probabilities were generally higher than average in core areas and lower than average in peripheral areas of species' ranges, and served as a first step in identifying spatial patterns of occupancy from these community science data. Our findings lend much-needed support to the use of ENM projections for addressing questions about potential climate-induced changes in species' occupancy dynamics. More broadly, our work highlights the value of community scientist observations for ground-truthing projections from statistical models and for refining our understanding of the processes shaping species' distributions under a changing climate.

A multiplex PCR method for detection of five animal species in processed meat products using novel species-specific nuclear DNA sequences

The continuous development of fast and simple new methods to identify animal-derived ingredients is very important for the authentication of meat products. This study intended to develop a multiplex PCR method using new species-specific nuclear DNA (nDNA) sequences for the detection of ingredients derived from sheep/goat, bovine, chicken, duck and pig in meat products. Sequence alignment analysis in 53 species showed high specificity of species-specific nDNA. Species-specific primers were designed on the conservative region of each species-specific nDNA sequence. The specificity and conservation of the sequences and primers were verified by PCR reaction and sequencing with the limit of detection down to 0.5 ng. Then, a species-specific multiplex PCR method was developed and optimized to simultaneously detect sheep/goat (237 bp), bovine (223 bp), chicken (192 bp), duck (168 bp) and pig (154 bp) in one reaction. Various processed meat products containing one or more animal-derived ingredients were detected by the developed multiplex PCR method, and the results were consistent with their labeled meat species. Our study provides a fast and simple detection method for regulating labeling of animal-derived ingredients in meat products.

Spatial and temporal variations and significance identification of ecosystem services in the Sanjiangyuan National Park, China

The establishment of the Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP) favours implementation of strictest ecological protection on the Tibetan Plateau, thus firmly ensuring national ecological security. To understand ecological background in the SNP, spatial and temporal variations of ecosystem, and its services during the period 2000–2015 and significance identification were analysed by using the methods of remote sensing, GIS and model simulation. The results showed that: (1) Area with extremely important ecosystem services accounted for approximately 51.4% of the SNP’s total area, of which extreme importance water regulation, soil conservation and sand fixation regions contributed 15.3%, 13.7% and 22.4%, respectively. (2) The SNP had formed a spatial pattern of ecosystem services with water regulation as core in the eastern part, soil conservation as core in the central part and sand fixation as core in the western part. (3) For the period 2000–2015, water regulation service generally improved in the SNP. Soil conservation service also improved overall; and sand fixation service exhibited a decreasing trend due to reduction in wind speed and vegetation coverage. (4) Climate warming and humidification, combined with the implementation of ecological protection project in the SNP were the primary reasons for ecosystem services improvement. However, grassland degradation had not yet been fundamentally suppressed, and vegetation coverage was still declining in regional areas. For strict protection and sustainable use of the SNP and its natural resources, overall planning and scientific layout should be paid more attention, and classification and subarea protection should be implemented based on natural ecosystem laws.

Adolescents' Perceptions of Contraception Access through Pharmacies.

Adolescent pregnancy is an important public health issue, and pharmacist prescribing has the potential to expand contraceptive access and decrease unintended pregnancy. However, little is known about acceptability and uptake of pharmacist prescribing among adolescents, particularly among youth in socially and politically conservative regions of the country. The study objective was to identify how young women in Indiana perceive pharmacist contraceptive prescribing. Participants were recruited from clinics and completed a simulated pharmacist contraception-prescribing encounter; a demographic and behavioral questionnaire; and an in-depth qualitative interview focused on adolescent perspectives on pharmacist prescribing. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Sixty young women aged 14–21 years (mean age 17.0 ± 1.7 years) completed in-depth interviews. The majority expressed interest in pharmacist contraceptive prescribing (n = 33, 55.9%). Three overarching themes were identified, focusing on accessibility; quality of care; and pharmacist knowledge and youth friendliness. Subthemes highlighted the need for improved confidential access; a desire for additional pharmacist training in contraception; and interactions with a pharmacist that can relate to the young person. Increased awareness of the perceptions of young people can inform state policies and pharmacy protocols. Pharmacists, because of their accessibility, are well poised and equipped to assist in this public health concern.

Molecular Characterization of Neoseiulus barkeri Vitellogenin Genes and Vitellogenin Receptor during Reproductive Diapause.

The relationship between reproductive diapause and the genes related to vitellogenin (Vg) and its receptor (VgR) in insectoid ovarian development is still unclear. Accordingly, in the present study, we used hematoxylin and eosin staining to study the ovarian structure in the predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri, a species that shows promise as a biological pest control agent. Staining revealed the presence of oocytes on ovary surfaces, and the oocytes were deposited as yolk granules through the intake of Vg and other nutrients with the development of the ovary. Development of the ovary stopped at the oocyte stage in diapausing adult mites, and this stage presented the same characteristics as the first day of adulthood in non-diapause female adults, where oocytes with nutrient cells, but no yolk granules are observed. In order to further explore the effects of the Vg gene and its receptor on reproduction, the sequences of the N. barkeri vitellogenin genes NbVg1, NbVg2, NbVg3, and NbVgR were analyzed using bioinformatics, and the expression levels of the NbVgs and the VgR at different developmental stages were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results showed that the NbVgs and NbVgR have complete domains and that the positions of many conservative regions and conservative motif are consistent. The expression levels of the NbVgs and NbVgR were highest in the ovipositional period, followed by those in the preovipositional period. The expression levels of the NbVgs and the VgR in non-diapause female adult mites were significantly higher than those in reproductive diapause female adult mites.

Cost-share conservation practices have mixed effects on priority grassland and shrubland breeding bird occupancy in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region, USA

Globally, agricultural ecosystems continue to be the most imperiled for biodiversity. Subsequently, countries focused on cost-share conservation programs whereby private landowners are paid to conserve or restore their land. In the United States, populations of grassland and shrubland breeding birds continue to decline, despite state, federal, and private cost-share conservation programs. We related avian occupancy to cost-share conservation programs across the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region using spatially explicit patch-scale survey data. Once per year from 2008 to 2012, we surveyed 5303 discreet points for 9 grassland and shrubland breeding bird species using roadside 5-min point-count surveys in 37 counties across 7 states. We modeled point-specific land cover and heterogeneity in conjunction with cost-share conservation program information using a multi-season robust-design occupancy model. Land-cover covariates were most important in models for species occupancy. For every species except Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii), Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), and Prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor), addition of conservation covariates to best-supported land-cover models improved occupancy model fit, though effects of conservation programs on occupancy were mixed. Eastern meadowlark occupancy was negatively correlated to the presence of conservation. Alternatively, Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) occupancy was 200% greater when a conservation practice was at a point rather than being located 4 km away. If cost-share conservation is going to reverse biodiversity declines in agricultural ecosystems, then scale-appropriate models will need to be used to prioritize future implementation because the status quo provides limited mixed effects on grassland and shrubland bird species occupancy.

FtsA Regulates Z-Ring Morphology and Cell Wall Metabolism in an FtsZ C-Terminal Linker-Dependent Manner in Caulobacter crescentus.

Bacterial cell division requires the assembly of a multiprotein division machinery, or divisome, that remodels the cell envelope to cause constriction. The cytoskeletal protein FtsZ forms a ringlike scaffold for the divisome at the incipient division site. FtsZ has three major regions: a conserved GTPase domain that polymerizes into protofilaments on binding GTP, a C-terminal conserved peptide (CTC) required for binding membrane-anchoring proteins, and a C-terminal linker (CTL) region of varied length and low sequence conservation. Recently, we demonstrated that the CTL regulates FtsZ polymerization properties in vitro and Z-ring structure and cell wall metabolism in vivo In Caulobacter crescentus, an FtsZ variant lacking the CTL (designated ΔCTL) can recruit all known divisome members and drive local cell wall synthesis but has dominant lethal effects on cell wall metabolism. To understand the underlying mechanism of the CTL-dependent regulation of cell wall metabolism, we expressed chimeras of FtsZ domains from C. crescentus and Escherichia coli and observed that the E. coli GTPase domain fused to the C. crescentus CTC phenocopies C. crescentus ΔCTL. By investigating the contributions of FtsZ-binding partners, we identified variants of FtsA, a known membrane anchor for FtsZ, that delay or exacerbate the ΔCTL phenotype. Additionally, we observed that the ΔCTL protein forms extended helical structures in vivo upon FtsA overproduction. We propose that misregulation downstream of defective ΔCTL assembly is propagated through the interaction between the CTC and FtsA. Overall, our study provides mechanistic insights into the CTL-dependent regulation of cell wall enzymes downstream of FtsZ polymerization.IMPORTANCE Bacterial cell division is essential and requires the recruitment and regulation of a complex network of proteins needed to initiate and guide constriction and cytokinesis. FtsZ serves as a master regulator for this process, and its function is highly dependent on both its assembly into the canonical Z ring and interactions with protein binding partners, all of which results in the activation of enzymes that remodel the cell wall to drive constriction. Using mutants of FtsZ, we have elaborated on the role of its C-terminal linker domain in regulating Z-ring stability and dynamics, as well as the requirement for its conserved C-terminal domain and interaction with the membrane-anchoring protein FtsA for regulating the process of cell wall remodeling for constriction.

Body shape variation of Garra rufa (Heckel) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) using geometric and morphometric techniques

Organisms can adapt to habitat conditions that ensure their survival. Habitat separation can lead to different populations of body shape during the phenotypic plasticity process. Both traditional and modern (geometric) morphology are being used in fish population studies. In this study, the body shape differences between Garra rufa (Heckel) populations captured in the Jarrahi River (from the Tigris Basin) were investigated using traditional and geometric morphometric methods. The samples were captured from the Rostam Abad, Aghajari and Behbahan tributaries and transferred to the laboratory. For the traditional morphometric analysis, 10 meristic characters and 19 morphometric characters were measured. Geometric morphological information was extracted using 13 landmark points on left side photographs of individual fish. According to the results of the traditional morphometric analysis, there were differences between the three populations in meristic (lateral line scales, predorsal scales, circamucaudal scales) and morphometric (14 of 19 characters) traits. In the geometric morphometric analysis, the major part of the shape variation is due to landmark points in the head region and the dorsal fin base, with the anal fin and caudal peduncle being the most conservative body regions. The populations had significant differences in body shape with populations from Aghajari and Behbahan tributaries being most similar and the Rostam Abad population was different from the two other populations.

Perspectives of using Illumina MiSeq for identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) form one of the most common symbiosis with the majority of land plants. AMF supply the plant with various mineral elements, primarily phosphorus, and improve the water supply. The search for the most effective AMF strains for symbiosis and the creation of microbial preparations on that basis is an important task for modern biology. Owing to the difficulties of cultivation without a host plant and their high genetic polymorphism, identifying AMF is very difficult. A high number of cryptic species often makes morphological identification unreliable. Recent years have seen a growth in the number of AMF biodiversity studies performed by modern NGS-based methods, Illumina MiSeq in particular. Currently, there are still many questions that remain for the identification of AМF. The most important are whether conservative or variable sequences should be used to select a marker for barcoding and whether universal primers or those specific to AMF should be used. In our work, we have successfully used universal primers ITS3 and ITS4 for the sequencing in Illumina MiSeq of the 5.8S rDNA – ITS2 region of the 35S rRNA genes, which contain both a conservative and variable regions. The molecular genetic approach for AMF identification was quite effective and allowed us to reliably identify eight of nine isolates to the species level: five isolates of Rhizophagus irregularis, and one isolate of R. invermaius, Paraglomus laccatum, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum, respectively. For all five R. irregularis isolates, high variability in the ITS region and the absence of ecotopic-related molecular characters in the ITS2 region were demonstrated. The NCBI data is still insufficient for accurate AMF identification of Acaulospora sp. isolates from the genus to the species level.

Rewiring the adolescent brain

Neuroscience As children go through adolescence, many undergo profound and occasionally disruptive changes in behavior. How does this map onto changes in the developing brain? Using functional magnetic resonance imaging in healthy young people (14 to 26 years old), Vasa et al. observed two modes in functional connectivity between brain regions. By 14 years of age, conservative regions, often specialized for basic sensory and motor functions, are already strongly connected and consolidate further as an adolescent reaches adulthood. By contrast, disruptive regions, activated by complex tasks, show shifts in connectivity as a person transitions between the ages of 14 and 26. The disruptive maturation of connectivity between cortex and subcortex may reflect metabolic remodeling that underpins development of sophisticated adult faculties, such as socializing, mentalizing, and executive skills. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117 , 3248 (2020).