In this exposé we provide the first review of host use by brood parasitic cuckoos in a multiple-cuckoo system in China, based on our own long-term field data and a compilation of observations obtained from the li...In this exposé we provide the first review of host use by brood parasitic cuckoos in a multiple-cuckoo system in China, based on our own long-term field data and a compilation of observations obtained from the literature. In total, we found that 11 species of cuckoos utilized altogether 55 host species. These hosts belong to 15 families, in which Sylviidae, Turdidae and Timaliidae account for 22.6%, 20.8% and 17.0% of parasitism records, respectively. The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) had the widest range of host species, accounting for 45.5% of the total number of parasitized species (25 in 10 families) of all parasitism records and is the most frequent brood parasite in the country. Cuckoo species differed in their egg coloration and the extent of egg polymorphism with most of them, e.g. the Common Cuckoo, the Lesser Cuckoo (C. poliocephalus) and the Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) laying well mimetic eggs with respect to their hosts based on human being’s visual observations, while others such as the Large Hawk-cuckoo (C. sparverioides), the Himalayan Cuckoo (C. saturatus) and the Asian Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx maculatus) usually laid non-mimetic eggs. The use of cuckoo hosts and egg color variation in China are compared with those in other parts of their ranges in Asia.展开更多
The ichnovirus TrIV, transmitted by the endoparasitic wasp Tranosema rostrale to its lepidopteran host during oviposition, replicates asymptomatically in wasp ovaries and causes physiological dysfunctions in parasitiz...The ichnovirus TrIV, transmitted by the endoparasitic wasp Tranosema rostrale to its lepidopteran host during oviposition, replicates asymptomatically in wasp ovaries and causes physiological dysfunctions in parasitized caterpillars. The need to identify ichnoviral genes responsible for disturbances induced in lepidopteran hosts has provided the impetus for the sequencing and annotation of ichnovirus genomes, including that of TrIV. In the latter, 86 putative genes were identified, including 35 that could be assigned to recognized ichnoviral gene families. With the aim of assessing the relative importance of each TrIV gene, as inferred from its level of expression, and evaluating the accuracy of the gene predictions made during genome annotation, the present study builds on an earlier qPCR quantification of transcript abundance of TrIV rep ORFs, in both lepidopteran and wasp hosts, extending it to other gene families as well as to a sample of unassigned ORFs. We show that the majority (91%) of putative ORFs assigned to known gene families are expressed in infected larvae, while this proportion is lower (67%) for a sample taken among the remaining ORFs. Selected members of the TrV and rep gene families are shown to be transcribed in infected larvae at much higher levels than genes from any other TrIV gene family, pointing to their likely involvement in host subjugation. In wasp ovaries, the transcriptional profile is dominated by a rep gene and a member of a newly described gene family encoding secreted proteins displaying a novel cysteine motif, which we identified among previously unassigned ORFs.展开更多
In Europe, eggs of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) have been found in more than 125 different host species. However, very few species are frequently parasitized. The Cuckoo is divided into several distinct races t...In Europe, eggs of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) have been found in more than 125 different host species. However, very few species are frequently parasitized. The Cuckoo is divided into several distinct races termed gentes. Females of each gens specialize in parasitizing a particular host species. More than 20 such gentes are recognized in Europe. Each female Cuckoo lays eggs of constant appearance. Most gentes can be separated based on their distinct egg types, which in many cases mimic those of their hosts. Different gentes may occur in sympatry or may be separated geographically. Some gentes may occur in restricted parts of the host’s distribution area. These patterns raise some fundamental questions like: Why are some passerine species preferred as hosts while others are not? Why does a host population consist of individuals either accepting or rejecting Cuckoo eggs? Why is there marked variation in egg rejection behavior between various host populations? How distinct and host-specialized are Cuckoo gentes? These questions are discussed in relation to existing knowledge and future perspectives.展开更多
The Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) is unique among obligate avian brood parasites because its highly precocial young leave the host nest shortly after hatching and impose no post-hatching costs on their h...The Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) is unique among obligate avian brood parasites because its highly precocial young leave the host nest shortly after hatching and impose no post-hatching costs on their hosts. Accordingly, we might expect host-parasite interactions in this parasite to differ strikingly from those of other brood parasites — they should be able to parasitize a broad diversity of hosts and be highly successful with these hosts. We conducted the second detailed study ever completed on patterns of host use in Black-headed Ducks. Based on four years of systematic searches of multiple marshes in Argentina, we found no evidence that Black-headed Ducks ever had nests of their own, confirming the previous conclusion that Black-headed Ducks are, indeed, true obligate brood parasites. Contrary to expectation, however, we found that Heteronetta is ecologically dependent on a surprisingly small number of host species — two species of coots and a gull — all of which are widespread and locally abundant species. Other species are numerically less important as hosts either because they are relatively uncommon, or because they are avoided by the ducks. In the three main host species, hatching success of the duck eggs was also surprisingly low (≤ 28%), based on expectations for a precocial parasite, mainly due to host rejection or neglect. Mortality due to predation on host nests, in contrast, was low for all three primary host species. These observations corroborate Weller’s observations from a single-year study. The combination of a dependence on few primary hosts and a relatively low hatching success are inconsistent with some previous hypotheses for the evolution of obligate brood parasitism in Heteronetta. Instead, our observations, and those of Weller, suggest that intense nest predation in Austral wetlands, coupled with an abundance of a few common host species that aggressively defend their nests and obtain high nest success rates, may have been an important factor in the evolution of obligate parasitism in this enigmatic duck.展开更多
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: 287 patients suffering from primary epithelial ovarian cancer from 19...Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: 287 patients suffering from primary epithelial ovarian cancer from 1995 to 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The 3-, 5-, 10-year survival with systematic lymphadenectomy (SL) were slightly higher than those without SL, but there were no statistically significance (P > 0.05). The 3-, 5-, 10-year survival of clinical stages without SL were lower than those with SL, but there were no significant difference either (P > 0.05). The 3-,5-, and 10-year survival rates with SL were higher than those without SL with no statistically differences (P > 0.05) among the subgroups such as absent, ≤ 2 cm and > 2 cm residual tumor. The survival rates of the groups without residual tumor and the group with ≤ 2 cm residual tumor were significantly higher than that of > 2 cm (P < 0.005). On multivariate analysis, patient staging (P = 0.01) and size of residual disease after primary cytoreductive surgery (P < 0.001 and = 0.002, respectively) retained prognostic significance. SL was not proved to be an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.69). Conclusion: Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy can not improve and prolong the survival time significantly.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription(BSJPP), a formula from Traditional Chinese Medicine, on a mouse model of autoimmune premature ovarian failure(POF) induced by mouse zona pellucida(ZP3) an...OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription(BSJPP), a formula from Traditional Chinese Medicine, on a mouse model of autoimmune premature ovarian failure(POF) induced by mouse zona pellucida(ZP3) and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: After randomization, POF was induced in the model mice by immunization with ZP3. One week later, mice received low(8.1 mg/kg), moderate(16.2 mg/kg) and high(32.4 mg/kg) doses of BSJPP by gastrogavage once daily for 90 days. Premarin(0.03 mg/kg) served as the positive group. Serum samples were collected 1 week after the last dose and stored at-20 ℃ for analysis. After cervical dislocation, the uterus and ovaries were collected aseptically for evaluation by histological assessment, scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemical staining, and Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses.RESULTS: Serum E2 levels in POF model mice were decreased, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels were dramatically increased. Serum levels of E2,LH and FSH were reduced in POF model mice treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses) and premarin. Anti-bone morphogenetic protein 15(BMP-15) and connexin 43(Cx43) were repressed in autoimmune POF model mice, whereas high expression was observed in control mice and those treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses)and premarin.CONCLUSION: BSJPP is effective in treating ZP3-induced POF in mice and the increase in the expression of BMP-15 and Cx43 may be implicated in the mechanism underpinning the action.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31071938, 31101646)Key Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (No. 212136)+1 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (20110490967)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-10-0111)
文摘In this exposé we provide the first review of host use by brood parasitic cuckoos in a multiple-cuckoo system in China, based on our own long-term field data and a compilation of observations obtained from the literature. In total, we found that 11 species of cuckoos utilized altogether 55 host species. These hosts belong to 15 families, in which Sylviidae, Turdidae and Timaliidae account for 22.6%, 20.8% and 17.0% of parasitism records, respectively. The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) had the widest range of host species, accounting for 45.5% of the total number of parasitized species (25 in 10 families) of all parasitism records and is the most frequent brood parasite in the country. Cuckoo species differed in their egg coloration and the extent of egg polymorphism with most of them, e.g. the Common Cuckoo, the Lesser Cuckoo (C. poliocephalus) and the Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) laying well mimetic eggs with respect to their hosts based on human being’s visual observations, while others such as the Large Hawk-cuckoo (C. sparverioides), the Himalayan Cuckoo (C. saturatus) and the Asian Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx maculatus) usually laid non-mimetic eggs. The use of cuckoo hosts and egg color variation in China are compared with those in other parts of their ranges in Asia.
基金Grants from the Canadian Forest Service(CFS) and a Discovery grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to MC
文摘The ichnovirus TrIV, transmitted by the endoparasitic wasp Tranosema rostrale to its lepidopteran host during oviposition, replicates asymptomatically in wasp ovaries and causes physiological dysfunctions in parasitized caterpillars. The need to identify ichnoviral genes responsible for disturbances induced in lepidopteran hosts has provided the impetus for the sequencing and annotation of ichnovirus genomes, including that of TrIV. In the latter, 86 putative genes were identified, including 35 that could be assigned to recognized ichnoviral gene families. With the aim of assessing the relative importance of each TrIV gene, as inferred from its level of expression, and evaluating the accuracy of the gene predictions made during genome annotation, the present study builds on an earlier qPCR quantification of transcript abundance of TrIV rep ORFs, in both lepidopteran and wasp hosts, extending it to other gene families as well as to a sample of unassigned ORFs. We show that the majority (91%) of putative ORFs assigned to known gene families are expressed in infected larvae, while this proportion is lower (67%) for a sample taken among the remaining ORFs. Selected members of the TrV and rep gene families are shown to be transcribed in infected larvae at much higher levels than genes from any other TrIV gene family, pointing to their likely involvement in host subjugation. In wasp ovaries, the transcriptional profile is dominated by a rep gene and a member of a newly described gene family encoding secreted proteins displaying a novel cysteine motif, which we identified among previously unassigned ORFs.
文摘In Europe, eggs of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) have been found in more than 125 different host species. However, very few species are frequently parasitized. The Cuckoo is divided into several distinct races termed gentes. Females of each gens specialize in parasitizing a particular host species. More than 20 such gentes are recognized in Europe. Each female Cuckoo lays eggs of constant appearance. Most gentes can be separated based on their distinct egg types, which in many cases mimic those of their hosts. Different gentes may occur in sympatry or may be separated geographically. Some gentes may occur in restricted parts of the host’s distribution area. These patterns raise some fundamental questions like: Why are some passerine species preferred as hosts while others are not? Why does a host population consist of individuals either accepting or rejecting Cuckoo eggs? Why is there marked variation in egg rejection behavior between various host populations? How distinct and host-specialized are Cuckoo gentes? These questions are discussed in relation to existing knowledge and future perspectives.
基金supported by the Kananaskis Field Stations of the University of Calgary and University of Californiathe Dennis G. Raveling Endowment
文摘The Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) is unique among obligate avian brood parasites because its highly precocial young leave the host nest shortly after hatching and impose no post-hatching costs on their hosts. Accordingly, we might expect host-parasite interactions in this parasite to differ strikingly from those of other brood parasites — they should be able to parasitize a broad diversity of hosts and be highly successful with these hosts. We conducted the second detailed study ever completed on patterns of host use in Black-headed Ducks. Based on four years of systematic searches of multiple marshes in Argentina, we found no evidence that Black-headed Ducks ever had nests of their own, confirming the previous conclusion that Black-headed Ducks are, indeed, true obligate brood parasites. Contrary to expectation, however, we found that Heteronetta is ecologically dependent on a surprisingly small number of host species — two species of coots and a gull — all of which are widespread and locally abundant species. Other species are numerically less important as hosts either because they are relatively uncommon, or because they are avoided by the ducks. In the three main host species, hatching success of the duck eggs was also surprisingly low (≤ 28%), based on expectations for a precocial parasite, mainly due to host rejection or neglect. Mortality due to predation on host nests, in contrast, was low for all three primary host species. These observations corroborate Weller’s observations from a single-year study. The combination of a dependence on few primary hosts and a relatively low hatching success are inconsistent with some previous hypotheses for the evolution of obligate brood parasitism in Heteronetta. Instead, our observations, and those of Weller, suggest that intense nest predation in Austral wetlands, coupled with an abundance of a few common host species that aggressively defend their nests and obtain high nest success rates, may have been an important factor in the evolution of obligate parasitism in this enigmatic duck.
文摘Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: 287 patients suffering from primary epithelial ovarian cancer from 1995 to 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The 3-, 5-, 10-year survival with systematic lymphadenectomy (SL) were slightly higher than those without SL, but there were no statistically significance (P > 0.05). The 3-, 5-, 10-year survival of clinical stages without SL were lower than those with SL, but there were no significant difference either (P > 0.05). The 3-,5-, and 10-year survival rates with SL were higher than those without SL with no statistically differences (P > 0.05) among the subgroups such as absent, ≤ 2 cm and > 2 cm residual tumor. The survival rates of the groups without residual tumor and the group with ≤ 2 cm residual tumor were significantly higher than that of > 2 cm (P < 0.005). On multivariate analysis, patient staging (P = 0.01) and size of residual disease after primary cytoreductive surgery (P < 0.001 and = 0.002, respectively) retained prognostic significance. SL was not proved to be an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.69). Conclusion: Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy can not improve and prolong the survival time significantly.
基金Supported by Fundamental and Frontier Research Fund of Henan Provincial Science and Technology Department(Grant No.15106)Fundamental and Frontier Research Fund of Henan Provincial Science and Technology Department(Grant No.142300410415)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription(BSJPP), a formula from Traditional Chinese Medicine, on a mouse model of autoimmune premature ovarian failure(POF) induced by mouse zona pellucida(ZP3) and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: After randomization, POF was induced in the model mice by immunization with ZP3. One week later, mice received low(8.1 mg/kg), moderate(16.2 mg/kg) and high(32.4 mg/kg) doses of BSJPP by gastrogavage once daily for 90 days. Premarin(0.03 mg/kg) served as the positive group. Serum samples were collected 1 week after the last dose and stored at-20 ℃ for analysis. After cervical dislocation, the uterus and ovaries were collected aseptically for evaluation by histological assessment, scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemical staining, and Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses.RESULTS: Serum E2 levels in POF model mice were decreased, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels were dramatically increased. Serum levels of E2,LH and FSH were reduced in POF model mice treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses) and premarin. Anti-bone morphogenetic protein 15(BMP-15) and connexin 43(Cx43) were repressed in autoimmune POF model mice, whereas high expression was observed in control mice and those treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses)and premarin.CONCLUSION: BSJPP is effective in treating ZP3-induced POF in mice and the increase in the expression of BMP-15 and Cx43 may be implicated in the mechanism underpinning the action.
