Does Aphid Infestation Interfere with Indirect Plant Defense against Lepidopteran Caterpillars in Wild Cabbage?

Attraction of parasitoids to plant volatiles induced by multiple herbivory depends on the specific combinations of attacking herbivore species, especially when their feeding modes activate different defense signalling pathways as has been reported for phloem feeding aphids and tissue feeding caterpillars. We studied the effects of pre-infestation with non-host aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae) for two different time periods on the ability of two parasitoid species to discriminate between volatiles emitted by plants infested by host caterpillars alone and those emitted by plants infested with host caterpillars plus aphids. Using plants originating from three chemically distinct wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) populations, Diadegma semiclausum switched preference for dually infested plants to preference for plants infested with Plutella xylostella hosts alone when the duration of pre-aphid infestation doubled from 7 to 14 days. Microplitis mediator, a parasitoid of Mamestra brassicae caterpillars, preferred dually-infested plants irrespective of aphid-infestation duration. Separation of the volatile blends emitted by plants infested with hosts plus aphids or with hosts only was poor, based on multivariate statistics. However, emission rates of individual compounds were often reduced in plants infested with aphids plus hosts compared to those emitted by plants infested with hosts alone. This effect depended on host caterpillar species and plant population and was little affected by aphid infestation duration. Thus, the interactive effect of aphids and hosts on plant volatile production and parasitoid attraction can be dynamic and parasitoid specific. The characteristics of the multi-component volatile blends that determine parasitoid attraction are too complex to be deduced from simple correlative statistical analyses.     

Chemical Defense in Harvestmen (Arachnida,Opiliones): Do Benzoquinone Secretions Deter Invertebrate and Vertebrate Predators?

Two alkylated 1,4-benzoquinones were identified from the defensive secretion produced by the neotropical harvestman Goniosoma longipes (Gonyleptidae). They were characterized as 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2-ethyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. We tested the effectiveness of these benzoquinone secretions against several predator types, including invertebrates and vertebrates. Different predators were exposed to the harvestmen's gland secretion or to distilled water in laboratory bioassays. Our results indicate that secretions containing the 1,4-benzoquinones released by G. longipes can be an effective defense against predation, and that the effectiveness of the secretion is dependent on the predator type. The scent gland secretion repelled seven ant species, two species of large wandering spiders, and one frog species, but was not an effective defense against an opossum. Our study also demonstrates that the scent gland secretion of G. longipes can work as a chemical shield preventing the approach of three large predatory ants for at least 10 min. The chemical shield may protect the harvestman against successive attacks of the same ant worker and also allow the harvestman to flee before massive ant recruitment. Our data support the suggestion that chemical defenses may increase survival with some but not all potential predators. This variation in defense effectiveness may result from many interacting factors, including the attack strategy, size, learning ability, and physiology of the predators, as well as the chemical nature of the defensive compounds, type of emission, and amount of effluent released by the prey.     

The Chemical Structure of Oxide Glasses: A Concept Consistent with Neutron Scattering Studies?

An outline is presented of the conventional and chemical approaches to the structure of multicomponent glasses, together with a brief summary of the application of neutron scattering techniques to investigate the glass structure. The concept of the chemical structure of glasses, as developed by Shultz and co-workers, is then examined in the light of neutron scattering studies of oxide systems. It is concluded that, to date, thermodynamic predictions based on the model of associated solutions are entirely consistent with the results of neutron scattering studies.     

Chemical Defenses Against Fish Predation in Three Brazilian Octocorals: 11β,12β-Epoxypukalide as a Feeding Deterrent in Phyllogorgia dilatata

The feeding-deterrence properties of crude extracts of three Brazilian octocoral species, Neospongodes atlantica Kükenthal (Alcyonacea, Nephtheidae), Plexaurella regia Castro (Gorgonacea, Plexauridae), and Phyllogorgia dilatata Esper (Gorgonacea, Gorgoniidae), were investigated. All the extracts were incorporated into food strips at the concentrations occurring in the living organisms. Crude extract and its ethyl acetate fraction obtained from P. dilatata collected in Armação dos Búzios (Rio de Janeiro State), when incorporated into artificial diets and tested in the habitat of origin, reduced consumption of food strips by fishes, relative to controls. Crude extracts from two octocoral species collected at the National Marine Park of Abrolhos (Bahia State), N. atlantica and P. regia, had no apparent feeding-deterrence properties; in fact, they seemed to stimulate feeding. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the bioactive P. dilatata crude extract revealed that the deterrent property was restricted to a medium polarity fraction. Field palatability experiments with two pure compounds isolated from this fraction revealed that the furanocembranolide 11,12-epoxypukalide is a potent feeding deterrent produced by P. dilatata against fish. Apparently, furanocembranolides are a particular class of compounds with feeding deterrent properties, protecting some octocorals from potential fish predator species in both tropical and temperate environments.     

GABA, β-Alanine and Glycine in the Digestive Juice of Privet-Specialist Insects: Convergent Adaptive Traits Against Plant Iridoids

The privet tree, Ligustrum obtusifolium (Oleaceae), defends its leaves against insects with a strong lysine-decreasing activity that make proteins non-nutritive. This is caused by oleuropein, an iridoid glycoside. We previously found that some privet-specialist caterpillars adapt by secreting glycine in the digestive juice as a neutralizer that prevents the loss of lysine. Here, we extended the survey into 42 lepidopteran and hymenopteran species. The average concentration of glycine in digestive juice for 11 privet-feeding species (40.396 mM) was higher than that for 32 non-privet-feeding species (2.198 mM). The glycine concentrations exceeded 10 mM in 7 out of 11 privet-feeding species. In Macrophya timida (Hymenoptera), it reached 164.8 mM. Three out of the four remaining privet-feeding species had other amino acids instead. Larvae of a privet-specialist butterfly, Artopoetes pryeri (Lycaenidae), had a high concentration (60.812 mM) of GABA. In two other specialists, β-alanine was found. GABA, β-alanine, and glycine as well as alanine, amines, and ammonium ion inhibited the lysine decrease, indicating that amino residues are responsible for the inhibition. However, the three amino acids found in the specialists were far more effective (20 mM showed 80% inhibition) than the rest (>140 mM was required for 80% inhibition). Our results show a clear and rare case of the apparent convergent evolution of herbivores’ molecular adaptations of feeding on a plant with a chemical defense in a manner that minimizes the cost of adaptation. The novel role of GABA in plant-herbivore interactions shown here is probably the first reported non-neuronal role of animal-derived GABA.     

2-Methoxylated fatty acids in marine sponges: Defense mechanism against mycobacteria?

A series of saturated 2-methoxylated FA having even-numbered chains with 8–14 carbons were synthesized, and their spectroscopic data are presented for the first time. The 2-methoxylated C₁₀−C₁₄ acids were prepared from the corresponding 2-hydroxylated FA, whereas the 2-methoxyoctanoic acid was synthesized starting with heptaldehyde. All of the methoxylated FA displayed some degree of inhibition (between 2 and 99%) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv at 6.25 μg/mL. The most inhibitory FA was 2-methoxydecanoic acid, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 200–239 μM against M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv as determined by both the microplate Alamar Blue assay and the green fluorescent protein microplate assay. These results are discussed in terms of the possible role of the 2-methoxylated FA as antimicrobial lipids produced either by marine sponges, or the associated marine symbiotic bacteria, as a defense mechanism in a highly competitive environment.     

Promotion in Heterogeneous Catalysis: A Topic Requiring a New Approach?

Promoters, and their counterparts poisons, are two topics that have been studied extensively since heterogeneous catalysts have been used industrially. Commercial catalysts tend to involve multiple promoters to enhance the activity, selectivity, lifetime and structural integrity, in addition to guard beds or feedstock purification measures that are used to avoid the adsorption of poisons. Yet, at a fundamental level, there is still considerable debate as to how specific promoters function. Promoter effects tend to be specific to a particular catalyst formulation and generic effects are not common, yet this would be desirable. Generally, in acid catalysis and hydrogenation reactions, promoter effects can be dramatic and unexpected. However, in oxidation reactions of alkanes and alkenes, the promotion effects observed to date are somewhat limited. In this paper, the topic of promotion in heterogeneous catalysis is discussed. The complex interplay between structural and electronic effects of promoters is described using examples of both well defined metal surfaces (e.g., the promoted iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis) and multicrystalline metal, metal oxide and metal phosphate catalysts (e.g., Li-doped MgO for methane oxidation). Subsequently, a molecular approach for the promotion of heterogeneous catalysts is prepared and discussed. This is based on observations from well defined molecular catalysts for homogeneously catalysed processes of ligand accelerated reactions. Examples are described where the effects of ligand acceleration, increasing reaction rate by over two orders of magnitude, can be observed for heterogeneous catalysts for hydrogenation and acid catalysed reactions. The remaining challenge is to identify similar effects for partial oxidation reactions, and it is questioned whether a molecular approach can be developed to meet this challenge.     

YedY: A Mononuclear Molybdenum Enzyme with a Redox‐Active Ligand?

A recent electrochemical investigation suggests that the mononuclear molybdenum enzyme YdeY utilizes redox‐active ligands during catalysis.     

Vitamin A deficiency among preschool children: a re-emerging problem in Costa Rica?

Based on the 1996 National Nutrition Survey, this study shows the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among 567 Costa Rican urban and rural 12-83 months old-children. In overall, the prevalence of VAD (plasma retinol < or = 20 micrograms/dl) was 8.8%. No difference was found even when data were analyzed by area and gender. Around 30% of preschool children were at risk of VAD (plasma retinol between 20.1-30 micrograms/dl). The proportion of children at risk for retinol deficiency was significantly higher in rural area in comparison with urban area (38.9% and 28.0% respectively, p < 0.05). Lineal regression analysis showed that plasma retinol levels were negatively related to the number of family members and positively related to mother's schooling. Our results suggest a possible impairment in vitamin A status of preschool children.     

TMB in NSCLC: A Broken Dream?

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have changed the treatment paradigm of a variety of cancers, including non-small-cell lung cancer, not all patients respond to immunotherapy in the same way. Predictive biomarkers for patient selection are thus needed. Tumor mutation burden (TMB), defined as the total number of somatic/acquired mutations per coding area of a tumor genome (Mut/Mb), has emerged as a potential predictive biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We found that the limited use of TMB in clinical practice is due to the difficulty in its detection and compounded by several different biological, methodological and economic issues. The incorporation of both TMB and PD-L1 expression or other biomarkers into multivariable predictive models could result in greater predictive power.     

Activated Chemical Defense in Marine Sponges—a Case Study on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aplysinella rhax</Emphasis>

Activated chemical defense, i.e., the rapid conversion of precursor molecules to defensive compounds following tissue damage, has been well documented for terrestrial and marine plants; but evidence for its presence in sessile marine invertebrates remains scarce. We observed a wound-activated conversion of psammaplin A sulfate to psammaplin A in tissue of the tropical sponge Aplysinella rhax. The conversion is rapid (requiring only seconds), the turnover rate increases with increasing wounding activity (e.g., ~20% after tissue stabbing vs. ~85% after tissue grinding), and is likely enzyme-catalyzed (no reaction in the absence of water and inhibition of the conversion by heat). Fish feeding assays with the pufferfish Canthigaster solandri, an omnivorous sponge predator, revealed an increased anti-feeding activity by the conversion product psammaplin A compared to the precursor psammaplin A sulfate. We propose that the wound-activated formation of psammaplin A in A. rhax is an activated defense targeted against predator species that are not efficiently repelled by the sponge's constitutive chemical defense. Recent observations of conversion reactions also in other sponge species indicate that more activated defenses may exist in this phylum. Based on the findings of this study, we address the question whether activated defenses may be more common in sponges-and perhaps also in other sessile marine invertebrates-than hitherto believed.     

What's New in Industrial Polymerization with Supercritical Solvents? A Short Review

This review attempts to answer the following questions: what are the interest and benefits of polymerizing in supercritical media and what type of polymer and polymerization process can be used? Supercritical fluids (SCFs) in theory offer many advantages since they have intermediate properties between liquids and gases. Also, at a time when the environment is undergoing such great impacts as the depletion of the ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the use of CO₂ seems an attractive alternative for sustainability and conservation. This is why heterogeneous polymerization methods, particularly suspension and dispersion processes, offer great potential with an SCF as a suspending medium. Unfortunately, polyolefins and other commodities, such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), may not benefit from SCF technology today for profitability reasons, but acrylics, styrenics and other fluorinated plastics are open to this new technology. Furthermore, SCFs may have an impact on polyamides, polycarbonates and other speciality polymers.     

GnRH Antagonists with or without Add-Back Therapy: A New Alternative in the Management of Endometriosis?

To evaluate the effectiveness of a new class of medical drugs, namely oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists, in the management of premenopausal women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. We reviewed the most relevant papers (n = 27) on the efficacy of new medical alternatives (oral GnRH antagonists) as therapy for endometriosis. We first briefly summarized the concept of progesterone resistance and established that oral contraceptives and progestogens work well in two-thirds of women suffering from endometriosis. Since clinical evidence shows that estrogens play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the disease, lowering their levels with oral GnRH antagonists may well prove effective, especially in women who fail to respond to progestogens. There is a need for reliable long-term oral treatment capable of managing endometriosis symptoms, taking into consideration both the main symptoms and phenotype of the disease. Published studies reviewed and discussed here confirm the efficacy of GnRH antagonists. There is a place for GnRH antagonists in the management of symptomatic endometriosis. Novel algorithms that take into account the different phenotypes are proposed.