Honey bees and climate explain viral prevalence in wild bee communities on a continental scale.

Viruses are omnipresent, yet the knowledge on drivers of viral prevalence in wild host populations is often limited. Biotic factors, such as sympatric managed host species, as well as abiotic factors, such as climatic variables, are likely to impact viral prevalence. Managed and wild bees, which harbor several multi-host viruses with a mostly fecal-oral between-species transmission route, provide an excellent system with which to test for the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on viral prevalence in wild host populations. Here we show on a continental scale that the prevalence of three broad host viruses: the AKI-complex (Acute bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus), Deformed wing virus, and Slow bee paralysis virus in wild bee populations (bumble bees and solitary bees) is positively related to viral prevalence of sympatric honey bees as well as being impacted by climatic variables. The former highlights the need for good beekeeping practices, including Varroa destructor management to reduce honey bee viral infection and hive placement. Furthermore, we found that viral prevalence in wild bees is at its lowest at the extreme ends of both temperature and precipitation ranges. Under predicted climate change, the frequency of extremes in precipitation and temperature will continue to increase and may hence impact viral prevalence in wild bee communities.

In vitro studies on inhibition capability of fungal-sourced bassiatin versus tamoxifen against ERα, EGFR and VEGFR on breast cancer cells.

Bassiatin which is produced by some fungi, is morpholine-based depsipeptide. Recent studies show that bassiatin inhibits MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation with its anti-oestrogenic effect. In this study, bassiatin's inhibition versus Tamoxifen was examined by comparing the effects on epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor in addition to oestrogen receptor on breast cells. For this purpose, 15 concentrations of bassiatin, tamoxifen and combination of both were treated in terms of cytotoxicity on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3 and SVCT cell lines. For cell cycle analyses, MCF-7 and SVCT cell lines were incubated with 37.5 µM bassiatin, tamoxifen and combined substance for 24 h and 48 h. After treatment, cell distribution in each phase of the cell cycle was measured with flow cytometer. Furthermore, each interaction related to receptors were investigated with immunoassay ELISA kits. As a result, bassiatin-induced MCF-7 cell cycle arrest was shown in G0/G1 and G2/M phases at the presence of bassiatin. It was also found that bassiatin is more effective at all examined receptors on breast cancer cells than tamoxifen. These results show that bassiatin can be used effectively in breast cancer treatment as a new anticancer agent because of its multiple inhibition effects.

Detection of the differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient values in different histopathological types of malignant breast lesions and comparison of cellular region/ stroma ratio and histopathological results

Background/aim: This study aimed to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of malignant breast lesions with different histopathological types on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the cellular region/stroma (CR/S) ratio and histopathological results. Materials and methods: Breast diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance findings of 59 patients were retrospectively analyzed for malignant breast lesions. The CR/S ratio was calculated using breast wide-excisional biopsy or mastectomy specimens. Results: Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed for malignant lesions and subtypes. An ADC threshold of 1.260 × 10 ­3 mm 2 /s was set to detect invasive ductal carcinoma with 80.8% sensitivity and 81.4% specificity. An ADC threshold of 1.391 × 10 ­3 mm 2 /s was set to detect invasive lobular carcinoma lesions with 88.2% sensitivity and 79.5% specificity. The ADC value for lesions with low CR/S ratio (n = 21) was 1.135 ± 0.429 × 10 ­3 mm 2 /s and it was 1.155 ± 0.429 × 10 ­3 mm 2 /s in the high CR/S ratio group (n = 18). Conclusion: ADC value calculation does not seem to be used as an alternative for histopathological detection, which is the gold standard for the differentiation of subtypes of malignant breast cancer. In addition, since there is a positive correlation between CR/S ratio and ADC values, it may be a strong marker to evaluate the stromal component of lesions.

[The prevalance of Enterobius vermicularis in primary school which have different socioecomic level in Ankara]. / Ankara Ili Sosyoekonomik Düzeyi Farklý Ilköðretim OkullarýndaEnterobius vermicularis'in Görülme Sýklýðý.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the prevalence of E. vermicularis and its relation with socioeconomic level, age, race, gender, mother's and father's educational level, income status, and housing type were investigated among 1729 students who were between ages 6-12 at 8 different elementary schools (Eryaman Türkkent, Tahsin Sahinkaya, Sahin, Beytepe, Azmi Ertugrul, Ege, Semiha Isen, Samime Talat Primary School) in Kazan, Etimesgut, Çankaya, Pursaklar, Mamak, and Sincan in Ankara. METHODS: A questionnaire form and cellophane-taped slides with locked bags were provided for students between November 2010 and May 2011. RESULTS: In total, 874 (50.5%) of students were female and 855 (49.5%) of them were male. According to the questionnaire, 197 (11.4%) of students had low, 986 (57.1%) moderate, and 545 (31.5%) high income levels. Also, 148 students out of 1729 were found to be infected with E. vermicularis, and the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis was found 86%; 81% (9.5%) of the infected were male and 67 (7.7%) was female. CONCLUSION: As the result of study, a significant difference was found between the presence of E. vermicularis and socio-demographic properties. However, there was no significant difference between presence of E. vermicularis and gender. These results show that the importance of socio-demographic properties on the presence of E. vermicularis.

[Distribution of Enterobius vermicularis among the schoolchildren of two primary schools with different social-economic status in the Ankara province]. / Ankara'da Farkli Sosyoekonomik Düzeye Sahip Iki Ilkögretim Okulu Ogrencileri Arasinda Enterobius vermicularis'in Dagilimi.

In this study, 207 cellophane-tape specimens were taken from children at two different primary schools in Ankara province. Twenty two out of 207 samples were positive for Enterobius vermicularis (10.6%). A questionnaire including the major factors affecting the distribution of E. vermicularis such as the students' ages, genders and socio-economic status was made. No relationship was found between children's gender and E. vermicularis infection, whereas a higher infection rate was seen in the low-income families. When the 6-9 age group was taken into consideration, the incidence of E. vermicularis was higher for the 8-9 age group than for the 6-7 age group. Abdominal pain was the most common clinical symptom among the children.

Ecological characterization of Steinernema anatoliense (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae).

Our study describes the basic ecological characteristics of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema anatoliense including its response to temperature, moisture, and host range. The effect of temperature and soil moisture on the infection of Galleria mellonella larvae by S. anatoliense was determined. The temperature range for infectivity was greater than that for development. The optimal temperature for infection and development was 25 degrees C. Although S. anatoliense infected the hosts at 10 degrees C, no reproduction occurred at this temperature. This nematode species that was isolated from a cold region of Turkey exhibited warm-adapted temperature characteristics. Optimum water content of the soil for S. anatoliense to infect the host was 10%.

Bursaphelenchus anatolius n. sp. (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae), an Associate of Bees in the Genus Halictus.

Bursaphelenchus anatolius n. sp., a phoretic associate of Halictus bees from Ankara, Turkey, is described and illustrated. Bursaphelenchus anatolius n. sp. is closest to B. kevini, which is phoretically associated with Halictus bees from the Pacific Northwest. Bursaphelenchus anatolius n. sp. and B. kevini appear to be sister taxa based upon several shared morphological features, similar life histories involving phoresy with soil-dwelling Halictus bees, and molecular analysis of the near-full-length small subunit rDNA, D2D3 expansion segments of the large subunit rDNA, and partial mitochondrial DNA COI. Bursaphelenchus anatolius n. sp. can be differentiated from all other species of Bursaphelenchus based upon spicule morphology. The paired spicules are uniquely shaped and ventrally recurved, and both B. anatolius n. sp. and B. kevini possess extending flaps that open when the spicules are protracted beyond the cloaca. Population growth of B. anatolius n. sp. was measured at 23 degrees C in the laboratory on cultures of the fungus Monilinia fructicola grown on lactic acid-treated, 5% glycerol-supplemented potato dextrose agar. Nematode population densities rapidly increased from 110 to about 110,000/9-cm-diam. dish within 21 days.

Two new subspecies of Photorhabdus luminescens, isolated from Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae): Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. kayaii subsp. nov. and Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. thracensis subsp. nov.

Bacterial isolates from nematodes from Turkish soil samples were initially characterized by molecular methods and seven members of the genus Photorhabdus identified to the species level, using riboprint analyses and metabolic properties. Strain 07-5 (DSM 15195) was highly related to the type strain of Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii DSM 15139T, and was regarded a strain of this subspecies. Strains 1121T (DSM 15194T), 68-3 (DSM 15198) and 47-10 (DSM 15197) formed one, strain 39-8T (DSM 15199T), 39-7 (DSM 15196) and 01-12 (DSM 15193) formed a second cluster that branched intermediate the three subspecies of Photorhabdus luminescens. Based upon moderate 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and differences in metabolic properties among themselves and with type strains of the three subspecies we consider the two clusters to represent two new subspecies of Photorhabdus luminescens for which the names Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. kayaii, type strain 1121T (DSM 15194T, NCIMB 13951T), and Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. thracensis subsp. nov., type strain 39-8T (DSM 15199T, NCIMB 13952T) are proposed.

A new entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema anatoliense n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), from Turkey.

A description is given of Steinernema anatoliense n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), an entomopathogenic nematode isolated from soil samples collected in the locality of Kars, East Anatolia, Turkey. Cross-hybridisation, morphological and molecular studies (RFLP analysis) indicated the distinctness of S. anatoliense n. sp. from other Steinernema species. Diagnostic characters include: body length of third-stage infective juvenile (507-580 microm); lateral field pattern with 6-8 longitudinal ridges; tail shape of the first generation male with a cuticular mucro; shape of the spicules and gubernaculum; and arrangement of the genital papillae. In addition, RFLP analysis of the ITS region of rDNA shows S. anatoliense n. sp. to be distinct from 50 other Steinernema species and isolates.