B-vitamin nutrition in the pea aphid-Buchnera symbiosis.

Various insects that utilize vitamin-deficient diets derive a supplementary supply of these micronutrients from their symbiotic microorganisms. Here, we tested the inference from genome annotation that the symbiotic bacterium Buchnera aphidicola in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum provides the insect with vitamins B2 and B5 but no other B-vitamins. Contrary to expectation, aphid survival over five days of larval development on artificial diets individually lacking each B-vitamin not synthesized by Buchnera was not significantly reduced, despite significantly lower carcass B1, B3, B6 and B7 concentrations in the aphids on diets lacking each of these B-vitamins than on the vitamin-complete diet. Aphid survival was, however, significantly reduced on diet containing low concentrations (≤0.2 mM) or no pantothenate (B5). Complementary transcriptome analysis revealed low abundance of the sense-transcript, but high abundance of the antisense transcript, of the Buchnera gene panC encoding the enzyme mediating the terminal reaction in pantothenate synthesis. We hypothesize that metabolic constraints or antisense transcripts may reduce Buchnera-mediated production of pantothenate, resulting in poor aphid performance on pantothenate-free diets. The discrepancy between predictions from genome data and empirical data illustrates the need for physiological study to test functional inferences made from genome annotations.

The B vitamin nutrition of insects: the contributions of diet, microbiome and horizontally acquired genes.

Insects generally cannot synthesize eight B vitamins that function as co-enzymes in various required enzymatic reactions. Most insects derive their B vitamin requirements from the diet, microbial symbionts, or a combination of these complementary sources. Exceptionally, the genomes of a few insects bear genes in vitamin B5 (pantothenate) and B7 (biotin) synthesis, horizontally acquired from bacteria. Biomarkers of B vitamin deficiency (e.g. vitamin titers, activity of vitamin-dependent enzymes) offer routes to investigate the incidence and the physiological and fitness consequences of B vitamin deficiency in laboratory and field populations of insects.

Consensus statement on the role of Accredited Exercise Physiologists within the treatment of mental disorders: a guide for mental health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to identify the role and scope of Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) services in the mental health sector and to provide insight as to how AEPs can contribute to the multidisciplinary mental health team. METHODS: A modified Delphi approach was utilised. Thirteen AEPs with experience in mental health contributed to the iterative development of a national consensus statement. Six mental health professionals with expertise in psychiatry, mental health nursing, general practice and mental health research participated in the review process. Reviewers were provided with a template to systematically provide feedback on the language, content, structure and relevance to their professional group. RESULTS: This consensus statement outlines how AEPs can contribute to the multidisciplinary mental health team, the aims and scope of AEP-led interventions in mental health services and examples of such interventions, the range of physical and mental health outcomes possible through AEP-led interventions and common referral pathways to community AEP services. OUTCOME: AEPs can play a key role in the treatment of individuals experiencing mental illness. The diversity of AEP interventions allows for a holistic approach to care, enhancing both physical and mental health outcomes.

The insecticidal activity of recombinant garlic lectins towards aphids.

The heterodimeric and homodimeric garlic lectins ASAI and ASAII were produced as recombinant proteins in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The proteins were purified as functional dimeric lectins, but underwent post-translational proteolysis. Recombinant ASAII was a single homogenous polypeptide which had undergone C-terminal processing similar to that occurring in planta. The recombinant ASAI was glycosylated and subject to variable and heterogenous proteolysis. Both lectins showed insecticidal effects when fed to pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) in artificial diet, ASAII being more toxic than ASAI at the same concentration. Acute toxicity (mortality at < or =48 h exposure; similar timescale to starvation) was only apparent at the highest lectin concentrations tested (2.0 mg ml(-)1), but dose-dependent chronic toxicity (mortality at >3d exposure) was observed over the concentration range 0.125-2.0 mg ml(-1). The recombinant lectins caused mortality in both symbiotic and antibiotic-treated aphids, showing that toxicity is not dependent on the presence of the bacterial symbiont (Buchnera aphidicola), or on interaction with symbiont proteins, such as the previously identified lectin "receptor" symbionin. A pull-down assay coupled with peptide mass fingerprinting identified two abundant membrane-associated aphid gut proteins, alanyl aminopeptidase N and sucrase, as "receptors" for lectin binding.

Cytogenetics of uveal melanoma: a 7-year clinical experience.

PURPOSE: Chromosome 3 loss and chromosome 8 gains in uveal melanoma are associated with metastatic death. Since 1999, we have offered cytogenetic analysis to patients treated by local resection or enucleation. This study correlated our cytogenetic results with clinical and histologic predictors and disease-specific mortality. DESIGN: Nonrandomized case series. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred fifty-six patients with uveal melanoma with data on chromosome 3 and chromosome 8. METHODS: Tumor diameter was measured by echography. Cell type, presence of closed connective tissue loops, and mitotic rate were determined histopathologically. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization was performed using centromeric probes for chromosomes 3 and 8 and for c-myc. Patients were flagged at the National Health Service Cancer Registry, which notified us of any deaths. Statistics included Cox multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disease-specific mortality, according to clinical, histologic and cytogenetic features as well as correlation between cytogenetic variables and other mortality predictors, including a predictive index. RESULTS: The patients had a mean age of 61.9 years. The tumors showed no cytogenetic abnormalities of chromosomes 3 or 8 in 42%, chromosome 8 gains in 11%, monosomy 3 in 21%, and both abnormalities in 27%. These correlated with ciliary body involvement (P<0.001), extraocular spread (P = 0.007), large basal tumor diameter (P<0.001), epithelioid cellularity (P<0.001), closed connective tissue loops (P<0.001), and mitotic rate exceeding 4/40 high power fields (P<0.001). By the study close, 76 patients had died (67 from metastasis). Cox multivariate analysis showed the most significant factors to be basal tumor diameter (P<0.001), monosomy 3 (P<0.001), and epithelioid cellularity (P = 0.004). A predictive index (PI) was derived from these variables. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that 5-year metastatic death rates ranged from 0% in 84 patients with low-grade melanoma (PI<19) to 66% in 100 patients with high-grade tumor (PI>26; 95% confidence interval, 53%-80%). CONCLUSION: Cytogenetic analysis of chromosomes 3 and 8 enhances prediction of disease-specific mortality after treatment of uveal melanoma but must be interpreted together with tumor diameter and cell type.