South Asian maternal and paternal lineages in southern Thailand and the role of sex-biased admixture.

Previous genome-wide studies have reported South Asian (SA) ancestry in several Mainland Southeast Asian (MSEA) populations; however, additional details concerning population history, in particular the role of sex-specific aspects of the SA admixture in MSEA populations can be addressed with uniparental markers. Here, we generated ∼2.3 mB sequences of the male-specific portions of the Y chromosome (MSY) of a Tai-Kadai (TK)-speaking Southern Thai group (SouthernThai_TK), and complete mitochondrial (mtDNA) genomes of the SouthernThai_TK and an Austronesian (AN)-speaking Southern Thai (SouthernThai_AN) group. We identified new mtDNA haplogroups, e.g. Q3, E1a1a1, B4a1a and M7c1c3 that have not previously reported in Thai populations, but are frequent in Island Southeast Asia and Oceania, suggesting interactions between MSEA and these regions. SA prevalent mtDNA haplogroups were observed at frequencies of ~35-45% in the Southern Thai groups; both of them showed more genetic relatedness to Austroasiatic (AA) speaking Mon than to any other group. For MSY, SouthernThai_TK had ~35% SA prevalent haplogroups and exhibited closer genetic affinity to Central Thais. We also analyzed published data from other MSEA populations and observed SA ancestry in some additional MSEA populations that also reflects sex-biased admixture; in general, most AA- and AN-speaking groups in MSEA were closer to SA than to TK groups based on mtDNA, but the opposite pattern was observed for the MSY. Overall, our results of new genetic lineages and sex-biased admixture from SA to MSEA groups attest to the additional value that uniparental markers can add to studies of genome-wide variation.

Interpreting mismatches between linguistic and genetic patterns among speakers of Tanimuka (Eastern Tukanoan) and Yukuna (Arawakan).

Northwestern Amazonia is home to a great degree of linguistic diversity, and the human societies in that region are part of complex networks of interaction that predate the arrival of Europeans. This study investigates the population and language contact dynamics between two languages found within this region, Yukuna and Tanimuka, which belong to the Arawakan and Tukanoan language families, respectively. We use evidence from linguistics, ethnohistory, ethnography and population genetics to provide new insights into the contact dynamics between these and other human groups in NWA. Our results show that the interaction between these groups intensified in the last 500 years, to the point that it is difficult to differentiate between them genetically. However, this close interaction has led to more substantial contact-induced language changes in Tanimuka than in Yukuna, consistent with a scenario of language shift and asymmetrical power relations.

The social lives of isolates (and small language families): the case of the Northwest Amazon.

The Americas are home to patches of extraordinary linguistic (genealogical) diversity. These high-diversity areas are particularly unexpected given the recent population of the Americas. In this paper, we zoom in on one such area, the Northwest Amazon, and address the question of how the diversity in this area has persisted to the present. We contrast two hypotheses that claim opposite mechanisms for the maintenance of diversity: the isolation hypothesis suggests that isolation facilitates the preservation of diversity, while the integration hypothesis proposes that conscious identity preservation in combination with contact drives diversity maintenance. We test predictions for both hypotheses across four disciplines: biogeography, cultural anthropology, population genetics and linguistics. Our results show signs of both isolation and integration, but they mainly suggest considerable diversity in how groups of speakers have interacted with their surroundings.

Genomic perspectives on human dispersals during the Holocene.

Nearly 20 y ago, Jared Diamond and Peter Bellwood reviewed the evidence for the associated spread of farming and large language families by the demographic expansions of farmers. Since then, advances in obtaining and analyzing genomic data from modern and ancient populations have transformed our knowledge of human dispersals during the Holocene. Here, we provide an overview of Holocene dispersals in the light of genomic evidence and conclude that they have a complex history. Even when there is a demonstrated connection between a demographic expansion of people, the spread of agriculture, and the spread of a particular language family, the outcome in the results of contact between expanding and resident groups is highly variable. Further research is needed to identify the factors and social circumstances that have influenced this variation and complex history.

The DC1 Domain Protein BINUCLEATE POLLEN is Required for POLLEN Development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The development of the male gametophyte is a tightly regulated process that requires the precise control of cell division and gene expression. A relevant aspect to understand the events underlying pollen development regulation constitutes the identification and characterization of the genes required for this process. In this work, we showed that the DC1 domain protein BINUCLEATE POLLEN (BNP) is essential for pollen development and germination. Pollen grains carrying a defective BNP alleles failed to complete mitosis II and exhibited impaired pollen germination. By yeast two-hybrid analysis and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, we identified a set of BNP-interacting proteins. Among confirmed interactors, we found the NAC family transcriptional regulators Vascular Plant One-Zinc Finger 1 (VOZ1) and VOZ2. VOZ1 localization changes during pollen development, moving to the vegetative nucleus at the tricellular stage. We observed that this relocalization requires BNP; in the absence of BNP in pollen from bnp/BNP plants, VOZ1 nuclear localization is impaired. As the voz1voz2 double mutants showed the same developmental defect observed in bnp pollen grains, we propose that BNP requirement to complete microgametogenesis could be linked to its interaction with VOZ1/2 proteins. BNP could have the role of a scaffold protein, recruiting VOZ1/2 to the endosomal system into assemblies that are required for their further translocation to the nucleus, where they act as transcriptional regulators.

Climate Change Effects on Grapevine Physiology and Biochemistry: Benefits and Challenges of High Altitude as an Adaptation Strategy.

Grapevine berry quality for winemaking depends on complex and dynamic relationships between the plant and the environment. Winemakers around the world are demanding a better understanding of the factors that influence berry growth and development. In the last decades, an increment in air temperature, CO2 concentration and dryness occurred in wine-producing regions, affecting the physiology and the biochemistry of grapevines, and by consequence the berry quality. The scientific community mostly agrees in a further raise as a result of climate change during the rest of the century. As a consequence, areas most suitable for viticulture are likely to shift into higher altitudes where mean temperatures are suitable for grape cultivation. High altitude can be defined as the minimum altitude at which the grapevine growth and development are differentially affected. At these high altitudes, the environments are characterized by high thermal amplitudes and great solar radiations, especially ultraviolet-B (UV-B). This review summarizes the environmental contribution of global high altitude-related climatic variables to the grapevine physiology and wine composition, for a better evaluation of the possible establishment of vineyards at high altitude in climate change scenarios.

Reconstructing the Human Genetic History of Mainland Southeast Asia: Insights from Genome-Wide Data from Thailand and Laos.

Thailand and Laos, located in the center of Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), harbor diverse ethnolinguistic groups encompassing all five language families of MSEA: Tai-Kadai (TK), Austroasiatic (AA), Sino-Tibetan (ST), Hmong-Mien (HM), and Austronesian (AN). Previous genetic studies of Thai/Lao populations have focused almost exclusively on uniparental markers and there is a paucity of genome-wide studies. We therefore generated genome-wide SNP data for 33 ethnolinguistic groups, belonging to the five MSEA language families from Thailand and Laos, and analyzed these together with data from modern Asian populations and SEA ancient samples. Overall, we find genetic structure according to language family, albeit with heterogeneity in the AA-, HM-, and ST-speaking groups, and in the hill tribes, that reflects both population interactions and genetic drift. For the TK speaking groups, we find localized genetic structure that is driven by different levels of interaction with other groups in the same geographic region. Several Thai groups exhibit admixture from South Asia, which we date to ∼600-1000 years ago, corresponding to a time of intensive international trade networks that had a major cultural impact on Thailand. An AN group from Southern Thailand shows both South Asian admixture as well as overall affinities with AA-speaking groups in the region, suggesting an impact of cultural diffusion. Overall, we provide the first detailed insights into the genetic profiles of Thai/Lao ethnolinguistic groups, which should be helpful for reconstructing human genetic history in MSEA and selecting populations for participation in ongoing whole genome sequence and biomedical studies.

The paternal and maternal genetic history of Vietnamese populations.

Vietnam exhibits great cultural and linguistic diversity, yet the genetic history of Vietnamese populations remains poorly understood. Previous studies focused mostly on the majority Kinh group, and thus the genetic diversity of the many other groups has not yet been investigated. Here we analyze complete mtDNA genome sequences and ~2.3 Mb sequences of the male-specific portion of the Y chromosome from the Kinh and 16 minority populations, encompassing all five language families present in Vietnam. We find highly variable levels of diversity within and between groups that do not correlate with either geography or language family. In particular, the Mang and Sila have undergone recent, independent bottlenecks, while the majority group, Kinh, exhibits low levels of differentiation with other groups. The two Austronesian-speaking groups, Giarai and Ede, show a potential impact of matrilocality on their patterns of variation. Overall, we find that isolation, coupled with limited contact involving some groups, has been the major factor influencing the genetic structure of Vietnamese populations, and that there is substantial genetic diversity that is not represented by the Kinh.

The Current Genomic Landscape of Western South America: Andes, Amazonia, and Pacific Coast.

Studies of Native South American genetic diversity have helped to shed light on the peopling and differentiation of the continent, but available data are sparse for the major ecogeographic domains. These include the Pacific Coast, a potential early migration route; the Andes, home to the most expansive complex societies and to one of the most widely spoken indigenous language families of the continent (Quechua); and Amazonia, with its understudied population structure and rich cultural diversity. Here, we explore the genetic structure of 176 individuals from these three domains, genotyped with the Affymetrix Human Origins array. We infer multiple sources of ancestry within the Native American ancestry component; one with clear predominance on the Coast and in the Andes, and at least two distinct substrates in neighboring Amazonia, including a previously undetected ancestry characteristic of northern Ecuador and Colombia. Amazonian populations are also involved in recent gene-flow with each other and across ecogeographic domains, which does not accord with the traditional view of small, isolated groups. Long-distance genetic connections between speakers of the same language family suggest that indigenous languages here were spread not by cultural contact alone. Finally, Native American populations admixed with post-Columbian European and African sources at different times, with few cases of prolonged isolation. With our results we emphasize the importance of including understudied regions of the continent in high-resolution genetic studies, and we illustrate the potential of SNP chip arrays for informative regional-scale analysis.

The MED30 subunit of mediator complex is essential for early plant development and promotes flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Mediator is a large multiprotein complex that is required for the transcription of most, if not all, genes transcribed by RNA Polymerase II. A core set of subunits is essential to assemble a functional Mediator in vitro and, therefore, the corresponding loss-of-function mutants are expected to be lethal. The MED30 subunit is essential in animal systems, but is absent in yeast. Here, we report that MED30 is also essential for both male gametophyte and embryo development in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana Mutant med30 pollen grains were viable and some were able to germinate and target the ovules, although the embryos aborted shortly after fertilization, suggesting that MED30 is important for the paternal control of early embryo development. When gametophyte defects were bypassed by specific pollen complementation, loss of MED30 led to early embryo development arrest. Later in plant development, MED30 promotes flowering through multiple signaling pathways; its downregulation led to a phase change delay, downregulation of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 3 (SPL3), FLOWERING LOCUS T (FTI) and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1 (SOC1), and upregulation of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC).

Contrasting Paternal and Maternal Genetic Histories of Thai and Lao Populations.

The human demographic history of Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) has not been well studied; in particular, there have been very few sequence-based studies of variation in the male-specific portions of the Y chromosome (MSY). Here, we report new MSY sequences of ∼2.3 mB from 914 males and combine these with previous data for a total of 928 MSY sequences belonging to 59 populations from Thailand and Laos who speak languages belonging to three major Mainland Southeast Asia families: Austroasiatic, Tai-Kadai, and Sino-Tibetan. Among the 92 MSY haplogroups, two main MSY lineages (O1b1a1a* [O-M95*] and O2a* [O-M324*]) contribute substantially to the paternal genetic makeup of Thailand and Laos. We also analyze complete mitochondrial DNA genome sequences published previously from the same groups and find contrasting pattern of male and female genetic variation and demographic expansions, especially for the hill tribes, Mon, and some major Thai groups. In particular, we detect an effect of postmarital residence pattern on genetic diversity in patrilocal versus matrilocal groups. Additionally, both male and female demographic expansions were observed during the early Mesolithic (∼10 ka), with two later major male-specific expansions during the Neolithic period (∼4-5 ka) and the Bronze/Iron Age (∼2.0-2.5 ka). These two later expansions are characteristic of the modern Austroasiatic and Tai-Kadai groups, respectively, consistent with recent ancient DNA studies. We simulate MSY data based on three demographic models (continuous migration, demic diffusion, and cultural diffusion) of major Thai groups and find different results from mitochondrial DNA simulations, supporting contrasting male and female genetic histories.

Cultural Innovations Influence Patterns of Genetic Diversity in Northwestern Amazonia.

Human populations often exhibit contrasting patterns of genetic diversity in the mtDNA and the nonrecombining portion of the Y-chromosome (NRY), which reflect sex-specific cultural behaviors and population histories. Here, we sequenced 2.3 Mb of the NRY from 284 individuals representing more than 30 Native American groups from Northwestern Amazonia (NWA) and compared these data to previously generated mtDNA genomes from the same groups, to investigate the impact of cultural practices on genetic diversity and gain new insights about NWA population history. Relevant cultural practices in NWA include postmarital residential rules and linguistic exogamy, a marital practice in which men are required to marry women speaking a different language. We identified 2,969 SNPs in the NRY sequences, only 925 of which were previously described. The NRY and mtDNA data showed different sex-specific demographic histories: female effective population size has been larger than that of males through time, which might reflect larger variance in male reproductive success. Both markers show an increase in lineage diversification beginning ∼5,000 years ago, which may reflect the intensification of agriculture, technological innovations, and the expansion of regional trade networks documented in the archaeological evidence. Furthermore, we find similar excesses of NRY versus mtDNA between-population divergence at both the local and continental scale, suggesting long-term stability of female versus male migration. We also find evidence of the impact of sociocultural practices on diversity patterns. Finally, our study highlights the importance of analyzing high-resolution mtDNA and NRY sequences to reconstruct demographic history, since this can differ considerably between sexes.

Complete human mtDNA genome sequences from Vietnam and the phylogeography of Mainland Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is an important crossroads within Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) and a gateway to Island Southeast Asia, and as such exhibits high levels of ethnolinguistic diversity. However, comparatively few studies have been undertaken of the genetic diversity of Vietnamese populations. In order to gain comprehensive insights into MSEA mtDNA phylogeography, we sequenced 609 complete mtDNA genomes from individuals belonging to five language families (Austroasiatic, Tai-Kadai, Hmong-Mien, Sino-Tibetan and Austronesian) and analyzed them in comparison with sequences from other MSEA countries and Taiwan. Within Vietnam, we identified 399 haplotypes belonging to 135 haplogroups; among the five language families, the sequences from Austronesian groups differ the most from the other groups. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 111 novel Vietnamese mtDNA lineages. Bayesian estimates of coalescence times and associated 95% HPD for these show a peak of mtDNA diversification around 2.5-3 kya, which coincides with the Dong Son culture, and thus may be associated with the agriculturally-driven expansion of this culture. Networks of major MSEA haplogroups emphasize the overall distinctiveness of sequences from Taiwan, in keeping with previous studies that suggested at most a minor impact of the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan on MSEA. We also see evidence for population expansions across MSEA geographic regions and language families.

New insights from Thailand into the maternal genetic history of Mainland Southeast Asia.

Tai-Kadai (TK) is one of the major language families in Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), with a concentration in the area of Thailand and Laos. Our previous study of 1234 mtDNA genome sequences supported a demic diffusion scenario in the spread of TK languages from southern China to Laos as well as northern and northeastern Thailand. Here we add an additional 560 mtDNA genomes from 22 groups, with a focus on the TK-speaking central Thai people and the Sino-Tibetan speaking Karen. We find extensive diversity, including 62 haplogroups not reported previously from this region. Demic diffusion is still a preferable scenario for central Thais, emphasizing the expansion of TK people through MSEA, although there is also some support for gene flow between central Thai and native Austroasiatic speaking Mon and Khmer. We also tested competing models concerning the genetic relationships of groups from the major MSEA languages, and found support for an ancestral relationship of TK and Austronesian-speaking groups.

High-resolution mitochondrial DNA analysis sheds light on human diversity, cultural interactions, and population mobility in Northwestern Amazonia.

OBJECTIVES: Northwestern Amazonia (NWA) is a center of high linguistic and cultural diversity. Several language families and linguistic isolates occur in this region, as well as different subsistence patterns, with some groups being foragers and others agriculturalists. In addition, speakers of Eastern Tukanoan languages are known for practicing linguistic exogamy, a marriage system in which partners are taken from different language groups. In this study, we use high-resolution mitochondrial DNA sequencing to investigate the impact of this linguistic and cultural diversity on the genetic relationships and population structure of NWA groups. METHODS: We collected saliva samples from individuals representing 40 different NWA ethnolinguistic groups and sequenced 439 complete mitochondrial genomes to an average coverage of 1,030×. RESULTS: The mtDNA data revealed that NWA populations have high genetic diversity with extensive sharing of haplotypes among groups. Moreover, groups who practice linguistic exogamy have higher genetic diversity, while the foraging Nukak have lower genetic diversity. We also find that rivers play a more important role than either geography or language affiliation in structuring the genetic relationships of populations. DISCUSSION: Contrary to the view of NWA as a pristine area inhabited by small human populations living in isolation, our data support a view of high diversity and contact among different ethnolinguistic groups, with movement along rivers probably facilitating this contact. Additionally, we provide evidence for the impact of cultural practices, such as linguistic exogamy, on patterns of genetic variation. Overall, this study provides new data and insights into a remote and little-studied region of the world.

Identificación de microorganismos por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa en necrosis pulpar y periodontitis apical / Identification of microorganisms by polymerase chain reaction in pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis

Objetivos: identificar, mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, diez especies bacterianas procedentes de conductos radiculares necróticos, así como analizar su asociación con signos y síntomas de la periodontitis apical (dolor, exudado y movilidad), dentro de un área geográfica específica, Santiago de Compostela (noroeste de España). Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, en un plazo de recogida de muestras de un año. Se extrajeron 43 muestras de los conductos radiculares necróticos, a razón de una muestra por pacientes, quienes fueron examinados previamente para determinar la presencia de periodontitis apical radiográfica, de la cual fueron descritos sus signos y síntomas. Se utilizaron puntas de papel absorbentes estériles y se procedió a extraer de dichas muestras el ADN por medio de la técnica del fenol-cloroformo. El producto se amplificó por medio de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, usando cebadores específicos para diez microorganismos. El resultado se visualizó por medio de electroforesis, utilizando un transiluminador UV. Los resultados se analizaron estadísticamente, para así establecer qué microorganismos estaban presentes de forma individual y cuáles se presentaron formando asociaciones como el llamado red complex, en relación con los signos y síntomas presentes en la periodontitis apical. Resultados: Fusobacterium nucleatum fue el microorganismo con presencia de forma individual más frecuente (83,72 por ciento de las muestras). En cuanto al estudio de la asociación de los microorganismos con los signos y síntomas, Porphyromonas endodontalis presentó una asociación significativa con respecto al exudado (p< 0,05) y movilidad (p< 0,05). En cambio, Enterococcus spp. y Treponema denticola (p< 0,01) presentaron ambos una asociación significativa con respecto al dolor. En cuanto a la incidencia del red complex fue de 6 casos en total. Conclusiones: Fusobacterium nucleatum y Streptococcus spp. son los microorganismos identificados con mayor porcentaje en comparación a los restantes estudiados. Porphyromonas endodontalis es el microorganismo con mayor asociación estadística con respecto a los signos y síntomas de la periodontitis apical(AU)

Objectives: identify by polymerase chain reaction technique ten bacterial species obtained from necrotic root canals, and analyze their association with signs and symptoms of apical periodontitis (pain, exudate and mobility) in a specific geographic area: Santiago de Compostela (northwestern Spain). Methods: a descriptive study was conducted based on a one-year sample collection period. Forty-three samples were taken from necrotic root canals, at a rate of one sample per patient, who had been previously examined for radiographic apical periodontitis, of which the signs and symptoms were described. Sterile absorbent paper points were used to extract the DNA samples, applying the phenol-chloroform technique. The product was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, using specific primers for ten microorganisms. The result was visualized by electrophoresis using a UV transilluminator. Outcomes were analyzed statistically to determine which microorganisms were present individually and which formed associations such as the so-called red complex, according to the signs and symptoms present in the apical periodontitis. Results: Fusobacterium nucleatum was the most common individual microorganism (83.72 percent of the samples). As to the association of microorganisms with signs and symptoms, Porphyromonas endodontalis was found to be significantly associated with exudate (p< 0.05) and mobility (p< 0.05), while both Enterococcus spp. and Treponema denticola (p< 0.01) had a significant association with pain. Incidence of the red complex was 6 cases in all. Conclusions: Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus spp. were the microorganisms identified as displaying the highest percentages. Porphyromonas endodontalis showed the greatest statistical association with signs and symptoms of apical periodontitis(AU)

Identificación de microorganismos por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa en necrosis pulpar y periodontitis apical / Identification of microorganisms by polymerase chain reaction in pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis

Objetivos: identificar, mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, diez especies bacterianas procedentes de conductos radiculares necróticos, así como analizar su asociación con signos y síntomas de la periodontitis apical (dolor, exudado y movilidad), dentro de un área geográfica específica, Santiago de Compostela (noroeste de España). Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, en un plazo de recogida de muestras de un año. Se extrajeron 43 muestras de los conductos radiculares necróticos, a razón de una muestra por pacientes, quienes fueron examinados previamente para determinar la presencia de periodontitis apical radiográfica, de la cual fueron descritos sus signos y síntomas. Se utilizaron puntas de papel absorbentes estériles y se procedió a extraer de dichas muestras el ADN por medio de la técnica del fenol-cloroformo. El producto se amplificó por medio de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, usando cebadores específicos para diez microorganismos. El resultado se visualizó por medio de electroforesis, utilizando un transiluminador UV. Los resultados se analizaron estadísticamente, para así establecer qué microorganismos estaban presentes de forma individual y cuáles se presentaron formando asociaciones como el llamado red complex, en relación con los signos y síntomas presentes en la periodontitis apical. Resultados: Fusobacterium nucleatum fue el microorganismo con presencia de forma individual más frecuente (83,72 por ciento de las muestras). En cuanto al estudio de la asociación de los microorganismos con los signos y síntomas, Porphyromonas endodontalis presentó una asociación significativa con respecto al exudado (p< 0,05) y movilidad (p< 0,05). En cambio, Enterococcus spp. y Treponema denticola (p< 0,01) presentaron ambos una asociación significativa con respecto al dolor. En cuanto a la incidencia del red complex fue de 6 casos en total. Conclusiones: Fusobacterium nucleatum y Streptococcus spp. son los microorganismos identificados con mayor porcentaje en comparación a los restantes estudiados. Porphyromonas endodontalis es el microorganismo con mayor asociación estadística con respecto a los signos y síntomas de la periodontitis apical(AU)

Objectives: identify by polymerase chain reaction technique ten bacterial species obtained from necrotic root canals, and analyze their association with signs and symptoms of apical periodontitis (pain, exudate and mobility) in a specific geographic area: Santiago de Compostela (northwestern Spain). Methods: a descriptive study was conducted based on a one-year sample collection period. Forty-three samples were taken from necrotic root canals, at a rate of one sample per patient, who had been previously examined for radiographic apical periodontitis, of which the signs and symptoms were described. Sterile absorbent paper points were used to extract the DNA samples, applying the phenol-chloroform technique. The product was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, using specific primers for ten microorganisms. The result was visualized by electrophoresis using a UV transilluminator. Outcomes were analyzed statistically to determine which microorganisms were present individually and which formed associations such as the so-called red complex, according to the signs and symptoms present in the apical periodontitis. Results: Fusobacterium nucleatum was the most common individual microorganism (83.72 percent of the samples). As to the association of microorganisms with signs and symptoms, Porphyromonas endodontalis was found to be significantly associated with exudate (p< 0.05) and mobility (p< 0.05), while both Enterococcus spp. and Treponema denticola (p< 0.01) had a significant association with pain. Incidence of the red complex was 6 cases in all. Conclusions: Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus spp. were the microorganisms identified as displaying the highest percentages. Porphyromonas endodontalis showed the greatest statistical association with signs and symptoms of apical periodontitis(AU)

The DC1-domain protein VACUOLELESS GAMETOPHYTES is essential for development of female and male gametophytes in Arabidopsis.

In this work we identified VACUOLELESS GAMETOPHYTES (VLG) as a DC1 domain-containing protein present in the endomembrane system and essential for development of both female and male gametophytes. VLG was originally annotated as a gene coding for a protein of unknown function containing DC1 domains. DC1 domains are cysteine- and histidine-rich zinc finger domains found exclusively in the plant kingdom that have been named on the basis of similarity with the C1 domain present in protein kinase C (PKC). In Arabidopsis, both male and female gametophytes are characterized by the formation of a large vacuole early in development; this is absent in vlg mutant plants. As a consequence, development is arrested in embryo sacs and pollen grains at the first mitotic division. VLG is specifically located in multivesicular bodies or pre-vacuolar compartments, and our results suggest that vesicular fusion is affected in the mutants, disrupting vacuole formation. Supporting this idea, AtPVA12 - a member of the SNARE vesicle-associated protein family and previously related to a sterol-binding protein, was identified as a VLG interactor. A role for VLG is proposed mediating vesicular fusion in plants as part of the sterol trafficking machinery required for vacuole biogenesis in plants.

Avian tuberculosis of zoonotic importance at a zoo on the Bogotá Andean plateau (Sabana), Colombia.

Given that exposure to captive wild animals at circuses or zoos can be a source of zoonotic infection, a case and control study was carried out with a collection of exotic fowl at a zoo in Bogotá, Colombia. The presence of Mycobacterium avium-II was directly related to the death of birds kept in the original enclosure, and of 50% of a group of sentinel birds. Failure to detect the organism in a control group of birds outside the enclosure indicated that the infection was limited to the original enclosed area. We demonstrated that M. gordonae-IV was disseminated in all organs from 1 bird with macroscopic granulomatous lesion, a finding which has not been reported previously. We emphasize the importance of establishing handling norms to reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission.

Microsatellite analysis of the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) across its range distribution.

DNA samples of the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) from five Andean countries, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, were analyzed for nine microsatellite loci. Seven of them were polymorphic, which led us to investigate several population-genetic parameters. Private alleles and significant differences in gene frequencies were found among the populations studied, which demonstrated the extent of genetic differentiation among the spectacled bear populations. The levels of gene diversity measured with these microsatellites were rather modest in this species. Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium was especially found for the overall and the Ecuadorian samples, and might be due to the Wahl-und effect or consanguinity. Significant genetic heterogeneity was mainly observed among the Colombian and the Ecuadorian populations. Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations clearly showed that two different gene pools were present, one present in the Venezuelan-Colombian bears and other in the Ecuadorian ones.