Genetic Diversity of the Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): Are There Differences between the 20th and the Early 21st Centuries?

Polymorphism of nine microsatellite loci in the Sikhote-Alin tiger population was analyzed in the modern and recent historical periods, using blood, excrement, and museum bone samples. Tests for excess heterozygosity to determine whether the population went through a period of low abundance and a low value of the Garza-Williamson coefficient indicated that such events were highly probable to occur in both recent and earlier history. The mean effective population size Ne of a current sample was 34.4 (95% confidence interval 17-106.8). This fact is of great interest in the contest of conservation and restoration of endangered large cat species.

[Anti-VEGF therapy resistance in neovascular age-related macular degeneration]. / Rezistentnost' k anti-VEGF-terapii pri ékssudativnoi vozrastnoi makuliarnoi degeneratsii.

With account to the increase in the elderly population in most of the developed countries, the WHO defines age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as one of the main causes of blindness in the world. A large percentage of disability is accounted for by exudative, or neovascular, form of AMD. Today, a total of 5 anti-VEGF drugs exist that are recommended for treatment of exudative AMD: pegaptanib, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, aflibercept, and conbercept. Despite significant progress in the treatment of neovascular AMD yielded by the introduction into clinical practice of anti-VEGF drugs, some patients report a lack (down to complete lack) of response with standard treatment patterns and even a decrease in treatment efficacy after repeated intravitreal injections.

[Spatial Genetic Structure of the Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella Pallas, 1769) Colony as Inferred from Data on the Mitochondrial DNA Control Region and Microsatellite Loci].

The effect of philopatry on the formation of the intrapopulation structure in the crested auklet colony of the Talan Island, Taui Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk, was examined. The nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region fragment (408 bp) and five microsatellite loci (Apy03, Apy04, Apy06, Apy07, Apy10) in individuals from two study plots of the colony were examined. A high genetic diversity (h = 0.999 ± 0.003) and the absence of intrapopulation genetic differentiation was observed at both types of markers. Thus, despite the high level of nest-area fidelity in breeding adults, no genetic isolation was revealed for crested auklets from different parts of the Talan Island colony.

[Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in mammals' and its importance for studies of rare species (with Felidae family as an example)].

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) appears to be a suitable tool for solving various tasks of popu- lationgenetics. Information on genetic basis of immunity facilitates understanding of evolutionary his- tory and assessment of current state and prospects of studied population/species survival. On the one hand, MHC variability is maintained through pathogen dependent mechanisms, i.e., directional selection of individuals resistant to diseases, that are present in the environment and balancing selection which gives advantage to those individuals carrying unusual or rare alleles of MHC genes. On the other hand, MHC genes have an influence on reproduction efficiency of individuals. Because of MHC polygeny, its studying requires an application of methods that introduce additional stages between amplification of a certain gene segment and its sequencing. In the article, different tech- niques of allele separation are considered, as well as a simplified version of MHC variability analysis based on the examination of microsatellite loci. Despite the high information value of MHC, it is still not used in zoological studies as often as it deserves. Using as an example predatory mammals of Felidae family which contains quite a few threatened species, we show that a majority of studies on MHC in wild cats is descriptive ones and only few of them deal with genes comparative analysis. The rise of interest to the studies of major histocompatibility complex in non-model species may help not only in solving the fundamental problems of evolution and phylogenetic structure of the family but also in planning the measures for conservation of rare and endangered species exposed to various anthropogenic stresses.

[Individual identification of Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis) using molecular-genetic methods and estimation of the population].

For the first time, the genetic structure of a population of Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis) in southwest Primorie was analyzed in detail. In 2010-2012, 23 individuals were identified individually. It was shown that the studied microsatellite markers are suitable for individual identification of leopards, monitoring the population numbers, and creating a unified database of genetic profiles of this species to solve research and nature-preserving tasks.

[Activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis in the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) in captivity and in the wild, and their dynamics throughout the year].

A noninvasive evaluation method of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis (HPA) activity in the Siberian tiger was verified. Comparison of the activity level of HPA in Siberian tigers in the wild and in captivity, and their alterations over the year was carried out. Significant seasonal deviations between activity levels of HPA in tigers in captivity were not found. In the wild, this level was significantly higher, reaching the maximum from November to January, which can be related with an unfavorable influence on tigers in low temperatures and deep snow cover.

[Genetic diversity and relatives of the goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) groups from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan: analysis of the D-loop of mitochondrial DNA].

Polymorphism of the nucleotide sequence of a hypervariable fragment of the D-loop (985 bp) of mtDNA in 76 Goitered gazelles of subspecies Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan was studied. The genetic similarity of gazelles from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has been identified. The population of gazelles from Shirvanskaya steppe reserve (Azerbaijan) is unique and strictly isolated from other groups studied. A high haplotypic (H = 0.9649 +/- 0.0091) and relatively low nucleotide diversity (pi = 0.0212 +/- 0.0105) were noted for all investigated groups of gazelle based on this mtDNA fragment, which is probably related to ecological peculiarities of the species and the history of formation of regional populations.

[Molecular genetic analysis of the two morphs of sea star shrimp Periclimemes soror Nobili, 1904, the symbionts of tropic sea stars].

Two morphologically similar morphs of the Periclimemes soror shrimps were subjected to nucleotide sequence analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene fragment and highly variable nuclear fragment, D1/D2 domain of the large subunit of their ribosomal RNA genes. These shrimps are widely distributed in the Indo-West-Pacific and are obligate symbionts of sea stars. The morphs are different in color patterns, as well as in specific reaction relative to their hosts. The nucleotide sequence data obtained revealed no differentiation relative to the fragments examined.

[Genetic diversity of Mongolian gazelle Procapra guttorosa Pallas, 1777].

The mitochondrial DNA D-loop hypervariable fragment sequence polymorphism was examined in 27 Mongolian gazelles from Mongolia, Russia, and China. Intraspecific polymorphism of the D-loop fragment examined was demonstrated. All haplotypes described were unique. The average nucleotide diversity (pi) for the mtDNA fragment investigated constituted 5.85 +/- 2.92%. A relatively high number of insertions and deletions was observed. In particular, a haplotype with the 77-bp insertion was described. The data obtained point to high genetic diversity of Mongolian populations. There was no correlation between the distribution of haplotypes examined and geographical location of the animal tissue sampling sites.