OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to assess morbidity trends in Europe and to classify European countries based on population ageing theories: the compression, expansion and dynamic equilibrium of morbidity. METHODS: The proportions of healthy life years were calculated for 31 European countries for the period 2005-2019 based on life expectancy values and healthy life years at age 65 years adopted from the Eurostat database. European countries were classified according to morbidity patterns applying the standard deviation distance from the average of relative change method between the selected years. RESULTS: A large degree of variation in terms of life expectancy and healthy life years at age 65 years was determined between 2005 and 2019. While the life expectancy differences between men and women were consistent across all the European countries, the gender gap concerning healthy life years was more diverse. Approximately one-third of the countries fell into the expansion, compression and dynamic equilibrium categories, respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant variations were identified in healthy life year trends across European countries, which underscores the need for preventive strategies.

• MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• morbidita trendy   MeSH
• naděje dožití * trendy   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

The precopulatory behaviour of the larviform females of Ripidius quadriceps Abeille de Perrin, 1872 is described. The calling posture of virgin females is documented. The cephalic morphology and microstructures are visualised using scanning electron microscopy, in particular the secretory pores in the cuticle of inflatable maxillary palps. An exhaustive overview of relevant publications revealed that the location of secretory pores on the head of females is unique within the order Coleoptera. Compared to other beetles with sedentary calling females, the calling phase of the short-lived and non-feeding female of Ripidius is exceptionally short. For bioassays, various traps using virgin females of Ripidius were tested. It is likely that the sedentary behaviour of the short-lived female combined with a unique morphology and priority for investing in reproduction is compensated for by the actively flying males with remarkably flabellate antennae. The life cycle of this species, including some of the exceptions recorded at the individual level, is discussed. Perspectives for a biological and morphological survey of this rarely collected western Palaearctic species are outlined. In addition, the calling behaviour, secretory sites and location of pheromone glands in females of Coleoptera producing long range pheromones is reviewed.

• MeSH
• brouci anatomie a histologie   růst a vývoj   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• hlava anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• rozmnožování MeSH
• stadia vývoje * MeSH
• vokalizace zvířat fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The apoid wasps have traditionally been regarded as a paraphyletic assemblage of four families (Ampulicidae, Crabronidae, Heterogynaidae and Sphecidae) that are closely related to the bees (Anthophila). The present study covers the three families of apoid wasps known to occur in Europe, that is, the Ampulicidae, Crabronidae and Sphecidae. DNA barcode sequences of 3,695 specimens of apoid wasps were analysed for the present study, including 21 specimens of Ampulicidae, 3,398 Crabronidae and 276 Sphecidae. The sequences of the dataset represent 661 species of apoid wasps, including two species of Ampulicidae, 613 of Crabronidae and 46 species of Sphecidae. The dataset includes DNA barcodes of 240 species of German apoid wasps, representing 88% of the German fauna, and 578 European species, representing 65% of the European apoid wasp fauna. The study demonstrates that virtually all species of the three examined families can be reliably identified by DNA barcodes. The implications of highly congruent results between traditional taxonomy and DNA barcoding for the reliable application of DNA-based identifications are discussed.

• MeSH
• sršňovití klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• taxonomické DNA čárové kódování metody   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

• MeSH
• rozmnožování * MeSH
• včely * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• dopisy MeSH
• komentáře MeSH

Parental care behavior evolves to increase the survival of offspring. When offspring care becomes complicated for ecological reasons, cooperation of multiple individuals can be beneficial. There are two types of cooperative care: biparental care and worker (helper)-based care (e.g., eusociality). Although biparental care is common in several groups of vertebrates, it is generally rare in arthropods. Conversely, eusociality is widespread in insects, especially the aculeate Hymenoptera. Here, we present a case of biparental care in bees, in Ceratina nigrolabiata (Apidae, Xylocopinae). Similar to eusocial behavior, biparental care leads to greater brood protection in this species. Male guarding increases provisioning of nests because females are liberated from the tradeoff between provisioning and nest protection. The main benefit of parental care for males should be increased paternity. Interestingly though, we found that paternity of offspring by guard males is extraordinarily low (10% of offspring). Generally, we found that nests were not guarded by the same male for the whole provisioning season, meaning that males arrive to nests as stepfathers. However, we show that long-term guarding performed by a single male does increase paternity. We suggest that the multiple-mating strategy of these bees increased the amount of time for interactions between the sexes, and this longer period of potential interaction supported the origin of biparental care. Eusociality based on monandry was thought to be the main type of extended brood protection in bees. We show that biparental care based on polyandry provides an interesting evolutionary alternative.

• MeSH
• biologická evoluce * MeSH
• hnízdění MeSH
• Hymenoptera MeSH
• mateřské chování MeSH
• otcovské chování * MeSH
• paternita MeSH
• sexuální chování zvířat * MeSH
• sociální chování MeSH
• včely genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

After the break-up of Gondwana dispersal of organisms between America, Australia and Africa became more complicated. One of the possible remaining paths led through Antarctica, that was not yet glaciated and it remained habitable for many organisms. This favourable climate made Antarctica an important migration corridor for organisms with good dispersal ability, such as Aculeata (Hymenoptera), till the Oligocene cooling. Here we tested how cooling of Antarctica impacted global dispersal of Aculeata parasites (Strepsiptera: Xenidae). Our data set comprising six nuclear genes from a broad sample of Xenidae. Bayesian dating was used to estimate divergence times in phylogenetic reconstruction. Biogeography was investigated using event-based analytical methods: likelihood-based dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis and Bayesian models. The Bayesian model was used for reconstruction of ancestral host groups. Biogeographical methods indicate that multiple lineages were exchanged between the New World and the Old World + Australia until the Antarctica became completely frozen over. During the late Paleogene and Neogene periods, several lineages spread from the Afrotropics to other Old World regions and Australia. The original hosts of Xenidae were most likely social wasps. Within one lineage of solitary wasp parasites, parallel switch to digger wasps (Sphecidae) occurred independently in the New World and Old World regions. The biogeography and macroevolutionary history of Xenidae can be explained by the combination of dispersal, lineage extinction and climatic changes during the Cenozoic era. A habitable Antarctica and the presence of now-submerged islands and plateaus that acted as a connection between the New World and Old World + Australia provided the possibility for biotic exchanges of parasites along with their hymenopteran hosts. Although Xenidae are generally host specialists, there were significant host switches to unrelated but ecologically similar hosts during their evolution. There is little or no evidence for cophylogeny between strepsipteran parasites and hymenopteran lineages.

• MeSH
• Bayesova věta MeSH
• biologická evoluce * MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• fylogeografie MeSH
• interakce hostitele a parazita * MeSH
• paraziti fyziologie   MeSH
• pravděpodobnostní funkce MeSH
• vznik druhů (genetika) MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Antarktida MeSH

Bumblebees in Europe have been in steady decline since the 1900s. This decline is expected to continue with climate change as the main driver. However, at the local scale, land use and land cover (LULC) change strongly affects the occurrence of bumblebees. At present, LULC change is rarely included in models of future distributions of species. This study's objective is to compare the roles of dynamic LULC change and climate change on the projected distribution patterns of 48 European bumblebee species for three change scenarios until 2100 at the scales of Europe, and Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (BENELUX). We compared three types of models: (1) only climate covariates, (2) climate and static LULC covariates and (3) climate and dynamic LULC covariates. The climate and LULC change scenarios used in the models include, extreme growth applied strategy (GRAS), business as might be usual and sustainable European development goals. We analysed model performance, range gain/loss and the shift in range limits for all bumblebees. Overall, model performance improved with the introduction of LULC covariates. Dynamic models projected less range loss and gain than climate-only projections, and greater range loss and gain than static models. Overall, there is considerable variation in species responses and effects were most pronounced at the BENELUX scale. The majority of species were predicted to lose considerable range, particularly under the extreme growth scenario (GRAS; overall mean: 64% ± 34). Model simulations project a number of local extinctions and considerable range loss at the BENELUX scale (overall mean: 56% ± 39). Therefore, we recommend species-specific modelling to understand how LULC and climate interact in future modelling. The efficacy of dynamic LULC change should improve with higher thematic and spatial resolution. Nevertheless, current broad scale representations of change in major land use classes impact modelled future distribution patterns.

• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• biologické modely * MeSH
• Evropská unie * MeSH
• klimatické změny * MeSH
• včely * MeSH
• zachování přírodních zdrojů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Recently, fly ash deposits have been revealed as a secondary refuge of critically endangered arthropods specialised on aeolian sands in Central Europe. Simultaneously, these anthropogenic habitats are well known for their negative impact on human health and the surrounding environment. The overwhelming majority of these risks are caused by wind erosion, the substantial decreasing of which is thus necessary. But, any effects of anti-dust treatments on endangered arthropods have never been studied. We surveyed communities of five arthropod groups (wild bees and wasps, leafhoppers, spiders, hoverflies and orthopteroid insects) colonising three fly ash deposits in the western Czech Republic. We focused on two different anti-dust treatments (~70 and 100 % cover of fly ash by barren soil) and their comparison with a control of bare fly ash. Altogether, we recorded 495 species, including 132 nationally threatened species (eight of them were considered to be extinct in the country) and/or 30 species strictly specialised to drift sands. Bees and wasps and leafhoppers contained the overwhelming majority of species of the highest conservation interest; a few other important records were also in spiders and orthopteroids. Total soil cover depleted the unique environment of fly ash and thus destroyed the high conservation potential of the deposits. On the other hand, partial coverage (with ~30 % of bare fly ash) still offered habitats for many of the most threatened species, as we showed by both regression and multivariate analyses, with a decrease of wind erosion. This topic still needs much more research interest, but we consider mosaic-like preservation of smaller spots of fly ash as one of the possible compromises between biodiversity and human health.

• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• členovci účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   MeSH
• popel uhelný analýza   MeSH
• prach * MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• regenerace a remediace životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• zdraví * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Venoms of hymenopteran insects have attracted considerable interest as a source of cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In the venom of the solitary bee Hylaeus signatus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), we identified a new hexadecapeptide of sequence Gly-Ile-Met-Ser-Ser-Leu-Met-Lys-Lys-Leu-Ala-Ala-His-Ile-Ala-Lys-NH2. Named HYL, it belongs to the category of α-helical amphipathic AMPs. HYL exhibited weak antimicrobial activity against several strains of pathogenic bacteria and moderate activity against Candida albicans, but its hemolytic activity against human red blood cells was low. We prepared a set of HYL analogues to evaluate the effects of structural modifications on its biological activity and to increase its potency against pathogenic bacteria. This produced several analogues exhibiting significantly greater activity compared to HYL against strains of both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa even as their hemolytic activity remained low. Studying synergism of HYL peptides and conventional antibiotics showed the peptides act synergistically and preferentially in combination with rifampicin. Fluorescent dye propidium iodide uptake showed the tested peptides were able to facilitate entrance of antibiotics into the cytoplasm by permeabilization of the outer and inner bacterial cell membrane of P. aeruginosa. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that treatment of P. aeruginosa with one of the HYL analogues caused total disintegration of bacterial cells. NMR spectroscopy was used to elucidate the structure-activity relationship for the effect of amino acid residue substitution in HYL.

• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky farmakologie   MeSH
• kationické antimikrobiální peptidy chemie   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• nukleární magnetická rezonance biomolekulární MeSH
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa účinky léků   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus účinky léků   MeSH
• včelí jedy farmakologie   MeSH
• včely chemie   MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The peptide named codesane (COD), consisting of 18 amino acid residues and isolated from the venom of wild bee Colletes daviesanus (Hymenoptera : Colletidae), falls into the category of cationic α-helical amphipathic antimicrobial peptides. In our investigations, synthetic COD exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans but also noticeable hemolytic activity. COD and its analogs (collectively referred to as CODs) were studied for the mechanism of their action. The interaction of CODs with liposomes led to significant leakage of calcein entrapped in bacterial membrane-mimicking large unilamellar vesicles made preferentially from anionic phospholipids while no calcein leakage was observed from zwitterionic liposomes mimicking membranes of erythrocytes. The preference of CODs for anionic phospholipids was also established by the blue shift in the tryptophan emission spectra maxima when the interactions of tryptophan-containing COD analogs with liposomes were examined. Those results were in agreement with the antimicrobial and hemolytic activities of CODs. Moreover, we found that the studied peptides permeated both the outer and inner cytoplasmic membranes of Escherichia coli. This was determined by measuring changes in the fluorescence of probe N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine and detecting cytoplasmic β-galactosidase released during the interaction of peptides with E. coli cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that treatment of E. coli with one of the COD analogs caused leakage of bacterial content mainly from the septal areas of the cells.

• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky chemická syntéza   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• Escherichia coli účinky léků   metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• fluorescence MeSH
• fosfolipidy metabolismus   MeSH
• hemolýza účinky léků   MeSH
• hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
• kationické antimikrobiální peptidy genetika   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• liposomy metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• permeabilita buněčné membrány účinky léků   MeSH
• racionální návrh léčiv MeSH
• sekundární struktura proteinů MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
• tryptofan chemie   MeSH
• včelí jedy chemie   genetika   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• včely genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH