Agricultural intensification is critical to meet global food demand, but intensification threatens native species and degrades ecosystems. Sustainable intensification (SI) is heralded as a new approach for enabling growth in agriculture while minimizing environmental impacts. However, the SI literature has overlooked a major environmental risk. Using data from eight countries on six continents, we show that few governments regulate conventionally bred pasture taxa to limit threats to natural areas, even though most agribusinesses promote taxa with substantial weed risk. New pasture taxa (including species, subspecies, varieties, cultivars, and plant-endophyte combinations) are bred with characteristics typical of invasive species and environmental weeds. By introducing novel genetic and endophyte variation, pasture taxa are imbued with additional capacity for invasion and environmental impact. New strategies to prevent future problems are urgently needed. We highlight opportunities for researchers, agribusiness, and consumers to reduce environmental risks associated with new pasture taxa. We also emphasize four main approaches that governments could consider as they build new policies to limit weed risks, including (i) national lists of taxa that are prohibited based on environmental risk; (ii) a weed risk assessment for all new taxa; (iii) a program to rapidly detect and control new taxa that invade natural areas; and (iv) the polluter-pays principle, so that if a taxon becomes an environmental weed, industry pays for its management. There is mounting pressure to increase livestock production. With foresight and planning, growth in agriculture can be achieved sustainably provided that the scope of SI expands to encompass environmental weed risks.
- MeSH
- Herbivory MeSH
- Animal Husbandry * trends MeSH
- Risk Reduction Behavior MeSH
- Species Specificity MeSH
- Animals, Domestic MeSH
- Weed Control economics legislation & jurisprudence methods MeSH
- Animal Feed economics supply & distribution MeSH
- Plant Weeds * MeSH
- Public Policy MeSH
- Government Programs organization & administration MeSH
- Government Regulation * MeSH
- Conservation of Natural Resources MeSH
- Food Supply MeSH
- Introduced Species * economics legislation & jurisprudence MeSH
- Crops, Agricultural * MeSH
- Environment MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- MeSH
- Chiroptera MeSH
- Species Specificity MeSH
- Erythrocytes immunology MeSH
- Haplorhini MeSH
- Hominidae MeSH
- Cats MeSH
- Horses MeSH
- Goats MeSH
- Rabbits MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Chickens MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Guinea Pigs MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Sheep MeSH
- Swine MeSH
- Dogs MeSH
- Cattle MeSH
- T-Lymphocytes immunology MeSH
- Binding Sites, Antibody MeSH
- Anura MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Cats MeSH
- Rabbits MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Guinea Pigs MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Dogs MeSH
- Cattle MeSH
- Animals MeSH
Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) is a small nocturnal primate from the Philippines. Little is known about tarsier parasites, including coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), a highly prevalent parasitic protist group in all vertebrate classes. Only 7 valid species of the genus Eimeria, seven species of Isospora and 5 species of Cyclospora have been described in Primates. This study extends the number of coccidia known in primates by two new species obtained from faeces of Philippine tarsiers from Bohol Island. The newly described Eimeria syrichta n. sp. and Eimeria boholensis n. sp. differ morphologically from each other as well as from other coccidia reported from primates. Partial DNA sequences of three genes were obtained from oocysts of E. syrichta n. sp. and E. boholensis n. sp., and formed clusters according to their host specificity; however, there are no other sequentional data of coccidia from primates, except for the genus Cyclospora, which clusters inside the chicken eimerians, and Cystoisospora belli, which is phylogenetically related to Sarcocystidae. More molecular data on coccidia infecting primates are needed for further discussion.
- MeSH
- Species Specificity MeSH
- Eimeria classification physiology MeSH
- Phylogeny * MeSH
- Host Specificity MeSH
- DNA, Protozoan genetics MeSH
- Tarsiidae parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Philippines MeSH
Two new genera and three new species of paramphistomoid digeneans are described in the family Cladorchiidae Fischoeder, 1901 from doradid, heptapterid, pimelodid and pseudopimelodid fishes in the Amazon River in Peru. Goeldamphistomum amazonum n. g., n. sp. (type-species) from Goeldiella eques (Müller & Troschel) (type-host) and Tenellus trimaculatus (Boulenger), and Goeldamphistomum peruanum n. g., n. sp. from Duopalatinus peruanus Eigenmann & Allen (type-host), Calophysus macropterus (Lichtenstein) and Microglanis sp. are placed in the Dadayiinae Fukui, 1929. Both species have an accessory acetabular sucker, which distinguishes the genus from all taxa previously reported from South American freshwater fishes. They differ from each other primarily in that G. amazonum has a prebifurcal genital pore and oblique, separated testes, the levels of which rarely overlap longitudinally, whereas G. peruanum has a postbifurcal genital pore and testes directly to obliquely tandem. Iquitostrema papillatum n. g., n. sp. (Kalitrematinae Travassos, 1933) from the intestine of Hassar orestis (Steindachner) differs from other members of the subfamily in the combination of a massive acetabulum with a papillate luminal surface and symmetrical testes which overlie the caeca close to the caecal arch. These are the first records of paramphistomes from the five host species studied here.
- MeSH
- Species Specificity MeSH
- Host Specificity MeSH
- Rivers parasitology MeSH
- Fishes parasitology MeSH
- Trematoda anatomy & histology classification MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Peru MeSH
BACKGROUND: Lichens provide a large array of compounds with the potential for pharmaceutical development. In the present study, extracts from three previously undescribed North American lichen species were examined for antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities. RESULTS: The results from this study demonstrated the following: (i) Acarospora socialis ethanol extract exhibited significant DPPH antioxidant scavenging activities, which were concentration dependent; (ii) acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of Xanthoparmelia mexicana inhibited Gram-positive bacteria but had no effect on Gram-negative bacteria; X. mexicana acetone extract yielded a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 20.9 µg mL-1 against Staphylococcus aureus, and 41.9 µg mL-1 against Enterococcus faecalis; (iii) acetone extract of Lobothallia alphoplaca inhibited growth of cultured breast cancer MCF-7 cells with an effective concentration (EC50 ) of 87 µg mL-1 ; the MCF-7 cell cycle appears arrested in the G2 phase, whereas the DNA synthesis cell cycle (S) may be inhibited. CONCLUSION: New lichen species that possess strong biological activities have been identified. These lichens comprise secondary metabolites that possess antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer properties. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents analysis pharmacology MeSH
- Antioxidants analysis pharmacology MeSH
- Gram-Negative Bacteria drug effects MeSH
- Gram-Positive Bacteria drug effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Lichens chemistry metabolism MeSH
- MCF-7 Cells MeSH
- Cell Proliferation drug effects MeSH
- Antineoplastic Agents analysis pharmacology MeSH
- Plant Extracts pharmacology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- North America MeSH
Staphylococcus argenteus je nový druh koaguláza-pozitivního stafylokoka popsaný v roce 2015, který je celosvětově považován za „emerging“ původce lidských infekcí, včetně PVL pneumonií a epidemií enterotoxikózy. Jeho charakteristiky jsou velice těžko odlišitelné od kmenů S. aureus. Kmeny S. argenteus jdou dobře identifikovat MALDI-TOF hmotnostní spektrometrií. V červenci byl do NRL pro stafylokoky SZÚ CEM zaslán kmen tohoto druhu, izolovaný v Ústavu klinické mikrobiologie FN Hradec Králové. Jedná se zřejmě o první záchyt v České republice.
Staphylococcus argenteus is a new species of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, which was first described in 2015. It is considered worldwide as an emerging pathogen for humans causing PVL pneumonia and enterotoxicosis outbreaks. Its characteristics are difficult to distinguish from those of S. aureus. S. argenteus strains can be readily identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In July 2019, a strain of this species isolated at the Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Hradec Králové University Hospital was referred to the National Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci, Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, National Institute of Public Health. This appears to be the first detection of Staphylococcus argenteus in the Czech Republic.
Stomatocystis goerresi sp. n., a gregarine (phylum Apicomplexa, Monocystidae) parasite of an important invasive earthworm in North America, Amynthas tokioensis (Beddard), is described. This is the second species placed into the genus, and details of its morphology and life cycle support Stomatocystis Bandyopadhyay, Mitra et Göçmen, 2006 as a valid taxon. The new species is described using standard nomenclature, measurements, shape descriptors, and photographs of living cells. The parasite was found only in A. tokioensis, and absent in sympatric earthworm species, suggesting it arrived when the earthworms were introduced from their origin from Japan. The species is distinctive from the type species in the genus, S. indica Bandyopadhyay, Mitra et Göçmen, 2006, in being substantially larger in all stages, found in only the host's seminal vesicles, and found in a different host species from East Asia. The distinctive trophozoites/gamonts develop a large funnel structure ringed with a collar of pronounced ridges, and the funnel appears even in the smallest cells. This funnel varies greatly in relative size (to the cell body) and shape, sometimes forming a large fan. The life cycle of S. goerresi is described including distinctive syzygy in which the funnels fuse and then produce a large cell with local centres of isogamete production (thus sex without gender). Gametes are large ( ~5 μm) spheres with complex tips. Oocyst production is large, > 1,000 per mature gametocyst. The genus Stomatocystis is placed into the Monocystidae, but the life cycle of the new species differs from those of other monocystid taxa, which may mean the Monocystidae are not monophyletic or life cycles are variable within the family. Prevalence of S. goerresi at the type locality was high (~ 90%). The parasites destroy the earthworm's organ of sperm self-storage thus eliminating the male function in the hermaphroditic host which may influence the ability of the earthworm to invade and be successful at new sites.
- MeSH
- Apicomplexa classification genetics growth & development isolation & purification MeSH
- Oligochaeta parasitology MeSH
- Life Cycle Stages MeSH
- Introduced Species MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Japan MeSH
A series of new indole-pyrazole hybrids 8a-m were synthesized through the palladium-catalyzed ligandless Heck coupling reaction from easily accessible unsubstituted, methoxy- or fluoro-substituted 4-ethenyl-1H-pyrazoles and 5-bromo-3H-indoles. These compounds exerted cytotoxicity to melanoma G361 cells when irradiated with blue light (414 nm) and no cytotoxicity in the dark at concentrations up to 10 μM, prompting us to explore their photodynamic effects. The photodynamic properties of the example compound 8d were further investigated in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Evaluation revealed comparable anticancer activities of 8d in both breast and melanoma cancer cell lines within the submicromolar range. The treatment induced a massive generation of reactive oxygen species, leading to different types of cell death depending on the compound concentration and the irradiation intensity.
- MeSH
- Photochemotherapy * MeSH
- Photosensitizing Agents * pharmacology chemical synthesis chemistry MeSH
- Indoles * pharmacology chemistry chemical synthesis MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- MCF-7 Cells MeSH
- Molecular Structure MeSH
- Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
- Breast Neoplasms drug therapy pathology MeSH
- Palladium chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Antineoplastic Agents * pharmacology chemical synthesis chemistry MeSH
- Pyrazoles * pharmacology chemical synthesis chemistry MeSH
- Reactive Oxygen Species * metabolism MeSH
- Cell Survival drug effects MeSH
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
- Structure-Activity Relationship MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Alien species can have major ecological and socioeconomic impacts in their novel ranges and so effective management actions are needed. However, management can be contentious and create conflicts, especially when stakeholders who benefit from alien species are different from those who incur costs. Such conflicts of interests mean that management strategies can often not be implemented. There is, therefore, increasing interest in engaging stakeholders affected by alien species or by their management. Through a facilitated workshop and consultation process including academics and managers working on a variety of organisms and in different areas (urban and rural) and ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic), we developed a framework for engaging stakeholders in the management of alien species. The proposed framework for stakeholder engagement consists of 12 steps: (1) identify stakeholders; (2) select key stakeholders for engagement; (3) explore key stakeholders' perceptions and develop initial aims for management; (4) engage key stakeholders in the development of a draft management strategy; (5) re-explore key stakeholders' perceptions and revise the aims of the strategy; (6) co-design general aims, management objectives and time frames with key stakeholders; (7) co-design a management strategy; (8) facilitate stakeholders' ownership of the strategy and adapt as required; and (9) implement the strategy and monitor management actions to evaluate the need for additional or future actions. In case additional management is needed after these actions take place, some extra steps should be taken: (10) identify any new stakeholders, benefits, and costs; (11) monitor engagement; and (12) revise management strategy. Overall, we believe that our framework provides an effective approach to minimize the impact of conflicts created by alien species management.
- MeSH
- Ecology * MeSH
- Ecosystem * MeSH
- Introduced Species * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
