During vertebrate development,the immune function is inefficient and is mainly controlled by innate defense.While there have been detailed studies of various aspects of innate immune function,the effects of this func&...During vertebrate development,the immune function is inefficient and is mainly controlled by innate defense.While there have been detailed studies of various aspects of innate immune function,the effects of this function in the growth of vertebrates is still not well known.Similarly,there is little information regarding how early endotoxin exposure would affect juvenile phenotypes,specifically in a non-model mammal like a precocial rodent.We evaluated the response to an antigen and its cost in offspring of the rodent Octodon degus.We inoculated pups at 4 different ages(8,15,22 and 30 days after birth)with an antigen to determine the ontogeny and costs of the response to an endotoxin.We assessed changes in body mass,body temperature,sickness behavior and the levels of a key mediator of the inflammatory response,the cytokine interleukin-1β.We also determined the effects of early endotoxin exposure on the resting metabolic rate of juvenile animals(i.e.90 days after birth).The cytokine levels,body mass and body temperature were unaffected by time of inoculation and treatment.However,pups subjected to inoculation at 22 days after birth with the antigen showed reduced locomotion.Juvenile resting metabolic rate was not affected by early endotoxin exposure.These results suggest that the magnitude of O.degus responses would not change with age.We discuss whether the lack of effect of the response on body mass or body condition is caused by environmental variables or by the precocial characteristics of O.degus.展开更多
Much of an animal＇s health status, life history, and behavior are dictated by interactions with its endogenous and exogenous bacterial communities. Unfortunately, interactions between hosts and members of their resid...Much of an animal＇s health status, life history, and behavior are dictated by interactions with its endogenous and exogenous bacterial communities. Unfortunately, interactions between hosts and members of their resident bacterial community are often ignored in animal behavior and behavioral ecology. Here, we aim to identify the nature of host-microbe interactions in a nonmodel organism, the African social spider Stegodyphus dumicola. We collected and identified bacteria from the cuticles of spiders in situ and then exposed spiders to bacterial monocultures cultures via topical application or injection. We also topically inoculated spiders with a concomitant ＂cocktail＂ of bacteria and measured the behavior of spiders daily for 24 days after inoculation. Lastly, we collected and identified bacteria from the cuticles of prey items in the capture webs of spiders, and then fed spiders domestic crickets which had been injected with these bacteria. We also injected 1 species of prey-borne bacteria into the hemolymph of spiders. Only Bacillus thuringiensis caused increased mortality when injected into the hemolymph of spiders, whereas no bacterial monocultures caused increased mortality when applied topically, relative to control solutions. However, a bacterial cocktail of cuticular bacteria caused weight loss and mortality when applied topically, yet did not detectibly alter spider behavior. Consuming prey injected with prey-borne bacteria was associated with an elongated lifespan in spiders. Thus, indirect evidence from multiple experiments suggests that the effects of these bacteria on spider survivorship appear contingent on their mode of colonization and whether they are applied in monoculture or within a mixed cocktail. We urge that follow-up studies should test these host-microbe interactions across different social contexts to determine the role that microbes play in colony performance.展开更多
Medicinal plants and their ingredients have beneficial effects on human health.Nigella sativa is a herbal plant with multiple biological and pharmacological activities.Previous studies demonstrated the anti-inflammato...Medicinal plants and their ingredients have beneficial effects on human health.Nigella sativa is a herbal plant with multiple biological and pharmacological activities.Previous studies demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Nigella sativa and its main constituent thymoquinone significantly contributes to the antidepressant and anti-nociception effects of this plant.It has been reported that thymoquinone may achieve its antidepressant effect by preventing the elimination of brain neurotransmitters affecting depression such as serotonin.The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factors in the antidepressant effects of thymoquinone has also been documented.Additionally,thymoquinone can attenuate pain by upregulation of intracellular signaling pathways related to nitric oxide and K_(ATP)^(+)channels.The present review summarizes the antidepressant and anti-nociceptive activity of Nigella sativa and its main constituent thymoquinone by searching literature on electronic databases such as PubMed,Web of Science,Scopus,and Google Scholar from the beginning of 2010 until the end of August 2022.展开更多
基金This study was funded by FONDECYT 3160133 to NRO and Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy,Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile。
文摘During vertebrate development,the immune function is inefficient and is mainly controlled by innate defense.While there have been detailed studies of various aspects of innate immune function,the effects of this function in the growth of vertebrates is still not well known.Similarly,there is little information regarding how early endotoxin exposure would affect juvenile phenotypes,specifically in a non-model mammal like a precocial rodent.We evaluated the response to an antigen and its cost in offspring of the rodent Octodon degus.We inoculated pups at 4 different ages(8,15,22 and 30 days after birth)with an antigen to determine the ontogeny and costs of the response to an endotoxin.We assessed changes in body mass,body temperature,sickness behavior and the levels of a key mediator of the inflammatory response,the cytokine interleukin-1β.We also determined the effects of early endotoxin exposure on the resting metabolic rate of juvenile animals(i.e.90 days after birth).The cytokine levels,body mass and body temperature were unaffected by time of inoculation and treatment.However,pups subjected to inoculation at 22 days after birth with the antigen showed reduced locomotion.Juvenile resting metabolic rate was not affected by early endotoxin exposure.These results suggest that the magnitude of O.degus responses would not change with age.We discuss whether the lack of effect of the response on body mass or body condition is caused by environmental variables or by the precocial characteristics of O.degus.
文摘Much of an animal＇s health status, life history, and behavior are dictated by interactions with its endogenous and exogenous bacterial communities. Unfortunately, interactions between hosts and members of their resident bacterial community are often ignored in animal behavior and behavioral ecology. Here, we aim to identify the nature of host-microbe interactions in a nonmodel organism, the African social spider Stegodyphus dumicola. We collected and identified bacteria from the cuticles of spiders in situ and then exposed spiders to bacterial monocultures cultures via topical application or injection. We also topically inoculated spiders with a concomitant ＂cocktail＂ of bacteria and measured the behavior of spiders daily for 24 days after inoculation. Lastly, we collected and identified bacteria from the cuticles of prey items in the capture webs of spiders, and then fed spiders domestic crickets which had been injected with these bacteria. We also injected 1 species of prey-borne bacteria into the hemolymph of spiders. Only Bacillus thuringiensis caused increased mortality when injected into the hemolymph of spiders, whereas no bacterial monocultures caused increased mortality when applied topically, relative to control solutions. However, a bacterial cocktail of cuticular bacteria caused weight loss and mortality when applied topically, yet did not detectibly alter spider behavior. Consuming prey injected with prey-borne bacteria was associated with an elongated lifespan in spiders. Thus, indirect evidence from multiple experiments suggests that the effects of these bacteria on spider survivorship appear contingent on their mode of colonization and whether they are applied in monoculture or within a mixed cocktail. We urge that follow-up studies should test these host-microbe interactions across different social contexts to determine the role that microbes play in colony performance.
文摘Medicinal plants and their ingredients have beneficial effects on human health.Nigella sativa is a herbal plant with multiple biological and pharmacological activities.Previous studies demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Nigella sativa and its main constituent thymoquinone significantly contributes to the antidepressant and anti-nociception effects of this plant.It has been reported that thymoquinone may achieve its antidepressant effect by preventing the elimination of brain neurotransmitters affecting depression such as serotonin.The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factors in the antidepressant effects of thymoquinone has also been documented.Additionally,thymoquinone can attenuate pain by upregulation of intracellular signaling pathways related to nitric oxide and K_(ATP)^(+)channels.The present review summarizes the antidepressant and anti-nociceptive activity of Nigella sativa and its main constituent thymoquinone by searching literature on electronic databases such as PubMed,Web of Science,Scopus,and Google Scholar from the beginning of 2010 until the end of August 2022.
