Abstract

HMGB1 protein which is a non-histone chromosomal protein with two

functional domains named A-box and B-box can also act as a signaling molecule after

releasing from the cell and binding to the cell surface receptors such as RAGE. HMGB1

through its B-box domain binds to extracellular domain of RAGE and activates the

signaling pathways involved in various pathological conditions like sepsis and tumor

growth and metastasis. Interaction of recombinant HMGB1 A-box with RAGE antagonizes

the RAGE activation by HMGB1. In the present study, interaction of human

RAGE (hRAGE) extracellular domain (VC1C2) and B-box and A-box of human HMGB1

(hHMGB1) was investigated using a protein-protein docking software, HADDOCK.

The results obtained were analyzed by PyMOL and LigPlot softwares. The results show

B-box and A-box bind to different sites on the VC1 domain of RAGE and one of the

B-box binding points is a positively charged groove located on the V domain surface

which is also a major binding site for another RAGE ligand, Advanced Glycation End

products (AGEs). The obtained results can be utilized to design new potent drugs for

treatment of HMGB1-RAGE-related diseases such as cancer and sepsis.

Keywords

human HMGB1, human RAGE, HADDOCK software, cancer, sepsis

Abstract

Many species of black yeasts can survive extremely harsh conditions

and can quickly adapt to novel environments. These traits were proposed to have a

role in the ability of some fungal species to colonise indoor habitats inhospitable for

majority of microorganisms, and to cause (opportunistic) infections in humans. In order

to better understand the stress tolerance of black yeasts and thereby their opportunism,

we focused our research on the three model black yeasts: the polyextremotolerant Aureobasidium

melanogenum and Exophiala dermatitidis , and the extremely halotolerant

Hortaea werneckii. These black yeasts are shown to thrive at temperatures, salinities,

pH values and, H 2 O 2 concentrations that inhibit growth of mesophilic species. Most

importantly, unlike their close relatives they can not only grow, but also synthesize

siderophores ( E. dermatitidis ) or degrade proteins ( A. melanogenum ) at 37 °C - traits

that are crucial for pathogenesis in humans. These results support the hypothesis that

the ability to cope with various environmental stresses is linked to the opportunistic

behaviour of fungi. Therefore, better understanding of the connections between the

stress-tolerant biology of black fungi and their ability to cause disease is needed, in particular

due to their changing interactions with humans and their emerging pathogenicity.

Keywords

melanised fungi, temperature, NaCl, pH tolerance, ROS, oligotrophism, proteolytic activity, capsule

Abstract

Sensors based on in vivo measurements of photosynthetic pigments

fluorescence enable real-time phytoplankton monitoring with high spatial and temporal

resolution. A combination of chlorophyll a (CHL) and phycocyanin (PC) fluorescence

sensors was used for phytoplankton quantification and differentiation in two small water

bodies, Koseze Pond and pond in Hotinja vas. The high correlation of CHL and PC

fluorescence signals with biovolume was confirmed during the two-year monitoring

in a natural pond environment in spite of a seasonal succession of the phytoplankton.

Additionally, disturbances of the sensors were investigated. Water bodies containing

predominantly algae yielded false positive signals of the PC sensor, which reached

up to 1% of the intensity of the CHL signal. Similarly, underestimated counts of

cyanobacteria measured with CHL fluorescence sensor can be adjusted using PC

fluorescence sensor.

Keywords

small water bodies, algae, cyanobacteria, fluorescence sensors, biovolume

Abstract

Many non-native algal species are found in waters all over the world.

Many terms are used to describe such organisms that have expanded their distribution.

However, a unified model or concept remains to be defined, as how biological

‘invasions’ are seen depends on the perspective. Understanding invasive organisms

is important for biodiversity, science policy and water management. During monitoring

sampling at Slivniško Lake (Slovenia) in 2016, the curved diatom Aulacoseira

ambigua f. japonica Tuji & D.M. Williams was identified. This species originates

from Japan, from where it was described more than 100 years ago. The chronology

of the published distributions of A. ambigua f. japonica defines its spread from Japan

to Asia, then to western Russia and South Africa, and now to central Europe. This

study provides further evidence that A. ambigua f. japonica has become established

in Europe (Slovenia), as supported by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first qualitative and quantitative

description of A. ambigua f. japonica in Europe. It has been suggested that the shape

of these algal colonies is significant for the interpretation of ecological information,

and indeed, also in the present case, spiral colonies were found in this eutrophic water

body. Although curved cells and colonies can also be interpreted as (sub)populations

or morphological variants, only detailed molecular studies can reveal if these also

have taxonomic significance.

Keywords

algae, Aulacoseira ambigua f. japonica, introduced species, invasive species, scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Kopački rit Nature Park is a large fluvial-marshy floodplain, situated in

the northeastern Croatia, between courses of the Danube and the Drava Rivers. Due

to exceptional biological and ecological values of this floodplain area in the middle

course of the Danube River, it had been protected since 1967; proclaimed as Nature

Park in 1999 and from 2012 is a part of the UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere

Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube. This paper lists a total of 522 vascular plant taxa, classified

in 295 genera and 96 families, recorded for Kopački rit Nature Park. The list is

completed according to checked literature records and data for 114 new taxa, found

during the floristic investigation carried out from 2010 to 2018. Taxonomic, ecological

and phytogeographical analyses are presented. Hemicryptophytes dominate (39.3%)

in the biological spectrum, followed by therophytes (23.8%), geophytes (12.6%) and

hydrophytes (12.5%). In the chorological spectrum, the most numerous are plants of

Eurasian floral elenent (32.8%), followed by Cosmopolites (27.4%), and European

floral element (10.7%). Out of 53 recorded allochthonous plants, 26 are invasive

alien plant species. According to protection and conservation status at the national

level, 55 taxa are listed in the Red Book of Vascular Plants of Croatia and 53 taxa

are strictly protected. One species, Marsilea quadrifolia , is listed in Annex II of the

Habitat Directive.

Keywords

Kopački rit, Danube, flora, biodiversity

Abstract

Plant litter decomposition in intermittent dry and wet habitats sharedecomposition mechanisms of both dry land and submerged habitats. The aims of the present study were therefore to compare fungal communities on the decomposing plant material regarding the water regime of the location. Furthermore we wanted to evaluate the effects of the water regime on the decomposition in combination with fungal decomposers. Litter decomposition was followed on selected sites of Lake Cerknica with different hydrological regimes, using the litterbag method. The elemental composition of the decomposing plant tissues of Phragmites australis and fungal communities developing on the decomposing plant material were analysed. The hydrological regime has an important role in defining the fungal community of P. australis leaf litter. Water regime affected the fungal communities, which exhibited higher diversity under more stable dry or submerged conditions (in contrast to intermittent). Decomposition rates were more affected by the environment as by the fungal community diversity or composition. But, despite differences in the fungal communities the elemental composition showed similar patterns of enrichment due to decreases in the organic fraction of the plant tissue.

Keywords

litter decomposition, fungal community, elemental composition, intermittent habitat, wetland

Abstract

Tartary buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn) is becoming more

and more popular due to its health benefits for humans. It contains important fibres,

vitamins, certain minerals and antioxidants as rutin. Sprouts are a hot trend in the food

production and nutrition. Enrichment of sprouts with iodine (I) and selenium (Se) may

prevent endemic deficiency of these elements for humans and animals. The aim of the

study was to found out the effect of selenate (Se(VI)), iodate (I(V)) and their combination

on morphological, physiological and biochemical properties of Tartary buckwheat

sprouts. Tartary seeds were soaked in solutions with Se(VI) (20 mg/L), I(V) (1500 mg/L)

or in Se(VI) + I(V) (20 mg/L Se(VI) + 1500 mg/L (I(V)). Experiment was performed

in growth chamber in two repetitions. Measurements were performed three weeks after

germination. The solution of iodate and combination of selenate and iodate lowered

germination rate of sprouts. There was no effect of the treatments on the amount of

chlorophyll a , anthocynins and UV absorbing compounds. The amount of rutin was the

highest in control sprouts. According to physiological measurements, control sprouts

and sprouts from treated seeds were not stressed by the treatments.

Keywords

Tartary buckwheat, sprouts, selenium, iodine

Abstract

Most parts of the Echinogammarus clade of Gammaridae have been

appropriately classified with the help of a molecular analysis, ultimately freed of the

Echinogammarus-Chaetogammarus malediction. Among defining morphological characters,

the gnathopod interrelations are comparatively well congruent with molecular

markers. Genus Homoeogammarus distribution area extended from Mediterranean

to Atlantic islands. Chaetogammarus and Trichogammarus are firm members of the

morphologically very diversified Ponto-Caspian group genera, not closely related to

the morphologically similar Echinogammarus, Marinogammarus or Homoeogammarus .

Genus Pectenogammarus (along with Neogammarus and Laurogammarus )

synonymized with Homoeogammarus . Parhomoeogammarus diagnose corrected,

based on topotype samples of the type species. Freshwater species of the ‘European

Eulimnogammarus ’ in SW Europe defined as Iberogammarus gen. nov. Continental

Homoeogammarus -like, but molecularly distinct group, defined as Dinarogammarus

gen. nov. Some here accepted genera are molecularly well supported, some are morphologically

difficult to distinguish, but each one is morphologically homogeneous; they

are also geographically well defined. In both respects, the very speciose and widely

spread Homoeogammarus is different.

Keywords

Amphipoda, Gammaridae, systematics, molecular phylogeny, biogeography, new genera