Late Onset Graft Plasmacytoma-Like PTLD Presenting as Acute Hyperglycemia in a Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Recipient

Allograft infiltration has been described in up to 20% of all patients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), most representing EBV-positive B-cell lymphomas. Plasma cells are often observed in humoral rejection biopsies, but graft infiltration by plasmacytoma-like PTLD is rare. We report the case of a 54-year-old simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipient (immunosuppression: OKT3, methylprednisolone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine), diagnosed with an IgG-kappa monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance eighteen years after transplant. Nine months later, pancreas allograft biopsy performed due to new-onset hyperglycemia (HgA1C 8.6%, C-peptide 6.15ng/mL and anti-GAD 0.9UI/mL) revealed a monotypic plasma cell infiltrate, CD19, CD79a, CD138 positive, with IgG-kappa light chain restriction, and EBV negative. PET-scan FDG uptake was limited to pancreas allograft. Tumor origin could not be established (using DNA microsatellite analysis). Despite treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone, patient eventually died one month later. This is the first report of a late onset extramedullary plasmacytoma involving a pancreas allograft.

DNA microsatellite analysis for tomato genetic differentiation

Commonly used method for determination of the genetic diversity among the populations is the test for genetic differentiation. DNA microsatellite markers are usually used to investigate the genetic structure of natural populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of eight DNA microsatellite loci (LECH13, LE21085, LEMDDNa, LEEF1Aa, LELEUZIP, LE20592, TMS9 and LE2A11) in genetic differentiation of six morphologically different tomato varieties (var. grandifolium from subsp. cultum; var. cerasiforme - red and yellow, var. pruniforme and var. pyriforme from subsp. subspontaneum; and var. racemigerum from subsp. spontaneum). The fragment analyses was performed using Applied Biosystems DNA analyzer (ABI 3130) and GeneMapper? Software program. The data were analysed using the specific program Power Marker Software. The average number of detected alleles was 3,625. Also, the average PIC value for all 8 DNA microsatellites loci was 0,3571. The genetic differentiation test in the researched tomato subspecies showed minor differentiation for locus LELEUZIP (- 0,0009), modest differentiation for locus LECH13 (0,0896), locus LEMDDNa (0,0896) and locus LE21085 (0,0551) and major differentiation for locus LE2A11 (0,7633), locus LEEF1Aa (0,6167), locus TMS9 (0.4967) and locus LE20592 (0,4263). On the other hand, in the estimated tomato varieties, locus LE21085 (0,0297), locus LECH13 (0,0256) and locus LELEUZIP (0,0005) showed minor differentiation, locus LEMDDNa (0,1333) showed modest differentiation, while locus TMS9 (0,5929), locus LEEF1Aa (0,5006), locus LE2A11 (0,4013) and locus LE20592 (0,2606) showed major differentiation. The eight DNA microsatellite loci can be applicable solution for tomato genetic differentiation. The overall results suggest that these microsatellite loci could be used in further population genetic studies of tomatoes.

First-male sperm precedence and precopulatory and postcopulatory rituals in the parasitoid waspOoencyrtus kuvanae(Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Sperm competition generates selection for male traits to prevent it. These traits remain unclear in species where males compete for a virgin who is briefly receptive. Males of the parasitoid waspOoencyrtus kuvanaeHoward (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) compete over females following emergence from host egg masses. Males engage virgins in a precopulatory ritual, mate, and then immediately perform a postcopulatory ritual after which the female becomes unreceptive. Often, sneaker (M2) males copulate with a female while she is engaged in the postcopulatory ritual, and they also perform the postcopulatory ritual. We investigated (i) paternity of M1and M2males using DNA microsatellite analysis, (ii) copulation and postcopulatory behaviour of both males, and (iii) morphological adaptations of the aedeagus for sperm removal. Eighty-eight percent of M1males sired all daughters when they were first to perform the precopulatory and postcopulatory ritual, suggesting a linked effect of both rituals on paternity. The number and length of copulations by both males did not affect paternity, and the shape of the aedeagus does not seem to facilitate sperm removal. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that postcopulatory rituals represent forms of mate guarding that function to increase paternity in the context of sperm competition.

50 FIRST EQUINE CLONE BORN IN ARGENTINA BY SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER FROM A POLO ARGENTINO MARE

Births of the first cloned equids were reported in 2003 (Woods et al. 2003 Science 301(5636), 1063; Galli et al. 2003 Nature 424 (6949), 635) but no equine clones have been reported in Latin America. The aim of this work was to inform the birth of the first equine clone in Argentina as a result of interdisciplinary teamwork. Equine oocytes were obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries and were transported at 38°C for 15 h in TCM-199 buffered with 20 mM HEPES and supplemented with 1 mM glutamine, 0.19 mM sodium pyruvate, 2 μg mL–1 LH, 5 μg mL–1 FSH, 100 ng mL–1 EGF, 100 ng mL–1 IGF-I, and 10% FCS. After 16 to 18 h of maturation, oocytes were denuded and enucleated. Frozen–thawed somatic cells from 1 of 2 aged (23 and 20 years old) Polo Argentino breed donor mares were inserted into the perivitelline space of each enucleated oocyte and fusion was induced. Activation was performed by exposure to Ionomycin (5 μM) for 4 min, followed by 4 h culture in a combination of 6-DMAP and cycloheximide in SOFaas culture media (Choi et al. 2001 Reproduction 122, 177–183). Embryos were cultured in 50 μL SOFm droplets for 7 to 8 days and then were transferred non-surgically to anovulatory recipient mares treated with 1.5 mg oestrogen, followed by long acting progesterone (BioRelease P4 300 LA, BET Pharm, KY). The production rates of the first cell line were: fusion 301/553 (54.4%), cleavage 163/218 (53.4%), blastocysts produced 20/163 (12.2%), blastocysts transferred 18/20 (90%), pregnancies 1/18 (5.5%) and no foal born. The production rates of the second cell line were: fusion 252/553 (45.6%), cleavage 55/252 (21.8%), blastocysts produced 8/55 (14.5%), blastocysts transferred 7/8 (87.5%), pregnancies 4/7 (57%) and 1 filly was born. DNA microsatellite analysis confirmed that the filly was a clone from the original donor cell line. The filly, born naturally on Day 329 of gestation, suffered premature placental separation and weighed 12 kg. Despite the intensive care provided, the filly’s respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular functions deteriorated rapidly and she died 14 h postpartum. Fetal membranes weighed 5.7 kg (47.5% of the filly’s weight) and showed marked oedema of the chorioalantois and umbilical cord (which also showed a torsion of 9 twists). Histopathologically, the chorioalantois showed scant and poorly developed villi and also connective tissue oedema. Death could have been due to marked immaturity, as a consequence of placental insufficiency and umbilical cord torsion.

Convergent evolution of kin-based sociality in a lizard

Studies of social birds and mammals have produced extensive theory regarding the formation and dynamics of kin-based social groups in vertebrates. However, comparing kin dynamics in birds and mammals to social reptiles provides the opportunity to identify selective factors that promote independent origins of kin sociality across vertebrates. We combined a 5-year mark-recapture study with a DNA microsatellite analysis of relatedness in a social lizard ( Xantusia vigilis ) to examine the formation and stability of kin groups. We found that these lizards are highly sedentary and that groups often form through the delayed dispersal of offspring. Groups containing juveniles had higher relatedness than adult-only groups, as juveniles were commonly found in aggregations with at least one parent and/or sibling. Groups containing nuclear family members were more stable than groups of less-related lizards, as predicted by social theory. We conclude that X. vigilis aggregations conform to patterns of kin sociality observed in avian and mammalian systems and represent an example of convergent evolution in social systems. We suggest that kin-based sociality in this and other lizards may be a by-product of viviparity, which can promote delayed juvenile dispersal by allowing prolonged interaction between a neonate and its mother.

DNA microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity among Chinese indigenous laying-type ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

The genetic polymorphisms of 17 microsatellites were investigated in four indigenous laying-type duck breeds in China. The average number of alleles (<I>Na</I>) and average rates of homozygotes of each breed were counted. Accordingly, allele frequencies of the 17 microsatellites, polymorphism information content (<I>PIC</I>), mean heterozygosity (<I>H</I>) and genetic distances (<I>Ds</I>) were also calculated. Moreover, dendrograms using UPGMA and the neighbour-joining method were produced. The four breeds have a high average <I>PIC</I> (0.643) and <I>H</I> (0.682). <I>Ds</I> are between 0.514 and 0.662, the gene differentiation among the four breeds is 14.4%.