Scientific highlights

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.03.049 Summary Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expansion of languages. Here, we present the largest DNA time series for a non-human organism to date, including genome-scale data from 149 ancient animals and 129 ancient genomes (≥1-fold coverage), 87 of which are new. This extensive dataset allows us to assess the modern legacy of past equestrian civilizations….

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2018.11.287 Purpose: West Nile virus (WNV) IgM antibodies have been shown to persist for up to 500 days or even longer in some patients. Therefore, additional tests are needed to confirm primary infection. The aim of this study was to analyze the value of IgG avidity in diagnosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic WNV infection. Methods &…

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6129-7 Abstract Canine vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) are a group of globally distributed and rapidly spreading microorganisms transmitted by arthropods. In the present survey, we investigated Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia canis, Dirofilaria immitis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato seroprevalence between three groups of dogs (asymptomatic, suspected and deceased) from continental and coastal regions of Croatia with the commercial point-of-care SNAP®4Dx®Plus for VBPs. The overall…

doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201701007 Abstract Scope We investigated the interaction between streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes and dietary n6/n3 ratio, and its influence on lipogenesis. Methods and results The animals were treated with STZ and fed with different dietary n6/n3 ratios: 1, 7, and 60, or supplemented with DHA/EPA. Gene expression was assessed by RT‐PCR and protein expression by western…

doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190474 Abstract Canine babesiosis caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite Babesia canis is a tick-borne disease characterized by a host response that involves both cellular and humoral immunity. This study focuses on the secretion of cytokines Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), Keratinocyte Chemotactic-like (KC-like), Interleukins (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-18 and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1) in babesiosis…

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.05.054 Abstract Four series of new hybrid molecules with 7-chloroquinoline and arylamidine moieties joined through the rigid –O– (groups I (2a-g) and II (5a-g)) or flexible -NH-CH2-CH2–O– (groups III (8a-g) and IV (10a-g)) linker were synthesized, and their DNA/RNA binding properties and cytotoxic activity were tested, against several human cancer lines. The compounds and their interaction with DNA and RNA were studied by UV–Vis and CD spectroscopy. The…

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0929-8 Abstract Background Obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems in the canine population. While haemostatic parameters and markers of endothelial function have been evaluated in various disease conditions in dogs, there are no studies of these markers in canine obesity. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of naturally gained weight…

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002483 Abstract The ongoing refugee crisis in Europe has seen many countries rush to construct border security fencing to divert or control the flow of people. This follows a trend of border fence construction across Eurasia during the post-9/11 era. This development has gone largely unnoticed by conservation biologists during an era in which, ironically,…

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1257553 Abstract The conservation of large carnivores is a formidable challenge for biodiversity conservation. Using a data set on the past and current status of brown bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), gray wolves (Canis lupus), and wolverines (Gulo gulo) in European countries, we show that roughly one-third of mainland Europe hosts at least…