The first reports on the presence of zoochlorellae within the organelles of mesenchymal cells from freshwater sponges were published in the 19th century. Today, it is well-known that freshwater sponges can be found in association with different endosymbiotic algae. However, until now there has been no detailed information about the endosymbiotic chlorophyll-containing algae in the remarkable endemic green sponges from Lake Baikal. In our study we were able for the first time to isolate and identify endosymbionts from primmorphs cultivated in vitro, and to compare them with those from naturally occurring Lubomirskia baicalensis sponges. Structural as well as molecular biological investigations show that the endosymbiotic alga is a Mychonastes species closely related to M. huancayensis. Another novel aspect of our work was to show that it is possible to use primmorphs of endemic sponges for isolation and subsequent cultivation of their endosymbiotic algae. We employed a simple cold-water (3-4°C) approach for cultivating Mychonastes sp., both within sponge primmorphs and in culture.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of tick-borne infections in humans. The prevalence of 4 tick-borne pathogens was studied in the population of Ixodid ticks attacking human hosts in Irkutsk city and neighbouring territories from 2007 to 2017.
Methods and Results:In total, 46,357 tick specimens detached from bitten people were analyzed. The antigen of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was detected in each tick individually by ELISA assay using a commercial kit for the envelope protein E of TBEV. Total RNA and DNA were extracted from ticks using a RiboPrep kit. Reverse transcription was performed using a Reverta-L kit and RNA\DNA of TBEV; B. burgdorferi sensu lato, A. phagocytophylum and Ehrlichia muris\E. chaffeensis were detected using a real-time multiplex PCR kit. In total, during 8 years of observations, I. persulcatus caused approximately 86% of bites, Dermacentor sp. 13.95 %, and H. concinna 0.05 %. The most prevalent tick-borne pathogen in I. persulcatus ticks was Lyme disease agent B. burgdorferi sensu lato, which was detected in 12±6.5% of specimens annually. A. phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia sp. were detected in 7.8±2.7% and 4.6±1.5% of specimens, respectively. TBEV was present in 1±0.7% of I. persulcatus.
Conclusion
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