Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns

COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019. Individual responses were variable with no change in average movements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown conditions. However, under strict lockdowns 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape permeability. Animals' 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined by 12% and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall, lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide.

Limitations of current knowledge about the ecology of Grey Foxes hamper conservation efforts

Species-specific conservation is important for maintaining the integrity of ecological communities but is dependent on sufficiently understanding multiple aspects of a species’ ecology. Species-specific data are commonly lacking for species in geographic areas with little research and species perceived to have insufficient charisma or economic importance. Despite their widespread distribution across central and North America and status as a furbearing mammal, little is known about the ecology of Grey Foxes Urocyon cinereoargenteus compared to other species of furbearing mammals. To understand what is known about this species, especially factors affecting population dynamics, we performed a systematic review of the scientific literature. We found 234 studies about Grey Foxes, with studies increasing substantially over time but with geographic gaps in the Great Plains and most of Mexico and central America. Most studies we reviewed examined relative abundance or occupancy (n= 35), habitat associations (n= 30), primarily as part of larger mammalian community studies, or spatiotemporal effects of other mammalian carnivores (n= 19), predominately Coyote Canis latrans. Grey Foxes were primarily forest-associated although associations with specific forest communities or anthropogenically disturbed habitats varied among studies. Multiple studies across ecoregions reported this fox as among both the most- and least-abundant mammalian carnivore. The inter-specific effects of Coyote were often, but not exclusively, negative and were likely mediated by landscape composition and human development. Importantly, very few studies examined population-effects of coyotes on Grey Foxes. Studies of population trends, demographics, and space use of Grey Foxes were comparatively rare and small inter- and intra-study sample sizes limited our ability to infer broader patterns. We suggest multiple avenues for future research to better understand the population status of this species throughout their range. 

Identification and characterization of cDNA clones encoding hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:tyramine N-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase from tobacco

The sequences of three cDNA clones that include the complete coding region of hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:tyramine N-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (THT) from tobacco are reported. The three cDNAs were isolated by antibody screening of a cDNA expression library produced from poly(A)+RNA purified from tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Bottom Special), previously infiltrated with an incompatible strain of Ralstonia solanacearum. The identity of these clones was confirmed by the detection of THT activity in extracts of transformed Escherichia coli and by matching the translated polypeptides with tryptic enzyme sequences. cDNA clones tht4 and tht11 differ only by their 5' leader and 3' UTRs and therefore encode the same protein, whereas tht10 and tht11 exhibit 95 and 99% sequence identity at the DNA and deduced amino acid levels, respectively. The three clones encode proteins of 226 amino acids with calculated molecular masses of 26 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequences show no similarity with the sequence of anthranilate hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase from Dianthus caryophyllus, the only enzyme exhibiting hydroxycinnamoyltransferase activity to be cloned so far in plants. In contrast, comparison of the THT amino acid sequence with protein sequence databases revealed substantial homology with mammalian diamine acetyltransferases. The THT clones hybridized to a 0.95-kb mRNA from elicited tobacco cell-suspension cultures and also to a mRNA of similar size from wound-healing potato tubers. The messengers for THT were also found to be expressed at relatively high levels in tobacco root tissues. Southern hybridization of tobacco genomic DNA with THT cDNA suggests that several copies of the THT gene occur in the tobacco genome. Inhibition experiments using amino-acid-specific reagents demonstrated that both histidyl and cysteyl residues are required for THT activity. In the course of these experiments THT was also found to be inhibited by (2-hydroxyphenyl) amino sulfinyl acetic acid 1,1-dimethylethyl ester, an irreversible inhibitor of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase.

Human cysteine dioxygenase type I (CDO-I; EC 1.13.11.20): 5' flanking region and intron-exon structure of the gene

AIM

The elucidation of the structure of the 5' flanking region and the exonic organisation of the human cysteine dioxygenase type I gene.

METHODS

Material for sequence studies was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods using human genomic DNA, a cosmid clone containing the entire gene, and a commercial gene walking kit.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The gene was found to be--12 kb in length and made up of five exons (418, 78, 155, 170, and 731 base pairs, respectively). The immediate 5' flanking region did not contain the canonical TATAA box. One DNA source (Clontech promoter finder kit) contained a liver specific nuclear factor response element approximately 550 base pairs from the transcription start site, whereas a second source did not. This and other cis acting factors in the 5' flanking region were identified by computer analysis. The physiological significance of such elements requires detailed experimental evaluation.

Vehicle travel speeds and the incidence of fatal pedestrian crashes

The aim of this study was to estimate the likely effect of reduced travel speeds on the incidence of pedestrian fatalities in Adelaide, Australia. The study was based on the results of detailed investigations of 176 fatal pedestrian crashes in the Adelaide area between 1983 and 1991. The method developed to estimate the effect of reduced travelling speed is described and supported by references to the published literature. A reduction in the speed limit from 60 to 50 km/h was one of four speed reduction scenarios considered. The smallest estimated reduction in fatal pedestrian collisions in the selection presented was 13%, for a scenario in which all drivers obeyed the existing speed limit. The largest estimated reduction was 48% for a scenario in which all drivers were travelling 10 km/h slower. The estimated reductions in fatalities obtained in this study are compared with those observed in places where the urban area speed limit has been lowered.

The structure of the human thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) gene

A portion of the human X-chromosome (> 5 kb) encoding the translated portion of the thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) gene was sequenced. The primary templates for sequencing were isolated from a human X-chromosome library (two positive plaques from 400,000 screened initially with a TBG cDNA probe) or were produced by PCR amplification using leucocyte genomic DNA as the amplification template. Potential hormone response elements (HREs) were identified at either end of the gene. These HREs have sequences based on the consensus half-site of thyroid hormone response elements, although it is unclear whether the structures are functional HREs. Other potential regulatory elements also were identified towards the 3' end of the gene.

Is oleic acid the thyroxine binding inhibitor in the serum of ill patients?

The possibility that oleic acid is the thyroxine binding inhibitor in the serum of seriously ill patients was investigated. 3H-Oleic acid was shown to bind directly to human thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) by the techniques of one and two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis in combination with autoradiography. However, no correlation was seen between serum thyroxine concentration and oleic acid concentration in two groups of patients, one of which underwent routine cholecystectomy, whilst the other group was admitted to an intensive therapy unit (mortality 75%). No correlation was seen between serum total thyroxine concentration and either stearic, palmitic, linoleic or arachidonic acid concentrations in these groups. Therefore, it was concluded that oleic acid was unlikely to be the circulating inhibitor of thyroxine binding.

Development of a gas chromatographic selected ion monitoring assay for thyroxine (T4) in human serum

The components of a gas chromatographic mass spectrometric-selected ion monitoring (SIM) assay for thyroxine (T4) in human serum are described. The internal standard for the assay was synthesized from deuterium-labelled 3,5-diiodotyrosine and 3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid. A novel method was developed for isolating the products of the coupling reaction. The results obtained by gas chromatography mass spectrometry SIM were compared with those of radioimmunoassay. The gas chromatographic mass spectrometric SIM assay would form the basis of a reference assay for T4.