The present studies were focused on the formation and characterization of sterically stabilized archaeosomes made from a synthetic PEGylated archaeal lipid. In a first step, a synthetic archaeal tetraether bipolar lipid was functionalized with a poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, and (PEG(45)-Tetraether) with the aim of coating the archaeosome surface with a sterically stabilizing hydrophilic polymer....

Cottonseed meal (CSM) is commonly used in hens' diets to replace soybean meal (SBM). However, the molecular consequences of this substitution remains unclear. To investigate the impact of this substitution at the molecular level, iTRAQ combined with biochemical analysis was performed in Hy-Line W-36 hens supplemented with a mixed diet of CSM and SBM. Egg weight, albumen height, and Haugh unit w...

We analysed sympatrically occurring specimens from Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia identified on shell characters as Naticarius onca (Röding, 1798) and found them molecularly separated into two distinct clades. Additionally, we obtained sequences from nine morphologically similar, randomly collected naticid egg masses (‘sand collars’) from Lizard Island and two other Queensland localities....

Varied egg incubation temperatures can result in immediate effects on the phenotype of reptiles, and also latent effects that can augment or contradict effects evident at egg hatching. I examined the effects of incubation temperature on embryonic development, hatching morphology, and subsequent growth in multiple populations of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Eggs from wild-caught females in fo...

ABSTRACT The Hermanella complex is a well-established monophyletic group of Hagenulinae mayflies, but the phylogenetic relationships among its members are still being discussed. In order to fill some gaps in taxonomy this we describe, for first time, eggs eight species (Hermanella amere, mazama, Hydromastodon sallesi, Hydrosmilodon gilliesae, plagatus, Leentvaaria palpalis, Paramaka incognita, ...

Gamete membrane interaction is critical to initiate the development of a new organism. The signaling pathways governing this event, however, are poorly understood. In this report, we provide the first evidence that protein kinase C activity in mouse eggs plays a crucial role in the regulation of this process. Stimulating PKC activity in mouse eggs by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) drasti...

Previous research on predator-induced phenotypic plasticity mostly focused on responses in morphology, developmental time and/or behaviour during early life stages, but the potential significance of anticipatory parental responses has been investigated less often. In this study I examined behavioural and maternal responses of gravid female smooth newts, Lissotriton vulgaris, in the presence of ...

The diversity of reproductive strategies within the arachnids rivals all other arthropod groups. However, with the possible exception of spiders and scorpions, evolutionary biologists have overlooked these organisms. The order Opiliones is divided in three suborders (Cyphophthalmi, Palpatores and Laniatores) with considerable differences in morphology, habits and behaviour. In this review we fo...

BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis, one of the neglected tropical diseases, is endemic in more than 70 countries. However, the clinical diagnosis of patients with a low degree of infection is an unsolved technical problem. In areas endemic for schistosomiasis japonica, proctoscopy detection of eggs has been one method used for clinical diagnosis. However, it is often a challenge to find typical live eg...

Foreign objects that enter the hemocoel of Drosophila melanogaster larvae are encapsulated by one type of blood cell, the lamellocyte, yet eggs of the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina heterotoma remain unencapsulated in D. melanogaster larval hosts that have many lamellocytes. Here we demonstrate that shortly after a female wasp oviposits in the hemocoel the lamellocytes undergo morphological change...