Targeted disruption of the surfactant protein (SP) D (SP-D) gene caused a marked pulmonary lipoidosis characterized by increased alveolar lung phospholipids, demonstrating a previously unexpected role for SP-D in surfactant homeostasis. In the present study, we tested whether the local production of SP-D in the lung influenced surfactant content in SP-D-deficient [SP-D(-/-)] and SP-D wild-type ...

In humans, two functional genes of surfactant protein (SP) A, SP-A1 and SP-A2, and several alleles of each functional gene have been characterized. SP-A is a multimeric molecule consisting of six trimers. Each trimer contains two SP-A1 molecules and one SP-A2 molecule. Until now, it has been unclear whether a single SP-A gene product is functional or whether there are functional differences eit...

Thirty-two species of Hybotidae (Diptera: Empidoidea) were collected during the Boyekoli Ebale Congo 2010 Expedition that took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo along the Congo River between Kisangani and Bumba. Only four species were known previously. Here we present new records for Syndyas crisis Garrett Jones, 1940 and Crossopalpus aenescens (Wiedemann, 1830). In addition Syneches el...

Fourteen new species belonging to five pholcid genera are reported from Laos: Belisana champasakensis sp. nov. (male), B. crystallina sp. nov. (male and female), B. gigantea sp. nov. (male and female), B. khanensis sp. nov. (male and female), B. lancea sp. nov. (male), B. martensi sp. nov. (male), B. tadetuensis sp. nov. (male), B. xiangensis sp. nov. (male and female), Calapnita longa sp. nov....

SP-A (surfactant protein A) is a membrane-associated SP that helps to maintain the lung in a sterile and non-inflamed state. Unlike SP-As from other mammalian species, human SP-A consists of two functional gene products: SP-A1 and SP-A2. In all the functions examined, recombinant human SP-A1 invariably exhibits lower biological activity than SP-A2. The objective of the present study was to inve...

background and objective: biodeterioration is an irreversible damage that is caused by colonization of microorganisms on the surface of different materials. among all microorganisms, fungi play an important role in deterioration of materials. fungi can colonize on stone surfaces and by secreting different enzymes, organic and inorganic acids and pigments, can cause bio-weathering and changing n...

Twelve new species in three different genera from the spider family Ochyroceratidae are described from mainland Ecuador: Speocera bioforestae sp. n., Speocera violacea sp. n., Speocera musgo sp. n., Ochyrocera rinocerotos sp. n., Ochyrocera callaina sp. n., Ochyrocera italoi sp. n., Ochyrocera minotaure sp. n., Ochyrocera losrios sp. n., Ochyrocera zabaleta sp. n., Ochyrocera otonga sp. n., Och...

The species of the Afrotropical genus Trichiscus are revised. Fourteen species are recognized, two previously described species, T. wittei Benoît and T. suzannae Benoît, and twelve new: T. noorti sp. nov., T. denisi sp. nov., T. briani sp. nov., T. copelandi sp. nov., T. mourei sp. nov., T. lynnae sp. nov., T. normani sp. nov., T. luboi sp. nov., T. zuparkoi sp. nov., T. ohli sp. nov., T. camar...