ALBERT

Description: The current spreading coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is highly infectious and pathogenic. In this study, we screened the gene expression of three host receptors (ACE2, DC-SIGN and L-SIGN) of SARS coronaviruses and dendritic cells (DCs) status in bulk and single cell transcriptomic datasets of upper airway, lung or blood of COVID-19 patients and healthy controls. In COVID-19 patients, DC-SIGN gene expression was interestingly decreased in lung DCs but increased in blood DCs. Within DCs, conventional DCs (cDCs) were depleted while plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) were augmented in the lungs of mild COVID-19. In severe cases, we identified augmented types of immature DCs (CD22+ or ANXA1+ DCs) with MHCII downregulation. In this study, our observation indicates that DCs in severe cases stimulate innate immune responses but fail to specifically present SARS-CoV-2. It provides insights into the profound modulation of DC function in severe COVID-19.

Description: Unter Anemonenfischen verstehen wir haupts\xc3\xa4chlich Arten der indopazifischen Gattung Amphiprion (Riffbarsche, Pomacentridae), die in Seeanemonen leben. Mariscal (1966) und neuerdings Allen (1975) haben die vielen Untersuchungen dieser Beziehung zusammengefasst. Aus der Literatur sind andere Anemonenfische kaum bekanntes handelt sich um einen Gobiiden aus dem Mittelmeer (Abel, I960) und ungef\xc3\xa4hr 14 Arten aus dem gleichen Lebensraum wie Amphiprion, darunter Pomacentriden (Stevenson, 1963), Cirrhitiden (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1964), Labriden, Blenniiden, Apogoniden, Anthiiden (Graefe, 1964). Bei all diesen Arten ist der Kontakt der Fische mit den Tentakeln der Anemone bei weitem nicht so deutlich ausgepr\xc3\xa4gt wie bei Amphiprion. Es scheint, dass die sch\xc3\xbctzende N\xc3\xa4he der Tentakeln zwar aufgesucht, direkter Kontakt aber meistens gemieden wird.\nNeuerdings werden Anemonenfische auch in der Karibischen See gefunden (siehe Karte). Smith (1973) beschreibt einen Cliniden von Panama. Hannau & Mock (1974) illustrieren eine zweite Clinidenart von den Bahamas. Colin & Heiser (1973) beschreiben zwei Apogoniden von Jamaica und Cura\xc3\xa7ao. Hanion & Kaufman (1976) f\xc3\xbcgen aus den Bahamas, von Jamaica und Honduras sechs weitere Arten hinzu: drei Cliniden, einen Gobiiden, einen Labriden und einen Pomadasyiden. Der vorliegende Bericht beschreibt 31 Anemonenfischarten aus 12 Familien von Cura\xc3\xa7ao, drei Viertel davon neu in dieser Hinsicht. Der Kontakt mit Anemonententakeln st\xc3\xb6rt all diese Fische nicht. Sie scheinen den Kontakt z.T. aufzusuchen. Ob die Vergesellschaftung eine Symbiose ist, ist noch nicht deutlich; sicher ist die Vergesellschaftung nicht so auff\xc3\xa4llig wie bei Amphiprion.

Description: Four species of sympatric damselfishes (Eupomacentrus, Pomacentridae) from certain Florida reefs can be distinguished by certain sound characteristics used during courtship. Apparently the fish use these characteristics for species recognition. These characteristics involve the temporal structure of a sound, i.e. the length of the pulse interval, containing the necessary code for communication.\nIn Cura\xc3\xa7ao members of the same species did not use the same sound characteristics for species recognition as in Florida. Strangely enough, some were able to differentiate between local congeners, but unable to recognize members of their own species. The question arises whether local dialects are in different codes, in different parts of the species\xe2\x80\x99 distribution range. These populations could live in local restricted areas, as recordings from one species suggest. It is possible that apart from the temporal structure, the frequency spectrum carries important information for the identification of the species in question. This contradicts earlier conclusions.

Description: Four species of sympatric damselfishes (Eupomacentrus, Pomacentridae) produce and apparently use sounds in their courtship behaviour. Up to now, time structure elements were considered the key parameters in species recognition. Audible differences between the species, that can be ascribed to frequency characteristics of these sounds, are described here for the first time. It was found that both classes of parameters, i.e. of time structure and of frequency, can equally be responsible for species specificity within one locality. In other localities, different parameters (e.g. optical signals) or different combinations of different modalities could lead to the same result.

Description: The Scarlet Ibis, Eudocimus ruber (Linnaeus), fam. Threskiornithidae, is the closest relative of the White Ibis, Eudocimus albus (Linnaeus). The two species live in adjoining geographical areas. Nothing is known about the Scarlet Ibis\xe2\x80\x99s breeding biology in the wild and only little about its breeding biology in captivity. A better understanding of the breeding of this species in captivity should help to improve its management and also to elucidate its relationship with its much better known counterpart, the White Ibis.\nThree types of display behaviour are recognized in courtship: the snap display, the dipping snap display and twig pulling. The latter occurs also in greeting ceremonies, together with the up-down display, and as a precopulatory activity. Breeding pairs are stable for one breeding cycle, but occasionally promiscuous matings can be observed. Of 16 birds breeding in 1982, 12 bred again in 1983, all with a different partner.\nEgg laying is preceded by a period of increasing appearance of both members of the couple together on the nest, where copulation takes place. Nests contain 2-3 eggs, which are incubated for 21-23 days. Hatching is indicated by a sudden decrease in incubation. Hatching failure can be succeeded by the laying of replacement clutches. Nesting failures were due to destruction of nests or young, often resulting from disturbances by humans or domestic cats. One pair incubated for over 4 months without apparent interruption, probably without eggs being present for most of the time.\nFemales spend more time incubating than males. Nest reliefs occur at a much higher rate (ca. 1 per hour) than in the wild (ca. 2 per day). For up to 3 weeks after hatching, one parent bird stays at the nest almost continuously. Unattended nests are quickly visited by other birds, predominantly males. One parent, mostly the male, almost immediately chases an intruder away. Slight variations in breeding behaviour could not be correlated with breeding success.\nA dominance hierarchy could be distinguished between adult birds. Aggressive encounters consisted of three different behaviour patterns: fighting, forward threat and stab-and-counter stab. Often one bird gave way to another without overt signs of aggression. The hierarchy was not linear but could be subdivided into three groupings. The status of a bird was sex-dependent, correlated with weight and length of the bill, but not with nest-ownership or age.\nThe breeding behaviour of the Scarlet Ibis and the White Ibis seems to be so similar that, bearing in mind their similarity in morphology, the question may be posed whether they are conspecific.

Description: Pendant une mission d\xe2\x80\x99\xc3\xa9tude de l\xe2\x80\x99Universit\xc3\xa9 d\xe2\x80\x99Amsterdam sur le comportement des chimpanz\xc3\xa9s \xc3\xa0 l\xe2\x80\x99\xc3\xa9tat sauvage (R\xc3\xa9publique de Guin\xc3\xa9e, province de Kindia) les auteurs se sont int\xc3\xa9ress\xc3\xa9s \xc3\xa9galement aux relations entre ces anthropo\xc3\xafdes et les \xc3\xaatres humains. La population humaine se montre tr\xc3\xa8s tol\xc3\xa9rante et plut\xc3\xb4t indiff\xc3\xa9rente envers les chimpanz\xc3\xa9s malgr\xc3\xa9 que ces derniers peuvent faire des d\xc3\xa9gats \xc3\xa0 leurs produits agricoles. De ce point de vue l\xe2\x80\x99avenir des chimpanz\xc3\xa9s est assur\xc3\xa9 dans cette province de la R\xc3\xa9publique de Guin\xc3\xa9e \xc3\xa0 la condition que les autres facteurs qui peuvent nuire \xc3\xa0 la presence de chimpanz\xc3\xa9s ne changeraient pas.