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As an important order among insects, featuring incredible diversity, Coleopterans are increasingly the subject of immunity research. They are not vectors of human and animal diseases, but their impact on plant communities and plant-based food sources, mainly as pests (forest, agricultural, and storage), is significant. Insect immunity research focuses on the mechanisms required for host defense against a wide array of pathogens. The role of the fat body, hemocytes, the formation of antimicrobial peptides, as well as signaling pathways against infection are essential to insect immunity. Innate immune mechanisms in beetles are closely related to their pathology and the hosts' responses to infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi, microsporidia). Most of the established mechanisms of beetle innate immunity mainly come from model organisms such as Tenebrio molitor, Tribolium castaneum, and Leptinotarsa decemlineata. With the advent of modern and environmentally friendly approaches to pest control, more and more issues related to their reactions to pathogenic infections are becoming key. The current review presents a summary of studied defense mechanisms in Coleoptera and data on insect immunity, established in more than 50 beetle species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, aimed at achieving a “Good” Ecological Status of surface water bodies by 2015, indicates the adoption of a River Basin Management approach by using a model which works as a support for decision making. This work has applied the suggestions put forward by the WFD by means of a mathematical model called the Integrity Model. This represents valid support when assessing the efficiency of planned interventions which may directly or indirectly play a role in enhancing the quality of surface waters at the basin scale. Herein the results of a preliminary application limited to just two indexes on the Bacchiglione river basin, located in Northern Italy, are both presented and compared with the results of institutional monitoring activities in compliance with set technical regulations. The proposed model appears to be useful when carrying out Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) procedures in accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC concerning water management and protection plans as well as for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure to be carried out on the interventions identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During the last few decades, bat lyssaviruses have become the topic of intensive molecular and epidemiological investigations. Since ancient times, rhabdoviruses have caused fatal encephalitis in humans which has led to research into effective strategies for their eradication. Modelling of potential future cross-species virus transmissions forms a substantial component of the recent infection biology of rabies. In this article, we summarise the available data on the phylogeography of both bats and lyssaviruses in Europe and the adjacent reg ions, especially in the contact zone between the Palearctic and Ethiopian realms. Within these zones, three bat families are present with high potential for cross-species transmission and the spread of lyssaviruses in Phylogroup II to Europe (part of the western Palearctic). The lack of effective therapies for rabies viruses in Phylogroup II and the most divergent lyssaviruses generates impetus for additional phylogenetic and virological research within this geographical region.

Studies on human fibroblasts have led to viewing senescence as a barrier against tumorigenesis. Using keratinocytes, we show here that partially transformed and tumorigenic cells systematically and spontaneously emerge from senescent cultures. We show that these emerging cells are generated from senescent cells, which are still competent for replication, by an unusual budding-mitosis mechanism. We further present data implicating reactive oxygen species that accumulate during senescence as a potential mutagenic motor of this post-senescence emergence. We conclude that senescence and its associated oxidative stress could be a tumor-promoting state for epithelial cells, potentially explaining why the incidence of carcinogenesis dramatically increases with advanced age.