Tropical viruses approaching Europe.

During the last years, headlines about the advance of tropical infectious diseases, which are transmitted by mosquitos, become more frequent. Some of these mosquitos are classified as invasive species in Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are enhancing the observation of the geographical spread of these species.

Tropical viruses approaching Europe.

During the last years, headlines about the advance of tropical infectious diseases, which are transmitted by mosquitos, become more frequent. Some of these mosquitos are classified as invasive species in Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are enhancing the observation of the geographical spread of these species.

Evaluating the Hypoxia Response of Ruffe and Flounder Gills by a Combined Proteome and Transcriptome Approach.

Hypoxia has gained ecological importance during the last decades, and it is the most dramatically increasing environmental factor in coastal areas and estuaries. The gills of fish are the prime target of hypoxia and other stresses. Here we have studied the impact of the exposure to hypoxia (1.

Molecular response of estuarine fish to hypoxia: a comparative study with ruffe and flounder from field and laboratory.

On a global scale, the frequencies and magnitudes of hypoxic events in coastal and estuarine waters have increased dramatically over the past 20 years. Fish populations are suitable indicators for the assessment of the quality of aquatic ecosystems, as they are omnipresent and often comprise a variety of different lifestyles and adaption strategies. We have investigated on the molecular level the impact of hypoxia on two fish species typical of European estuaries.

Environmental acidification triggers oxidative stress and enhances globin expression in zebrafish gills.

Animals in many aquatic ecosystems must cope with changing environmental parameters, such as temperature, oxygen availability or pH. We have investigated the molecular responses to acidification in the gills and body of zebrafish (Danio rerio) by means of quantitative real-time PCR. Expression levels of typical stress genes and genes for antioxidant defense were strongly enhanced in gills, and to lesser extents in the body, suggesting that acidification leads to oxidative stress.

Ontogeny of globin expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Respiratory proteins are responsible for transport and storage of oxygen. It is well established that specific requirements for oxygen during vertebrate ontogeny cause switches of hemoglobin chain expression. Here, we characterize the developmental profiles of zebrafish (Danio rerio) globins by means of quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR.