Hybrid Molecular Magnets with Lanthanide- and Countercation-Mediated Interfacial Electron Transfer between Phthalocyanine and Polyoxovanadate.

A series of {V}-nuclearity polyoxovanadate cages covalently functionalized with one or sandwiched by two phthalocyaninato (Pc) lanthanide (Ln) moieties V-O-Ln bonds were prepared and fully characterized for paramagnetic Ln = Sm-Er and diamagnetic Ln = Lu, including Y. The LnPc-functionalized {VO} cages with fully oxidized vanadium centers in the ground state were isolated as (BuN)[HVOCl(LnPc)] and (BuN)[HVOCl(LnPc)] compounds. As corroborated by a combined experimental (EPR, DC and AC SQUID, laser photolysis transient absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemistry) and computational (DFT, MD, and model Hamiltonian approach) methods, the compounds feature intra- and intermolecular electron transfer that is responsible for a partial reduction at V(3d) centers from V to V in the solid state and at high sample concentrations.

Apparent vector-mediated parent-to-offspring transmission in an avian malaria-like parasite.

Parasite transmission strategies strongly impact host-parasite co-evolution and virulence. However, studies of vector-borne parasites such as avian malaria have neglected the potential effects of host relatedness on the exchange of parasites. To test whether extended parental care in the presence of vectors increases the probability of transmission from parents to offspring, we used high-throughput sequencing to develop microsatellites for malaria-like Leucocytozoon parasites of a wild raptor population.

Variation at phenological candidate genes correlates with timing of dispersal and plumage morph in a sedentary bird of prey.

Polymorphic genes involved in the conserved molecular signalling of circadian and circannual clocks may play important roles in governing the timing of breeding and dispersal and thereby affect fitness in vertebrates. However, relatively few studies have explored associations between phenological candidate genes and behaviour, and these are somewhat biased towards particular taxonomic groups such as passerine birds and salmonid fish. Consequently, we assayed microsatellite polymorphisms within the exonic and 3' untranslated regions of the regulatory genes CLOCK, NPAS2, ADCYAP1 and CREB1 in the common buzzard (Buteo buteo), a polymorphic raptor species with three plumage morphs that differ in key life history traits including lifetime reproductive success.

No correlation between multi-locus heterozygosity and fitness in the common buzzard despite heterozygote advantage for plumage colour.

Correlations between heterozygosity and fitness are frequently found but rarely well understood. Fitness can be affected by single loci of large effect which correlate with neutral markers via linkage disequilibrium, or as a result of variation in genome-wide heterozygosity following inbreeding. We explored these alternatives in the common buzzard, a raptor species in which three colour morphs differ in their lifetime reproductive success.

Label-free enrichment of avian Leucocytozoon using flow cytometric sorting.

The group of haemosporidian parasites is of general interest to basic and applied science, since several species infect mammals, leading to malaria and associated disease symptoms. Although the great majority of haemosporidian parasites appear in bird hosts, as in the case of Leucocytozoon buteonis, there is little genomic information about genetic aspects of their co-evolution with hosts. Consequently, there is a high need for parasite-enrichment strategies enabling further analyses of the genomes, namely without exposure to DNA-intercalating dyes.