The sugar binding specificities of two groups of Streptococcus suis, a pig pathogen that causes meningitis also in man, were determined. Both the group represented by a recently characterized strain inhibitable by galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine (type PN) and the group inhibitable by galactose (type PO) were found by hemagglutination and solid-phase binding inhibition experiments to recognize

The 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (TMSEt) β-glycosides of the Forssman pentasaccharide [α-d-GalNAc-(1 → 3)-β-d-GalNAc-(1 → 3)-α-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-β-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-d-Glc] and the terminal tetrasaccharide, as well as the methyl glycosides 1 and 2 of the terminal di- and tri-saccharides, were synthesised by silver trifluoromethanesulfonate-promoted α-glycosylation of suitably protected mono-, di-, tri-, and tet

The 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (TMSEt) β-glycosides of globotetraose [β-d-GalNAc-(1 → 3)-α-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-β-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-d-Glc] and the terminal trisaccharide, as well as the methyl α-glycoside 1 of the terminal disaccharide, were synthesised by silver trifluoromethanesulfonate-promoted β-glycosylation of suitably protected galactoside, galabioside, and globotrioside alcohols with 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-

3-Bromo-2-(bromomethyl)propyl (dibromoisobutyl or DIB) mono- to tetrasaccharide glycosides were prepared in moderate to high yields by treatment of the corresponding 1-0-acetyl saccharides with 3-bromo-2-(bromo-methyl)propanol (DIBOL) and boron trifluoride etherate. Treatment of the DIB glycosides with alkyl- and ω-methoxycarbonylalkyl thiols gave the corresponding bis-sulfide glycolipids and spac

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are causally related, yet there is considerable heterogeneity in the consequences of both conditions and the mechanisms of action are poorly defined. Here we show a genetic-driven approach defining two obesity profiles that convey highly concordant and discordant diabetogenic effects. We annotate and then compare association signals for these profiles across clinical an

Biological rules describe general morphological, structural and genetic patterns within and across species. Within these, ecogeographical rules correlate phenotypic variation of organisms with biogeography. The latter have been developed over the last 150 years, and recently have gained renewed attention due to climate change, as researchers try to predict how species will respond to different env

The impact of climate change on global biodiversity is firmly established, but the differential effect of climate change on populations within the same species is rarely considered. In ectotherms, melanism (i.e. darker integument due to heavier deposition of melanin) can significantly influence thermoregulation, as dark individuals generally heat more and faster than bright ones. Therefore, darker

The thermal environment can affect the evolution of morpho-behavioral adaptations of ectotherms. Heat is transferred from substrates to organisms by conduction and reflected radiation. Because brightness influences the degree of heat absorption, substrates could affect the evolution of integumentary optical properties. Here, we show that vipers (Squamata:Viperidae) inhabiting hot, highly radiative

With functions as diverse as communication, protection and thermoregulation, coloration is one of the most important traits in lizards. The ability to change colour as a function of varying social and environmental conditions is thus an important innovation. While colour change is present in animals ranging from squids, to fish and reptiles, not much is known about the mechanisms behind it. Tradit

Amniotic eggs are multifunctional structures that enabled early tetrapods to colonize the land millions of years ago, and are now the reproductive mode of over 70% of all terrestrial amniotes. Eggshell morphology is at the core of animal survival, mediating the interactions between embryos and their environment, and has evolved into a massive diversity of forms and functions in modern reptiles. Th

Venom is a key evolutionary trait, as evidenced by its widespread convergent evolution across the animal kingdom. In an escalating prey-predator arms race, venoms evolve rapidly to guarantee predatory or defensive success. Variation in venom composition is ubiquitous among snakes. Here, we tested variation in venom activity on substrates relevant to blood coagulation among Pseudonaja (brown snake)

Att odla ekologiskt istället för konventionellt bidrar till att öka den biologiska mångfalden. Den positiva effekten på biologiskmångfald är särskilt stor i odlingslandskap med få kvarvarande naturliga livsmiljöer som exempelvis naturbetesmarker. Samtidigt har sådana odlingslandskap ofta en hög jordbruksproduktion och därför är också kostnaderna i form av skördebortfall höga vid en övergång till e