Svetlana Jovanić

The present study describes utilization of two photon excitation fluorescence (2PE) microscopy for visualization of the hemoglobin in human and porcine erythrocytes and their empty membranes (i.e., ghosts). High-quality, label- and fixation-free visualization of hemoglobin was achieved at excitation wavelength 730 nm by detecting visible autofluorescence. Localization in the suspension and spatial distribution (i.e., mapping) of residual hemoglobin in erythrocyte ghosts has been resolved by 2PE. Prior to the 2PE mapping, the presence of residual hemoglobin in the bulk suspension of erythrocyte ghosts was confirmed by cyanmethemoglobin assay. 2PE analysis revealed that the distribution of hemoglobin in intact erythrocytes follows the cells’ shape. Two types of erythrocytes, human and porcine, characterized with discocyte and echinocyte morphology, respectively, showed significant differences in hemoglobin distribution. The 2PE images have revealed that despite an extensive washing out procedure after gradual hypotonic hemolysis, a certain amount of hemoglobin localized on the intracellular side always remains bound to the membrane and cannot be eliminated. The obtained results open the possibility to use 2PE microscopy to examine hemoglobin distribution in erythrocytes and estimate the purity level of erythrocyte ghosts in biotechnological processes.

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that malignancy arises and advances through the molecular interplay between tumor cells and non-malignant elements of the tumor stroma, that is, fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. However, in contrast to the mounting evidence about the role of tumor stroma in the genesis and progression of the malignant disease, there are very few data regarding the uninvolved stromal tissue in the remote surrounding of the tumor. Using the objective morphometric approach in patients with adenocarcinoma, we demonstrate the remodeling of extracellular matrix of the lamina propria in the uninvolved rectal mucosa 10 and 20 cm away from the neoplasm. We show that the representation of basic extracellular matrix constituents (reticular and collagen fibers and ground substance) is decreased. Also, the diameter of empty spaces that appear within the extracellular matrix of the lamina propria is increased. These spaces do not represent the blood or lymphatic vessel elements. Very likely, they reflect the development of tissue edema in the remote, uninvolved lamina propria of the mucosa in patients with the malignant tumor of the rectum. We hypothesize that the remodeling of extracellular matrix in lamina propria of the rectal mucosa may increase its stiffness, modulating the mechano-signal transduction, and thus promote the progression of the malignant disease.

The genus Pheggomisetes Knirsch, 1923 consists of stenoendemic troglobitic ground beetles restricted to underground habitats in both Western Bulgaria and Southeast Serbia. A review of the genus in Serbia is given in this article. The following new taxa are described from three caves and pits on slopes of the Stara Planina Mountains in Southeast Serbia: Pheggomisetes serbicus sp. nov., P. serbicus belensis subsp. nov. and P. globiceps ciniglavcensis subsp. nov. Also, Pheggomisetes ninae S. Ćurčić, Schönmann, Brajković, B. Ćurčić & Tomić, 2004, originally described as an independent species, is downgraded to a subspecies of P. globiceps Buresch, 1925 – P. globiceps ninae S. Ćurčić, Schönmann, Brajković, B. Ćurčić & Tomić, 2004 comb. & stat. nov. All the important morphological features of the taxa are listed in the article. The diagnoses of taxa are based on the characters ascertained by bright-field microscopy and nonlinear microscopy (NLM). The use of NLM in investigating Pheggomisetes anatomy is explained, and it is shown to be superior to classical microscopy in observing minute details of different structures (e.g. genitalia) on cross and longitudinal sections. A key to the species of Pheggomisetes (including the Serbian taxa) is given. In addition, we have included morphometric and molecular analyses of all Serbian Pheggomisetes taxa.

This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Vrbica, Maja, Petrović, Andjeljko, Pantelić, Dejan, Krmpot, Aleksandar J., Rabasović, Mihailo D., Pavlović, Danica, Jovanić, Svetlana, Guéorguiev, Borislav, Goranov, Stoyan, Vesović, Nikola, Antić, Dragan, Marković, Ðorđe, Petković, Matija, Stanisavljević, Ljubiša, Ćurčić, Srećko (2018): The genus Pheggomisetes Knirsch, 1923 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) in Serbia: taxonomy, morphology and molecular phylogeny. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 183: 347-371, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx078