I Nyoman Suartha

Monkeys on the Edge: Macaque behavior at the human–monkey interface: The activity and demography of semi-free-ranging Macaca fascicularis at Padangtegal, Bali, Indonesia

Introduction Macaca fascicularis is an excellent species to examine adaptation to a particularly wide array of habitats and environmental variables, especially where human impact is a core component of the landscape. Within the long-tailed macaque species ( Macaca fascicularis ) there are at least ten subspecies, dramatic variation in facial hair patterns, and body size varies from 2.5–7.0 kg for females and 4.7–14 kg for males (Gumert, Chapter 1; Fooden, 1995; Napier and Napier, 1967; Rowe, 1996). Despite their well-documented occurrence and utilization of primary tropical rainforest (up to 2,000m elevation), the long-tailed macaques appear to prefer riverine habitats, coastal forests, swamp or mixed forests and secondary forest habitats (Crockett and Wilson, 1980). The ability to thrive in a variety of environmental types probably played a role in this groups evolutionary success throughout Southeast Asia especially during the last 5–8,000 years of human-induced (agricultural) environmental change. The island of Bali is approximately 5632 km 2 and has a rich history of volcanic activity and thus some of the most fertile soils in the world. There are approximately 247 rivers all cascading down slopes from the central volcanic range. During both the wet and dry seasons moisture accumulates above the volcanoes in the center of the islands providing a nearly year-round supply for the rivers that course rapidly down towards the sea, creating deep ravines and ready access to water for the south central portion of the island.

Molecular analysis of hemagglutinin-1 fragment of avian influenza H5N1 viruses isolated from chicken farms in Indonesia from 2008 to 2010.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H5N1 (AIV-H5N1) has been circulating in Indonesia since 2003. To understand the genetic diversity of these viruses, and to predict vaccine efficacy, the hemaglutinin-1 (HA-1) fragment of viruses isolated from chicken farms in Indonesia from 2008 to 2010 was sequenced and analyzed. The effects of these molecular changes were investigated in challenge experiments and HI assays of homologous and heterologous strains. Molecular analysis showed that these AIV-H5N1 isolates had evolved into three distinct sub-lineages from an ancestor circulating since 2003. Although no significant positive selection of residues was detected, 12 negatively selected sites were identified (p<0.05). Moreover, four sites showed evidence of significant episodic diversifying selection. The findings indicated complete protectivity and high HI titers with homologous strains, compared with protectivity ranging from 40 to 100% and lower HI titers with heterologous strains resulting from polymorphisms at antigenic sites. Our findings provide valuable insight into the molecular evolution of AIV and have important implications for vaccine efficacy and future vaccination strategies.

The Expression Of Cd4+ Lymphocytes Of Bali Cattle After Consuming Mixed Mirerals

Minerals play an important role in activating the lymphoid cells. Mineral deficiency can cause interference prolifrasi in lymphocytes, particularly the expresion of CD4 Bali cattle are hardly given additional mineral due to cattles are in semiintensive breeding method. Therefore, this study aims to determine the expression of CD4 lymphocytes Bali cattle after consuming of mixed mineral. The samples used were 32 male bali cattles reared in the village of Catur, Kintamani, Bangli regency. Samples were divided into 2 groups, those were: 16 individul of bali cattle was given 7.5 g additional of mixed mineral per individualday, and theother 16 individual as acontrol. The treatmnes were conducted for 3 months. The results showed that administration of 7.5 g mixed mineral per individual/day did not show differences in the expression of CD4 lymphocyte of bali cattle.