Chemistry of the uropygial gland secretion of Hume’s ground jay Pseudopodoces humilis and its taxonomic implications

Gebauer, Axel; Jacob, Jürgen; Kaiser, Martin; Eck, Siegfried

doi:10.1007/s10336-004-0030-0

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, chemical composition of the uropygial secretions of birds do not usually included peptides (Burger et al . 2004; Gebauer et al . 2004; Montalti et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternatively, our experiments might have also deactivated antimicrobial peptides that are directly produced by hoopoes. However, chemical composition of the uropygial secretions of birds do not usually included peptides (Burger et al 2004;Gebauer et al 2004;Montalti et al 2005) and, thus, this explanation is unlikely. In any case, and whatever the origin of deactivated peptides, the association between the experimental effects on bacterial growth and hatching failures detected in hoopoes, at least indicated that protease on the eggshell provoked an increased probability of bacterial infection that might be the cause of the increase in hatching failures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Symbiotic association between hoopoes and antibiotic‐producing bacteria that live in their uropygial gland

et al. 2008

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Summary 1.It has been recently showed that one bacterial strain isolated from the uropygial gland of a nestling hoopoe Upupa epops produced antimicrobial peptides active against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria might thus mediate antimicrobial properties of the uropygial secretions as a consequence of the symbiotic association with hoopoes. 2. We study antimicrobial properties of white (from males and non-breeding females) and brown (from nestlings and breeding females) uropygial gland secretions of hoopoes Upupa epops , as well as the association with the presence of bacteria living inside their uropygial gland. 3. We found that brown, but not white secretions contained bacteria and showed antimicrobial activity against the feather degrading bacterium Bacillus licheniformis . The antagonistic activity of bacterial colonies was mediated by antimicrobial peptides because protease inhibited antimicrobial properties. 4. All except one identified bacterium in aerobic cultures were of the genus Enterococcus , and the microscopic study of uropygial secretions and glands confirmed a high density of bacteria within the gland. 5. Furthermore, we studied potential benefits of antimicrobial peptides produced by symbiotic bacteria of hoopoes by adding protease to incubating nests. 6. The experiment increased bacterial growth and hatching failures in hoopoes but not in spotless starlings Sturnus unicolor , a species that does not harbour bacteria in its uropygial gland. 7. Thus, microbiological, anatomical and ecological results suggest a tight symbiotic interaction between bacteria that produce antibiotic substances and the hoopoes.

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“…However, chemical composition of the uropygial secretions of birds do not usually included peptides (Burger et al . 2004; Gebauer et al . 2004; Montalti et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symbiotic association between hoopoes and antibiotic‐producing bacteria that live in their uropygial gland

et al. 2008

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“…Except for some recent studies on intact secretions of Charadriformes (Reneerkens et al 2002) and the woodhoopoes (Burger et al 2004), most of the chemical studies were on the hydrolyzed or esterified products of the secretion and very little is known about their intact components (Gamo 1971;Gebauer et al 2004;Jacob and Ziswiler 1982;Morr et al 1992;Odham 1967). They consist mostly of monoesters of saturated, unbranched and or mono methyl, di-methyl and poly methyl branched carboxylic acids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemistry of preen gland secretions of passerines: different pathways to same goal? why?

et al. 2005

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Passeriformes is the largest order of birds and includes one third of the bird species of the world, living in very diverse habitats. We investigated the chemistry of preen gland secretions of some groups of passerines from temperate regions found in diverse microhabitats. Some of the common components were mixtures of homologous monoesters made up of long chain acids and alcohols. Individual species had characteristic distribution of esters and was unique to a given species, although there were some individual variations. We compared the composition of acids and alcohols that formed same molecular weight esters in different species and we found that the combination of acids and alcohols to arrive at same molecular compositions varied distinctly between species. To compare compositions of over all acids and alcohols that formed the esters, the representative samples of secretions from the individual species were transesterfied the produce methyl esters and alcohols. We found that there were distinct differences in number of acids and alcohols that produced the combination of homologous mixtures of esters. Also they differed both qualitatively and quantitatively. There were also seasonal differences in the secretion components. Thus though the intact mixtures of esters in individual species had some similarities, they were very complex mixtures and differed characteristically for individual species. Here we discuss possible causes for evolution of these variations. We suggest that the evolution in variation of preen gland secretion is probably due to selective pressures caused by ectosymbionts such as feather-mites and feather-chewing lice that live on feathers and probably feed on the secretions and surrounding environments

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“…Analysis of preen wax using GC‐MS usually involves hydrolysis of the preen wax components, leading to loss of information concerning the distribution of molecular species (Kolattukudy et al. 1985, 1987, Gebauer et al. 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

Use of TLC‐FID and GC‐MS/FID to examine the effects of migratory state, diet and captivity on preen wax composition in White‐throated Sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis

Thomas

Price

Seewagen

et al. 2010

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Preen wax is important for plumage maintenance and other functions. Its chemical composition is complex, and separating and quantifying its components, commonly by gas chromatography (GC), can be challenging. We present a simple analytical system consisting of thin‐layer chromatography/flame ionization detection (TLC‐FID) using a solvent system of 100% toluene to analyse the complex compound classes present in preen wax. We used GC and TLC‐FID to investigate the effects of migratory status, diet and captivity on the preen wax composition of White‐throated Sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis, and to measure the quantity of preen wax on the head, primary and tail feathers. White‐throated Sparrows produced preen wax containing only monoesters regardless of migratory state. The monoesters contained several isomers consisting of homologous series of fatty alcohols (C10–C20) and fatty acids (C13–C19) esterified together in different combinations to form monoesters with total carbon numbers ranging from C23 to C38. Weighted average monoester carbon number was greater in captive birds than in wild birds and was greater in captives fed a formulated diet enriched with sesame oil than in birds fed the same diet enriched with fish oil. Captivity and migratory state also affected the complexity of the mixture of monoesters. There was significantly more preen wax on head feathers compared with primary and tail feathers. We suggest that among its many functions, preen wax may play a role in drag reduction by affecting the physical properties of feathers, and/or the fluid flow at their surfaces.

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Chemistry of the uropygial gland secretion of Hume’s ground jay Pseudopodoces humilis and its taxonomic implications

Cited by 12 publications

References 8 publications

Symbiotic association between hoopoes and antibiotic‐producing bacteria that live in their uropygial gland

Symbiotic association between hoopoes and antibiotic‐producing bacteria that live in their uropygial gland

Chemistry of preen gland secretions of passerines: different pathways to same goal? why?

Use of TLC‐FID and GC‐MS/FID to examine the effects of migratory state, diet and captivity on preen wax composition in White‐throated Sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis

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