bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The use of selective and differential agars in the isolation of Escherichia coli O157 from dairy herds
Authors: Wallace J.S. , Jones K.
Published: March 2008

The use of selective and differential agars for the isolation ofEscherichia coliO157 from the faeces of dairy herds was investigated. Out of the 614 isolates which were positive for one or more of the selective criteria employed in the media only four proved to beE. coliO157. Ninety‐nine per cent of the isolates were false positives. The procedure which resulted in the isolation ofE. coliO157 from faecal samples was enrichment in modified Tryptone Soya Broth supplemented with novobiocin and subsequent growth on Chromagar O157.
Comparison of different media for the enumeration of Aeromonas sp. in freshwaters
Authors: Kersters I. , Smeyers N. , Verstraete W.
Published: March 2008

I. KERSTERS, N. SMEYERS AND W. VERSTRAETE. 1996. Ampicillin‐dextrin agar (ADA), m‐Aeromonas agar (mA), starch glutamate ampicillin penicillin C‐glucose agar (SGAP‐10C), trehalose agar (TRE) and ampicillin bile salts inositol xylose agar (MIX) were evaluated for the isolation of Aeromonas sp. from aquatic environments. Recovery of pure cultures was excellent on all media, except for Aer. sobria on SGAP‐10C and MIX agars. Recovery of Aeromonas sp. from freshwaters was comparable on ADA, mA, SGAP‐10C and TRE. The most selective media were SGAP‐10C and ADA, which yielded an average reduction factor of more than 2.9 log. The ability to differentiate Aeromonas sp. from the background microbiota present in freshwaters was best on ADA. The present findings indicate that ADA is the most adequate medium for the selective isolation of Aeromonas sp. from freshwaters.
Determination of sulphite reductase activity and its response to assimilable nitrogen status in a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast
Authors: Jiranek V. , Langridge P. , Henschke P.A.
Published: March 2008

V. JIRANEK, P. LANGRIDGE AND P.A. HENSCHKE. 1996. The liberation of H2S is a common problem afflicting wine fermentation. Sulphite reductase activity of a commercial wine yeast was investigated to define its involvement in this process. The activity studied here differed from those characterized previously from cider and bakers' yeasts by displaying a greater sensitivity to cold, low ionic strength and possibly, proteolytic action. These differences necessitated the development of a new method of quantification. Through this method, the onset of H2S liberation was shown not to be a result of variations in the levels of sulphite reductase activity. Thus, high levels of activity which occurred during the exponential phase of growth were not necessarily accompanied by the liberation of H2S. Similarly, nitrogen‐starved cultures which liberated H2S showed no corresponding increase in sulphite reductase activity from prestarvation levels. In fact, rates of H2S liberation from cultures and in enzyme assays agreed closely. A short‐term independence of sulphite reductase activity from culture nitrogen status was therefore evident. The only influence of nitrogen was achieved in its absence when enzyme activity decayed with a half‐life (4·25 h) which was comparable to that induced by the presence of cycloheximide (5·75 h). A proposed transcriptional control mechanism mediated by methionine derivatives was only partly effective in this strain although an in vitro inhibitory effect of methionine was implicated. These data therefore support the notion that H2S liberation in response to nitrogen starvation stems from a failure of metabolism to sequester H2S which continues to be formed, at least initially, at prestarvation rates.
IS6501‐anchored PCR for the detection and identification of Brucella species and strains
Authors: Ouahrani‐Bettache S. , Soubrier M.‐P. , Liautard J.‐P.
Published: March 2008

A new strategy was developed to analyse the polymorphism of the genome of Brucella spp. All species of the Brucella genus contain several copies (between 10 and 40) of an insertion sequence, IS6501 (known also as IS711). The position of copies of this insertion sequence appears to differ in each species and this can be used to discriminate between them. A new polymerase chain reaction test, called IS‐anchored‐PCR (IS‐an‐PCR) was developed. It was based on a combination of a primer bound on the sequence of IS6501 with a second primer chosen arbitrarily. The patterns obtained reflect the position of the insertion sequence in the genome. This method can be used to identify Brucella and to discriminate between different species, strains within a species and between the vaccine strain B19 and the corresponding ‘wild‐type’B. abortus A1.
Effect of seawater on Escherichia coli β‐galactosidase activity
Authors: Pommepuy M. , Fiksdal L. , Gourmelon M. , Melikechi H. , Caprais M.P. , Cormier M. , Colwell R.R.
Published: March 2008

An investigation of β‐galactosidase activity of Escherichia coli strain H10407, under different physiological and environmental conditions, e.g. induced and uninduced osmotic stress, light, etc., was undertaken. In this study E. coli was employed as a model for faecal coliforms in waste water. β‐Galactosidase activity was induced by isopropyl‐β‐D‐thiogalactoside (IPTG). Enzyme activity (U cell‐1)/cell for sewage bacteria and for induced E. coli was similar, i.e. log U cell‐1= ‐8.5 whereas uninduced E. coli yielded log U cell‐1= ‐12.1. Initial enzyme activity was not dependent on phase of growth of the cell (exponential vs stationary phase) or whether marine or fresh water at the time of initial dilution. However, osmotic change resulted in a decrease in culturable cells, even though enzyme activity remained constant. A significant decrease in the number of culturable bacteria, followed by a decrease in β‐galactosidase activity, was observed after exposure of cells to visible light radiation. It is concluded that β‐galactosidase enzyme is retained in viable but non‐culturable E. coli. Furthermore, β‐galactosidase appears to offer a useful and rapid (25 min) measure of the viability of faecal coliforms, and therefore, of the water quality of bathing and shellfishing areas.
Exopolysaccharides of the plant pathogens Pseudomonas corrugata and Ps. flavescens and the saprophyte Ps. chlororaphis
Authors: Fett W.F. , Cescutti P. , Wijey C.
Published: March 2008

The rRNA‐DNA homology group I pseudomonads Pseudomonas asplenii, Ps. corrugata, Ps. flavescens (plant pathogens), Ps. alcaligenes, Ps. pseudoalcaligenes subsp. pseudoalcaligenes (opportunistic human pathogens), Ps. aureofaciens and Ps. chlororaphis (saprophytes) were examined for their ability to produce exopolysaccharides (EPSs) when cultured on various solid and liquid complex media with glucose, glycerol or gluconate as primary sources of carbon. All three strains (388, 717 and ATCC 29736) of Ps. corrugata produced alginate, a polyuronan. An EPS composed of glucose, fucose, mannose and an unidentified uronic acid substituted with lactic acid was produced by one (B62) of two strains of Ps. flavescens. Of four strains of Ps. chlororaphis tested, only strain NRRL B‐2075 produced EPS. The extracellular material purified by anion‐exchange chromatography appeared to be a mixture of alginate plus an acidic hexosamine‐containing polymer(s). Production of EPS by the other pseudomonads was not supported by any of the media tested.
Effect of adherent Lactobacillus spp. on in vitro adherence of salmonellae to the intestinal epithelial cells of chicken
Authors: Jin L.Z. , Ho Y.W. , Ali M.A. , Abdullah N. , Jalaludin S.
Published: March 2008

Single strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lact. fermentum, isolated from chicken intestine, were used to study in vitro interactions with Salmonella enteritidis, Salm. pullorum or Salm. typhimurium in an ileal epithelial cell (IEC) radioactive assay. Exclusion, competition and displacement phenomena were investigated by respectively incubating (a) lactobacilli and IEC together, prior to addition of salmonellae, (b) lactobacilli, IEC and salmonellae together, and (c) salmonellae and IEC, followed by the lactobacilli. Lactobacilli were selected for study because of their strong ability to adhere to IEC and poor aggregation with salmonellae. The results demonstrated that Lact. acidophilus significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the attachment of Salm. pullorum to IEC in the tests for exclusion and competition, but not in the displacement tests. Lactobacillus fermentum was found to have some ability to reduce the attachment of Salm. typhimurium to IEC under the conditions of exclusion (P < 0.08), competition (P < 0.09), but not displacement. However, both Lact. acidophilus and Lact. fermentum were unable to reduce the adherence of Salm. enteritidis to IEC under any of the conditions.
Note: Microbial resistance of wool fabric treated with bis‐Quats compounds
Authors: Infante M.R. , Diz M. , Manresa A. , Pinazo A. , Erra P.
Published: March 2008

In this paper, the antibacterial activity against Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa of the wool fabrics treated with new antimicrobial bis‐quaternary surfactants, DABK and DABB, is studied. The activity was established on the basis of the agar diffusion and protective antibacterial test results and on the basis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. The results were compared with the HTAB, a monoquaternary surfactant of conventional use. The results from the agar diffusion and protective antibacterial tests do not enable us to confirm whether these compounds are potentially useful antimicrobial agents for the protection of textiles. However, SEM observations show clearly the efficacy of these compounds to protect the wool fabrics against the micro‐organisms. SEM has been a useful technique for the assessment of antibacterial activity in textiles.
Note: Inhibition of the growth of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 by the microflora of porcine caecum and ileum in an in vitro model
Authors: Asplund K. , Hakkinen M. , Björkroth J. , Nuotio L. , Nurmi E.
Published: March 2008

The growth of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 was tested in an in vitro model of the porcine intestine at the physiological temperature of 39°C of growing pigs. The model supported a stable population of Y. enterocolitica at a level 108–109 cells ml‐1. Plasmid profile analysis and the Ca2+‐dependent proportion of the population suggested that the great majority of the Y. enterocolitica population retained the 70 kb virulence plasmid, pYV, throughout the experimental period of 5 d. The growth of Y. enterocolitica was substantially inhibited by the ileal and the caecal flora compared to the growth of the bacterium alone. Yersinia enterocolitica was not isolated after 3 d of cultivation.
Comparison of effectiveness between moist and dry cryotherapy in reducing discomfort after orthognathic surgery
Authors: Chou Su‐Yeh , Liu Hsueh‐Erh
Published: March 2008

Aims.  The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness between ice towel (moist cryotherapy) and ice‐pack (dry cryotherapy) in postoperative care.

Background.  Orthognathic surgery is often performed to modify the facial appearance of individuals. Cryotherapy was used to reduce the postoperative discomfort, such as local heat, pain and swelling. However, studies to compare the difference in effectiveness between moist and dry cryotherapy are lacking.

Design.  A quasi‐experimental design with follow‐ups at regular intervals was conducted. The study involved data collection at the preoperative, postoperative 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes, 24 hours and 48 hours.

Methods.  Subjects were recruited and assigned to group I (n = 27) and group II (n = 21) by locations. Group I received ice towels whereas group II used ice‐packs as a strategy to reduce postoperative discomfort. Subjective indicators of local heat, pain and swelling were measured on postoperative days 1 and 2. When subjects went to postoperative recovery room, local temperatures on both sides of four facial areas and forehead were measured and repeated at scheduled intervals.

Results.  Both subjective and objective indicators changed during the research period in these two groups. Group I subjects reported less postoperative discomfort, such as heat, swelling and pain. Group II subjects had higher reduction of local temperature in certain areas within 180 minutes.

Conclusions.  Both moist‐ and dry cryotherapy reduced postoperative discomfort effectively. The moist cryotherapy was more effective in reducing subjective discomfort caused by the operation. The dry cryotherapy reduced local temperature more effectively in certain areas after surgery.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Cryotherapy could reduce postoperative discomfort, such as local heat, pain and swelling. When patient comfort is the major outcome of nursing intervention, moist cryotherapy is strongly suggested.
Comparison of the effect of protocol‐directed sedation with propofol vs. midazolam by nurses in intensive care: efficacy, haemodynamic stability and patient satisfaction
Authors: Huey‐Ling Liou , Chun‐Che Shih , Jen‐Jen Tang , Shau‐Ting Lai , Hsing‐I Chen
Published: March 2008

Aim.  The aim of this study was to compare the effect of protocol‐directed sedation propofol vs. midazolam by nurses in intensive care on efficacy, haemodynamic stability and patient satisfaction.

Background.  Protocols represent one method potentially to reduce treatment delays and ensure that medical care is administered in a standardised manner. Propofol and midazolam are often used for sedation in intensive care units.

Method.  A randomised, prospective cohort study and data were collected in 2003. The subjects were randomised either into propofol (n = 32) or into midazolam (n = 28) group. Efficacy of sedation, haemodynamic stability, pulse oximetry saturation, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II score), weaning time from mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay at intensive care unit, sedative drugs cost and patient satisfaction were measured.

Results.  The nursing staff were able to maintain patients at Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) 3–4 during the sedative period. The efficacy of sedation was 74·2% and 66·9% of time in propofol and midazolam group respectively. Both sedatives reduced the arterial blood pressure and heart rate, but did not alter haemodynamic stability. The mean score of satisfactory sedation was not significantly different between the two groups (propofol: 11·4 SEM 0·2 vs. midazolam: 11·5 SEM 0·7).

Conclusion.  Protocol‐directed sedation with propofol vs. midazolam by nurses were similar in quality during the sedative period.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This sedation practice for titration of propofol and midazolam by nurses was of similar quality and able to achieve an appropriate depth of sedation during the sedative period. Furthermore, they should provide care for patients’ needs during the sedative period.
Demographic and clinical predictors of spirituality in advanced cancer patients: a randomized control study
Authors: Mystakidou Kyriaki , Tsilika Eleni , Parpa Efi , Hatzipli Ioanna , Smyrnioti Marilena , Galanos Antonis , Vlahos Lambros
Published: March 2008

Aim.  To study the influence of cancer patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in their spiritual beliefs and attitudes.

Background.  Patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics may have an important role in their spirituality. Failure to control these factors can lead to a false estimation on patients’ spiritual beliefs. Previous studies have found that age, gender and health status associate with spiritual attitudes and beliefs.

Design.  Survey.

Methods.  The Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale was administered to 82 cancer patients. Demographic characteristics, disease status and treatment regimen were recorded.

Results.  Among the most significant correlations were those between gender and all the subscales, cancer diagnosis, existential/meditative subscale, radiotherapy treatment and external/ritual, internal/fluid and existential meditative. In the prediction of spirituality, the contribution of gender, age, years of education, performance status and radiotherapy is high.

Conclusion.  Acknowledging the specific patients’ demographic and medical characteristics, such as female gender, old age, years of education, performance status and radiotherapy treatment, contributes to the prediction of patients’ spiritual beliefs and attitudes.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Addressing spiritual needs in palliative care among the dying needs to be a priority and could be a crucial aspect of psychological functioning, especially when considering certain demographic and clinical characteristics.
Persistence of challenging behaviours in adults with intellectual disability over a period of 11 years
Authors: Totsika V. , Toogood S. , Hastings R. P. , Lewis S.
Published: March 2008

Background  Challenging behaviours in people with an intellectual disability (ID) often develop early and tend to persist throughout life. This study presents data on the chronicity of challenging behaviours in adults with ID over a period of 11 years, and explores the characteristics of people with persistent serious behaviour problems.

Method  Support staff provided data on 58 adults living in a long‐term residential facility using an interview survey schedule assessing challenging behaviours in 1992 and 2003.

Results  Participants presenting with serious physical attacks, self‐injury and frequent stereotypy were the most likely to persist in these behaviours over time. These behaviours were characterised by high persistence percentages and associations over time. However, the earlier presence of serious challenging behaviours did not significantly affect the likelihood of serious challenging behaviours in 2003. Individuals with persisting behaviour problems differed from those who did not present serious behaviour problems on the basis of their younger age, increased mobility, and decreased sociability and daily living skills in 1992.

Conclusions  Estimates of persistence for challenging behaviours are affected by the statistics chosen to represent stability. The apparent persistence of serious challenging behaviours highlights the need to identify the factors related to maintenance of these behaviours over time. The participant characteristics and adaptive behaviours identified in the present study were not consistently related to the persistence of challenging behaviours. Therefore, other factors, including environmental characteristics, are likely to be related to challenging behaviour persistence.
Pinpointing a selective sweep to the chimpanzee MHC class I region by comparative genomics
Authors: DE GROOT NATASJA G. , HEIJMANS CORRINE M. C. , DE GROOT NANINE , OTTING NEL , DE VOS‐ROUWELER ANNEMIEK J. M. , REMARQUE EDMOND J. , BONHOMME MAXIME , DOXIADIS GABY G. M. , CROUAU‐ROY BRIGITTE , BONTROP RONALD E.
Published: March 2008

Chimpanzees experienced a reduction of the allelic repertoire at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I A and B loci, which may have been caused by a retrovirus belonging to the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) family. Extended MHC haplotypes were defined in a pedigreed chimpanzee colony. Comparison of genetic variation at microsatellite markers mapping inside and outside the Mhc region was carried out in humans and chimpanzees to investigate the genomic extent of the repertoire reduction. Multilocus demographic analyses underscored that chimpanzees indeed experienced a selective sweep that mainly targeted the chromosomal segment carrying the Mhc class I region. Probably due to genetic linkage, the sweep also affected other polymorphic loci, mapping in the close vicinity of the Mhc class I region genes. Nevertheless, although the allelic repertoire at particular Mhc class I and II loci appears to be limited, naturally occurring recombination events allowed the establishment of haplotype diversity after the sweep. However, recombination did not have sufficient time to erase the signal of the selective sweep.
Good species despite massive hybridization: genetic research on the contact zone between the watersnakesNerodia sipedonandN. fasciatain the Carolinas, USA
Authors: MEBERT K.
Published: March 2008

Genomic markers generated with the amplified fragment length polymorphism method revealed extensive, panmictic‐like hybridization along the narrow contact zone between the water snakesNerodia sipedonandNerodia fasciatain the Carolinas, USA. However, asymmetric distributions of diagnostic markers between both species and low frequencies of backcrossed hybrids with a high value of interspecific mixture infer selection against certain genotypes. This is consistent with a pronounced genetic and morphological preponderance ofN. fasciatacharacters in the hybrid zone. Despite massive hybridization within the contact zone, the existence of nearly fixed genetic markers and the potential inferiority of certain hybrid genotypes support the species status of the two taxa and corroborate known, but nondiagnostic differences in morphology and ecology. This study stretches the applicability of species concepts to cases, where the genetic compatibility between two closely related species is very high, yet, they still evolve and persist as independent entities.
β‐Amyloid deposition in brains of subjects with diabetes
Authors: Alafuzoff I. , Aho L. , Helisalmi S. , Mannermaa A. , Soininen H.
Published: March 2008

Aim: A causative association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been suggested based on clinical and epidemiological studies. One hypothesis is that the link between DM and AD is related to the function of insulin‐degrading enzyme (IDE), an enzyme that degrades not only insulin and pancreatic amylin but also β‐amyloid (Aβ). Thus, in diabetics, insulin and Aβ might compete for IDE and this might lead to an increase in Aβ. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that hyperinsulinaemia can elevate Aβ levels and thus contribute to AD pathology in humans. Methods: Neuropathological examination was carried out employing conventional and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods of the brains obtained post mortem from 701 aged subjects. Results: The loads of IHC/Aβ, silver stained neuritic plaques (NP) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) were significantly higher in subjects carrying the Apolipoprotein E e4 allele. In contrast, the loads of Aβ, NPs and NFT in the brains were not influenced by hyperglycaemia when comparing 134 diabetic with 567 non‐diabetic subjects. Conclusions: We conclude that the hypothesis that hyperinsulinaemia would significantly elevate the Aβ load and thus increase the extent of AD pathology cannot be supported. Our result challenges the claim that DM is a direct risk factor of developing AD. Thus further studies on pathological lesions in demented diabetics should be conducted.
Photorespiration in C4 grasses remains slow under drought conditions
Authors: CARMO‐SILVA ANA E. , POWERS STEPHEN J. , KEYS ALFRED J. , ARRABAÇA MARIA CELESTE , PARRY MARTIN A. J.
Published: March 2008

The CO2‐concentrating mechanism present in C4 plants decreases the oxygenase activity of ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and, consequently, photorespiratory rates in air. Under drought conditions, the intercellular CO2 concentration may decrease and cause photorespiration to increase. The C4 grasses Paspalum dilatatum Poiret, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. and Zoysia japonica Steudel were grown in soil and drought was imposed by ceasing to provide water. Net CO2 assimilation (A) and stomatal conductance to water vapour decreased with leaf dehydration. Decreased carbon and increased oxygen isotope composition were also observed under drought. The response of A to CO2 suggested that the compensation point was zero in all species irrespective of the extent of drought stress. A slight decrease of A as O2 concentration increased above 10% provided evidence for slow photorespiratory gas exchanges. Analysis of amino acids contained in the leaves, particularly the decrease of glycine after 30 s in darkness, supported the presence of slow photorespiration rates, but these were slightly faster in Cynodon dactylon than in Paspalum dilatatum and Zoysia japonica. Although the contents of glycine and serine increased with dehydration and mechanistic modelling of C4 photosynthesis suggested slightly increased photorespiration rates in proportion to photosynthesis, the results provide evidence that photorespiration remained slow under drought conditions.
Shallow‐burial dolomite cement: a major component of many ancient sucrosic dolomites
Authors: CHOQUETTE PHILIP W. , HIATT ERIC E.
Published: March 2008

Dolomite cement is a significant and widespread component of Phanerozoic sucrosic dolomites. Cements in dolomites that were never deeply buried are limpid, have planar faces (non‐saddle forms), often distinct zonation in cathodoluminescence and form syntaxial overgrowths on crystals facing pores. Five samples of sucrosic dolomites, interpreted as having had mostly lime‐mudstone or wackestone precursors in four carbonate aquifers, provide insights into the abundance of planar cements in sucrosic dolomites. Such cement comprises 11% to 45% (32% mean) of peritidal to sub‐tidal dolomites on an outcrop in the Edwards aquifer (Early Cretaceous) of central Texas; 19% to 33% (25% mean) of ramp dolomites in the Hawthorn Group (Oligo‐Miocene) and 50% to 70% in shelf dolomites of the Avon Park Formation (Eocene) in the Upper Floridan aquifer of sub‐surface peninsular Florida; 18% to 45% (32+% mean) of sub‐tidal shelf dolomites in quarry sections of the Burlington‐Keokuk Formation (Early Mississippian) in south‐eastern Iowa; and 18% to 76% (50% mean) in shallow cores and outcrops of outer‐shelf dolomites from the Gambier Limestone (Oligo‐Miocene) of South Australia. Backstripping the cement phases revealed by cathodoluminescence colour photomicrographs documents the effects of cements on textural coarsening, pore‐space reduction, induration and general ‘maturation’ of these dolomites. Most pre‐Holocene dolomites are multiphase crystalline rocks composed of: (i) seed crystals or ‘cores’; (ii) crystal cortices that concentrically enlarged the cores; and (iii) free‐space, syntaxial precipitates of limpid cement around the crystals. Remaining CaCO3 grains and micrite can be replaced by dolomite, but typically they are dissolved between stages (ii) and (iii), creating systems of intercrystal and mouldic pores typical of sucrosic dolomites. Networks of cement overgrowths, aided by water‐filled pore systems under hydrostatic to lithostatic pressure, are judged to slow or prevent compaction in sucrosic dolomites. It can be argued that cortex growth involves both replacement of CaCO3 particles and microcementation of their interparticle pores. This interpretation, and the abundance of cements in so many dolomites, would obviate the controversy over the volumetrics of ‘replacement dolomitization’. Limpid, planar and syntaxial dolomite cements of early diagenetic origin are interpreted to have precipitated from clear pore waters, at low temperatures (<30 to 35 °C) and shallow burial depths (<100 m), in water‐saturated networks of dolomite ‘silt’ and ‘sand’. Cements in many dolomites in island and continental–aquifer systems appear to result from event‐driven processes related to sea‐level highstands. Cementation events can follow ‘replacement dolomitization’ events by time intervals ranging from geologically ‘instantaneous’ to tens of million years.
Revision and cladistic analysis of the eumenine wasp genusPseudodynerusde Saussure (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)
Authors: HERMES MARCEL G. , MELO GABRIEL A. R.
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe eumenine genusPseudodynerusis revised, and the phylogenetic relationships among its species are reconstructed based on adult morphology. The cladistic analyses of the 21 terminal species (15 ingroup and six outgroup species) and 48 characters, from external morphology and male genitalia, produced one cladogram under equal weights and two under implied weights. The monophyly ofPseudodyneruswas corroborated in all three hypotheses, although the internal relationships varied depending on the weighting scheme. Two major clades were recovered under both equal and implied weights, one containing mostly Central and North American species and the other only South American species. The main difference between the hypotheses involves the placement ofP. luctuosus, which comes out either as sister to a clade formed byP. hallinani + (P. maxillaris + P. quadrisectus + P. crypticus) or as sister to a clade comprising the remaining species. Fifteen species ofPseudodynerusare recognized, of which four are described as new:P. crypticusfrom Costa Rica,P. carpenterifrom French Guiana and Suriname,P. obesusfrom Rondônia, Brazil, andP. singularisfrom Espírito Santo, Brazil. One new synonymy is proposed:Odynerus(Odynerus)aztecusde Saussure, 1857 = Pseudodynerus quadrisectus(Say, 1837)syn.n.Names treated as varieties byBequaert (1941)are not recognized at any level herein, as follows:Monobia mina‐palumboiGribodo, 1891,stat.rev.;Odynerus(Leionotus)beelzebubZavattari, 1912,stat.rev.;Stenodynerus anisitsii garleppiSchrottky, 1911,stat.rev.; andStenodynerus mondaiensisBertoni, 1918,stat.rev.Lectotypes are designated forOdynerus belloneLepeletier, 1841,Odynerus(Odynerus)aztecusde Saussure, 1857andOdynerus(Stenodynerus)migoneiBertoni, 1926.
Hypomethylation and hypermethylation of the tandem repetitive 5S rRNA genes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Vaillant Isabelle , Tutois Sylvie , Jasencakova Zuzana , Douet Julien , Schubert Ingo , Tourmente Sylvette
Published: March 2008

5S ribosomal DNA (5S rDNA) is organized in tandem repeats on chromosomes 3, 4 and 5 in Arabidopsis thaliana. One part of the 5S rDNA is located within the heterochromatic chromocenters, and the other fraction forms loops with euchromatic features that emanate from the chromocenters. We investigated whether the A. thaliana heterochromatin, and particularly the 5S rDNA, is modified when changing the culture conditions (cultivation in growth chamber versus greenhouse). Nuclei from challenged tissues displayed larger total, as well as 5S rDNA, heterochromatic fractions, and the DNA methyltransferase mutants met1 and cmt3 had different impacts in Arabidopsis. The enlarged fraction of heterochromatic 5S rDNA was observed, together with the reversal of the silencing of some 5S rRNA genes known as minor genes. We observed hypermethylation at CATG sites, and a concomitant DNA hypomethylation at CG/CXG sites in 5S rDNA. Our results show that the asymmetrical hypermethylation is correlated with the ageing of the plants, whereas hypomethylation results from the growth chamber/culture conditions. In spite of severely reduced DNA methylation, the met1 mutant revealed no increase in minor 5S rRNA transcripts in these conditions. The increasing proportion of cytosines in asymmetrical contexts during transition from the euchromatic to the heterochromatic state in the 5S rDNA array suggests that 5S rDNA units are differently affected by the (hypo and hyper)methylation patterns along the 5S rDNA locus. This might explain the different behaviour of 5S rDNA subpopulations inside a 5S array in terms of chromatin compaction and expression, i.e. some 5S rRNA genes would become derepressed, whereas others would join the heterochromatic fraction.
Overexpression of mutated forms of aspartate kinase and cystathionine γ‐synthase in tobacco leaves resulted in the high accumulation of methionine and threonine
Authors: Hacham Yael , Matityahu Ifat , Schuster Gadi , Amir Rachel
Published: March 2008

Methionine and threonine are two essential amino acids, the levels of which limit the nutritional quality of plants. Both amino acids diverge from the same branch of the aspartate family biosynthesis pathway; therefore, their biosynthesis pathways compete for the same carbon/amino substrate. To further elucidate the regulation of methionine biosynthesis and seek ways of increasing the levels of these two amino acids, we crossed transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the bacterial feedback‐insensitive aspartate kinase (bAK), containing a significantly higher threonine level, with plants overexpressing Arabidopsis cystathionine γ‐synthase (AtCGS), the first unique enzyme of methionine biosynthesis. Plants co‐expressing bAK and the full‐length AtCGS (F‐AtCGS) have significantly higher methionine and threonine levels compared with the levels found in wild‐type plants, but the methionine level does not increase beyond that found in plants expressing F‐AtCGS alone. This finding can be explained through the feedback inhibition regulation mediated by the methionine metabolite on the transcript level of AtCGS. To test this assumption, plants expressing bAK were crossed with plants expressing two mutated forms of AtCGS in which the domains responsible for the feedback regulation have been deleted. Indeed, significantly higher methionine contents and its metabolites levels accumulated in the newly produced plants, and the levels of threonine were also significantly higher than in the wild‐type plants. The transcript level of the two mutated forms of AtCGS significantly increased when there was a high content of threonine in the plants, suggesting that threonine modulates, probably indirectly, the transcript level of AtCGS.
Assessment of cross‐reactivity among five species of house dust and storage mites
Authors: Saridomichelakis Manolis N. , Marsella Rosanna , Lee Kenneth W. , Esch Robert E. , Farmaki Rania , Koutinas Alexander F.
Published: March 2008

In vitrocross‐reactivity among two house dust (Dermatophagoides farinae,D. pteronyssinus) and three storage (Acarus siro,Tyrophagus putrescentiae,Lepidoglyphus destructor) mites was examined in 20 mite‐sensitive dogs with natural occurring atopic dermatitis (group A), 13 high‐IgE beagles experimentally sensitized toD. farinae(group B), and five healthy beagles (group C). Intradermal testing (IDT) and serology for allergen‐specific IgE demonstrated that co‐sensitization for all possible pairs of the five mites was generally 45% or higher among group A dogs. In the same dogs, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay cross‐inhibition results indicated that each one ofD. farinae,A. siroandT. putrescentiaewas a strong inhibitor of all the remaining mites, whereasD. pteronyssinuswas a strong inhibitor ofL. destructor. A high number of positive IDT and serology test results forD. pteronyssinus,A. siro,T. putrescentiaeandL. destructorwere recorded among group B dogs. No conclusive evidence of exposure to these mites was found upon analysis of dust samples from their environment and their food for the presence of mites and guanine. Also, the number of positive test results was generally higher among group B than among group C dogs. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay cross‐inhibition revealed thatD. farinaewas a strong inhibitor ofD. pteronyssinus,A. siroandT. putrescentiae. Collectively, these results demonstrated extensivein vitrocross‐reactivity among house dust and/or storage mites that can explain false‐positive results upon testing of dust mite‐sensitive dogs with atopic dermatitis.
Weeds that can do both tricks: vegetative versus generative regeneration of the short‐lived root‐sprouting herbs Rorippa palustris and Barbarea vulgaris
Authors: KLIMEŠOVÁ J , KOCIÁNOVÁ A , MARTÍNKOVÁ J
Published: March 2008

Weeds of arable land have two strategies for coping with severe disturbance: they have either a very short life cycle and survive disturbance events (ploughing) as seeds or they rely on an underground bud bank and a large regeneration capacity from fragmented roots or stems. Representatives of the respective strategies differ in their investments: annual weeds invest in generative structures and production of easily dispersible or durable seeds, whereas perennial weeds invest preferentially to underground storage organs bearing buds which serve for vegetative propagation. Even when perennial weeds may also produce seeds under favourable conditions, these may serve for further field infestation and spreading. However, the ability of some short‐lived annual weeds to regenerate from roots is often overlooked in studies on mechanisms for disturbance survival. Here, we show that short‐lived weeds capable of adventitious sprouting from roots may be very successful in vegetative regeneration from root fragments. Using a pot experiment, short‐lived root sprouters were found to have higher (Rorippa palustris) or the same (Barbarea vulgaris) fitness when regenerating from root fragments as when regenerating from seed. Even though this finding needs to be tested on other species and in different experimental settings, the results indicate the potential importance of adventitious sprouting from roots in short‐lived plants. Better knowledge of this phenomenon is crucial for understanding both the population dynamics of short‐lived root‐sprouters in disturbed habitats and the ruderal strategy of plants generally.
Fenugreek root exudates show species‐specific stimulation of Orobanche seed germination
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ‐APARICIO M , ANDOLFI A , EVIDENTE A , PÉREZ‐DE‐LUQUE A , RUBIALES D
Published: March 2008

Various Orobanche species are weedy and cause severe reduction in the yields of many important crops. The seeds of these parasitic weeds may remain dormant in the soil for many years until germination is stimulated by the release of a chemical signal from a host plant. In order to determine the effects of fenugreek root exudate on the induction of Orobanche crenata, Orobanche ramosa and Orobanche foetida seed germination, root exudate was collected from hydroponically grown fenugreek seedlings. Fractionation patterns obtained from column and thin layer chromatography of the fenugreek root exudate showed a set of metabolites differing in their polarity with stimulatory activity on Orobanche seed germination. The crude root exudate stimulated both O. ramosa and O. crenata seed germination to the same level caused by the synthetic germination stimulant GR24 at 10 mg L−1. It also stimulated O. foetida seed germination which did not respond to GR24. Active fractions of root exudate stimulated the germination of Orobanche species differentially.
Intraspecific variation in Capsella bursa‐pastoris in plant quality traits for insect herbivores
Authors: KARLEY A J , HAWES C , IANNETTA P P M , SQUIRE G R
Published: March 2008

The arable plant Capsella bursa‐pastoris is phenotypically variable in many life history traits, particularly time from germination to flowering. The hypothesis was investigated that, associated with this variation, there are differences in traits that influence plant quality for insect herbivores. Significant within‐species variation was found in plant growth, leaf surface characteristics and tissue nutrient composition among 21 accessions of Capsella. Short flowering time plants exhibited slow vegetative growth, relatively large shoot nitrogen content, high leaf hair densities and differences in phloem composition, compared with long flowering time plants. Insect herbivore response to distinctive trait combinations was assessed on a subset of seven accessions using the phloem‐feeding aphids Aphis fabae and Myzus persicae. Variation in aphid performance was small but significant, with 15–25% fewer nymphs produced on plant variants that exhibited greater tissue water content and low tissue C:N ratio (A. fabae) or on variants with less phloem nitrogen (M. persicae). The differential responses exhibited by the two aphid species to the test accessions confirmed that quantifying intraspecific plant variation is a necessary first step in understanding plant functional diversity and its impact on consumers in arable systems.
Genetic diversity of sulfonylurea‐resistant and ‐susceptible Monochoria vaginalis populations in Japan
Authors: IMAIZUMI T , WANG G X , OHSAKO T , TOMINAGA T
Published: March 2008

Monochoria vaginalis is one of the most serious weeds of rice fields in Asia. The species is predominantly selfing. To reveal the potential for multiple mutational events, outcrossing and gene flow in the sulfonylurea‐resistant (SU‐R) M. vaginalis populations, we investigated (i) if each SU‐R population was a single SU‐R biotype or a mixture of several SU‐R biotypes using restriction analysis or direct sequencing of acetolacatate synthase (ALS) genes and (ii) genetic diversity of SU‐R and ‐susceptible (S) populations using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. Nineteen or 20 individuals were sampled from four SU‐R and five SU‐S populations respectively. Amino acid substitutions conferring resistance in the SU‐R populations were Pro197Ser in the ALS1 or ALS3, or Asp376Glu in the ALS1 and each SU‐R population was composed of a single SU‐R biotype. In cluster analysis each SU‐R individual formed a cluster, whereas the individuals from a SU‐S population belonged to different clusters. Some SU‐R populations showed polymorphic AFLP loci. The results indicated that these SU‐R biotypes emerged from a single mutational event and any gene flow of SU‐R genes from adjacent populations did not occur. A low level of outcrossing and recombinations of SU‐R genes occurred within some SU‐R populations of M. vaginalis.
Non‐apoptotic functions of granzymes
Authors: Romero V. , Andrade F.
Published: March 2008

Granzymes (granule enzymes) are proteases released from cytotoxic lymphocyte granules into target cells to protect mammals from virus infection and transformed cells. Once released into the cytoplasm of the target cell, granzymes activate specific pathways to induce cell death. Although the induction of target cell death has been considered the central function for these proteases, accumulating evidence suggests that granzymes also possess additional non‐death‐related functions. Thus, some granzymes can achieve direct antiviral activities through the cleavage of proteins encoded by viruses as well as host factors required for the viral life cycle. The presence of elevated concentrations of circulating granzymes in various inflammatory processes and granzyme‐mediated cleavage of extracellular substrates suggest that these proteases may have extracellular effects relevant to virus and tumor rejection and the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the substrates and the proposed non‐apoptotic functions of granzymes, with special interest in non‐death‐related functions of granzymes inside the target cell.
New HLA‐A allele, A*0339, identified in a Spanish patient
Authors: Balas A. , García‐Sánchez F. , Bustamante L. , Vicario J. L.
Published: March 2008

A novel human leukocyte antigen‐A allele, officially named A*0339, was found in a patient when sequence‐based typing was carried out for unrelated stem cell donor search. A*0339 differs from A*03010101 in a point mutation at codon 102 (GAC→TAC), generating an exchange of amino acid from Asp to Tyr.
HLA‐DQB1*0634, a novel DQB1 allele found by high‐resolution HLA typing of a sibling pair for potential bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Witter K. , Albert T. , Zahn R. , Kauke T.
Published: March 2008

In this paper, we characterize the novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DQB1*0634 allele we found in a sibling pair during high‐resolution HLA typing in forecast of upcoming bone marrow transplantation. Both siblings, the female patient and her brother, were HLA identical, and therefore, both figured out the novel DQB1 allele characterized by a nucleotide exchange ‘C’ to ‘T’ at position 565, which is the last nucleotide of DQB1 exon 3. DQB1 exon 4 sequencing confirmed the exchange of codon 189‐arginine (CGG), which is replaced by tryptophan (TGG) in the new allele DQB1*0634.
Identification of a novel HLA‐G allele, HLA‐G*010113, in a Korean individual
Authors: Kang H. , Yun H.‐S. , Lee J.‐K. , Kwack K.
Published: March 2008

In the present study, a novel human leucocyte antigen‐G allele, G*010113, was identified via direct sequencing from donor gDNA in a Korean population. This allele differs from G*01010201 by a single nucleotide substitution, C to T, in codon 169 of exon 3 but did not result in any amino acid change.
A new HLA‐B*08 allele, HLA‐B*0828, found in two voluntary stem cell donors
Authors: Brixner V. , Richter R. , Bader P. , Seifried E. , Seidl C.
Published: March 2008

The novel allele HLA‐B*0828 differs from HLA‐B*080101 by three nucleotide exchanges at codon 113, 114, and 116 in exon 3.
Identification of a novel HLA‐B allele, HLA‐B*5529, by haplotype‐specific sequencing
Authors: Emmerich F. , Schönemann C. , Galicki L. , Salama A.
Published: March 2008

We have identified a novel HLA‐B allele, B*5529. The novel allele differs from HLA‐B*5501 by a single nucleotide substitution at codon 479 in exon 3 resulting in an amino acid change from alanine to valine. This alteration neither affects the peptide binding site nor the T‐cell receptor (TCR) contact residues. Thus, the newly found allele is estimated to have a low alloreactive potential in case of a mismatch to the most common HLA‐B allele B*5501.
Scurvy diagnosed in a pediatric liver transplant patient awaiting combined kidney and liver retransplantation
Authors: Samonte Victoria A. , Sherman Philip M. , Taylor Glenn P. , Carricato Megan N. , Fecteau Annie , Ling Simon C. , Ng Vicky L.
Published: March 2008

Abstract:  First described in the 1500s, scurvy is infrequently seen in industrialized countries today, although vulnerable patient groups remain. A 15‐yr‐old girl underwent liver transplantation at age 26 months for a primary diagnosis of biliary hypoplasia, and subsequently developed late allograft failure and progressive renal insufficiency culminating in listing for combined liver retransplantation and kidney transplantation at age 13 yr. She required regular hemodialysis treatment for 12 months prior to deceased donor organ availability, with a complicated clinical course including recurrent septic episodes and severe cachexia. Ten months after initiation of hemodialysis, she presented with severe bone pain, purpura, ecchymoses, gingival hyperplasia, mucosal bleeding, and subconjunctival hemorrhages. Serial serum ascorbic acid levels were found to be extremely low (<10 μmol/L) despite routine supplementation both in her dialysate and via regular oral supplementation. Histopathology from skin biopsy revealed purpura, hyper‐ and parakeratosis, and follicular plugging. She had ECG and 2D echocardiogram disturbances, as well as osteopenia and sclerosis of the extremities on radiological evaluations. Therapy with high‐dose ascorbic acid (1 g/day orally) led to complete resolution of skin lesions. This case highlights the importance of awareness and recognition of this historic diagnosis, and particularly in children with end‐stage organ disease with severely compromised nutrition.
Pediatric lung transplantation: Literature review 2006–2007
Authors: Benden Christian , Boehler Annette , Faro Albert
Published: March 2008

Abstract:  This article is part of a series of organ‐based reviews in this journal of recently published literature in the area of pediatric lung transplantation for the benefit of the clinician. This review summarizes 16 important original articles published in peer‐reviewed journals in 2006 and 2007. This review article is intended to be comprehensive, however, not exhaustive.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a donor with Klinefelter syndrome for Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome
Authors: Balci Yasemin Isik , Turul Tuba , Daar Ghaniya , Anak Sema , Devecioglu Omer , Tezcan Ilhan , Cetinkaya Duygu Uckan
Published: March 2008

Abstract:  WAS is a rare X‐linked recessive disorder characterized by primary progressive T cell immunodeficiency, impaired antipolysaccharide antibody response, thrombocytopenia with small platelet, and eczematoid dermatitis. Untreated patients with typical WAS have poor prognosis with the major causes of death being infection, bleeding, lymphoproliferative disorders, and malignancy. Due to the increased risk of infectious and hemorrhagic episodes the best results with HSCT are achieved in patients less than five yr of age and are recommended as early as possible. Here, we report a three‐yr‐old boy with WAS who underwent UCB and BMT from his genotypically identical brother with Klinefelter syndrome.