bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetics Support to Primary Care Practitioners—A Demonstration Project
Authors: Drury N. , Bethea J. , Guilbert P. , Qureshi N. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractPrimary care practitioners need to be supported by specialist genetics services to enable them to cope effectively with the expanding relevance of genetics to their patients. Genetic counselors could be effective in such a role. This exploratory project set out to improve the Primary–Tertiary interface through piloting such a service to general practice for 1 year. Tailored genetic educational outreach was delivered by a genetic counselor to ten randomly selected general practices in central England for 12 months. A range of services were provided to the practices these included facilitated genetic update sessions, a responsive advice service and referral guidelines. The service was evaluated through pre and post intervention questionnaires and via seven semi‐structured interviews. This article presents a description of the development and delivery of this service and also reports on the experiences of a sample of the participants. Participants reported positive attitudes to the service and said that they had gained knowledge and confidence, as well as recognized limitations and gaps in their current knowledge. The consistent link with a specialist genetics service provided by a genetic counselor had a positive impact during the project and participants have continued to utilize the genetic counselor for advice and support with genetic patient issues since the project was completed. This is the first example of this model of service provision. Further research, utilizing a larger sample and other measures of behavioral change needs to be carried out to assess whether this model should be adopted on a wider basis.
Recommendations from Multi‐disciplinary Focus Groups on Cascade Testing and Genetic Counseling for Fragile X‐associated Disorders
Authors: McConkie‐Rosell Allyn , Abrams Liane , Finucane Brenda , Cronister Amy , Gane Louise W. , Coffey Sarah M. , Sherman Stephanie , Nelson Lawrence M. , Berry‐Kravis Elizabeth , Hessl David , Chiu Sufen , Street Natalie , Vatave Ajay , Hagerman Randi J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to report the outcome of a collaborative project between the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center at the Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (M.I.N.D.) Institute at the University of California at Davis, the National Fragile X Foundation (NFXF), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The objective of this collaboration was to develop and disseminate protocols for genetic counseling and cascade testing for the multiple disorders associated with the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) mutation. Over the last several years, there has been increasing insight into the phenotypic range associated with both the premutation and the full mutation of the FMR1 gene. To help develop recommendations related to screening for fragile X‐associated disorders, four, two day advisory focus group meetings were conducted, each with a different theme. The four themes were: (1) fragile X‐associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS); (2) premature ovarian failure (POF) and reproductive endocrinology; (3) psychiatric, behavioral and psychological issues; and (4) population screening and related ethical issues.
First Report of Erwinia persicina from Phaseolus vulgaris in Spain
Authors: González A. J. , Tello J. C. , Cara M. de 
Published: May 2007

A previously unreported leaf spot disease of common bean, which caused losses as much as 50% of the crops, was observed in southeastern Spain (Almería, Granada, and Málaga provinces) in November 2003. In 2004, samples of cv. Donna with chlorotic and necrotic leaf spots were collected from Granada and processed for microbiological analysis. Bacteria isolated from the symptomatic leaves were determined to be fermentative on the basis of the ability to metabolize glucose in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Three isolates were selected for pathogenicity tests. Bacterial suspensions (108 CFU/ml) were spray inoculated on bean seedlings (3 true leaves) of cv. Andecha. Beans were covered with transparent plastic bags for 2 days and held in an incubation chamber at 22°C and 80% relative humidity with a 12-h photoperiod. Assays were repeated at least twice. Symptoms that developed on plants inoculated with the three isolates were similar to those originally observed, while symptoms did not occur on control plants (inoculated with distilled water). The pathogenic isolates were identified by sequencing of the 16S rDNA after amplification (2). The amplified sequences were compared to available DNA sequences in databases by using BLAST (1); 99% homology with 16S rDNA of Erwinia persicina was shown. Microbiological characteristics (gram staining, motility, morphology, and results of biochemical tests) were in agreement with the molecular identification of the isolates. E. persicina has been isolated from bean in the United States (4) and described on tomato, banana, and cucumber in Japan (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. persicina from common bean in Spain and in Europe. References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. J. Mol. Biol. 215:403, 1990. (2) U. Edwards et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 17:7843, 1989. (3) M. V. Hao et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 40:379, 1990. (4) M. L. Schuster et al. Fitopatol. Bras. 6:345, 1981.
Viral Etiology of Diseases Detected in Melon in Guatemala
Authors: Jordá C. , Font M. I. , Martínez-Culebra P. , Tello J. 
Published: May 2007

At the beginning of 1999, 30 melon (Cucumis melo L.) plots on several farms (1,500 ha) in the Zacapa Valley of Guatemala were visited, and melon plants with two different symptomologies were observed. One group of plants exhibited stem necrosis at the crown level, and less frequently, small necrotic spots on leaves. Some plants exhibited necrosis of veins and yellow areas that evolved into interveinal necrosis and often expanded into large necrotic interveinal lesions. Roots were poor and lacked secondary rootlets. In some cases, wilt and plant death were detected. Affected plants appeared as localized patches in various areas of the plots on farms that were visited. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) serological analyses were carried out with 34 symptomatic plants. In these plants, a mixture of the crown and root were analyzed with two repetitions and two lots of different Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) polyclonal antisera (Loewe No. 07097 and Sanofi No. 70217). All 34 plants were positive for this virus. These results were confirmed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with specific MNSV primers (1). Spores of Olpidium bornovanus, the vector of MNSV, were seen on all ELISA-positive plants after staining rootlets with potassium hydroxide and neutralization with hydrochloric acid. In the same fields, another group of melon plants showed yellowing, curling, and mottling of leaves. Leaves collected from five symptomatic plants gave positive results in triple-antibody sandwich-ELISA using a Tomato yellow leaf curl begomovirus antiserum (DSMZ AS-0421 and DSMZ AS-0546/2). In 2001, these results were confirmed using PCR with degenerate primers that amplify the core region of most begomovirus coat protein genes (P. Martínez-Culebras, M. I. Font, and C. Jordá, unpublished). A 560-bp DNA fragment was amplified in these symptomatic melon samples. Three of the PCR products were sequenced and each showed 99% identity with the Melon chlorotic leaf curl virus isolate from Guatemala (GenBank Accession No. AF325497). Only one mixed infection of MNSV and MCLCV was found. During the four years subsequent to 1999, the number of melon plants showing both types of symptoms has increased. This study provides information on the current status of virus diseases in melon crops in Guatemala, and to our knowledge, this is the first report of MNSV in Guatemala. Reference: (1) B. Gosalvez et al. J. Virol. Methods 113:87.
First Report of Barley as Host of a Phytoplasma Belonging to Group 16SrI, Subgroup B, and Ribosomal Protein Subgroup rpI-B in Lithuania
Authors: Urbanaviciene L. , Jomantiene R. , Davis R. E. 
Published: May 2007

Numerous diseased plants of barley (Hordeum vulgaris L.) exhibiting twisted, abnormally thin and yellowed awns, reduced spikelets, and general stunting and yellowing were observed in fields in the Vilnius and Kaisiadorys regions of Lithuania. The possible association of a phyto-plasma with the disease, termed barley deformation (BaDef), was assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three phytoplasma universal primer pairs (P1/P7, R16F2n/R16R2, and rpF1/rpR1) (1,2,4) were employed to amplify ribosomal (r) RNA gene (rDNA) and ribosomal protein (rp) gene sequences. Template DNA extractions and PCR (direct and nested) were conducted as previously described (4). Although DNA was amplified in PCRs containing template extracted from diseased plants, no amplification was observed in PCRs containing DNA from symptomless plants sampled from the same fields. The BaDef phytoplasma was identified and classified according to Lee et al. (4) through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 1.2-kbp 16S rDNA amplified in the PCR primed by primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 and analysis of the 1.2-kbp rp gene sequences amplified in PCR primed by primer pair rpF1/rpR1. On the basis of collective RFLP patterns of amplified 16S rDNA and rp gene sequences, the BaDef phytoplasma was classified as a member of group 16SrI (group I, aster yellows phytoplasma group), subgroup B (16SrI-B), and rp subgroup rpI-B. Ribosomal protein subgroup B was distinguished from other rp subgroups on the basis of the presence of a recognition site for HpaII. The 1.8-kbp rDNA product of PCR primed by P1/P7 and the 1.2-kbp rpF1/rpR1 PCR product were cloned and sequenced, and the sequences were deposited in GenBank under Accession No. AY734453 for the BaDef 16S rDNA and Accession No. AY735448 for the BaDef rp gene sequence. Previously, only oat proliferation (OatP) phytoplasma, a member of subgroup 16SrI-A, had been characterized in a cereal crop (Avena sativa L.) in Europe (3); BaDef is another phytoplasmal disease threatening cereal crops in the region. References: (1) S. Deng and D. Hiruki. J. Microbiol. Methods 14:53, 1991. (2) D. E. Gundersen and I. M. Lee. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 35:144, 1996. (3) R. Jomantiene et al. Plant Dis. 86:443, 2002. (4) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998.
First Report of an Alternaria Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria brassicae on Crambe abyssinicia in Australia
Authors: You M. P. , Simoneau P. , Dongo A. , Barbetti M. J. , Li Hua , Sivasithamparam K. 
Published: May 2007

Crambe abyssinicia Hochst. is grown sporadically worldwide for its value as a source of high erucic acid industrial oils and secondary commercial products. While there is increasing interest in cropping C. abyssinicia in Australia, for these potentials and also as a source of oil for biodiesel production, currently, there have been no commercial crops of this species. In September 2004, inspection of a small experimental field crop in Beverley, Western Australia indicated the presence of significant leaf spotting just prior to commencement of flowering. The symptoms of this disease included as many as 10 to 15 spot lesions per leaf that were generally rounded and varied between 0.5 to 11 mm in diameter. Clusters of these lesions were often associated with chlorosis of the region of leaves where they occurred. More than 95% of plants inspected showed these symptoms. When affected leaves were incubated in moist chambers, typical conidia of Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. were observed. The description of these conidia matched that of the Commonwealth Mycological Institute for this pathogen (1) showing obclavate conidia 105 to 210 μm long and 20 to 30 μm thick, with 11 to 15 transverse septa and 0 to 3 longitudinal or oblique septa, predominantly with a pronounced beak 5 to 8 μm thick extending 0.3 to 0.5 μm of the length of the conidium. Single-spore isolations were made onto potato dextrose agar. Subcultures of these isolates were identified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- based assay (2). This assay involved the use of two sets of A. brassicae-specific primers selected for conventional and real-time PCR. The colonies were confirmed to belong to A. brassicae. In a pathogenicity test to confirm Koch's postulates, single-spore isolates were inoculated onto cotyledons and leaves of 10-day-old C. abyssinicia seedlings. Symptoms on inoculated plants appeared within a period of 14 days of inoculation, matching those found on the affected plants in the field, and A brassicae was reisolated. A. brassicae causes an important worldwide disease of crucifers, for example, it can be a devastating disease of rapeseed and the other cruciferous crops in the United States and Canada. Since A. brassicae has already been reported on other species of crucifers Australia-wide, it may pose a threat to any potential Crambe spp. industry in this country. References: (1) M. B. Ellis No. 162 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, England, 1966. (2) T. Guillemette et al. Plant Dis. 88:490, 2004.
First Report of the Rust Fungus Olivea scitula on Vitex doniana in Zambia
Authors: Kapooria R. G. , Aime M. C. 
Published: May 2007

Vitex doniana Sweet (Verbenaceae) is a semideciduous tree that occurs throughtout Africa from Senegal to the Sudan and in Somalia, Angola, Botswana, South Africa, and most provinces of Zambia. Wood from V. doniana is used in construction, making boxes and furniture; jam and wine are made from the vitamin-rich fruits; the leaves provide cattle feed; and other plant parts are used in traditional medicines. The tree itself is a favorite for hanging bark beehives. In September 2004, leaves of V. doniana trees (20 km southeast of Lusaka) were found bearing brown uredinia, which were subsequently identified as the rust fungus, Olivea scitula Syd. The following description is based on the Zambian material that has slightly smaller spores than those of the original published description (2). Uredinia were hypophyllous, brown, round, at first scattered irregularly in the interveinal areas, then coalescing to form a continuous erumpent covering on the base, margin, or middle of the leaflet. Urediniospores were yellow brown, verrucose, globose, triangular or oval, 20 to 25 × 20 μm, with densely filled oil globules, and the wall 2 to 2.5 μm thick. Paraphyses were peripheral, incurved, basally united, and 50 to 75 × 5 to 6.25 μm. The pathogen has been reported previously from Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Nigeria (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Olivea spp. in Zambia and the first report of O. scitula from Central Africa. References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungal Databases. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, On-line publication. ARS, USDA, 2004. (2) A. H. Sydow. Ann. Mycol. 35:251, 1937.
A Survey of Citrus Viroids in Campania (Southern Italy)
Authors: Malfitano M. , Barone M. , Alioto D. , Duran-Vila N. 
Published: May 2007

Within a certification program of citrus, a survey covering 14 citrus fields not previously screened were randomly selected in seven areas of the Campania Region of southern Italy to evaluate the presence and distribution of citrus viroids in the region. During the last 3 years, 112 trees were visually inspected and sampled including 14 ‘Navelina’, 8 ‘Washington navel’, 13 ‘Biondo Commune’, 10 ‘Tarocco’, 6 ‘Valencia late’, 1 ‘Sanguinello’, and 1 ‘Vanilla’ sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis), four sour oranges (C. aurantium), 21 ‘Commune’ and 7 ‘Monreale’ clementines (C. clementina), 8 ‘Common’ and 2 ‘Avana’ mandarins (C. reticulata), 8 ‘Ovale di Sorrento’ and 6 ‘Zagara’ lemons (C. lemon), 2 Tangelos (C. reticulata × C. paradisi), and 1 grapefruit (C. paradisi). Nearly all (37 of 38) mandarin and clementine trees showed cachexia-like symptoms. Severe bark scaling that is characteristic of exocortis disease was observed on a single ‘Ovale di Sorrento’ lemon, the only tree incidentally found to be grafted onto the exocortis-sensitive trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) rootstock, since sour orange (C. aurantium) is the main rootstock used in Campania. Samples (104 of 112) that had been graft-inoculated into Arizona 861-S1 ‘Etrog citron’ (C. medica L.) on rough lemon (C. jambhiri Lush.) rootstock showed typical viroid symptoms. Viroid infection was confirmed by sequential polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis (2) and molecular hybridization of imprinted membranes (1). Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), and Citrus viroid III (CVd-III) were the most frequently detected, accounting respectively, for 67.9, 86.6, and 84.8% of the infected samples. Citrus viroid IV (CVd-IV) and Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd) were found in 24.1 and 13.4% of the sources. CBLVd was detected in sweet orange (‘Tarocco’ and ‘Biondo Commune’) and lemon (‘Ovale di Sorrento’ and ‘Zagara’), while CVd-IV was detected in sweet orange (‘Tarocco’, ‘Biondo Commune’, and ‘Washington navel’), lemon (‘Ovale di Sorrento’ and ‘Zagara’), clementine (‘Commune’), and sour orange. Most trees (82.1%) were infected with more than one viroid species. The most frequent viroid combinations were CEVd + HSVd + CVd-III (40.2%), HSVd + CVd-III (16.1%), and CEVd + CBLVd + HSVd + CVd-III + CVd-IV (12.5%). To our knowledge, this is the first report of CEVd, CBLVd, HSVd, CVd-III, and CVd-IV in the Campania Region and the first report of CBLVd and CVd-IV in Italy. References: (1) A. Palacio et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol.105:897, 2000. (2) R. F. Rivera-Bustamante et al. Anal. Biochem. 156:91, 1986.
Tomato spotted wilt virus Identified in Desert Rose in Florida
Authors: Adkins S. , Baker C. A. 
Published: May 2007

Desert rose (Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult), a member of the family Apocynaceae, is characterized by fleshy stems and leaves and colorful flowers. This exotic ornamental, originally from southeast Africa, is propagated vegetatively and is a perennial in warm climates. Virus-like foliar symptoms, including chlorotic ring and line patterns, were observed in the fall of 2004 on one of five stock plants being maintained in a greenhouse in Fort Pierce, FL. Inclusion body morphology suggested the presence of a Tospovirus in the symptomatic plant, and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was specifically identified in this plant using a commercially available double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA; Agdia, Elkhart, IN). TSWV was not detected in symptomless desert rose plants nor was Impatiens necrotic spot virus detected in any of the plants using DAS-ELISA. Graft transmission of TSWV to other desert rose plants was successful. Sequence analysis of a nucleocapsid (N) protein gene fragment amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers TSWV723 and TSWV722 (1) from total RNA of the symptomatic plant confirmed the diagnosis. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of a 579-bp region of the RT-PCR product were 95 to 99% and 95 to 100% identical, respectively, to TSWV N-gene sequences in GenBank. No product was amplified from symptomless plants. Since these 3-year-old plants were grown on-site from seed and only expressed symptoms 2 months following damage to the greenhouse by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, it is likely that viruliferous thrips were introduced from local vegetable or ornamental production areas during or following the storms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TSWV infection of desert rose in Florida, although TSWV was observed in this plant in Europe approximately 10 years ago (3,4). Because of the wide distribution of TSWV in the United States, the increasing popularity of desert rose, and the recent identification of Cucumber mosaic virus in this host (2), attention to sanitation and insect vector management is merited during desert rose propagation and production. References: (1) S. Adkins and E. N. Rosskopf. Plant Dis. 86:1310, 2002. (2) C. A. Baker et al. Plant Dis. 87:1007, 2003. (3) J. Mertelik et al. Acta Hortic. 432:368, 1996. (4) J. Th. J. Verhoeven and J. W. Roenhorst. Acta Hortic. 377:175, 1994.
First Report of Downy Mildew Caused by Peronospora sp. on Basil (Ocimum basilicum) in France
Authors: Garibaldi A. , Minuto A. , Gullino M. L. 
Published: May 2007

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an economically important herb in several Mediterranean countries. Approximately 30 ha are grown annually in France for fresh and processed consumption. During the spring and fall of 2004, a damaging foliar disease was observed in some crops near Saint Tropez in the French Riviera Region. More than 50% of plants were affected in an organically produced field-grown crop at an altitude of 250 m. Leaves of infected plants were initially slightly chlorotic, especially near the central vein. Within 2 to 3 days, a characteristic gray, furry growth was evident on the lower leaf surface and sometimes on the upper leaf surface. The appearance and severity of the disease was affected by overhead sprinkler irrigation. Basal leaves were severely affected. Microscopic observations revealed sporangiophores branching two to seven times. Sporangiophores, with a length of 250 to 500 μm (average 350 μm), ended with sterigmata bearing single sporangia. Sporangia measured 15 to 25 × 20 to 35 μm (average 22 × 28 μm), were elliptical and grayish in mass. The pathogen was identified as Peronospora sp. on the basis of its morphological characteristics (4). Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculating leaves of 40-day-old healthy plants with a sporangial suspension (1 × 105 conidia/ml). Three containers with 150 plants each of O. basilicum cv Genovese gigante were used as replicates. Noninoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained in a growth chamber at 20°C (12 h of light per day) and 90 to 95% relative humidity. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. After 6 days, typical symptoms of downy mildew developed on the inoculated plants, and Peronospora sp. was observed on the leaves. Noninoculated plants did not show symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Peronospora sp. on basil in France. Peronospora sp. was previously reported on sweet basil in Italy (1) and P. lamii on sweet basil in Uganda (3). Seed transmission (2) is suspected as the reason for recent outbreaks in Europe. References: (1) A. Garibaldi et al. Plant Dis. 88:312, 2004. (2) A. Garibaldi et al. Z. Pflanzenkr. Pflanzenschutz 111:465, 2004 (3) C. G. Hansford. Rev. Appl. Mycol. 12:421, 1933. (4) D. M. Spencer. The Downy Mildews. Academic Press, NY, 1981.