Large-scale biotechnological production of the antileukemic marine natural product sorbicillactone A

In the search for novel bioactive compounds from sponge-derived microorganisms, we have recently identified two structurally and biosynthetically unprecedented fungal metabolites, the novel-type alkaloids sorbicillactone A and sorbicillactone B. Sorbicillactone A is active against leukemia cells without showing notable cytotoxicity. Therefore, we have developed an efficient process for its biotechnological production and isolation on a large scale supplying sufficient material for the ongoing preclinical investigations and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.     

RADIOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF DEFECTS OF THE NASAL BOUNDARIES

The sensitivity of conventional radiography for lesions of the cribriform plate, naso-orbital wall, lateral nasal wall and hard palate was investigated in 13 canine cadaver heads by creating measured defects in these structures. The location of the perforations were marked with a thin copper wire and the radiographic appearance of the defects was evaluated retrospectively by a single reviewer. Despite demarcation cribriform plate destruction of 2 mm could not be detected. Defects of 3 mm were detected in only 2 heads, 4 mm defects in 1 further head, an oblong 4 x 10 mm defect in 7 heads and in the remaining 3 heads only a 10 x 10 mm defect became visible as such. The naso-orbital wall had to be destroyed in its whole vertical length for detection of a defect in ventrodorsal or dorsoventral views. Therefore conventional radiography is of low diagnostic value for these lesions. Defects of 2 mm in the lateral nasal wall and the hard palate could be detected confidently in all heads indicating high sensitivity of conventional radiography. Soft tissue opacification did not alter the detectability of any nasal border structure lesion.     

NODULAR FAT NECROSIS IN THE FELINE AND CANINE ABDOMEN

The radiographic appearance of nodular fat necrosis is described in ten cats and one dog. The most common radiographic sign was the presence of a focal mineralized circular to oval soft tissue mass in the abdominal fat as present in 9 cats. These masses had a distinct eggshell-like rim encapsulating the lesion. In one cat and one dog multiple masses were present, without radiographic signs of mineralization. Abdominal ultrasound was performed in three cats and one dog, findings included the presence of hyperechoic masses with associated acoustic shadowing, some with a hypoechoic centre. Almost all animals were old and obese. In three cats and one dog, changes were confirmed with biopsy or post mortem examination. Lesions having the appearance of those in this paper are most likely incidental findings and should not be confused with abdominal masses of neoplastic origin. Ultrasound can be helpful in identifying such lesions.     

Drug resistance in Sudanese Trypanosoma evansi

The drug sensitivities of 16 Trypanosoma evansi isolates from Sudan were examined using two different in vitro assays and rodent models. IC₅₀ values (concentration which inhibited incorporation of ³H-hypoxanthine by 50%) obtained in a 40 h assay indicate that most of the isolates were resistant to suramin, a drug which has not been used in Sudan since 1975. Sensitivities for suramin in a 10-day-in vitro assay varied within a 124-fold range. The in vitro results were confirmed by infection/treatment experiments in mice. Sensitivities in vitro for quinapyramine varied within a 166-fold range. In mice, the least sensitive isolates were not cured with dosages up to 10 mg/kg quinapyramine. Based on in vitro results, all isolates appeared to be susceptible to isometamidium.     

耕作方式对土壤水动态变化及夏玉米产量的影响

一个连续２年的田间耕作试验在夏玉米生长期内完成,分析对比３种不同耕作方式对土壤水动态变化过程及对作物产量的影响。耕作扰动对土壤水动态变化的影响是明显的,夏玉米生长初期免耕下的表层土壤持有较高的水分,这归因于土壤非耕扰动、冬小麦残茬覆盖以及耕层土壤孔隙尺度分布的变化;另一方面,深松土壤受到耕作活动的强烈干扰,苗期耕层土壤蓄水明显小于传统耕作。耕作方式对土壤水差异的影响伴随着作物的生长发育过程显著减弱。深松耕作对作物根系生长发育状况及作物增产效果的作用是十分显见的。     

Food web feedbacks drive the response of benthic macrofauna to bottom trawling

Bottom trawl fisheries have significant effects on benthic habitats and communities, and these effects have been studied intensively in the last decades. Most of these studies have related the changes in benthic community composition to direct effect of trawl gears on benthos, through imposed mortality. This line of argumentation ignores the fact that benthic organisms themselves form a complex food web and that bottom trawling may trigger secondary effects through this food web. We studied the potential consequences of such food web effects using a model of benthic predators, filter feeders, deposit feeders and fish. Our analysis shows how inclusion of ecological interactions complicates the relationship between bottom trawling intensity and the state of the benthic community and causes a non‐linear and non‐monotonic response of the benthic community to trawling. This shows that indirect food web effects can fundamentally alter the response of a benthic ecosystem to bottom trawling, compared to the direct effects of mortality. In light of our results, we argue that indicators of fishing impact on benthos need to account for positive as well as negative effects of bottom trawling, in order to accurately quantify the impact. Our findings highlight that understanding the food web ecology of the benthic ecosystem is crucial for understanding and predicting the effects of trawling on the seafloor. Work that promotes such understanding of the food web ecology seems a more productive research strategy than conducting ever more empirical trawling effect measurements.