Control of common bunt of wheat under field conditions with the biofumigant fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Muscodor albus</Emphasis>

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the biological control potential of the fungus Muscodor albus, when applied as a seed treatment or an in furrow soil treatment, for control of common bunt (CB) of wheat caused by Tilletia caries. For seed treatments, dry rye grain culture of M. albus was ground into powder and applied, at a rate of 125 mg/g seed, to wheat seed infested with T. caries teliospores. The culture was also cracked into particles and applied in furrow at the rate of 4 g/m of row, along with teliospore infested seed during planting. Treatments were evaluated during two growing seasons and two planting dates beginning in early spring when soil temperatures were optimal for disease development (5–10°C), and then approximately 3 weeks later. In the first year, treatments in the first seeding date reduced CB from 44% diseased spikes in untreated controls to 12% and 9% in seed and in furrow treatments respectively, and from 6% in controls to 0% in both treatments in the second seeding date. In the second year, CB was reduced from 8% in controls to 0.5% and 0.25% for seed and in furrow treatments respectively in the first seeding date, and from 0.75% in controls to 0% in both the treatments in the second seeding date. M. albus may have potential for CB control in organic wheat production where options for managing the disease are very limited.     

Detection of Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, in oviducts and uterine flushing media and in genital tract tissues of the non pregnant goat

The aim of the present study was the detection and quantification of Coxiella burnetii DNA in the flushing media (oviducts and uterine horns) and genital tract tissues of non pregnant goats from 20 goats chosen at random from 86 goats originating from 56 different breeding herds in south-west France. The serological prevalence rate of C. burnetii in the study population was 70.3%.The DNA of C. burnetii was identified using conventional PCR in the flushing media from the oviducts and uterus in 8/20 goats (40%) and in genital tract tissues (oviduct, uterus and ovary) in 5/20 goats (25%). This study clearly shows for the first time that the media used to flush the oviducts or uterine horns, collected using the standard embryo harvesting technique in goats, are susceptible to infection with C. burnetii. The 16 conventional PCR-positive samples were also analyzed using real-time PCR. The bacterial load of the oviduct and uterine flushing media varied from 2.9 × 10⁴ to 7.5 × 10⁶ bacteria per flushing medium, while the bacterial load of the tissue samples varied from 1.0 × 10² to 1.5 × 10⁵ bacteria per mg of tissue. The infection of genital tract flushing media and tissues is a risk factor for the transmission of C. burnetii from donor to recipient during embryo transfer or to the embryo and fetus when gestation is pursued to term.     

Transport across Caco-2 cell monolayer and sensitivity to hydrolysis of two anxiolytic peptides from αs1-casein, α-casozepine, and αs1-casein-f91-97: effect of bile salts

α-Casozepine and f91-97, peptides from α(s1)-casein, display anxiolytic activity in rats and may have to cross the intestinal epithelium to exert this central effect. We evaluated their resistance to hydrolysis by the peptidases of Caco-2 cells and their ability to cross the cell monolayer. To mimic physiological conditions, two preparations of bile salts were used in noncytotoxic concentrations: porcine bile extract and an equimolar mixture of taurocholate, cholate, and deoxycholate. The presence and composition of bile salts appeared to modulate the peptidase activities of the Caco-2 cells involved (i) in the hydrolysis of α-casozepine, leading to much higher formation of fragments f91-99, f91-98, and f91-97, and (ii) in the hydrolysis of f91-97, leading to lower degradation of this peptide. Transport of α-casozepine across Caco-2 monolayer increased significantly, in the presence of bile extract, and of fragment f91-97, in the presence of bile salts.     

Comparative diagnostic potential of three serological tests for abortive Q fever in goat herds

Performances of an ELISA, an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and a complement fixation test (CFT) were assessed for detecting antibodies against Coxiella burnetii after Q fever abortions in naturally infected goats. The goal of the study was to provide information useful for veterinary serodiagnosis in regard to categories of goats either experiencing Q fever abortion or not, blood sampling times and recommended cut-offs. The study was conducted on eight goat herds with evidence of C. burnetii abortions. In each herd, at least 5 goats that had aborted and 10 goats prior to parturition or at term were monitored 15, 30 and 60 days (D15, D30, D60) after the onset of Q fever abortion. The overall CFT results distribution did not differ between the two groups of goats and showed poor agreement with the ELISA results. In contrast, the ELISA and IFA results revealed comparable significant differences, but overall the ELISA test was slightly more sensitive than the IFA test. Seroprevalence, according to ELISA and IFA respectively, was higher in the aborting (88% and 82%) than in the non-aborting group (60% and 50%). High levels of serum antibodies were detected in goats post-abortion with an average of 114 %OD using ELISA and a log10(titer) of 2.4 using IFA. Strongly positive ELISA (%OD>80) and positive IFA results (log10(titers)>1.9) were significantly associated with abortion. Sampling on D15 gave the best association with ORs of 10 for ELISA and 6 for IFA. The practical interest of these results is discussed.     

Assessment of the Long-Term Viability of the Myxospores of Myxobolus cerebralis as Determined by Production of the Actinospores by Tubifex tubifex

While whirling disease was first observed in Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in 1893, the complete life cycle of Myxobolus cerebralis (Mc), the causative agent of the disease, was not understood until 1984, when it was shown to involve two obligate hosts, a salmonid fish and the aquatic oligochaete Tubifex tubifex (Tt). The viability of the triactinomyxon (TAM) actinospores produced by Tt has been well studied, and is known to be temperature dependent and measured in days and weeks. Assertions that Mc myxospores produced by infected fish remain viable for years or even decades were made during the mid-20th century, decades before the Mc life cycle was described. Moreover, the duration of myxospore viability has not been well studied since the life cycle was elucidated. In a series of time-delay treatments, we assessed the long-term viability of Mc myxospores by exposure to Mc-susceptible Tt oligochaetes and quantified TAM production. As the time delay between inoculation and incubation of Mc myxospores in sand and water and exposure to Tt oligochaetes increased, TAM production decreased exponentially. Production among the 15-d time-delay replicates was reduced 74.7% compared with the 0-d treatment. Likewise, total TAM production was reduced 94.5, 99.4, and 99.9%, respectively, in the 90-, 120-, and 180-d time-delay treatments. Linear regression analysis of our data and the absence of TAM production among replicates of Mc myxospores held at 5°C for 365 d prior to exposure to Mc-susceptible Tt oligochaetes indicate that the long-term viability of Mc myxospores is less than 1 year under the conditions of this study.

Received May 14, 2014; accepted September 27, 2014     

An antigenic peptide produced by peptide splicing in the proteasome

CD8 T lymphocytes recognize peptides of 8 to 10 amino acids presented by class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex. Here, CD8 T lymphocytes were found to recognize a nonameric peptide on melanoma cells that comprises two noncontiguous segments of melanocytic glycoprotein gp100(PMEL17). The production of this peptide involves the excision of four amino acids and splicing of the fragments. This process was reproduced in vitro by incubating a precursor peptide of 13 amino acids with highly purified proteasomes. Splicing appears to occur by transpeptidation involving an acyl-enzyme intermediate. Our results reveal an unanticipated aspect of the proteasome function of producing antigenic peptides.     

Phthalate Fate in the Hydrographic Network of the River Seine Basin (France) Under Contrasted Hydrological Conditions

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - This study investigated how forest soil acidification is affected by edge proximity. We measured pH(KCl) and exchangeable K, Ca, Mg and Al concentrations of the...     

Simultaneous removal of Cu and PAHs from dredged sediments using flotation

Purpose

This study addresses the feasibility of a flotation technique, using a lab-scale flotation cell, to simultaneously remove both metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from fine sediment fractions (<250 μm) that are potentially contaminated with copper (Cu).

Materials and methods

A multiple flotation process with three consecutive flotation stages was performed on three sediments (13S, 14B, and 24A) with different particle size distributions, Cu and PAH concentrations, and organic matter contents.

Results and discussion

Flotations performed under selected conditions allowed for significant removal of both Cu (61–70 %) and PAHs (75–83 %) with acceptable froth recoveries of approximately 23–29 %. Removal rates for arsenic, lead, and zinc were 48–61, 40–48, and 32–36 %, respectively. Flotation selectivity of Cu was greatly influenced by the contents of fine particles and organic matter of the sediments. The maximum flotation selectivity was obtained for the 53–125-μm size fraction. The high flotation selectivity of Cu (2.5–3.2) and PAHs (3.0–3.6) demonstrated the feasibility of flotation to treat soils or sediments containing both organic and inorganic pollutants.

Conclusions

Overall, the flotation results showed a high selectivity for both Cu and PAHs and demonstrated the feasibility of flotation to treat media contaminated with organic and inorganic contaminants.     

Amelioration of Cholesterol Induced Atherosclerosis by Normalizing Gene Expression, Cholesterol Profile and Antioxidant Enzymes by Vigna unguiculata

Cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis, have found to be the dreadful diseases worldwide and therapeutic interventions using plant sources have wide therapeutic value. Vigna unguiculata (VU) leaves have been used as food and therapeutics. Hence, our study was designed to evaluate the hypolipidemic as well as anti-atherogenic potential of VU leaves in normalizing atherogenic gene expression, cholesterol profile, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzyme system on cholesterol fed rabbit model. For the study New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each and experimental period was three months; group -i - ND [normal diet (40 g feed)], group-ii- ND (normal diet) +EAVU [ethyl acetate fraction of Vigna unguiculata (150 mg/kg body weight)], group -iii- ND [normal diet ]+ CFD [cholesterol fed diet (cholesterol 1 % of 40 g feed and cholic acid 0.5 % of 40 g feed)] and group-iv - ND [normal diet] +CFD [cholesterol fed diet ]+EAVU [ethyl acetate fraction of Vigna unguiculata (150 mg/kg body weight)]. Atherosclerosis was induced by feeding the rabbit with cholesterol (1 % of 40 g feed) and cholic acid (0.5 % of 40 g feed). Supplementation of EAVU normalized cholesterol profile, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation products like thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), antioxidant system and important genes of cardiovascular diseases like interleukin-10 (IL 10), paraoxanase-1 (PON I), interleukin-6 (IL 6), and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox 2) to near normal level as compared with normal diet. The result obtained showed the antioxidant as well as anti-atherogenic potential of Vigna unguiculata leaves in ameliorating cholesterol induced atherosclerosis, and thus it is good task to include VU leaves in daily diet for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases especially atherosclerosis.