Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is nodulated by unexpected wide diversity of Mesorhizobium species in Eastern Algeria

Using a local Algerian cultivar of chickpea, from 9 sites in Eastern Algeria, along a sub-humid to arid gradient, we isolated 60 nodulating isolates, among which 19 were assigned to Mesorhizobium species and 41 to Ensifer meliloti. Trapping revealed great differences among sites for their ability to induce nodules on plant, but no correlation with chemical and physical characterizations of soil samples could be found. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, 16S-23S IGS, recA, nodC and nifH sequences, Mesorhizobium isolates were assigned to at least 5 different species, among which one had never been described as nodulating chickpea before. The symbiotic diversity is conversely low, and shared by several species, reflecting horizontal gene transfer. The ability of Mesorhizobium genus to recombine and exchange symbiotic clusters among different species must play a great role in this ability to be associated with chickpea. The question to what extent the symbiotic species would end in this genus is discussed.     

Regulation of B versus T lymphoid lineage fate decision by the proto-oncogene LRF

Hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow give rise to lymphoid progenitors, which subsequently differentiate into B and T lymphocytes. Here we show that the proto-oncogene LRF plays an essential role in the B versus T lymphoid cell-fate decision. We demonstrate that LRF is key for instructing early lymphoid progenitors in mice to develop into B lineage cells by repressing T cell-instructive signals produced by the cell-fate signal protein, Notch. We propose a new model for lymphoid lineage commitment, in which LRF acts as a master regulator of the cell's determination of B versus T lineage.     

A new genus and two new,rare freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: Unionidae) species endemic to Borneo are threatened by ongoing habitat destruction

1. Most of the Bornean endemic freshwater mussel (Unionida) species known to date have not been recorded by science for the past 50 years or more, owing to a lack of research effort and presumed population losses.
2. This study assessed current patterns and recent changes in the diversity and distribution of freshwater mussels in north-eastern Borneo. Physical surveys and interviews were conducted at 24 sites, and anecdotal evidence for current or historical presence of mussels was collected for a further 13 sites.
3. Native species, i.e. Schepmania sp. and Khairuloconcha sahanae gen. & sp. nov., were only found in one small stream of the Kinabatangan River basin within the Gomantong Forest Reserve, whereas the non-native Sinanodonta cf. woodiana was common across the study area.
4. Molecular phylogenetics (five genes) of the native taxa, including comparative material from West Kalimantan and Sarawak, revealed: (i) the presence of a new genus with two new, rare species: Khairuloconcha lunbawangorum sp. nov. in the Limbang River basin and K. sahanae in the Kinabatangan River basin; (ii) that Khairuloconcha and Ctenodesma form the Bornean endemic tribe Ctenodesmini trib. nov.; and (iii) that Schepmania represents another Bornean endemic tribe Schepmaniini trib. nov.
5. Both Khairuloconcha gen. nov. species are known from a single stream each and are apparently restricted to forest stream habitats where they occur at very low densities. Schepmania appears to have a severely contracted range in the Kinabatangan and adjacent basins. We urgently call for full protection of the currently known sites of K. lunbawangorum and K. sahanae, and development of an action plan to save the Bornean freshwater mussel fauna.

     

Isolation,Characterization, Kinetics,and Enzymatic and Nonenzymatic Microbicidal Activities of a Novel c-Type Lysozyme from Plasma of Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

A protein, designated as Sgl, showing a muramidase lytic activity to the cell wall of the Gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus lysodeikticus was isolated for the first time from plasma of Escherichia coli-immunized fifth instar Schistocerca gregaria. The isolated Sgl was detected as a single protein band, on both native- and SDS-PAGE, has a molecular weight of ∼15.7 kDa and an isoelectric point (pI) of ca 9.3 and its antiserum has specifically recognized its isolated form. Fifty-nine percentage of Sgl lytic activity was recovered in the isolated fractions and yielded ca 126-fold increase in specific activity than that of the crude. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the Sgl has 55 and 40% maximum identity with Bombyx mori and Gallus gallus c-type lysozymes, respectively. The antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive and the Gram-negative bacteria were comparatively stronger than that of the hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). The detected Sgl poration to the inner membrane that reach a maximum ability after 3 h was suggested to operate as a nonenzymatic mechanism for Gram-negative bacterial cell lysis, as tested in a permease-deficient E. coli, ML-35 strain. Sgl showed a maximal muramidase activity at pH 6.2, 30–50°C, and 0.05 M Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺; and has a K_m of 0.5 μg/ml and a V_max of 0.518 with M. lysodeikticus as a substrate. The Sgl displayed a chitinase activity against chitin with a K_m of 0.93 mg/ml and a V_max of 1.63.     

Total phenolics and antioxidant activities of fenugreek, green tea, black tea, grape seed, ginger, rosemary, gotu kola, and ginkgo extracts, vitamin E, and tert-butylhydroquinone

The total phenolics and antioxidant activities of fenugreek, green tea, black tea, grape seed, ginger, rosemary, gotu kola, and ginkgo extracts, vitamin E, and tert-butylhydroquinone, were determined. Grape seed and green tea were analyzed for their phenolic constituents using high-performance liquid chromatography. The total phenolics of the plant extracts, determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, ranged from 24.8 to 92.5 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalent/g dry material. The antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts determined by conjugated diene measurement of methyl linoleate were 3.4-86.3%. The antioxidant activity of the extracts using chicken fat by an oxidative stability instrument (4.6-10.2 h of induction time) followed a similar trend in antioxidant activity as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Seven phenolics in grape seed and green tea extracts were identified that ranged from 15.38 to 1158.49 and 18.3 to 1087.02 mg/100 g of extract, respectively. Plant extracts such as green tea and grape seed extracts can be used to retard lipid oxidation in a variety of food products.     

Zur Wirkung verschiedener Beutearten auf die räuberische Kapazität des NematodenDiplogaster sp. (Rhabdita,Diplogasteridae)

Zusammenfassung Zwecks Untersuchung der Beutepräferenz und der Effizienz des räuberischen NematodenDiplogaster sp. wurden dessen Adulten mit den Larven zweier pflanzenparasitärer Nematodenarten (Pratylenchus zeae undMeloidogyne incognita var. 3) sowie mit den Larven zweier Fliegenarten (Ceratitis capitata undMusca domestica) zusammen gehalten.Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß dieDiplogaster-Nematoden einen großen Teil der Beutetiere fraßen, und zwar in der ReihenfolgeM. incognita, P. zeae, C. capitata undM. domestica. Die beiden phytoparasitären Nematodenarten wurden somit den Insekten-larven vorgezogen. Die Vernichtungsquoten betrugen in dieser Reinhenfolge 81,5-76-55 und 44%.

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Effect of different kinds of food source on the predation efficiency ofDiplogaster sp. nematode (Rhabdita, Diplogasteridae)

The present investigation was conducted to assess the favorable prey of different vermiform larvae of certain insects (Ceratitis capitata, Musca domestica) and phyto-parasitic nematodes (Pratylenchus zeae, Meloidogyne incognita var. 3) which would exterminated by the predator nematode,Diplogaster sp.The obtained results indicate thatDiplogaster sp. exteriminated large numbers of prey ofM. incognita var. 3 andP. zeae, followed byC. capitata andM. domestica. The larvae of phytoparasitic nematodes were preferable prey toDiplogaster nematode, than that of insects. The predatious rate on the larvae ofM. incognita, P. zeae, C. capitata andM. domestica was 81.5, 76, 55, and 44%, respectively.

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Mit einer Tabelle     

Toxin production by and adhesive properties of Clostridium difficile isolated from humans and horses with antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Clostridium difficile is a common nosocomial pathogen in humans and animals that causes diarrhea and colitis following antibiotic therapy. Isolates of C. difficile obtained from faecal material from 20 human patients and 6 equine subjects with antibiotic-associated diarrhea were investigated regarding production of toxins A and B, their capacity to adhere to the human intestinal Caco-2 cell line and equine intestinal cells, and for the presence of fimbriae. The results showed that most (17/20) of the human clinical isolates produced both toxins A and B. One of the human isolates proved toxin A-negative/toxin B-positive. All (6/6) horse isolates were positive for both toxins A and B. Both the human and horse isolates possessed the capacity to adhere, to varying degree, to human and equine intestinal cells. It appeared that human isolates produced greater amounts of toxin B, and that there was a host-species dependency on ability to attach to intestinal epithelial cells. No fimbriae were found in any of the investigated isolates.     

Light and electron microscopic study of the thyroid gland of the camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The thyroid gland of sexually immature dromedary camels was studied using both light and electron microscopy. The thyroid gland contained follicles of different sizes in both summer and winter. However, most of the follicles were large in summer and small in winter. The large follicles were lined by very low cuboidal or semi-squamous follicular cells whereas the small ones were lined by high cuboidal or low columnar follicular cells. Electron microscopy showed that the very low cuboidal follicular cells were poor in organelles and were considered hypoactive. High cuboidal follicular cells on the other hand, were rich in organelles that included mitochondria, cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, secretory vesicles, colloid droplets, heterosomes and autophagic vacuoles; they were considered to be very active. The possible role played by these organelles is synthesis of thyroglobulin and liberation of tri- and tetraiodothyronine is discussed. A few degenerate follicular cells were infrequently encountered in the camel thyroid. Parafollicular (C) cells were not seen in this study either with light or electron microscopy.     

Disposition kinetics of tylosin administered intravenously and intramuscularly in desert sheep and Nubian goats

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of tylosin was compared in five Desert sheep and five Nubian goats. The animals were given a single dose of 20% tylosin (15 mg/kg), either intravenously (i.v.) or intramuscularly (i.m.). Following i.v. administration, the volumes of distribution and the elimination half-life times were similar in both species, whereas in goats a greater volume of the central compartment and faster clearance were observed. For the i.m. route, similar pharmacokinetics were observed in both species. The bioavailability (f) of the drug in goats (0.84 +/- 0.11) was not significantly higher than that in sheep (0.73 +/- 0.08). The present study has shown that, despite the significant differences in some of the drug pharmacokinetic parameters between sheep and goats for the i.v. route, identical intravenous and intramuscular dosage regimens of tylosin may be recommended for the two species.