Soil carbon and nutrient pools in Douglas-fir plantations 5 years after manipulating biomass and competing vegetation in the Pacific Northwest

We assessed changes in mineral soil total carbon (C) and nutrient (exchangeable Ca, K, Mg, and total N) pools to 60 cm depth 5 years after manipulating biomass and competing vegetation at two contrasting Douglas-fir plantations (Matlock, WA, and Molalla, OR). Biomass treatments included whole-tree (WT) and bole-only (BO) harvest, and competing vegetation control (VC) treatments were applied as either initial or annual herbicide applications. There were main effects of biomass removal and VC on the absolute change in soil pools of some elements at both sites, but significant effects were more prevalent at the lower soil quality Matlock site than the Molalla site, and were generally confined to the top 15 cm of soil. In all cases, treatment effects were associated with increases in C and nutrients following BO and initial VC treatments combined with little change in soil pools following WT and annual VC treatments. At the Matlock site, total soil pools (0-60 cm) of C, N, and Ca significantly increased in the BO and initial VC treatments, and Mg increased and K decreased regardless of treatment. At the Molalla site, soil C and nutrient pools did not change in response to treatments, but total soil Mg increased in all treatments during the study period. Correlation analyses indicated little influence of soil nutrient pools on early growth at Matlock likely because soil water is more limiting than nutrient availability at that site, but vegetation growth was correlated to nutrient pools at Molalla indicating changes in pools associated with harvesting and treatment could influence crop development in the future. These early results indicate low potential for intensive management practices to reduce mineral soil pools of C and nutrients, but there is uncertainty on the long-term growth response because treatments may have influenced nutrient storage in pools other than mineral soil.     

Lesions of the enteric nervous system and the possible role of mast cells in the pathogenic mechanisms of migration of schistosome eggs in the small intestine of cattle during Schistosoma bovis infection

The enteric nervous system in the small intestine of cattle during Schistosoma bovis infection was studied by histological stains and immunohistochemical methods. Lesions due to migration of schistosoma eggs were located mainly in the mucous and the submucous layer overlaying the submucous vascular arcades. Granulomas destroyed ganglia, neurons, nerves fibre strands and nerve fibres. Ganglia situated within or near granulomas were infiltrated by mast cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes, globule leukocytes, neutrophils and macrophages. Mast cells were in close contact with degenerating neuronal perikarya. Whereas vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity in the nerves and neurons in the ganglia within and around granulomas was increased, the neurofilament-like immunoreactivity was reduced. Compared to the myenteric and external submucous plexuses, the internal submucous and mucous plexuses were the most damaged. These changes imply reduced functional capacity in the nervous tissue which might cause reduced motility, malabsorption and partly account for the loss of body weight and condition and failure to thrive which occur in schistosomosis.Biotinylated affinity purified swine anti-rabbit and mouse anti-rabbit immunoglobulins reacted nonspecifically with a subset of mast cells. The reaction revealed many mast cells in early forming granulomas and around schistosome egg tracts and infiltration of mast cells into the ganglia of intestinal nerve plexuses. The observation shows a localized, Type I hypersensitivity reaction suggesting for the release of mast cell-derived chemical mediators in the intestinal reaction to trap or evict S. bovis eggs and to cause diarrhoea.     

Genetic diversity within Australian wheat breeding programs based on molecular and pedigree data

124 wheat cultivars and breeding lines were screened with 19 microsatellite (SSR) loci generating 160 scorable bands which were used to construct a genetic distance (GD) matrix. A distance matrix based on coefficient of parentage (COP) scores was also generated for the cultivars for which good pedigree records were available. The SSR and COP data for 101 of the wheat cultivars were compared with genetic distance scores obtained using1898 scorable restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) bands previously generated. Phylograms were generated based on the SSR, RFLP,combined SSR and RFLP and COP data. The standardised Mantel's Z test showed that the distance matrices generated from all of the data sets were significantly correlated. Bootstrap analysis showed that, although the SSR and RFLP data were correlated, a large number of SSR loci are required for determining robust genetic relationships between large numbers of cultivars. In addition, accurate pedigree records are needed to determine genetic relatedness using COP. The molecular data were also used to determine the level of genetic variability within breeding programs and to assess the impact of the introduction of semidwarf and other germplasm. The results showed that the level of genetic diversity in Australian wheat cultivars has increased over time and that in particular, the introduction of semidwarf germplasm resulted in an increase in the overall diversity. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Host resistance to lung infection mediated by major vault protein in epithelial cells

The airway epithelium plays an essential role in innate immunity to lung pathogens. Ribonucleoprotein particles primarily composed of major vault protein (MVP) are highly expressed in cells that encounter xenobiotics. However, a clear biologic function for MVP is not established. We report here that MVP is rapidly recruited to lipid rafts when human lung epithelial cells are infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and maximal recruitment is dependent on bacterial binding to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. MVP was also essential for optimal epithelial cell internalization and clearance of P. aeruginosa. These results suggest that MVP makes a substantial contribution to epithelial cell-mediated resistance to infection.     

Genotype X environment interactions in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Genotype X environment interactions were estimated for several traits in potato from a combined analysis of 11 genotypes grown at 3 locations for 2 years. Genotype X location X year and Genotype X location interactions were significant for the majority of the traits studied. Yield, reducing sugar content, dry matter content, leaf area, plant height and starch content should be tested over multiple locations and years in order to separate the genotype × environment interaction components from the total genotypic variance.     

THE VISUAL ESTIMATION OF PASTURE AVAILABILITY USING STANDARD PASTURE CORES

A coring technique (6), that may be used for estimating the mean amount of herbage on closely grazed pastures, has been adapted to include visual scoring. Two methods are described, both of which use sets of pasture cores from the sward as reference standards. The observers score the herbage on view at random sites against the standards. In the first method the scores are converted to herbage yields directly by reference to the yields of the standards. In the second method a double sampling regression technique is used and the set of standards is used as a visual guide only.     

AsKC11, a Kunitz Peptide from Anemonia sulcata,Is a Novel Activator of G Protein-Coupled Inward-Rectifier Potassium Channels

(1) Background: G protein-coupled inward-rectifier potassium (GIRK) channels, especially neuronal GIRK1/2 channels, have been the focus of intense research interest for developing drugs against brain diseases. In this context, venom peptides that selectively activate GIRK channels can be seen as a new source for drug development. Here, we report on the identification and electrophysiological characterization of a novel activator of GIRK1/2 channels, AsKC11, found in the venom of the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata. (2) Methods: AsKC11 was purified from the sea anemone venom by reverse-phase chromatography and the sequence was identified by mass spectrometry. Using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, the activity of AsKC11 on GIRK1/2 channels was studied and its selectivity for other potassium channels was investigated. (3) Results: AsKC11, a Kunitz peptide found in the venom of A. sulcata, is the first peptide shown to directly activate neuronal GIRK1/2 channels independent from Gi/o protein activity, without affecting the inward-rectifier potassium channel (IRK1) and with only a minor effect on K_V1.6 channels. Thus, AsKC11 is a novel activator of GIRK channels resulting in larger K⁺ currents because of an increased chord conductance. (4) Conclusions: These discoveries provide new insights into a novel class of GIRK activators.