Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of German Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis isolates by agar disk diffusion method

Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis is the causative agent of bovine genital campylobacteriosis and is transmitted by asymptomatic carrier bulls via contaminated semen during artificial insemination. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis isolated from bovine specimens in the years from 2000 to 2009 in Germany to antibiotics generally used in semen treatment. The susceptibilities of 50 strains to spectinomycin (10 microg), gentamicin (10 microg), streptomycin (25 microg), penicillin (10 microg), lincomycin (10 microg), ciprofloxacin (5 microg), erythromycin (30 microg) and tetracycline (30 microg) were determined using a disk diffusion susceptibility test. All strains were susceptible to gentamicin. A considerably reduced susceptibility to one or more antimicrobial agents was detected in seven out of 50 isolates (14%) with the most frequent reduction in susceptibility to lincomycin and spectinomycin. Furthermore, strains with reduced susceptibility to more than one antimicrobial agent were always associated with reduced susceptibility to lincomycin. It is recommended to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis isolates in order to evaluate the efficacy of the generally used antibiotic treatment of bull semen and to detect possible resistances.     

Natural abundance of 18O of sugar biomarkers in topsoils along a climate transect over the Central Scandinavian Mountains,Norway

Precipitation and topsoil samples from a climate transect over the Scandinavian Mountains, Norway, were analyzed for bulk and compound‐specific δ¹⁸O values. The natural abundance of ¹⁸O in the plant‐derived hemicellulose biomarkers arabinose and xylose correlates positively with δ¹⁸O of bulk soil, but not with δ¹⁸O of precipitation. This suggests that other factors than δ¹⁸O_prec, such as evaporative ¹⁸O enrichment of leaf water, exert a strong influence on the natural abundance of ¹⁸O in soils.     

Einfluß von Penicillin in hoher Konzentration auf Aufnahme und Einbau von35S-Methionin in isolierte Wurzeln vonPisum sativum

Zusammenfassung In Nährlösung nach Bonner und Addicott (1937) wurde der Einfluß hoher Konzentrationen von Penicillin G (1,5 · 10^–3 bis 6 · 10^–3 g/ml) auf Aufnahme und Einbau von³⁵S-Methionin in das Eiweiß verschiedener Entwicklungsabschnitte isolierter Wurzeln von Erbsenkeimlingen untersucht. Die Methionin-Aufnahme wurde bei den drei Wurzelsegmenten übereinstimmend durch 6 · 10^–3 g Penicillin je ml Nährlösung leicht gehemmt und durch 1,5 und 3 · 10^–3 g/ml gefördert, und zwar durch die schwächere Konzentration am stärksten. Die absolute Größe des Methionin-Einbaus in das Eiweiß der Wurzelzellen und die darin erreichte spezifische Methionin-Markierung werden durch das Penicillin noch weniger beeinflußt als die Stoffaufnahme. Bei Einwirkung von Penicillinmengen, die das Wurzelwachstum stark herabsetzen, weicht die Intensität des Stoffeinbaus von den unbehandelten Kontrollen (ohne Penicillin) nur unerheblich ab.

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Summary In nutrient solutions (Bonner and Addicott 1937) the influence of high concentrations of penicillin G (1,5 · 10^–3 up to 6 · 10^–3 g/ml) was investigated upon uptake and incorporation of³⁵S-methionine into the proteins in segments of different developmental stage of isolated roots of pea seedlings. In all three root segments uptake of methionine was slightly depressed by 6 · 10^–3 g penicillin per ml nutrient solution, and stimulated by 1,5 · 10^–3 and 3 · 10^–3 g/ml, most strongly by the weaker concentration. The absolute quantity of methionine incorporation into proteins of root cells and the specific methionine activity reached within these cells are less influenced by penicillin than the uptake. In solutions with penicillin quantities strongly inhibiting root growth the intensity of methionine incorporation differs but insignificantly from that of tests without penicillin.

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(1937) G ( 1,5 · 10^–3 6 · 10^–3 / ³⁵S- . : 6 · 10^–3 , 1,5 3 · 10^–3 / -; . «» , , , . , , ( ).

     

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bulk soil and particle size separates of soils in a rural community

In a rural community (Stephanskirchen, Southern Germany) situated near a waste incineration plant six A horizons were sampled to determine 14 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bulk soil and particle size separates (clay, silt, fine and coarse sand) and to test the suitability of alkaline saponification for PCB extraction. The PCB concentrations were higher in alkaline saponification extracts than in Soxhlet extracts. However, the extraction efficiency of up to fourfold chlorinated PCBs was lower and more than sevenfold chlorinated PCBs were destroyed. Nevertheless, alkaline saponification was suitable to determine the indicator congeners 28, 52, 101, 138, 152, and 180. The sum of the PCB concentrations ranged from 8.4 to 59.5 μg kg^?1 which was as high as in soils of big cities. However, the concentrations did not reach the threshold value for agricultural purposes of 200 μg kg^?1 as proposed in literature for the sum of the six indicator congeners. The hexachlorinated PCBs 138 and 153 were the most abundant (together > 50% in all samples) whereas PCB 1 could not be detected in any sample. On the average, PCB concentrations increased as particle size decreased. When normalized to C_org, however, the fine sand fraction had the highest PCB concentrations. A slight decrease of lower chlorinated PCBs as particle size decreased indicated an increasing state of degradation. The PCB compositions in the emissions of a comparable waste incineration plant (Bamberg, Bavaria) and in Stephanskirchen soils differed markedly. Therefore, we did not get any indications that waste incineration was a main source of PCBs in the examined soils. Instead, higher chlorinated technical PCB mixtures such as Clophen A 60 or Aroclor 1260 may be the most important sources.     

Cytologic examination of fine‐needle aspirates from mammary gland tumors in the dog: diagnostic accuracy with comparison to histopathology and association with postoperative outcome

Background: Mammary tumors are the most common neoplasms in female dogs. Malignant tumors may carry a poor prognosis and necessitate surgery. Few data are available on the value of cytologic examination as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for mammary tumors in dogs. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether cytologic findings in fine‐needle aspirate specimens of canine mammary tumors correlate with histopathologic results and whether the cytologic diagnosis is associated with postoperative outcome. Methods: In this prospective study, fine‐needle aspirate samples were obtained from 50 mammary tumors in 50 dogs. Results of cytologic and histopathologic examination were compared, using the histologic diagnosis as the reference method. Kaplan–Meier log rank analysis was used to evaluate univariate association of the cytologic diagnosis with duration of survival, local control, and metastasis‐free interval. Results: Adequate cytologic samples were obtained in 43/50 (86%) cases. The cytologic diagnosis correlated with the histologic diagnosis for benign and malignant tumors in 40/43 (93%) and 35/43 (81%) cases, respectively. Cytologic examination had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 96% for the diagnosis of malignancy. The cytologic diagnosis had significant univariate association with duration of survival (P=.016), recurrence‐free interval (P=.003), and metastasis‐free interval (P=.014). Conclusions: Cytologic examination of mammary tumors in the dog has satisfactory accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the diagnosis of malignancy and is associated with postoperative outcome. Further studies on the diagnostic accuracy of cytology as well as multivariate analysis of its preoperative prognostic value in mammary tumors in the dog are warranted.     

Bacterial community composition of sediments from a milkfish Chanos chanos Forsskål farm

Bacterial communities in sediments underneath milkfish cages and adjacent off‐cage areas in Bolinao, Lingayen Gulf, West Philippine Sea were characterized using PCR‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to assess influence of the fish farming to the sediments. The sediments in the fish cage (FC) area showed anoxic conditions [redox potential of ?165 to ?213 mV and acid‐volatile sulphide‐sulphur (AVS‐S) of 0.55–1.88 mg g^?1 (dry weight)] compared to the relatively oxic off‐cage area [redox potential of 72–81 mV and AVS‐S of 0.09–0.14 mg g^?1 (dry weight)]. The composition of the microbial populations revealed influence of the fish feed sedimentation with higher dominance of putative sulphate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) in the FC area. Compositions of the bacterial taxa showed dominance of the Bacteroidetes group and Deltaproteobacteria. The results suggest that the fish feeds created a new suitable environment, in which reductive microorganisms such as SRB, ferric‐ion‐reducing bacteria and nitrate‐reducing bacteria can thrive. Organic load from the feed and quantity of its leftover constituents may be the key factors that influence the structure of the bacterial community in the sediments of the milkfish farms.     

Metabolic labeling of plant cell cultures with K15NO3 as a tool for quantitative analysis of proteins and metabolites

Strategies for robust quantitative comparison between different biological samples are of high importance in experiments that address biological questions beyond the establishment of protein lists. Here, we propose the use of ¹⁵N-KNO₃ as the only nitrogen source in Arabidopsis cell cultures in order to achieve a metabolically fully labeled cell population. Proteins from such metabolically labeled culture are distinguishable from unlabeled protein populations by a characteristic mass shift that depends on the amino acid composition of the tryptic peptide analyzed. In addition, the metabolically labeled cell extracts are also suitable for comparative quantitative analysis of nitrogen-containing cellular metabolic complement. Protein extracts from unlabeled and from standardized ¹⁵N-labeled cells were combined into one sample for joined analytical processing. This has the advantage of (i) reduced experimental variability and (ii) immediate relative quantitation at the level of single extracted peptide and metabolite spectra. Together ease and accuracy of relative quantitation for profiling experiments is substantially improved. The metabolic labeling strategy has been validated by mixtures of protein extracts and metabolite extracts from the same cell cultures in known ratios of labeled to unlabeled extracts (1:1, 1:4, and 4:1). We conclude that saturating metabolic ¹⁵N-labeling provides a robust and affordable integrative strategy to answer questions in quantitative proteomics and nitrogen focused metabolomics.     

Calosoma sycophanta L. (Col., Carab.) undNabis apterus F. (Hem., Nabid) als Kiefernschädlingsfeinde in Bayern

Summary Calosoma sycophanta L.(Col., Carabid.) andNabis apterus F.(Hemipt., Nabid.) were observed attacking and feeding onLymantria monacha, Bupalus piniarus andDiprion spec.-larvae and pupae in some pine stands in southern and northern Bavaria 1965. It is intended to investigate the two species in regard to their biology and importance for biological control measures. In the present paper the faunistical and biological data known until now are summarized.

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Résumé Pendant l'année de 1965 les insectes prédateursCalosoma sycophanta L.(Col. Carab.) etNabis apterus F.(Hem. Nabid.) furent observés comme ennemies deLymantria monacha, Bupalus pinarius etDiprion frutetorum dans quelques forêts de pins en Bavarie. Les connaissances sur la biologie de ces deux espèces en Europe, quoique incomplètes, sont brièvement résumées pour faciliter des recherches futures.

     

Quantitative trait loci of frost tolerance and physiologically related trait in faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

In faba bean, field based winter-hardiness is a complex trait that is significantly correlated to frost tolerance. Frost tolerance could be used to indirectly select for faba bean winter-hardiness. The aim of this study was to identify putative QTL associated with frost tolerance and auxiliary traits and to quantify the efficiency of marker assisted selection. Thus, 101 recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between two frost tolerant lines were tested for their hardened and unhardened frost tolerance and for their leaf fatty acid content in both treatments. Significant differences among the RIL were observed for all studied traits. For frost tolerance, five putative QTL were detected; three for unhardened frost tolerance that explained 40.7% (8.6% after cross-validation, CV) of its genotypic variance and two for hardened frost tolerance that explained 21.8% (1.0% after CV). For fatty acid content, three QTL were detected for oleic acid content in unhardened leaves that explained 62.9% (40.6% after CV) of its genotypic variance. This fatty acid was significantly correlated with unhardened frost tolerance. The unbiased genotypic variance explained enabled to draw realistic prospects of MAS for frost tolerance. In this study, combined MAS was more efficient than classical phenotypic selection and was expected to be higher on larger populations at early generations. Moreover, favourable alleles inherited from the exotic line BPL 4628 could be introgressed to European winter-hardy beans for further improvement.