Characterisation of a maize-infecting potyvirus from Spain

In order to characterise and classify an unknown maize-infecting potyvirus isolated from fields in northeast Spain, the entire coat protein gene and the C-terminal twothirds of the large nuclear inclusion protein (NIb) gene were cloned and sequenced. Protein sequencing enabled the cleavage site between the two proteins to be deduced and also revealed that on storage the viral coat protein undergoes a specific degradation in which the N-terminal 39 amino acids are removed. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of the 3 non-coding region of the viral RNA and the predicted amino acid sequence of the coat protein with the equivalent regions of other members of the potyvirus group revealed that the Spanish virus is closely related to maize dwarf mosaic virus strain A.     

Prevalence and spatial distribution of bovine tuberculosis in brushtail possums on a forest-scrub margin

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis was diagnosed in 36 of 68 (53%) brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) trapped in August 1992 from a population of exceptionally low density (trap catch <3%) on a forest-scrub margin in Westland, New Zealand. The prevalence of tuberculosis in possums, based solely on gross lesions, was at least twice that previously recorded in New Zealand, and was about seven times that recorded from the same population in 1980. More male (66%) than female (33%) possums had grossly visible tuberculous lesions. The distribution of infection appeared continuous along the forest-scrub margin. Both stoats (Mustela erminea) and one of six hares (Lepus europaeus occidentalis) trapped were also infected with M. bovis.     

Chylothorax associated with cryptococcal mediastinal granuloma in a cat

A 10-year-old neutered female cat had chylothorax, precaval syndrome, and a mediastinal granuloma resulting from infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. Diagnosis of a chylous effusion was made by cytologic examination of pleural fluid and by finding higher triglyceride levels in the effusion than in serum (825 vs. 64 mg/dl, respectively). Postmortem examination revealed cryptococcal organisms in the mediastinal granuloma, lungs, cerebral meninges, and connective tissues adjacent to the thyroid gland. Chylous effusion in a cat associated with cryptococcosis has not been reported previously. Cryptococcosis should be included in the differential diagnosis in chylous effusions in cats.     

Self-Assembled Metal Colloid Monolayers: An Approach to SERS Substrates

The self-assembly of monodisperse gold and silver colloid particles into monolayers on polymer-coated substrates yields macroscopic surfaces that are highly active for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Particles are bound to the substrate through multiple bonds between the colloidal metal and functional groups on the polymer such as cyanide (CN), amine (NH(2)), and thiol (SH). Surface evolution, which can be followed in real time by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and SERS, can be controlled to yield high reproducibility on both the nanometer and the centimeter scales. On conducting substrates, colloid monolayers are electrochemically addressable and behave like a collection of closely spaced microelectrodes. These favorable properties and the ease of monolayer construction suggest a widespread use for metal colloid-based substrates.     

Characterisation of energy-dependent efflux of imazalil and fenarimol in isolates of Penicillium italicum with a low,medium and high degree of resistance to DMI-fungicides

Differential accumulation of [¹⁴C]imazalil and [¹⁴C]fenarimol by germlings of wild-type and DMI-resistant isolates ofPenicillium italicum was studied at various pH values. At pH 7 and 8 the low-resistant isolate E_300–3 accumulated 22% and 35%, respectively, less imazalil than the wild-type isolate W₅. Imazalil accumulation at pH 5 and 6 was similar. Isolate E_300–3 also accumulated less fenarimol as compared with the wild-type isolate. This difference was much more obvious than for imazalil and was observed at all pH values tested. Differences in accumulation of both imazalil and fenarimol between low (E_300–3), medium (H₁₇) and high resistant (I₃₃) isolates were not observed. These results suggest that decreased accumulation of DMIs is responsible for a low level of resistance only and that additional mechanisms of resistance might operate in isolates with a medium and high degree of resistance. With all isolates fenarimol accumulation was energy-dependent. This was not obvious for imazalil.The wild-type and DMI-resistant isolates had a similar plasma membrane potential as determined with the probe [¹⁴C]tetraphenylphosphonium bromide ([¹⁴C]TPP⁺). Various test compounds, among which ATPase inhibitors, ionophoric antibiotics and calmodulin antagonists, affected the accumulation of [¹⁴C]TPP⁺, [¹⁴C]imazalil and [¹⁴C]fenarimol. No obvious correlation between the effects of the test compounds on accumulation levels of the fungicides and [¹⁴C]TPP⁺ could be observed. These results indicate that the plasma membrane potential does not mediate the efflux of DMI fungicides byP. italicum.     

Embryo transfer: a discussion on its potential for infectious disease control based on a review of studies on infection of gametes and early embryos by various agents

Studies on laboratory animals have shown that viruses vary as to whether or not they are transmissible by the gametes or are capable of passing through the zona pellucida and infecting the embryo.

Methods of studying early embryos for the presence of infectious agents include electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and cell cultivation.

Determination that early bovine embryos do not become infected by certain agents might allow for easing of restrictions in the current import and export regulations for cattle embryos.

Embryo transfer could be used as a means of controlling or eliminating disease in a herd or flock if the causal agent does not infect the early embryo via the gametes or by penetrating the zona pellucida.

     

In vitro effects of DDT analogs on trout brain Mg2+-ATPases: Inhibition kinetics

A continuous in vitro steady-state assay procedure was used to investigate the dependence of trout brain mitochondrial Mg²⁺-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase specific activity on temperature and substrate concentration. The inhibition of enzyme activity by DDT was independent of substrate concentration. DDT and several analogs caused increases in the experimental activation energy and frequency factor of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction, which gave rise to a negative temperature coefficient of inhibition. It is suggested that DDT and other highly lipophilic compounds have the potential to allosterically affect membrane-bound enzymes by simply becoming a major lipoid component of the membranes.     

Pathology of Mycoplasma agalactiae induced granular vulvovaginitis (GVV) in goats.

Granular vulvovaginitis (GVV) was experimentally produced in female kids by topical application of M. agalactiae on the scarified vulvar mucosa. Grossly visible GVV lesions were seen in 25 out of 30 infected kids, yet all were positive for microscopic lesions. Microscope lesions that appeared by 7 days post infection (DPI) were comprised of stromal oedema, lymphocytic infiltration into the lamina propria and perivascular accumulation of a few lymphocytes. The lesions observed between 28 and 49 DPI were comparable to those of spontaneous cases (severe). The changes seen in kids euthanized between 56 to 70 DPI were suggestive of the chronic stage of the disease. M. agalactiae was reisolated from all the infected kids from 7 to 70 days after inoculation. The pathology and pathogenesis of this condition have been described and discussed.