Genome-wide insertional mutagenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana

Over 225,000 independent Agrobacterium transferred DNA (T-DNA) insertion events in the genome of the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana have been created that represent near saturation of the gene space. The precise locations were determined for more than 88,000 T-DNA insertions, which resulted in the identification of mutations in more than 21,700 of the approximately 29,454 predicted Arabidopsis genes. Genome-wide analysis of the distribution of integration events revealed the existence of a large integration site bias at both the chromosome and gene levels. Insertion mutations were identified in genes that are regulated in response to the plant hormone ethylene.     

Blood cells preserved in a mummy 2000 years old

Structures resembling red blood cells have been seen in mummies, but have been considered by some to be artifacts or molds. The finding of these structures, admixed with white blood cells, in the blood vessels of a mummified American Indian, confirms the original interpretation of preserved red blood cells.     

Climatic Limits on Landscape Development in the Northwestern Himalaya

The interaction between tectonism and erosion produces rugged landscapes in actively deforming regions. In the northwestern Himalaya, the form of the landscape was found to be largely independent of exhumation rates, but regional trends in mean and modal elevations, hypsometry (frequency distribution of altitude), and slope distributions were correlated with the extent of glaciation. These observations imply that in mountain belts that intersect the snowline, glacial and periglacial processes place an upper limit on altitude, relief, and the development of topography irrespective of the rate of tectonic processes operating.     

Asteroidal source of meteorites

The evolution of asteroidal orbits initially near the Kirkwood Gap at the 1:2 commensurability with Jupiter's period provides a mechanism for the production of meteorites from the asteroid belt without excessive velocity change. The resulting yield ( approximately 10(9) grams per year) and the orbital elements of Earth-crossing objects are in agreement with observational data on meteorites.     

Physical and sensory properties of dairy products from cows with various milk fatty acid compositions

Dairy products from milk of cows fed diets rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids have a more health-promoting fatty acid composition and are softer but often have oxidized flavors. Dairy products made from cow's milk that has more- or less-unsaturated fatty acid compositions were tested for differences in texture and flavor from those made from bulk-tank milk. The milk was manufactured into butter, vanilla ice cream, yogurt, Provolone cheese, and Cheddar cheese. The products were analyzed for fatty acid composition, physical properties, and flavor. Milk of cows with a more monounsaturated fatty acid composition yielded products with a more monounsaturated fatty acid composition that were softer and had a satisfactory flavor. Thus, selection of cows for milk fatty acid composition can be used to produce dairy products that are probably more healthful and have a softer texture.     

Best management practices for storm water at industrial facilities

Contaminated storm water runoff has been identified as a significant source of degradation to our nation's waterways. Industrial and construction activities are primary sources of this contamination. After identifying this problem, Congress passed the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 which required EPA to publish regulations to control storm water discharges from certain activities. As a result, industrial facilities subject to the program are required to obtain permits and implement controls referred to as Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce the pollutants in the storm water runoff from their sites. BMPs can be implemented to reduce contaminants from entering storm water (source controls) or to treat storm water after it has contacted industrial areas (treatment controls). In general, source controls are more effective in reducing pollutant levels in storm water runoff, and are therefore, preferred by EPA and other regulatory agencies. This paper provides an overview of the EPA Storm Water Program which also applies to most state programs and discusses methods to identify and implement BMPs.     

Pear mutagenesis: In vitro treatment with gamma-rays and field selection for productivity and fruit traits

In vitro shoots of six pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars, ‘Conference’, ‘Doyennéd'Hiver’, ‘Passe Crassane’, ‘Bartlett’, ‘AbbéFetel’ and ‘Butirra Precoce Morettini’ were irradiated with gamma rays (3.5 Gy). After three subcultures, microcuttings from the irradiated shoots and from additional non-irradiated microcuttings were rooted to establish plants for survey orchards. All trees were individually observed for variation in fruit traits and for productivity. Trees were selected for improved characters related to production such as early bearing and consistent productivity. Variations observed in fruit appearance concerned degree of russeting, fruit shape and size. The frequencies of the observed variations in fruit traits depended on the cultivar, ranging from 0.81% in ‘Doyennéd'Hiver’ to 3.64% in ‘Passe Crassane’. Of the 97 variants selected, only two showed chimeral behavior. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pear mutagenesis: In vitro treatment with gamma-rays and field selection for vegetative form traits

In vitro shoots of four pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars, 'Conference', 'Doyenné d'Hiver', 'Passe Crassane' and 'Bartlett', were irradiated with gamma rays (3.5 Gy). Around 1000 microcuttings of each cultivar were treated. After three subcultures, microcuttings from both the irradiated shoots and additional non-irradiated shoots were rooted; plants obtained were used to establish a survey orchard in Ostellato (Ferrara), Italy. For the first 2 years in the field, growth and survival were observed, but no data were collected. Subsequently, field surveys were conducted to characterize the population and identify mutants for vegetative traits. Trees that showed phenotypic evidence of vegetative growth characteristics more desirable than those shown by the overall population and by control plants were selected and measured for three years. Traits used for selection were small tree size, wide branch angle and short internodes. Frequencies of variants with compact habit varied with cultivars from 0.5% to 2.7% of irradiated trees. Effect of mutagenic treatment and efficacy of the selection methods are discussed.     

Live Brucella abortus rough vaccine strain RB51 stimulates enhanced innate immune response in vitro compared to rough vaccine strain RB51SOD and virulent smooth strain 2308 in murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

Brucella spp. are Gram-negative, coccobacillary, facultative intracellular pathogens. B. abortus strain 2308 is a pathogenic strain affecting cattle and humans. Rough B. abortus strain RB51, which lacks the O-side chain of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is the live attenuated USDA approved vaccine for cattle in the United States. Strain RB51SOD, which overexpresses Cu–Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), has been shown to confer better protection than strain RB51 in a murine model. Protection against brucellosis is mediated by a strong CD4+ Th₁ and CD8+ Tc₁ adaptive immune response. In order to stimulate a robust adaptive response, a solid innate immune response, including that mediated by dendritic cells, is essential. As dendritic cells (DCs) are highly susceptible to Brucella infection, it is possible that pathogenic strains could limit the innate and thereby adaptive immune response. By contrast, vaccine strains could limit or bolster the innate and subsequent adaptive immune response. Identifying how Brucella vaccines stimulate innate and adaptive immunity is critical for enhancing vaccine efficacy. The ability of rough vaccine strains RB51 and RB51SOD to stimulate DC function has not been characterized. We report that live rough vaccine strain RB51 induced significantly better (p ≤ 0.05) DC maturation and function compared to either strain RB51SOD or smooth virulent strain 2308, based on costimulatory marker expression and cytokine production.     

Pathology of experimentally-induced, acute toxoplasmosis in macropods

SUMMARY Thirteen Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) were dosed orally with 500, 1000 or 10 000 oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii, as part of a vaccination trial. Eleven animals died of acute toxoplasmosis 9 to 15 days after challenge. The lesions were similar in all animals, consisting of foci of necrosis and inflammation in the intestines, lymphoid tissue, adrenal cortex, heart, skeletal muscle and brain, and severe generalised pulmonary congestion and oedema. Free and intracellular tachyzoites of Toxoplasma were associated with the lesions. The remaining 2 animals had shown no signs of disease when euthanased four months after challenge. Small, focal, non-suppurative inflammatory lesions were seen in brain, heart and skeletal muscle of these animals and chronic Toxoplasma infection was confirmed by mouse inoculation.