Pericarp total protein profiles as molecular markers of tomato fruit quality traits in two segregating populations

The tomato fruit quality results of biochemical and physiological changes that occur during the ripening process. Although, the pericarp total protein profiles are less polymorphic than DNA-based markers the polymorphism in those could be directly associated with fruit quality traits. The aim of this work was to identify associations between polymorphic polypeptides from fruit pericarp at two ripening stages and fruit quality traits evaluated in two segregating populations of tomato. A cross between a normal ripening cultivar of Solanum lycopersicum (C, Caimanta) and a genotype carrying the nor (non ripening) gene (N) as well as a cross between Caimanta and a cherry type tomato of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (Ce) showed genetic variance for several fruit quality traits such as fruit weight, shape, solids soluble content, acidity, color and fruit shelf life. The quantitative variations observed at phenotypic level had correspondence with the polymorphism detected in the protein profiles. Indeed, the polymophic polypeptides associated with quality fruit traits and fruit shelf life would be useful to assist tomato breeding programs as protein molecular markers.     

Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), an invasive pest recently found in the Caribbean that threatens the region

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, an important palm pest, was accidentally introduced into the Caribbean. A monitoring programme was established to determine the population level and distribution of infestations on Aruba and Curacao through the use of commercially available pheromone traps. Due to the small size of the islands and limited distribution of palms, eradication may be feasible using a combination of trapping, timely disposal of infested palms and curative and prophylactic chemical treatments. These studies on the pest in the Caribbean were used to help design a USDA plant health emergency response through the development of Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine New Pest Response Guidelines and provide an effective emergency response programme for other Caribbean Islands and the Americas.     

Blood chemistry as an aid to diagnosis of combined copper and magnesium deficiency in single-suckler calves

Calcium, magnesium, copper, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, glucose, packed cell volume and haemoglobin in the bloods of apparently health single-suckler calves were frequently measured. Values were within normal ranges except magnesium and copper which became subnormal as lactation advanced and closely approached values of single-suckler calves clinically affected with combined hypomagnesaemic tetany and hypocuprosis which responded to magnesium and copper therapy.

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Kurzfassung Die Autoren bestimmten häufig den Gehalt von Kalzium, Magnesium, Kupfer, anorganischem Phosphor, Natrium, Kalium, gesamtem Protein, Eiweiss, Globulin, Harnstoff, Glukose, Hämatokrit und Hämoglobin im Blut anscheinend gesunder Saugkälbern. Die bestimmten Werte lagen im je mehr die Laktation weiterschritt, und näherten sich den Werten von Saugkälbern, die von dem gleichzeitig auftretenden Magnesium und Kupfermangel im Blut verursachtem Starrkrampf befallen waren, und die auf eine Magnesium und Kupfer-Thermapie reagieriten.

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Resume Le calcium, le magnésium, le cuivre, le phosphore inorganique, le sodium, le potassium, les proteines totales, les albumines, les globulines, l'urée, le glucose, le hématocrite et l'hémoglobine dans le sang de veaux allaités et apparemment en bonne santé ont été mesurés. Les valeurs no dépassaient pas les limites normales sauf dans le cas du magnésium et du cuivre, qui devenaient subnormales au fur et à mesure que la période de lactation avancait, pour se rapprocher aux valeurs des veaux allaités atteints cliniquement d'une combination de la tétanie hypomagnésémique et al l'hypocuperose que réagissent à une thérapie de magnésium et de cuivre.

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Riassunto Gli autori hanno spesso definito il contenuto in calcio, magnesio, rame, fosforo inorganico, sodio potassio, proteina totale albumina, globulina, urea, glucosio, ematocrita, ed ematoglobulina del sangue di vitelli poppanti apparentemente sani. I valori erano normali eccetto quelli del magnesio e del rame che diventarono subnormali man mano che progrediva la lattaxione ed avvicinarono i valori dei vitelli lattanti clinicamente affetti dalla tetania ipomagnesemica combinata alla ipocuperosi e che rispondevano ad una terapia con magnesio e rame.

     

Crystal structure of a divalent metal ion transporter CorA at 2.9 angstrom resolution

CorA family members are ubiquitously distributed transporters of divalent metal cations and are considered to be the primary Mg2+ transporter of Bacteria and Archaea. We have determined a 2.9 angstrom resolution structure of CorA from Thermotoga maritima that reveals a pentameric cone-shaped protein. Two potential regulatory metal binding sites are found in the N-terminal domain that bind both Mg2+ and Co2+. The structure of CorA supports an efflux system involving dehydration and rehydration of divalent metal ions potentially mediated by a ring of conserved aspartate residues at the cytoplasmic entrance and a carbonyl funnel at the periplasmic side of the pore.     

Highly conserved protective epitopes on influenza B viruses

Identification of broadly neutralizing antibodies against influenza A viruses has raised hopes for the development of monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapy and "universal" vaccines for influenza. However, a substantial part of the annual flu burden is caused by two cocirculating, antigenically distinct lineages of influenza B viruses. Here, we report human monoclonal antibodies, CR8033, CR8071, and CR9114, that protect mice against lethal challenge from both lineages. Antibodies CR8033 and CR8071 recognize distinct conserved epitopes in the head region of the influenza B hemagglutinin (HA), whereas CR9114 binds a conserved epitope in the HA stem and protects against lethal challenge with influenza A and B viruses. These antibodies may inform on development of monoclonal antibody-based treatments and a universal flu vaccine for all influenza A and B viruses.     

Renal abscesses in bobby calves

Extract

Sir,—In an earlier communication (N.Z. Vet. J., 11: 125, 1963), I reported a case of Sleepy Foal disease with atypical symptoms which were toxaemia and pain that became so acute that humane destruction was necessary within thirty-six hours. The only lesions evident on post-mortem examination were multiple glomerular abscesses in the renal cortex. These were considered to be haematogenous in origin and to have developed ante-parturiently. The causal organism was Actinobacillus equuli (Bact. viscosum equi).     

Theileria orientalis MPSP types in Australian cattle herds associated with outbreaks of clinical disease and their association with clinical pathology findings

Between September 2010 and November 2011, 350 EDTA blood samples were received from 73 Australian cattle herds, as cases suspected to be infected with Theileria orientalis. Beef cattle were predominantly affected, with Angus and Angus-crossbred cattle representing 48% of smear positive samples examined. DNA extracts were tested in conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for genes encoding the p32, Ikeda, Chitose and Buffeli major piroplasm surface proteins (MPSP). PCR findings were compared with results of clinical pathology examinations of stained blood smears for parasitaemia and packed cell volume (PCV). PCR testing was much more sensitive than clinical pathology examinations in detecting T. orientalis infections, and concurrent testing of neat and diluted extracts gave significantly more PCR positive results than testing of neat extract alone. Significant associations and correlations were shown between PCR results of p32 and Ikeda assays with PCV levels indicative of anaemia, and with the level of parasitaemia estimated by smears. A high proportion of samples had concurrent Ikeda and Chitose infection, and significantly more clinical cases of theileriosis were associated with the Ikeda MPSP type as the sole infection, compared with sole infection with types Chitose or Buffeli. The findings indicate Ikeda type organisms were significantly associated with clinical parameters of theileriosis in cattle herds in eastern Australia, and that this type is most likely to be responsible for outbreaks of theileriosis experienced in affected Australian herds. In New South Wales, 11 of 14 regulatory districts yielded Ikeda positive samples, with five (Mid-Coast, Cumberland, Central North, Hume and Lachlan) containing 234/307 (76%) of the Ikeda positive samples.     

The effect of photoperiod on selected parameters of boar semen

The objective of the present research was to determine the effect of increasing and decreasing natural photoperiods on selected parameters of boar ejaculates. The study material consisted of 17 boars: six Polish Large White (PLW) breed, five Polish Landrace (PL) breed, and six Duroc×Pietrain (D×P) crossbreed, all aged between 8 and 12 months at the beginning of the research. Analyses were conducted on 612 ejaculates, which were collected in two experimental periods: an increasing photoperiod (IP) (January–June) and a decreasing photoperiod (DP) (July–December). A statistically proven impact of photoperiod on the volume of semen was observed in all the studied breeds (P=0.004). During the decreasing photoperiod the mean volume of semen was 261.16±75.20 ml and this was almost 17 ml higher than that for the increasing period. For boars involved in the experiment, day length also had a significant impact on the total number of motile spermatozoa (P=0.037). In the increasing photoperiod the mean number was 3.26×10⁹ lower. A decreasing photoperiod has a positive affect on both boars and the parameters of the collected ejaculates, which were observed in the higher number of insemination doses per ejaculate. Between the different breeds, the reactions of boars to photoperiod differed and the most significant influence of photoperiod on semen parameters was noted among D×P breed boars. Least susceptible to changes in day length were PLW breed boars.