Carotenoid changes of intact watermelons after storage

Watermelon contains lycopene, a red carotenoid pigment that has strong antioxidant properties. The lycopene content of watermelon is substantial, contributing 8-20 mg per 180 g serving. There are no reports on carotenoid changes in whole watermelon during storage. Three types of watermelon, open-pollinated seeded, hybrid seeded, and seedless types, were stored at 5, 13, and 21 degrees C for 14 days and flesh color, composition, and carotenoid content were compared to those of fruit not stored. Watermelons stored at 21 degrees C had increased pH, chroma, and carotenoid content compared to fresh fruit. Compared to fresh fruit, watermelons stored at 21 degrees C gained 11-40% in lycopene and 50-139% in beta-carotene, whereas fruit held at 13 degrees C changed little in carotenoid content. These results indicate that carotenoid biosynthesis in watermelons can be affected by temperature and storage.     

Ellipsosomes: organelles containing a cytochrome-like pigment in the retinal cones of certain fishes

Ellipsosomes are dense spherical bodies containing a very large concentration of a heme pigment spectroscopically resembling pure cytochrome c. They are located at the outer ends of the inner segments of the cones of certain fishes. Although, superficially, they resemble the similarly located oil droplets in the cones of birds and reptiles, their ultrastructure and staining properties resemble those of the neighboring mitochondria. However, like the oil droplets, they may serve as intracellular color filters.     

Gas-liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric screening method for T-2 toxin in milk

A method for the analysis of T-2 toxin in milk is presented. Ethyl acetate extracts of milk samples which had been spiked with T-2 toxin were purified by thin layer chromatography and derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide to produce the T-2 toxin trimethylsilyl ether (T-2 toxin-TMS). N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl-d9)acetamide was used to make T-2 toxin d9-trimethylsilyl ether (T-2 toxin-d9 TMS) which was added to the derivatized milk extract as an internal standard. Samples were analyzed by combined gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using either electron impact ionization or chemical ionization mass spectrometry. In electron impact ionization analyses, simultaneous monitoring of the T-2 toxin-TMS fragment ion at m/z 436 and the T-2 toxin-d9TMS fragment ion at m/z 445 gave a T-2 toxin-TMS detectability estimated at 6 microgram/kg. In chemical ionization analyses, the T-2 toxin-TMS fragment ion at m/z 377 and the T-2 toxin-d9TMS fragment ion at m/z 386 were simultaneously monitored to give a T-2 toxin-TMS detectability estimated at 3 microgram/kg. Average recovery was 85% at 200 microgram/kg and 65% at 20 microgram/kg.     

Correlation of molecular markers and biological properties in Verticillium dahliae and the possible origins of some isolates

Haploid and amphihaploid Verticillium dahliae isolates were studied using PCR-based molecular markers which: (i) discriminate the defoliating and nondefoliating pathotypes (two primer pairs INTD2f/r and INTND2f/r), and (ii) are species-specific (primer pair 19/22). The results were compared with some known biological and other molecular properties of the isolates. Five discrete sequences of the 19/22 amplicon were found. Sequence 4 was associated with both defoliating isolates from Spain and nondefoliating isolates from Spain and USA; these pathotypes were separated by the primer pairs INTD2f/r and INTND2f/r, but the data showed that the primer espdef01 (derived from the 19/22 amplicon) cannot be used for this purpose. Amplicon sizes and sequences with primers 19/22 divided amphihaploid isolates from crucifers (thought to be interspecific hybrids) into those corresponding to the previously reported α and β groups. The β-group isolates had either sequence 4 or 5 (these two differing by a single base). The distinct amplicon sequence 3 given by the α-group isolates demonstrated that the V. dahliae -like 'parent' of this group was molecularly unlike any haploid isolate yet studied. The overall results are discussed in relation to phytosanitary considerations and the probability of defoliating or crucifer pathotypes arising de novo within Europe, either by selection or by interspecific hybridizations.     

Dendritic cells in cattle: phenotype and function

Dendritic cells are professional antigen presenting cells derived from the bone marrow and distributed throughout body tissues where they are located in sites that are suitable for antigen uptake. They are central to the induction of immune responses in naive animals and thus have become targets in strategies that are aimed at modulating resistance to infection. Studies in cattle have shown that the dendritic cells are phenotypically heterogeneous and that the different phenotypes have different biological properties. The molecular basis for this variation has begun to be investigated and has led to the identification of a member of the SIRPalpha family of signal regulatory proteins (MyD1) on a subset of dendritic cells in afferent lymph. Uptake of antigen by cattle dendritic cells is by a number of mechanisms that can involve endocytosis via clathrin coated pits or via caveolae as well as macropinocytosis.     

Detection of cattle infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus using nucleic acid hybridization.

A ribonucleic acid (RNA) hybridization assay to identify cattle infected by bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is described. The RNA probe was derived from the coding region at the 3' end of the genome of the NADL strain of BVDV. Total RNA from infected cell cultures or peripheral blood leukocytes from suspect animals was extracted and applied to nylon membranes with a slot blot apparatus. Peripheral blood leukocytes were tested concurrently for BVDV by virus isolation. The results of hybridization and virus isolation were in agreement for 92% of the cases. When compared with virus isolation, hybridization had a sensitivity of detection of 59.5% and a specificity of 95%. Cross-reactivity to RNA extracts of border disease virus-infected cells was noted. No cross-reactivity was detected to other common bovine viruses (bovine herpesvirus-1, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza-3 virus, and bluetongue virus), to viruses classified in related families (equine arteritis virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus), or to viruses having similar genomic organization (dengue virus type 2 and Japanese encephalitis virus).