Electron microscopy of Aujeszky's disease virus in explants of Gasser's ganglion from pigs with a latent infection

Different developmental stages of the Aujeszky's disease virus were demonstrated by electron microscopy in the ultra-thin slices by the cultivated fragments of the Gasserian ganglion (G. g.) of two pigs latently infected with the Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV). In a pig vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine against the disease, the virus was detected in the G. g. cells 186 days after virus challenge, the reactivation of latency being obtained after immunosuppression with dexamethasone. In the non-vaccinated pig the virus was detected in G. g. cells after three months from experimental infection. In the ultra-thin slices the largest amount of virus was located in the nuclei and cytoplasm of satellite and Schwann's cells, in the connective-tissue cells and in the extracellular space. In the ganglion cells the virus was present in the cytoplasm and sporadically in the myelinized axons.     

Compositional equivalency of Cry1F corn event TC6275 and conventional corn (Zea mays L.)

Maize (Zea mays L.) plants have been transformed to express a Cry1F insecticidal crystal protein originally isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner. This protein controls lepidopteran pests of maize, including the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). As part of the safety assessment for crops containing transgenes, a compositional analysis of the food and feed is conducted. This analysis is designed to detect unintended changes in the nutrient and antinutrient content of the raw commodities produced by the crop due to the insertion of the genes into the genomic DNA of the plant (pleotropic effects). Samples of transgenic and nontransgenic maize forage and grain were collected from six field sites located in the U.S. and Canada. Forage samples were analyzed for proximates and minerals, and grain was further analyzed for fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, secondary metabolites, and antinutrients. Results demonstrated that maize expressing the Cry1F protein was equivalent to nontransgenic maize with respect to these important components. Comparison of the variability within the nontransgenic and transgenic hybrid, as compared to composition values reported in the literature, suggest that factors other than transgenes may contribute more substantially to the composition of crops.     

Sternothyroideus Tenectomy Combination Surgery: Treatment Outcome in 95 Thoroughbred Racehorses (1996–2006)

This retrospective case series reports on the clinical experiences of a group of Thoroughbred racehorses in training that were treated surgically for intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) using sternothyroideus tenectomy in combination with soft palate surgery. The 95 horses included in the study were Thoroughbred racehorses in training referred for surgical treatment of intermittent DDSP over a 10-year period. Return to racing was 94% (89/95). Total earnings increased for up to three starts before and after surgery in 65% of horses (62/95, P= .0006). Of the 58 horses that raced in three or more races before and after surgery, 71% (41/58) improved their total earnings. Mean days to first start were 106 days. Performance index improved in 64% of these horses (37/58). Sixty of the 95 horses (63%) raced in six or more races after surgery. Sternothyroideus tenectomy combination surgery had a good prognosis for improving earnings and performance index after surgery in this group of horses that were treated for a working diagnosis of intermittent DDSP.     

Sperm nuclear protamines: A checkpoint to control sperm chromatin quality

Protamines are nuclear proteins which are specifically expressed in haploid male germ cells. Their replacement of histones and binding to DNA is followed by chromatin hypercondensation that protects DNA from negative influences by environmental factors. Mammalian sperm contain two types of protamines: PRM1 and PRM2. While the proportion of the two protamines is highly variable between different species, abnormal ratios within a species are known to be associated with male subfertility. Therefore, it is more than likely that correct protamine expression represents a kind of chromatin checkpoint during sperm development rendering protamines as suitable biomarkers for the estimation of sperm quality. This review presents an overview of our current knowledge on protamines comparing gene and protein structures between different mammalian species with particular consideration given to man, mouse and stallion. At last, recent insights into the possible role of inherited sperm histones for early embryo development are provided.     

Rapid and Differential Proliferation of the Ty3-Gypsy LTR Retrotransposon Atlantys in the Genus Oryza

Here, we present the results of a comprehensive study of the distribution, evolution, heterogeneity, and phylogenetic relationships of the Ty3-Gypsy Atlantys long terminal repeat retrotransposable element family in Oryza. Atlantys element-related sequences make up a significant fraction of the genomes of species from the Officinalis complex as well as the Oryza ridleyi and O. granulata genomes. The proliferation of Atlantys elements, in many cases, took place after respective speciation events occurred. Most of the retrotranspositional events occurred within the last three million years. Atlantys is an ancient and ubiquitous component of the genus Oryza and has made significant contributions to genome size variation across the genus. Its structure is unusual when compared to other Ty3-Gypsy elements and its proliferation in the different Oryza species has been rapid and differential.     

Comparative toxicity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil and blends of its major constituents against Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on two different host plants

Bioassays of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil and blends of its major constituents were conducted using host-specific strains of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on bean and tomato plants. Two constituents tested individually against a bean host strain and five constituents tested individually against a tomato host strain accounted for most of the toxicity of the natural oil. Other constituents were relatively inactive when tested individually. Toxicity of blends of selected constituents indicated a synergistic effect among the active and inactive constituents, with the presence of all constituents necessary to equal the toxicity of the natural oil.     

Temperature Effects on Retention of Atrazine and Imazapyr on Soils

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution -     

Purification and characterization of a chimeric Cry1F delta-endotoxin expressed in transgenic cotton plants

Cotton plants were genetically modified through the introduction of a synthetic gene that encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protoxin referred to as Cry1F(synpro). This protoxin is a chimeric, full-length delta-endotoxin of 130 kDa, comprised of the core toxin of Cry1Fa2 protein and parts of the nontoxic portions of Cry1Ca3 and Cry1Ab1 proteins, all of which originated from Bacillus thuringiensis. The Cry1F(synpro) expressed in cotton plants confers resistance to lepidopteran pests. The current study was conducted to characterize the Cry1F(synpro) protein expressed in the transgenic cotton event 281-24-236. Results showed that the full-length Cry1F(synpro) produced in the transgenic cotton plants was sensitive to the host cell protease cleavage, resulting in a truncated, biologically active form (core toxin) with an apparent molecular mass of 65 kDa. This truncated toxin was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography from the cotton leaf extract. N-terminal sequencing, peptide mass fingerprinting by MALDI-TOF MS, and internal peptide sequencing by MS/MS confirmed the identity of the truncated core toxin of Cry1F. The mechanism of truncation was explored with Cry1F(synpro) derived from a recombinant Pseudomonas fluorescens. The transgenic cotton-produced Cry1F showed equivalent insecticidal activity to that of Pseudomonas fluorescens-derived Cry1F.