The structural diversity of carbohydrate antigens of selected gram-negative marine bacteria

Marine microorganisms have evolved for millions of years to survive in the environments characterized by one or more extreme physical or chemical parameters, e.g., high pressure, low temperature or high salinity. Marine bacteria have the ability to produce a range of biologically active molecules, such as antibiotics, toxins and antitoxins, antitumor and antimicrobial agents, and as a result, they have been a topic of research interest for many years. Among these biologically active molecules, the carbohydrate antigens, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs, O-antigens) found in cell walls of gram-negative marine bacteria, show great potential as candidates in the development of drugs to prevent septic shock due to their low virulence. The structural diversity of LPSs is thought to be a reflection of the ability for these bacteria to adapt to an array of habitats, protecting the cell from being compromised by exposure to harsh environmental stress factors. Over the last few years, the variety of structures of core oligosaccharides and O-specific polysaccharides from LPSs of marine microrganisms has been discovered. In this review, we discuss the most recently encountered structures that have been identified from bacteria belonging to the genera Aeromonas, Alteromonas, Idiomarina, Microbulbifer, Pseudoalteromonas, Plesiomonas and Shewanella of the Gammaproteobacteria phylum; Sulfitobacter and Loktanella of the Alphaproteobactera phylum and to the genera Arenibacter, Cellulophaga, Chryseobacterium, Flavobacterium, Flexibacter of the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides phylum. Particular attention is paid to the particular chemical features of the LPSs, such as the monosaccharide type, non-sugar substituents and phosphate groups, together with some of the typifying traits of LPSs obtained from marine bacteria. A possible correlation is then made between such features and the environmental adaptations undertaken by marine bacteria.     

Modeling the relations of thyroid hormones in rats

The relations between the concentration of thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyrotropic hormone in the peripheral blood of white rats are studied in an experiment with the administration of a thyrostatic drug (merkazolil) in an optimally allowable daily dose. A high reliability of the mathematical model developed for reproducing the level of the content of hormones of the hypophysial-thyroid system is established.     

Orobanche palaestina: a potential threat to agricultural crops in Israel

Weeds of the genus Orobanche are obligatory chlorophyll-lacking root parasites that infect and severely damage many dicotyledonous agricultural crops in warm-temperate and subtropical regions of the world. The genus comprises over 100 species, at least six of which are notable weeds. Orobanche palaestina Reut. is an endemic Mediterranean species, previously reported to parasitize thistles [Notobasis syriaca (L.) Cass. and Cirsium phyllocephalum Boiss. & Bl.] and annual legumes in native Mediterranean habitats, mainly in disturbed places such as roadsides and waste sites. In recent years, we have observed a rapid expansion of O. palaestina populations adjacent to commercial agricultural fields in the Jezreel Valley of Israel. The ability of O. palaestina to infect crops was tested in pots under nethouse conditions. The experiments revealed that O. palaestina is able to parasitize agricultural crops. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), gazania (Gazania uniflora Gaertn.), vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) were found to be potential hosts for this parasite, and all of them, except vetch and artichoke, were preferred to thistle, the native host. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) induced O. palaestina seed germination and root attachment, but the attached parasites could not reach maturity and died soon after the attachment stage. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), carrot (Daucus carota L.), garland chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleraceae L.) were not parasitized by O. palaestina.     

Formation of the hypersensitivity response due to the expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">FeSOD1</Emphasis> gene in tomato when it is inoculated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>

The activity of antioxidant enzymes and ultrastructural changes in tissues inoculated with P. infestans isolate have been studied in the previously developed independent transgenic lines of tomato with FeSOD1 gene and control plants. It is shown that the activity of superoxide dismutase is significantly higher in transgenic plants than that in control plants (nontransgenic plants). Chlorosis and obvious changes in tissue turgor were observed when the control tomato plants were inoculated, which indicates irreversible damages and unimpeded progression of infection. At the same time, the transgenic lines were characterized by the formation of clearly limited zones of damaged cells that rapidly arrested the infection. In addition, the damages differed from those in nontransgenic plants: the cells along the edges of the infection site were smaller and had heavy invaginations of the cell wall. The contacts between the cells were disrupted in this zone, but they were preserved in undisturbed zones of the tissue. Thus, the expression of the FeSOD1 transgene promotes the emergence of the resistance to P. infestans in tomato transgenic plants.     

Cyperus rotundus control using a mechanical digger and solar radiation

Cyperus rotundus (purple nutsedge) is considered one of the most noxious weeds affecting agricultural areas worldwide. With its fast growth rate, it competes with annual crops for water, minerals, light and space. It excretes allelopathic materials that impede crop development. Controlling this weed is difficult and is done mostly by manual weeding, cultivation and herbicides, with limited effectiveness. A method was developed for the control of C. rotundus. A machine penetrates the soil and rearranges it, so that the tubers are lifted to the upper soil layer, where they are left exposed to the hot summer climate, dehydrate and die. The method was tested in seven field experiments on various soil types. Two months after the experimental plots were irrigated, 70–100% weed control was observed. The machine's speed (at 1.2 or 1.8 km h^?1) and the number of treatments (one, or two treatments a month apart) did not influence the level of weed control. The method has a very high potential to replace manual weeding and application of herbicides. Further work will test whether the treatment has a long‐term effect or should be repeated every season.     

Expression of genes encoding chitin-binding proteins (PR-4) and hevein-like antimicrobial peptides in transgenic tomato plants enhanced resistanse to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestance</Emphasis>

The resistance of transgenic tomato plants containing genes of chitin-binding proteins from Amaranthus caudatus (ac) and A. retraflexus (RS-intron-Shir) and hevein-like antimicrobial peptides (amp1 and amp2) from Stellaria media is analyzed. Lines expressing genes ac, amp1, and amp2 are characterized, unlike the untransformed control, by enhanced resistance to a isolate Phytophthora infestans obtained from potato leaves.     

Carbon Stock in Sandy and Loamy Soils of Coniferous–Broadleaved Forests at Different Succession Stages

Eurasian Soil Science - A comparative assessment of the carbon stock in loamy soils (Albic Retisols) of coniferous–broadleaved forests on the Moskvoretsko-Oksky Plain and sandy soils (Albic...