Effects of MULTIFOLIATE-PINNA, AFILA, TENDRIL-LESS and UNIFOLIATA genes on leafblade architecture in Pisum sativum

In order to dissect the genetic regulation of leafblade morphogenesis, 16 genotypes of pea, constructed by combining the wild-type and mutant alleles of MFP, AF, TL and UNI genes, were quantitatively phenotyped. The morphological features of the three domains of leafblades of four genotypes, unknown earlier, were described. All the genotypes were found to differ in leafblade morphology. It was evident that MFP and TL functions acted as repressor of pinna ramification, in the distal domain. These functions, with and without interaction with UNI, also repressed the ramification of proximal pinnae in the absence of AF function. The expression of MFP and TL required UNI function. AF function was found to control leafblade architecture multifariously. The earlier identified role of AF as a repressor of UNI in the proximal domain was confirmed. Negative control of AF on the UNI-dependent pinna ramification in the distal domain was revealed. It was found that AF establishes a boundary between proximal and distal domains and activates formation of leaflet pinnae in the proximal domain.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

A new fungal genus, Teracosphaeria, with a phialophora-like anamorph (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota)

The new genus and species Teracosphaeria petroica is described for a perithecial ascomycete and its anamorph occurring on decayed wood collected in New Zealand. The fungus produces immersed, non-stromatic ceratosphaeria-like perithecia in nature, with hyaline, septate ascospores produced in unitunicate, non-amyloid asci. The anamorph produced in vitro is phialophora-like with lightly pigmented phialides terminating in flaring, deep collarettes that are often noticeably brown with conspicuous periclinal thickening. Phylogenetic analysis of LSU rDNA sequence data indicates that this fungus is distinct from morphologically similar fungi classified in the Chaetosphaeriales, the Trichosphaeriales or the Magnaporthaceae. It forms a monophyletic group with recently described, chaetosphaeria-like ascomycetes, such as the pyrenomycete genus Mirannulata, and shows affinity with the anamorphic species Dictyochaeta cylindrospora. The usefulness of describing anamorph genera for morphologically reduced anamorphs, when anamorph characteristics are actually part of the holomorph diagnosis, is discussed. An apparently contradictory example of the so-called Cordana and Pseudobotrytis anamorphs of Porosphaerella spp. is also discussed.     

Taxonomic notes on Pogonieae ( Orchidaceae ): Cleistesiopsis, a new genus segregated from Cleistes , and description of two new South American species, Cleistes batistana and C. elongata

Summary  A new genus, Cleistesiopsis, was segregated from Cleistes based on morphological and molecular characteristics, and two new species of Cleistes: C. batistana and C. elongata, both occurring in the Brazilian Central Plateau (Central-Western Brazil), are described and illustrated. Furthermore, a key to genera currently recognised within Pogonieae is presented.

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Resumo  Um novo gênero, Cleistesiopsis, é segregado de Cleistes com base em caracteres morfológicos e moleculares, e duas novas espécies de Cleistes: C. batistana e C. elongata, que ocorrem no Planalto Central, no Centro-Oeste do Brasil, s?o descritas e ilustradas. Além disso, uma chave para os gêneros que atualmente comp?em a tribo Pogonieae é apresentada.

     

Evolutionary relationships among aquatic anamorphs and teleomorphs: Lemonniera, Margaritispora, and Goniopila

The hypothesis that similar conidial morphologies in aquatic hyphomycetes are a result of convergent evolution was tested using molecular sequence data. Cladistic analyses were performed on partial sequences of 28S rDNA of seven species of Lemonniera, one species of Margaritispora and one species of Goniopila. Lemonniera has tetraradiate conidia with long arms, whereas Margaritispora and Goniopila have typically globose (isodiametric) conidia, with short conical protuberances in a stellate or quadrangular arrangement. Lemonniera and Margaritispora have phialidic conidiogenesis and both produce dark, minute sclerotia in culture whereas Goniopila has holoblastic conidiogenesis and does not produce sclerotia in culture. Goniopila produces a microconidial phialidic synanamorph in culture. All three genera have schizolytic conidial secession. Molecular analyses demonstrate that Lemonniera species are placed in two distinct clades: one within Leotiomycetes; the other within Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Margaritispora is placed with Lemonniera species within Leotiomycetes. Goniopila and Lemonniera pseudofloscula are placed within Dothideomycetes. No morphological character was entirely congruent with the molecular derived phylogeny. This suggests that for the group of species studied, conidial shape is not a reliable indicator of phylogeny but more likely the result of convergent evolution in response to the aquatic environment.     

Comparative study of Bifidobacteriumanimalis, Escherichiacoli, Lactobacilluscasei and Saccharomycesboulardii probiotic properties

The present work investigates some probiotic properties of four different microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis BB-12, Escherichia coli EMO, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to compare cell wall hydrophobicity, production of antagonistic substances, survival capacity in the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice without pathological consequence, and immune modulation by stimulation of Küpffer cells, intestinal sIgA and IL-10 levels. In vitro antagonism against pathogenic bacteria and yeast was only observed for the probiotic bacteria B. animalis and L. casei. The hydrophobic property of the cell wall was higher for B. animalis and E. coli EMO, and this property could be responsible for a better ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice. Higher levels of sIgA were observed mainly for S. boulardii, followed by E. coli EMO and B. animalis, and only S. boulardii induced a significant higher level of IL-10. In conclusion, for a probiotic use, S. boulardii presented better characteristics in terms of immunomodulation, and B. animalis and L. casei for antagonistic substance production. The knowledge of the different probiotic properties could be used to choice the better microorganism depending on the therapeutic or prophylactic application.     

Hydroxylation of steroids by Fusarium oxysporum, Exophiala jeanselmei and Ceratocystis paradoxa

The potential of Fusarium oxysporum var. cubense UAMH 9013 to perform steroid biotransformations was reinvestigated using single phase and pulse feed conditions. The following natural steroids served as substrates: dehydroepiandrosterone (1), pregnenolone (2), testosterone (3), progesterone (4), cortisone (5), prednisone (6), estrone (7) and sarsasapogenin (8). The results showed the possible presence of C-7 and C-15 hydroxylase enzymes. This hypothesis was explored using three synthetic androstanes: androstane-3,17-dione (9), androsta-4,6-diene-3,17-dione (10) and 3α,5α-cycloandrost-6-en-17-one (11). These fermentations of non-natural steroids showed that C-7 hydroxylation was as a result of that position being allylic. The evidence also pointed towards the presence of a C-15 hydroxylase enzyme.The eleven steroids were also fed to Exophialajeanselmei var. lecanii-corni UAMH 8783. The results showed that the fungus appears to have very active 5α and 14α-hydroxylase enzymes, and is also capable of carrying out allylic oxidations.Ceratocystis paradoxa UAMH 8784 was grown in the presence of the above-mentioned steroids. The results showed that monooxygenases which effect allylic hydroxylation and Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement were active. However, redox reactions predominated.     

Cesariella, a new genus of Laboulbeniales

Cesariella graeca gen. sp. nov. is described to accommodate a new species of the Laboulbeniales (Fungi, Ascomycota) parasitic on the endogean ground beetles Reicheadella aetolica and R. bischoffi (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from Greece. Cesariella is distinguished from the allied genus Laboulbenia by the presence of two cells borne on the inner side of cell III, and by the presence of a conspicuous remnant of the spore apex protruding laterally near the base of the appendage.     

New species of Phaeoramularia, Pseudocercospora and Stenella from Western Ghats of India

Four new species of the hyphomycete genera Phaeoramularia viz. Ph. caesalpinae, Pseudocercospora viz., Ps. tiliacearum, Stenella, viz. S. argyreiae and S. grewiae occurring on Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming (Caesalpiniaceae), Grewia sp. (Tiliaceae), Argyrea sp. Lour (Convolvulaceae) and Grewia sp. L. (Tiliaceae), respectively are described and illustrated here. All these fungi were collected from Western Ghats of India.     

Effect on prolactin secretion of Echinacea purpurea, Hypericum perforatum and Eleutherococcus senticosus

It has been recently reported that prolactin (PRL) plays an important role in immune system regulation. In this study we investigated the activity of three natural drugs with immunomodulatory activity: Echinacea purpurea (EP), Hypericum perforatum (HP) and Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) on PRL production. Male rats were orally treated with two different doses (30 and 100 mg/kg) of extract of these drugs for 3 or 15 days. A 3-day treatment was not able to modify PRL serum levels, whereas a 15-day treatment with EP and HP at the higher dose significantly inhibits PRL production. A treatment with ES was always ineffective. A possible mechanism for this effect could be that both HP and EP extracts display a direct dopaminergic activity, although an involvement of the GABA-ergic system cannot be excluded.     

The phylogenetic placement of the Leucogastrales, including Mycolevis siccigleba (Cribbeaceae), in the Albatrellaceae using morphological and molecular data

The morphology of many hypogeous fungi converges on a homogeneous reduced form, suggesting that disparate lineages are subject to a uniform selection pressure. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the morphology and infer the phylogeny of the Leucogastrales with Mycolevis siccigleba using a Bayesian methodology. A comprehensive morphological assessment was used for an a priori phylogenetic inference to guide the sequencing effort. All structures except spore ornamentation pointed to the Albatrellaceae as the most likely sister taxon. Polyporoletus sublividus, a close relative of Albatrellus, produces ornamented basidiospores with a similar structure to M. siccigleba basidiospores. The ITS from 30 taxa was used for the molecular phylogenetic analysis. P. sublividus was found sister to Mycolevis. Leucophleps spinispora and L. magnata formed a group sister to the Polyporoletus/Mycolevis group, whereas Leucogaster was polyphyletic with respect to the core of the Leucogastrales and sister to A. caeruleoporus. This relationship was expected as previously undescribed chlamydospores produced by members of Albatrellus had a similar morphology to the basidiospores of L. rubescens.     

Identification of two new genes,mukE andmukF, involved in chromosome partitioning inEscherichia coli

We have previously reported that the MukB protein is essential for chromosome partitioning inEscherichia coli and thatmukB mutants produce anucleate cells and are temperature-sensitive for colony formation. ThemukB gene maps at 21 min on theE. coli chromosome andsmtA-mukF-mukE-mukB genes might comprise an operon, which is transcribed in a clockwise direction. Here, we report thatmukF andmukE null mutants are both temperature-sensitive for colony formation and produce anucleate cells even at the permissive temperature. These phenotypes are the same as those observed in themukB null mutant. The primary sequence of MukF includes a leucine zipper structure and an acidic domain. Mutational analysis revealed that both are required for MukF function. When the MukF protein was overproduced in the wild-type strain, anucleate cells were produced. In contrast, overproduction of either MukE or MukB did not cause the defect. In null mutants for themukF, mukE, andmukB genes, the synchronous initiation of chromosome replication was not affected. The mini-F plasmid was as stably maintained in these mutants as in the wild-type strain. These results indicate that the MukF, MukE, and MukB proteins are involved in the chromosome partitioning steps, but are not required for mini-F plasmid partitioning.     

A new Escherichia coli gene, fdrA, identified by suppression analysis of dominant negative FtsH mutations

An Escherichia coli membrane protein, FtsH, has been implicated in several cellular processes, including integration of membrane proteins, translocation of secreted proteins, and degradation of some unstable proteins. However, how it takes part in such diverse cellular events is largely unknown. We previously isolated dominant negative ftsH mutations and proposed that FtsH functions in association with some other cellular factor(s). To test this proposal we isolated multicopy suppressors of dominant negative ftsH mutations. One of the multicopy suppressor clones contained an N-terminally truncated version of a new gene that was designated fdrA. The FdrA fragment suppressed both of the phenotypes — increased abnormal translocation of a normally cytoplasmic domain of a model membrane protein and retardation of protein export — caused by dominant negative FtsH proteins. The intact fdrA gene (11.9 min on the chromosome) directed the synthesis of a 60 kDa protein in vitro.     

转录因子cpcR同源基因cpcR-c1和cpcR-t的功能鉴定

苏云金芽胞杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt） LM1212菌株与典型的Bt菌株表型不同,可分化形成芽胞、形成细胞和晶体产生细胞。在LM1212菌株中,转录因子CpcR不仅参与了细胞分化过程,而且能够激活晶体蛋白基因cry35-like的启动子(P₃₅)。【目的】筛选cpcR同源基因,验证其生物学功能。【方法】本研究克隆了2个cpcR同源基因,来源于蜡样芽胞杆菌的cpcR-c1和来源于东洋芽胞杆菌的cpcR-t,将cpcR及其同源基因分别构建在pHT304-P₃₅-gfp、pHT304-P₃₅-lacZ报告载体上,获得的重组质粒转入无cpcR基因且无晶体蛋白基因的Bt HD73^–菌株中。利用激光共聚焦显微镜观察重组菌HD^–(cpcR-c1-P₃₅-gfp)和HD^–(cpcR-t-P₃₅-gfp)的细胞表型并进行芽胞计数实验。测定HD^–(cpcR-c1-P_35<...     

IMI与K标本室中生于大戟科植物上链格孢属的种Ⅱ.大戟属,铁苋菜属和守宫木属上的种

本文系作者继大戟属(Euphorbia L.)、守宫木属(Sauropus B1.)和铁苋菜属(Acalypha L.)植物上链格孢属(Alternaria Nees)真菌研究(Zhang, 1995)之后,对生于大戟科(Euphorbiaceae)其它属植物上一些链格孢真菌种级分类单位评鉴结果的后续报道.内容包括:一个新种,巴豆生链格孢(A. croronicola T. Y.Zhang & J. C. David), Macrosporium compactum Cooke:对其模式标本(holotype)进行T订正、巴豆链格孢[A.crotonis kamal,Singh & Kumar]:提出关于新模式(neotype)标本的建议;对蓖麻链格孢[A. ricini(yoshii)Hansford]典型性状作了补充描述.此外,还在大戟科其它一些植物上检查到长极链格孢[A. longissima Deighton et MacGarvie]和细极链格孢[A. tenuissima(Nees ez Fr.) Wiltshire]。     

甲基营养型芽孢杆菌拮抗玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌及环脂肽分析

【目的】探究甲基营养型芽孢杆菌(Bacillus methylotrophicus)对植物病原菌玉蜀黍尾孢菌(Cercospora zeae-maydis Tehon et Daniels)、链格菌(Alternaria alternate)和灰葡萄孢菌(Botrytis cinerea)的拮抗作用并鉴定抗菌物质,为其病害防治提供优良生防菌。【方法】平板对峙法初筛和杯碟法筛选拮抗菌株;微生物形态学和16S rRNA基因鉴定拮抗菌株;薄层色谱(TLC)和编码基因分析鉴定抗菌物质;玉米田间生防试验评估拮抗菌对3种病原菌的防治效果。【结果】筛选到一株能够明显拮抗玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌的甲基营养型芽孢杆菌B-1841,抑制率分别为65.95%、71.04%和46.69%,抑菌物质为伊枯草菌素类脂肽。玉米田间生防试验表明,菌株B-1841对玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌感染的玉米病害均有防治效果,相对防效分别为60.25%、69.89%和45.21%。【结论】甲基营养型芽孢杆菌B-1841对玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌引起的病害有防治作用,在农作物真菌病害防治方面具有潜在应用价值。     

Presence of Rhizobium Etli bv . Phaseoli and Rhizobium Gallicum bv . Gallicum in Egyptian Soils

Seven bean rhizobial strains EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29 identified as Rhizobium etli, and EBRI 32 identified as Rhizobium gallicum, isolated from Egyptian soils and which nodulated Phaseolus vulgaris efficiently, were subjected to hybridization with a nifH probe in order to estimate the copy number of this gene. Seven strains (EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29) which were only able to nodulate Phaseolus vulgaris, contained three copies of the nifH gene, consistent with their identification as Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli. Only one strain (EBRI 32) which nodulated both Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala, had one copy of nifH gene. This confirmed the classification of this strain as Rhizobium gallicum bv. gallicum.     

Flamingomyces and Parvulago, new genera of marine smut fungi (Ustilaginomycotina)

Teliospore walls, teliospore germinations, hyphal septations, cellular interactions, and nucleotide sequences from the D1/D2 region of the nuLSU rRNA gene of the marine smut fungi Melanotaenium ruppiae and Ustilago marina were examined and compared with findings in other Ustilaginomycotina. The data show that Melanotaenium ruppiae belongs to the Urocystaceae and Ustilago marina to the Ustilaginaceae. Within the Urocystaceae, Melanotaenium ruppiae is morphologically similar to Melanustilospora and Vankya. However, according to the molecular results Melanotaenium ruppiae can neither be ascribed to Melanustilospora nor to Vankya. Therefore, the new genus Flamingomyces is proposed for Melanotaenium ruppiae. Ustilago marina differs from the other Ustilaginaceae in the mode of sporulation, which exclusively occurs at the base of the host plant culms. Accordingly, the new genus Parvulago is proposed for Ustilago marina.