Ecology of cycloheximide-resistant fungi in field soils receiving raw city wastewater or normal irrigation water

The effect of raw city wastewater irrigation on biodiversity and population densities of a cycloheximide-resistant (CH) fungal community was studied in 13 field soils receiving either raw city wastewater or normal irrigation, and in raw city wastewater in the Nablus area, using the hair baiting technique (HBT) and a surface soil dilution plating (SSDP) technique. Three of these fields [one had been receiving raw city wastewater for more than ten years and was designated a heavily polluted field, and the other 2 were cultivated for the first time and were either irrigated with raw city wastewater (newly polluted field) or normal irrigation water (nonpolluted)], were sampled 4–7 times over a 9-month period. The other ten fields, which had been under raw city wastewater irrigation for more than 10 years, were sampled only once. Fifty-seven CH-resistant species belonging to 18 genera were recovered, of which 49 species were recovered from soil habitats and 28 species from raw city wastewater. The HBT had shown to be more efficient in the isolation of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic fungi including dermatophytes. A higher percentage of this group of fungi was recovered from the three main field soils studied using HBT (70% of all isolates), than the SSDP (35.5%); no dermatophytes were recovered by the SSDP method. Two dermatophytes (Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton ajelloi), and five more fungi (Arthroderma cuniculi, A. curreyi, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, and C. pannorum), were recovered from these habitats. Wastewater irrigation seemed to have affected the fungal population densities, with the highest population densities being found in the heavily polluted field soil, while lower population densities were found in the nonpolluted field soil. Increases in organic matter were also observed as a result of sewage effluent irrigation. However, basic similarities in the biodiversity of CH-resistant fungal communities existed in nonpolluted and polluted field soils, and raw city wastewater. Comparable numbers of fungal species were recovered from the three main field soils. The species most commonly found in those habitats included: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus candidus, Geotrichum candidum, and Paecilomyces lilacinus. Field soils receiving either raw city wastewater or normal irrigation water, were found to be rich in pathogenic and potentially pathogenic CH-resistant fungi, including dermatophytes, with raw city wastewater yielding the highest percentage (81%), followed by the newly wastewater irrigated field (77.7%), the nonpolluted field (67%), and the heavily polluted field (63.4%). Hygienic measures should therefore be taken to control the spread of these fungi in the environment of human communities, and to avoid mycotic infections among farmers. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of the CCR2-V64I Polymorphism on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Coreceptor Activity and on Chemokine Receptor Function of CCR2b, CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4

The chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 are used by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in conjunction with CD4 to infect cells. In addition, some virus strains can use alternative chemokine receptors, including CCR2b and CCR3, for infection. A polymorphism in CCR2 (CCR2-V64I) is associated with a 2- to 4-year delay in the progression to AIDS. To investigate the mechanism of this protective effect, we studied the expression of CCR2b and CCR2b-V64I, their chemokine and HIV-1 coreceptor activities, and their effects on the expression and receptor activities of the major HIV-1 coreceptors. CCR2b and CCR2b-V64I were expressed at similar levels, and neither molecule affected the expression or coreceptor activity of CCR3, CCR5, or CXCR4 in cotransfected cell lines. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CCR2-V64I heterozygotes had normal levels of CCR2b and CCR5 but slightly reduced levels of CXCR4. CCR2b and CCR2b-V64I functioned equally well as HIV-1 coreceptors, and CCR2-V64I PBMCs were permissive for HIV-1 infection regardless of viral tropism. The MCP-1-induced calcium mobilization mediated by CCR2b signaling was unaffected by the polymorphism, but MCP-1 signaling mediated by either CCR2b- or CCR2-V64I-encoded receptors resulted in heterologous desensitization (i.e., limiting the signal response of other receptors) of both CCR5 and CXCR4. The heterologous desensitization of CCR5 and CXCR4 signaling by both CCR2 allele receptor types provides a mechanistic link that might help explain the in vivo effects of CCR2 gene variants on progression to AIDS as well as the reported antiviral activity of natural CCR2 ligands.     

Formation and activities of xylanhydrolysing enzymes of Humicola grisea var thermoidea

A thermophilic fungus, Humicola grisea var thermoidea, produced in liquid culture two endoxylanases (1,4--d-xylan-xylanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.8) with M _r of 95 (Xyl I) and 13 (Xyl II) kDa. PAGE of the crude culture filtrate and of each fraction obtained by gel filtration produced three and one band, respectively. Cross-reaction of the culture filtrate and each fraction with polyclonal antibodies prepared against Xyl II produced two and one precipitin bands, respectively. Hydrolysis of wheat straw and rice husk xylan was maximal using a combination of Xyl I and Xyl II. The products formed after hydrolysis, xylo-oligosaccharides and traces of xylose, indicated an endotype enzyme action and the co-operative activities of the xylanases.     

Construction of Prediction Intervals in Location-Scale Families

Let x₁ ≤x₂ ≤x₃ … ≤x_r be the r smallest observations out of n observations from a location-scale family with density $ \frac{1}{\sigma}f\left({\frac{{x - \mu}}{\sigma}} \right) $ where μ and σ are the location and the scale parameters respectively. The goal is to construct a prediction interval of the form $ \left({\hat \mu + k_1 \hat \sigma,\,\hat \mu + k_2 \hat \sigma} \right) $ for a location-scale invariant function, T(Y) = T(Y₁, …, Y_m), of m future observations from the same distribution. Given any invariant estimators $ \hat \mu $ and $ \hat \sigma $, we have developed a general procedure for how to compute the values of k₁ and k₂. The two attractive features of the procedure are that it does not require any distributional knowledge of the joint distribution of the estimators beyond their first two raw moments and $ \hat \mu $ and $ \hat \sigma $ can be any invariant estimators of μ and σ. Examples with real data have been given and extensive simulation study showing the performance of the procedure is also offered.     

The expression of salt tolerance from Triticum tauschii in hexaploid wheat

Summary Accessions of Triticum tauschii (Coss.) Schmal. (D genome donor to hexaploid wheat) vary in salt tolerance and in the rate that Na⁺ accumulates in leaves. The aim of this study was to determine whether these differences in salt tolerance and leaf Na⁺ concentration would be expressed in hexaploid wheat. Synthetic hexaploids were produced from five T. tauschii accessions varying in salt tolerance and two salt-sensitive T. turgidum cultivars. The degree of salt tolerance of the hexaploids was evaluated as the grain yield per plant in 150 mol m^-3 NaCl relative to grain yield in 1 mol m^-3 NaCl (control). Sodium concentration in leaf 5 was measured after the leaf was fully expanded. The salt tolerance of the genotypes correlated negatively with the concentration of Na⁺ in leaf 5. The salt tolerance of the synthetic hexaploids was greater than the tetraploid parents primarily due to the maintenance of kernel weight under saline conditions. Synthetic hexaploids varied in salt tolerance with the source of their D genome which demonstrates that genes for salt tolerance from the diploid are expressed at the hexaploid level.     

Electrophysiological and histopathological changes in peripheral nerves of postnatally undernourished and rehabilitated young rhesus monkeys

Nerve condition velocity of ulnar and tibial nerves and qualitative histology of ulnar nerve were studied in young rhesus monkeys. Motor nerve condition velocity of both the nerves and amplitude of sensory response of ulnar nerve were significantly decreased in even moderate protein calorie malnourished (PCM) group of monkeys. Increased paranodal gap, segmental demyelination, thin myelinated fibres and prominent Schmidt Lanterman Clefts were also observed in PCM group. There was complete recovery in motor nerve conduction velocity in the nerves of both limbs while partial in amplitude of sensory response in proximal segment of ulnar nerve on nutritional rehabilitation of 10-12 weeks.     

Postnatal change in lipid composition and nerve conduction of peripheral nerves of young rhesus monkeys.

Body weight, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities of fore and hind limbs, and lipid composition were measured sequentially in peripheral nerves of 15 rhesus monkeys. Initially measurements were made with monkeys six to eight months of age. There were significant increases in body weight, motor, and sensory nerve conduction and myelin marker lipids over a five months period, but no change was observed in free fatty acids, triglycerides, and esterified cholesterol. These results indicate that myelination continues at least for 11 to 13 months of postnatal age in rhesus monkeys.     

Interactions between Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide and the antimicrobial peptide, magainin 2 amide

Effects of magainin 2 amide on the phase behavior of Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy. This antimicrobial cationic peptide disorders the lipopolysaccharide at molecular ratios of lipopolysaccharide to magainin greater than 4, and can induce a temperature-dependent structural reorientation. The nature of the five phosphate groups of lipopolysaccharide was determined by 31P NMR spectroscopy. At pH 7.4, the net charge on the phosphates is -7. Lipopolysaccharide undoubtedly plays an important role in modulating the interactions of magainin with the gram-negative cell envelope and may act as a molecular sponge to protect the plasma membrane.