Six new species of ferns (Polypodiopsida) from Ecuador

Moran, R.C. & Øllgaard, B. 1995. Six new species of ferns (Polypodiopsida) from Ecuador. - Nord. J. Bot. 15: 177–185. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X.
The following species of ferns from Ecuador are described as new: Blechnum mono-morphum. Bolbitis riparia, Hecistopteris pinnatifida, Hymenophyllum hemidimorphum, Polypodium latissimum , and Saccoloma laxum .     

Complete genome sequence of the hydrogenotrophic Archaeon Methanobacterium sp. Mb1 isolated from a production-scale biogas plant

Methanobacterium sp. Mb1, a hydrogenotrophic methanogenic Archaeon, was isolated from a rural biogas plant producing methane-rich biogas from maize silage and cattle manure in Germany. Here we report the complete genome sequence of the novel methanogenic isolate Methanobacterium sp. Mb1 harboring a 2,029,766 bp circular chromosome featuring a GC content of 39.74%. The genome encodes two rRNA operons, 41 tRNA genes and 2021 coding sequences and represents the smallest genome currently known within the genus Methanobacterium.     

Fused thiazolyl alkynes as potent mGlu5 receptor positive allosteric modulators

A new series of potent fused thiazole mGlu₅ receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) (10, 11 and 27–31) are disclosed and details of the SAR and optimization are described. Optimization of alkynyl thiazole 9 (Lu AF11205) led to the identification of potent fused thiazole analogs 10b, 27a, 28j and 31d. In general, substituted cycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl carboxamides, and carbamate analogs are mGlu₅ PAMs, whereas smaller alkyl carboxamide, sulfonamide and sulfamide analogs tend to be mGlu₅ negative allosteric modulators (NAMs).     

Soil bio- and eco-engineering in China: past experience and future priorities

China has the world's longest history of soil bioengineering, with the first mention of giant fascines to control torrential floodwaters dating from over 2000 BC. However, soil degradation on steep slopes has accelerated hugely over the last 50 years, due to poor farming practice, deforestation, road and dam construction. The central government has therefore devised a series of major programs to reduce the exploitation of forest resources (Natural Forest Protection Program – NFPP) and to rehabilitate steep slopes by encouraging the conversion of cropland to forest and orchards (Sloping Land Conversion Program – SLCP). In this review, we define soil bio- and eco-engineering and examine China's past experience in both domains. We focus on case studies whereby vegetation has been used in conjunction with civil engineering to prevent landslides in Hong Kong and the social and practical aspects of planting on steep slopes to conserve soil on a large-scale in mainland China. The successes and failures of tree planting and forest management in the NFPP and SLCP are discussed along with the priorities for future research and practical applications. This review introduces a special edition of the journal Ecological Engineering, whereby a selection of papers presented at the Second International Conference ‘Ground Bio- and Eco-engineering: The Use of Vegetation to Improve Slope Stability – ICGBE2’ held in Beijing, China, 14–18 July 2008, are published. This congress joined together scientists and practitioners with the aim of discussing new theory, methods and applications for using vegetation to fix soil on steep slopes prone to landslides and erosion. In this review, we consider the key points from the conference and place them in the context of managing and restoring degraded slopes in China, one of the world's most pertinent study sites.     

Dysgonomonas mossii sp. nov., from human sources

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on seven unidentified gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, coccobacillus-shaped organisms isolated from human clinical specimens. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that four of the strains corresponded to Dysgonomonas capnocytophagoides whereas the remaining three isolates represent a new sub-line within the genus Dysgonomonas, displaying greater than 5% sequence divergence with Dysgonomonas capnocytophagoides and Dysgonomonas gadei. The three novel isolates were readily distinguished from D.capnocytophagoides and D. gadei by biochemical tests. The DNA base composition of the novel species was consistent with its assignment to the genus Dysgonomonas. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence it is proposed that the unknown species, be classified as Dysgonomonas mossii sp. nov. The type strain of Dysgonomonas mossii is CCUG 43457T (= CIP 107079T).     

Identification of a histamine H4 receptor on human eosinophils--role in eosinophil chemotaxis

Eosinophils are recruited to sites of inflammation via the action of a number of chemical mediators, including PAF, leukotrienes, eotaxins, ECF-A and histamine. Although many of the cell-surface receptors for these mediators have been identified, histamine-driven chemotaxis has not been conclusively attributed to any of the three known histamine receptor subtypes, suggesting the possibility of a 4th histamine-responsive receptor on eosinophils. We have identified and cloned a novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), termed Pfi-013, from an IL-5 stimulated eosinophil cDNA library which is homologous to the human histamine H3 receptor, both at the sequence and gene structure level. Expression data indicates that Pfi-013 is predominantly expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes, with lower expression levels in spleen, testis and colon. Ligand-binding studies using Pfi-013 expressed in HEK-293Galpha15 cells, demonstrates specific binding to histamine with a Kd of 3.28 +/- 0.76 nM and possesses a unique rank order of potency against known histaminergic compounds in a competitive ligand-binding assay (histamine > clobenpropit > iodophenpropit > thioperamide > R-alpha-methylhistamine > cimetidine > pyrilamine). We have therefore termed this receptor human histamine H4. Chemotaxis studies on isolated human eosinophils have confirmed that histamine is chemotactic and that agonists of the known histamine receptors (H1, H2, and H3) do not induce such a response. Furthermore, studies employing histamine-receptor antagonists have shown an inhibition of chemotaxis only by the H3 antagonists clobenpropit and thioperamide. Since these compounds are also antagonists of hH4 we postulate that the receptor mediating histaminergic chemotaxis is this novel histamine H4 receptor.     

Edaphic Distribution of Some Species of the Fern Genus Adiantum in Western Amazonia1

The distribution patterns of Adiantum species were inventoried at twelve noninundated rain forest (tierra firme) sites in Amazonian Peru and Ecuador. Six species belonging to the genus were found, and four of these were abundant at some of the sites. At six of the sites none of the species was particularly abundant. Both the occurrence and the abundance of the species varied among sites with regard to soil texture and concentration of exchangeable bases and within sites with regard to topography. Adiantum tomentosum) Klotzsch was restricted to loamy soils with intermediate to low content of extractable bases and was locally most abundant in the well drained parts of slopes and ridge tops. Adiantum terminatum Kunze ex Miq. and A. humile Kunze occurred at sites with intermediate to high content of extractable bases, but their relative abundances differed among and within sites. Adiantum pulverulentum L. was restricted to soils with relatively high base concentration. Ecological differences among the species obviously explained many of the differences in their distribution patterns at the local and regional scales, and may be important for the understanding of such patterns at biogeographical scales as well.