Revisiting the use of Iprodione and Trichoderma in the integrated management of onion white rot

The biocontrol properties of Trichoderma species are well documented, but their effectiveness in antagonism of the problematic Sclerotium cepivorum, the causal agent of white rot in Allium species, appears limited with reports of significant control only relating to deliberately-mutated strains of Trichoderma. Our previous studies have indicated the possibility of using selected naturally-occurring strains of the antagonist in the suppression of other diseases; now in vitro and controlled environment in vivo studies have indicated that a degree of control of Onion White Rot is possible, and that the selected antagonist strains can be used in integrated treatments with Iprodione to good effect. The possible value of such treatments is considered in light of other approaches to the suppression of this continuing problem.     

A web server to locate periodicities in a sequence

Summary : FT is a tool written in C++, which implements the Fourier analysis method to locate periodicities in aminoacid or DNA sequences. It is provided for free public use on a WWW server with a Java interface. Availability : The server address is http://o2.db. uoa.gr/FT Contact : shamodr@atlas.uoa.gr      

Dynamic changes in the microbial community composition in microbial fuel cells fed with sucrose

The performance and dynamics of the bacterial communities in the biofilm and suspended culture in the anode chamber of sucrose-fed microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were studied by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified partial 16S rRNA genes followed by species identification by sequencing. The power density of MFCs was correlated to the relative proportions of species obtained from DGGE analysis in order to detect bacterial species or taxonomic classes with important functional role in electricity production. Although replicate MFCs showed similarity in performance, cluster analysis of DGGE profiles revealed differences in the evolution of bacterial communities between replicate MFCs. No correlation was found between the proportion trends of specific species and the enhancement of power output. However, in all MFCs, putative exoelectrogenic denitrifiers and sulphate-reducers accounted for approximately 24% of the bacterial biofilm community at the end of the study. Pareto–Lorenz evenness distribution curves extracted from the DGGE patterns obtained from time course samples indicated community structures where shifts between functionally similar species occur, as observed within the predominant fermentative bacteria. These results suggest the presence of functional redundancy within the anodic communities, a probable indication that stable MFC performance can be maintained in changing environmental conditions. The capability of bacteria to adapt to electricity generation might be present among a wide range of bacteria.     

Apoptosis in procyclic Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in vitro

Apoptosis is a phenomenon previously associated exclusively with metazoan organisms. We show here that procyclic insect form Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, a protozoan parasite, when treated in vitro with concanavalin A displayed several features normally associated with apoptosis in metazoan cells. Lectin treatment induced cleavage of nuclear DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments, suggesting activation of an endogenous nuclease in the parasite. Treated trypanosomes, although agglutinated and non-motile, exhibited fluorescence after treatment with the vital stain fluorescein diacetate and retained (3)H-uridine indicating that their cell membranes remained intact during the period of DNA fragmentation. Electron micrographs showed characteristic morphology of cells undergoing apoptosis, including surface membrane vesiculation and migration of chromatin to the periphery of the nuclear membrane while mitochondria remained intact. These results suggest that treatment with concanavalin A triggers a cell death mechanism in T. b. rhodesiense similar to the process of apoptosis described in metazoa.     

Specificity of Lysine:N-Hydroxylase: A Hypothesis for a Reactive Substrate Intermediate in the Catalytic Mechanism

The recombinant cytoplasmic preparation of lysine:N⁶-hydroxlase catalyzes the conversion ofL-lysine to itsN⁶-hydroxy derivative when supplemented with the cofactors NADPH and FAD. A number of lysine analogs reflecting minor alterations in the inherent structural features of the amino acid as well compounds with relatively high affinity for lysine binding domains in other proteins were examined for their ability to serve as substrates of lysine:N⁶-hydroxylase. These studies have revealed that the enzyme does not tolerate any change in the structural features ofL-lysine, its preferred substrate, with the exception of the replacement of the C_γH₂-methylene group by sulfur, as in (S)-2-aminoethyl-L-cysteine.L-Norleucine is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme whileL-norvaline andL-α-aminobutyric acid do not exhibit such effect, indicating the importance of a C₄hydrophobic side chain for effective interaction with the enzyme. Among theN-alkyl amides of hydrophobic amino acids, onlyL-norleucine methylamide andL-α-aminobutyric acid ethylamide serve as moderate inhibitors of lysine:N⁶-hydroxylase. Based on the enzyme's stringent substrate specificity, a mechanism involving the conversion ofL-lysine to 2-aminocaprolactam prior to its oxygenation by the 4a-peroxyflavin intermediate in the catalytic cycle is proposed.     

A novel mechanism of autophagic cell death in dystrophic muscle regulated by P2RX7 receptor large-pore formation and HSP90

P2RX7 is an ATP-gated ion channel, which can also exhibit an open state with a considerably wider permeation. However, the functional significance of the movement of molecules through the large pore (LP) and the intracellular signaling events involved are not known. Here, analyzing the consequences of P2RX7 activation in primary myoblasts and myotubes from the Dmd^mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, we found ATP-induced P2RX7-dependent autophagic flux, leading to CASP3-CASP7-independent cell death. P2RX7-evoked autophagy was triggered by LP formation but not Ca²⁺ influx or MAPK1-MAPK3 phosphorylation, 2 canonical P2RX7-evoked signals. Phosphoproteomics, protein expression inference and signaling pathway prediction analysis of P2RX7 signaling mediators pointed to HSPA2 and HSP90 proteins. Indeed, specific HSP90 inhibitors prevented LP formation, LC3-II accumulation, and cell death in myoblasts and myotubes but not in macrophages. Pharmacological blockade or genetic ablation of p2rx7 also proved protective against ATP-induced death of muscle cells, as did inhibition of autophagy with 3-MA. The functional significance of the P2RX7 LP is one of the great unknowns of purinergic signaling. Our data demonstrate a novel outcome—autophagy—and show that molecules entering through the LP can be targeted to phagophores. Moreover, we show that in muscles but not in macrophages, autophagy is needed for the formation of this LP. Given that P2RX7-dependent LP and HSP90 are critically interacting in the ATP-evoked autophagic death of dystrophic muscles, treatments targeting this axis could be of therapeutic benefit in this debilitating and incurable form of muscular dystrophy.     

Evaluation of the prevalence and economic burden of adverse drug reactions presenting to the medical emergency department of a tertiary referral centre: a prospective study

Background  

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are now recognized as an important cause of hospital admissions, with a proportion ranging from 0.9–7.9%. They also constitute a significant economic burden. We thus aimed at determining the prevalence and the economic burden of ADRs presenting to Medical Emergency Department (ED) of a tertiary referral center in India     

Facultative response to a kleptoparasite by the cooperatively breeding pied babbler

In many cases of interspecific kleptoparasitism, hosts developdefensive behaviors to minimize the impact of kleptoparasites.Because vigilance and defensive behaviors are often costly,selection should favor hosts that adjust the amount of investmentneeded to minimize losses to kleptoparasitism. However, examplesof such facultative responses are rare. Here, we investigatethe response of cooperatively breeding pied babblers (Turdoidesbicolor) to the drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), an avian kleptoparasitethat regularly follows pied babbler groups, often giving alarmcalls to alert the group to predators but also occasionallygiving false alarm calls in order to steal food items. We showthat pied babbler response to drongos varies markedly accordingto babbler group size. In small groups, where there are fewindividuals available to act as sentinels, babblers sentinelless when a drongo is present and respond strongly to drongoalarm calls. However, in large groups, where there are manyindividuals available to participate in predator vigilance,babblers sentinel more often when a drongo is present, rarelyrespond to drongo alarm calls, and aggressively displace drongos,with a consequent decline in the number of successful kleptoparasitismevents. This behavior represent a facultative response to akleptoparasite according to the costs versus benefits of toleratingtheir presence.     

Mannose-binding lectin deficiency is associated with early onset of polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study

Background  

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an innate immune protein. The aim of our study was to determine whether genetically determined MBL deficiency is associated with susceptibility to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and whether MBL2 genotypes are associated with JRA severity.