Six newSalmonella types,isolated in ghana (S. volta,S. agona,S. wa,S. techimani,S. mampong andS. tafo)

Summary Six newSalmonella types isolated in Ghana are described.S. volta, 11: 4: 1,z₁₃, z₂₈ was isolated from a swine;S.agona 4,12: fgs:—,S.wa, 16: b: 1,5S.technimani, 28: c: z₆ andS.tafo, 1, 4 12, 27: z₃₅: 1,7 were isolated from cattle;S.mampong, 13,22: z₃₅: 1,6, was isolated from a lizzard.     

A lobular,ammonia-oxidizing bacterium,Nitrosolobus multiformis Nov. Gen. Nov. sp.

Summary Nitrosolobus multiformis is a lobular shaped, previously undescribed ammonia-oxidizing bacterium. The organism is ubiquitous and was isolated from soil samples obtained in various parts of the world. Its lobular nature and its internal, partially compartmentalized cytoplasm makes it morphologically unique and easily distinguishable from all other microorganisms. Physiological compartmentalization also occurs and is characterized by glycogen deposition in the peripheral compartments of the cell. The cells are obligate chemoautotrophs using CO₂ and ammonia as primary carbon and energy sources. Its obligate chemoautotrophic nature stems primarily from a metabolic deficiency. Even though the cells cannot be grown on an organic medium the cells still have a slight heterotrophic potential and are able to oxidize and assimilate minute amounts of acetate in the absence of an inorganic energy source.Contribution No. 2606 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543.     

Revisione delle specie: Actinomyces albus,A. chromogenus,A. odorifer,A. thermophylus,A. viridis,A. viridochromogenes,A. hominis,A. innominatus

Riassunto Lo studio comprende una revisione critico-sperimentale della specie Actinomyces albus, della quale vengono considerati come sinonimi circa 30 nomi speeifici, fra i quale A. chromogenus, A. odorifer, A. thermophylus p.p.; della specie é data una diagnosi ed una particolareggiata descrizione.Sono inoltre studiate le specie A. viridis, (= A. viridochromogenus) e A. innominatus, n. nomen. Quest'ultima é preceduta da una breve discussione sulla specie A. homini.

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Summary Twenty-six strains of Actinomyces albus are studied redescribed from morphological, cultural and biochemical standpoints. Many biological activities of A. chromogenus, A. odorifer and A. thermophilus are in common with other species of the same genus, so that they may be considered for sub-specific, (not specific) differentiation. A discussion on A. farcinicus, A. albidoflavus and A. aureus has been originated from mislabeling as A. albus; the group including the two last named species (flavus group) must be revised. A few strains classified A. farcinicus are in no doubt true A. albus, but this real specific entity remains to be revised from Nocard's strain. A. viridis, for the first time described by Lombardo-Pellegrino, has been redescribed three times as a new species under the same binomial, and the fourth as A. viridochromogenes. A. hominis Bostroem is an uncorrect determination for the species originally described by Waksmann and Curtiss, and it is renamed A. innominatus, the binomial A. (Streptothrix) hominis Auct. being a nomen ambiguum. In conclusion, 30 bionmial are appended in sinonimy to A. albus, including Cladothrix dichotoma Macé (1888) non Cohn, G. invulnerabilis Acosta et G. Rossi, C. odorifera Rullm. Actinomyces chromogenus Gasp., A. thermophilus Auct., p.p., A. (Streptothrix) Sanninii (Cif.) Westerd., A. Almquisti Duché, A. Gougeroti Duché, and so on.

     

Species 29. Cisticola Carruthersi. Pl. XIV. fig. 59. Cisticola carruthersi O.-Grant, Bull. B. O. C. xxiii. 1909, p. 94: typ. loc. Mokia, L. George, Uganda.

The B. O. C. Ruwenzori expedition of 1906 brought home a single immature female of this species, obtained in a papyrus swamp near Lake George, and to Ogilvie-Grant's discrimination we owe the recognition of its specific distinction from galactotes , the species it so closely resembles in coloration, and which is certainly carruthersi s nearest ally.     

Genic variation in the coyote,Canis latrans,in Tennessee,U.S.A.

Protein variation, levels of heterozygosity, and interlocality gene variation were studied in the coyote, Canis latrans, using starch gel electrophoresis. Canis latrans were obtained from 27 counties in Tennessee. Eleven of 20 loci examined were found to be polymorphic with the remaining nine loci fixed for the same gene in all populations. Mean heterozygosity (\-H) varied from 0.0% to 1.9% with a mean of 0.9%. These values are low for a mammal. Significant heterozygote deficiencies occurred in most groups. Results of F-statistics indicated a significant degree of population differentiation at four loci (Gdh, Idh-1, Mdh-2, 6-Pgd). Rogers' coefficients of genetic similarity ranged from 0.950 to 1.000 and showed C. latrans to be genetically homogenous in that portion of the range investigated.     

Diatoms in sediment cores in Utah Lake,Utah, U.S.A.

Diatoms from sediment cores taken from Provo Bay, Geneva and midlake sites in Utah Lake, Utah County, Utah were studied. Algal communities from strata at four centimeterintervals of the cores were analyzed. This study has demonstrated that the diatom flora in Utah Lake has changed through time and that the diatom communities of Provo Bay are floristically unique from those of the main body of the lake.     

Speciation of Campylobacter coli, C. jejuni, C. helveticus, C. lari, C. sputorum, and C. upsaliensis by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry

Multiple strains of Campylobacter coli, C. jejuni, C. helveticus, C. lari, C. sputorum, and C. upsaliensis isolated from animal, clinical, or food samples have been analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Whole bacterial cells were harvested from colonies or confluent growth on agar and transferred directly into solvent and then to a spot of dried 3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (matrix). Multiple ions in the 5,000- to 15,000-Da mass range were evident in spectra for each strain; one or two ions in the 9,500- to 11,000-Da range were consistently high intensity. "Species-identifying" biomarker ions (SIBIs) were evident from analyses of multiple reference strains for each of the six species, including the genome strains C. jejuni NCTC 11168 and C. jejuni RM1221. Strains grown on nine different combinations of media and atmospheres yielded SIBI masses within +/-5 Da with external instrument calibration. The highest-intensity C. jejuni SIBIs were cytosolic proteins, including GroES, HU/HCj, and RplL. Multiple intraspecies SIBIs, corresponding probably to nonsynonymous nucleotide polymorphisms, also provided some intraspecies strain differentiation. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of 75 additional Campylobacter strains isolated from humans, poultry, swine, dogs, and cats revealed (i) associations of SIBI type with source, (ii) strains previously speciated incorrectly, and (iii) "strains" composed of more than one species. MALDI-TOF MS provides an accurate, sensitive, and rapid method for identification of multiple Campylobacter species relevant to public health and food safety.     

SOME CORTICOLOUS ALGAE OF MCMINN COUNTY,TENNESSEE, U.S.A.1

Eisrhty-one unialgal isolates comprising 10 genera (Chlorophygeae, Cyanophyceae, Xanthophyceae) were cultured from samples of tree bark scrapings removed from 5 species of trees on the campus of Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee, U.S.A.     

Diatoms of surface sediments of Utah Lake,Utah, U.S.A.

Diatoms in fifty-seven surface sediment samples from Utah Lake were examined. Three hundred and fifteen taxa in forty-three genera were identified and quantified. Statistical analyses of the data showed that distinct geographical subregions of the lake could be delineated according to population patterns of the bottom sediment diatoms. In particular, both Provo Bay and Goshen Bay were distinct from each other and from other areas of the lake.     

CYTOGEOGRAPHIC STUDIES ON NORTH AMERICAN ASTERS. I. RANGE SURVEYS OF VIRGULUS ADNATUS,V. CONCOLOR,V. GEORGIANUS,V. GRANDIFLORUS,V. NOVAE-ANGLIAE,V. OBLONGIFOLIUS,V. PATENS,AND V. WALTERI

Chromosome number determinations from 118 populations of eight species of the aster genus Virgulus are reported for the first time. Based on these counts and literature reports the geographic distributions of diploids and tetraploids in V. concolor, V. novae-angliae, V. oblongifolius, and V. patens have been determined. In the first three species, diploids were widely distributed, while tetraploids were more restricted. In V. patens, diploids were restricted to the southwestern portion of the species’ range, while tetraploids were found throughout the range. Both V. adnatus and V. walteri were found only at the tetraploid level throughout their ranges. Two other species with restricted distributions were consistently found to be high level polyploids: V. georgianus with 2n = 50, V. grandiflorus with 2n = 60. The following new combinations are listed: Virgulus georgianus (Alexander ex Small) Semple; Virgulus subsect. Brachyphylli (Torr. & Gray) Semple; and Virgulus sect. Polyliguli (Semple & Brouillet) Semple.     

EARLY CRETACEOUS TETRADS,ZONASULCULATE POLLEN,AND WINTERACEAE. I. TAXONOMY,MORPHOLOGY, AND ULTRASTRUCTURE

Ulcerate pollen tetrads from the late Barremian-early Aptian of Gabon, named Walkeripollis gabonensis gen. et sp. nov., resemble pollen of extant Winteraceae but have finer sculpture and a weakly calymmate tectum, like tetrads reported from the late Aptian-Albian of Israel. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveal additional winteraceous features (tall muri, short columellae, ring of endexine around the ulcus), plus segmented muri recalling the reticulate, zonasulculate to inaperturate genus Afropollis, which is abundant in the Aptian-Albian of Northern Gondwana. Afropollis also resembles Winteraceae in having tall muri and short columellae, but it has a thicker endexine. The new zonasulculate genus Schrankipollis, including S. mawhoubensis (Schrank) comb. nov. from the Aptian of Egypt and S. microreticulatus (Brenner) comb. nov. from the Potomac Group of Maryland, resembles Afropollis in structure of its muri but differs in its elliptical shape, finer reticulum, and restricted endexine.     

Speciation of Campylobacter coli, C. jejuni, C. helveticus, C. lari, C. sputorum, and C. upsaliensis by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

Multiple strains of Campylobacter coli, C. jejuni, C. helveticus, C. lari, C. sputorum, and C. upsaliensis isolated from animal, clinical, or food samples have been analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Whole bacterial cells were harvested from colonies or confluent growth on agar and transferred directly into solvent and then to a spot of dried 3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (matrix). Multiple ions in the 5,000- to 15,000-Da mass range were evident in spectra for each strain; one or two ions in the 9,500- to 11,000-Da range were consistently high intensity. “Species-identifying” biomarker ions (SIBIs) were evident from analyses of multiple reference strains for each of the six species, including the genome strains C. jejuni NCTC 11168 and C. jejuni RM1221. Strains grown on nine different combinations of media and atmospheres yielded SIBI masses within ±5 Da with external instrument calibration. The highest-intensity C. jejuni SIBIs were cytosolic proteins, including GroES, HU/HCj, and RplL. Multiple intraspecies SIBIs, corresponding probably to nonsynonymous nucleotide polymorphisms, also provided some intraspecies strain differentiation. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of 75 additional Campylobacter strains isolated from humans, poultry, swine, dogs, and cats revealed (i) associations of SIBI type with source, (ii) strains previously speciated incorrectly, and (iii) “strains” composed of more than one species. MALDI-TOF MS provides an accurate, sensitive, and rapid method for identification of multiple Campylobacter species relevant to public health and food safety.     

Impatiens macrovexilla var. yaoshanensis S. X. Yu,Y. L. Chen & H. N. Qin,a new variety of Balsaminaceae from Guangxi,China

Impatiens macrovexilla Y. L. Chen var. yaoshanensis S. X. Yu, Y. L. Chen & H. N. Qin, a new variety of Balsaminaceae from Guangxi, China, is described. Variety yaoshanensis differs from the typical variety by having ovate-orbicular or ovate-oblong leaves, entire lateral sepals, an obvious auricle and entire distal lobe of the alae and visibly ridged seeds. Micromorphological characters of the pollen grains and seed surface under SEM of the two varieties also support the recognition of this taxon.     

Selenium. Nutritional,toxicologic, and clinical aspects.

Despite the recent findings of environmental contamination, selenium toxicosis in humans is exceedingly rare in the United States, with the few known cases resulting from industrial accidents and an episode involving the ingestion of superpotent selenium supplements. Chronic selenosis is essentially unheard of in this country because of the typical diversity of the American diet. Nonetheless, because of the growing public interest in selenium as a dietary supplement and the occurrence of environmental selenium contamination, medical practitioners should be familiar with the nutritional, toxicologic, and clinical aspects of this trace element.     

Turkey acrosin. I. Isolation, purification, and partial characterization

Acrosin was extracted from turkey spermatozoa by use of urea together with sonication and freezing, and purified approximately 18-fold by sequential use of chromatofocusing and affinity chromatography. The use of chromatofocusing for the initial purification step proved to be superior to preparative isoelectric focusing. Similar to acrosin from many mammalian species, turkey acrosin was found to be a glycoprotein possessing characteristics of serine proteases. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of the enzyme indicated the presence of two isozymes. Sodium-dodecyl sulfate PAGE under reducing conditions revealed three subunits with approximate molecular weights of 11,700, 13,900, and 15,900.     

Age, growth, and reproductive biology of the blackbelly rosefish from the Carolinas, U.S.A.

Otoliths and gonads of blackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus were collected from the commercial fishery off the Carolinas in 1994–1997. Opaque bands on transverse sections of otoliths were determined to be annuli by analysis of marginal increments. Opaque zone formation occurs between July and January. Ages ranged from 7 to 30 years. Blackbelly rosefish have intraovarian gestation. Fertilization is internal, as free spermatozoa were found primarily in resting ovaries from July through early December with peak occurrence in September through November. There was a delay of 1–3 months before fertilization, as oocyte development did not begin until December. Occurrence during January through April of early-celled embryos, the most advanced stage observed, and postovulatory follicles indicated that oocyte development was rapid. Egg development occurs in a clear gelatinous matrix secreted into the ovarian cavity. The reproductive mode is a zygoparous form of oviparity, intermediate between oviparity and viviparity. Population sex ratio departed markedly from 1: 1 for most length intervals. Males were more abundant at lengths >250 mm L _T and the overall male: female ratio was 1 : 0·60.     

Two new species of tardigrades from Short Mountain, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Tardigrades were collected from three seepage spring sites at 549m on Short Mountain, Cannon County, Tennessee. Three terrestrial samples and three aquatic samples were taken monthly from each site. Terrestrial samples included mosses and lichens from rocks and fallen trees; one sample of leaf litter was also collected from two of the sites. Aquatic samples included sediment, decaying leaf litter, and aquatic plants. Specimens of tardigrades were mounted on individual slides in Hoyer's medium. Species were identified and photographed using phase and differential contrast microscopy. Twenty-eight species representing 13 genera were recorded: Pseudechiniscus, Echiniscus, Doryphoribius, Ramazzottius, Hypsibius, Isohypsibius, Dipliascon, Platicrista, Itaquascon, Murrayon, Macrobiotus, Minibiotus , and Milnesium. One of the Pseudechmiscus species and an Isohypsibius species were new to science and are described in this paper.     

Isolation of Chromobacterium spp. from foods, soil, and water.

Chromobacterium violaceum, a soil and water inhabitant, has been implicated in human disease with a high mortality rate, particularly in the southeastern United States. The psychrotrophic Chromobacterium lividum has been isolated from foods, water, and soil, but is not considered pathogenic. To determine the distribution of Chromobacterium spp. in soil, water, and foods in the Gainesville area, we evaluated Bennett, Ryalls and Moss, and Aeromonas membrane agars for their ability to recover these organisms from various samples when incubated at 25 or 35 degrees C. Bennett agar was best for the isolation of both species when incubated at 25 degrees C; however, at 35 degrees C, Aeromonas membrane agar gave the highest recoveries of C. violaceum. C. violaceum was recovered only from soil and water, whereas C. lividum was frequently recovered from foods as well as soil and water.