Eimeria caprina sp. n. from the domestic goat, Capra hircus, from the USA

The ellipsoidal to slightly ovoid oocysts of Eimeria caprina sp. n. from the domestic goat, Capra hircus, are 27--40 x 19.5--26 micrometers (mean 31.8 x 23.1 micrometers); their sporocysts are 13--17 x 7--10 micrometers (mean 15.3 x 8.5 micrometers). The oocyst wall is 1.7 micrometers thick, smooth, dark brown to brownish-yellow, and 2-layered. Micropyle, polar granule, and sporocyst residuum are present; micropylar cap and oocyst residuum are absent. These features distinguish the new species from other species in the genus which have a micropylar cap, or are smaller, or have a small micropyle with a small internal plug.     

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.     

Pistic,traditional food from Western Friuli,N.E. Italy

Western Friuli, Italy, there is a small area near the town of Pordenone where an ancient rite of spring is still carried out. This is the preparation of a special dish, known as “pistic,” a collection of 56wild herbaceous meadow and wood plants which are boiled and then sautéed together. This practice is still alive in a few areas of Friuli today and possibly goes back to pre-Roman Celtic cultures in this part of Friuli. The number of herbaceous plants used in this dish is extraordinarily high (56), especially when compared to the low number normally used in other conventional dishes. “Pistic” is therefore important, not only because it represents a quantitatively high use of wild herbs in the diet of the rural population, but also because it reflects environmental awareness, in that the archaic method of naming, identifying and using these plants still exists today. Similar rural practices include the use of “pot herbs” in Great Britain and in France the cooking of “mesclun.”     

Penicillium caerulescens,sp. nov. isolated from soil

One new species of Penicillium Link ex Gray nom. cons. prop. is described and illustrated. This species has been recovered from samples of sandy soil under pine trees. It differs from all species of the Genus described so far and is, therefore, considered and proposed as new taxon: Penicillium caerulescens n. sp.     

Alethopteris ambigua Lesquereux, a Pennsylvanian pteridosperm from Missouri, U.S.A.

Transfers and macerations of Alethopteris ambigua Lesquereux reveal it as axeromorphio plant. The papillose lower epidermis of each pinnule is sheltered by incurved pinnule margins, a bladelike extension of the midvein and by marginal hairs. Preservation is such that cellular outlines are discernible on all but the cuticles of the lower epidermis.     

Antifungal proteins from plants. Purification, molecular cloning, and antifungal properties of chitinases from maize seed.

We have purified two 28-kDa chitinases, designated Chitinase A (Chit A) and Chitinase B (Chit B), from maize seeds to homogeneity and isolated cDNA clones encoding these two enzymes using an oligonucleotide probe based on an amino acid sequence of a peptide derived from Chit A. Although these two enzymes share 87% homology in their amino acid sequences, which were deduced from the nucleotide sequences of the isolated cDNA clones, they are significantly different in their biochemical and in vitro antifungal activities. When tested in vitro for antifungal activity against the growth of Trichoderma reesei, Alternaria solani, and Fusarium oxysporum, Chit A showed greater antifungal activity than Chit B. The specific activity of Chit A was determined to be 3-fold higher than that of Chit B. Chit A also had a 10-fold lower binding constant (Kd) against the substrate analogue N,N',N',N'-tetraacetyl chitotetrose than Chit B, indicating that the two enzyme may differ in their affinities for binding to the substrate chitin. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of maize seed chitinases with those of previously published chitinases from monocot and dicot plants indicates that maize seed chitinases have diverged significantly from other chitinases.