紫瓣石豆兰——中国兰科植物一新记录种

报道了中国兰科(Orchidaceae)石豆兰属(Bulbophyllum)一新记录种——紫瓣石豆兰(Bulbophyllum sonii Aver. & N.V. Duy),并提供了详细的描述和照片。该种与短序石豆兰(B. brevispicatum Z.H. Tsi)、墨脱石豆兰(B. eublepharum Rchb. f.)、蒙自石豆兰(B. yunnanense Rolfe)相似,但又区别于它的紫色花,侧萼片基部合生成船形状的合萼片,花瓣边缘具纤毛,药帽具晶体状附属物。     

中国兰科植物四新记录种

报道了中国兰科植物四新记录种,即尾瓣石豆兰(Bulbophyllum careyanum(Hook.)Spreng.),拟泰国卷瓣兰(B.nipondhii Seidenf.),双槽石斛(Dendrobium bicameratum Lindl.)和绿梢玉凤花(Habenaria am-plexicaulis Rolfe ex Downie),并提供描述和图片。     

中国石豆兰属新资料

报道了中国兰科（Orchidaceae）石豆兰属（Bulbophyllum）2个新记录种——拟环唇石豆兰（Bulbophyllum gyrochilum Seidenf.）、泰国卷瓣兰（Bulbophyllum thaiorum J. J. Smith）及中国大陆1新记录种,乌来卷瓣兰（Bulbophyllum macraei(Lindl.) Reichb. f.）,并提供描述及照片。     

中国兰科植物分类研究杂记(英文)

通过野外考察和标本研究,将Gastrochilus fuscopuntuatus和Oberonia pumila分别处理为Gastrochilus pseudodistichus和Oberonia insularis的异名;将Gastrochilus somai处理为一个独立的种;并报道了中国兰科4个新记录种:毛唇石豆兰Bulbophyllum gyrochilum、独龙石斛Dendrobium praecintum、高山阔蕊兰Peristylus superanthus和狭瓣大苞兰Sunipia angustipetala。     

无量山石豆兰, 中国兰科植物一新记录种

报道了中国兰科植物一新记录种,即无量山石豆兰(Bulbophyllum pinicola)。对其进行了特征描述并与相似种Bulbophyllum acutiflorum做了对比,并提供了彩色照片。无量山石豆兰的萼片披针形,先端渐尖,花瓣三角状披针形,先端渐尖,唇瓣稍向外下弯而易与相似种区分。     

中国兰科植物分类研究杂记

通过野外考察和标本研究,将Gastrochilus fuscopuntuatus和Oberonia pumila分别处理为Gastrochilus pseudodistichus和Oberonia insularis的异名;将Gastrochilus somai处理为一个独立的种;并报道了中国兰科4个新记录种：毛唇石豆兰Bulbophyllum gyrochilum、独龙石斛Dendrobium praecintum、高山阔蕊兰Peristylus superanthus和狭瓣大苞兰Sunipia angustipetala。     

无量山石豆兰,中国兰科植物一新记录种（英文）

报道了中国兰科植物一新记录种,即无量山石豆兰(Bulbophyllum pinicola)。对其进行了特征描述并与相似种Bulbophyllum acutiflorum做了对比,并提供了彩色照片。无量山石豆兰的萼片披针形,先端渐尖,花瓣三角状披针形,先端渐尖,唇瓣稍向外下弯而易与相似种区分。     

斯勒卷瓣兰，中国云南南部兰科一新种（英文）

描述并绘制了云南南部兰科石豆兰属一新种：斯勒卷瓣兰(Bulbophyllum dresslerianum Z. D. Han & H. Wang)。该新种属于双叶卷瓣兰组(section Tripudianthes Seidenf.),在形态上与该组的4种,即狄氏卷瓣兰(B. dickasonii)、堪布里石豆兰(B. kanburiense)、皱掌卷瓣兰(B. rugosisepalum)和拟双叶卷瓣兰(B. tripudians)近似,主要区别在于该种唇瓣前缘具囊泡,侧面及腹面被稀疏的短腺毛;侧萼片棕黄色,表面光滑。编制了斯勒卷瓣兰及其近缘种的检索表。目前,该种仅在云南南部墨江县发现一个居群,濒危状况有待评估。     

兰科植物新分类群

本文报导了兰科植物6新种、即海南盆距兰Gastrochilus hainanensis Tsi,sp.,nov.,中华盆距兰;Gastrochilus sinensis Tsi,Sp.nov.;镰叶盆距兰Gastr-ochilus acinacifolius Tsi,Sp.nov.;南贡隔距兰Cleisostoma nangongense Tsi,sp.nov.勐海石斛Dendrobium minutiflorum S.C.Chen et Tsi,sp.nov.;云北石豆兰Bulbophyllum tengchongense Tsi,sp.nov.。     

中国兰科二新记录种

报道了中国兰科2新记录种,大花大苞兰（Sunipia grandiflora (Rolfe) P.F. Hunt）及小花石豆兰(Bulbophyllum parviflorum C.S.P. Parish &; Rchb.f.)。     

An allelic exchange system for compliant genetic manipulation of the select agents Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei

Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei are Gram-negative bacterial pathogens that cause melioidosis in humans and glanders in horses, respectively. Both bacteria are classified as category B select agents in the United States. Due to strict select-agent regulations, the number of antibiotic selection markers approved for use in these bacteria is greatly limited. Approved markers for B. pseudomallei include genes encoding resistance to kanamycin (Km), gentamicin (Gm), and zeocin (Zeo); however, wild type B. pseudomallei is intrinsically resistant to these antibiotics. Selection markers for B. mallei are limited to Km and Zeo resistance genes. Additionally, there are few well developed counter-selection markers for use in Burkholderia. The use of SacB as a counter-selection method has been of limited success due to the presence of endogenous sacBC genes in the genomes of B. pseudomallei and B. mallei. These impediments have greatly hampered the genetic manipulation of B. pseudomallei and B. mallei and currently few reliable tools for the genetic manipulation of Burkholderia exist. To expand the repertoire of genetic tools for use in Burkholderia, we developed the suicide plasmid pMo130, which allows for the compliant genetic manipulation of the select agents B. pseudomallei and B. mallei using allelic exchange. pMo130 harbors an aphA gene which allows for Km selection, the reporter gene xylE, which allows for reliable visual detection of Burkholderia transformants, and carries a modified sacB gene that allows for the resolution of co-integrants. We employed this system to generate multiple unmarked and in-frame mutants in B. pseudomallei, and one mutant in B. mallei. This vector significantly expands the number of available tools that are select-agent compliant for the genetic manipulation of B. pseudomallei and B. mallei.     

Ballistosporous yeasts found on the surface of plant materials collected in New Zealand

In the present study, strains from the surface of plant materials collected in New Zealand that belong to the genera Bensingtonia and Bullera are classified. One strain of Bensingtonia was assigned to Ben. ingoldii, while the remaining strain was assigned to Ben. naganoensis based on DNA-DNA reassociation experiment. Twenty-one of 28 Bullera strains were assigned to B. alba (11 strains), B. crocea (6 strains) and B. variabilis (4 strains). The remaining seven strains could not be assigned to any previously known species and were described as the new species, B. coprosmaensis (1 strain), B. hannae (1 strain), B. huiaensis (1 strain), B. mrakii (3 strains) and B. unica (1 strain).Abbreviations B Bullera - Ben Bensingtonia - Sp. Sporobolomyces - G+C guanine plus cytosine     

中国青藓科植物分类学修订(Ⅱ):燕尾藓属

基于燕尾藓属(Bryhnia Kaurin)被处理为狭义青藓属(Brachythecium Schimp.s.str.)的异名,燕尾藓属已不复存在。笔者对原分布于中国的5种燕尾藓属植物进行了相应的分类学修订,结果如下:短尖燕尾藓(B.hultenii E.B.Bartram)、燕尾藓[B.novae-angliae(Sull.Lesq.)Grout]和毛尖燕尾藓(B.trichomitria DixonThér.)被移入狭义青藓属并处理为短尖青藓[Brachythecium hultenii(E.B.Bartram)Min LiY.F.Wang]、燕尾青藓[B.novae-angliae(Sull.Lesq.)A.Jaeger]和东亚青藓[B.trichomitrium(DixonThér.)Huttunen,Ignatov,Min LiY.F.Wang];短枝燕尾藓(B.brachycladula Cardot)被移入鼠尾藓属(Myuroclada Besch.),并处理为羽枝鼠尾藓[M.longiramea(Müll.Hal.)Min Li,Y.F.Wang,IgnatovHuttunen]的异名;密枝燕尾藓[B.serricuspis(Müll Hal.)Y.F.WangR.L.Hu]移入拟异叶藓属(Pseudokindbergia Min Li,Y.F.Wang,IgnatovB.C.Tan),并处理为拟异叶藓[P.dumosa(Mitt.)Min Li,Y.F.Wang,IgnatovB.C.Tan]的异名。     

Evaluation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells as food source for Balamuthia mandrillaris

Balamuthia mandrillaris is a recently identified free-living protozoan pathogen that can cause fatal granulomatous encephalitis in humans. Recent studies have shown that B. mandrillaris consumes eukaryotic cells such as mammalian cell cultures as food source. Here, we studied B. mandrillaris interactions with various eukaryotic cells including, monkey kidney fibroblast-like cells (COS-7), human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) and Acanthamoeba (an opportunistic protozoan pathogen) as well as prokaryotes, Escherichia coli. B. mandrillaris exhibited optimal growth on HBMEC compared with Cos-7 cells. In contrast, B. mandrillaris did not grow on bacteria but remained in the trophozoite stage. When incubated with Acanthamoeba trophozoites, B. mandrillaris produced partial Acanthamoeba damage and the remaining Acanthamoeba trophozoites underwent encystment. However, B. mandrillaris were unable to consume Acanthamoeba cysts. Next, we observed that B. mandrillaris-mediated Acanthamoeba encystment is a contact-dependent process that requires viable B. mandrillaris. In support, conditioned medium of B. mandrillaris did not stimulate Acanthamoeba encystment nor did lysates of B. mandrillaris. Overall, these studies suggest that B. mandrillaris target Acanthamoeba in the trophozoite stage; however, Acanthamoeba possess the ability to defend themselves by forming cysts, which are resistant to B. mandrillaris. Further studies will examine the mechanisms associated with food selectivity in B. mandrillaris.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the lichen familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales); a new generic classification and notes on character evolution

A phylogenetic analysis of the familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales, lichenized ascomycetes) has resulted in a new generic classification. Notes on character evolution are given. The generaSphaerophorus s. str.,Bunodophoron andLeifidium, gen. nov., are accepted.Pleurocybe andPseudosphaerophorus are considered synonyms ofBunodophoron andThysanophoron is considered synonym toSphaerophorus. The following new combinations are proposed:Bunodophoron coomerense (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. diplotypum (Vain.)Wedin,B. dodgei (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. flaccidum (Kantvilas & Wedin)Wedin,B. formosanum (Zahlbr.)Wedin,B. imshaugii (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. insigne (Laurer)Wedin,B. kinabaluense (M. Satô)Wedin,B. macrocarpum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. madagascareum (Nyl.)Wedin,B. microsporum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. murrayi (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. notatum (Tibell)Wedin,B. ohlssonii (Wedin)Wedin,B. patagonicum (C. W. Dodge)Wedin,B. ramuliferum (I. M. Lamb)Wedin,B. scrobiculatum (C. Bab.)Wedin,B. tibellii (Wedin)Wedin,B. whakapapaense (Wedin)Wedin, andLeifidium tenerum (Laurer)Wedin.     

Bacteriocin-like inhibitor substances produced by Mexican strains of Bacillus thuringiensis

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides synthesized and secreted by bacteria and could potentially be used as natural food preservatives. Here, we report the production of bacteriocin-like inhibitor substances (Bt-BLIS) by five Mexican strains of Bacillus thuringiensis. Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni (LBIT 269), B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (LBIT 287), B. thuringiensis subsp kenyae (LBIT 404), B. thuringiensis subsp. entomocidus (LBIT 420) and B. thuringiensis subsp. tolworthi (LBIT 524) produced proteinaceous Bt-BLIS with high levels of activity against Bacillus cereus and other gram-positive bacteria. Although none was active against the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Shigella species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the five Bt-BLIS demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Vibrio cholerae, the etiologic agent of cholera. Biochemical and biophysical studies demonstrated that the five Bt-BLIS could be categorized into two groups, those produced by LBIT 269 and 287 (Group A) and LBIT 404, 420, 524 (Group B), based on relative time of peptide synthesis, distinctive bacterial target specificity and stability in a wide range of temperatures and pH. Because of their stability and bactericidal activities against B. cereus and V. cholerae agents of emetic, diarrheal and lethal syndromes in humans, these Bt-BLIS could potentially be used as biodegradable preservatives in the food industry.     

Novelties in spermacoceae (Rubiaceae) from Bolivia and Paraguay

One new Bolivian species (Borreria pazensis) and three new varieties (Borreria densiflora var.minima, Richardia, scabra var.chacoensis andStaelia virgata var.killeenii) are described and illustrated. The genusDiodella, with three species (D. apiculata comb. nov., D. radula comb. nov., andD. teres), is reported for the first time.Borreria limae, B. wunschmannii, B. scabiosoides var.scabiosoides, andB. scabiosoides var.anderssonii are also reported as new to Bolivia.     

Phyletic and evolutionary relationships ofBrachyscome lineariloba (Compositae)

A comparison of karyotypes ofBrachyscome breviscapis (2n = 8),B. lineariloba cytodemes E (2n = 10), B (2n = 12) and C (2n = 16) suggests that these species have a homoelogous basic set of four chromosome pairs, two large pairs and two small, and that theB. lineariloba cytodemes E, B and C are related toB. breviscapis by successive additions of small chromosomes. A pronounced asynchrony of chromosome condensation between these large and small chromosomes has been observed. In the artificial hybrids betweenB. dichromosomatica (2n = 4) ×B. breviscapis, and theB. lineariloba cytodemes, theB. dichromosomatica chromosomes are similar in size and condensation behaviour to the small chromosomes ofB. breviscapis and ofB. lineariloba cytodemes E, B and C. Meiotic pairing in these hybrids also demonstrates the strong affinities between these chromosomes. It is suggested thatB. breviscapis may be of amphidiploid origin between a species with two large early condensing chromosome pairs and another,B. dichromosomatica-like species with two small late condensing pairs. It seems most likely that the additional small and late condensing chromosomes inB. lineariloba cytodemes E, B and C are derived from theB. dichromosomatica-like parent, and that each addition increases vigour, fecundity and drought tolerance, allowing these cytodemes to colonize more open and arid environments. Transmission of the univalents in the quasidiploidB. lineariloba cytodeme E was verified as being via the pollen, and not via the embryo sacs.The cytology ofBrachyscome lineariloba (Compositae, Asteroidae), 10.     

Relationships of herbivore feeding and plant flavonoids (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae and Anacardiaceae: Rhus)

Summary Eighteen leaf flavonoid compounds were isolated from several populations of Rhus tripartita from xeric habitats in Israel, ornamental Schinus terebinthifolius from Israel, and three species of Rhus (vulgaris, natalensis, tenuinervis) from mesic habitats in Kenya. Foodplant preference testing of Rhus-feeding Leaf Beetles (Blepharida sacra from Israel and B. marginalis and B. conradsi from Kenya) correlated well with the flavonoid composition of the different foodplants. Blepharida sacra and B. marginalis foodplant preferences demonstrated an herbivore sibling relationship but there is evidence, including foodplant ecology and distribution, that they are separate species. The herbivorefoodplant coevolution of the xeric B. sacra-R. tripartita is distinct from that of the mesic B. marginalis-R. vulgaris/natalensis, however, this study also indicates possible ancestral relationships between the herbivore species as well as between the plant species.