Exploring the Prevalence of Disrespect and Abuse during Childbirth in Kenya

Background

Poor quality of care including fear of disrespect and abuse (D&A) perpetuated by health workers influences women’s decisions to seek maternity care. Key manifestations of D&A include: physical abuse, non-consented care, non-confidential care, non-dignified care, discrimination, abandonment, and detention in facilities. This paper describes manifestations of D&A experienced in Kenya and measures their prevalence.

Methods

This paper is based on baseline data collected during a before-and-after study designed to measure the effect of a package of interventions to reduce the prevalence of D&A experienced by women during labor and delivery in thirteen Kenyan health facilities. Data were collected through an exit survey of 641 women discharged from postnatal wards. We present percentages of D&A manifestations and odds ratios of its relationship with demographic characteristics using a multivariate fixed effects logistic regression model.

Results

Twenty percent of women reported any form of D&A. Manifestations of D&A includes: non-confidential care (8.5%), non-dignified care (18%), neglect or abandonment (14.3%), Non-consensual care (4.3%) physical abuse (4.2%) and, detainment for non-payment of fees (8.1). Women aged 20-29 years were less likely to experience non-confidential care compared to those under 19; OR: [0.6 95% CI (0.36, 0.90); p=0.017]. Clients with no companion during delivery were less likely to experience inappropriate demands for payment; OR: [0.49 (0.26, 0.95); p=0.037]; while women with higher parities were three times more likely to be detained for lack of payment and five times more likely to be bribed compared to those experiencing there first birth.

Conclusion

One out of five women experienced feeling humiliated during labor and delivery. Six categories of D&A during childbirth in Kenya were reported. Understanding the prevalence of D&A is critical in developing interventions at national, health facility and community levels to address the factors and drivers that influence D&A in facilities and to encourage clients’ future facility utilization.     

Featured Article: Dexamethasone and rosiglitazone are sufficient and necessary for producing functional adipocytes from mesenchymal stem cells

The final product of adipogenesis is a functional adipocyte. This mature cell acquires the necessary machinery for lipid metabolism, loses its proliferation potential, increases its insulin sensitivity, and secretes adipokines. Multipotent mesechymal stromal cells have been recognized as a source of adipocytes both in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro adipogenic differentiation of human MSC (hMSC) has been induced up to now by using a complex stimulus which includes dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, indomethacin, and insulin (a classical cocktail) and evaluated according to morphological changes. The present work was aimed at demonstrating that the simultaneous activation of dexamethasone’s canonical signaling pathways, through the glucocorticoid receptor and CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) and rosiglitazone through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) is sufficient yet necessary for inducing hMSC adipogenic differentiation. It was also ascertained that hMSC exposed just to dexamethasone and rosiglitazone (D&R) differentiated into cells which accumulated neutral lipid droplets, expressed C/EBP-alpha, PPAR-gamma, aP2, lipoprotein lipase, acyl-CoA synthetase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, adiponectin, and leptin genes but did not proliferate. Glucose uptake was dose dependent on insulin stimulus and high levels of adipokines were secreted (i.e. displaying not only the morphology but also expressing mature adipocytes’ specific genes and functional characteristics). This work has demonstrated that (i) the activating C/EBPs and PPAR-gamma signaling pathways were sufficient to induce adipogenic differentiation from hMSC, (ii) D&R producing functional adipocytes from hMSC, (iii) D&R induce adipogenic differentiation from mammalian MSC (including those which are refractory to classical adipogenic differentiation stimuli). D&R would thus seem to be a useful tool for MSC characterization, studying adipogenesis pathways and producing functional adipocytes.     

Seasonal allocation of photoassimilated carbon in douglas fir seedlings

The uptake of CO₂ by Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) seedlings and the allocation of photoassimilated carbon among five vegetative tissues were closely related to seedling phenology. In May, newly flushing needles required 5.2% day⁻¹ of photoassimilated carbon relative to needle tissue carbon. As these needles matured, this carbon requirement declined to 1.95% day⁻¹ in August, to 0.94% day⁻¹ in November, and to 0.76% day⁻¹ in January. Other tissues of Douglas fir seedlings required different amounts of photoassimilated carbon for growth and metabolism. These data provide a strong link between daily CO₂ uptake and the regulation of carbon allocation by seasonal phenology.     

First Report of Clostridium difficile NAP1/027 in a Mexican Hospital

Background and Objective

Clostridium difficile NAP1/ribotype 027 is associated with severe disease and high mortality rates. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of NAP1/ribotype 027 among C. difficile isolates in a tertiary care hospital, and review the main clinical data.

Methods

We included 106 stool samples from 106 patients. Samples were tested for A&B toxins and were cultured on CCFA agar. The genes tcdA, tcdB, tcdC, cdtA, and cdtB were amplified using PCR in clinical isolates. The tcdA 3’-end deletion analysis, PCR-ribotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were also performed. Stool samples that were positive for culture were tested by the GeneXpert C. difficile assay. Clinical data were collected.

Results

Thirty-six patients tested positive for A&B toxins; and 22 patients had positive culture for C. difficile, 14 of which tested positive for the A&B toxins and all 22 patients tested positive by the GeneXpert C. difficile assay. Risk factors included an average hospital stay of 16.1 days prior to toxin detection, average antibiotic use for 16.2 days, and a median of 3 antibiotics used. The 30-day crude mortality rate was 8.4%. Six of the 22 patients died, and 3 of those deaths were directly attributed to C. difficile infection. The majority of isolates, 90.9% (20/22), carried genes tcdB, tcdA, cdtA, and cdtB; and these strains carried the corresponding downregulator gene tcdC, with an 18-bp deletion. PFGE was performed on 17 isolates, and one main pattern was observed. Analysis of the ribotyping data showed similar results.

Conclusion

The above findings represent the clonal spread of C. difficile in our institution, which mainly includes the NAP1/027 strain. This is the first report of C. difficile ribotype NAP1/027 in Mexico.     

Studies on the maximization of recombinant Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein production in Escherichia coli: application of Taguchi robust design and response surface methodology for process optimization

The neutrophil-activating protein of Helicobacter pylori (HP-NAP) is a major antigen responsible for the generation of immune response in an infected individual. The cloning and expression of the gene corresponding to neutrophil-activating protein (NAP) were followed by process development for enhanced production and purification. The production process was developed in two parts. In the first part, some of the cultivation medium components (viz. carbon to nitrogen ratio, concentrations of sodium polyphosphate and magnesium sulphate) were optimized using the Taguchi robust experimental design. The intracellular NAP production level after 24 h of cultivation was considered as the target function or the dependent variable. There was a 76.8% increase in the NAP production level. Using this optimal medium composition obtained in the first part, the temperature of cultivation and the pH of cultivation medium were optimized in the second part. The NAP production level at hour 30 of cultivation was considered as the target function or the dependent variable. The optimal values for these two independent variables were 37.2 °C and 6.3 respectively. At this combination of temperature and pH, the theoretical maximum NAP production level was 1280 mg l^–1. This optimal combination was verified experimentally and the NAP production level was found to be 1261 mg l^–1. The optimization of the cultivation conditions resulted in a 61.5% increase in NAP production level. About a 2.91-fold overall increase in NAP production level at hour 24 of cultivation was achieved through process optimization.     

Stepwise and Canonical Discriminant Analysis of Longidorus Species (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Arkansas

During a 1998-to-2001 survey from Arkansas, nine distinct species of Longidorus were found including five new species. Morphometrics of these nine species were used in a stepwise and canonical discrimination to select a subset of characteristics that best identified each species. Student''s t test was applied to compare Longidorus breviannulatus Norton &Hoffman, 1975; L. crassus Thorne, 1974; L. diadecturus Eveleigh &Allen, 1982; L. fragilis Thorne, 1974; L. biformis Ye &Robbins, 2004; L. glycines Ye &Robbins, 2004; L. grandis Ye &Robbins, 2003; L. paralongicaudatus Ye &Robbins, 2003; and L. paravineacola Ye &Robbins, 2003 to examine interspecies variation and test for the most useful morphometric characters in species discrimination. Most of the morphometric characters were useful to differentiate species, but species identification could not be based on a single character because the morphometric character ranges often overlap. Stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that the guide ring position, head width, tail length, body length, odontostyle length, and anal body width were the most important variables. These were used to generate canonical variables in discriminating the species. The first three canonical variables accounted for 95% of the total variance. The scatterplots by the first three canonical variables grouped and separated the Longidorus species from Arkansas. Stepwise and canonical discriminant analyses were useful for examining the groupings and morphometric relationships of the nine Longidorus species.     

Efficacy of immunohistochemical staining in detecting Helicobacter pylori in Saudi patients with minimal and atypical infection

Gastric Helicobacter pylori infection is diagnosed based on histopathological evaluation of gastric mucosal biopsies, urease test, urea breath test, H. pylori culturing, or direct detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining in detecting H. pylori in gastric biopsies from patients with chronic gastritis and minimal or atypical infection. Gastric biopsies from 50 patients with chronic gastritis were subjected to routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), modified Giemsa, and IHC staining. The results of staining were compared with those of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR analysis identified 32 (64%) H. pylori-positive cases, whereas IHC, H&E, and modified Giemsa staining identified 29 (58%), 27 (54%), and 21 (42%) positive cases. The sensitivity of IHC staining (87.50%) was higher than that of H&E (59.38%) and modified Giemsa (43.75%) staining. The specificity of H&E, modified Giemsa, and IHC staining was 55.56%, 61.11%, and 94.44%, respectively. IHC staining exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy (90%), followed by H&E (58%) and modified Giemsa (50%) staining. Active gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and lymphoid follicles were detected in 32 (64%), 4 (8%), and 22 (44%) cases, respectively, and all of these cases were H. pylori positive. In contrast to routine H&E and modified Giemsa staining, IHC allows for the accurate H. pylori detection in cases with minimal or atypical infection. Moreover, IHC can be an alternative diagnostic method to qRT-PCR for detection of H. pylori in such cases.Key words: Helicobacter pylori, immunohistochemistry, modified Giemsa stain, real-time polymerase chain reaction, chronic gastritis     

N6-Trimethyl-lysine metabolism. Structural identification of the metabolite 3-hydroxy-N6-trimethyl-lysine

¹H and ¹³C nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy and functional-group analysis were used to determine the molecular structure of an isolated metabolite (II_b) of trimethyl-lysine as 3-hydroxy-N⁶-trimethyl-lysine, an important intermediate in the conversion of trimethyl-lysine into trimethylammoniobutyrate and carnitine [Hoppel, Cox & Novak (1980) Biochem. J. 188, 509–519]. Functional-group analysis revealed the presence of a primary amine and reaction of metabolite (II_b) with periodate yielded 4-N-trimethylammoniobutyrate as a product, showing 2,3-substitution on the molecule and suggesting that the 3-substitution on the molecule may be an alcohol ([unk]CH–OH), amine ([unk]CH[unk]–NH₂) or carbonyl ([unk]C=O) functional group. ¹H integration ratios, ¹H and ¹³C chemical-shift data and ¹H and ¹³C signal multiplicities from the sample (II_b) were used to complete the identification of metabolite (II_b) as 3-hydroxy-N⁶-trimethyl-lysine. For example, the proton multiplet at δ 4.2p.p.m. and doublet at δ 4.1p.p.m., positions representative of amine or alcohol substitution on methylene carbon atoms, integration ratios of 1:1:2:9:4 and a positive ninhydrin test suggest 3-hydroxy-N⁶-trimethyl-lysine as the molecular structure for metabolite (II_b). ¹³C chemical-shift data obtained from the sample (II_b) and compared with several model compounds (trimethylammoniohexanoate, trimethyl-lysine and 3-hydroxylysine) resulted in generation of the spectrum of the metabolite and allowed independent identification of metabolite (II_b) as 3-hydroxy-N⁶-trimethyl-lysine. The ¹H spectrum of erythro- and threo-3-hydroxylysine are presented for comparison, and the ¹H and ¹³C n.m.r. spectra of the erythro-isomer support this analysis.     

Induction of Premalignant Host Responses by Cathepsin X/Z-Deficiency in Helicobacter Pylori-Infected Mice

Helicobacter pylori are responsible for the induction of chronic gastric inflammation progressing to atrophy, metaplasia, and gastric cancer. The overexpression of Cathepsin X/Z (Ctsz) in H. pylori-infected mucosa and gastric cancer is mediated predominantly by an augmented migration of ctsz^−/−positive macrophages and the up-regulation of Ctsz in tumor epithelium. To explore the Ctsz-function in the context of chronic inflammation and the development of preneoplastic lesions, we used Ctsz-deficient mice in a H. pylori gastritis model. Ctsz ^−/− and wild-type (wt) mice were infected with H. pylori strain SS1. The mice were sacrificed at 24, 36, and 50 weeks post infection (wpi). The stomach was removed, and gastric strips were snap-frozen or embedded and stained with H&E. Tissue sections were scored for epithelial lesions and inflammation. Ki-67 and F4/80 immunostaining were used to measure epithelial cell proliferation and macrophage infiltration, respectively. The upregulation of compensating cathepsins and cytokines were confirmed by Western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR. SS1-infected wt and ctsz ^−/− mice showed strong inflammation, foveolar hyperplasia, atrophy, and cystically-dilated glands. However, at 50 wpi, ctsz ^−/− mice developed significantly more severe spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM), showed enhanced epithelial proliferation, and higher levels of infiltrating macrophages. Induction of cytokines was higher and significantly prolonged in ctsz ^−/− mice compared to wt. Ctsz deficiency supports H. pylori-dependent development of chronic gastritis up to metaplasia, indicating a protective, but not proteolytic, function of Ctsz in inflammatory gastric disease.     

Predicting the Distribution Pattern of Small Carnivores in Response to Environmental Factors in the Western Ghats

Due to their secretive habits, predicting the pattern of spatial distribution of small carnivores has been typically challenging, yet for conservation management it is essential to understand the association between this group of animals and environmental factors. We applied maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt) to build distribution models and identify environmental predictors including bioclimatic variables, forest and land cover type, topography, vegetation index and anthropogenic variables for six small carnivore species in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Species occurrence records were collated from camera-traps and vehicle transects during the years 2010 and 2011. We used the average training gain from forty model runs for each species to select the best set of predictors. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic plot (ROC) ranged from 0.81 to 0.93 for the training data and 0.72 to 0.87 for the test data. In habitat models for F. chaus, P. hermaphroditus, and H. smithii “distance to village” and precipitation of the warmest quarter emerged as some of the most important variables. “Distance to village” and aspect were important for V. indica while “distance to village” and precipitation of the coldest quarter were significant for H. vitticollis. “Distance to village”, precipitation of the warmest quarter and land cover were influential variables in the distribution of H. edwardsii. The map of predicted probabilities of occurrence showed potentially suitable habitats accounting for 46 km² of the reserve for F. chaus, 62 km² for V. indica, 30 km² for P. hermaphroditus, 63 km² for H. vitticollis, 45 km² for H. smithii and 28 km² for H. edwardsii. Habitat heterogeneity driven by the east-west climatic gradient was correlated with the spatial distribution of small carnivores. This study exemplifies the usefulness of modeling small carnivore distribution to prioritize and direct conservation planning for habitat specialists in southern India.     

Toward a Deuterium Feather Isoscape for Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress,Challenges and the Path Ahead

A key challenge to the application of continent-wide feather isoscapes for geographic assignment of migrant birds is the lack of ground-truthed samples. This is especially true for long-distance Palearctic-Afrotropical migrants. We used spatially-explicit information on the δ ²H composition of archived feathers from Green-backed/Grey-backed Camaroptera, to create a feather δ ²H isoscape for sub-Saharan Africa. We sampled from 34 out of 41 sub-Saharan countries, totaling 205 sampling localities. Feather samples were obtained from museum collections (n = 224, from 1950 to 2014) for δ ²H assay. Region, altitude, annual rainfall and seasonal patterns in precipitation were revealed as relevant explanatory variables for spatial patterns in feather δ ²H. Predicted feather δ ²H values ranged from -4.0 ‰ to -63.3 ‰, with higher values observed in the Great Rift Valley and South Africa, and lower values in central Africa. Our feather isoscape differed from that modelled previously using a precipitation δ ²H isoscape and an assumed feather-to-precipitation calibration, but the relatively low model goodness fit (F_10,213 = 5.98, p<0.001, R² = 0.18) suggests that other, non-controlled variables might be driving observed geographic patterns in feather δ ²H values. Additional ground-truthing studies are therefore recommended to improve the accuracy of the African feather δ ²H isoscape.     

Precisely mapping a major gene conferring resistance to Hessian fly in bread wheat using genotyping-by-sequencing

Background

One of the reasons hard red winter wheat cultivar ‘Duster’ (PI 644016) is widely grown in the southern Great Plains is that it confers a consistently high level of resistance to biotype GP of Hessian fly (Hf). However, little is known about the genetic mechanism underlying Hf resistance in Duster. This study aimed to unravel complex structures of the Hf region on chromosome 1AS in wheat by using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) markers and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.

Results

Doubled haploid (DH) lines generated from a cross between two winter wheat cultivars, ‘Duster’ and ‘Billings’ , were used to identify genes in Duster responsible for effective and consistent resistance to Hf. Segregation in reaction of the 282 DH lines to Hf biotype GP fit a one-gene model. The DH population was genotyped using 2,358 markers developed using the GBS approach. A major QTL, explaining 88% of the total phenotypic variation, was mapped to a chromosome region that spanned 178 cM and contained 205 GBS markers plus 1 SSR marker and 1 gene marker, with 0.86 cM per marker in genetic distance. The analyses of GBS marker sequences and further mapping of SSR and gene markers enabled location of the QTL-containing linkage group on the short arm of chromosome 1A. Comparative mapping of the common markers for the gene for QHf.osu-1A^d in Duster and the Hf-resistance gene for QHf.osu-1A⁷⁴ in cultivar ‘2174’ showed that the two Hf resistance genes are located on the same chromosome arm 1AS, only 11.2 cM apart in genetic distance. The gene at QHf.osu-1A^d in Duster has been delimited within a 2.7 cM region.

Conclusion

Two distinct resistance genes exist on the short arm of chromosome 1A as found in the two hard red winter cultivars, 2174 and Duster. Whereas the Hf resistance gene in 2174 is likely allelic to one or more of the previously mapped resistance genes (H9, H10, H11, H16, or H17) in wheat, the gene in Duster is novel and confers a more consistent phenotype than 2174 in response to biotype GP infestation in controlled-environment assays.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1297-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Water column oxygen demand and sediment oxygen flux: patterns of oxygen depletion in tidal creeks

Low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels often occur during summer in tidal creeks along the southeastern coast of the USA. We analyzed rates of oxygen loss as water-column biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and sediment oxygen flux (SOF) at selected tidal creek sites monthly over a 1-year period. Ancillary physical, chemical and biological data were collected to identify factors related to oxygen loss. BOD₅ rates ranged from 0.0 mg l^?1 to 7.6 mg l^?1 and were correlated positively with organic suspended solids, total suspended solids, chlorophyll a concentrations, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, and negatively with pH and nitrate + nitrite. SOF rates ranged from 0.0 to 9.3 g O₂ m^?2 d^?1, and were positively correlated with temperature, chlorophyll a, and total suspended solids, but negatively with dissolved oxygen. Both forms of oxygen uptake were seasonally dependent, with BOD₅ elevated in spring and summer and SOF elevated in summer and fall. Average oxygen loss to sediments was greater and more variable than oxygen loss in the water column. Oxygen deficits at three of five locations were significantly related to BOD₅ and SOF, but not at two sites where ground water discharges were observed. Correlation and principal component analyses suggested that BOD₅ and SOF responded to somewhat different suites of environmental variables. BOD₅ was driven by a set of parameters linked to warm season storm water inputs that stimulated organic seston loads, especially chlorophyll a, while SOF behaved less strongly so. Runoff processes that increase loads of organic material and nutrients and ground water discharges low in dissolved oxygen contribute to occurrences of low dissolved oxygen in tidal creeks.     

Criconematina (Nematoda: Tylenchida) from the Aleutian Islands

A new genus (Cerchnotocriconenta) and three new species (C. psephinum, Hemicycliophora amchitkaensis, and Paratylenchns amundseni) are described from Adak and Amchitka Islands in the Aleutian chain. The new genus differs from all other criconematid genera in having irregular, convex sculpturing consisting of small, oval plates on the anterior and posterior regions of each annule, with the mid-annular region minutely punctate or dentate. H. arnchitkaensis n. sp. resembles H. similis Thorne and H. zuckermani Brzeski, but has only one head annule, instead of two. P. antundseni n. sp., which has a stylet 17-19 μm long, is similar to P. tateae Wu &Townshend and P. labiosus Anderson &Kimpinski, but differs by the presence of males and the possession of conoid-truncate lip region, functional spermatheca, and long male tail (c = 8.5-9.5). Seriespinula seymouri Wu (Mehta &Raski), Nothocrieonema longulum (Gunhold) De Grisse &Loof, and Macroposthonia xenoplax (Raski) De Grisse &Loof are also reported from the islands.     

Oxygen and Hydrogen Stable Isotope Ratios of Bulk Needles Reveal the Geographic Origin of Norway Spruce in the European Alps

Background

Tracking timber is necessary in order to prevent illegal logging and protect local timber production, but there is as yet no suitable analytical traceability method. Stable isotope ratios in plants are known to reflect geographical variations. In this study we analysed four stable isotope ratios in order to develop a model able to identify the geographic origin of Norway spruce in the European Alps.

Methodology and Principal Findings

δ¹⁸O, δ²H, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were measured in bulk needles of Picea abies sampled in 20 sites in and around the European Alps. Environmental and spatial variables were found to be related to the measured isotope ratios. An ordinary least squares regression was used to identify the most important factor in stable isotope variability in bulk needles. Spatial autocorrelation was tested for all isotope ratios by means of Moran’s I. δ¹⁸O, δ²H and δ¹⁵N values differed significantly between sites. Distance from the coast had the greatest influence on δ²H, while latitude and longitude were strongly related to δ¹⁸O. δ¹³C values did not appear to have any relationship with geographical position, while δ¹⁵N values were influenced by distance from the motorway. The regression model improved the explanatory power of the spatial and environmental variables. Positive spatial autocorrelations were found for δ¹⁸O and δ²H values.

Conclusions

The δ ¹⁸O, δ²H and δ¹⁵N values in P. abies bulk needles are a suitable proxy to identify geographic origin as they vary according to geographical position. Although the regression model showed the explanatory variables to have significant power and stability, we conclude that our model might be improved by multivariate spatial interpolation of the δ ¹⁸O and δ²H values.     

Revision of the Afrotropical Phaeogenini (Ichneumonidae,Ichneumoninae), with description of a new genus and?twelve new species

We revise the 10 genera and 23 species of the tribe Phaeogenini (Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) known to occur in the Afrotropical region. We describe the following 13 new taxa: Kibalus Rousse, van Noort & Diller, gen. n.; K. toro Rousse, van Noort & Diller, sp. n.; K. mubfs Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Arearia oxymoron Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Chauvinia nyanga Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Dicaelotus asantesana Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; D. hoerikwaggoensis Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; D. tablemountainensis Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; H. mkomazi Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Lusius flummox Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Tycherus amatola Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; and T. nardousberg Rousse & van Noort, sp. n. New distribution records: Heterischnus africanus (Heinrich, 1936) from South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda; H. krausi Schönitzer, 1999 from Rwanda; Lusius tenuissimus (Heinrich, 1938) from Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. A doubtful record of Aethecerus foveolatus Gregor, 1940 from Sao Tome is additionaly reported in the appendix. We provide illustrated diagnoses and identification notes. Online interactive dichotomous and matrix Lucid keys to genera and species are available at http://www.waspweb.org.     

Uridine 5′-Diphosphate-Glucose Dehydrogenase from Soybean Nodules

A highly purified preparation of uridine 5′-diphosphate (UDP)-glucose (Glc) dehydrogenase (DH; EC 1.1.1.22) has been characterized from soybean (Glycine max L.) nodules. The enzyme had native and subunit molecular masses of approximately 272 and 50 kD, respectively. UDP-Glc DH displayed typical hyperbolic substrate kinetics and had K_m values for UDP-Glc and NAD⁺ of 0.05 and 0.12 mm, respectively. Thymidine 5′-diphosphate-Glc and UDP-galactose could replace UDP-Glc as the sugar nucleotide substrate to some extent, but the enzyme had no activity with NADP⁺. Soybean nodule UDP-Glc DH was labile in the absence of NAD⁺ and was inhibited by a heat-stable, low-molecular-mass solute in crude extracts of soybean nodules. UDP-Glc DH was also isolated from developing soybean seeds and shoots of 5-d-old wheat and canola seedlings and was shown to have similar affinities for UDP-Glc and NAD⁺ as those of the soybean nodule enzyme. UDP-Glc DH from all of these sources was most active in young, rapidly growing tissues.     

Comparison of Assimilatory Organic Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Carbon Sources for Growth of Methanobacterium Species

Experiments document the ability of two species of autotrophic methanogens to assimilate and utilize organic substrates as the nutrient sulfur or nitrogen source and as a carbon source during growth on H₂-CO₂. Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum strain ΔH and the mesophilic species Methanobacterium sp. strain Ivanov grew with glutamine as the nitrogen source or cysteine as the sulfur source. M. thermoautotrophicum also utilized urea as the nitrogen source and as a carbon precursor for methane and cell synthesis. Methanobacterium sp. strain Ivanov grew with methionine as the sulfur source. The growth rate of two different Methanobacterium species was lower on an organic N or S source than on ammonium or sulfide. ³⁵S and ¹⁴C tracer studies demonstrated that amino acid or urea assimilation correlated with time and amount of growth. The rate of [³⁵S]cysteine incorporation was similar in strain ΔH (34 nmol h⁻¹ mg of cells⁻¹) and strain Ivanov (23 nmol h⁻¹ mg of cells⁻¹). However, the rate of [¹⁴C]acetate incorporation was dramatically different (17 versus 208 nmol h⁻¹ mg of cells⁻¹ in strains ΔH and Ivanov, respectively). [¹⁴C]acetate accounted for 1.3 and 21.2% of the total cell carbon synthesized by strains ΔH and Ivanov, respectively. Amino acids and urea were mainly assimilated into the cell protein fraction, but accounted for less than 2.0% of the total cell carbon synthesized. The data suggest that a biochemical-genetic approach to understanding cell carbon synthesis in methanogens is feasible; mutants that are auxotrophic for either acetate, glutamine, cysteine, or methionine are suggested as future targets for genetic studies.