Characterization of culturable bacterial endophytes of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and their capacity to influence plant growth

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial warm season grass that is native to the plains of North America and is widely grown as a forage, bioenergy or groundcover crop. Despite its importance, a bottleneck in switchgrass production is poor seedling vigor, which as a perennial crop represents an important time for management. Herein, data identify a suite of culturable bacterial microflora extracted from switchgrass, and show their capability to influence host plant growth and development. A total of 307 bacterial isolates were cultured and isolated from surface sterilized switchgrass biomass and sequence identified into 76 strains (subspecies classification), 36 species and 5 phyla. Approximately 58% of bacterial strains, when reintroduced into surface‐sterilized switchgrass seeds, were documented to increase lamina length (cm from base to tip after 60 days growth) relative to uninoculated controls. Ecologically, Phylum Firmicutes was the most abundant bacterial classification and encompassed 75% of all isolates. Although the culturable bacterial community studies herein represent an unknown and assumedly minor proportion of the total microbiome, by focusing on culturable bacteria, we delineate functional feedback between the presence of isolated bacteria and switchgrass seedling growth.     

In vivo efficacy of anti-glycoprotein 41, but not anti-glycoprotein 120, immunotoxins in a mouse model of HIV infection

Immunotoxins (ITs) targeting the HIV envelope protein are among the most efficacious antiviral therapies when tested in vitro. Yet a first-generation IT targeted to gp120, CD4-PE40 (chimeric immunotoxin using CD4 and the translocation and enzymatic domains of Pseudomonas exotoxin A), showed limited promise in initial clinical testing, highlighting the need for improved ITs. We have used a new mouse model of HIV infection to test the comparative efficacy of anti-HIV ITs targeted to gp120 or to gp41. Irradiated SCID/nonobese diabetic mice are injected with a tumor of human CD4(+) cells susceptible to infection and at a separate site persistently HIV-infected cells. The spread of infection from infected to susceptible tumor is monitored by plasma p24 and the presence of HIV-infected cells in the spleen. Anti-gp41 ITs in combination with tetrameric CD4-human Ig fusion protein have pronounced anti-HIV effects. Little if any anti-HIV efficacy was found with either CD4-PE40 or an Ab-targeted anti-gp120 IT. These data support continued exploration of the utility of ITs for HIV infection, particularly the use of anti-gp41 ITs in combination with soluble CD4 derivatives.     

Accumulation of tyrosinase in the endolysosomal compartment is induced by U18666A

The 3beta-(2-diethylaminoethoxy)-androstenone HCl (U18666A), progesterone and several cationic amphiphilic drugs have been shown to alter the trafficking of a number of intracellular membrane proteins including CD63/Lamp-3, insulin growth factor 2/mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF2/MPR), and the Niemann-Pick C1 gene product (NPC1) as well as ganglioside GM1. We have examined the effects of these compounds on cultured melanocytes at concentrations that have been shown to effectively alter intracellular trafficking. Treatment of melanocytes with U18666A (2.5 micro M) or progesterone (15 micro M) for 96 h decreased melanin content an average of 67% as compared with control without lowering the total cellular tyrosinase activity. Steroidal alkaloids that preferentially act on the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway showed no related specificity in their ability to decrease pigmentation. In melanocytes treated with U18666A, tyrosinase accumulates in a compartment that contains both lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (Lamp 1) and MPR, and stains with filipin, consistent with cholesterol-laden late endosomes/lysosomes. Our results suggest that tyrosinase, like the NPC1 gene product, traverses a U18666A-sensitive trafficking pathway.     

The parasitic copepod Lernaeocera branchialis negatively affects cardiorespiratory function in Gadus morhua

The parasitic copepod Lernaeocera branchialis had a negative effect on cardiorespiratory function in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua such that it caused pronounced cardiac dysfunction with irregular rhythm and reduced stroke amplitude compared with uninfected fish. In addition, parasite infection depressed the postprandial cardiac output and oxygen consumption.     

Testing a ‘genes‐to‐ecosystems’ approach to understanding aquatic–terrestrial linkages

A ‘genes‐to‐ecosystems’ approach has been proposed as a novel avenue for integrating the consequences of intraspecific genetic variation with the underlying genetic architecture of a species to shed light on the relationships among hierarchies of ecological organization (genes → individuals → communities → ecosystems). However, attempts to identify genes with major effect on the structure of communities and/or ecosystem processes have been limited and a comprehensive test of this approach has yet to emerge. Here, we present an interdisciplinary field study that integrated a common garden containing different genotypes of a dominant, riparian tree, Populus trichocarpa, and aquatic mesocosms to determine how intraspecific variation in leaf litter alters both terrestrial and aquatic communities and ecosystem functioning. Moreover, we incorporate data from extensive trait screening and genome‐wide association studies estimating the heritability and genes associated with litter characteristics. We found that tree genotypes varied considerably in the quality and production of leaf litter, which contributed to variation in phytoplankton abundances, as well as nutrient dynamics and light availability in aquatic mesocosms. These ‘after‐life’ effects of litter from different genotypes were comparable to the responses of terrestrial communities associated with the living foliage. We found that multiple litter traits corresponding with aquatic community and ecosystem responses differed in their heritability. Moreover, the underlying genetic architecture of these traits was complex, and many genes contributed only a small proportion to phenotypic variation. Our results provide further evidence that genetic variation is a key component of aquatic–terrestrial linkages, but challenge the ability to predict community or ecosystem responses based on the actions of one or a few genes.     

Maritime climate influence on chaparral composition and diversity in the coast range of central California

We investigated the hypothesis that maritime climatic factors associated with summer fog and low cloud stratus (summer marine layer) help explain the compositional diversity of chaparral in the coast range of central California. We randomly sampled chaparral species composition in 0.1‐hectare plots along a coast‐to‐interior gradient. For each plot, climatic variables were estimated and soil samples were analyzed. We used Cluster Analysis and Principle Components Analysis to objectively categorize plots into climate zone groups. Climate variables, vegetation composition and various diversity measures were compared across climate zone groups using ANOVA and nonmetric multidimensional scaling. Differences in climatic variables that relate to summer moisture availability and winter freeze events explained the majority of variance in measured conditions and coincided with three chaparral assemblages: maritime (lowland coast where the summer marine layer was strongest), transition (upland coast with mild summer marine layer influence and greater winter precipitation), and interior sites that generally lacked late summer water availability from either source. Species turnover (β‐diversity) was higher among maritime and transition sites than interior sites. Coastal chaparral differs from interior chaparral in having a higher obligate seeder to facultative seeder (resprouter) ratio and by being dominated by various Arctostaphylos species as opposed to the interior dominant, Adenostoma fasciculatum. The maritime climate influence along the California central coast is associated with patterns of woody plant composition and β‐diversity among sites. Summer fog in coastal lowlands and higher winter precipitation in coastal uplands combine to lower late dry season water deficit in coastal chaparral and contribute to longer fire return intervals that are associated with obligate seeders and more local endemism. Soil nutrients are comparatively less important in explaining plant community composition, but heterogeneous azonal soils contribute to local endemism and promote isolated chaparral patches within the dominant forest vegetation along the coast.     

Redox regulation of the VEGF signaling path and tissue vascularization: Hydrogen peroxide, the common link between physical exercise and cutaneous wound healing

Vascularization, under physiological or pathophysiological conditions, typically takes place by one or more of the following processes: angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, arteriogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Although all of these mechanisms of vascularization have sufficient contrasting features to warrant consideration under separate cover, one common feature shared by all is their sensitivity to the VEGF signaling pathway. Conditions such as wound healing and physical exercise result in increased production of reactive oxygen species such as H(2)O(2), and both are associated with increased tissue vascularization. Understanding these two scenarios of adult tissue vascularization in tandem offers the potential to unlock the significance of redox regulation of the VEGF signaling pathway. Does H(2)O(2) support tissue vascularization? H(2)O(2) induces the expression of the most angiogenic form of VEGF, VEGF-A, by a HIF-independent and Sp1-dependent mechanism. Ligation of VEGF-A to VEGFR2 results in signal transduction leading to tissue vascularization. Such ligation generates H(2)O(2) via an NADPH oxidase-dependent mechanism. Disruption of VEGF-VEGFR2 ligation-dependent H(2)O(2) production or decomposition of such H(2)O(2) stalls VEGFR2 signaling. Numerous antioxidants exhibit antiangiogenic properties. Current evidence lends firm credence to the hypothesis that low-level endogenous H(2)O(2) supports vascular growth.     

Staphylococcus aureus isolates encode variant staphylococcal enterotoxin B proteins that are diverse in superantigenicity and lethality

Staphylococcus aureus produces superantigens (SAgs) that bind and cross-link T cells and APCs, leading to activation and proliferation of immune cells. SAgs bind to variable regions of the β-chains of T cell receptors (Vβ-TCRs), and each SAg binds a unique subset of Vβ-TCRs. This binding leads to massive cytokine production and can result in toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The most abundantly produced staphylococcal SAgs and the most common causes of staphylococcal TSS are TSS toxin-1 (TSST-1), and staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C (SEB and SEC, respectively). There are several characterized variants of humans SECs, designated SEC1-4, but only one variant of SEB has been described. Sequencing the seb genes from over 20 S. aureus isolates show there are at least five different alleles of seb, encoding forms of SEB with predicted amino acid substitutions outside of the predicted immune-cell binding regions of the SAgs. Examination of purified, variant SEBs indicates that these amino acid substitutions cause differences in proliferation of rabbit splenocytes in vitro. Additionally, the SEBs varied in lethality in a rabbit model of TSS. The SEBs were diverse in their abilities to cause proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and differed in their activation of subsets of T cells. A soluble, high-affinity Vβ-TCR, designed to neutralize the previously characterized variant of SEB (SEB1), was able to neutralize the variant SEBs, indicating that this high-affinity peptide may be useful in treating a variety of SEB-mediated illnesses.