Review. Lessons of kuru research: background to recent studies with some personal reflections

The widespread exposure of the UK population to bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions, and the potential consequences for public health, led to a renewed interest in kuru, the principal example of epidemic human prion disease. Kuru research in Papua New Guinea was expanded to study the range of incubation periods possible in human prion infection, to investigate maternal and other possible natural routes of transmission, to characterize genetic susceptibility and resistance factors and to gain insights into the peripheral pathogenesis of orally acquired prion disease in humans. Although now essentially over, the kuru epidemic continues to provide important lessons.     

Central and peripheral pathology of kuru: pathological analysis of a recent case and comparison with other forms of human prion disease

While the neuropathology of kuru is well defined, there are few data concerning the distribution of disease-related prion protein in peripheral tissues. Here we report the investigation of brain and peripheral tissues from a kuru patient who died in 2003. Neuropathological findings were compared with those seen in classical (sporadic and iatrogenic) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and variant CJD (vCJD). The neuropathological findings of the kuru patient showed all the stereotypical changes that define kuru, with the occurrence of prominent PrP plaques throughout the brain. Lymphoreticular tissue showed no evidence of prion colonization, suggesting that the peripheral pathogenesis of kuru is similar to that seen in classical CJD rather than vCJD. These findings now strongly suggest that the characteristic peripheral pathogenesis of vCJD is determined by prion strain type alone rather than route of infection.     

Generation of large droplet aerosols within microbiological containment using a novel flow-focussing technique

Flow-focussing technology was harnessed to enable generation of large droplet aerosols within high-level microbiological containment. The Collison nebuliser and flow-focussing aerosol generator (FFAG) produced aerosols from distilled water with average mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) of 4.19 and 11.93 μm, respectively. The medium type [water, phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or microbiological broth] had minimal effect on the droplet size generated by the FFAG. The FFAG can be modulated to generate reproducible aerosols with a wide range of MMADs (9–105 μm). The number of particulates (i.e. fluospheres) contained within the droplets increased as the MMAD increased from 12 to 50 μm. The technology described can be used for the exposure of small-animal models to large droplet aerosols (>10 μm) and has applications in healthcare, pharmaceutical, agricultural and biodefence environments.     

Fungal communities associated with species of Fraxinus tolerant to ash dieback,and their potential for biological control

Ash dieback, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has threatened ash trees in Europe for more than two decades. However, little is known of how endophytic communities affect the pathogen, and no effective disease management tools are available. While European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is severely affected by the disease, other more distantly related ash species do not seem to be affected. We hypothesise that fungal endophytic communities of tolerant ash species can protect the species against ash dieback, and that selected endophytes have potential as biocontrol agents. These hypotheses were tested by isolating members of the fungal communities of five tolerant ash species, and identifying them using ITS regions. Candidate endophytes were tested by an in vitro antagonistic assay with H.fraxineus. From a total of 196 isolates we identified 9 fungal orders, 15 families, and 40 species. Fungi in orders Pleosporales, such as Boeremia exigua and Diaporthe spp., and Hypocreales (e.g., Fusarium sp.), were recovered in most communities, suggesting they are common taxa. The in vitro antagonistic assay revealed five species with high antagonistic activity against H. fraxineus. These endophytes were identified based on ITS region as Sclerostagonospora sp., Setomelanomma holmii, Epicoccum nigrum, B. exigua and Fusarium sp. Three of these taxa have been described previously as antagonists of plant pathogenic microbes, and are of interest for future studies of their potential as biological control agents against ash dieback, especially for valuable ash trees in parks and urban areas.     

Endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents: elucidating mechanisms in disease suppression

ABSTRACT

Background

Fungal endophytes occur ubiquitously in plants and are being increasingly studied for their ability to support plant health and protect the host from diseases. Using endophytes in disease control provides potential advantages compared to other biocontrol agents since they colonise the plant internally and thereby stay protected from environmental stresses and fluctuations. A thorough understanding of their mechanisms is required in their mutualistic association with plants; both to optimise their efficacy and for registration as plant protection products.     

Ethanol increases sensitivity of oxalate oxidase assays and facilitates direct activity staining in SDS gels

Oxalate oxidase, and H₂O₂-generating enzyme, has been characterized from several plants, and is widely used for clinical detection of oxalate. Using a germin-like oxalate oxidase from barley leaves, we have developed and optimized novel methods for measuring oxalate oxidase activity. As oxalate oxidase is SDS-tolerant, its activity can be detected directly in SDS-PAGE gels in the presence of ethanol. This ethanol-dependent method is a hundred times more sensitive than the current methods. Furthermore, ethanol also improves the sensitivity of oxalate oxidase assays performed in solution. We found at least a 10-fold increase in sensitivity in comparison to a current method. The assay in solution is, in addition, useful for detection of oxalate. This elevation in sensitivity may be due to the immobilization of the enzyme in protein precipitates as a result of the treatment with ethanol.     

Hyphal wall growth in Neurospora crassa and Geotrichum candidum.

Growth of the walls of hyphae of Neurospora crassa and Geotrichum candidum was studied using longitudinal and serial transverse sectioning methods. Rigidification of the hyphal wall below the extension zone did not appear to involve the gross formation of a secondary wall since the transition from extensible to non-extensible wall was not associated with an increase in thickness. However, behind the extension zone the walls leading hyphae of N. crassa increased in thickness until eventually they attained a thickness which was up to five times that of the tip wall. A hypothesis of hyphal wall growth is proposed.