Curtobacterium spp. and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens: Phylogeny,Genomics-Based Taxonomy,Pathogenicity, and Diagnostics

The genus of Curtobacterium, belonging to the Microbacteriaceae family of the Actinomycetales order, includes economically significant pathogenic bacteria of soybeans and other agricultural crops. Thorough phylogenetic and full-genome analysis using the latest genomic data has demonstrated a complex and contradictory taxonomic picture within the group of organisms classified as the Curtobacterium species. Based on these data, it is possible to delineate about 50 new species and to reclassify a substantial part of the Curtobacterium strains. It is suggested that 53 strains, including most of the Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pathovars, can compose a monophyletic group classified as C. flaccumfaciens. A genomic analysis using the most recent inventory of bacterial chromosomal and plasmid genomes deposited to GenBank confirmed the possible role of Microbacteriaceae plasmids in pathogenicity and demonstrated the existence of a group of related plasmids carrying virulence factors and possessing a gene distantly related to DNA polymerase found in bacteriophages and archaeal and eukaryotic viruses. A PCR diagnostic assay specific to the genus Curtobacterium was developed and tested. The presented results assist in the understanding of the evolutionary relations within the genus and can lay the foundation for further taxonomic updates.     

Splenopentin--modulator of immunological and behavioral reactions in secondary immunodeficiency state induced by experimental alcoholism

Effect of splenopentin on some patterns of immunity was studied in mice with chronic alcoholic intoxication. Splenopentin was administrated into animals once intraperitoneally (250 micrograms/kg). Administration of splenopentin was found to normalize several immunological patterns in animals with chronic alcoholic intoxication: the immune response to the thymus-dependent antigen sheep red blood cells and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. Also observations over C57B1/6 mice characterized by high level of alcoholic motivation showed that alcohol consumption in mice decreased after administration of splenopentin at a dose of 250 micrograms/kg during two weeks.     

Potentialities of spiral computed tomography in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic injuries of the midface

The paper summarizes the results of examination of 169 patients referred to the surgeon in the period from 1 till 47 days after medial facial (MF) trauma by using spiral computed tomography (SCT) and the method of laser stereolitography (LSLG). The actual aspects of diagnosis and treatment are marked; the methods for the analysis of injuries of soft tissue structures and adjacent areas while orbit trauma are developed together with the methods for determination of degree of enophthalmos. Also discussed are the possibilities of SCT and LSLG in visualization of MF injuries and planning patient treatment.     

Individual optimization: Mechanisms shaping the optimal reaction norm

In general, optimal reaction norms in heterogeneous populations can be obtained only by iterative numerical procedures (McNamara, 1991; Kawecki and Stearns, 1993). We consider two particular, but biologically plausible and analytically tractable cases of individual optimization to gain insight into the mechanisms which shape the optimal reaction norm of fecundity in relation to an environmental variable or an individual trait. In the first case, we assume that the quality of the environment (e.g. food abundance) or the quality of the individual (e.g. body size) is fixed during its entire life; it may also be a heritable individual trait. In the second case, individual quality is assumed to change randomly such that the probability distribution of quality in the next year is the same for the parent and for her offspring. For these two cases, we obtain analytical expressions for the shape of the optimal reaction norm, which are heuristically interpretable in terms of underlying selective mechanisms. It is shown that better quality may reduce the optimal fecundity. This outcome is particularly likely if better quality increases a fecundity-independent factor of parental survival in a long-lived species with fixed quality. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dopamine antibodies in the pathogenesis of parkinsonism]

L-DOPA and dopamine (DA) binding antibodies were found in the blood serum of Parkinsonian patients and middle-aged and elderly normal persons. DA-binding serum gamma-globulins of parkinsonian patients injected into rat caudate nuclei induced the pathogenetic mechanism of Parkinson's syndrome (generator of pathologically enhanced excitation) in these brain part and evoked main parkinsonian symptoms (oligokinesia, rigidity, tremor). The serum gamma-globulins of Parkinsonian patients without Da-antibodies caused less pronounced EEG disturbances. Parkinsonian symptoms developed rarely and were shorter and less pronounced compared with the DA-antibody effect. The DA binding antibodies role in Parkinson's syndrome pathogenesis and is L-DOPA therapeutic tolerance formation was discussed.