<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe catalpae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe elevata</Emphasis> in Europe

The recent epidemic spread of the North American powdery mildew Erysiphe elevata in Europe is described and discussed. Since 2002, this plant pathogenic fungus has been collected on Catalpa bignonioides, C. erubescens and C. speciosa in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland. The diagnostically important anamorph of E. elevata, so far unknown, is described and illustrated in detail. Type material of Erysiphe catalpae and two specimens of E. catalpae recently collected in Poland have been examined and compared with E. elevata. The anamorph as well as the teleomorph of E. catalpae proved to be easily distinguishable from E. elevata. The supposition that E. catalpae, introduced in Armenia, was based on immature ascomata of E. elevata proved to be wrong. The origin and distribution of E. catalpae are discussed, and a key to powdery mildew fungi on Catalpa spp. in Europe is provided.     

Adenoviral vectors for highly selective gene expression in central serotonergic neurons reveal quantal characteristics of serotonin release in the rat brain

Background  

5-hydroxytryptamine (5 HT, serotonin) is one of the key neuromodulators in mammalian brain, but many fundamental properties of serotonergic neurones and 5 HT release remain unknown. The objective of this study was to generate an adenoviral vector system for selective targeting of serotonergic neurones and apply it to study quantal characteristics of 5 HT release in the rat brain.     

The Relationship between Brain Morphology and Polysomnography in Healthy Good Sleepers

BackgroundNormal sleep continuity and architecture show remarkable inter-individual variability. Previous studies suggest that brain morphology may explain inter-individual differences in sleep variables.MethodThirty-eight healthy subjects spent two consecutive nights at the sleep laboratory with polysomnographic monitoring. Furthermore, high-resolution T1-weighted MRI datasets were acquired in all participants. EEG sleep recordings were analyzed using standard sleep staging criteria and power spectral analysis. Using the FreeSurfer software for automated segmentation, 174 variables were determined representing the volume and thickness of cortical segments and the volume of subcortical brain areas. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship with polysomnographic and spectral EEG power variables.ResultsThe analysis did not provide any support for the a-priori formulated hypotheses of an association between brain morphology and polysomnographic variables. Exploratory analyses revealed that the thickness of the left caudal anterior cingulate cortex was positively associated with EEG beta2 power (24–32 Hz) during REM sleep. The volume of the left postcentral gyrus was positively associated with periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS).ConclusionsThe function of the anterior cingulate cortex as well as EEG beta power during REM sleep have been related to dreaming and sleep-related memory consolidation, which may explain the observed correlation. Increased volumes of the postcentral gyrus may be the result of increased sensory input associated with PLMS. However, due to the exploratory nature of the corresponding analyses, these results have to be replicated before drawing firm conclusions.     

Type beta transforming growth factor is a potent modulator of differentiated adrenocortical cell functions

Whereas TGF-beta exhibited no detectable effect on DNA synthesis, it was found to exert a striking inhibitory effect on the steroidogenic activities of bovine adrenocortical cells in culture. Basal, as well as ACTH- and angiotensin II- activated adrenocortical cortisol productions were inhibited in a time and dose-dependent manner following TGF-beta treatment. Half-maximum inhibition of ACTH- and AII-activated steroidogenesis was observed with TGF-beta concentrations of 0.40 and 0.12 ng/ml, respectively. This effect was half maximal after 6 hours of cell exposure to optimally effective TGF-beta concentrations (1 ng/ml) and reached a plateau after 12-15 hours, resulting in an average 60% inhibition in the steroidogenic response to ACTH and 90% in the case of AII. Supply of different exogenous steroid substrates to support steroidogenesis in adrenocortical cells pointed to a marked loss in steroid-17 alpha hydroxylase activity as a major alteration following TGF-beta treatment. TGF-beta thus appears as a potent modulator of differentiated adrenocortical cell functions in vitro; in this regard it may play a significant role in the development and the regulation of adrenal cortex in vivo.     

A monoclonal antibody to a differentiation antigen present on mature human macrophages and absent from monocytes

A monoclonal antibody is described that has been generated in the mouse against cultured human blood monocytes/macrophages. The antibody, designated 25F9, belongs to the IgG1 subclass, detects antigens of m.w. 86,000, and does not react with freshly isolated blood monocytes but reacts with monocytes after 3 days of culture. The expression of the 25F9 antigen on macrophages increases with culture time. Furthermore, the antibody is negative on platelets, granulocytes, lymphocytes, and a large number of human cell lines except the two melanoma lines MeWo and Mel 57. In cryostat sections of normal human tissue (skin, lung, liver, thymus) and of inflammatory or neoplastic tissue (cutaneous lymphoma, eczema, BCG-granuloma, and melanoma), the antibody reacts with scattered macrophages in the dermis but not with epidermal Langerhans cells, with alveolar macrophages, with liver Kupffer cells, and with scattered macrophages in the cortex and medulla of thymus. In eczema, BCG-granuloma, and cutaneous lymphoma, only a few infiltrating macrophages were stained. On the other hand, a large number of macrophages and melanophages reacted positively in melanoma. In some cases melanoma cells also stained weakly positive. Thus, the antibody detects a differentiation antigen preferentially expressed on mature, tissue-fixed macrophages and absent from blood monocytes.     

Use of absorbent materials employed in biological waste air purification

Summary The accumulation capacity for hydrophobic compounds of absorption agents employed in biological waste air purification was substantially affected by the varnish particles contained in the scrubbing liquid. The growth of the mixed population of microorganisms in the scrubbing liquid was not influenced by addition of different absorption agents and solvents with the exception of dibutyl-diglycol. The highest specific degradation efficiency and decrease of stripping was achieved in the presence of phenylmethylsilicone oil.