The genome sequence of the gram-positive sugarcane pathogen Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli

The genome sequence of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, which causes ratoon stunting disease and affects sugarcane worldwide, was determined. The single circular chromosome of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli CTCB07 was 2.6 Mb in length with a GC content of 68% and 2,044 predicted open reading frames. The analysis also revealed 307 predicted pseudogenes, which is more than any bacterial plant pathogen sequenced to date. Many of these pseudogenes, if functional, would likely be involved in the degradation of plant heteropolysaccharides, uptake of free sugars, and synthesis of amino acids. Although L. xyli subsp. xyli has only been identified colonizing the xylem vessels of sugarcane, the numbers of predicted regulatory genes and sugar transporters are similar to those in free-living organisms. Some of the predicted pathogenicity genes appear to have been acquired by lateral transfer and include genes for cellulase, pectinase, wilt-inducing protein, lysozyme, and desaturase. The presence of the latter may contribute to stunting, since it is likely involved in the synthesis of abscisic acid, a hormone that arrests growth. Our findings are consistent with the nutritionally fastidious behavior exhibited by L. xyli subsp. xyli and suggest an ongoing adaptation to the restricted ecological niche it inhabits.     

Stability of immobilized D-hydantoinase from Vigna angularis and repeated cycles of highly enantioenriched production of N-carbamoyl-D-phenylglycines

Summary. D-hydantoinase from Vigna angularis was immobilized by covalent linkage to aminopropyl glass beads. Thermal stability, resistance to storage at different pH values and temperatures of this biocatalyst were studied. This enzyme preparation was used as a catalyst to prepare enantioenriched N-carbamoyl-D-phenylglycine, N-carbamyl-D-p-fluorophenylglycine and N-carbamoyl-D-p-trifluoromethylphenylglycine, using a stirred batch reactor. Reactions were conducted during eight repeated reaction cycles, without loss of enzymatic activity or variation of the enantiomeric excess of the respective product (>98%).     

Impact of the training program on lipid profile and cardiac health

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of training programs on serum lipid profile and myocardial oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats (2 mo-old) were divided into three groups (n = 8): sedentary (S), loadless trained (T) and trained-overload 2% body weight (TL). T and TL were trained through swimming for 9 weeks. T and TL rats had increased myocardial lipoperoxide (TBA) and lipid hydroperoxide (HP), whereas HP was higher in TL than in T animals. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were lowest in TL. Myocardial glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was lower in TL than in T and S rats. TL decreased HDL-cholesterol and increased LDL-cholesterol. The serum lactate dehydrogenase and TBA were increased, while SOD and GSH-Px activities were decreased in TL rats. Loadless training was able to improve HDL-cholesterol and to reduce LDL-cholesterol. In conclusion, the loadless training program induced beneficial effects on lipid profile, while overload training induced dyslipidemic profile that was associated with serum oxidative stress. The overload training program was deleterious relative to loadless training program, increasing myocardial oxidative stress.     

Leaf photosynthetic traits scale with hydraulic conductivity and wood density in Panamanian forest canopy trees

We investigated how water transport capacity, wood density and wood anatomy were related to leaf photosynthetic traits in two lowland forests in Panama. Leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity (k_L) of upper branches was positively correlated with maximum rates of net CO₂ assimilation per unit leaf area (A_area) and stomatal conductance (g_s) across 20 species of canopy trees. Maximum k_L showed stronger correlation with A_area than initial k_L suggesting that allocation to photosynthetic potential is proportional to maximum water transport capacity. Terminal branch k_L was negatively correlated with A_area/g_s and positively correlated with photosynthesis per unit N, indicating a trade-off of efficient use of water against efficient use of N in photosynthesis as water transport efficiency varied. Specific hydraulic conductivity calculated from xylem anatomical characteristics (k_theoretical) was positively related to A_area and k_L, consistent with relationships among physiological measurements. Branch wood density was negatively correlated with wood water storage at saturation, k_L, A_area, net CO₂ assimilation per unit leaf mass (A_mass), and minimum leaf water potential measured on covered leaves, suggesting that wood density constrains physiological function to specific operating ranges. Kinetic and static indices of branch water transport capacity thus exhibit considerable co-ordination with allocation to potential carbon gain. Our results indicate that understanding tree hydraulic architecture provides added insights to comparisons of leaf level measurements among species, and links photosynthetic allocation patterns with branch hydraulic processes.     

Hormonal induction of ovulation and artificial insemination in suckled beef cows under nutritional stress

The objective was to develop a program for inducing estrus (followed by insemination) of suckled beef cows under nutritional stress (poor body condition). A total of 123 cows, from 60 to 75 days postpartum, were classified according to their body condition score (BCS; range from 1 to 5, in increments of 0.5) and allocated into two groups. On Day 0 (without regard to stage of the estrous cycle), cows (n = 59) in the hormone induction (HI) treatment group were given an intravaginal device (IVD) containing 250 mg of medroxiprogesterone acetate (MAP) and an i.m. injection of 2.5 mg estradiol benzoate (EB). On Day 6, these cows were given 500 IU eCG i.m. and calves were weaned for 96 h. The IVD were removed on Day 7. Cows detected in estrus by 45 h after IVD removal were inseminated 12 h after standing estrus; cows not in estrus by 45 h after IVD removal received an i.m. injection of 100 microg gonadorelin (GnRH) and were inseminated 16-18 h later. In the control group (C), cows (n = 64) only had their calves weaned at Day 6 (for 96 h), with estrus detection and AI from Days 6 to 11. Overall, the BCS ranged from 2.0 to 3.0. In the treatment group, estrus and pregnancy rates in cows with BCS 2.0 (20 and 30%, respectively) was lower (P < 0.05) than those with BCS 3.0 (50 and 66.6%, respectively), but did not differ (P > 0.05) from BCS 2.5 (23.3 and 47.6%). In C group, only 2 of 66 cows were detected in estrus and bred (neither was pregnant). In conclusion, the program for induction of ovulation using MAP, EB, eCG and GnRH increased the pregnancy rate in beef cows in poor body condition, enabling AI to be done in a 63-h interval.     

Integrated control of Boophilus microplus ticks in Cuba based on vaccination with the anti-tick vaccine Gavac TM

Boophilus microplus has developed resistance against a range of chemical acaricides which has stimulated the development of alternative methods such as vaccination against ticks. In Cuba, the Bm86-based recombinant vaccine Gavac^TM has been successfully used in a number of controlled laboratory and field trials in cattle against B. microplus. In this paper, we have evaluated Gavac^TM in a large scale field trial wherein 588,573 dairy cattle were vaccinated with the aim to reduce the number of acaricidal treatments. It was found that the number of acaricidal treatments could be reduced by 87% over a period of 8 years (1995–2003). Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, 54 clinical cases of babesiosis and six fatal cases were reported per 1000 animals. Six years later, the incidence of babesiosis was reduced to 1.9 cases per 1000 cattle and mortality reduced to 0.18 per 1000. The national consumption of acaricides in Cuba could be reduced by 82% after the implementation of the integrated anti-B. microplus control program.     

The determinant step in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis by an endophyte of perennial ryegrass

Many cool-season grasses harbor fungal endophytes in the genus Neotyphodium, which enhance host fitness, but some also produce metabolites--such as ergovaline--believed to cause livestock toxicoses. In Claviceps species the first step in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis is thought to be dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) synthase, encoded by dmaW, previously cloned from Claviceps fusiformis. Here we report the cloning and characterization of dmaW from Neotyphodium sp. isolate Lp1, an endophyte of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The gene was then disrupted, and the mutant failed to produce any detectable ergovaline or simpler ergot and clavine alkaloids. The disruption was complemented with the C. fusiformis gene, which restored ergovaline production. Thus, the biosynthetic role of DMAT synthase was confirmed, and a mutant was generated for future studies of the ecological and agricultural importance of ergot alkaloids in endophytes of grasses.     

Protective role of ETA endothelin receptors during the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in rats

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, has an acute phase characterized by blood-circulating trypomastigotes and amastigote proliferation in several cell types, especially muscle cells. In the chronic phase, around 70% of infected people are asymptomatic (latent form). The remainder develop chagasic cardiomyopathy and/or digestive syndromes. There is evidence for aggravation of the chronic cardiac pathology by endothelin-mediated vasoconstriction. Holtzman rats have proven to be a good model for Chagas' disease acute phase and latent chronic phase. Now, we investigate the effects of prolonged treatment with an endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist, BSF 461314, during the acute phase on parasitemia, coronary flow, tissue parasitism and the inflammatory process. Using isolated heart in Langendorff's preparation, endothelial dysfunction was observed only in non-treated infected animals. Histoquantitative analyses carried out in heart and diaphragm showed higher tissue parasitism and/or inflammatory process in BSF 461314-treated animals. Our data indicate that endothelin ET(A) receptors contribute to the initial mechanisms of parasite control. Impairment of the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation favors hazardous effects. However, blocking endothelin ET(A) receptors can prevent the latter.     

Paracellular pathway in the shell epithelium of Anodonta cygnea

Ultrastructural study of cell-cell connections in the outer mantle epithelium (OME) on high-pressure-frozen specimens revealed zonula adherens, septate junctions and gap junctions in Anodonta cygnea. In order to evaluate the permeability of the paracellular pathway, the OME was incubated under gradients of lanthanum and calcium. After lanthanum incubation (4 mM) from the basal side, the septate junctions were penetrated completely by this tracer. When applied from the apical side, lanthanum deposits were located similarly over the entire length of the septate junctions up to the first dilatations of the intercellular space. Calcium deposits were also present in paracellular areas only when OME had been incubated simultaneously with calcium (6 mM) and lanthanum (4 mM) gradients. Lanthanum and calcium deposits were detected with ESI (Electron Spectroscopic Imaging) and identified with EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy). On the other hand, electrophysiological observations showed a 48% reduction of conductance when the OME was bathed on both sides with solutions containing lanthanum (4 mM) and calcium (6 mM), compared to bathing with lanthanum-free solution (control). The conductance reduction was 52% when calcium was removed from the control solution. Supported by morphological and physiological evidence, it appears that, under in vivo conditions, calcium ions may diffuse paracellularly from the haemolymph towards the extrapallial fluid and vice-versa across the septate junctions in the OME of A. cygnea. Permeability of the septate junctions depended proportionally on the calcium concentration in fluids.     

Kinetics of Gibberella fujikuroi growth and gibberellic acid production by solid-state fermentation in a packed-bed column bioreactor

In this work the growth of Gibberella fujikuroi and gibberellic acid (GA3) production were studied using coffee husk and cassava bagasse as substrates in a packed-bed column bioreactor connected to a gas chromatograph for exit gas analysis. With the respirometric data, a logarithmic correlation between accumulated CO2 and biomass production was determined, and the kinetics of the fungal growth was compared for estimated and experimental data. The solid medium consisted of coffee husk (pretreated with alkali solution), mixed with cassava bagasse (7:3 dry weight basis), with a substrate initial pH of 5.2 and moisture of 77%. Cultivation was carried out in glass columns, which were packed with preinoculated substrate and with forced aeration of 0.24 L of air/[h (g of substrate)] for the first 3 days, and 0.72 L of air/[h (g of substrate)] for the remaining period. The maximum specific growth rate (microm) obtained was 0.052 h(-1) (between 24 and 48 h of fermentation). A production of 0.925 g of GA3/kg of substrate was achieved after 6 days of fermentation.