Molecular detection of Babesia canis in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks collected in Slovakia

Dermacentor reticulatus ticks are recognized as the most important vectors of Babesia canis, the aetiological agent of canine babesiosis occurring throughout Europe. Vector competence of D. reticulatus for B. canis is well described and experimentally determined; however, by using molecular analysis it was proven so by one recent study in Russia. Herein, the additional molecular evidence of B. canis infection in D. reticulatus ticks collected in Slovakia is provided. Using PCR followed by sequencing of distinctive amplicons we determined the presence of Babesia canis canis in one of 100 tested adult ticks. Two zoonotic pathogens, Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii, were previously isolated from D. reticulatus ticks in Slovakia. In our samples, we detected only the presence of F. tularensis.     

Direct resolution of ergot alkaloid enantiomers on a novel chiral silica-based stationary phase

A new covalently-bonded, silica-based stationary phase, using as the chiral selector the 1-(3-aminopropyl) derivative of (+)-(5R,8S,10R)-terguride, has been developed to resolve optically active isomers by HPLC. Good resolution of structurally related racemic ergot alkaloids were obtained using water-methanol mixtures as the eluent. Analysis of the influence of the type and concentration of the organic modifier, and the pH of the buffer in the mobile phase allowed the enantioseparation of these compounds to be optimized. Determination of the optical purity of a lisuride-containig drug is reported. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Large‐scale disturbance legacies and the climate sensitivity of primary Picea abies forests

Determining the drivers of shifting forest disturbance rates remains a pressing global change issue. Large‐scale forest dynamics are commonly assumed to be climate driven, but appropriately scaled disturbance histories are rarely available to assess how disturbance legacies alter subsequent disturbance rates and the climate sensitivity of disturbance. We compiled multiple tree ring‐based disturbance histories from primary Picea abies forest fragments distributed throughout five European landscapes spanning the Bohemian Forest and the Carpathian Mountains. The regional chronology includes 11,595 tree cores, with ring dates spanning the years 1750–2000, collected from 560 inventory plots in 37 stands distributed across a 1,000 km geographic gradient, amounting to the largest disturbance chronology yet constructed in Europe. Decadal disturbance rates varied significantly through time and declined after 1920, resulting in widespread increases in canopy tree age. Approximately 75% of current canopy area recruited prior to 1900. Long‐term disturbance patterns were compared to an historical drought reconstruction, and further linked to spatial variation in stand structure and contemporary disturbance patterns derived from LANDSAT imagery. Historically, decadal Palmer drought severity index minima corresponded to higher rates of canopy removal. The severity of contemporary disturbances increased with each stand's estimated time since last major disturbance, increased with mean diameter, and declined with increasing within‐stand structural variability. Reconstructed spatial patterns suggest that high small‐scale structural variability has historically acted to reduce large‐scale susceptibility and climate sensitivity of disturbance. Reduced disturbance rates since 1920, a potential legacy of high 19th century disturbance rates, have contributed to a recent region‐wide increase in disturbance susceptibility. Increasingly common high‐severity disturbances throughout primary Picea forests of Central Europe should be reinterpreted in light of both legacy effects (resulting in increased susceptibility) and climate change (resulting in increased exposure to extreme events).     

Different native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi influence the coexistence of two plant species in a highly alkaline anthropogenic sediment

Different species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can produce different amounts of extraradical mycelium (ERM) with differing architectures. They also have different efficiencies in gathering phosphate from the soil. These differences in phosphate uptake and ERM length or architecture may contribute to differential growth responses of plants and this may be an important contributor to plant species coexistence. The effects of the development of the ERM of AMF on the coexistence of two co-occurring plant species were investigated in root-free hyphal chambers in a rhizobox experimental unit. The dominant shrub (Salix atrocinerea Brot.) and herbaceous (Conyza bilbaoana J. Rémy) plant species found in a highly alkaline anthropogenic sediment were studied in symbiosis with four native AMF species (Glomus intraradices BEG163, Glomus mosseae BEG198, Glomus geosporum BEG199 and Glomus claroideum BEG210) that were the most abundant members of the AMF community found in the sediment. Different AMF species did not influence total plant productivity (sum of the biomass of C. bilbaoana and S. atrocinerea), but had a great impact on the individual biomass of each plant species. The AMF species with greater extracted ERM lengths (G. mosseae BEG198, G. claroideum BEG210 and the four mixed AMF) preferentially benefited the plant species with a high mycorrhizal dependency (C. bilbaoana), while the AMF species with the smallest ERM length (G. geosporum BEG199) benefited the plant species with a low mycorrhizal dependency (S. atrocinerea). Seed production of C. bilbaoana was only observed in plants inoculated with G. mosseae BEG198, G. claroideum BEG210 or the mixture of the four AMF. Our results show that AMF play an important role in the reproduction of C. bilbaoana coexisting with S. atrocinerea in the alkaline sediment and have the potential to stimulate or completely inhibit seed production. The community composition of native AMF and the length of the mycelium they produce spreading from roots into the surrounding soil can be determinant of the coexistence of naturally co-occurring plant species.     

Structure and Function of Nucleoside Hydrolases from Physcomitrella patens and Maize Catalyzing the Hydrolysis of Purine,Pyrimidine, and Cytokinin Ribosides

We present a comprehensive characterization of the nucleoside N-ribohydrolase (NRH) family in two model plants, Physcomitrella patens (PpNRH) and maize (Zea mays; ZmNRH), using in vitro and in planta approaches. We identified two NRH subclasses in the plant kingdom; one preferentially targets the purine ribosides inosine and xanthosine, while the other is more active toward uridine and xanthosine. Both subclasses can hydrolyze plant hormones such as cytokinin ribosides. We also solved the crystal structures of two purine NRHs, PpNRH1 and ZmNRH3. Structural analyses, site-directed mutagenesis experiments, and phylogenetic studies were conducted to identify the residues responsible for the observed differences in substrate specificity between the NRH isoforms. The presence of a tyrosine at position 249 (PpNRH1 numbering) confers high hydrolase activity for purine ribosides, while an aspartate residue in this position confers high activity for uridine. Bud formation is delayed by knocking out single NRH genes in P. patens, and under conditions of nitrogen shortage, PpNRH1-deficient plants cannot salvage adenosine-bound nitrogen. All PpNRH knockout plants display elevated levels of certain purine and pyrimidine ribosides and cytokinins that reflect the substrate preferences of the knocked out enzymes. NRH enzymes thus have functions in cytokinin conversion and activation as well as in purine and pyrimidine metabolism.Nucleoside hydrolases or nucleoside N-ribohydrolases (NRHs; EC 3.2.2.-) are glycosidases that catalyze the cleavage of the N-glycosidic bond in nucleosides to enable the recycling of the nucleobases and Rib (Fig. 1A). The process by which nucleosides and nucleobases are recycled is also known as salvaging and is a way of conserving energy, which would otherwise be needed for the de novo synthesis of purine- and pyrimidine-containing compounds. During the salvage, bases and nucleosides can be converted into nucleoside monophosphates by the action of phosphoribosyltransferases and nucleoside kinases, respectively, and further phosphorylated into nucleoside diphosphates and triphosphates (Moffatt et al., 2002; Zrenner et al., 2006; Fig. 1B). Uridine kinase and uracil phosphoribosyl transferase are key enzymes in the pyrimidine-salvaging pathway in plants (Mainguet et al., 2009; Chen and Thelen, 2011). Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase and adenosine kinase (ADK) are important in purine salvaging (Moffatt and Somerville, 1988; Moffatt et al., 2002), and their mutants cause reductions in fertility or sterility, changes in transmethylation, and the formation of abnormal cell walls. In addition, both enzymes were also reported to play roles in cytokinin metabolism (Moffatt et al., 1991, 2000; von Schwartzenberg et al., 1998; Schoor et al., 2011). Cytokinins (N⁶-substituted adenine derivatives) are plant hormones that regulate cell division and numerous developmental events (Mok and Mok, 2001; Sakakibara, 2006). Cytokinin ribosides are considered to be transport forms and have little or no activity.Open in a separate windowFigure 1.A, Scheme of the reactions catalyzed by plant NRHs when using purine (inosine), pyrimidine (uridine), and cytokinin (iPR) ribosides as the substrates. B, Simplified schematic overview of cytokinin, purine, and pyrimidine metabolism in plants. The diagram is adapted from the work of Stasolla et al. (2003) and Zrenner et al. (2006) with modifications. The metabolic components shown are as follows: 1, cytokinin nucleotide phosphoribohydrolase; 2, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase; 3, adenosine kinase; 4, 5′-nucleotidase; 5, adenosine phosphorylase; 6, purine/pyrimidine nucleoside ribohydrolase; 7, cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase; 8, AMP deaminase; 9, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; 10, inosine kinase; 11, inosine-guanosine phosphorylase; 12, IMP dehydrogenase; 13, xanthine dehydrogenase; 14, 5′-nucleotidase; 15, GMP synthase; 16, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase; 17, guanosine deaminase; 18, guanine deaminase; 19, guanosine kinase; 20, uracil phosphoribosyltransferase; 21, uridine cytidine kinase; 22, pyrimidine 5′-nucleotidase; 23, cytidine deaminase; 24, adenosine/adenine deaminase. CK, Cytokinin; CKR, cytokinin riboside; CKRMP, cytokinin riboside monophosphate.NRHs are metalloproteins first identified and characterized in parasitic protozoa such as Trypanosoma, Crithidia, and Leishmania species that rely on the import and salvage of nucleotide derivatives. They have since been characterized in other organisms such as bacteria, yeast, and insects (Versées and Steyaert, 2003) but never in mammals (Parkin et al., 1991). They have been divided into four classes based on their substrate specificity: nonspecific NRHs, which hydrolyze inosine and uridine (IU-NRHs; Parkin et al., 1991; Shi et al., 1999); purine-specific inosine/adenosine/guanosine NRHs (Parkin, 1996); the 6-oxopurine-specific guanosine/inosine NRHs (Estupiñán and Schramm, 1994); and the pyrimidine nucleoside-specific cytidine/uridine NRHs (CU-NRHs; Giabbai and Degano, 2004). All NRHs exhibit a stringent specificity for the Rib moiety and differ in their preferences regarding the nature of the nucleobase. Crystal structures are available for empty NRH or in complex with inhibitors from Crithidia fasciculata (CfNRH; Degano et al., 1998), Leishmania major (LmNRH; Shi et al., 1999), and Trypanosoma vivax (TvNRH; Versées et al., 2001, 2002). The structures of two CU-NRHs from Escherichia coli, namely YeiK (Iovane et al., 2008) and YbeK (rihA; Muzzolini et al., 2006; Garau et al., 2010), are also available. NRHs are believed to catalyze N-glycosidic bond cleavage by a direct displacement mechanism. An Asp from a conserved motif acts as a general base and abstracts a proton from a catalytic water molecule, which then attacks the C1′ atom of the Rib moiety of the nucleoside. Kinetic isotope-effect studies on CfNRH (Horenstein et al., 1991) showed that the substrate’s hydrolysis proceeds via an oxocarbenium ion-like transition state and is preceded by protonation at the N7 atom of the purine ring, which lowers the electron density on the purine ring and destabilizes the N-glycosidic bond. A conserved active-site His is a likely candidate for this role in IU-NRHs and CU-NRHs. In the transition state, the C1′-N9 glycosidic bond is almost 2 Å long, with the C1′ atom being sp² hybridized while the C3′ atom adopts an exo-conformation, and the whole ribosyl moiety carries a substantial positive charge (Horenstein et al., 1991).Several NRH enzymes have been identified in plants, including a uridine-specific NRH from mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus; Achar and Vaidyanathan, 1967), an inosine-specific NRH (EC 3.2.2.2) and a guanosine-inosine-specific NRH, both from yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus; Guranowski, 1982; Szuwart et al., 2006), and an adenosine-specific NRH (EC 3.2.2.7) from coffee (Coffea arabica), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and wheat (Triticum aestivum; Guranowski and Schneider, 1977; Chen and Kristopeit, 1981; Campos et al., 2005). However, their amino acid sequences have not been reported so far. A detailed study of the NRH gene family from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has recently been reported (Jung et al., 2009, 2011). The AtNRH1 enzyme exhibits highest hydrolase activity toward uridine and xanthosine. It can also hydrolyze the cytokinin riboside N⁶-(2-isopentenyl)adenosine (iPR), which suggests that it may also play a role in cytokinin homeostasis. However, Riegler et al. (2011) analyzed the phenotypes of homozygous nrh1 and nrh2 single mutants along with the homozygous double mutants and concluded that AtNRHs are probably unimportant in cytokinin metabolism.Here, we identify and characterize plant IU-NRHs from two different model organisms, Physcomitrella patens and maize (Zea mays), combining structural, enzymatic, and in planta functional approaches. The moss P. patens was chosen to represent the bryophytes, which can be regarded as being evolutionarily basal terrestrial plants, and is suitable for use in developmental and metabolic studies (Cove et al., 2006; von Schwartzenberg, 2009), while maize is an important model system for cereal crops. We report the crystal structures of NRH enzymes from the two plant species, PpNRH1 and ZmNRH3. Based on these structures, we performed site-directed mutagenesis experiments and kinetic analyses of point mutants of PpNRH1 in order to identify key residues involved in nucleobase interactions and catalysis. To analyze the physiological role of the PpNRHs, single knockout mutants were generated. NRH deficiency caused significant changes in the levels of purine, pyrimidine, and cytokinin metabolites relative to those seen in the wild type, illustrating the importance of these enzymes in nucleoside and cytokinin metabolism.     

Development of arbuscular mycorrhizal biotechnology and industry: current achievements and bottlenecks

Advanced scientific knowledge on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses recently enhanced potential for implementation of mycorrhizal biotechnology in horticulture and agriculture plant production, landscaping, phytoremediation and other segments of the plant market. The advances consist in significant findings regarding:—new molecular detection tools for tracing inoculated fungi in the field;—the coexistence mechanisms of various fungi in the single root system;—new knowledge on in vitro physiology of the AM fungi grown in root organ cultures;—mechanisms of synergistic interactions with other microbes like PGPR or saprotrophic fungi; discovery of mycorrhiza supportive compounds such as strigolactones. Scientific knowledge has been followed by technological developments like novel formulations for liquid applications or seed coating, mycorrhiza stimulating compounds or new application modes. Still the missing components of biotechnology are appropriate, cheap, highly reproducible and effective methods for inocula purity testing and quality control. Also there is a weak traceability of the origin of the mycorrhizal fungi strains used in commercial inocula. Numerous poor quality products can still be found on the markets claiming effective formation mycorrhiza which have very low capacity to do so. These products usually rely in their effects on plant growth not on support of host plants via formation of effective mycorrhizal symbiosis but on fertilizing compounds added to products. There is growing number of enterprises producing mycorrhiza based inocula recently not only in developed world but increasingly in emerging markets. Also collaboration between private sector and scientific community has an improving trend as the development of private sector can fuel further research activities. Last but not least there is apparent growing pull of the market and increasing tendency of reduction of agrochemical inputs and employment of alternative strategies in planting and plant production. These circumstances support further developments of mycorrhizal inocula production and applications and maturation of the industry.     

Ecological and methodological drivers of non-stationarity in tree growth response to climate

Radial tree growth is sensitive to environmental conditions, making observed growth increments an important indicator of climate change effects on forest growth. However, unprecedented climate variability could lead to non-stationarity, that is, a decoupling of tree growth responses from climate over time, potentially inducing biases in climate reconstructions and forest growth projections. Little is known about whether and to what extent environmental conditions, species, and model type and resolution affect the occurrence and magnitude of non-stationarity. To systematically assess potential drivers of non-stationarity, we compiled tree-ring width chronologies of two conifer species, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris, distributed across cold, dry, and mixed climates. We analyzed 147 sites across the Europe including the distribution margins of these species as well as moderate sites. We calibrated four numerical models (linear vs. non-linear, daily vs. monthly resolution) to simulate growth chronologies based on temperature and soil moisture data. Climate–growth models were tested in independent verification periods to quantify their non-stationarity, which was assessed based on bootstrapped transfer function stability tests. The degree of non-stationarity varied between species, site climatic conditions, and models. Chronologies of P. sylvestris showed stronger non-stationarity compared with Picea abies stands with a high degree of stationarity. Sites with mixed climatic signals were most affected by non-stationarity compared with sites sampled at cold and dry species distribution margins. Moreover, linear models with daily resolution exhibited greater non-stationarity compared with monthly-resolved non-linear models. We conclude that non-stationarity in climate–growth responses is a multifactorial phenomenon driven by the interaction of site climatic conditions, tree species, and methodological features of the modeling approach. Given the existence of multiple drivers and the frequent occurrence of non-stationarity, we recommend that temporal non-stationarity rather than stationarity should be considered as the baseline model of climate–growth response for temperate forests.     

Evidence for a fifth (G) region in theH-2 complex of the mouse

Antisera (B10.129×A)F₁ anti-P and (B10×A)F₁ anti-B10.P contain antibodies that define, in the PVP hemagglutination test, an antigen originally described as G or H-2.7. Of the independentH-2 haplotypes, the H-2.7 antigen is present inf, j, k, p, ands. In addition, the antisera also contain a weak cytotoxic antibody, distinct from anti-H-2.7. The cytotoxic antibody reacts with antigens controlled by theK orI regions. The hemagglutinating H-2.7 antibody does not have cytotoxic activity. The genetic determinant coding for antigen H-2.7 can be mapped into the chromosomal segment between theS andD regions. The H-2.7 antigen thus serves as a marker for a new region of theH-2 complex. The locus coding for antigen H-2.7 is designatedH-2 G and the correspondingH-2 regionG. The H-2.7 antigen has a tissue distribution distinct from that of the H-2 antigens controlled by theK orD regions. So far it could be detected primarily on erythrocytes.     

Physiological control and process kinetics of clavine alkaloid production byClaviceps purpurea

Summary Kinetic parameters of production of clavine alkaloids were evaluated in twoClaviceps purpurea strains. Mutagenesis brought about enhanced resistance of the biosynthetic system towards alkaloids. Addition of glucose into the fermentation medium altered the zero order kinetics of production to activation-inhibition kinetics. The glucose treatment allowed performance of both elymoclavine-inhibitionless and clavine alkaloid-decompositionless fermentations if a combination of fermentation and separation units in a closed loop was used.Nomenlacture k ₁ rate constant of agroclavine synthesis (mg Agro · mg Elymo/l·g DW·day for stage 1, mg Agro/g DW·day for stage 2) - k ₂ parameter describing inhibition of agroclavine formation rate by elymoclavine (mg Elymo/l) - k ₃ specific rate of agroclavine decay (l/g DW·day) - k ₄ maximal specific rate of elymoclavine synthesis (stage 1, 1/g DW·day, stage 2, mg Elymo/g DW·day) - k ₄ ^– maximal specific rate of elymoclavine synthesis in stage 1 (inhibition-activation mechanism) (mg Elymo/g DW·day) - k ₅ physiological constant describing the elymoclavine decay rate (l²/g DW·day·mg Elymo) - k ₅ ^– physiological constant describing the activation of elymoclavine biosynthesis by elymoclavine (mg Elymo/l) - k ₆ physiological constant describing the repression of elymoclavine biosynthesis by elymoclavine (mg Elymo/l) - k ₇ maximal specific growth rate (1/day) - k ₈ specific rate of biomass decay (l/g DW·day) - A agroclavine concentration (mg/l) - E elymoclavine concentration (mg/l) - r _A specific rate of agroclavine biosynthesis (mg Agro/g DW·day) - r _E specific rate of elymoclavine biosynthesis (mg Elymo/g DW·day) - r _i specific rate of alkaloid biosynthesis (mg alkaloid/g DW·day) - X dry biomass concentration (g/l) - specific growth rate (1/day) Abbreviations Agro agroclavine - Elymo elymoclavine - Chano chanoclavine - DW dry weight of biomass