Aciculosporium sasicola sp. nov. on witches' broom ofSasa senanensis

A new species ofAciculosporium, A. sasicola (anam.Albomyces sasicola), is described and illustrated. The fungus differs fromAciculosporium take by its small asci and ascospores, though witches' broom and signs probably caused by the former onSasa senanensis are similar to those caused by the latter on bamboos.     

Evaluation of potential impacts on biodiversity of the salt-tolerant transgenic Eucalyptus camaldulensis harboring an RNA chaperonic RNA-Binding-Protein gene derived from common ice plant

We recently reported that a genetic transformation of the RNA-Binding-Protein (McRBP), an RNA chaperone gene derived from common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), alleviated injury and loss of biomass production by salt stress in Eucalyptus camaldulensis in a semi-confined screen house trial. In this study, we assessed the potential environmental impact of the transgenic Eucalyptus in a manner complying with Japanese biosafety regulatory framework required for getting permission for experimental confined field trials. Two kinds of bioassays for the effects of allelopathic activity on the growth of other plants, i.e., the sandwich assay and the succeeding crop assay, were performed for three transgenic lines and three non-transgenic lines. No significant differences were observed between transgenic and non-transgenic plants. No significant difference in the numbers of cultivable microorganisms analyzed by the spread plate method were observed among the six transgenic and non-transgenic lines. These results suggested that there is no significant difference in the potential impact on biodiversity between the transgenic McRBP-E. camaldulensis lines and their non-transgenic comparators.

     

Rab34 GTPase mediates ciliary membrane formation in the intracellular ciliogenesis pathway

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Flagellation of Salmonella typhimurium treated with nalidixic acid

Filamentous cells of Salmonella typhimurium, obtained after treatment with nalidixic acid in the exponential phase of growth, elongated up to 10 micron, corresponding to 4 unit cell lengths, per nucleoid. During elongation, division of nucleoids and septum formation did not occur, but de novo formation of flagella continued. Most of the filamentous cells were motile, and flagella were evenly distributed on their surface.     

Tubulointerstitial nephritis induced by Tamm-Horsfall protein sensitization in guinea pigs

Experimental tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) was induced in guinea pigs by immunization with homologous Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP). This disease was characterized by focal interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration around the distal nephron segments with degeneration of renal tubular cells. Although concomitant granular immunoglobulin deposition on the tubular basement membrane and a rise of serum anti-THP antibodies were recognized, they were related to the severity of the lesion. Lymphocytes from lymph nodes of animals with TIN showed blast transformation in the presence of THP in vitro. Following the transfer of lymphocytes and spleen cells from guinea pigs with THP-induced TIN to nonimmunized animals, the recipient animals developed TIN 7 days later. These observations suggest that TIN induced in guinea pigs by challenge with homologous THP may, at least in part, be related to a cell-mediated immune response.     

Lipid droplets containing DNA-histones released in the culture medium of transformed rat fibroblasts (HY1)

Lipid droplets appeared during the growing phase in the culture medium of incompletely transformed rat fibroblasts (HY1) induced by AccI-H fragments of adenovirus 12 DNA. These droplets consisted of neutral lipids, DNA, histones and RNA. Electron microscopic observations showed that the droplets had no lipid-bilayers on their surfaces which accounted for the tendency of the droplets to readily fuse together and become larger, and that the inner structures of the droplets looked like networks of fibrous matter. Experiments with DNA hybridization showed that the droplet DNA was composed of both cellular and adenoviral DNA, and that the cellular DNA in the droplets seemed to be derived from various cell DNA sequences. These results suggest that the droplets were derived from parts of the nuclear components of HY1 cells. The mechanisms for droplet release are discussed.