Profilin plays a role in cell elongation, cell shape maintenance, and flowering in Arabidopsis

Profilin (PFN) is an ubiquitous, low-M(r), actin-binding protein involved in the organization of the cytoskeleton of eukaryotes including higher plants. PFNs are encoded by a multigene family in Arabidopsis. We have analyzed in vivo functions of Arabidopsis PFN by generating transgenic plants carrying a 35S-PFN-1 or 35S-antisense PFN-1 transgene. Etiolated seedlings underexpressing PFN (PFN-U) displayed an overall dwarf phenotype with short hypocotyls whose lengths were 20% to 25% that of wild type (WT) at low temperatures. Light-grown PFN-U plants were smaller in stature and flowered early. Compared with equivalent cells in WT, most cells in PFN-U hypocotyls and roots were shorter, but more isodiametric, and microscopic observations of etiolated PFN-U hypocotyls revealed a rough epidermal surface. In contrast, light-grown seedlings overexpressing PFN had longer roots and root hair although etiolated seedlings overexpressing PFN were either the same size or slightly longer than WT seedlings. Transgenic seedlings harboring a PFN-1-GUS transgene directed expression in root and root hair and in a ring of cells at the elongating zone of the root tip. As the seedlings matured PFN-1-GUS was mainly expressed in the vascular bundles of cotyledons and leaves. Our results show that Arabidopsis PFNs play a role in cell elongation, cell shape maintenance, polarized growth of root hair, and unexpectedly, in determination of flowering time.     

Greenhouse and field evaluations of transgenic canola against diamondback moth, shape Plutella xylostella, and corn earworm, shape Helicoverpa zea

Canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars Oscar and Westar, engineered with a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cryIA(c) gene, were evaluated for resistance to lepidopterous pests, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Plutellidae) and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Noctuidae) in greenhouse and field conditions. In greenhouse preference assays conducted at vegetative and flowering plant stages, transgenic plants recorded very low levels of damage. A 100% diamondback moth mortality and 90% corn earworm mortality were obtained on transgenic plants in greenhouse antibiosis assays. The surviving corn earworm larvae on transgenic plants had reduced head capsule width and body weight. Mortality of diamondback moth and corn earworm were 100% and 95%, respectively, at different growth stages (seedling, vegetative, bolting, and flowering) on the transgenic plants in greenhouse tests. In field tests conducted during 1995–1997, plots were artificially infested with neonates of diamondback moth or corn earworm or left for natural infestation. Transgenic plants in all the treatments were highly resistant to diamondback moth and corn earworm larvae and had very low levels of defoliation. Plots infested with diamondback moth larvae had greater damage in both seasons as compared with corn earworm infested plots and plots under natural infestation. After exposure to defoliators, transgenic plants usually had higher final plant stand and produced more pods and seeds than non-transgenic plants. Diamondback moth injury caused the most pronounced difference in plant stand and pod and seed number between transgenic and non-transgenic plants. Our results suggest that transgenic canola could be used for effective management of diamondback moth and corn earworm on canola.     

Use of microarray analysis to study gene expression in the avian epiphyseal growth plate

Longitudinal bone growth depends upon the execution of an intricate series of cellular activities by epiphyseal growth plate chondrocytes. In order to better understand these coordinated events, microarray analysis was used to compare gene expression in chondrocytes isolated from the proliferative and hypertrophic zones of the avian growth plate. RT-PCR was used to confirm the identity of a select number of genes. The expression of 745 genes was found to differ 3-fold or greater at the 0.05 level of probability. Transferrin was the most highly up-regulated (321-fold) gene associated with chondrocyte hypertrophy. Immunohistochemistry localized this peptide adjacent to the penetrating blood vessels in the growth plate of 3-week-old chicks. Fibulin, OC-116, DMP-1 and PHEX were among the expanded number of genes associated with extracellular matrix metabolism. The presence of NELL2, ATOH8 and PLEXIN suggests a neuronal involvement in growth plate physiology. In addition, the expression of a large number of genes associated with angiogenesis and cellular stress was up-regulated. These processes are important to the physiology and survival of chondrocytes in the unique and stressful environment of the epiphyseal growth plate.     

Simple and rapid liquid chromatography method for determination of moxifloxacin in plasma

A high performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of moxifloxacin in human plasma was developed. The method involved deproteinisation of the sample with perchloric acid and analysis of the supernatant using a reversed-phase C₁₈ column (150 mm) and fluorescence detection at an excitation wavelength of 290 nm and an emission wavelength of 460 nm. The assay was specific for moxifloxacin and linear from 0.125 to 10.0 μg/ml. The relative standard deviation of intra- and inter-day assays was lower than 10%. The average recovery of moxifloxacin from plasma was 101%. Due to its simplicity, the assay can be used for pharmacokinetic studies of moxifloxacin.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa RRALC3 Enhances the Biomass,Nutrient and Carbon Contents of Pongamia pinnata Seedlings in Degraded Forest Soil

The study was aimed at assessing the effects of indigenous Plant Growth Promoting Bacterium (PGPB) on the legume Pongamia pinnata in the degraded soil of the Nanmangalam Reserve Forest (NRF) under nursery conditions. In total, 160 diazotrophs were isolated from three different nitrogen-free semi-solid media (LGI, Nfb, and JMV). Amongst these isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa RRALC3 exhibited the maximum ammonia production and hence was selected for further studies. RRALC3 was found to possess multiple plant growth promoting traits such as nitrogen accumulation (120.6ppm); it yielded a positive amplicon with nifH specific primers, tested positive for Indole Acetic Acid (IAA; 18.3μg/ml) and siderophore production, tested negative for HCN production and was observed to promote solubilization of phosphate, silicate and zinc in the plate assay. The 16S rDNA sequence of RRALC3 exhibited 99% sequence similarity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa JCM5962. Absence of virulence genes and non-hemolytic activity indicated that RRALC3 is unlikely to be a human pathogen. When the effects of RRALC3 on promotion of plant growth was tested in Pongamia pinnata, it was observed that in Pongamia seedlings treated with a combination of RRALC3 and chemical fertilizer, the dry matter increased by 30.75%. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake increased by 34.1%, 27.08%, and 31.84%, respectively, when compared to control. Significant enhancement of total sugar, amino acids and organic acids content, by 23.4%, 29.39%, and 26.53% respectively, was seen in the root exudates of P. pinnata. The carbon content appreciated by 4-fold, when fertilized seedlings were treated with RRALC3. From the logistic equation, the rapid C accumulation time of Pongamia was computed as 43 days longer than the control when a combination of native PGPB and inorganic fertilizer was applied. The rapid accumulation time of N, P and K in Pongamia when treated with the same combination as above was 15, 40 and 33 days longer, respectively, as compared to the control.     

Diagnostic Yield of Universal Urine Toxicology Screening in an Unselected Cohort of Stroke Patients

Background

Illicit drug use increases the risk of cerebrovascular events by a variety of mechanisms. A recent report suggested that universal urine toxicology (UTox) screening of patients with stroke may be warranted. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of urine drug screening among unselected patients admitted with acute stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Methods

Using a single-center prospective study design, we evaluated consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke, TIA, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) over one year. Urine samples were collected within 48 hours of admission and analyzed for common classes of abused drugs. Prevalence of positive UTox screening was determined. We evaluated whether baseline demographics and clinical factors were associated with UTox results.

Results

Of 483 eligible patients (acute ischemic stroke 66.4%; TIA 18.8%; ICH 7.7%; SAH 7.0%), 414 (85.7%) completed UTox screening. The mean (standard deviation) age was 65.1 (15.6) years, 52.7% were male, and 64.3% were Caucasian. Twenty-two (4.6%) patients had positive screening—cannabinoids were detected in 13 cases (3.1%), cocaine in 5 cases (1.2%), amphetamines in 1 case, and phencyclidine in 1 case. The highest yield (14.1%) was observed in patients < 60 years old with history of tobacco use while it was < 5% in the remaining subgroups (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Consistent with current guidelines, a selective approach to UTox screening should be pursued in acute stroke evaluation. The highest diagnostic yield is likely to be for cannabinoids and cocaine testing in younger patients with a history of concurrent tobacco use.     

Invasive Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 with Naturally Attenuated Flagellin Elicits Reduced Inflammation and Replicates within Macrophages

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) are an important cause of septicemia in children under the age of five years in sub-Saharan Africa. A novel genotype of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (multi-locus sequence type [ST] 313) circulating in this geographic region is genetically different to from S. Typhimurium ST19 strains that are common throughout the rest of the world. S. Typhimurium ST313 strains have acquired pseudogenes and genetic deletions and appear to be evolving to become more like the typhoidal serovars S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A. Epidemiological and clinical data show that S. Typhimurium ST313 strains are clinically associated with invasive systemic disease (bacteremia, septicemia, meningitis) rather than with gastroenteritis. The current work summarizes investigations of the broad hypothesis that S. Typhimurium ST313 isolates from Mali, West Africa, will behave differently from ST19 isolates in various in vitro assays. Here, we show that strains of the ST313 genotype are phagocytosed more efficiently and are highly resistant to killing by macrophage cell lines and primary mouse and human macrophages compared to ST19 strains. S. Typhimurium ST313 strains survived and replicated within different macrophages. Infection of macrophages with S. Typhimurium ST19 strains resulted in increased apoptosis and higher production of proinflammatory cytokines, as measured by gene expression and protein production, compared to S. Typhimurium ST313 strains. This difference in proinflammatory cytokine production and cell death between S. Typhimurium ST19 and ST313 strains could be explained, in part, by an increased production of flagellin by ST19 strains. These observations provide further evidence that S. Typhimurium ST313 strains are phenotypically different to ST19 strains and instead share similar pathogenic characteristics with typhoidal Salmonella serovars.     

Natural Rabies Infection in a Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus): A Report from India

Background

Rabies is a fatal encephalitis caused by viruses belonging to the genus Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. It is a viral disease primarily affecting mammals, though all warm blooded animals are susceptible. Experimental rabies virus infection in birds has been reported, but naturally occurring infection of birds has been documented very rarely.

Principal Findings

The carcass of a domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus), which had been bitten by a stray dog one month back, was brought to the rabies diagnostic laboratory. A necropsy was performed and the brain tissue obtained was subjected to laboratory tests for rabies. The brain tissue was positive for rabies viral antigens by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) confirming a diagnosis of rabies. Phylogenetic analysis based on nucleoprotein gene sequencing revealed that the rabies virus strain from the domestic fowl belonged to a distinct and relatively rare Indian subcontinent lineage.

Significance

This case of naturally acquired rabies infection in a bird species, Gallus domesticus, being reported for the first time in India, was identified from an area which has a significant stray dog population and is highly endemic for canine rabies. It indicates that spill over of infection even to an unusual host is possible in highly endemic areas. Lack of any clinical signs, and fewer opportunities for diagnostic laboratory testing of suspected rabies in birds, may be the reason for disease in these species being undiagnosed and probably under-reported. Butchering and handling of rabies virus- infected poultry may pose a potential exposure risk.