Reproduction by zoospores in Planktosphaeria gelatinosa G. M. Smith

Summary Planktosphaeria gelatinosa Smith is redescribed from observations in unialgal culture of all phases of the life history. The genus Planktosphaeria is delimited from other spherical genera of the Chlorococcaceae by the possession of vegetative cells with many separate chromatophores, each with a pyrenoid, and the production of naked zoöspores with two equal flagella. The confirmation of zoöspore production in Planktosphaeria necessitates its removal from the Oocystaceae to the Chlorococcaceae. in soil-water medium by the writer at Indiana University (No. 124).This paper is part of a larger investigation of soil algae made possible through a grant from the Research Fund of the Graduate School of Indiana University.     

Reproduction of Meloidogyne marylandi and M. incognita on several Poaceae

The susceptibility of 22 plant species to Meloidogyne marylandi and M. incognita was examined in three greenhouse experiments. Inoculum of M. marylandi was eggs from cultures maintained on Zoysia matrella "Cavalier" or Cynodon dactylon x C. trasvaalensis "Tifdwarf". Inoculum of M. incognita was eggs from cultures maintained on Solanum lycopersicum 'Rutgers'. In each host test the inoculum density was 2,000 nematode eggs/pot. None of the three dicot species tested (Gossypium hirsutum, Arachis hypogaea, and S. lycopersicum) were hosts for M. marylandi but, as expected, M. incognita had high levels of reproduction on G. hirsutum and S. lycopersicum. Meloidogyne marylandi reproduced on all of the 19 grass species (Poaceae) tested but reproduction varied greatly (P = 0.05) among these hosts. The following grasses were identified for the first time as hosts for M. marylandi: Buchloe dactyloides (buffalograss), Echinochloa colona (jungle rice), Eragostis curvula (weeping lovegrass), Paspalum dilatatum (dallisgrass), P. notatum (bahiagrass), Sorghastrum, nutans (indiangrass), Tripsacum dactyloides (eastern gamagrass), and Zoysia matrella (zoysiagrass). No reproduction of M. incognita was observed on B. dactyloides, Cyndon dactylon (common bermudagrass), E. curvula, P. vaginatum (seashore paspalum), S. nutans, T. dactyloides, Z. matrella or Z. japonica. Reproduction of M. incognita was less than reproduction of M. marylandi on the other grass species, except for the Zea mays inbred line B73 on which M. incognita had greater reproduction than did M. marylandi (P = 0.05) and Stenotaphrum secundatum (St. Augustinegrass) on which M. incognita and M. marylandi had similar levels of reproduction.     

Regional hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in prone pigs.

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is known to affect regional pulmonary blood flow distribution. It is unknown whether lungs with well-matched ventilation (V)/perfusion (Q) have regional differences in the HPV response. Five prone pigs were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated (positive end-expiratory pressure = 2 cmH2O). Two hypoxic preconditions [inspired oxygen fraction (FI(O2)) = 0.13] were completed to stabilize the animal's hypoxic response. Regional pulmonary blood Q and V distribution was determined at various FI(O2) (0.21, 0.15, 0.13, 0.11, 0.09) using the fluorescent microsphere technique. Q and V in the lungs were quantified within 2-cm3 lung pieces. Pieces were grouped, or clustered, based on the changes in blood flow when subjected to increasing hypoxia. Unique patterns of Q response to hypoxia were seen within and across animals. The three main patterns (clusters) showed little initial difference in V/Q matching at room air where the mean V/Q range was 0.92-1.06. The clusters were spatially located in cranial, central, and caudal portions of the lung. With decreasing FI(O2), blood flow shifted from the cranial to caudal regions. We determined that pulmonary blood flow changes, caused by HPV, produced distinct response patterns that were seen in similar regions across our prone porcine model.     

A Theoretical Model of the Winter Survival Dynamics of Meloidogyne spp. Eggs and Juveniles

A theoretical model of the winter survival dynamics of Meloidagyne spp. was developed by considering the roles of egg hatching and juvenile mortality and the initial populations of eggs and juveniles at the onset of winter. Two distinct patterns of juvenile dynamics appear which depend upon the numerical values of the model parameters. The model predicts whether eggs or juveniles are the major component of overwintering nematode populations at any time prior to planting. The model could be elaborated to include egg viability and differential mortality of eggs but at some cost in ease of mathematical analysis. A general procedure for fitting the proposed model to experimental or observational data is outlined.     

A series of bisaryl imidazolidin-2-ones has shown to be selective and orally active 5-HT2C receptor antagonists

Bisaryl cyclic ureas have been identified as high affinity 5-HT2C receptor antagonists with selectivity over 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B. Compounds such as 8 and 22 have shown oral activity in a centrally mediated pharmacodynamic model of 5-HT2C function in rodents.     

Mechanism of Resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria in the Peanut Cultivar COAN

Resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria in the peanut cultivar COAN is inherited as a single, dominant gene. The mechanism of resistance to M. arenaria in COAN was evaluated in three experiments. In the first experiment the number of second-stage juveniles (J2) of M. arenaria penetrating roots of the susceptible cultivar Florunner was higher than the number of J2 penetrating roots of the resistant peanut cultivar COAN (P < 0.05). In a second experiment it was determined that the root size and number of potential infection courts (root tips) were similar for the two peanut cultivars. The number of nematodes emigrating from roots of COAN after penetration was greater than emigrated from roots of Florunner (P < 0.05). Necrotic host tissue was rarely observed in roots of COAN infected with M. arenaria, suggesting that resistance to M. arenaria does not involve a necrotic, hypersensitive response. Most of the J2 observed in roots of COAN were restricted to the cortical tissue, with only 1 of 90 J2 observed being associated with the vascular cylinder, whereas in Florunner >70% of the J2 were associated with vascular tissues. Resistance in COAN may be due to constitutive factors in the roots.     

SOCS5 is expressed in primary B and T lymphoid cells but is dispensable for lymphocyte production and function

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCSs) are key regulators of cytokine-induced responses in hematopoietic as well as nonhematopoietic cells. SOCS1 and SOCS3 have been shown to modulate T-cell responses, whereas the roles of other SOCS family members in the regulation of lymphocyte function are less clear. Here, we report the generation of mice with a targeted disruption of the Socs5 gene. Socs5^−/− mice were born in a normal Mendelian ratio and were healthy and fertile. We found that SOCS5 is expressed in primary B and T cells in wild-type mice. However, no abnormalities in the lymphocyte compartment were seen in SOCS5-deficient mice. We examined antigen- and cytokine-induced proliferative responses in B and T cells in the absence of SOCS5 and found no deviations from the responses seen in wild-type cells. Because SOCS5 has been implicated in Th1 differentiation, we also investigated the importance of SOCS5 in T helper cell responses. Unexpectedly, SOCS5-deficient CD4 T cells showed no abnormalities in Th1/Th2 differentiation and Socs5^−/− mice showed normal resistance to infection with Leishmania major. Therefore, although SOCS5 is expressed in primary B and T cells, it appears to be dispensable for the regulation of lymphocyte function.