First Report of a New Isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium rileyi</Emphasis> from Maize Fields of Quivicán,Cuba

Metarhizium rileyi (Farlow) Samson is an important entomopathogenic fungus of more than 30 species of Lepidoptera larvae. The aim of this research was to characterize isolate of M. rileyi from Quivicán, Cuba on the basis of morphological and molecular approaches. The fungus was isolated from samples of S. frugiperda larvae collected from maize fields of Quivicán municipality, Mayabeque province, Cuba, and it was cultured on PDA?+?Ampicillin solid media for morphological characterization. The DNA was isolated using CTAB method and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, ITS4) were used as the primers for the amplification. The amplified products of 1335 bp were purified and sequenced at CINVESTAV-IPN in both the directions using the above primers. A consensus sequence was obtained by alignment of the forward and reverse sequences for this region and deposited in GenBank (MG637450). The fungus produced slightly cottony colony of pale green color and dispersed conidia and septal mycelium were observed under the optical microscope. A BLAST search of the sequence in GenBank revealed a 99% of identity with several strains of N. rileyi (e.g., AF368501.1, AB268359.1 and EU553337.1) and M. rileyi (e.g., KY436756.1). This is the first report of M. rileyi isolate from maize fields of Quivicán in Cuba and this is important for biodiversity studies and is another possibility for Integrated Pest Management.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus aryabhattai</Emphasis> BA03: a novel approach to the production of natural value-added compounds

A strain designated as BA03, with the ability to transform ferulic acid into vanillin and 4-vinylguaiacol, was isolated from contaminated cryovials. The production of natural value-added compounds was dependent on the media employed. The morphological and physiological characteristics of this strain were compared with those of the typical vanillin-producer strain Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116. According to a partial 16S rRNA sequence, we determined that BA03 belonged to Bacillus aryabhattai. In addition, analysis of the results showed that this strain exhibited interesting enzymatic activity, including cellulases, laccases, lipases and pectinases. In light of this, we propose new functions for this multitasking microorganism. We suggest that it may be used for converting lignocellulosic wastes into byproducts with industrial uses, and also for treating disposal residues such as dyes in the textile industry. Hence, the possibility for novel research with B. aryabhattai opens up in the fields of biodegradation and/or revalorization of wastes.     

Testing the Benefits of Neurofeedback on Selective Attention Measured Through Dichotic Listening

The electrophysiological changes after a single session of neurofeedback training (↑SMR/↓Theta) and its effects on executive attention during a dichotic listening test with forced attentional procedures were measured in a sample of 20 healthy women. A pre–post moment test double blind design, with the inclusion of a group receiving sham neurofeedback, allowed for minimization of alien influences. The interaction of Moment × Group was significant, indicating an enhancement of SMR band after the real neurofeedback. The dichotic listening scores were correlated with the amplitude of Beta band in baseline conditions. The performance on the forced left attentional condition in dichotic listening was significantly improved and correlated positively with the post-training enhancement of the SMR band. The sham neurofeedback group also improved DL scores, so a clear affirmation about the benefits of neurofeedback training over cognitive performance could not be unambiguously established. It is concluded that the protocol showed a good independence and acceptable trainability in modifying the EEG results, but there was limited interpretability regarding cognitive outcomes.     

Overexpression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">AtGRDP2</Emphasis> gene in common bean hairy roots generates vigorous plants with enhanced salt tolerance

Proteins with glycine-rich repeats have been identified in plants, mammalians, fungi, and bacteria. Plant glycine-rich proteins have been associated to stress response. Previously, we reported that the Arabidopsis thaliana AtGRDP2 gene, which encodes a protein with a glycine-rich domain, plays a role in growth and development of A. thaliana and Lactuca sativa. In this study, we generated composite Phaseolus vulgaris plants that overexpress the AtGRDP2 gene in hairy roots generated by Agrobacterium rhizogenes. We observed that hairy roots harboring the AtGRDP2 gene developed more abundant and faster-growing roots than control hairy roots generated with the wild type A. rhizogenes. In addition, composite common bean plants overexpressing the AtGRDP2 gene in roots were more tolerant to salt stress showing increments in their fresh and dry weight. Our data further support the role of plant GRDP genes in development and stress response.     

Surface-active properties of the antitumour ether lipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (edelfosine)

The surface activity and interaction with lipid monolayers and bilayers of the antitumour ether lipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (edelfosine) have been studied. Edelfosine is a surface-active soluble amphiphile, with critical micellar concentrations at 3.5 microM and 19 microM in water. When the air-water interface is occupied by a phospholipid, edelfosine becomes inserted in the phospholipid monolayer, increasing surface pressure. This increase is dose-dependent, and reaches a plateau at ca. 2 microM edelfosine bulk concentration. The ether lipid can become inserted in phospholipid monolayers with initial surface pressures of up to 33 mN/m, which ensures its capacity to become inserted into cell membranes. Upon interaction with phospholipid vesicles, edelfosine exhibits a weak detergent activity, causing release of vesicle contents to a low extent (<5%), and a small proportion of lipid solubilization. The weak detergent properties of edelfosine can be related to its very low critical micellar concentrations. Its high affinity for lipid monolayers combined with low lytic properties support the use of edelfosine as a clinical drug. The surface-active properties of edelfosine are similar to those of other "single-chain" lipids, e.g. lysophosphatidylcholine, palmitoylcarnitine, or N-acetylsphingosine.     

Tuning of the FMN binding and oxido-reduction properties by neighboring side chains in Anabaena flavodoxin

Contribution of three regions (phosphate-binding, 50’s and 90’s loops) of Anabaena apoflavodoxin to FMN binding and reduction potential was studied. Thr12 and Glu16 did not influence FMN redox properties, but Thr12 played a role in FMN binding. Replacement of Trp57 with Glu, Lys or Arg moderately shifted E_ox/sq and E_sq/hq and altered the energetic of the FMN redox states binding profile. Our data indicate that the side chain of position 57 does not modulate E_ox/sq by aromatic stacking or solvent exclusion, but rather by influencing the relative strength of the H-bond between the N(5) of the flavin and the Asn58-Ile59 bond. A correlation was observed between the isoalloxazine increase in solvent accessibility and less negative E_sq/hq. Moreover, E_sq/hq became less negative as positively charged residues were added near to the isoalloxazine. Ile59 and Ile92 were simultaneously mutated to Ala or Glu. These mutations impaired FMN binding, while shifting E_sq/hq to less negative values and E_ox/sq to more negative. These effects are discussed on the bases of the X-ray structures of some of the Fld mutants, suggesting that in Anabaena Fld the structural control of both electron transfer steps is much more subtle than in other Flds.