The shelf life and effectiveness of granular formulations of Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Pichia guilliermondii yeast isolates that control postharvest decay of citrus fruit

Our overall objectives were to prepare commercially acceptable formulations of the postharvest biological control yeasts, Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Pichia guilliermondii, which have a long storage life and to determine the effectiveness of these formulations to control postharvest green and blue moulds on citrus fruit. Yeasts, grown on a cane molasses-based medium, were combined with talc or kaolin carriers and various adjuvants and the viability of yeast in 12 formulations was determined over a 6 month period. Formulation no. 11, containing talc, sodium alginate, sucrose, and yeast extract, for both yeasts had a significantly higher viable yeast cell content over a 6 month storage period. Among the formulations, three formulations (formulations no. 5, 6, and 11) were selected for additional in vivo testing because they had higher levels of viability amongst yeast cell populations during storage and were easier to resuspend remained in suspension more easily. These formulations were tested on Satsuma mandarin and grapefruit to control green and blue moulds. Formulations no. 5, 6, and 11 for both yeasts effectively controlled green mould, while only formulation no. 11 with either yeast isolate M. pulcherrima (isolate M1/1) or P. guilliermondii (isolate P1/3) effectively controlled both blue and green moulds.     

野生灵芝BSU01的分离鉴定、生物学特性及其木质纤维素酶活分析

灵芝作为传统中药,具有重要的医药和经济价值。本研究以一株野生灵芝属真菌BSU01为实验材料,通过形态特征和ITS序列聚类分析对其进行了鉴定,探讨了该菌株菌丝生长的最适碳源、氮源、C/N、pH及温度等生物学特征,以及该菌株产木质纤维降解素酶的能力。结果表明,菌株BSU01的形态特征与有柄灵芝相符;且与有柄灵芝ITS序列一致性达99%,并在系统发育树上聚在一起;菌株BSU01菌丝生长最适碳源为果糖或者葡萄糖,氮源为酵母提取物,C/N比为20/1到30/1,温度为30℃,pH值为5.5;菌株BSU01的漆酶、木质素过氧化物酶和Mn依赖过氧化物酶分别为12.13 U/L、0.52 U/L和0.33 U/L;CMCase和木聚糖酶酶活分别为7.14 U/mL和1.88 U/m L。本研究结果将为该菌的进一步开发利用提供数据参考。     

Biological activities of ginger against cadmium-induced renal toxicity

Our aim was to evaluate the protective and antioxidant effects of ginger extract against cadmium-induced renal toxicity in animal models and to support the use of ginger as anti-renal failure natural remedy. Seventy rats were examined in a 4-week experiment to evaluate the effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight on molecular DNA content, antioxidant status, and renal function in rats intoxicated with cadmium at dose of (5 mg/kg) using biochemical and histological analysis. Renal dysfunction, kidney tissue damage, and oxidative effect were evident in cadmium intoxicated rats as estimated by significant increase in (creatinine, urea), decrease in (creatinine clearance and reabsorption rate of urine albumin), increase in MDA, decrease in total antioxidant status (TAC), reduction in DNA content, and histopathological changes of kidneys’ tissues compared to control rats. Treatment with ginger resulted in significant restoring of renal function biomarkers, TAC, molecular DNA, and histological improvements which occurs via free radical scavenging and regenerative mechanisms. The activity of ginger was supported by estimation of bioactive phenolic and falvinods constituents. Twenty-eight polyphenolic compounds were estimated in ginger extract; [6]-gingerol, [6]-shogaol, citral and pyrogallol were the highest amounts in ginger, and supposed to be responsible for its major antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity as shown by In vitro DPPH/β-carotene-linolic acid assay tests. Consequently, ginger extracts could have a potent protective effects against nephrotoxicity induced by various toxicants.     

Formulation of a coupled mechanism between solute diffusion,phosphatase-kinase reactions and membrane potentials for the primary active transport of phosphorylated substrates through biological membranes

Coupled interrelations occurring between a phosphatase/kinase reaction sequence acting in unstirred layers and on both sides of a charged biomembrane pore structure are presented as a plausible kinetic model for the primary active transport of phosphorylated molecules. Simulations conducted at the cell level and with credible numerical values demonstrate that the enzymes positions strongly regulate the membrane permeability for the transported substrate. Depending on both the enzymes positions (more or less far from the membrane) and the membrane charges, the membrane may appear either impervious, either permeable or able to actively transport a phosphorylated substrate. Globally all happens as if, in function of the enzymes positions, a permanent pore may be regulated, changing from a more closed to a more open conformation.     

Biological Control of Culex pipiens pattens (Diptera, Culicidae) by the Release of Fish Muddy Loach, Misgurnus mizolepis in Natural Ponds, Korea

ABSTRACT An assessment on the biological control potential with the fish muddy loaches (Misgurnus mizolepis) was conducted against naturally bred Culex pipiens pollens larvae in four ponds (A, B, C and D) in Busan from July through September, 2001. Predation of the fish at 3 different release rates of 4,5, and 6 fish/m² resulted in mostly over 90% mosquito control from the first week after treatment through the end of the survey period for 11 weeks. There were no significant difference among the release rates of fish at the 5% level of probability. However, substantial controls of 43.0% and 25.9% were obtained from pond C during the 3rd and 7th weeks after the fish introduction, respectively. The results of those two weeks showed a lower biological control by the introduced larvivorous fishes. This might be due to the presence of heavy organic matters including aquatic weeds and/or severely polluted water from sewage in pond C. The aquatic weeds covered the pond's water surface which may have affected the deterioration of mosquito preying in favor of aquatic weeds. Also, the fishes were observed to avoid severely contaminated sewage water in some parts of ponds A and C where more mosquito larvae were found.     

Structural characterization of the O-chain polysaccharide from an environmentally beneficial bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens strain M71

Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens strain M71 was isolated from the root of a tomato plant and it was able to control in vivo Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici responsible for the tomato crown and root rot. Recently, strain M71 was evaluated even for its efficacy in controlling Seiridium cardinale, the causal agent of bark canker of common cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.). Strain M71 ability to persist on the tomato rhizosphere and on the aerial part of cypress plants could be related to the nature of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) present on the outer membrane and in particular to the O-specific polysaccharide.A neutral O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide from P. chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens strain M71. By means of compositional analyses and NMR spectroscopy, the chemical repeating unit of the polymer was identified as the following linear trisaccharide.     

Arthropod Natural Enemies of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India

Helicoverpa armigera Hubner Lepidoptera: Noctuidae is one of the most serious insect pests in the Old World. In India, it causes substantial losses to legume, fibre, cereal oilseed and vegetable crops. This paper reviews the literature on the biology, ecology, efficacy, rearing and augmentation of endemic parasitoids and predators, as well as exotic parasitoids introduced and released in India. It also provides updated lists of H. armigera natural enemies native to India. In addition, reports of augmentative releases of Trichogramma spp., the most extensively studied natural enemy of H. armigera are summarized.     

A finite element simulation scheme for biological muscular hydrostats

An explicit finite element scheme is developed for biological muscular hydrostats such as squid tentacles, octopus arms and elephant trunks. The scheme is implemented by embedding muscle fibers in finite elements. In any given element, the fiber orientation can be assigned arbitrarily and multiple muscle directions can be simulated. The mechanical stress in each muscle fiber is the sum of active and passive parts. The active stress is taken to be a function of activation state, muscle fiber shortening velocity and fiber strain; while the passive stress depends only on the strain. This scheme is tested by simulating extension of a squid tentacle during prey capture; our numerical predictions are in close correspondence with existing experimental results. It is shown that the present finite element scheme can successfully simulate more complex behaviors such as torsion of a squid tentacle and the bending behavior of octopus arms or elephant trunks.     

广州地区急性散发性HEV毒株基因特征和生物学性状的研究

利用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ技术对我国广州地区急性性戊型肝炎病毒细胞培养分离株Ｇ９３－１、Ｇ９３－２、Ｇ９３－３和Ｇ９３－４基因组聚合酶区部分核苷序列进行检测,ＰＣＲ阳性产物经纯化、克隆后测定。结果Ｇ９３－１、Ｇ９３－３和Ｇ９３－４株病毒的这段序列完全相同,且与我国新疆暴发流行的ＨＥＶ８７Ａ株及ＨＥＶ代表株的同源性为１００％;而Ｇ９３－２株与它们的差异较大,同源性只有７９．９％;但是,它与１９９７年厦门地区急     

How can quantum mechanics of material evolution be possible?: Symmetry and symmetry-breaking in protobiological evolution

Material self-assembly as a self-organizing process is always accompanied by symmetry-breaking in the material configuration. Self-sequencing of amino acids during their thermal polymerization has lost a certain property of permutation symmetry that was observed in the mixture of free amino acids. The evolutionary precursor state is more symmetrical about its internal material configuration and more degenerate due to the multitude of the indistinguishable individuals. The evolution proceeds in the direction along which the degeneracy in the internal states dissolves owing to the symmetry-breaking originating in material flow equilibrium of open material aggregates. Protobiological information is latent in the material system which is highly symmetrical and highly degenerate in its internal states. Evolution of matter is an endogenous process in which the earlier symmetric property is lost and less degenerate states are approached. Quantum-mechanically, the generation of protobiological information is due to the symmetry-breaking of the Hamiltonian originating in the interaction with the exterior through material flow, in contrast to the Schrödinger equation which preserves a symmetry and the associated invariants.