Detection of Nitrosomonas spp. by polymerase chain reaction

Abstract A unique genomic DNA fragment was isolated from Nitrosomonas europaea ATCC 19718. Based on the sequence of this fragment, oligonucleotide primers for polymerase chain reaction amplification were prepared which amplify sequences of 775 and 658 bp. The predicted DNA fragments were both amplified from the genome of N. europaea and a Nitrosomonas spp. isolated from a local oxidation pond. The primers failed to amplify DNA from the genomes of the ammonia oxidiser Nitrosolobous multiformis , the nitrite oxidiser Nitrococcus mobilis as well as from the genomes of other unrelated heterotrophic bacteria. These DNA sequences could be amplified from 0.01 ng of N. europaea genomic DNA or from 100 intact cells, and it was possible to detect Nitrosomonas DNA in a DNA mixture extracted from water samples drawn from a local oxidation pond.     

Analysis of the molecular mass heterogeneity of the transferrin receptor in Neisseria meningitidis and commensal Neisseria

Peroxidase-conjugated transferrin was used to detect transferrin receptors both in intact outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Neisseria species in a dot blot assay, and in SDS-PAGE-separated OMV proteins after transferring to nitrocellulose membranes. All N. meningitidis strains produced transferrin receptors after culturing in either iron sufficiency or iron restriction although expression was higher in the latter case, whereas only six N. lactamica and two N. sicca (among 20 commensal species) were able to bind transferrin. Molecular mass (MM) of the receptors were mainly between 78 kDa and 85 kDa (87.5% of strains), 12.5% had receptors with MM close to 70 kDa, and 5% showed receptors with MM over 85 kDa. Our results confirm the molecular mass heterogeneity of the transferrin receptors in N. meningitidis, completely disagree with the 'universal' 98 kDa receptor proposed by some authors, and show a low expression of the receptor in commensal Neisseria.     

中国特产雉类—褐马鸡,藏马鸡和蓝马鸡卵壳的电镜观察

迄今为止,在国内有关野生鸟类卵壳的超微结构报道尚少。我们对中国特产鸡类——三种马鸡卵壳的表皮、气孔、木栅层、锥体层、乳头结、壳膜和基帽进行了扫描巨镜观察,并对结果进行了比较、讨论。认为三种马鸡不同结构的形态,对研究它们的亲缘关系提供了新的价值。     

Seed dispersal and seedling emergence in an old field community in central New York (USA)

Summary Seed dispersal and seedling emergence of common taxa growing in a Solidago-dominated old field in central New York (USA) were monitored from May 1982 to June 1984. Over 3.5x10⁴ seeds per m² were captured on seed traps in each of the two years, with peaks occuring in July (due to Hieracium) and in November (due to Solidago). About 4.0x10³ seedling/m² emerged beneath the intact community in each of the two years. Although seedlings emerged predominantly in the early spring, a secondary peak occurred in September and October when many seedlings of introduced grasses appeared. Two additional aspects of the reproductive biology of the major taxa were related to the seasonal timing of seed dispersal: As the date of peak seed dispersal (among taxa) became progressively later in the season, (1) the duration of dispersal increased from about one week to about one-half year, and (2) the delay between the peak of seed dispersal and the peak of seedling emergence increased from a few days to about one-half year.     

竹荪的菌丝培养及其抗菌性的初步研究

对长裙竹荪（Ｄｉｃｔｙｏｐｈｏｒａ　ｉｎｄｕｓｉａｔａ）等３种的菌丝培养进行了研究并初步测定菌丝的抗菌谱。培养液的 ｐＨ和液体培养基粘度是竹荪在液体中生长的关键因素,在 ｐＨ４.７和添加 ０.５％ＣＭＣ－Ｎａ的合适培养条件下竹荪菌丝在液体中能够生长,菌丝得率达到１％。还探讨了其他几种竹荪菌丝的培养方法,为竹荪菌丝的大量生产提供了依据。另外,在竹荪抗菌性实验中发现,竹荪对许多易造成食品腐败的细菌和酵母具有抗性,但没有发现其对霉菌有抗性。     

黄芪根瘤菌的多样性分析

选用23株分离自山西、内蒙古、宁夏、甘肃和吉林的黄芪根瘤菌菌株,进行了营养利用、抗生素抗性、耐逆性和酶活性测定,发现不同地区来源、甚至同一地区来源或同种寄主的不同菌株存在着较大的差异,这种不一致现象在来源于甘肃的7株菌中尤为明显,特别是G156、G130和GO13在碳源利用能力方面表现出诸多不同于本多数黄芪根瘤菌的特点。G156、G012和G022能在50℃生长。多数被试菌株在pH11的条件下生长,少数菌株耐4％～5％NaCl,这些结果均说明黄芪根瘤菌是一个极其多样化的类群,它们也明显不同于已知根瘤菌。     

Variation in the nutritional value of leaf and stem fractions of nineteen leucaena lines

In two experiments, 2.5-month-old edible regrowth of the genus Leucaena (varying in tolerance to the leucaena psyllid pest attack) were analysed for nutritive value. In Experiment 1, forage of nine lines was separated into young leaves, young stems (within woody fraction < 5 mm diameter), old leaves and old stems (within a woody fraction 5-10 mm diameter) whereas in Experiment 2, forage of the other 10 lines was separated in main stem leaves, branch leaves, young branches, young main stems, old main stems and old branches for analysis. Major differences were recorded between lines and forage fractions. Nutrient contents in dry matter were: nitrogen 0.7-4.8%, phosphorus 0.1-0.3%, potassium 0.2-2.5%, calcium 0.2-1.6%, magnesium 0.1-0.6%, acid detergent fibre 20-63%, lignin 8-23% and in vitro dry matter digestibility 15-69%. The leaves and immature fractions were higher in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and digestibility but lower in calcium, magnesium and fibre. Nutrient content in L. Leucocephala lines exceeded that in L. esculenta, L. diversifolia, leucaena hybrids and the composites. Based on the data, a management strategy that will promote young growth is suggested as appropriate for high quality forage production.     

Different strategies of Lotus japonicus, L. corniculatus and L. tenuis to deal with complete submergence at seedling stage

Two main strategies allow plants to deal with submergence: (i) escape from below water by means of shoot elongation, or (ii) remaining quiescent under the water until water subsides and then resume growth. We investigated these strategies in seedlings of Lotus japonicus, L. corniculatus and L. tenuis subjected to control and submergence for 12 days, with a subsequent 30-day recovery period. All three species survived submergence but used different strategies. Submerged seedlings of L. japonicus exhibited an escape strategy (emerging from water) as a result of preferential carbon allocation towards shoot mass and lengthening, in detriment to root growth. In contrast, seedlings of L. corniculatus and L. tenuis became quiescent, with no biomass accumulation, no new unfolding of leaves and no shoot elongation. Upon de-submergence, seedlings of L. japonicus had the lowest recovery growth (a biomass and shoot height 58% and 40% less than controls, respectively), L. corniculatus was intermediate and L. tenuis showed the greatest recovery growth. Previously submerged seedlings of L. tenuis did not differ from their controls, either in final shoot biomass or shoot height. Thus, for the studied species, quiescence appears to be an adequate strategy for tolerance of short-term (i.e., 12 days) complete submergence, being consistent with field observations of L. tenuis colonisation of flood-prone environments.     

Movements of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Bristol Bay,Alaska

We describe the annual distribution of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Bristol Bay, Alaska, using data from 31 satellite‐linked transmitters during 2002–2011. Bristol Bay has one of the largest and best studied Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) fisheries in the world, allowing us to link the seasonal distribution of belugas to that of salmon. During salmon migrations, beluga movements were restricted to river entrances. Belugas generally did not relocate to different river entrances or change bays during peak salmon periods. However, the location of belugas was not related to the number of salmon passing counting towers, suggesting that belugas were either selecting locations that were good for catching salmon or there were simply more salmon than belugas needed to supply their nutritional needs. The distribution of belugas expanded after salmon runs ended, and was greatest in winter when belugas ranged beyond the inner bays, traveling as far west as Cape Constantine. Belugas continued to frequent the inner bays in winter whenever sea ice conditions allowed, e.g., when winds moved sea ice offshore; however, they were never located south of the southern ice edge in open water or outside of Bristol Bay.     

Interaction of endophytic diazotrophic bacteria and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense on plantlets of banana ‘Maça’

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of endophytic diazotrophic bacteria Herbaspirillum and Burkholderia on the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) establishment and on the plantlets growth of the ‘Maçã’ banana (Musa spp., group ABB). Two assays were carried out in a greenhouse at the National Center of Tropical Agroindustry in Fortaleza city, Ceará State (Brazil), using randomized block designs in the factorial arrangements 4?×?2 and 8?×?2. On the first trial plantlets were inoculated with the Burkholderia sp. AB202; Herbaspirillum sp., BA227, both of strains and controls bacteria, with and without Foc and cultivated in pots filled with an autoclaved mixture of washed sand and vermiculite (ratio 3:2 v v^?1), during 4 months. On a second assay, plants were subjected to following conditions: absence and presence of strains AB202, AB213 (Burkholderia spp.), BA227, BA234 (Herbaspirillum-like), AB202 plus BA227, AB213 plus BA234, the mixture of the four bacterial strain, absence and presence of the Foc; and cultivated in pots filled with autoclaved Haplic Arenosol, during 2 months. The plant association with diazotrophs and the Foc was confirmed, and factors interacted significantly on the most probable number of bacteria and the colony forming units of the pathogen on roots and plant rhizomes. The potential of the endophytes on the inhibition of Foc propagate units and on the plant growth promotion was demonstrated. The higher biomass was observed four and 2 months after plant inoculation with AB202 and BA234. Results showed that these endophytes may be used as potential biofertilizer and biocontrol agents.