Paradoxical effects of learning the Morris water maze on adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice may be explained by a combination of stress and physical activity

Studies in rats that assessed the relation of hippocampus-dependent learning and adult hippocampal neurogenesis suggested a direct regulatory effect of learning on neurogenesis, whereas a similar study in mice had not found such causal link. We here report a substantial decrease of BrdU-positive cells and other measures of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice trained in the hidden (HID) or cued version (VIS) of the Morris water maze as compared to untrained animals (CTR). Particularly, cells on advanced stages of neuronal development contributed to this decrease, whereas earlier progenitors (type 2 cells) were not diminished in HID, but were diminished in VIS as compared to CTR. The differential regulation of type 2 cells in HID and VIS may have been caused by a different degree of physical activity, given that a time-yoked control group did not differ from HID, and type 2 cells reportedly constitute the proliferative dentate gyrus population that primarily responds to physical activity. The decrease of hippocampal neurogenesis by water maze training was reversible by pre-exposing animals to the water maze prior to training, suggesting that stress associated with training may have caused the acute downregulation of adult neurogenesis. We propose that in mice the Morris water maze does not provide a pure enough learning stimulus to study the presumed effects of 'learning' on adult neurogenesis. In addition, however, our data show that physical activity that is intricately linked to many cognitive tasks in rodents might play an important role in explaining effects of learning on cellular hippocampal plasticity.     

Global Distributions of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

We examined potential large-scale controls over the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their host plants. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that AM fungi should be more prevalent in biomes where nutrients are primarily present in mineral, and not organic, forms. Values of percentage root length colonized (%RLC) by AM fungi, AM abundance, and host plant availability were compiled or calculated from published studies to determine biome-level means. Altogether, 151 geographic locations and nine biomes were represented. Percent RLC differed marginally significantly among biomes and was greatest in savannas. AM abundance (defined as total standing root length colonized by AM fungi) varied 63-fold, with lowest values in boreal forests and highest values in temperate grasslands. Biomes did not differ significantly in the percentage of plant species that host AM fungi, averaging 75%. Contrary to the hypothesis, %RLC, AM abundance, and host plant availability were not related to the size, influx, or turnover rate of soil organic matter pools. Instead, AM abundance was positively correlated with standing stocks of fine roots. The global pool of AM biomass within roots might approach 1.4 Pg dry weight. We note that regions harboring the largest stocks of AM fungi are also particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic nitrogen deposition, which could potentially alter global distributions of AM fungi in the near future.     

Behavioral ecology of odometric memories in desert ants: acquisition, retention, and integration

Assuming that the acquisition and retention of memories havecosts, properties of memories should fit the functional requirementsfor the system of memory. Based on a functional analysis ofwhat path integration is meant to do, we predicted that odometricmemories in desert ants should show (1) little improvement withrepeated training: performance should be as good after one trainingtrial as after six training trials, (2) decay of memory after24 h, and (3) performance based solely on the most recent outboundtrip, with no integration over multiple memories. Desert ants(Cataglyphis fortis) traveled in narrow straight plastic channelsto forage for cookie crumbs in a feeder at 6- or 12-m distance.Each ant was tested once by being taken from the feeder andreleased 2 m from the end of a 32-m channel to run home. Thedistance at which the ant first turned back (first turn) constitutedthe data. In acquisition, groups trained one or six times beforebeing tested had unsystematic scatter that did not differ significantly.In retention, ants tested after a 24-h delay showed larger unsystematicscatter than control animals tested after no delay. In integration,ants were trained five times at 6 or 12 m and then tested at12 or 6 m, respectively. No evidence of integration of multipleodometric memories was found. The results show that the propertiesof odometric memories are indeed tailored to what the memorysystem is used for.     

Optimizing efficacy of amphotericin B through nanomodification

Fungal infections and leishmaniasis are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The macrolide polyene antibiotic amphotericin B (AmB) has long been recognized as a powerful fungicidal and leishmanicidal drug. A conventional intravenous dosage form of AmB, AmB- deoxycholate (Fungizone or D-AmB), is the most effective clinically available for treating fungal and parasitic (leishmaniasis) infections. However, the clinical efficacy of AmB is limited by its adverse effects mainly nephrotoxicity. Efforts to lower the toxicity are based on synthesis of AmB analogues such as AmB esters or preparation of AmB-lipid associations in the forms of liposomal AmB (L-AmB or AmBisome), AmB lipid complex (Abelcet or ABLC), AmB colloidal dispersion (Amphocil or ABCD), and intralipid AmB. These newer formulations are substantially more expensive, but allow patients to receive higher doses for longer periods of time with decreased renal toxicity than conventional AmB. Modifications of liposomal surface in order to avoid RES uptake, thus increased targetability has been attempted. Emulsomes and other nanoparticles are special carrier systems for intracellular localization in macrophage rich organs like liver and spleen. Injectable nano-carriers have important potential applications as in site-specific drug delivery.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel banana rhizosphere bacterium as fungal antagonist and microbial adjuvant in micropropagation of banana

AIM: Isolation and characterization of a bacterial isolate (strain FP10) from banana rhizosphere with innate potential as fungal antagonist and microbial adjuvant in micropropagation of banana. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacterium FP10 was isolated from the banana rhizosphere and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on phenotypic, biochemical traits and sequence homology of partial 622-bp fragment of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) amplicon, with the ribosomal database sequences. Strain FP10 displayed antibiosis towards fungi causing wilt and root necrosis diseases of banana. Production of plant growth hormone, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores and phosphate-solubilizing enzyme in FP10 was determined. Strain FP10 tested negative for hydrogen cyanide, cellulase and pectinase, the deleterious traits for plant growth. Screening of antibiotic genes was carried out by polymerase chain reaction using gene-specific primers. Amplification of a 745-bp DNA fragment confirmed the presence of phlD, which is a key gene involved in the biosynthesis of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) in FP10. The antibiotic produced by FP10 was confirmed as DAPG using thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform infrared and tested for fungal antibiosis towards banana pathogens. Procedures for encapsulation of banana shoot tips with FP10 are described. CONCLUSIONS: Strain FP10 exhibited broad-spectrum antibiosis towards banana fungi causing wilt and root necrosis. DAPG by FP10 induced bulb formation and lysis of fungal mycelia. Encapsulation of banana shoot tips with FP10 induced higher frequency of germination (plantlet development) than nontreated controls on Murashige and Skoog basal medium. Treatment of banana plants with FP10 enhanced plant height and reduced the vascular discolouration as a result of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense FOC. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Because of the innate potential of fungal antibiosis by DAPG antibiotic and production of siderophore, plant-growth-promoting IAA and phosphatase, the strain FP10 can be used as biofertilizer as well as a biocontrol agent.     

不同生境黑老虎根际和内生真菌多样性分析

为探究不同生长条件下黑老虎根际和根部内生真菌群落组成和多样性及其与土壤环境因子的相关性,该文应用Illumina高通量测序方法对贵州3个不同生境下黑老虎根际和根部内生真菌进行了研究。结果表明:(1)3种生境下,根际土壤真菌OTU数量(3 867)远多于根部内生真菌(801),其中根际土壤真菌共有的OTU为72个,共注释到5个门、49个属,大多为子囊菌门; 属水平上被孢霉属、外瓶柄霉属、 柱孢属占比较高; 根部内生真菌共有的OTU为14个,共注释到2个门、11个属,子囊菌门(13个,占比92.9%)占绝对优势,属水平上被孢霉属、外瓶柄霉属、 柱孢属和丛赤壳属占比最高; 所有样本中,共有的OTU仅为6个,注释到2个门、5个属,子囊菌门(5个,占比83.3%)为优势门; 在属水平上,占比最高的为外瓶柄霉属(2个,33.3%),其余分别为被孢霉属、柱孢属和丛赤壳属 。Alpha多样性分析表明,根际土壤的真菌群落多样性和丰富度均显著高于根部内生真菌,而野生生境的真菌多样性高于栽培生境。(2)在门水平上,3个生境下主要内生真菌类群均为子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和担子菌门(Basidiomycota),占总菌群的88.28%; 在属水平上,不同生境条件下,根际和根部内生真菌群落结构差异明显; 栽培生境下,根部内生真菌菌群具有一定的偏好性,而野生生境下,根部内生真菌菌群均匀度更高; FUNGuild真菌群落功能预测显示,栽培生境下的病理-腐生营养型(pathotroph-saprotroph)在根部内生真菌中占比较高,而野生生境下的腐生营养型(saprotroph)及共生营养型(symbiotroph)占比较高。(3)土壤环境因子对根部内生真菌和根际真菌的影响方式不同,其中土壤总钾(TK)和土壤总磷(TP)与黑老虎根部内生真菌香农指数和辛普森指数显著正相关,而土壤有机质(SOM)、总氮(TN)和速效氮(AN)与黑老虎根际土壤真菌Ace指数和Chao1指数显著正相关。综上表明,土壤有机质、总氮、速效氮是影响黑老虎根际土壤真菌群落的主要土壤环境因子。     

野生越南槐组织特异性内生真菌组及体外抗病原菌功能

有益微生物组能帮助宿主植物防御病害。越南槐的根、茎和种子在野外环境下健康发芽生长,而栽培越南槐各组织极易感病。为了探明利用野生越南槐有益内生真菌组防治宿主病害的可能,该文在分离健康野生越南槐根、茎和种子内生真菌的基础上,并结合形态学和ITS序列特征鉴定内生真菌,通过系统发育树、α-多样性指数和β-多样性指数分别分析各内生真菌组的系统进化、多样性和相似性,通过琼脂块法和平板对峙法测试内生真菌组的体外抗病原菌功能。结果表明:(1)从越南槐根、茎和种子内生真菌组分别分离鉴定131株23个分类单元、108株23个分类单元、64株11个分类单元;(2)特有属多且所有种均为特有种显示根、茎和种子内生真菌组在属种进化上具有组织特异性;(3)根-茎/根-种子/茎-种子间极低的β-多样性显示根、茎和种子各内生真菌组间的物种相似性极低;(4)高的α-多样性显示越南槐根、茎和种子均有丰富多样的内生真菌组;(5)各内生真菌组三分之一以上的分类单元在体外均能拮抗供试病原菌,根茎内生真菌组显示了强广谱的体外抗病原细/真菌功能,种子内生真菌组显示了强广谱的体外抗病原真菌功能。该研究结果表明健康野生越南槐根、茎和种子内部均存在有益内生真菌组,其具有生物多样性、组织特异性以及强广谱的体外抗病原菌功能,在宿主各组织的抗病性方面可能发挥重要作用。这些结果将为进一步利用有益真菌组防治栽培越南槐各组织病害提供了材料和实验基础。     

How Does Biofeedback Reduce Clinical Symptoms and Do Memories and Beliefs Have Biological Consequences? Toward a Model of Mind-Body Healing

Changes in the magnitude and direction of physiological measures (EMG, EEG, temperature, etc.) are not strongly related to the reduction of clinical symptoms in biofeedback therapy. Previously, nonspecified perceptual, cognitive, and emotional factors related to threat perception (Wickramasekera, 1979, 1988, 1998) may account for the bulk of the variance in the reduction of clinical symptoms. The mean magnitude of these previously nonspecified or placebo factors is closer to 70% whenboththe therapist and patient believe in the efficacy of the therapy. This powerful placebo effect is hypothesized to be anelicitedconditioned response (Wickramasekera, 1977a, 1977c, 1980, 1985) based on the memory of prior healings. These memories of healing are more resistant to extinction if originally acquired on a partial rather than continuous reinforcement schedule. High and low hypnotic ability in interaction with threat perception (negative affect) is hypothesized to contribute to both the production and reduction of clinical symptoms. High and low hypnotic ability respectively are hypothesized to be related to dysregulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system. Biofeedback is hypothesized to be most effective for reducing clinical symptoms in people of low to moderate hypnotic ability. For people high in trait hypnotic ability, training in self-hypnosis or other instructional procedures (e.g., autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation, mediation, CBT, etc.) will produce the most rapid reduction in clinical symptoms.