Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of an actinomycete (Streptomyces sp.) isolated from a Brazilian tropical forest soil

A promising producer of bioactive compounds isolated from a Brazilian tropical soil was tested for its range of antimicrobial activities. Strain 606, classified as Streptomyces sp., could not be identified up to species level, suggesting a possible new taxon. The supernatant and 10 extracts and fractions, obtained by extraction and chromatographic techniques, presented antimicrobial activity using antibiograms. The methanolic fraction was highly active against pathogenic bacteria, phytopathogenic fungi and the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. It also possessed high antiviral activity inhibiting the propagation of an acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 strain on HEp-2 cells at non-cytotoxic concentration. The strong cytotoxic effect suggests an antitumour action. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation of fungi from bats of the Amazon basin

A total of 2,886 bats captured in the Amazon Basin of Brazil were processed for the isolation of fungi. From the livers, spleens, and lungs of 155 bats (5.4%), 186 fungal isolates of the genera Candida (123 isolates), Trichosporon (26 isolates), Torulopsis (25 isolates), Kluyveromyces (11 isolates), and Geotrichum (1 isolate) were recovered. Seven known pathogenic species were present: Candida parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii, C. albicans, C. stellatoidea, C. pseudotropicalis, Trichosporon beigelii, and Torulopsis glabrata. Twenty-three culture-positive bats showed identical fungal colonization in multiple organs or mixed colonization in a single organ. The fungal isolation rates for individual bat species varied from 1 fungus per 87 bats to 3 fungi per 13 bats, and the mycoflora diversity for members of an individual fungus-bearing bat species varied from 16 fungi per 40 bats to 7 fungi per 6 bats. Of the 38 fungal species isolated, 36 had not been previously described as in vivo bat isolates. Of the 27 culture-positive bat species, 21 had not been previously described as mammalian hosts for medically or nonmedically important fungi.     

Rediscovery of Anthias salmopunctatus Lubbock & Edwards, 1981, with comments on its natural history and conservation

After c. 30 years without sighting or capture, Anthias salmopunctatus was rediscovered at the type locality, St Peter and St Paul's Rocks, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. To date, the known distribution is restricted to depths varying from 35 to 55 m in vertical drop offs around the perimeter of the islands ( c. 400 m). This may be the smallest geographic range known for a marine fish species.     

Evaluation of strain competitiveness in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv phaseoli using a nod + fix− natural mutant

Competition from native soil rhizobia is likely to be an important factor limiting Phaseolus vulgaris L. inoculant response in Latin America. We used UMR 1116, a nod ⁺ fix^– natural mutant of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv phaseoli strain CC511, as a reference strain to study competition for nodulation sites in this species. When P. vulgaris cv Carioca was planted in soils containing different proportions of UMR 1116 and the effective and competitive strain UMR 1899, UMR 1116 occupied more than 50% of the nodules at all inoculant ratios tested, though increasing the proportion of UMR 1899 in the inoculant did enhance the number and percentage of effective nodules and plant dry weight. Sixty two strains of bean rhizobia were tested in competition with UMR 1116. An inoculant ratio of 1:1 was used, with all strains applied to the soil rather than to seeds. Strains varied in the number and percentage of effective nodules produced in competition with UMR 1116, and in plant dry weight, and there was a strong correlation between variation in each of these traits and plant N accumulation. Seven of the strains (UMR 1073, 1084, 1102, 1125, 1165, 1378 and 1384) were identified as both superior in competitive ability and active in N₂ fixation. Site of placement of the inoculant and ambient temperature influenced strain response.Journal paper 16736, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA     

Somatostatin as a mediator of the effect of neurotensin on pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion in rats

Neurotensin and somatostatin have both been shown to inhibit gastric acid secretion, but no interaction between these peptides has been demonstrated. To determine whether somatostatin might be a mediator of neurotensin's effect on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion, we performed the following three experiments. First, we collected 0.2-ml samples of portal venous blood as frequently as every 5 min, and we confirmed a significant release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity into portal venous blood during neurotensin-induced inhibition of acid secretion. This release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity and inhibition of acid secretion were only seen in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats, but no sustained release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity or inhibition of acid secretion occurred in urethane-anesthetized animals. In the second experiment, we analyzed portal plasma by high pressure liquid chromatography, and found that portal somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in blood collected during neurotensin infusion was composed of a single peak corresponding to somatostatin-14. In the third experiment, we found that infusion of antibody to somatostatin prevented neurotensin from inhibiting pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion. Taken together, these data show that somatostatin, possibly from the stomach itself, is a necessary mediator of neurotensin's inhibitory effect in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats.     

A map of barley chromosome 2 using isozymic and morphological markers

The F₂ progeny of a cross between a chromosome 2 multiple marker stock and an adapted cultivar of barley were analyzed for four morphological markers and electrophoretic patterns of eight leaf isozymes. TheIdh-2 locus was linked to thePer-5 locus (27.96±5.07 cM) and to thee locus (10.26±3.13 cM). Also, thePer-5 ande loci were located on the short arm of chromosome 2. In additionIdh-2 was also located on barley chromosome 2 and was linked to thev locus (13.18±3.56 cM), which is located on the long arm of chromosome 2. Two other marker genes,li andwst,,B, were linked (26.50±5.24 cM) on chromosome 2 but segregate independently of the other loci evaluated. This project was supported by funds from the U.S.-Spain Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation.     

Residual beta-cell function in type II diabetes and evaluation of the hepatic insulin extraction

Insulin and C-peptide (free insulin and C-peptide in insulin-treated patients) were measured after glucose stimulation in nine Type II diabetics on chlorpropamide, eleven insulin-treated maturity-onset diabetics and in 8 normal controls. Dissociation between C-peptide and insulin response to glucose was observed in several diabetics. The relation between incremental molar areas under C-peptide and insulin curves, after glucose challenge (delta CPR - delta IRI/delta CPR) were used to evaluate the hepatic insulin extraction in all but the insulin-treated diabetics. The lower insulin requirements and better control of the short-duration insulin-treated maturity-onset diabetics in relation to the long-term ones could not be explained either by the residual insulin secretion or by the level of "insulin antibodies". The chlorpropamide-responsive patients presented higher insulin levels after the glucose challenge and a lower hepatic insulin extraction than the non-responsive ones.     

Identification of Fluorescent-Antibody Labeled Group A Streptococci by Fluorometry

A quantitative system, amenable to automation, for determining the presence of group A streptococci in broth culture is described. After separation from the broth, the cells' protein coats are removed by digestion with 0.1% trypsin, and they are then stained with anti-A fluorescent antibody (FA). Excess FA is removed, and bound FA is put into solution by dissociation with demineralized distilled water. The amount of FA bound to the cells is quantitated by fluorometry of the solution. The level of nonspecific staining is measured by staining the cells with fluorescein-conjugated normal rabbit globulin absorbed with group A cells, dissociating, and quantifying, as above. The two quantities are subtracted to measure specific binding of FA to group A cells. A clinical trial showed 92% agreement with microscopists.     

Indirect evidence of alteration in the expression of the rDNA genes in interspecific hybrids betweenDrosophila melanogaster andDrosophila simulans

Crosses betweenDrosophila melanogaster females andD. simulans males produce viable hybrid females, while males are lethal. These males are rescued if they carry theD. simulans Lhr gene. This paper reports that females of the wild-typeD. melanogaster population Staket do not produce viable hybrid males when crossed withD. simulans Lhr males, a phenomenon which we designate as the Staket phenotype. The agent responsible for this phenomenon was found to be the StaketX chromosome (X ^mel ,Stk). Analysis of the Staket phenotype showed that it is suppressed by extra copies ofD. melanogaster rDNA genes and that theX ^mel ,Stk chromosome manifests a weak bobbed phenotype inD. melanogaster X ^mel ,Stk/0 males. The numbers of functional rDNA genes inX ^mel ,Stk andX ^mel ,y w (control) chromosomes were found not to differ significantly. Thus a reduction in rDNA gene number cannot account for the weak bobbedX ^mel ,Stk phenotype let alone the Staket phenotype. The rRNA precursor molecules transcribed from theX ^mel ,Stk rDNA genes seem to be correctly processed in both intraspecific (melanogaster) and interspecific (melanogaster-simulans) conditions. It is therefore suggested that theX ^mel ,Stk rDNA genes are inefficiently transcribed in themelanogaster-simulans hybrids.