The mixed xylem sap proteome of Fusarium oxysporum-infected tomato plants

Secreted proteins are known to play decisive roles in plant–fungus interactions. To study the molecular details of the interaction between the xylem-colonizing, plant-pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum and tomato, the composition of the xylem sap proteome of infected tomato plants was investigated and compared with that of healthy plants. Two-dimensional gel separation and mass spectrometry yielded peptide masses and peptide sequences of 33 different proteins. Despite the absence of complete genome sequences of either tomato or F. oxysporum , 21 proteins were identified as tomato proteins and seven as fungal proteins. Thirteen of the tomato proteins were specific for infected plants. Sixteen tomato proteins were found in xylem sap for the first time, four of which were identified based on matches to expressed sequences only. Coding sequences for new proteins from F. oxysporum were identified through either direct matching to a database sequence, matching of peptide sequences to genome or expressed sequence tag databases of other Fusarium species, or PCR with degenerate primers on cDNA derived from infected plants followed by screening of a F. oxysporum BAC library. Together, these findings provide an excellent basis for further exploration of the interaction between xylem-colonizing pathogens and their hosts.     

Differentiation of Fanconi anemia and aplastic anemia using mitomycin C test in Tunisia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a recessive chromosomal instability syndrome that is clinically characterized by multiple symptoms. Chromosome breakage hypersensitivity to alkylating agents is the gold standard test for FA diagnosis. In this study, we provide a detailed laboratory protocol for accurate assessment of FA diagnosis based on mitomycin C (MMC) test. Induced chromosomal breakage study was successful in 171 out of 205 aplastic anemia (AA) patients. According to the sensitivity of MMC at 50 ng/ml, 38 patients (22.22%) were diagnosed as affected and 132 patients (77.17%) as unaffected. Somatic mosaicism was suspected in an 11-year-old patient with a FA phenotype. Twenty-six siblings of FA patients were also evaluated and five of them (19.23%) were diagnosed as FA. From this study, a standard protocol for diagnosis of FA was developed. It is routinely used as a diagnostic test of FA in Tunisia.     

Limnological investigations on the Rosetta branch of the Nile. I. Environmental conditions

SUMMARY.

• 1 Seasonal and local variations of some environmental conditions in the Rosetta branch of the River Nile are reported. The lowest air and water temperatures were recorded in January (winter) and the highest in July (summer). Slight decrease in water temperatures with depth is related to solar heating and mixing processes. The pH values, averaging between pH 7.5 and 8.2, showed seasonal changes which, in the main, may be related to photosynthesis.
• 2 The seasonal average chlorosity values showed very wide variation, due to fluctuations in the discharge rate of the River Nile and its effect on the estuarine sea water. Sharp increase in chlorosity values with depth at the estuarine stations was produced by the less dense river water, flowing over denser tongues of sea water. In January, however, the maximum discharge flushed out the sea water.
• 3 Minimum oxygen saturation values occurred in January and the highest values of dissolved organic matter were obtained in July. Both of these will be shown in a later publication to be related to phytoplankton abundance. Increase in dissolved organic matter near the bottom was common and is interpreted as due to the more complete decomposition of descending dead organisms and the release of organic matter from the bottom deposits.

     

AdTGF-β1223/225气管内注射制备大鼠肺间质纤维化动物模型

目的观察TGF-β1基因过表达诱发大鼠肺间质纤维化动物模型的组织病理学变化.方法成年健康SD大鼠30只,随机分为空白对照组10只,模型组10只和空载体对照组10只,其中对模型组大鼠气管内一次性注射携带TGF-β1基因腺病毒载体(AdTGF-β1 223/225,1×109 pfu,0.4 mL),空白对照组大鼠气管内注射等量的生理盐水,空载体对照组大鼠气管内注射等量的腺病毒空载体.结果一次性肺气管内注射 AdTGF-β1 223/225可造成肺急性炎症和肺间质纤维化,而对照(腺病毒空载体)并不引起相应的变化.结论肺组织局部分泌的细胞因子TGF-β1可以单独诱发肺间质纤维化.