Novel terpenoids of the fungus Aspergillus insuetus isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Psammocinia sp. collected along the coast of Israel

Three novel meroterpenoids, insuetolides A-C (1-3) and four drimane sesquiterpenes, the new (E)-6-(4'-hydroxy-2'-butenoyl)-strobilactone A (4) and the known 2α, 9α, 11-trihydroxy-6-oxodrim-7-ene (5), strobilactone A (6) and (E,E)-6-(6',7'-dihydroxy-2',4'-octadienoyl)-strobilactone A (7), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the culture medium of the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus insuetus (OY-207), which was isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Psammocinia sp. The structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. Insuetolides A-C reveal a new carbon skeleton derived from the cyclization of farnesyl and 3, 5-dimethylorsellinic acid. Compounds 1, 6, and 7 exhibited anti-fungal activity towards Neurospora crassa with MIC values of 140, 242, and 162 μM, respectively; and compounds 3, 4, and 7 exhibited mild cytotoxicity towards MOLT-4 human leukemia cells.     

Seasonal effect of three desert halophytes on soil microbial functional diversity

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of some plant ecophysiological adaptations on soil microbial functional diversity in a Negev Desert ecosystem. Soil samples from the upper 0–10 cm layer were collected at the study site under three species of halophyte shrubs, Zygophyllum dumosum, Hammada scoparia, and Reaumuria negevensis. These halophytes represent the most typical cover of the Negev Desert and each of them develops complex strategies that enable greater adaptation and hence, survival. The microhabitat of the shrubs showed differences in trends and magnitude of organic matter content, electrical conductivity, total soluble nitrogen, microbial functional diversity, and C compound utilization. The trends are assumed to be driven by various mechanisms of shrub adaptation in order to be able to survive the harsh desert environment. This study provides evidence that ecophysiological strategies developed by halophytes force microbial communities (from the point of view of activity, composition, and substrate utilization) to adapt to a beneficial plant-microorganism relationship.     

The interaction of hemoglobin with phosphatidylserine vesicles

The interaction of hemoglobin with phosphatidylserine vesicles at low ionic strength and pH conditions was studied. The fluorescence intensity of a lipid embedded probe was quenched by bound Hb but could not be reversed by an elevation of ionic strength and pH. The irreversibility of the fluorescence quenching is a time-dependent process associated with changes in the heme Soret and visible spectra. The rate of these changes was much faster for methemoglobin than for either cyanomethemoglobin or oxyhemoglobin. Elevation of ionic strength released out of the bound hemoglobin into the water phase most of the globin but only a small fraction of the heme. The data are interpreted as demonstrating the ability of phosphatidylserine vesicles to compete with globin for the heme group. When Hb binds to the liposome, heme is being transferred into the lipid phase and the rate-limiting step is the dissociation of the heme-globin complex. The fact that binding of heme to the lipid vesicles is very strong was demonstrated by the failure of hemin to interact with globin when the two were rapidly mixed in the presence of phosphatidylserine vesicles. A multi-step process is suggested to explain the results of Hb phosphatidylserine interaction.     

Characterization of two proteins from Leishmania donovani and their use for vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis

Two proteins from Leishmania donovani, dp72 and gp70-2, have been previously utilized to specifically serodiagnose patients with visceral leishmaniasis. The proteins were shown by ELISA and Western blotting with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to be present in both stages of the parasite. Antibodies to gp70-2 recognize in promastigotes multiple discrete bands of similar m.w. which are common to several isolates of L. donovani. The total amount of Ag and number of bands observed per isolate is not constant. Lectin blots with Con A show gp70-2 to be a glycoprotein. Dp72 shows pronounced microheterogeneity between isolates of L. donovani. The Brazilian isolates examined appear to possess a lower m.w. form (64,000 or 68,000) of this molecule. No reactions were observed with dp72 and lectins in Western blots; and neither tunicamycin, N-glycanase, endoglycosidase H nor F affected the migration of [35S]-methionine-labeled protein on SDS-PAGE. A mAb against dp72 also cross-reacted in Western blots with a 60-kDa protein in Leishmania major, Leishmania aethiopica, and Leishmania tropica. No reaction was observed between the purified promastigote surface protease (gp63) and either monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies produced to dp72 or gp70-2. The ability of the pure proteins to provide protection against a challenge by L. donovani amastigotes was examined. BALB/c mice were immunized with gp70-2 and/or dp72 by using Corynebacterium parvum as an adjuvant. Mice immunized with gp70-2 were not protected; however, mice receiving dp72 showed a 81.1% reduction in the liver parasitemia compared with the adjuvant controls.     

The effects of dual-channel functional electrical stimulation on stance phase sagittal kinematics in patients with hemiparesis

Sixteen subjects (aged 54.2 ± 14.1 years) with hemiparesis (7.9 ± 7.1 years since diagnosis) demonstrating a foot-drop and hamstrings muscle weakness were fitted with a dual-channel functional electrical stimulation (FES) system activating the dorsiflexors and hamstrings muscles. Measurements of gait performance were collected after a conditioning period of 6 weeks, during which the subjects used the system throughout the day. Gait was assessed with and without the dual-channel FES system, as well as with peroneal stimulation alone. Outcomes included lower limb kinematics and the step length taken with the non-paretic leg. Results with the dual-channel FES indicate that in the subgroup of subjects who demonstrated reduced hip extension but no knee hyperextension (n = 9), hamstrings FES increased hip extension during terminal stance without affecting the knee. Similarly, in the subgroup of subjects who demonstrated knee hyperextension but no limitation in hip extension (n = 7), FES restrained knee hyperextension without having an impact on hip movement. Additionally, step length was increased in all subjects. The peroneal FES had a positive effect only on the ankle. The results suggest that dual-channel FES for the dorsiflexors and hamstrings muscles may affect lower limb control beyond that which can be attributed to peroneal stimulation alone.     

Experimental growing of wild pea in Israel and its bearing on Near Eastern plant domestication

Background and Aims

The wild progenitors of the Near Eastern legumes have low germination rates mediated by hardseededness. Hence it was argued that cultivation of these wild legumes would probably result in no yield gain. Based on the meagre natural yield of wild lentil and its poor germination, it was suggested that wild Near Eastern grain legumes were unlikely to have been adopted for cultivation unless freely germinating types were available for the incipient farmers. Unlike wild cereals, data from experimental cultivation of wild legumes are lacking.

Methods

Replicated nurseries of wild pea (Pisum elatius, P. humile and P. fulvum) were sown during 2007–2010 in the Mediterranean district of Israel. To assess the effect of hardseededness on the yield potential, seeds of the wild species were either subjected to scarification (to ensure germination) or left intact, and compared with domesticated controls.

Key Results

Sowing intact wild pea seeds mostly resulted in net yield loss due to poor establishment caused by wild-type low germination rates, while ensuring crop establishment by scarification resulted in net, although modest, yield gain, despite considerable losses due to pod dehiscence. Harvest efficiency of the wild pea plots was significantly higher (2–5 kg seeds h⁻¹) compared with foraging efficiency in wild pea populations (ranging from a few grams to 0·6 kg h⁻¹).

Conclusions

Germination and yield data from ‘cultivation’ of wild pea suggest that Near Eastern legumes are unlikely to have been domesticated via a protracted process. Put differently, the agronomic implications of the hardseededness of wild legumes are incompatible with a millennia-long scenario of unconscious selection processes leading to ‘full’ domestication. This is because net yield loss in cultivation attempts is most likely to have resulted in abandonment of the respective species within a short time frame, rather than perpetual unprofitable cultivation for several centuries or millennia.     

Changes in cytokine production and impaired hematopoiesis in patients with anorexia nervosa: the effect of refeeding

The changes in cytokines and hormones involved in hematopoiesis were studied in the serum of 7 girls with anorexia nervosa, 15-24 yr old, on admission and after 5% and 10% weight gain. Hematopoiesis was studied by in-vitro culturing of circulating granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells and erythroid burst forming cells. Nutritional status was studied by anthropometric measurements and resting energy expenditure. On admission, granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells and erythroid burst forming cells were significantly lower than in age-matched controls and increased significantly along weight gain. Blood leptin and erythropoietin levels increased significantly with weight gain. TNF-alpha levels tended to decrease while IL-1beta levels were lower than in the controls on admission (p <0.05) and did not change significantly during weight gain. IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-6 were undetected on admission or along weight gain. The changes in granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells and erythroid burst forming cells positively correlated with changes in resting energy expenditure and fat free mass. These results may suggest that undernutrition affects hematopoiesis as indicated by the reduction of hematopoietic progenitor cells before treatment and the significant increase with weight gain. The changes in the levels of hormones and cytokines known to be involved in hematopoiesis along refeeding may suggest a role for these factors in anorexia nervosa.     

Zooplankton contribution to the particulate N and P in Lake Kinneret,Israel, under changing water levels

The association of water level changes and the relative (%) contributions of crustacean zooplankton to particulate N (PNz) and particulate P (PPz) in Lake Kinneret, Israel were studied. The PNz and PPz were assessed for a period of 10 years (1999–2008) in relation to water level (WL) changes which occurred during that period. We estimated PNz and PPz, based on crustacean N and P content measured seasonally over 2 years, and a 10-year record of zooplankton densities. Mean cladoceran N and P contents were 8.7 and 1.2% of dry weight, respectively, while for copepods they were 9.5 and 1.5% of dry weight, respectively. Zooplankton density, and hence PNz and PPz, changed dramatically during the 10 years, concurrent with extreme variations in the lake’s WL. The lowest mean values of PNz and PPz occurred during high WL years and the highest PNz and PPz were during low WL years. PNz and PPz were negatively correlated with the total PN and PP concentrations, respectively, in the lake. The reduction in zooplankton contribution to the particulate N and P during high WL is probably due to higher loading of particulate matter in wet years, causing an increase of PN and PP concentration in the lake, as well as lower densities of zooplankton, caused by higher fish predation pressure, both are a by-product of the large water influx during extreme wet winters.     

What Hydra can teach us about chemical ecology -how a simple, soft organism survives in a hostile aqueous environment

Hydra and its fellow cnidarians - sea anemones, corals and jellyfish - are simple, mostly sessile animals that depend on bioactive chemicals for survival. In this review, we briefly describe what is known about the chemical armament of Hydra, and detail future research directions where Hydra can help illuminate major questions in chemical ecology, pharmacology, developmental biology and evolution. Focusing on two groups of putative toxins from Hydra - phospholipase A2s and proteins containing ShK and zinc metalloprotease domains, we ask: how do different venom components act together during prey paralysis? How is a venom arsenal created and how does it evolve? How is the chemical arsenal delivered to its target? To what extent does a chemical and biotic coupling exist between an organism and its environment? We propose a model whereby in Hydra and other cnidarians, bioactive compounds are secreted both as localized point sources (nematocyte discharges) and across extensive body surfaces, likely combining to create complex "chemical landscapes". We speculate that these cnidarian-derived chemical landscapes may affect the surrounding community on scales from microns to, in the case of coral reefs, hundreds of kilometers.