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.     

Amphidoma languida (Amphidomatacea,Dinophyceae) with a novel azaspiracid toxin profile identified as the cause of molluscan contamination at the Atlantic coast of southern Spain

Azaspiracids (AZA) are a group of food poisoning phycotoxins that are known to accumulate in shellfish. They are produced by some species of the planktonic dinophycean taxon Amphidomataceae. Azaspiracids have been first discovered in Ireland but are now reported in shellfish from numerous global sites thus showing a wide distribution. In shellfish samples collected in 2009 near Huelva (Spain), AZA was also found along the Andalusian Atlantic coast for the first time. Analysis using LC–MS/MS revealed the presence of two different AZA analogues in different bivalve shellfish species (Chamelea gallina, Cerastoderma edule, Donax trunculus, and Solen vagina). In a number of samples, AZA levels exceeded the EU regulatory level of 160 μg AZA-1 eq. kg⁻¹ (reaching maximum levels of >500 μg AZA-1 eq. kg⁻¹ in Chamelea gallina and >250 μg AZA-1 eq. kg⁻¹ in Donax trunculus) causing closures of some local shellfish production areas. One dinophyte strain established from the local plankton during the AZA contamination period and determined as Amphidoma languida was in fact toxigenic, and its AZA profile disclosed it as the causative species: it contained AZA-2 as the main compound and the new compound AZA-43 initially detected in the shellfish. AZA-43 had the same mass as AZA-3, but produced different collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra. High resolution mass spectrometric measurements indicated that there is an unsaturation in the H, I ring system of AZA-43 distinguishing it from the classical AZA such as AZA-1, -2, and -3. Furthermore, the Spanish strain was different from the previously reported AZA profile of the species that consist of AZA-38 and AZ-39. In molecular phylogenetics, the Andalusian strain formed a monophyletic group together with other strains of Am. languida, but ITS sequences data revealed surprisingly high intragenomic variability. The first Andalusian case of AZA contamination of shellfish above the EU regulatory limit reported here clearly revealed the risk of azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) for this area and also for the Atlantic coast of Iberia and North Africa. The present study underlines the need for continuous monitoring of AZA and the organisms producing such toxins.     

棕色固氮菌产生的钼配位化合物——Ⅱ.功能的初步探讨

棕色固氮菌在正常培养过程中所产生的含肽物质,有络合特征峰出现。含肽物质与钼(V)络合的EPR信号g值为1.94。与钼酸盐的络合稳定常数K为2.5×10~9。棕色固氮菌变种UW1(Av1~-,Av2~-),UW38(Av1~-,Av2~ )和UW91(Av1~ ,Av2~-)都能产生类似的含肽物质。培养基中钼的存在是含肽物质产生和分泌所必需的,含肽物质排出的量与培养基中钼的水准呈正相关。不能积累钼的变种UW71在高钼培养基中只能限量地分泌含肽物质。氨培养条件下仍能产生和分泌含肽物质。这种含肽物质与该菌粗提液中的某种成分(除固氮酶组分外)具同源性,它既能从菌体中分泌出来,又能进入菌体,在菌体和培养液之间往返运行,可能在该菌钼酸盐运输中起载体作用。     

Membrane turnover in crab photoreceptors studied by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and by a new technique of thick-section transmission electron microscopy

Summary Crab photoreceptors were examined after treatment by the osmium-DMSO-osmium method for high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. This technique of specimen preparation was also adapted for transmission electron microscopy, enabling sections up to 1 urn thick to be viewed in a conventional microscope at 75 kV. With appropriate pretreatment, some cytoskeletal elements can be visualised by both techniques. The methods were then used to investigate some of the daily changes known to occur in photoreceptor cell structure. Striking differences were found in the structure of Golgi bodies present in retinula cells during the synthesis and breakdown phases of the daily cycle of photoreceptor membrane turnover. Cyclic changes were also noticed in the mitochondria of retinula cells, and additional evidence was found for a previously proposed model of rhabdomeral microvillus formation.     

Stereoisomeric flavour compounds XXXV: Chiral aroma compounds of sherry I. Optically pure stereoisomers of solerone and solerole

The enantioseparation of the sherry aroma components 5-oxo-4-hydroxyhexanoic acid γ-lactone (solerone) and 4,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid γ-lactone (solerole) is achieved, using Chiraspher (Merck) as the chiral HPLC phase and the optical purity ascertained directly by HRGC with heptakis(3-O-acetyl-2,6-di-O-pentyl)-β-cyclodextrin (Lipodex D) as the chiral stationary phase. The absolute configurations of 4,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid γ-lactones are assigned by ¹H-NMR spectral data of diastereomeric α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid (MTPA) esters, according to Mosher's model. Sensory qualities of the isomers are given.     

夜蛾复眼转化速度与光暗适应的时间关系

夜行蛾类的复眼,随光、暗适应时间而逐步转化,这种转化是可逆的.以屏蔽色素分布范围的大小为指标来判断复眼的转化速度得以下结果:1.从亮眼到暗眼:亮眼进入暗适应后其屏蔽色素随暗适应时间的增加而逐步向远心端方向集中.屏蔽色素的移动是减速进行的.暗适应开始后的前3分钟,每分钟移动百分率为10.7,当暗到10—15分钟时每分钟移动百分率为4.6,再暗到60—150分钟时每分钟移动百分率为0.7.屏蔽色素移动的速度个体间差异较大,完成全过程大多数个体需150分钟,少数个体只需60分钟,另有个别个体经过270分钟暗适应仍尚未完成全过程.2.从暗眼到亮眼:暗眼受光后,其屏蔽色素随光适应时间的增加而向近心端方向扩散,色素移动速度随时间的增加而减缓.转化全过程约需60分钟.     

A telescopic method for photographing within 8×8 cm minirhizotrons

The volatile organic compounds produced during a sequence of soil incubations under controlled conditions, with either added NH₄ ⁺-N or NO₃ ^--N, were collected and identified. The nature and relative amounts of the volatile organic compounds produced by the microorganisms in the soils were remarkably reproducible and consistent.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alona alsafadii</Emphasis> n. sp. from Yemen,a primitive,groundwater-dwelling member of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. karua</Emphasis>-group

The effect of algae on the production of musty-smelling compounds by actinomycetes was studied. Streptomyces spp., causing intensive musty odor, were isolated from hypertrophic Lake Kasumigaura and cultured in association with algae from the same lake. Isolate E and I effectively utilized the cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena spiroides, and the diatom, Synedra acus, as a carbon source and produced a musty-smelling 2-methylisoborneol in the shaken sediment cultures. High populations of algae and actinomycetes, and aerobic condition in the sediment seem responsible for the occurrence of musty odor in Lake Kasumigaura.