Suppression of Plant-parasitic Nematode Populations in Turfgrass by Application of Entomopathogenic Nematodes

We studied the influence of entomopathogenic nematodes , Steinernema carpocapsae and S. riobravis, on natural populations of plant - parasitic nematodes (PPNs) infesting turfgrass in Georgia and South Carolina . S. riobravis applied at 6 109 infective juveniles (IJs) / acre provided up to 95 - 100% control of the root - knot , Meloidogyne sp ., sting , Belonolaimus longicaudatus, and ring nematode , Criconemella sp ., in Georgia , but S. carpocapsae had no effect . S. riobravis was as effective as the chemical nematicide , Fenamiphos (Nemacur 10G) at 4 weeks after treatment and more effective at 8 weeks after treatment . In South Carolina , both S. riobravis and S. carpocapsae applied at 1 109 IJs / acre provided up to 86 - 100 % control of the root - knot , sting and ring nematodes . Application of 6 109 IJs / acre increased control by only 4 - 14 % over the 1 109 dosage . Possible causes of differences in efficacy of S. carpocapsae at the two sites are discussed . It is concluded that S. riobravis may provide effective , predictable and economical control of PPNs in turfgrass .     

Biological activity and metabolic clearance of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone produced in Sp2/0 myeloma cells

Human follicle stimulating hormone is a pituitary glycoprotein that is essential for the maintenance of ovarian follicle development and testicular spermatogenesis. Like other members of the glycoprotein hormone family, it contains a common a subunit and a hormone specific subunit. Each subunit contains two glycosylation sites. The specific structures of the oligosaccharides of human follicle stimulating hormone have been shown to influence both thein vitro andin vivo bioactivity. Since the carbohydrate structure of a protein reflects the glycosylation apparatus of the host cells in which the protein is expressed, we examined the isoform profiles,in vitro bioactivity and metabolic clearance of a preparation of purified recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone derived from a stable, transfected Sp2/0 myeloma cell line, and pituitary human follicle stimulating hormone. Isoelectric focussing and chromatofocussing studies of human follicle stimulating hormone preparations both showed a more basic isoform profile for the recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone compared to that of pituitary human follicle stimulating hormone. The recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone had a significantly higher radioreceptor activity compared to that of pituitary human follicle stimulating hormone, consistent with a greaterin vitro potency. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats indicated a similar terminal half life (124 min) to that of the pituitary human follicle stimulating hormone (119 min). Preliminary carbohydrate analysis showed recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone to contain high mannose and/or hybrid type, in addition to complex type carbohydrate chains, terminating with both2,3 and2,6 linked sialic acids. These results demonstrate that recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone made in the Sp2/0 myeloma cells is sialylated, has a more basic isoform profile, and has a greaterin vitro biological potency compared to those of the pituitary human follicle stimulating hormone.     

(+)-CC-1065 as a probe for intrinsic and protein-induced bending of DNA

(+)-CC -1065 is biologically potent DNA-reactive antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces zelensis. This antibiotic covalently modifies DNA by alkylation of N-3 of a adenine in the minor groove. As a Structural consequence of covalent modification of DNA, the helix axis id bent into the minor groove. The drug-induced bending of DNA has similarities to intrinsic. A-tract bending and the 3′ adenine of A-tracts shows a unique reactivity to alkylation by (+) -CC-1065. Upon covalent modification of A-tracts, the magnitude of bending is increased and helix is stiffened. Using high-field NMR, hydroxyl-radical footprinting and gel electrophoresis, the molecular basis for the high reactivity of the bonding sequence 5′ - AGTTA* (an asterisk indicates the covalent modification site) to (+)-CC-1065 has been shown to involve the inherent conformational flexibility of this sequence. Furthermore, these studies also demonstrate that after alkylation the drug-induced bending is focused over the TT region. By analogy with the junction bend model for A-tracts, a ‘truncated junction bend model’ is proposed for this structure. Last, the application of (+)-CC-1065 entrapped/induced bending of DNA as a probe for the Sp1-induced bending of the 21-base-pair repeat an Mu transpose bending of the att L3 sequence is described.     

NEW ENDOLITHIC CYANOBACTERIA FROM THE ARABIAN GULF. I. HYELLA IMMANIS SP. NOV.1

Hyella immanis, a new species of endolithic cyanobacterium that penetrates carbonate ooid sand grains in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, is formally described. Natural populations of the new taxon were sampled in moving ooid shoals at four locations along the east coast of Saudi Arabia, together with seven other endolithic taxa. The new species was isolated, and its properties were studied under experimental conditions. Small reproductive cells (baeocytes) exhibited positively phototactic gliding motility following release. In culture they grew into colonies forming isodiametric packages (prevalent on agar) and distinct pseudofilaments (prevalent in liquid culture). Carbonate penetration of the cultured strain in liquid culture proceeded at a rate of up to 10 μ· d^?1. Agitation of cultures with magnetic stirrers enhanced the frequency of borings and the initial boring rates, but it had no effect on the continuing boring activity. A fossil counterpart of the new species was identified in Upper Proterozoic (700–800 million years old) silicified oolitic and pisolitic rocks of East Greenland.     

Pseudomonocystis sp., an Eugregarine Protozoan Pathogen of the Coconut Root Grub, Leucopholis coneophora

Populations of the coconut root grub , Leucopholis coneophora, were infected by an eugre garine protozoan pathogen , Pseudomonocystis sp . The pathogen infected 22.7% third - instar L. coneophora larvae in the field . The infected larvae produced 1 - 84 (average 37 . 11) milky - white , membranous , elliptical cysts measuring 2 . 64 1 . 24 mm . Each cyst contained about 3 . 80 105 mucilaginous spores . The spores were elliptical with two tubular polar caps , thick - walled , ornamented with irregular ridges and furrows , and measured 26 . 04 13 . 61 mum . The LD and LT for oral inoculation of spores into third - instar larvae were 9 . 86 104 50 50 spores / larva and 27 . 62 days respectively . Ingestion of spores with or without food and connibalism of infected larvae were the modes of transmission of the pathogen .     

Broad-host-range cloning vectors derived from the W-plasmid Sa

Four nonconjugative broad-host-range cloning vectors were derived from the W-plasmid Sa. They are small (M_r 5.6?7.2 × 10⁶), carry several drug-resistance markers, and allow constructing and screening for recombinant plasmids generated by the restriction enzymes EcoRI, PstI, BglII, HindIII, BamHI and SalI,     

Isolation of the origin of replication of the IncW-group plasmid pSa

The origin of replication of the IncW plasmid pSa has been cloned and the function of this origin in Escherichia coli examined. A 1.9-kb region of DNA is required for efficient autonomous replication, and a 0.47-kb fragment within this region can initiate replication only in the presence of an autonomously replicating derivative of pSa. An Mr 35,000 protein (repA) is encoded adjacent to the origin and is required for efficient initiation of replication. The derivatives examined provide information suggesting a direct role of partition factors in plasmid replication and incompatibility.     

Le prétendu rhinocéros de Nouvelle Calédonie est un marsupial (Zygomaturus diahotensis nov. sp.): Solution d'une énigmeet conséquences paléogéographiques

The first mammalian remain ever found in NewCaledonia is an upper tooth found by golddiggers in the Plio-Pleistocene terrace from the Diahot river. This tooth, given to the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris) in 1876, was determined as a rhinoceros tooth and then completely forgotten. Its detailed study shows that it belongs to Zygomaturus, a large marsupial diprotodontid genus whose story is rather complicated. The Diahot tooth represents a new species of Zygomaturus, Z. diahotensis nov. sp., close to Z. trilobus from the Australian Pleistocene. That kinship suggests a Plio-Pleistocene land connection between Australia and New Caledonia, whereas till now New Caledonia was supposed to be separated from Australia since the end of the Cretaceous, because of the total absence of indigenous mammals, fossil or recent, in New Caledonia. The latest geological studies in the East Pacific do not contradict our hypothesis.