Field efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes targeting caged last-instar plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Michigan cherry and apple orchards.

The plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar Herbst) is a key pest of pome and stone fruit in eastern North America. We tested the efficacy of five pathogens over the course of three seasons in 10 Michigan apple and cherry orchards, with introductions of larvae to caged pots containing pathogen-treated soil. The nematode Steinernema riobrave was the most effective pathogen in the 2 yr it was tested, but only in soils with the highest sand content (81-88%) and when it was applied 1 h or 5 d after last instars of plum curculio. S. carpocapsae in an organic formulation was less effective, but significantly reduced plum curculio emergence in 1 yr of the study when applied 3 d before C. nenuphar larvae were introduced. Beauveria bassiana was effective in only 1 of the 3 yr it was tested, only in soils with lower sand content, and only when it was introduced within 1 h of plum curculio larvae. Metarhizium anisopliae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were ineffective. Michigan orchards may require sprinkler irrigation coupled with precise timing recommendations and oviposition monitoring to enhance entomopathogen application efficacy against soil-dwelling last instars.

Potential of two entomopathogenic nematodes for suppression of plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) life stages in northern climates.

Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, is a major pest of pome and stone fruits in North America. We evaluated the potential efficacy of two entomopathogenic nematode species for suppression of plum curculio in northern regions, targeting life stages that reside in soil during spring and summer. A strain of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora isolated from soil infested with plum curculio in northern Utah and a commercially available strain of Steinernema feltiae known to tolerate cool temperatures were tested in the laboratory against three life stages of plum curculio. Bioassays used the southern strain of plum curculio because availability of the northern strain from the field was inadequate. H. bacteriophora was more virulent than S. feltiae to all plum curculio life stages. Adults and pupae were more susceptible than larvae. Temperature bioassays were conducted with a surrogate host: last instars of Galleria mellonella. The two nematodes exhibited different, but overlapping, thermal activity ranges. Both species performed best at 20 degrees C: virulence and reproductive potential was higher; however, H. bacteriophora was superior to S. feltiae at 30 degrees C and vice versa at 10 degrees C. The reproductive potential of H. bacteriophora was > 2.5 times greater than for S. feltiae, and H. bacteriophora required fewer individuals to initiate a successful host infection. S. feltiae was a better fit for temperatures expected in northern climates, but H. bacteriophora was more virulent to plum curculio and produced more infective juveniles that may benefit nematode recycling and continuation and spread of insect suppression in the field.

Identification of residues in yeast Spo11p critical for meiotic DNA double-strand break formation.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Spo11 protein (Spo11p) is thought to generate the DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that initiate homologous recombination during meiosis. Spo11p is related to a subunit of archaebacterial topoisomerase VI and appears to cleave DNA through a topoisomerase-like transesterase mechanism. In this work, we used the crystal structure of a fragment of topoisomerase VI to model the Spo11p structure and to identify amino acid residues in yeast Spo11p potentially involved in DSB catalysis and/or DNA binding. These residues were mutated to determine which are critical for Spo11p function in vivo. Mutation of Glu-233 or Asp-288, which lie in a conserved structural motif called the Toprim domain, abolished meiotic recombination. These Toprim domain residues have been implicated in binding a metal ion cofactor in topoisomerases and bacterial primases, supporting the idea that DNA cleavage by Spo11p is Mg(2+) dependent. Mutations at an invariant arginine (Arg-131) within a second conserved structural motif known as the 5Y-CAP domain, as well as three other mutations (E235A, F260R, and D290A), caused marked changes in the DSB pattern at a recombination hotspot, suggesting that Spo11p contributes directly to the choice of DNA cleavage site. Finally, certain DSB-defective mutant alleles generated in this study conferred a semidominant negative phenotype but only when Spo11p activity was partially compromised by the presence of an epitope tag. These results are consistent with a multimeric structure for Spo11p in vivo but may also indicate that the amount of Spo11 protein is not a limiting factor for DSB formation in normal cells.

Excessive proliferation matched by excessive apoptosis in myelodysplastic syndromes: the cause-effect relationship.

The paradox of pancytopenia despite cellular bone marrows (BM) was investigated in 120 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Detailed cell cycle kinetics were examined following in vivo infusions of iodo--and/or bromodeoxyuridine (IUdR/BrdU), while the incidence of apoptosis was measured by in situ end labeling (ISEL) of fragmented DNA. Results showed that MDS are highly proliferative disorders with an equally high incidence of apoptotic intramedullary cell death accounting for the paradox of cellularity/cytopenia. By double-labeling BM biopsy sections for ISEL/BrdU we found the peculiar situation of "signal antonymy" where S-phase cells were frequently apoptotic, a phenomenon so far only seen in MDS biopsies. The cause-effect relationship of this excessive proliferation/apoptosis is discussed at length.

Cell cycle kinetic studies in 68 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes following intravenous iodo- and/or bromodeoxyuridine.

Sixty-eight patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) received sequential infusions of iodo- and/or bromodeoxyuridine for cell kinetic analysis. Bone marrow biopsy sections were treated by appropriate antibodies and a labeling index (LI), duration of S-phase (Ts), and total cell cycle time (Tc) of myeloid cells were determined. The mean LI was 28.4%, Ts was 11.8 hours and Tc was 40.7 hours. The %LI decreased as the disease evolved from refractory anemia toward transformation to acute leukemia (p = 0.04). Double-labeling of biopsy sections for apoptosis and proliferation showed that 30-90% of S-phase cells in MDS patients were simultaneously apoptotic or "antonymous." We conclude that MDS are highly proliferative disorders in which the ineffective hematopoiesis is probably the result of excessive apoptosis rather than slow proliferation.

SK&F 97426-A: a novel bile acid sequestrant with higher affinities and slower dissociation rates for bile acids in vitro than cholestyramine.

SK&F 97426-A is a novel bile acid sequestrant that is threefold more potent than cholestyramine at increasing bile acid excretion in the hamster. SK&F 97426-A is a quaternary alkylammonium polymethacrylate that was selected for comparison with cholestyramine in vivo because of its superior in vitro bile acid binding properties. Association, dissociation, affinity, and capacity experiments were performed under physiologically relevant conditions with the most abundant bile acids found in human bile. The bile acids came to equilibrium with SK&F 97426-A and cholestyramine within approximately 30 min and 6 min, respectively. SK&F 97426-A and cholestyramine had similar capacities for all the bile acids (between 2.5 and 4 mmol/g) and both had similar, very high affinities and slow dissociation rates for the dihydroxy bile acids. However, SK&F 97426-A had much higher affinities for the trihydroxy bile acids glycocholic acid and taurocholic acid than did cholestyramine. Dissociation of glycocholic acid and taurocholic acid from SK&F 97426-A was also much slower (27 and 25%, respectively, dissociated after 60 min) than from cholestyramine (89 and 84%, respectively, dissociated after 60 min). The higher affinities and slower dissociation rates of the trihydroxy bile acids for and from SK&F 97426-A probably account for the increased potency of SK&F 97426-A over cholestyramine in vivo.

Measurement of apoptosis, proliferation and three cytokines in 46 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Extensive apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) of both hematopoietic (erythroid, myeloid, megakaryocytic) and stromal cells in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) cancels the high birth-rate resulting in ineffective hematopoiesis and has been demonstrated as the probable basis for peripheral cytopenias in MDS by our group. It is proposed that factors present in the microenvironment are inducing apoptosis in all the cells whether stromal or parenchymal. To investigate this hypothesis further, bone marrow biopsies from 46 MDS patients and eight normal individuals were examined for the presence of three cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and one cellular component, macrophages, by the use of monoclonal antibodies immunohistochemically. Results showed the presence of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta in 41/46 and 40/46 cases of MDS respectively, while only 15 cases showed the presence of GM-CSF. Further a significant direct relationship was found between the degree of TNF-alpha and the incidence of PCD (p= 0.0015). Patients who showed high PCD also had an elevated TNF-alpha level. Thus, the expression of high amounts of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta and low amounts of the viability factor GM-CSF may be responsible for the high incidence of PCD leading to ineffective hematopoiesis in MDS. Future studies will be directed at attempting to reverse the lesion in MDS by using anti-TNF-alpha drugs such as pentoxifylline.

Indication of an involvement of interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme-like protease in intramedullary apoptotic cell death in the bone marrow of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Our previous studies using in situ end labeling (ISEL) of fragmented DNA revealed extensive apoptotic cell death in the bone marrows (BM) of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) involving both stromal and hematopoietic cells. In the present report we show greater synthesis of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in 4 hour cultures of density separated BM aspirate mononuclear (BMAM) cells from MDS patients as compared to the cultures of normal BM from healthy donors or lymphoma patients (1.7 +/- 0.37 pg/10(5) cells, n = 29 v 0.42 +/- 0.24 pg/10(5) cells, n = 11, respectively, P = .049). Further, these amounts of IL-1 beta in MDS showed a significant correlation with the extent of apoptosis detected by ISEL in corresponding plastic embedded BM biopsies (r = .480, n = 30, P = .007). In contrast normal BMs did not show any correlation between the two (r = .091, n = 12, P = .779). No significant correlation was found between the amounts of IL-1 beta and % S-phase cells (labeling index; LI%) in MDS determined in BM biopsies using immunohistochemistry following in vivo infusions of iodo- and/or bromodeoxyuridine. Neither anti-IL-1 beta antibody nor IL-1 receptor antagonist blocked the apoptotic death of BMAM cells in 4 hour cultures (n = 5) determined by ISEL (apoptotic index; AI%), although the latter led to a dose-dependent accumulation of active IL-1 beta in the culture supernatants. On the other hand, a specific tetrapetide-aldehyde inhibitor of ICE significantly retarded the apoptotic death of BMAM cells at 1 mumol/L in 5/6 MDS cases studied (AI% = 2.99 +/- 0.30 in controls v 1.58 +/- 0.40 with ICE-inhibitor, P = .05) and also reduced the levels of active IL-1 beta synthesized (5.59 +/- 2.63 v 2.24 +/- 0.93 pg/10(6) cells, respectively). In normal cells, neither IL-1 blockers nor the ICE inhibitor showed any effect on the marginal increase in apoptosis observed in 4 hour cultures. Our data thus suggest a possible involvement of an ICE-like protease in the intramedullary apoptotic cell death in the BMs of MDS patients.

A paradigm shift in myelodysplastic syndromes.

A poorly defined transforming event(s) affects the pluripotential bone marrow (BM) stem cell in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), conferring a growth advantage upon it which leads eventually to monoclonal hematopoiesis. The progeny of this transformed ancestor undergo recognizable albeit dysplastic maturation. We propose that this picture is further complicated by a variety of cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) which exert a dual effect on the diseased cells. The immature CD34+ cells are stimulated to proliferate, while their later differentiated daughters are induced to undergo apoptosis accounting for the clinical syndrome of pancytopenia despite hypercellular BMs. Studies directed at measuring the rates of proliferation and apoptosis as well as the levels of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta and IL-1beta confirm this hypothesis and are presented in greater detail. A novel approach towards MDS therapy emerges as a result of this paradigm shift based upon the premise that anti-cytokine therapy would prevent excessive intramedullary apoptosis and result in improved cytopenias as well as cause a slowing down of the diseased precursor cell proliferation resulting in resumption of polyclonal hematopoiesis. Because a number of cytokines function through common lipid second messengers, interruption of this pathway should theoretically cause disruption in the signalling of a cascade of cytokines.

Novel insights into the biology of myelodysplastic syndromes: excessive apoptosis and the role of cytokines.

The paradox of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) which present with pancytopenias despite cellular bone marrows (BM) was investigated by conducting detailed studies of proliferation and apoptosis in 89 MDS patients. Our results demonstrated a rapid rate of both proliferation as well as apoptosis. Levels of three cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) were measured in the same patients. High levels of TNF-alpha were found to correlate with high levels of apoptosis in 83 MDS patients (P = 0.0045). We propose a dual role for TNF-alpha (or other cytokines) in the pathogenesis of MDS. On the one hand, TNF-alpha induces apoptosis in the maturing cells causing pancytopenia while on the other, it stimulates the proliferation of the primitive progenitors accounting for the hypercellular BM frequently seen in MDS. A new model for MDS is presented. The initial abnormality probably affects a primitive hemopoietic progenitor which acquires a growth advantage leading to monoclonal hemopoiesis, which in turn makes these cells susceptible towards acquiring additional mutations and appearance of cytogenetically marked (or unmarked) clones. Cytokines such as TNF-alpha whose source is presently unknown, then contribute towards the clinical syndrome of pancytopenia and hypercellularity.

SK&F 97426-A a more potent bile acid sequestrant and hypocholesterolaemic agent than cholestyramine in the hamster.

SK&F 97426-A is a novel bile acid sequestrant which was selected for comparison with cholestyramine in vivo because of its superior in vitro bile acid binding properties. The effects of the two sequestrants on faecal bile acid excretion, plasma total cholesterol, VLDL + LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations and on liver enzymes involved in the synthesis and metabolism of cholesterol were investigated in normocholesterolaemic hamsters. Four studies were conducted to determine the relative potencies of the two resins using a range of doses of the sequestrants over treatment periods of up to 2 weeks. Curves fitted to the resulting data allowed common maximum responses and separate ED50s to be calculated for each sequestrant. The maximum response of both sequestrants was to increase bile acid excretion by 352% and lower plasma total cholesterol by 37-58%. LDL + VLDL and HDL cholesterol were reduced by 56-75% and 25-41%, respectively. SK&F 97426-A was 3 times more potent than cholestyramine at increasing the excretion of bile acids in the faeces and 2.1-3.4-fold and 2.3-3.2-fold more potent at lowering total plasma cholesterol and LDL plus VLDL cholesterol, respectively. In some of the experiments SK&F 97426-A was also more potent than cholestyramine at lowering HDL cholesterol. Plasma triglycerides were also lowered by both sequestrants by up to 31% after 1 week but the relative potency could not be determined. These HDL cholesterol and total triglyceride lowering effects of bile acid sequestrants in the hamster are known not to occur in people treated with cholestyramine. There were minimal differences between hamsters treated for 1 or 2 weeks in the relative potencies or ED50s calculated for the total plasma cholesterol, LDL + VLDL and HDL cholesterol. Both sequestrants may have been slightly more efficacious on these parameters after 2 weeks of treatment. Liver weights were reduced by about 15% by both sequestrants at 2% (w/w) in the diet for 1 week. The activities of the liver HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase were increased as expected, whilst the activity of the acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase was reduced by both sequestrants at this dose. SK&F 97426-A was, therefore, 2-3-fold more potent as a bile acid sequestrant and hypocholesterolaemic agent than cholestyramine when tested in the hamster.

Multiple Pest Interactions in Soybean: Effects on Heterodera glycines Egg Populations and Crop Yield.

Population changes of Heterodera glycines eggs on soybean in small field plots were influenced by the lepidopterous insect pest, Helicoverpa zea; however, few effects on eggs due to the presence of annual weeds were detected. Soybeans defoliated 15-35% by H. zea during August remained green and continued to produce new flowers and pods later into the season than soybeans without H. zea, resulting in higher numbers of H. glycines eggs at harvest on insect-defoliated soybeans. Final H. glycines populations also were influenced by soil population density (Pi) of the nematode at planting. Fecundity of H. glycines was generally greater at the undetected and low Pi than at high Pi levels. Soybean yields were suppressed 12, 22, and 30% by low, moderate, and high H. glycines Pi, respectively. When weed competition and H. zea feeding damage effects were added, yields were suppressed 34, 40, and 57% by the three respective nematode Pi levels. Effects among the three pests on soybean yield were primarily additive.

Development of Heterodera glycines Life Stages as Influenced by Temperature.

The effects of temperature on rates of development of Heterodera glycines egg and juvenile stages were examined as a basis for predicting generation times of the nematode on soybean. The relationship of temperature to H. glycines embryonic development between 15 and 30 C was described by a linear model, The calculated basal temperature threshold was 5 C. Thermal optimum for embryogenesis and hatch with low mortality was 24 C. Development proceeded to first-stage juvenile at 10 C and to second-stage juvenile at 15-30 C. Hatch occurred at 20-30 C. At 36 C, development proceeded to the four-cell stage, then the eggs died. The range of diurnal soil temperature fluctuation and accumulated degree-days between 5 and 30 C (DD5/30) had an impact on rate of development of juveniles in soybean roots. From early June to early July, H. glycines required 534 + 24 DD5/30 (4 weeks) to complete a life cycle in the field. During the midseason (July and August), life cycles were completed in 3 weeks and 429 +/- 24 DD5/30 were accumulated. Late in the season (September to November), declining soil temperatures were associated with generation times of 4 weeks and slower rates of development.

Population Density and Spatial Pattern of Heterodera glycines in Relation to Soybean Phenology.

Population dynamics of Heterodera glycines (SCN) were influenced by initial nematode population density in soil, soybean root growth pattern, soil type, and environmental conditions in two field experiments. Low initial populations (Pi) of SCN increased more rapidly during the growing season than high Pi and resulted in greater numbers of nematodes at harvest. Egg and juvenile (J2) populations increased within 2-6 weeks after planting when early-season soil temperatures were 20 C and above and were delayed by soil temperatures of 17 C or below in May and early June. Frequencies of occurrence and number of nematodes decreased with increasing depth and distance from center of the soybean row. Spatial pattern of SCN paralleled that of soybean roots. Higher clay content in the subsoil 30-45 cm deep in one field restricted soil penetration by roots, indirectly influencing vertical distribution of SCN. Shoot dry weight was a good indicator of the effect of SCN on seed yield. Root dry weight was poorly correlated with soybean growth and yield. The relationship of yield (seed weight) to Pi was best described by a quadratic equation at one site, but did not fit any regression model tested at the second site.

Nematode trophic structure in conventional and no-tillage agroecosystems.

The effect of tillage intensity on nematode community trophic structure and the role of nematodes in the regulation of decomposition rates in agroecosystems were examined. Conventional (CT) and no-tillage (NT) agroecosystems were sampled monthly for 1 year. Tillage affected nematode trophic structure and total abundance. Monthly mean densities of bacterivorous, fungivorous, and total nematodes were greater in CT than in NT plots. In the summer, however, fungivorous and plant parasitic nematodes were more abundant in NT. No difference was detected for omnivore-predator nematodes.

Comparison of the effect of high and low doses of methadone on treatment outcome.

The results of a 2-year-study of the relationship between methadone dosage and treatment outcome are reported. For discharged patients, higher doses of methadone were significantly related to successful treatment and lower doses to treatment failure. Based on these findings and the review of literature as well as the senior author's clinical experience, a theoretical formulation is offered to provide a rationale for methadone maintenance treatment. The tenability of the formulation is readily testable by clinical research.