Arbuscular mycorrhizas are present on Spitsbergen.

A previous study of 76 plant species on Spitsbergen in the High Arctic concluded that structures resembling arbuscular mycorrhizas were absent from roots. Here, we report a survey examining the roots of 13 grass and forb species collected from 12 sites on the island for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation. Of the 102 individuals collected, we recorded AM endophytes in the roots of 41 plants of 11 species (Alopecurus ovatus, Deschampsia alpina, Festuca rubra ssp. richardsonii, putative viviparous hybrids of Poa arctica and Poa pratensis, Poa arctica ssp. arctica, Trisetum spicatum, Coptidium spitsbergense, Ranunculus nivalis, Ranunculus pygmaeus, Ranunculus sulphureus and Taraxacum arcticum) sampled from 10 sites. Both coarse AM endophyte, with hyphae of 5-10 µm width, vesicles and occasional arbuscules, and fine endophyte, consisting of hyphae of 1-3 µm width and sparse arbuscules, were recorded in roots. Coarse AM hyphae, vesicles, arbuscules and fine endophyte hyphae occupied 1.0-30.7, 0.8-18.3, 0.7-11.9 and 0.7-12.8% of the root lengths of colonised plants, respectively. Principal component analysis indicated no associations between the abundances of AM structures in roots and edaphic factors. We conclude that the AM symbiosis is present in grass and forb roots on Spitsbergen.

Fungal biomass associated with the phyllosphere of bryophytes and vascular plants.

Little is known about the amount of fungal biomass in the phyllosphere of bryophytes compared to higher plants. In this study, fungal biomass associated with the phyllosphere of three bryophytes (Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune) and three vascular plants (Avenella flexuosa, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Vaccinium myrtillus) was investigated using ergosterol content as a proxy for fungal biomass. Phyllosphere fungi accounted for 0.2-4.0 % of the dry mass of moss gametophytes, representing the first estimation of fungal biomass associated with bryophytes. Significantly more fungal biomass was associated with the phyllosphere of bryophytes than co-occurring vascular plants. The ergosterol present in moss gametophytic tissues differed significantly between species, while the ergosterol present in vascular plant leaf tissues did not. The photosynthetic tissues of mosses had less associated fungal biomass than their senescent tissues, and the magnitude of this difference varied in a species-specific manner. The fungal biomass associated with the vascular plants studied varied significantly between localities, while that of mosses did not. The observed differences in phyllosphere community biomass suggest their size could be affected by host anatomical and physiological attributes, including micro-niche availability and chemical host defenses, in addition to abiotic factors like moisture and nutrient availability.

Influence of culture conditions on expression of the 40-kilodalton porin protein of Vibrio anguillarum serotype O2.

Vibrio anguillarum serotype O2 strains express a 40-kDa outer membrane porin protein. Immunoblot analysis revealed that antigenic determinants of the V. anguillarum O2 40-kDa porin were conserved within bacterial species of the genus Vibrio. The relative amounts of the V. anguillarum O2 40-kDa porin were enhanced by growth of V. anguillarum O2 in CM9 medium containing 5 to 10% sucrose or 0.1 to 0.5 M NaCl. In contrast, the levels of the porin were significantly reduced when cells were grown at 37 degrees C, and a novel 60-kDa protein was also observed. However, the osmolarity or ionic concentration of the growth medium did not influence expression of the 60-kDa protein. Growth in medium containing greater than 0.6 mM EDTA reduced production of the V. anguillarum O2 40-kDa porin and enhanced levels of a novel 19-kDa protein. Thus, expression of the V. anguillarum O2 40-kDa porin was osmoregulated and possibly coregulated by temperature. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the V. anguillarum O2 40-kDa protein and the effect of environmental factors on the cellular levels of the porin suggested that the V. anguillarum O2 40-kDa porin was functionally similar to the OmpC porin of Escherichia coli. However, pore conductance assays revealed that the V. anguillarum O2 40-kDa porin was a general diffusion porin with a pore size in the range of that of the OmpF porin of E. coli.

Improved growth of three uremic children by nocturnal nasogastric feedings.

Three children with high-output renal insufficiency (estimated creatinine clearance, 20 to 25 mL/min/1.73 sq m) and linear and ponderal growth retardation were administered nocturnal nasogastric (NG) feedings at home by trained parents. The NG feedings were initiated at 50 kcal/kg/night and increased as needed to establish and maintain weight gain. Nocturnal feedings were continued for 13.5, 16, and 11 months, respectively. Improved caloric intake reestablished the velocity of weight gain from less than 5% to greater than 95% in each patient. Linear growth velocity improved from less than 5% in two patients and 40% in one patient to greater than 95% in two patients and 80% in the third patient. No change was observed in serum creatinine, electrolyte, calcium, or phosphorus levels. The serum urea nitrogen level remained below 100 mg/dl. Ensuring adequate caloric intake by nocturnal NG feedings, in addition to standard therapy, improved both ponderal and linear growth velocity.