Oiling of American white pelicans, common loons, and northern gannets in the winter following the Deepwater Horizon (MC252) oil spill.

The Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill assessed the external oiling of migratory bird species dependent on open water in the Gulf of Mexico following the aforementioned spill. The assessment was designed to evaluate birds that use open water during the winter within 40 km of the Gulf shoreline. We focused on the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), common loon (Gavia immer), and northern gannet (Morus bassanus). Point counts (pelican, loon) or strip transects (gannet) were used and each target species was assessed for oiling (unoiled, trace, light, moderate, or heavy amounts) and photographed. Due to distance at sighting and/or poor visibility, not all visible birds were assessed. The percentage of birds oiled varied by species, with the common loon being the highest (23.6%), followed by American white pelican (16.9%), and northern gannet (6.9%). Most of the American white pelicans and common loons had trace (83% and 72%, respectively) or light levels (11% and 24%, respectively) of oiling. The northern gannet had just trace levels of oiling. Some pelicans (6%) and loons (4%) had moderate amounts of oiling. Based on expert derived-mortality estimates and our estimates of oil exposure, we used Monte Carlo simulations to predict expected decreases of 2.5%, 4%, and 11% in the observed population for the northern gannet, American white pelican, and common loon, respectively. While these values are underestimates of the true values given the long time lag (10-12 months) between the oil spill and the assessment, these data represent some of the few estimates of exposure for these species and describe minimum risk estimates to these species.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene in flower organs of Forsythia x intermedia.

The expression, during flower development, of the gene encoding the anthocyanin pathway key enzyme dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) was investigated in floral organs of Forsythia x intermedia cv. 'Spring Glory'. Full-length DFR and partial chalcone synthase (CHS) cDNAs, the gene of interest and a flavonoid pathway control gene respectively, were obtained from petal RNA by reverse transcription PCR. Whereas for CHS northern blot analysis enabled the study of its expression pattern, competitive PCR assays were necessary to quantify DFR mRNA levels in wild-type plants and in petals of 2 transgenic clones containing a CaMV 35S promoter-driven DFR gene of Antirrhinum majus. Results indicated a peak of CHS and DFR transcript levels in petals at the very early stages of anthesis, and different expression patterns in anthers and sepals. In comparison to wild-type plants, transformants showed a more intense anthocyanin pigmentation of some vegetative organs, and a dramatic increase in DFR transcript concentration and enzymatic activity in petals. However, petals of transformed plants did not accumulate any anthocyanins. These results indicate that other genes and/or regulatory factors should be considered responsible for the lack of anthocyanin production in Forsythia petals.

Regeneration andAgrobacterium-mediated transformation ofForsythia xintermedia "Spring Glory".

Internode explants ofin vitro plants ofForsythia x intermedia "Spring Glory" were transformed with thegus andnpt II genes after inoculation with theA. tumefaciens strain EHA 101 harbouring the plasmid pFAJ3000. Shoot organogenesis took place from callused edges of explants. The first transformed buds were detected 4 to 6 weeks after transfer on regeneration medium, containing 25 mg/l kanamycin as selective agent. An average of 1% of explants regenerated transgenic shoots.ß-glucuronidase assays and culture on kanamycin-containing medium provided the first indication of integration and expression of introduced genes in transformants. Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction amplification analyses gave molecular confirmation of genetic transformation. Transgenic plants were acclimatized in the greenhouse. Enzymatic assays on several organs of mature plants still showed ß-glucuronidase activity, thus confirming stable integration of T-DNA in the plant genome.

Cloning of a mineral phosphate-solubilizing gene from Pseudomonas cepacia.

We have recently shown that the ability of some gram-negative bacteria to dissolve poorly soluble calcium phosphates (Mps+ phenotype) is the result of periplasmic oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid via the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), a component of the direct oxidation pathway. Escherichia coli K-12 derivatives synthesize apo-GDH but not the cofactor pyrroloquinoline-quinone (PQQ) essential for formation of the holoenzyme. Therefore, in the absence of exogenous PQQ, these strains do not produce gluconic acid and are Mps-. Evidence is presented to show that expression of a single 396-base Pseudomonas cepacia open reading frame (designated gabY) in E. coli JM109 (a K-12 derivative) was sufficient to induce the Mps+ phenotype and production of gluconic acid. We present the nucleotide sequence of this open reading frame which coded for a protein (GabY) with a deduced M(r) of 14,235. Coupled transcription-translation of a plasmid (pSLY4 or pGAB1) carrying gabY resulted in production of a protein with an M(r) of 14,750. Disruption of the open reading frame of gabY via site-directed mutagenesis changed the phenotype to Mps- and eliminated gluconic acid production. The deduced amino acid sequence of gabY has no apparent homology with those of previously cloned direct oxidation pathway genes but does share regions highly homologous with the histidine permease system membrane-bound protein HisQ as well as other proteins in this family. In the presence of 1 microM exogenous PQQ, both JM109(pSLY4) and JM109(pGAB1) produced 10 times as much gluconic acid as was seen with either the plasmid or exogenous PQQ alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Organogenesis of stem and leaf protoplasts of a haploid golden delicious apple clone (Malus Xdomestica Borkh.).

Highly viable protoplasts were isolated in large numbers from in vitro-grown leaf and stem tissues of a haploid clone of the apple scion cultivar Golden Delicious (Malus Xdomestica Borkh.). Protoplasts from both sources divided rapidly to give microcallus, when cultured in a modified Kao and Michayluk-based medium. Following two successive subcultures for callusing, shoot buds were regenerated from such calli, on half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium with an increased concentration of group B vitamins and containing 5.0 mg.l(-1) 6-benzyl-aminopurine and 0.1 mg.l(-1) l-naphthaleneacetic acid (for the leaf protoplast-derived calli) or 4-indole-3yl-butyric acid (for stem protoplast-derived calli). The mesophyll protoplast-derived shoots were enfeebled and vitrified, in time with their ultimate death. Conversely, for those shoots deriving from the stem protoplasts, in vitro propagation was successfully achieved. This is the first report on the successful isolation, culture and organogenesis from stem protoplasts of a woody plant genotype.

Adventitious bud regeneration from leaf expiants of the shrubby ornamental honeysuckle, Lonicera nitida Wils. cv. 'Maigrün': effects of thidiazuron and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid.

Different combinations of auxins and cytokinins were employed to assess the regeneration capacity from in vitro leaf explants of Lonicera nitida Wils. cv 'Maïgrün'. A high frequency of rhizogenesis was noticed, with 2.3 µM thidiazuron plus 2.9 µM indole-3-acetic acid as the only hormonal combination to support caulogenic responses. Increasing thidiazuron concentration and/or suppressing auxin did not improve caulogenesis. Combining thidiazuron with 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid produced a dramatic increase in the percentage of caulogenic explants. A maximum of 74% of adventitious bud forming explants was obtained with 2.3 µM thidiazuron plus 20 µM 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid. Buds were often in a rosette form and were vitreous, so that shoot elongation was difficult to obtain. The effect of the duration of the 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid treatment on shoot elongation was investigated.

Digestibilities of amino acids in soyabean, sunflower and groundnut meals, determined with intact and caecectomised cockerels.

1. Three isonitrogenous diets were formulated in which soyabean (dehulled), sunflower (hulled) and groundnut (dehulled) meals were the sole protein sources. 2. 50 g of each diet was tube-fed to each of 24 intact and 24 caecectomised cockerels, which had been previously starved for 48 h. Excreta were collected, individually, for 48 h. The concentrations of amino acids in the diets and excreta were determined, and digestibility coefficients calculated. 3. Differences between intact and caecectomised birds for true digestibility evaluations reached significance for threonine, glycine and lysine only. Deamination of threonine and glycine, and synthesis of lysine, in the caeca was implied. 4. Neither the true digestibility of nitrogen, nor that of the sum of the amino acids differed between protein sources. 5. True digestibilities of most essential amino acids, considered individually, in sunflower and groundnut meals were similar to or greater than, those of soyabean meal. Exceptionally, lysine was more digestible in soyabean (0.879) than in sunflower (0.722) or groundnut (0.788) meals.

Digestibilities of amino acids in maize, wheat and barley meals, determined with intact and caecectomised cockerels.

1. Maize, wheat and barley meals, and a protein-free diet were each force-fed to 24 intact and 24 caecectomised adult cockerels. For each test, birds were starved of solid food for 48 h, fed, and then excreta collected for 48 h. 2. Quantities of nitrogen (N) and amino acids excreted after feeding the protein-free diet did not differ between intact and caecectomised birds. 3. True digestibility coefficients of N and amino acids did not differ between intact and caecectomised birds. 4. Differences between cereals in apparent digestibility of amino acids were inconsistent and more readily attributed to differences between amino acid intake than bioavailability. 5. Differences between cereals in true digestibility of amino acids were confined to higher values for N, aspartic acid, alanine and leucine in maize than in barley or wheat meals.

[The relationship between udder secretion and the content of blood energy nutriments and nitrogen in the goat at the onset of lactation]. / Relations entre les sécrétions mammaires et les teneurs en nutriments énergétiques et azotés sanguins chez la chèvre au début de la lactation.

An experiment was performed on 29 dairy goats at the onset of lactation; energy and protein deficits were maximal during the first week of lactation. This was confirmed for energy by the plasma contents on non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-OH-butyrate and glucose. However, protein deficit was more critical during the second week, as shown by plasma urea, glycine and 3-CH3-histidine contents. At that time, nutritional status depended more on udder production than on intake level. Moreover, the nutritional parameters of body lipid and protein mobilization were positively correlated. Milk protein content was positively correlated with the nutritive balance and status of the goats.

Amibiasis cervico-vaginal / Cervico-vaginal amebiasis

Se presenta una estadística de 10 casos de amibiasis genital femenina observados en un período de 10 años en el departamento de patología del Hospital General San Felipe y la clinica detectora del cancer cervicouterino lo cual demuestra la presencia de esta forma rara de amebiasis extraintestinal en nuestro medio. Clínicamente, la mayor parte de lesiones daban la impresión de carcicoma genital. En vista de ello se enfatiza la importancia de practicar todos los estudios de laboratorio factibles para diagnosticar este tipo de afección que responde cien por ciento al tratamiento con Emetina