Biocontrol of strawberry Botrytis gray mold and prolong the fruit shelf-life by fumigant Trichoderma spp.

Objectives To screen high active volatile organic compounds (VOCs)-producing Trichoderma isolates against strawberry gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea, and to explore their antagonistic mode of action against the pathogen. VOCs produced by nine Trichoderma isolates (Trichoderma atroviride T1 and T3; Trichoderma harzianum T2, T4 and T5; T6, T7, T8 and T9 identified as Trichoderma asperellum in this work) significantly inhibited the mycelial growth (13.9-63.0% reduction) and conidial germination (17.6-96.3% reduction) of B. cinerea, the highest inhibition percentage belonged to VOCs of T7; in a closed space, VOCs of T7 shared 76.9% and 100% biocontrol efficacy against gray mold on strawberry fruits and detached leaves, respectively, prolonged the fruit shelf-life by 3 days in presence of B. cinerea, completely protected the leaves from B. cinerea infecting; volatile metabolites of T7 damaged the cell membrane permeability and integrity of B. cinerea, thereby inhibiting the mycelial growth and conidial germination. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the VOCs contain 23 potential compounds, and the majority of these compounds were categorised as alkenes, alcohols, and esters, including PEA and 6PP, which have been reported as substances produced by Trichoderma spp. T. asperellum T7 showed high biofumigant activity against mycelial growth especially conidial germination of B. cinerea and thus protected strawberry fruits and leaves from gray mold, which acted by damaging the pathogen's plasma membrane and resulting in cytoplasm leakage, was a potential biofumigant for controlling pre- and post-harvest strawberry gray mold.

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii infection in bats in southern China.

Toxoplasma gondii can infect a wide variety of warm-blooded animals, including bats. Limited information on T. gondii infection in bats is available in China. The objective of the present study was to determine prevalence and genetic diversity of T. gondii infection in bats in southern China. A total of 608 bats representing 12 species, including 120 Aselliscus stoliczkanus, 59 Myotis chinensis, 11 Miniopterus schreibersii, 53 Rhinolophus affinis, 32 Rhinolophus pusillus, 81 Hipposideros armiger, 28 Hipposideros fulvus, 32 Cynopterus brachyotis, 14 Cynopterus sphinx, 45 Eonycteris spelaea, 109 Hipposideros larvatus, and 24 Taphozous melanopogon, were collected from Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, southern China. They were examined for the presence of T. gondii DNA by amplification of the B1 gene using a nested PCR, and the positive samples were genotyped at 11 genetic loci (SAG1, 5'- and 3'-SAG2, alternative SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) using multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. Fifty-nine (9.7%) of these bats were detected positive by PCR but only five of these positive DNA samples were completely typed at all loci; of which 4 samples, 2 from A. stoliczkanus, and 2 from H. larvatus, belonged to ToxoDB Genotype #10, and the other one from H. larvatus was identified as ToxoDB Genotype #9 (http://toxodb.org/toxo/). To our knowledge, this is the first report of molecular detection and genetic characterization of T. gondii infection in bats in China. The results show that these bats are potential reservoirs for T. gondii transmission, which may pose a threat to human health.

Establishment of an acute rejection model by transplanting both renal grafts into two different rats using a modified method of ureterovesical anastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an acute rejection model after kidney transplantation in the rat using a modified method of ureterovesical anastomosis. METHODS: Thirty-nine Wistar rat donors, were transplanted into 70 male SD rats. Wistar rats (group 1; n = 18) underwent harvest of both kidneys, cold perfusion, and transplantation into 36 SD rats. Wistar rats (group 2; n = 18) underwent left kidney harvest, cold perfusion and transplantation into 18 SD rats. Groups 1 and 2 did not receive immunosuppression after transplantation. Six kidneys were harvested from 3 Wistar rats (group 3), were transplanted into 6 SD rats that were treated with CsA (5 mg/kg per day) postoperatively, and humanely killed at 21 days. There were 10 SD in sham operated rats (group 4). The renal allograft vein was end-to-end anastomosed to the recipient renal vein using an epidural catheter. The renal allograft was anastomosed end-to-side to the recipient abdominal aorta with an abdominal aortic flap. The renal allograft ureterovesical flap was directly inserted into the recipient bladder, and attached by 4-5 interrupted sutures. The recipient's right kidney vessels were ligated at 3 days postoperatively. RESULTS: The success rates were 91.7% and 88.9% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Except for the time for removal of the renal allografts, the operative durations and warm ischemia times differed insignificantly between both groups (P > .05). Blood creatinine levels increased significantly after kidney transplantation in groups 1 and 2 compared with the sham operated and CsA-treated cohorts (P < .01), but insignificantly between groups 1 and 2 (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: A dual renal allograft model was established in the rat using a modified ureterovesical anastomosis. The technique can be reproduced reliably, reducing costs and shorten using overall operative duration.

Does aluminum inhibit pollen germination via extracellular calmodulin?

The effect of aluminum (Al) on pollen germination and its mechanism of action were investigated. Pollen germination and pollen tube elongation were inhibited by Al at pH 4.5. This inhibitory effect was reversed by the addition of purified calmodulin (CaM), whereas neither the calcium binding-protein S-100 nor Al chelator citric acid at the same concentrations had any obvious effect on Al-inhibited pollen germination. The presence of either the membrane-impermeable CaM inhibitor anti-CaM antiserum or Ca2+ chelator EGTA completely suppressed the effect of exogenous CaM. These results indicate the involvement of extracellular calmodulin in the short-term effects of Al on pollen germination and pollen tube elongation.

[Clinical application of the fascia lata flap].

The clinical application of the musculo-cutaneous flap of musculus tensor fascia lata has been limited because it includes muscle and it is very thick. To correct this disadvantage, the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery, which is the supplying artery, is dissected up to its entrance into the tensor muscle of the fascia lata, then the upper, middle and lower branches were identified, and the upper and middle branches are ligated, followed by resection of the muscle, resulting in a fascia lata flap supplied by the lower branch only. The flap contains the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. It is a good flap to repair a defect of skin and to restore sensory function at the same time. It has been used in 15 cases with good effect.

[Implantation of sensory nerve into flap: an experimental study and clinical application].

Experimental implantation of sensory nerve into flaps was done, with the purpose of restoration of sensation of the flaps. A scanty amount of nerve endings were found in the vicinity of the implantation after 2 months, obvious regeneration was observed after 3 months, and never endings similar to normal after 4 months. Sensory nerve was implanted into flaps in the hands and feet of 25 patients. 1-2 year follow-up showed that pain, temperature and tactile sensations recovered to normal, and two-point discrimination was 11-22 mm in the hands and 35-40 mm in the feet. In 3 patients, the implanted nerves were blocked with procaine, and anesthesia of the flaps ensued, thus it was proved that the flaps were innervated by the implanted sensory nerves.

[Sensation restoration of the heel: report of 44 cases].

Forty-four patients with acute skin loss or chronic scarring around ankle were treated by skin transplantation for covering the skin defect or replacing the scar tissue as well as restoring sensation. 13 of them were treated by pedicled sensorineural island flap, 23 by sensorineural free flap, and 8 transplanting sensorineural band into the skin flap. Follow-up study for 2 to 6 years revealed that sensation of pain, temperature and touch was normal in each flap, with 2-point discrimination of 20 to 60 mm. Trophic ulcer never developed in any case though on weight-bearing at least for 6 hours daily. Block of the sensory nerve proximal to the flap with 2% procaine in 6 cases resulted in senselessness over the flap area. The surgical procedures and the merits of every one of the three types of operation were described and discussed.