Rapid review: Guides and frameworks to inform planetary health education for health professions.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Human actions have led to a range of global environmental changes. Health professionals must be prepared to deliver systemic changes to mitigate and adapt to the ecological crisis. This rapid review aimed to describe exemplar frameworks that inform planetary health education across health professions. METHODS: The rapid review methodology was informed by a scoping review process. A targeted search strategy was conducted using one representative database and additional strategies such as expert consultation and citation searching were used. Results are described narratively. RESULTS: Of the 11 637 articles, 17 were eligible for inclusion. The frameworks differed, with many recently developed for health professions broadly using a range of methodologies, including qualitative research, opinion/consensus data, literature reviews, and adaptation of previous models. Models such as metric-based scoring indicators and Sustainable Quality Improvement were featured in the frameworks, as were the application of First Nations Natural Laws. CONCLUSION: This rapid review identifies and showcases accessible, interdisciplinary frameworks to inform the integration of planetary health in curricula, highlighting a rapidly evolving field through which interdisciplinary collaborations in healthcare are important to inform its pedagogy and application. Health education is an important component of health promotion; and thus this rapid review offers a range of approaches that health professionals, health promotion practitioners, and educators can use to inform the integration of planetary health, including sustainable healthcare, into curricula. SO WHAT?: Educational frameworks are informed by research and practice and provide key guidance to practitioners and educators; summarising key available planetary health education frameworks consolidates and guides effective education and builds on the existing body of knowledge to support urgent pro-environmental change.

Sex-Driven Differences in the Effectiveness of Individualized Clinical Management of Alzheimer's Disease Risk.

BACKGROUND: The Comparative Effectiveness Dementia and Alzheimer's Registry (CEDAR) trial demonstrated that individualized, multi-domain interventions improved cognition and reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As biological sex is a significant risk factor for AD, it is essential to explore the differential effectiveness of targeted clinical interventions in women vs. men. METHODS: Patients were recruited from an Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic. Subjects with normal cognition, subjective cognitive decline, or asymptomatic preclinical AD were classified as "Prevention". Subjects with mild cognitive impairment due to AD or mild AD were classified as "Early Treatment." The primary outcome was the change from baseline to 18-months on the modified-Alzheimer's Prevention Cognitive Composite. Secondary outcomes included a cognitive aging composite, AD and cardiovascular (CV) risk scales, and serum biomarkers. Subjects who adhered to > 60% of recommendations in the CEDAR trial were included in this a priori sub-group analysis to examine whether individualized intervention effects were modified by sex (n=80). RESULTS: In the Prevention group, both women (p=0.0205) and men (p=0.0044) demonstrated improvements in cognition with no sex differences (p=0.5244). In the Early Treatment group, there were also no significant sex differences in cognition (p=0.3299). In the Prevention group, women demonstrated greater improvements in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis risk score (MESA-RS) than men (difference=1.5, p=0.0013). Women in the Early Treatment group demonstrated greater improvements in CV Risk Factors, Aging and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) risk score (difference=2.3, p=0.0067), and the MESA-RS (difference=4.1, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Individualized multi-domain interventions are equally effective at improving cognition in women and men. However, personally-tailored interventions led to greater improvements in calculated AD and CV risk, and CV blood biomarkers, in women compared to men. Future study in larger cohorts is necessary to further define sex differences in AD risk reduction in clinical practice.

The family planning "know-do" gap among married women of reproductive age in urban Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and predictors of family planning (FP) know-do gaps among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in low socio-economic urban areas of Karachi, Pakistan. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional survey of randomly selected 7288 MWRA (16-49 years) to identify predictors of the know-do gap in FP using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: More than one third (35.5%) of MWRA had FP know-do gap, i.e., despite having a knowledge of contraceptives and desire to limit or delay childbearing, they were not using contraceptives. Women were less likely to use FP if they were getting older (25-35 years: OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09-1.94; >35 years: OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.90-4.80), from certain ethnicities (Sindhi: OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.11-2.42; Saraiki: OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.01-2.71; other minorities: OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.63-3.44); did not receive FP counselling: OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.13-1.80; and had not made a joint decision on FP: OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.06-1.98). Conversely, women were more likely to use contraceptives if they had >10 years of schooling (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46-0.94), with each increasing number of a living child (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.62-0.75) and each increasing number of contraceptive method known (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98). CONCLUSION: The predictors associated with the FP know-do gap among MWRA should be considered when planning future strategies to improve the contraceptive prevalence rate in Pakistan.

OBJECTIF: Étudier la prévalence et les variables explicatives du fossé entre informations et actions en matière de planification familiale (FP) chez les femmes mariées en âge de procréer (MWRA) dans les quartiers urbains socio-économiquement défavorisés de Karachi, Pakistan. PLAN: Enquête transversale réalisée auprès de 7 288 MWRA (16­49 ans) sélectionnées de manière aléatoire visant à identifier les variables explicatives du fossé entre informations et actions en matière de FP en utilisant un modèle de régression logistique. RÉSULTATS: Un fossé entre informations et actions en matière de FP a été observé chez plus d'un tiers (35,5%) des MWRA, c.-à-d., qu'en dépit de connaissances sur les moyens de contraception et d'un souhait de limiter ou retarder les grossesses, ces femmes n'utilisaient aucun moyen de contraception. Les femmes étaient moins susceptibles d'avoir recours à la FP en vieillissant (25­35 ans : OR 1,45 ; IC 95% 1,09­1,94 ; >35 ans : OR 3,02 ; IC 95% 1,90­4,80), si elles appartenaient à certains groupes ethniques (Sindhi : OR 1,64 ; IC 95% 1,11­2,42 ; Saraiki : OR 1,66 ; IC 95% 1,01­2,71 ; autres minorités : OR 2,37 ; IC 95% 1,63­3,44), si elles ne bénéficiaient d'aucune aide en matière de FP (OR 1,43 ; IC 95% 1,13­1,80), et si la décision relative à la FP avait été prise unilatéralement (OR 1,44 ; IC 95% 1,06­1,98). À l'inverse, les femmes étaient plus susceptibles d'utiliser des contraceptifs si elles avaient été scolarisées pendant >10 ans (OR 0,66, ; IC 95% 0,46­0,94), à mesure que leur nombre d'enfants vivants augmentait (OR 0,68 ; IC 95% 0,62­0,75) et à mesure que le nombre de moyens contraceptifs qui leur étaient connus augmentait (OR 0,93 ; IC 95% 0,88­0,98). CONCLUSION: Les variables explicatives associées au fossé entre informations et actions en matière de FP chez les MWRA devraient être prises en compte lors de la planification de futures stratégies visant à améliorer le taux de prévalence des contraceptifs au Pakistan.

Helicoverpa armigera granulovirus interference with progression of H. zea nucleopolyhedrovirus disease in H. zea larvae.

Capsular proteins from Helicoverpa armigera granulovirus (HaGV) have previously been shown to enhance H. armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) infection in H. armigera larvae. Yet, HaGV and HaS-NPV, as viable viruses, interfered with one another. In our study, we have examined the effects of co-infection of the slow-killing virus HaGV with the fast-killing virus Helicoverpa zea NPV (HzSNPV) on H. zea larvae. The mortality parameter measured was survival time. Virus stocks had 50% lethal concentrations of 3.2x10(-9) g HaGV-infected cadavers (GVC) (HaGV) and 32 occlusion bodies (HzSNPV) per cup. Average survival times were 16.8 and 5.5 days for larvae treated with HaGV and HzSNPV, respectively; death of HzSNPV-treated larvae was as early as 72 h posttreatment. In co-infection experiments in which larvae were treated concurrently with both viruses, the viruses competed in typical fashion for host resources. However, interference with disease progression in HzSNPV-fed larvae occurred even when HaGV was fed to larvae up to 36 h after the NPV, a time at which NPV infection should have been well established in host larvae. At death, co-infected larvae were observed microscopically to be filled with HaGV granules rather than HzSNPV polyhedra. The time study results imply that HaGV might be outcompeting HzSNPV by inhibiting its replication. We also observed that H. zea larvae treated with high dosages of HaGV (> or =3x10(-5) g GVC) were initially stunted but had survival times similar to those of larvae treated with lower dosages.

Spiroplasma poulsonii sp. nov., a new species associated with male-lethality in Drosophila willistoni, a neotropical species of fruit fly.

Progenies from some wild-caught females of Drosophila willistoni and three other sibling species are entirely female. The proclivity for production of unisexual female progeny by these flies was named the sex ratio (SR) trait and was originally thought to be genetic. However, experiments in the laboratory of Donald F. Poulson in the early 1960s demonstrated that this 'trait' was vertically transmitted and infectious, in that it could be artificially transferred by injection from infected females to non-infected females. Motile, helical micro-organisms were observed in females showing the trait. In 1979, the SR organisms were designated as group II in the informal spiroplasma classification system. The organisms proved to be extremely fastidious, but were eventually cultivated in a very complex cell-free medium (H-2) after initial co-cultivation with insect cells. Cultivation in the H-2 medium and the subsequent availability of a triply cloned strain (DW-1T) permitted comparative studies. Cells of strain DW-1T were helical, motile filaments 200-250 nm in diameter and were bound by a single trilaminar membrane. Cells plated on 1.8% Noble agar formed small satellite-free colonies 60-70 microns in diameter with dense centres and uneven edges. The temperature range for growth was 26-30 degrees C; optimum growth occurred at 30 degrees C, with a doubling time in H-2 medium of 15.8 h. The strain passed through filters with 220 nm, but not 100 nm, pores. Reciprocal serological comparisons of strain DW-1T with representatives of other spiroplasma groups showed an extensive pattern of one-way crossing when strain DW-1T was used as antigen. However, variable, usually low-level reciprocal cross-reactions were observed between strain DW-1T and representatives of group I sub-groups. The genome size of strain DW-1T was 2040 kbp, as determined by PFGE. The G + C content was 26 +/- 1 mol%, as determined by buoyant density and melting point methods. The serological and molecular data indicate that strain DW-1T is separated from group I representative strains sufficiently to justify retention of its group status. Continued group designation is also indicated by the ability of SR spiroplasmas to induce male lethality in Drosophila, their vertical transmissibility and their extremely fastidious growth requirements. Group II spiroplasmas, represented by strain DW-1T (ATCC 43153T), are designated Spiroplasma poulsonii.

Entomoplasma freundtii sp. nov., a new species from a green tiger beetle (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae).

A mollicute (strain BARC 318T) isolated from gut tissue of a green tiger beetle (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) was found by dark-field microscopy to consist of non-helical, non-motile, pleomorphic coccoid forms of various sizes. In ultrastructural studies, individual cells varied in diameter from 300 to 1200 nm, were surrounded by a cytoplasmic membrane and showed no evidence of cell wall. The organisms were readily filterable through membrane filters with mean pore diameters of 450 and 300 nm, with unusually large numbers of organisms filterable through 200 nm pore membrane filters. Growth occurred over a temperature range of 15-32 degrees C with optimum growth at 30 degrees C. The organism fermented glucose and hydrolysed arginine but did not hydrolyse urea. Strain BARC 318T was insensitive to 500 U penicillin ml-1 and required serum or cholesterol for growth. It was serologically distinct from all currently described sterol-requiring, fermentative Mycoplasma species and from 12 non-sterol-requiring Mesoplasma species, 13 non-sterol-requiring Acholeplasma species and 5 previously described sterol-requiring Entomoplasma species. Strain BARC 318T was shown to have a G + C content of 34 mol% and a genome size of 870 kbp. The 16S rDNA sequence of strain BARC 318T was compared to 16S rDNA sequences of several other Entomoplasma species and to other representative species of the genera Spiroplasma and Mycoplasma, and to other members of the class Mollicutes. These comparisons indicated that strain BARC 318T had close phylogenetic relationships to other Entomoplasma species. On the basis of these findings and other similarities in morphology, growth and temperature requirements and genomic features, the organism was assigned to the genus Entomoplasma. Strain BARC 318T (ATCC 51999T) is designated the type strain of Entomoplasma freundtii sp. nov.

Intact higher-level constraints on the pronunciation of new written words by nonfluent dysphasics.

Nonfluent, Broca-type dysphasics are characterized by impaired syntactic processing. However, grammaticality judgements and certain on-line tasks have shown some preservation of this processing in such subjects. We report an experiment with nonfluent dysphasics in which they read aloud th-initial nonwords (e.g., thuz) in sentential contexts that predicted a function word or a content word. This paradigm was first used by Campbell and Besner (1981) to demonstrate syntactic effects on pronunciation: normal subjects pronounce word-initial th- as voiced in function word contexts and unvoiced in content word contexts, reflecting a regularity in the English lexicon. Poorer performance by the dysphasic subjects on this task is the default prediction of most "syntactic" accounts of agrammatism, including an account based on the impairment of functional projections, which we discuss. We replicate Campbell and Besner's effect in our normal control group and in the dysphasic group, with no significant difference between the two groups. We conclude that syntactic influences on pronunciation may be unimpaired in nonfluent dysphasia, and that the task used resembles the class of online tasks, in its capacity to elicit unimpaired processing. We argue that this result is compatible with the account of agrammatism discussed if the latter is grounded in a distributed, constraint-based processing device allowing graceful degradation of functioning.

Revised group classification of the genus Spiroplasma.

Significant changes have been made in the systematics of the genus Spiroplasma (class Mollicutes) since it was expanded by revision in 1987 to include 23 groups and eight sub-groups. Since that time, two additional spiroplasmas have been assigned group numbers and species names. More recently, specific epithets have been assigned to nine previously designated groups and three sub-groups. Also, taxonomic descriptions and species names have been published for six previously ungrouped spiroplasmas. These six new organisms are: Spiroplasma alleghenense (strain PLHS-1T) (group XXVI), Spiroplasma lineolae (strain TALS-2T) (group XXVII), Spiroplasma platyhelix (strain PALS-1T) (group XXVIII), Spiroplasma montanense (strain HYOS-1T) (group XXXI), Spiroplasma helicoides (strain TABS-2T) (group XXXII) and Spiroplasma tabanidicola (strain TAUS-1T) (group XXXIII). Also, group XVII, which became vacant when strain DF-1T (Spiroplasma chrysopicola) was transferred to group VIII, has been filled with strain Tab 4c. The discovery of these strains reflects continuing primary search in insect reservoirs, particularly horse flies and deer files (Diptera: Tabanidae). In the current revision, new group designations for 10 spiroplasma strains, including six recently named organisms, are proposed. Three unnamed but newly grouped spiroplasmas are strain TIUS-1 (group XXIX; ATCC 51751) from a typhiid wasp (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae), strain BIUS-1 (group XXX; ATCC 51750) from floral surfaces of the tickseed sunflower (Bidens sp.) and strain BARC 1901 (group XXXIV; ATCC 700283). Strain BARC 2649 (ATCC 700284) from Tabanus lineola has been proposed as a new sub-group of group VIII. Strains TIUS-1 and BIUS-1 have unusual morphologies, appearing as helices at only certain stages in culture. In this revision, potentially important intergroup serological relationships observed between strain DW-1 (group II) from a neotropical Drosophila species and certain sub-group representatives of group I spiroplasmas are also reported.

Spiroplasma diabroticae sp. nov., from the southern corn rootworm beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae).

Spiroplasma strain DU-1T (T = type strain), which was isolated from hemolymph of the corn rootworm Diabrotica undecimpunctata (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae), was serologically distinct from other spiroplasma species, groups, and subgroups. Cells of strain DU-1T were shown by light microscopy to be helical motile filaments. Electron microscopy revealed cells bounded by a single cytoplasmic membrane, with no evidence of a cell wall. The organism was not sensitive to 500 U of penicillin per ml. Strain DU-1T grew well in SM-1, M1D, and SP-4 liquid media, in broth supplemented with 1% bovine serum fraction or conventional horse serum, and under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This organism did not appear to have a sterol requirement for growth, as has been reported for several other Spiroplasma species or strains. Optimal growth occurred at 32 degrees C, with a doubling time of 0.9 h; strain DU-1T multiplied at 10 to 41 degrees C but failed to grow at 5 or 43 degrees C. It produced acid from glucose but hydrolyzed neither arginine nor urea. The results of reciprocal serologic tests in which antigens or antisera to established Spiroplasma species, groups, subgroups, and putative groups were used indicated that strain DU-1T was serologically distinct. This organism has a DNA guanine-plus-cytosine content of 25 +/- 1 mol% and a genome size of 1,350 kbp. Strain DU-1T is a member of a cluster of fast-growing insect-associated spiroplasmas, as determined by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA. On the basis of the results of this study and previously published data, strain DU-1 (= ATCC 43210) is designated the type strain of a new species, Spiroplasma diabroticae.

Reduction of benzyl viologen distinguishes genera of the class Mollicutes.

We tested the ability of 62 growing strains belonging to the class Mollicutes to reduce the redox indicator and free-radical generator 1,1'-dibenzyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride (benzyl viologen [BV]) to a blue-violet-purple color. BV was reduced by 12 Acholeplasma species but not by Acholeplasma multiforme PN525T (T = type strain). BV was also reduced by five of nine Mesoplasma species and by four of six Entomoplasma species. BV was not reduced by 19 Mycoplasma species, six Spiroplasma species, five unnamed Spiroplasma strains belonging to different serogroups, three Ureaplasma species, and one unnamed Ureaplasma strain. The BV-reducing ability was localized in the membrane of Acholeplasma laidlawii B-PG9 and was dependent on NADH. Reduction of BV could be expressed in mixed cultures, and this activity may be useful for recognizing the contaminating presence of an Acholeplasma species. The reductive BV response may have phylogenetic value. We believe that the test described in this paper readily distinguishes all Acholeplasma species and some Mesoplasma and Entomoplasma species from all Mycoplasma, Spiroplasma, and Ureaplasma species tested.

Spiroplasma corruscae sp. nov., from a firefly beetle (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) and tabanid flies (Diptera: Tabanidae).

Spiroplasma strain EC-1T (T = type strain), which was isolated from the gut of a lampyrid beetle (Ellychnia corrusca) in Maryland, was serologically distinct from other spiroplasma species and groups. Similar strains were obtained from other E. corrusca specimens, and, later, numerous isolates of similar or partially related strains were obtained from several species of tabanid files. Cells of strain EC-1T were helical, motile filaments that were bound by a single cytoplasmic membrane, and there was no evidence of a cell wall. The cells were filterable through 220-nm-pore-size membrane filters but not through 100-nm-pore-size membrane filters. The organism was absolutely resistant to penicillin (1,000 U/ml) and required sterol for growth. Strain EC-1T grew well in M1D and SP-4 liquid media and could be cultivated in the Edward formulation of conventional mycoplasma medium and in 1% serum fraction medium. Optimal growth occurred at 32 degrees C (doubling time, 1.5 h). Strain EC-1T multiplied at 10 to 41 degrees C, but not at 5 or 43 degrees C. This organism produced acid from glucose, but did not hydrolyze arginine or utilize urea. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA was determined to be 26.3 mol% by the melting temperature method and 27.0 mol% by the buoyant density method. As a result of our studies, strain EC-1 (= ATCC 43212) is designated the type strain of a new species, Spiroplasma corruscae.

Improved cultivation systems for isolation of the colorado potato beetle spiroplasma.

In North America, the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is often infected with the host-specific, gut-inhabiting Colorado potato beetle spiroplasma (CPBS). CPBS is apparently a commensal, but it may be useful in biocontrol if it can be transformed to express an insect-lethal gene. Difficulty in cultivating the organism, however, has hindered the development of a suitable transformation system. In this study, we eliminated the need for coculturing CPBS with insect cells. CPBS was reliably isolated with the BBL Anaerobic GasPak Jar system (low redox, enhanced CO(inf2)), which was easier to use and less expensive than insect cell coculture methods. A further advantage is a reduction in contaminating insect cell components. Use of anaerobiosis should facilitate early-passage screening of isolates for extrachromosomal elements, for use in gene vector constructs. The unique spiral (decreasing amplitude of coils) morphology of CPBS was preserved by anaerobiosis. The use of low-pH (6.0 to 6.5) media allowed aerobic adaptation of CPBS to M1D and SP-4 broth media. These formulations permitted the first cultivation of CPBS on solid media, an accomplishment that will simplify the selection of molecular transformants. Potato beetles collected at four sites in Poland yielded CPBS strains similar to those previously obtained from populations in North America.

Spiroplasma syrphidicola sp. nov., from a syrphid fly (Diptera: Syrphidae).

Spiroplasma sp. strain EA-1(T) (T = type strain) (subgroup VIII-1), which was isolated from the syrphid fly Eristalis arbustorum, was serologically distinct from other spiroplasma species, groups, and subgroups, The cells of this strain, as revealed by dark-field light microscopy, were short, helical, and motile. An electron microscopic examination revealed wall-less cells delimited by a single membrane. The unusually short cells passed through 220-nm filter pores with no reduction in titer. The organisms grew well in SM-1, M1D, and SP-4 liquid media. Growth also occurred in conventional horse serum medium and 1% serum fraction medium. Strain EA-1(T) grew at temperatures between 10 and 41 degrees C, and optimum growth occurred at 32 degrees C. The doubling time at the optimal temperature was 1.0 h. The strain catabolized glucose and hydrolyzed arginine but did not hydrolyze urea. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA was 30 +/- 1 mol%. The genome size was about 1,230 kbp. Strain Ea-1 (= ATCC 33826), which represents subgroup VIII-1, is designated the type strain of a new species, Spiroplasma syrphidicola.

Spiroplasma velocicrescens sp. nov., from the vespid wasp Monobia quadridens.

Spiroplasma strain MQ-4T (T = type strain), which was isolated from the hemolymph of the vespid wasp Monobia quadridens, was serologically distinct from other spiroplasma species, groups, putative groups, and subgroups. Each strain MQ-4T cell was helical and motile and was surrounded by a single cytoplasmic membrane; there was no evidence of a cell wall. The strain grew well in 1% serum fraction medium, as well as in SM-1, M1D, and SP-4 liquid media, under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Strain MQ-4T grew at temperatures ranging from 10 to 41 degrees C but did not grow at 43 degrees C. The strain grew optimally at 37 degrees C with a doubling time of 0.6 h, the shortest doubling time recorded for any spiroplasma. Strain MQ-4T catabolized glucose and arginine but did not hydrolyze urea. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA was about 27.5 +/- 1 mol%. The genome size was 1,480 kbp (940 MDa). Strain MQ-4 (= ATCC 35262) is designated the type strain of a new species, Spiroplasma velocicrescens.

Characterization of a cryptic extrachromosomal element isolated from the mollicute Spiroplasma taiwanense.

Characterization of an extrachromosomal element from an organism in the genus Spiroplasma is likely to be an essential step in the development of cloning vectors which replicate in these organisms. A restriction map for an 11-kb element, designated pCT-1, isolated from Spiroplasma taiwanese strain CT-1 (ATCC 43302) has been constructed using the restriction enzymes Bg/II, EcoRI, HincII, HindIII, HpaI, PstI, and XbaI. This element is distinct from any previously characterized spiroplasma virus or plasmid. pCT-1 has been cloned into the Escherichia coli vector pBR322 as a step in the development of a biphasic shuttle vector system.

Taxonomic descriptions of eight new non-sterol-requiring mollicutes assigned to the genus Mesoplasma.

Twenty mollicute strains isolated primarily from insect hosts were characterized and arranged into eight new species in the genus Mesoplasma. Morphological examination of the organisms by electron and dark-field microscopic techniques revealed that the cells of each strain were small, nonhelical, nonmotile, pleomorphic, and coccoid and that each cell was surrounded by a single cytoplasmic membrane with no evidence of a cell wall. Although the new mollicutes grew well in media containing horse or fetal bovine serum, growth in serum-free or cholesterol-free medium occurred only when the medium contained 0.04% polyoxyethylene sorbitan (Tween 80). The optimum temperature for growth was usually 30 degrees C, but multiplication generally occurred over a temperature range of 10 to 32 degrees C. All strains catabolized glucose. Most strains did not hydrolyze arginine or urea, although three related strains isolated from fireflies (the strain PUPA-2T [T = type strain] group) did hydrolyze arginine. The genome sizes ranged from 825 to 930 kbp, and the DNA base compositions (guanine-plus-cytosine contents) ranged from 26.5 to 31.6 mol%. The proposed type strains of the eight new species were not serologically related to the type strains of four other Mesoplasma species, five Entomoplasma species, 11 Acholeplasma species, and 100 Mycoplasma species and subspecies. Strain PS-1 (= ATCC 49582) is the type strain of Mesoplasma pleciae sp. nov., strain PUPA-2 (= ATCC 49581) is the type strain of Mesoplasma photuris sp. nov., strain YJS (= ATCC 51578) [corrected] is the type strain of Mesoplasma syrphidae sp. nov., strain CHPA-2 (= ATCC 49578) is the type strain of Mesoplasma chauliocola sp. nov., strain ELCA-2 (= ATCC 49579) is the type strain of Mesoplasma corruscae sp. nov., strain GRUA-1 (= ATCC 49580) is the type strain of Mesoplasma grammopterae sp. nov., strain BARC 779 (= ATCC 49583) is the type strain of Mesoplasma coleopterae sp. nov., and strain BARC 857 (= ATCC 49584) is the type strain of Mesoplasma tabanidae sp. nov.

Optimization of methods for transfecting Spiroplasma citri strain R8A2 HP with the spiroplasma virus SpV1 replicative form.

Seven methods for the transfection of bacteria were compared and optimized for use in Spiroplasma citri strain HP using the spiroplasma virus SpV1 R8A2 B replicative form (RF). These methods included both chemical-mediated protocols [CaCl2, RbCl/CaCl2, polyethylene glycol (PEG)], liposome-mediated transfection, electroporation, freeze/thaw cycling, and natural competence. The best protocols were those which utilized PEG or electroporation, yielding transfection frequencies of 1.4 x 10(-4) and 9.1 x 10(-4) transfectants/colony-forming unit (CFU), respectively. For both of these protocols, transfection frequencies were higher using CsCl-purified, covalently closed, circular DNA. In the PEG-mediated protocol, Sigma 8000 brand PEG at a final concentration of 44%, and the presence of carrier DNA proved to be optimal with a PEG exposure time of 2 min. Using electroporation, a 1-2 ms pulse of a 6.5 kV/cm electric field was best; washing the host cell pellet prior to electroporation enhanced efficiencies by 50%. Linearization of the DNA resulted in lower transfection efficiencies by either method.