Use of Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride for the biological control of Meloidogyne incognita on tomato.

Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride were tested for their capacity to reduce the incidence of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on tomato. In vitro studies demonstrated that all tested isolates were effective in causing nematode mortality compared with the control. Trichoderma slightly reduced nematode damage to tomato in vivo. Treatment of the soil with the biocontrol agents before transplanting, improved control over treatment directly at transplanting. The Trichoderma isolates could not be re-isolated from the endorhiza, but were successfully re-isolated from the rhizosphere 45 days after fungal inoculation. Only slight increases in plant growth could be measured. The mutualistic endophyte F. oxysporum 162, used as positive control, was more effective in root-knot nematode biocontrol than the Trichoderma isolates.

Effects of endophytic Fusarium oxysporum towards Radopholus similis activity in absence of banana.

Four endophytic fungi (Fusarium spp.) isolated from the cortical tissue of surface-sterilised banana as well as from tomato roots were tested for their capacity of biological control towards the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis on banana. The pathogenic and parasitic capacities of endophytic fungi towards R. similis were tested in in vitro experiments. No parasitism of fungi on R. similis was observed. However, nematode activity decreased significantly in the presence of all endophytic fungi in vitro when compared to nematodes in the absence of fungi. The effects of fungi on R. similis activities in the soil were tested in the absence of plants. Nematode activities were reduced significantly by 16-30% by endophytic fungi when compared to untreated soil.

Pulmonary atresia with hypoplastic right ventricle. A clinical embryological study.

An unusual case of pulmonary atresia with an aberrant karyotype of 46,XX,t(6;8)(p21.2;q11.2) is reported. Fetal ultrasonic examination at the 20th week of gestation revealed a hypoplastic right ventricle and an intact interventricular septum. Authors summarize their postnatal findings in fetal heart and the large adjacent vessels with special reference to the pathogenesis of this rare congenital heart defect. The observation delineates right-ventricular outflow tract obstruction associated with an abnormal pulmonary blood supply. The anatomy of the systemic pulmonary collaterals was studied and correlated with multifocal disorders in the system of the pharyngeal arch arteries in the early embryonic development.

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa gravis (Herlitz): diagnostic and genetic aspects.

We report on a boy suffering from lethal junctional epidermolysis bullosa gravis (JEBH) (Herlitz-type) (OMIM 226700). Screening for mutations of LAMB3 gene with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of all exons from genomic DNA and subsequent heteroduplex analysis and dideoxynucleotide sequencing of heteroduplex forming PCR products disclosed two mutations: the recurrent maternal mutation R635X and the novel paternal mutation 1629insG, both in exon 14 of LAMB3. Both mutations lead to a premature termination code, non-sense mediated mRNA decay and to absence of the synthesis of the beta3 chain of laminin 5. During the mutation screening of the index patient a second pregnancy was ascertained. After amniocentesis (14 + 1 week of pregnancy), prenatal diagnosis from fetal cells was performed and compound heterozygosity for both mutations was evident. The consultants decided to have a termination of pregnancy shortly after the diagnosis. Remarkable skin fragility of the fetus was evident by clinical examination. Complete absence of laminin 5 could be demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining. By the third pregnancy of this couple so far screened for mutations by chorionic villus sampling for prenatal molecular diagnosis a healthy but heterozygous child is expected.

Evidence for functional convergence of redox regulation in G6PDH isoforms of cyanobacteria and higher plants.

In a recent paper (Wenderoth et al., J Biol Chem 272: 26985-26990, 1997) we reported that the positions of the two redox regulatory cysteines identified in a plastidic G6PD isoform from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) differ substantially from those conserved in cyanobacterial G6PDH sequences. To investigate the origin of redox regulation in G6PDH enzymes from photoautotrophic organisms, we isolated and characterized several G6PD cDNA sequences from higher plants and from a green and a red alga. Alignments of the deduced amino acid sequences showed that the cysteine residues cluster in the coenzyme-binding domain of the plastidic isoforms and are conserved at three out of six positions. Comparison of the mature proteins and the signal peptides revealed that two different plastidic G6PDH classes (P1 and P2) evolved from a common ancestral gene. The two algal sequences branch off prior to this class separation in higher plants, sharing about similar amino acid identity with either of the two plastidic G6PDH classes. The genes for cytosolic plant isoforms clearly share a common ancestor with animal and fungal G6PDH homologues, whereas the cyanobacterial isoforms branch within the eubacterial G6PDH sequences. The data suggest that cysteine-mediated redox regulation arose independently in G6PDH isoenzymes of eubacterial and eukaryotic lineages.

Isolation and characterization of two cDNAs encoding for compartment specific isoforms of O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase from Arabidopsis thaliana.

cDNAs encoding for two isoforms of O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OAS-TL), which catalyzes the synthesis of cysteine, have been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. Secondary structure together with expression patterns derived during photomorphogenesis indicate cellular localizations in the cytosol and plastids, thus allowing a direct comparison of compartment-specific forms within one species. The cytosolic OAS-TL complemented an E. coli auxotrophic mutant lacking cysteine synthesis. Both isoforms are represented by small gene families. They are expressed under all conditions investigated and were observed to increase in expression in plants grown with limited sulfate supply.

[Fetal cyclopia with deletion 46,XX,del (7) (q32-->qter), prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling]. / Fetale Cyclopie mit Deletion 46,XX,del (7) (q32-->qter), pränatale Diagnostik und genetische Beratung.

A pregnancy at 19./20. weeks of gestation with signs of cyclopia by ultrasonography is described. A long arm deletion of chromosome 7 was found by prenatal cytogenetic investigation. Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling are discussed.

[Fetal triploidy--diagnosis and sequelae]. / Fetale Triploidie--Diagnostik und Konsequenzen.

A pregnancy in the 22nd week of gestation with severe asymmetric retardation of growth without malformations by ultrasonography is described. A triploidy was found by prenatal cytogenetic investigation. Possible signs for triploidy in pregnancy and the necessary conclusions are discussed.

[Morphometric examinations of the uterus in puberty, pregnancy and climacteric]. / Morphometrische Untersuchungen am Uterus in der Geschlechtsreife, in der Schwangerschaft und im Klimakterium

The text deals with morphometric examinations of histological specimen of cervical and corporal parts of the uterus in puberty, pregnancy and menopause. The results show the different relations between muscular and connective tissue elements in corpus and cervix and point to significant differences in the composition of specific layers of uterine wall.