Toxicity of legume seeds to rhizobia: Selective marker for strain identification and selection of toxin-free seeds

Seeds of legume species Argyrolobium flaccidum, Desmodium elegans, D. tortuosum, Indigofera gangetica, Lespedeza stenocarpa and Sesbania sesban have been evaluated for the toxicity to rhizobia for the first time. Legume species differ in quantity and quality of released seed toxins to which the symbiotic bacteria respond differentially. Therefore, seed toxicity may be used as a selectable taxonomic marker for the strainal identification of rhizobia. Seed toxins are located in seed coat and are thermolabile to some extent. The seed genotypes, within the species, differ in toxicity and such polymorphism can be used in the selection of toxin-free seeds. Seed surface-disinfection procedures involving subsequent soaking and washing with water are the most useful methods for reducing the seed toxins. The seed toxins from I. gangetica inhibited the growth of its homologous strain but did not affect nodulation and symbiotic parameters. Various seed-toxin-producing legume species did not affect nodulation and symbiotic efficiency and effectiveness.     

The use of a double-marker shuttle vector to study DNA double-strand break repair in wild-type and radiation-sensitive mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

An episomal DNA vector (YpJA18), encoding two selectable recombinant yeast genes (TRP1, URA3), was constructed to assess the fidelity of DNA repair in haploid repair-competent (RAD) wild-type yeast and several radiation-sensitive mutants. Either a DNA double-strand break (DSB) or a double-strand gap of 169 bp (DSG) was introduced by restriction enzymes in-vitro within the coding sequence of the URA3 gene of this vector. To eliminate transfer artefacts, selection was first applied for the undamaged TRP1 gene followed by counter selection for URA3 gene activity, which indicated correct repair of the DSB and DSG. Correct repair of the damaged URA3 gene was found to be about 90% in RAD cells (normalized for the expression of undamaged URA3 in TRP ⁺ transformants). Plasmids isolated from the transformants (URA ⁺ TRP ⁺) carry both unique sites (ApaI and NcoI) within the URA3 gene indicating the precise restitution of the 169-bp gap. An excision-repair-defective rad4-4 mutant repaired these lesions as correctly as RAD cells, whereas the mutants rad50-1, rad51-1 and rad54-1, proven to be defective in DSB repair and mitotic recombination, showed less than 5% correct repair of such lesions. In contrast, a representative of the RAD6 epistasis group of genes, the rev2-1 mutant which is sensitive towards UV and ionizing radiation, had a significantly reduced ability (about 20%) for the correct repair of both DSBs and DSGs.     

Immunosuppression due to chronic ochratoxicosis in broiler chicks

Crystalline ochratoxin A (OA) was added to the feed of broiler chicks at 0.5 ppm and 2.0 ppm, and humoral and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) were studied. CMI was assessed by skin sensitivity testing, graft versus host (GVH) reaction and T lymphocyte count. Humoral immunity was examined by measuring the haemagglutinin (HA) response to sheep RBC (SRBC). In addition, total lymphocyte counts, total serum protein, albumin and globulin were determined and the phagocytic activity of splenic macrophages was measured in the nitroblue tetrazolium test (NBT). The weights of lymphoid organs were also recorded at post-mortem examination of the birds. Highly significant reductions in CMI were indicated by diminished skin sensitivity, GVH reactions and T lymphocyte counts. On the other hand, only the overall HA titres differed significantly between the various treatment groups. Total lymphocyte counts, total serum protein, serum albumin and serum globulin were significantly depressed on the 21st day of intoxication. The number of NBT-positive cells was drastically reduced in both the intoxicated groups compared with controls (P less than 0.05) and the weights of thymus, bursa of Fabricius and spleen of intoxicated birds were significantly reduced. The study illustrated the immunosuppressive effects of ochratoxicosis in broiler chicks.     

Concurrent intrapericardial–pulmonary hydatidosis: an unusual multisystem echinococcosis

A 46-year-old male presented with breathlessness for a few months. He had been operated twice for liver hydatid cysts and once for right pulmonary hydatid cysts at other hospitals. Now he was found to have one hydatid cyst in the upper lobe of the left lung and multiple hydatid cysts adjoining left heart border. On computed tomography (CT) scan chest and echocardiography, it was difficult to ascertain whether these cysts were pulmonary or intrapericardial. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 25%. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was positive for hydatid. Left posterolateral thoracotomy revealed dead hydatid cyst in upper lobe of the lung that was removed. Infected mother hydatid cyst was encountered inside pericardial sac. Scores of daughter hydatid cysts, varying in size from 1 to 30 mm, were scooped out intact from the pericardial cavity. There was significant improvement in cardiac activity, once the tamponade effect of hydatid cyst was removed. Pericardium was about 1 cm thick with lot of purulent and necrotic slough. To prevent future constrictive pericarditis, subtotal pericardiectomy was done. Intrapericardial hydatid cyst should be kept in mind whenever it obscures the heart border and patient has features of cardiac tamponade. Early surgical intervention may be required in these cases.