First Report of the Spiral Nematode Scutellonema brachyurum on Lilyturf in the United States.

Lilyturf (Liriope muscari (Decne.) L.H. Bailey), an herbaceous plant, is commonly used in landscaping including borders (along sidewalks, driveways, and trees) and mass plantings as groundcover in the southeastern United States. In December of 2009, a soil sample was submitted to our lab for diagnosis of plant-parasitic nematodes from an area planted with lilyturf located on the Clemson University main campus. A high population density (1,220 individuals/100 cm3 of soil) of spiral nematodes (Scutellonema brachyurum (Steiner, 1938) Andrássy, 1958) was found by routine extraction by sugar centrifugal flotation (3). Other plant-parasitic nematodes, mainly ring nematodes (10 individuals/100 cm3) and stubby root nematodes (10 individuals/100 cm3), were present. To verify if high numbers of spiral nematodes were consistently associated with lilyturf, 20 additional soil and root samples were collected from different places on the campus. In all cases, S. brachyurum was found in densities ranging from 680 to 1,600 individuals/100 cm3 of soil (average of 1,210 individuals/100 cm3). The species was identified by morphological characters of females, including well developed stylet (26 to 30 µm long), no spermatheca, no sperm in uterus, tail broadly rounded with 8 to 12 annules between anus and tail, and scutella at anus level. As is commonly the case for this species, no males were found in any of the samples collected. Examination of the roots revealed numerous, small, reddish brown, necrotic lesions, apparently caused by the feeding and penetration of S. brachyurum. Host plant suitability and pathogenicity of the nematode were tested in the greenhouse. Ten nematode-free lilyturf plants grown individually in 15-cm-diameter plastic pots with pasteurized soil were inoculated with 1,000 spiral nematodes each. Ten uninoculated plants were kept under identical conditions as controls. Three months after inoculation, soil population densities were measured and reproduction factors were calculated to be between 2.8 and 5.4 (final population density divided by initial population density) for the 10 plants. Characteristic lesions previously described were observed in the roots of all inoculated plants, along with slight chlorosis of foliage. These symptoms were not observed on control plants. Spiral nematodes may attack the roots and stolons of lilyturf as ectoparasites or they may enter them and feed in the cortex as endoparasites. Although root lesions were common on affected plants, root injury in general was not severe and generalized root decay was not observed on either the collected plants or those from the greenhouse study. Reports on the pathogenicity of S. brachyurum are variable. Moderate damage was recorded on amaryllis and other ornamentals (4), while measurable damage was observed on tobacco (2), with approximately 100 individuals/100 cm3 of soil, and severe damage on Aloe vera ((L.) Burm. f.), with approximately 500 individuals/100 cm3 (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. brachyurum causing visible symptoms on lilyturf. As the interstate and international movement of perennial plants continues to grow, awareness of the host status of potentially harmful nematodes becomes essential information. References: (1) R. P. Esser et al. Nematropica 16:65, 1986. (2) T. W. Graham. Phytopathology (Abstr.) 45:347, 1955. (3) W. R. Jenkins. Plant Dis. Rep. 48:692, 1964. (4) L. Nong and G. F. Weber. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 54:902, 1964.

Disruption of myelin sheaths in mouse brain in vitro and in vivo by staphylococcal alpha-toxin.

In recent studies we have demonstrated that staphylococcal alpha-toxin can specifically bind to rabbit vagus nerves and cause disruption of myelin sheaths in this peripheral nerve in vitro. We report here that staphylococcal alpha-toxin, incubated in vitro with brain slices or injected intracerebrally into mice, can induce disruption of myelin sheaths in central nervous tissue. Intracerebral injection of alpha-toxin is followed by a characteristic and reproducible syndrome involving ataxia followed by a severe contraction of the limbs on the side contralateral to the injection and a maximal extension of the opposing limbs. At 1.1 micrograms of toxin injected, death occurs within 20 min. Histopathologic examination reveals extensive demyelination with minimal involvement of the axons. It is possible that staphylococcal alpha-toxin may play a role in the etiology of multiple sclerosis.

Impact of pymetrozine on glassy-winged sharpshooter feeding behavior and rate of Xylella fastidiosa transmission.

Pymetrozine is a compound that interferes with insect feeding and interrupts transmission of plant pathogens. The glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata Say (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae), is a vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the foregut-borne, propagative bacterium that causes Pierce's disease of grapevine. In this study, we recorded the behavioral response of H. coagulata to plants treated by soil drench with pymetrozine using time-lapse photography, quantified the reduction in liquid excreta produced by H. coagulata fed on pymetrozine-treated plants, and evaluated pymetrozine effectiveness in reducing transmission rate in grapevines. H. coagulata feeding on plants treated with 0.015 mg of pymetrozine was disrupted by decreasing the number of contacts made with the grapevine by more than 50% and by increasing movements away from the stem by more than 5-fold. Excreta production by H. coagulata was significantly reduced on plants treated with 0.015 or 0.0075 mg of pymetrozine. Contrary to the expected outcome, the mean number of X. fastidiosa-infected plants actually increased in the pymetrozine treatments relative to the controls.

Advance directive decision making among medical inpatients.

Per the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1991, hospitals are required to ascertain whether patients have an advance directive (AD). At this point, factors prompting patients to issue ADs have not been studied. The purpose of this study was to describe patients' understanding of ADs as well as the process patients used to arrive at their decisions to implement an AD. A stratified random sample of 26 patients from two intensive care units, one general medical unit, one general cardiac unit, and one acquired immunodeficiency unit were selected for participation. Patients were asked a series of open-ended questions to determine their knowledge and understanding of ADs. The constant comparative method was used to review the transcripts. It was found that only 31 per cent of patients had issued an AD, and 20% had learned of ADs for the first time during their hospitalization. Response analysis showed four phases of AD decision making: evaluation of illness, establishment of priorities, consideration of implications of the directives, and selection or rejection of directives. In conclusion, patients continue to have limited understanding of ADs and their implications. Continued investigation will elucidate the best strategies to educate patients about this topic.

Host Suitability of Graminaceous Crop Cultivars for Isolates of Meloidogyne arenaria and M. incognita.

Twenty-two graminaceous plant cultivars were evaluated in the greenhouse for host suitability for three South Carolina isolates of Meloidogyne arenaria race 2 (Ma-R2) designated as Florence, Govan, and Pelion, a Florida isolate of M. arenaria race 1 (Ma-R1), and a South Carolina M. incognita race 3. Host suitability was determined by calculating egg mass index (EMI) reproduction factor (RF) (final egg numbers/initial egg numbers), and number of eggs per gram fresh root. Corn hybrids Pioneer 3147 and Northrup King 508 and oat cv. Florida 502 were nonhosts to all nematode isolates, as no egg masses or eggs were found in roots grown in infested soils. Oat cv. Coker 716 and grain sorghum cvs. Cherokee, Northrup King 2660, and Pioneer 8333 were poor hosts (RF < 1). Good (RF = 1.1-5.0) or excellent (RF > 5.0) hosts for both Ma-R1 and three Ma-R2 isolates included the following: barley cvs. Boone, Keowee, and Redhill; corn hybrid Pioneer 3389; oat cvs. Brooks and Coker 820; rye cvs. Bonel, Florida 401, and Wrens Abruzzi; triticale cvs. Beagle 82 and Florida 201 ; and wheat cvs. Coker 983, Florida 302, and Williams. All cultivars except Coker 716 oat were good or excellent hosts of M. incognita.

Intra- and Interpopulation Genome Variation In Meloidogyne arenaria.

The genetic heterogeneity of two M. arenaria race 2 populations (designated Pelion and Govan) was examined using RFLP analysis of 12 clonal lines established from single egg masses (six distinct clonal lines from each population). These populations are essentially identical by traditional biochemical and race identification schemes; however, the Govan population is more aggressive than the Pelion population, producing larger galls and exhibiting greater reproductive capabilities on many soybean cultivars and experimental accessions. Variation at the genomic DNA level was examined using probes representative of expressed DNA sequences present in the eukaryotic genome. Ribosomal DNA, interspersed repeated sequences, and cDNA probes were tested for detection of polymorphism within and between single egg mass lines of each population. Cloned cDNAs and ribosomal intergenic spacer sequences detect polymorphism both within and between populations, demonstrating the usefulness of these sequence classes for molecular genetic analysis of population structure and genome evolution.

Increase in plasma membrane phosphodiesterase activity in contact-inhibited 3T3 cells and in phenotypically reverted SV-3T3 cells.

Contact-inhibited 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, in contrast to logarithmically growing 3T3 cells and SV-3T3 transformed cells, have increased levels of plasma membrane-bound phosphodiesterase (oligonucleotidase, E.C.3.1.4.19; nucleotide pyrophosphatase, E.C. 3.6.1.9) activity. The increase in enzyme, recorded as increased specific activity, is reversible, as evidenced by the return to normal values following dilution of confluent 3T2 cells and re-initiation of growth. Increased enzyme activity is induced again when the cells regain the confluent state. Transformed SV-3T3 cells can be induced to mimic the contact inhibited state, including increased plasma membrane phosphodiesterase activity, by exposure to a combination of: (i) agents that are known to induce increased intracellular cAMP levels and (ii) additions of purified 3T3 or SV-3T3 plasma membranes. Additions of either alone fails to induce the increase in membrane phosphodiesterase activity, although each alone can significantly suppress cell growth, as measured by incorporation of 3H amino acids. We suggest that the elevation of plasma membrane phosphodiesterase activity may serve as a measure of conversion to the contact-inhibited state in both normal cells and phenotypically reverted transformed cells.

Uncapping of viral messenger RNA by phosphodiesterase of fibroblast plasma membranes.

Isolated plasma membranes from mouse fibroblast lines 3T3 and its tranformant SV-3T3 contain a phosphodiesterase (oligonucleotidase, E.C. 3.1.4.19; nucleotide pyrophosphatase, E.C. 3.6.1.9) that splits capped and methylated messenger RNA obtained from both reovirus and vesicular stomatitis virus. The isolated membranes are free of demonstrable ribonuclease activity and split the mRNA to produce 7-methyl guanosine diphosphate as a product. With ATP as substrate for the phosphodiesterase enzyme, the product is AMP. Synthetic caps, AMP, ADP and ATP, but not cyclic AMP, can compete with the substrate p-nitrophenyl thymidilic acid. A possible regulatory role on messenger translation is proposed.