Complete genome sequences of novel Berlinvirus and novel Certrevirus lytic for Pectobacterium sp. causing soft rot and black leg disease of potato.

Two novel dsDNA bacteriophages named Pectobacterium virus CB251 (PcCB251) and Pectobacterium virus CB7V (PcCB7V) targeting plant pathogen Pectobacterium parmentieri have been isolated and sequenced. The PcCB251 genome consists of 40,557 bp with G+C content of 48.6% and contains 47 predicted genes on a single strand. The phage is classified in genus Berlinvirus, family Autographiviridae. The PcCB7V phage has a circular dsDNA genome of 146,054 bp with G+C content of 50.4% and contains 269 predicted protein genes on both strands and 13 tRNA genes. The PcCB7V phage can be classified in genus Certrevirus, subfamily Vequintavirinae. Both novel bacteriophages have narrow host ranges, but they extend the list of candidates for phage-based control of pectolytic bacteria causing soft rot disease of potato.

Diversity of limestone bacteriophages infecting Dickeya solani isolated in the Czech Republic.

Seven novel tailed lytic viruses (Ds3CZ, Ds5CZ, Ds9CZ, Ds16CZ, Ds20CZ, Ds23CZ, Ds25CZ) infecting the bacterium Dickeya solani were isolated in the Czech Republic. Genomes of these viruses are dsDNA, 149,364 to 155,285 bp in length, and the genome arrangement is very similar to that of the type virus Dickeya virus LIMEstone 1. All but the Ds25CZ virus should be regarded as strains of a single species. Most of the sequence differences are due to the presence or absence of homing endonuclease (HE) genes, with 23 HEs found in Ds3CZ, Ds5CZ, and Ds20CZ, 22 in Ds9CZ, 19 in Ds16CZ, 18 in Ds25CZ, and 15 in Ds23CZ.

The effects of new Alibernet red wine extract on nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We aimed to perform a chemical analysis of both Alibernet red wine and an alcohol-free Alibernet red wine extract (AWE) and to investigate the effects of AWE on nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production as well as blood pressure development in normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Total antioxidant capacity together with total phenolic and selected mineral content was measured in wine and AWE. Young 6-week-old male WKY and SHR were treated with AWE (24,2 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks. Total NOS and SOD activities, eNOS and SOD1 protein expressions, and superoxide production were determined in the tissues. Both antioxidant capacity and phenolic content were significantly higher in AWE compared to wine. The AWE increased NOS activity in the left ventricle, aorta, and kidney of SHR, while it did not change NOS activity in WKY rats. Similarly, increased SOD activity in the plasma and left ventricle was observed in SHR only. There were no changes in eNOS and SOD1 expressions. In conclusion, phenolics and minerals included in AWE may contribute directly to increased NOS and SOD activities of SHR. Nevertheless, 3 weeks of AWE treatment failed to affect blood pressure of SHR.

Electrophoretic determination of calystegines A3 and B2 in potato.

Potatoes, members of the Solanaceae plant family, contain calystegines, water-soluble nortropane alkaloids, which are biologically active as glycosidase inhibitors. The content of calystegines A(3) and B(2) in different varieties of potato and in various parts of the tubers (whole potato, peel, flesh, and sprouts) were analysed by new capillary zone electrophoresis and capillary isotachophoresis methods and by the routine GC method. The optimized background electrolyte for capillary zone electrophoretic analysis was mixture of 20 mM histidine, 20 mM N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid and 20% (v/v) methanol in demineralized water. Calystegines were detected by indirect UV detection at 210 nm. A clear separation of calystegines from other components of the methanolic sample extract was achieved within 4 min. The electrolytes for isotachophoretic analysis consisted of 5 mM NH(4)OH, 10 mM N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, 0.1% hydroxyethylcellulose and 20% (v/v) methanol in demineralized water (leading) and 5 mM histidine+10 mM acetic acid+20% (v/v) methanol in demineralized water (terminating). Calystegines were separated within 20 min and detected by a conductimeter. Method characteristics of both zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis, i.e., linearity (10-100 ng/microl and 1-10 ng/microl), accuracy (recovery 96+/-5% and 98+/-4%), intra-assay repeatability (4.2% and 3.5%), and detection limit (3 and 0.4 ng/microl) were evaluated. Simple sample preparation, sufficient sensitivity, speed of analysis, and low running cost are important attributes of the electrophoretic methods. The overall results of electrophoretic methods were comparable with GC.

Capillary electrophoresis determination of carnitine in food supplements.

L-Carnitine is a substance natural for human body which transfers fatty acids to the place of burning-mitochondria and aids the transformation of fats into energy and this way supports overweight reduction and immediate physical performance, increases resistance from physical load and protect heart from overload. In this study are described newly developed electrophoretic methods (ITP, CZE with direct and/or indirect UV detection) for carnitine determination in various samples. The results were compared with results obtained by validated HPLC method. All of these methods gave comparable results. The detection limits of the electrophoretic methods were between 2.4 and 4.7 microg/ml, reproducibility (relative standard deviation, RSD%) was between 1.2 and 4.4% and recoveries were between 91 and 113% in different samples. The shorter analysis and low running cost are the main advantages of CE methods.