Fungal Planet description sheets: 1436-1477.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Colletotrichum araujiae on leaves, stems and fruits of Araujia hortorum. Australia, Agaricus pateritonsus on soil, Curvularia fraserae on dying leaf of Bothriochloa insculpta, Curvularia millisiae from yellowing leaf tips of Cyperus aromaticus, Marasmius brunneolorobustus on well-rotted wood, Nigrospora cooperae from necrotic leaf of Heteropogon contortus, Penicillium tealii from the body of a dead spider, Pseudocercospora robertsiorum from leaf spots of Senna tora, Talaromyces atkinsoniae from gills of Marasmius crinis-equi and Zasmidium pearceae from leaf spots of Smilaxglyciphylla. Brazil, Preussia bezerrensis from air. Chile, Paraconiothyrium kelleni from the rhizosphere of Fragaria chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. chiloensis. Finland, Inocybe udicola on soil in mixed forest with Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Picea abies and Alnus incana. France, Myrmecridium normannianum on dead culm of unidentified Poaceae. Germany, Vexillomyces fraxinicola from symptomless stem wood of Fraxinus excelsior. India, Diaporthe limoniae on infected fruit of Limonia acidissima, Didymella naikii on leaves of Cajanus cajan, and Fulvifomes mangroviensis on basal trunk of Aegiceras corniculatum. Indonesia, Penicillium ezekielii from Zea mays kernels. Namibia, Neocamarosporium calicoremae and Neocladosporium calicoremae on stems of Calicorema capitata, and Pleiochaeta adenolobi on symptomatic leaves of Adenolobus pechuelii. Netherlands, Chalara pteridii on stems of Pteridium aquilinum, Neomackenziella juncicola (incl. Neomackenziella gen. nov.) and Sporidesmiella junci from dead culms of Juncus effusus. Pakistan, Inocybe longistipitata on soil in a Quercus forest. Poland, Phytophthora viadrina from rhizosphere soil of Quercus robur, and Septoria krystynae on leaf spots of Viscum album. Portugal (Azores), Acrogenospora stellata on dead wood or bark. South Africa, Phyllactinia greyiae on leaves of Greyia sutherlandii and Punctelia anae on bark of Vachellia karroo. Spain, Anteaglonium lusitanicum on decaying wood of Prunus lusitanica subsp. lusitanica, Hawksworthiomyces riparius from fluvial sediments, Lophiostoma carabassense endophytic in roots of Limbarda crithmoides, and Tuber mohedanoi from calcareus soils. Spain (Canary Islands), Mycena laurisilvae on stumps and woody debris. Sweden, Elaphomyces geminus from soil under Quercus robur. Thailand, Lactifluus chiangraiensis on soil under Pinus merkusii, Lactifluus nakhonphanomensis and Xerocomus sisongkhramensis on soil under Dipterocarpus trees. Ukraine, Valsonectria robiniae on dead twigs of Robinia hispida. USA, Spiralomyces americanus (incl. Spiralomyces gen. nov.) from office air. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Tan YP, Bishop-Hurley SL, Shivas RG, et al. 2022. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1436-1477. Persoonia 49: 261-350. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.08.

A time series transcriptome analysis of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties challenged with Ugandan cassava brown streak virus.

A time-course transcriptome analysis of two cassava varieties that are either resistant or susceptible to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) was conducted using RNASeq, after graft inoculation with Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV). From approximately 1.92 billion short reads, the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was obtained in the resistant (Namikonga) variety at 2 days after grafting (dag) (3887 DEGs) and 5 dag (4911 DEGs). At the same time points, several defense response genes (encoding LRR-containing, NBARC-containing, pathogenesis-related, late embryogenesis abundant, selected transcription factors, chaperones, and heat shock proteins) were highly expressed in Namikonga. Also, defense-related GO terms of 'translational elongation', 'translation factor activity', 'ribosomal subunit' and 'phosphorelay signal transduction', were overrepresented in Namikonga at these time points. More reads corresponding to UCBSV sequences were recovered from the susceptible variety (Albert) (733 and 1660 read counts per million (cpm)) at 45 dag and 54 dag compared to Namikonga (10 and 117 cpm respectively). These findings suggest that Namikonga's resistance involves restriction of multiplication of UCBSV within the host. These findings can be used with other sources of evidence to identify candidate genes and biomarkers that would contribute substantially to knowledge-based resistance breeding.

Development and assessment of microarray-based DNA fingerprinting in Eucalyptus grandis.

Development of improved Eucalyptus genotypes involves the routine identification of breeding stock and superior clones. Currently, microsatellites and random amplified polymorphic DNA markers are the most widely used DNA-based techniques for fingerprinting of these trees. While these techniques have provided rapid and powerful fingerprinting assays, they are constrained by their reliance on gel or capillary electrophoresis, and therefore, relatively low throughput of fragment analysis. In contrast, recently developed microarray technology holds the promise of parallel analysis of thousands of markers in plant genomes. The aim of this study was to develop a DNA fingerprinting chip for Eucalyptus grandis and to investigate its usefulness for fingerprinting of eucalypt trees. A prototype chip was prepared using a partial genomic library from total genomic DNA of 23 E. grandis trees, of which 22 were full siblings. A total of 384 cloned genomic fragments were individually amplified and arrayed onto glass slides. DNA fingerprints were obtained for 17 individuals by hybridizing labeled genome representations of the individual trees to the 384-element chip. Polymorphic DNA fragments were identified by evaluating the binary distribution of their background-corrected signal intensities across full-sib individuals. Among 384 DNA fragments on the chip, 104 (27%) were found to be polymorphic. Hybridization of these polymorphic fragments was highly repeatable (R2>0.91) within the E. grandis individuals, and they allowed us to identify all 17 full-sib individuals. Our results suggest that DNA microarrays can be used to effectively fingerprint large numbers of closely related Eucalyptus trees.

Traumatic abdominal pseudoaneurysm secondary to child abuse.

Traumatic injury to the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta is uncommon in children and is usually secondary to recognized blunt trauma. Child abuse has not been previously reported as a cause. We report a 3-year-old boy who was kicked in the abdomen by his father. A resulting pseudoaneurysm was successfully resected.

In vitro studies of the domains of the nitrogen fixation regulatory protein NIFA.

The prokaryotic enhancer-binding protein NIFA is a multidomain transcriptional activator that catalyzes the formation of open complexes at nitrogen fixation (nif) promoters by a specialized form of RNA polymerase containing sigma 54. The NIFA protein from Klebsiella pneumoniae consists of three domains: the N-terminal domain of unknown function; the central catalytic domain, which is sufficient for transcriptional activation; and the C-terminal DNA-binding domain. Purified fusion proteins between maltose-binding protein (MBP) and NIFA deleted of its N-terminal domain (MBP-delta N-NIFA) or its C-terminal domain (MBP-NIFA-delta C) activated transcription from the K. pneumoniae nifH promoter both in vitro and in vivo. We previously showed that the same was true for a fusion between MBP and the central domain of NIFA. These results indicate that NIFA is sufficiently modular for all fusions carrying its catalytic domain to be active. Unexpectedly, however, simple predictions regarding the location of determinants of the heat lability and insolubility of NIFA, which were based on previous studies of its isolated central and C-terminal domains, were not borne out. Contrary to a previous report from this laboratory, we found that the in vitro start site of transcription for the K. pneumoniae nifH operon could be either of two adjacent G residues, as others had reported in vivo. This was true independent of the activator, i.e., with MBP-NIFA and MBP-delta N-NIFA and with the homologous activator NTRC. When open complexes were formed with GTP as the activating nucleotide, the upstream G residue was probably as a consequence of initiation of transcription.

Isolation of the Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ntrBC genes using a T. ferrooxidans nifH-lacZ fusion.

An agar plating technique was developed in which the activation of expression of a Thiobacillus ferrooxidans nifH-lacZ gene fusion was used to isolate the ntrBC genes from a T. ferrooxidans gene library. An Escherichia coli ntrC mutant containing the nifH-lacZ fusion was transformed and plated on a low-nitrogen medium so that on flooding with ONPG, the production of yellow colonies indicated the presence of the cloned T. ferrooxidans ntrBC genes. A 4.47 kb region from the T. ferrooxidans chromosome was sequenced. Analysis of the sequence revealed that the ntrB and ntrC genes were closely linked to a third ORF of unknown function. Analysis of the 900 bp region upstream of the T. ferrooxidans ntrBC genes and Southern hybridization experiments confirmed that in T. ferrooxidans ATCC 33020, the glnA and ntrBC genes are unlinked. Expression of the T. ferrooxidans nifH-lacZ fusion in E. coli was activated in the presence of the T. ferrooxidans ntrBC genes and regulated by nitrogen.

The isolated catalytic domain of NIFA, a bacterial enhancer-binding protein, activates transcription in vitro: activation is inhibited by NIFL.

The NIFA protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae is required for transcription of all nif (nitrogen fixation) operons except the regulatory nifLA operon itself. NIFA activates transcription of nif operons by the alternative holoenzyme form of RNA polymerase, sigma 54-holoenzyme, in a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP)-dependent manner. NIFL antagonizes the action of NIFA in the presence of molecular oxygen or combined nitrogen. The NIFA protein of K. pneumoniae is composed of three domains: an N-terminal domain with unclear function, a central catalytic domain, and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain. We report that the isolated central domain of NIFA activates transcription in vitro and that this activation requires NTP with a hydrolyzable beta-gamma bond, as does activation by intact NIFA. Transcriptional activation by the isolated central domain has the heat lability characteristic of intact NIFA and is inhibited by NIFL. The central domain has an NTPase activity that is also heat-labile but is not inhibited by NIFL. Taken together, these results imply that NIFL interferes with contact between NIFA and sigma 54-holoenzyme.

Activity of purified NIFA, a transcriptional activator of nitrogen fixation genes.

The NIFA protein activates transcription of nitrogen fixation (nif) operons by the sigma 54-holoenzyme form of RNA polymerase. We purified active NIFA from Klebsiella pneumoniae in the form of a maltose-binding protein (MBP)-NIFA fusion; proteolytic release of MBP yielded inactive and insoluble NIFA. MBP-NIFA activated transcription from the nifHDK promoter in a purified transcription system. Like the related transcriptional activator NTRC, MBP-NIFA catalyzed the ATP-dependent isomerization of closed complexes between sigma 54-holoenzyme and a promoter to open complexes. MBP-NIFA had a broader nucleotide specificity than NTRC, being able to utilize pyrimidine in addition to purine nucleoside triphosphates. Both MBP-NIFA and a purified C-terminal fragment of NIFA bound to the upstream activation sequence for the nifHDK promoter, as assessed by DNAse I footprinting. When assays were performed at 37 degrees C instead of the usual 30 degrees C, transcriptional activation, open complex formation, and DNA binding by MBP-NIFA were all abolished, consistent with the known heat lability of NIFA. However, the purified C-terminal fragment of NIFA still bound the upstream activation sequence at 37 degrees C, indicating that the function of the helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif is not inherently heat-labile.

Risk assessment for human immunodeficiency virus among pregnant Hispanic adolescents.

Inner-city adolescents are believed to be at increased risk for HIV infection because of their high-risk behaviors, and black and Hispanic teenagers may be at greatest risk as a consequence of these behaviors and inadequate AIDS education. In the present paper, the HIV risk status of pregnant Hispanic adolescents presenting for prenatal care to an inner-city municipal outpatient clinic located in New York City was assessed. The assessment consisted of a confidential structured interview. Based on known adult risk factors, adolescents were identified as being at increased risk or low risk. One-third of the 87 teenagers were identified as being at increased risk for HIV infection. Nobody reported symptoms suggestive of AIDS, had had a transfusion, or reported use of intravenous drugs or crack cocaine. Sexual risk-taking behavior was the most common factor that increased HIV risk. Sixteen adolescents were at increased risk solely because of a sexually transmitted disease and seven others reported an STD with at least one other risk factor. Although 86% of the pregnant teenagers reported the risk-taking behavior of substance use by self or partner, only four were at increased risk based on this factor alone. However, many adolescents were unaware of their partners' past substance use and sexual history and, therefore, may have underestimated their own risk. Birthplace (United States vs. foreign born) and nationality (Puerto Rican vs. non-Puerto Rican Hispanic) were significantly associated with the adolescents' HIV risk assessment via an interaction effect. None of the adolescents had previously considered themselves to be at increased risk for HIV infection. The overwhelming majority who were at increased risk declined referral for further counseling or testing. It is recommended that pregnant Hispanic adolescents be assessed for HIV risk and receive risk reduction counseling as part of their general health care.

PIP: Blacks and Hispanics have disproportionately higher rates of AIDS than do Whites, and they have the highest rates of heterosexually acquired AIDS. Inner-city teens' high-risk behaviors particularly predispose them to the risk of HIV infection. This paper presents findings from an assessment of HIV risk status of 87 pregnant Hispanic adolescents presenting for prenatal care at an inner-city municipal outpatient clinic in New York city. Participants were aged 13-19 years, of mean age 17.3 years, and evaluated and interviewed from May 1989 through November 1990. Their sexual partners were of average age 20.9 years. 57 (66%) reported never having used any form of contraception; only 3 of the remaining 30 girls used condoms. Only 29 of the 87 girls (33%) were, however, deemed to be at increased risk of HIV infection. It should be noted that lack of some respondent knowledge on partners' past substance use and sex history may result in the overall level of risk being understated. Nobody reported symptoms suggestive of AIDS, had had a transfusion, or reported use of IV drugs or crack cocaine. Sexual risk-taking behavior was the most common factor increasing HIV risk in the sample. 16 girls were at increased risk exclusively due to the presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), while 7 others reported an STD with at least one other risk factor. Further, 86% reported risk-taking substance use by themselves or partners, but only 4 were at increased risk due exclusively to this factor. Birthplace and nationality interacted to be significantly associated with the risk of HIV infection. Non-Puerto Rican Hispanics born in the US were more likely to be at increased risk for HIV than were those born in their native land. It is stressed in closing that while none of the girls had previously thought of themselves as being at increased risk for infection, and the majority at increased risk of infection declined referral for further counseling or testing, pregnant Hispanic adolescents should nonetheless be assessed for HIV risk and receive risk reduction counseling as part of their general health care.

Role of integration host factor in stimulating transcription from the sigma 54-dependent nifH promoter.

In a wide variety of nitrogen-fixing organisms among the Purple Bacteria (large division of Gram-negative bacteria) the nitrogen fixation (nif) operons are transcribed by an alternative holoenzyme form of RNA polymerase, sigma 54-holoenzyme. Transcription depends on the activator protein NIFA (nitrogen fixation protein A), which catalyzes isomerization of closed complexes between this polymerase and a promoter to transcriptionally productive open complexes. NIFA-mediated activation of transcription from the nifH promoter of Klebsiella pneumoniae is greatly stimulated by the integration host factor IHF, which binds to a site between the upstream binding site for NIFA and the promoter, and bends the DNA. IHF fails to stimulate activation of transcription from this promoter by another activator of sigma 54-holoenzyme, NTRC (nitrogen regulatory protein C), which lacks a specific binding site in the nifH promoter region. As predicted, if the IHF-induced bend facilitates interaction between NIFA and sigma 54-holoenzyme, substitution of an NTRC-binding site for the NIFA-binding site allowed IHF to stimulate NTRC-mediated activation of transcription from the nifH promoter. The stimulation was of the same order of magnitude as that for NIFA in the native configuration of the promoter-regulatory region (up to 20-fold). With purified NTRC and the substitution construct we could demonstrate that stimulation by IHF in a purified transcription system was comparable to that in a crude coupled transcription-translation system, indicating that the stimulation in the crude system could be accounted for by IHF. The IHF stimulation was observed on linear as well as supercoiled templates, indicating that the geometric requirements are relatively simple. We have attempted to visualize the arrangement of proteins on DNA fragments carrying the nifH promoter-regulatory region of K. pneumoniae by electron microscopy. IHF stimulated NIFA-mediated activation of transcription from the nifH and nifD promoters of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and less so from the nifH promoters of Rhizobium meliloti and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, consistent with previous observations that stimulation is greatest at promoters that are weak binding sites for sigma 54-holoenzyme in closed complexes.

Hispanic adolescent pregnancy testers: a comparative analysis of negative testers, childbearers and aborters.

Fifty-six Hispanic adolescents who requested a pregnancy determination at a municipal outpatient adolescent clinic participated in a comparative study of negative testers, childbearers, and aborters. The study's purposes were to assess differences between negative and positive pregnancy testers and to evaluate the pregnancy resolution decision-making process of positive testers. Data were collected using a two-part structured interview administered prior to and following knowledge of pregnancy test results. Results indicated that negative and positive pregnancy testers were similar in all areas evaluated. However, positive testers were slightly older and had higher self-esteem than negative testers. Of the 36 positive testers, 29 chose to deliver and keep the baby. None of the adolescents chose adoption. Adolescents were consistent in their pregnancy resolution decision before and after knowledge of pregnancy test results. The pregnant adolescents considered themselves to be the most influential person in the decision-making process. There were no significant differences between the childbearers and the aborters, although the former demonstrated higher self-esteem and greater religiosity. Most of the teenagers were at risk for unintended pregnancy; therefore, subsequent family planning counseling efforts should be directed at this population.

PIP: The study population of 56 Hispanic (Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Central and South American) females 14-19 requesting pregnancy status was recruited from a municipal adolescent clinic in a Hispanic section of New York City in 1988. The investigation involved descriptively differentiating negative and positive pregnancy testers and evaluating the factors involved in the resolution of the pregnancy. The sample population was described as predominately born in the US (79%) with a mean age of 17.2 years, 86% Catholic, 93% unmarried, 59% living with parent/s and 21% with boyfriend/husband. 64% had a positive pregnancy test. There were no statistically significant differences, disregarding the small sample sizes, between positive and negative testers on nationality of birthplace, how support was received, or presence of a maternal teenage pregnancy. There were no significant differences by self-esteem, religiosity, education, duration of relationship, onset of sexual activity, contraceptive use (50% of positive testers and 33% of negative), and pregnancy resolution. School attendance showed similar patterns, i.e., of school attenders, 65% tested positive, and of dropouts, 64% tested positive. School performance was the same with average or above average grades, and plans to graduate were similar. Planned pregnancy resolution was similar for positive vs. negative testers with 67% vs. 65% planning to deliver and keep the baby, 19% vs. 5% planning to terminate the pregnancy, and 14% vs. 30% undecided. There were no plans to place the baby for adoption. The final resolution revealed that 81% decided to deliver and keep the baby. Of the group prior to test results desiring to keep the baby, 69% stated the pregnancy was unwanted. Among those childbearers and terminators, self- esteem was higher among those choosing to deliver; more childbearers indicated some religiosity. Of those attending school, 80% chose to deliver, and of those dropping out 81% chose to deliver. All school attenders planned to complete their education. Childbearers and terminators had similar durations of relationship with the father (1 year). 93% of those childbearers and 100% of those choosing termination said that their own opinion was the most important, then came the influence of the child's father, and then their mother. The strongest support for the decision was seen as coming from the child's father, then their mother. Locus of control was the similar for terminators and childbearers. The implications are that family planning counseling efforts should be directed at the entire population being tested.

Complementation of Escherichia coli sigma 54 (NtrA)-dependent formate hydrogenlyase activity by a cloned Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ntrA gene.

The ntrA gene of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was cloned by complementation of an Escherichia coli ntrA mutant that was unable to produce gas via the sigma 54 (NtrA)-dependent formate hydrogenlyase pathway. Analysis of the DNA sequence showed that the T. ferrooxidans ntrA gene coded for a protein of 475 amino acids (calculated Mr, 52,972). The T. ferrooxidans NtrA protein had 49, 44, 33, and 18% amino acid similarity with the NtrA proteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Azotobacter vinelandii, Rhizobium meliloti, and Rhodobacter capsulatus, respectively. The ability of the T. ferrooxidans NtrA protein to direct transcription from sigma 54-dependent promoters was demonstrated in E. coli by using fdhF-lacZ and nifH-lacZ fusions. An open reading frame coding for a protein of 241 amino acids (calculated Mr, 27,023) was situated 12 base pairs upstream of the T. ferrooxidans ntrA gene. Comparison of this protein with the product of the open reading frame ORF1, located upstream of the R. meliloti ntrA gene, showed that the two proteins had 55% amino acid similarity. The cloned T. ferrooxidans ntrA gene was expressed in E. coli from a promoter located within the ORF1 coding region.

A model outreach program for health care screening.

The outreach program described here provides health care screening in an inner-city clinic to children and adolescents who attend any organized program in the community. The objectives are (a) to provide low-cost, accessible health care screening and (b) to provide health education. The program is supervised by a pediatric nurse practitioner who works closely with an administrative assistant, an office associate, and other clinical staff members. In the academic years 1986-1988, 668 children and adolescents were screened. Abnormal patient findings identified by the outreach program were similar to those reported from other studies. The conclusions from this program's efforts are that outreach health care screening programs are effective in evaluating the health status of children and adolescents in communities.

Child abuse and neglect: an instrument to assist with case referral decision making.

A decision-making instrument was developed to assist reporting agencies and individuals in determining which child abuse and neglect charges would require immediate reporting to a child protection agency and which could be managed initially by the reporting agency. The instrument comprises a matrix scoring system that combines the experience classification of the reporting source and the degree of harm reported. The matrix scoring system was tested for 1 year to evaluate child abuse and neglect cases reported to the New York State Central Registry and Special Services for Children. The goal of the decision-making instrument is to decrease the number of unnecessary reportings to overburdened agencies without jeopardizing the interests of the child. The instrument should assist reporting sources in developing a systematic approach to case referral decision making and should minimize the subjectivity of such decisions.

Hepatitis B virus markers and persistent antigenemia in adolescents.

Adolescents attending a municipal outpatient adolescent clinic in New York City were evaluated for the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and persistent antigenemia. Among 313 teenagers tested in 1 year, 11.8% were HBV marker positive, and 4.8% had persistent antigenemia. Hispanic teens had a marker rate of 6.4% and an antigenemia rate of 1.4%. Dominican Republic teens had a significantly higher marker rate than Puerto Rican teens. Among Hispanics, sexual activity status and foreign- vs. U.S.-born status were not significantly related to the presence of HBV markers. Asian teenagers had a 50% marker rate and a 27.2% rate for persistent antigenemia. Marker and antigenemia rates were highest in the most recent immigrants. Unexplained persistent hematuria occurred more frequently in patients with HBV markers than in patients without markers. We recommend routine hepatitis B surface antigen screening in Hispanic and Asian adolescents. The greatest at-risk groups are Asians, especially recent immigrants, immigrants from the Dominican Republic, and probably patients with unexplained persistent hematuria.

Influence of family planning counseling in an adolescent clinic on sexual activity and contraceptive use.

We evaluated whether family planning counseling (FPC) in an adolescent clinic promoted the onset of sexual activity among the non-sexually active teens and/or increased contraceptive use among the sexually active teens. The FPC focused on the teens' establishing sexual values, the right to say "no," abstinence and alternate forms of intimacy, consequences of intercourse, and the various contraceptive methods. Data for one year were collected on the adolescents' first and subsequent visits to a medically oriented, municipal outpatient adolescent clinic. There were 383 teenagers who qualified for the study. Of these, 35% (134) reported premarital sexual activity. During the study period, 3% (8) of the 249 nonsexually active teens reported becoming sexually active. Among the 134 sexually active teens at clinic entry, 27% reported using a contraceptive method at their most recent sexual encounter. Among the 142 sexually active adolescents at the conclusion of the study, 76% reported contraceptive use at their most recent sexual encounter (p less than 0.001). We conclude that the provision of FPC to nonsexually active and sexually active teens does not appear to promote the onset of sexual activity significantly among the non-sexually active group, although it significantly increases contraceptive use among the sexually active group.

PIP: Whether family planning counselling (FPC) in an adolescent clinic promoted the onset of sexual activity among non-sexually active adolescents and/or increased contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents was evaluated. The FPC focused on the adolescents' establishing sexual values, the right to say "no," abstinence and alternate forms of intimacy, consequences of intercourse, and various contraceptive methods. Data for 1 year were collected on adolescents' 1st and subsequent visits to a medically-oriented, municipal outpatient adolescent clinic located in a predominately Hispanic, working-poor area of New York City. 383 adolescents qualified for the study. Of these, 35% (134) reported premarital sexual activity. during the study period, 3% (8) of the 249 non-sexually active adolescents reported becoming sexually active. Among the 134 adolescents sexually active at clinic entry, 27% reported using a contraceptive method at their most recent sexual encounter. Among the 142 sexually active adolescents at the conclusion of the study, 76% reported contraceptive use at their most recent sexual encounter (p 0.001). It was concluded that FPC provision to non-sexually active and sexually active teens does not appear to promote the onset of sexual activity significantly among the non-sexually active group, although it significantly increases contraceptive use among the sexually active group.