Phylogenetic placement of the anamorphic tribe Ustilaginoideae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota).

Tribe Ustilaginoideae (Hypocreales, Ascomycetes) is made up of three anamorph genera, Munkia, Neomunkia and Ustilaginoidea. Species of Munkia and Neomunkia develop on the culms of bamboo (Chusquea spp.) and have a neotropical distribution while species of Ustilaginoidea infect the florets of various grasses and are pantropical in distribution. In this study we evaluated the phylogeny of the tribe and assessed hypotheses regarding its affinity to clavicipitalean teleomorphic groups. To support phylogenetic analyses, morphology of representatives of several key species of Ustilaginoideae was examined also. Phylogenetic analyses using sequences of the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene suggest that members of Ustilaginoideae are distinct from teleomorphic genera of Clavicipitaceae and that Ustilaginoideae should be recognized as a monophyletic group within Hypocreales. However, phylogenetic analyses did not resolve the placement of Ustilaginoideae in Clavicipitaceae or Hypocreaceae, suggesting that it might be a distinct lineage within Hypocreales. This evaluation supported the monophyly of tribes Balansieae and Clavicipeae in the family Clavicipitaceae.

Taxonomic positioning of two biological control agents for plant diseases as Lysobacter enzymogenes based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA, fatty acid composition and phenotypic characteristics.

AIMS: To taxonomically position two bacterial strains conferring biological control activity towards plant diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Key phenotypic characteristics, including gliding motility and a high percentage of G + C content, indicated biocontrol strains N4-7 and C3 were essentially identical to those described for Lysobacter enzymogenes. Cellular fatty acid analysis confirmed a close relatedness of strains N4-7 and C3 to L. enzymogenes and a more distant relatedness to L. antibioticus. The 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis revealed a distinct Lysobacter clade that included both strains within the gamma-proteobacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The combined taxonomic methods provide clear evidence that N4-7 and C3 should be grouped as strains of L. enzymogenes and not Stenotrophomonas maltophilia or a novel taxon. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA formed a Lysobacter clade that included several other environmentally diverse bacterial strains obtained from databases and confirmed relatedness of strains N4-7 and C3 to L. enzymogenes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Inclusion of N4-7 and C3 as strains of L. enzymogenes is among the first description of members of this genus as biocontrol agents of plant diseases. These results suggest that members of the Lysobacter group might provide a new source as plant-associated microbes that display biocontrol activity.

Phoma glomerata as a mycoparasite of powdery mildew.

Ampelomyces and Phoma species are frequently confused with each other. Isolates previously attributed to the genus Ampelomyces were shown to be Phoma isolates through studies of their morphology and life cycle and ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region 1 sequence analysis. Phoma glomerata can colonize and suppress development of powdery mildew on oak and may have utility as a mycoparasitic agent.

Video otoscopy in audiologic practice.

Recent advances in endoscopic optics and miniature video camera technology have made video otoscopy (VO) accessible to audiologists in a practical way. Seven categories of VO applications are presented with clinical examples: (1) general examination of the earcanal and tympanic membrane, (2) physician communication/telemedicine, (3) hearing instrument selection and fitting applications, (4) patient education, (5) scope of practice reinforcement, (6) knowledge base/skill growth, and (7) cerumen management.

A case of biliary atresia and polysplenia. Evaluation by hepatobiliary scintigraphy.

A 5-week old jaundiced female underwent hepatobiliary scintigraphy using technetium-99m disofenin. Early images suggested right-sided cardiac activity. A nearly symmetric, bilobed liver with left-sided predominance was discovered. No biliary ducts, gallbladder, or small bowel activity were demonstrated up to 24 hours post-injection. Laparotomy confirmed situs inversus, polysplenia, and extrahepatic biliary atresia.

Pulmonary tumorlets associated with Cushing's syndrome.

Tumorlets of the lung generally have been considered benign nests of cells, usually found with bronchiectasis or fibrosis. We saw a patient with Cushing's syndrome whose tumorlets ultimately became roentgenographically visible as multiple small nodules throughout both lungs and metastasized to the mediastinum. The plasma corticotropin concentration was increased, as were the concentrations of corticotropin-like peptides in the tumor tissue. This experience lends support to the concept that some tumorlets arise from Kulchitsky's cells in the epithelium of peripheral bronchioles, as do carcinoid tumors, and have the same peptide-producing potential. The possibility of such tumors should be considered in patients with Cushing's syndrome who have no initial roentgenographic abnormality.

Conformational relationships between analogs of acetylcholine and those of local anesthetics in solution.

Conformations of analogs of acetylcholine and of related local anesthetics, in which either of the oxygen atoms had been replaced by other heteroatoms, were studied in solution by nuclear magnetic resonance. Several correlations between structure and conformation could be made.