Geographical range expansion of Nitzschia volvendirostrata Ashworth, Dąbek & Witkowski, 2016 (Bacillariophyta: Bacillariaceae) based on morphological and molecular analysis

In diatoms the use of molecular tools to corroborate traditional (morphological) identification offers a new perspective in the field of biogeography. This manuscript reports the first record of the raphid pennate diatom Nitzschia volvendirostrata along the coast of Mexico, which in turn represents an expansion of the geographic range along the American continent. The cells were isolated from benthic samples taken from Balandra lagoon, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico and cultured as a monoclonal culture. Morphology and morphometry of the diatom obtained from light and electron microscopy reveal that they correspond to the original description of N. volvendirostrata and also its chloroplast sequences, rbcL and psbC, showed 98.7 to 100 % similarity and a close phylogenetic relationship with N. volvendirostrata. The reported places for this taxon show that it has a tropical-temperate biogeographical affinity.

Streptomyces Species Associated with Fissure Scab of Potato in South Africa Including Description of S. Resiliuntiscabiei Sp. Nov.

Streptomyces species are the causal agents of several scab diseases on potato tubers. A new type of scab symptom, caused by Streptomyces species, was observed in South Africa from 2010 onwards. The disease was initially thought to be caused by a single Streptomyces species, however, subsequent isolations from similar symptoms on other potato tubers revealed diversity of the Streptomyces isolates. The objective of this study was to characterise these isolates in order to determine which species are involved in the disease. This was done by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA as well as five housekeeping genes, investigation of growth on different culture media, standard phenotypic tests and scanning electron microscopy of culture morphology. The presence of the pathogenicity island (PAI) present in plant pathogenic Streptomyces species was also investigated. The genomes of eight isolates selected from the three main clades identified, were sequenced and annotated to further clarify species boundaries. Two isolates of each of the three main clades were also inoculated onto susceptible potato cultivars in order to establish the pathogenicity of the species. The results of the phylogenetic and genome analyses revealed that there are three main species involved, namely, S. werraensis, S. pseudogriseolus and a novel Streptomyces species that is described here as Streptomyces resiliuntiscabiei sp. nov. The glasshouse trial results showed that all three of the Streptomyces species are capable of producing fissure scab symptoms. None of the Streptomyces isolates from fissure scab contained the full PAI and the mechanism of disease initiation still needs to be determined.

Evaluation of Culture Morphology of Neuronally Transdifferentiated Wharton’s Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Background: The prospect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as an adult stem cell source for neuronal tissue regeneration via their ability to differentiate into neurons has generated considerable excitement in regenerative cell therapy.Methods: In this study, we isolated ovine Wharton’s jelly derived MSCs and expanded in vitro in adherent culture. After the characterisation of MSCs using specific markers, we analysed the culture morphology of MSCs differentiated into neurons by a two-step chemical-based induction protocols involving a pre-induction step and a direct one step chemical-based induction protocol. Morphological changes after induction were evaluated.Result: In both the methods, after neuronal induction, the cells displayed phenotypic characteristic of neurons and comparatively less cytotoxicity was observed in the direct induction method. This study confirmed the possibility of generating neuron like cells from ovine WJ-MSCs and thereby exploring the potential of MSCs as therapeutic tool for treating neurological disorders in Veterinary Medicine.

2140. Utility of Respiratory Specimen Gram Stain for Predicting Final Culture Result in Patients with Clinically Diagnosed Pneumonia

Background Obtaining a high-quality respiratory tract specimen for Gram stain and culture in patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infections is recommended by the IDSA guidelines. However, conflicting results correlating Gram stain with final culture growth has led to questions about the utility of a respiratory specimen Gram stain. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation of Gram stain with final culture in patients with pneumonia. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate adult inpatients with a diagnosis of pneumonia (based on the CDC surveillance definition) who had a respiratory specimen submitted for Gram stain and culture. A specimen was considered acceptable if less than ten epithelial cells were visualized under low power field. Each Gram stain was compared with the corresponding final culture. The primary outcome was to evaluate the correlation of Gram stain with final culture using positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity. A culture was considered negative if no bacteria were isolated or if only normal flora grew. Secondary outcomes were PPV and NPV based on antibiotic exposure prior to specimen collection, semi-quantitative number of bacteria on Gram stain, and collection method. Additionally, discordance between Gram stain and final culture morphology was evaluated. Results A total of 269 acceptable specimens were assessed. Of the 72 specimens with a positive Gram stain, 41 yielded bacteria in final culture (PPV: 56.9%). In contrast, 154 of the 197 specimens with a negative Gram stain were associated with negative final culture (NPV: 76.7%). The NPV of Gram stain was decreased when antibiotics were given for > 24 hours pre-specimen. The PPV of Gram stain improved as an increasing amount of bacteria were reported. Less invasive collection methods had a lower PPV but a higher NPV in comparison to invasive collection methods. Finally, the discordance rate between Gram stain and final culture morphology was low. Conclusion This study shows inconsistent results regarding the ability of Gram stain to predict final culture. Pneumonia should continue to be managed clinically and caution taken prior to adjusting empiric antimicrobial regimens based solely on the Gram stain. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Characterisation and pathogenicity of Cryphonectria parasitica on sweet chestnut and sessile oak trees in Serbia

The presence of Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) M.E. Barr was studied in six natural and planted stands of sweet chestnut in Serbia. The fungus was detected on the sweet chestnut in five localities and on the sessile oak in one locality. In total, 77 isolates from the sweet chestnut and five isolates from the sessile oak were obtained. Based on the culture morphology, all the obtained isolates were proven to be free from Cryphonectria (Saccardo) Saccardo & D. Saccardo hypovirus. The isolates of C. parasitica from the sweet chestnut were compatible with three different vegetative compatibility types, EU-12, EU-2, and EU-1, while the isolates from the sessile oak belonged to EU-12. After inoculation in laboratory conditions, the isolate from the sweet chestnut and sessile oak caused the decline in 88 and 76% of the sweet chestnut plants, respectively. In the case of the sessile oak, both isolates caused the decline in 52% of the plants. In field conditions, both isolates were aggressive to sessile oak trees after previous bark wounds and they were statistically significantly different compared to the control trees. The isolate from the sweet chestnut caused significantly larger cankers compared to both the isolate from the sessile oak and the control.

Urdbean web blight and its management strategies- A review

The production and productivity of urdbean ranks lower in India as compared to the that of world average due to the biotic and abiotic constraints. Web blight of Urdbean is caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and is a soil borne pathogen and initial inoculums come mainly from soil splashes which fall on leaves during heavy rains. Respective optimum temperature and relative humidity i.e. 26–28oC and 90–100% favours disease development chronically. The pathogen can survive very longer in the absence of a host either as sclerotia or thick walled brown hyphae in plants debris. Currently the disease is prevalent in many countries across the globe. The pathogen is highly variable in terms of its pathogenicity, culture, morphology, biochemical and molecular characteristics. The severity of this disease is directly linked with the population of viable sclerotia in the soil. Yield losses due to this disease vary in between 20-30% depending upon prevailing conditions.

IDENTIFIKASI DAN KELIMPAHAN BAKTERI PADA JENIS KARANG Acropora sp. DI REEF FLAT TERUMBU KARANG PULAU PANJANG JEPARA Identification and Abundance of Bacteria In Acropora sp. at Coral Reef Flat Panjang Island Jepara

ABSTRAK Pulau Panjang di utara Kota Jepara memiliki wilayah terumbu karang dengan jenis karang dominan yaitu Acropora sp. Ekosistem ini merupakan habitat yang mendukung kehidupan biota akuatik di sekitarnya termasuk mikroorganisme yang terdapat di dalamnya. Keberadaan bakteri di dalam koloni karang diperlukan sebagai biota pendukung sediaan nutrisi untuk proses fotosintesis zooxanthellae dalam polip karang. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui jenis bakteri dan kelimpahannya pada jenis karang Acropora sp. di reef flat terumbu karang di Pulau Panjang Jepara. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan Maret-April 2016 dengan menggunakan metode deskriptif. Materi uji adalah supernatan dari Acropora sp. yang telah dicentrifuge selanjutya dilakukan isolasi bakteri, kultur, uji morfologi, dan uji biokimia. Hasil penelitian yang diperoleh adalah terdapat 3 jenis bakteri yang teridentifikasi di karang Acropora sp. yaitu Listeria sp., Bacillus sp.[1], Bacillus sp.[2] dan Micrococcus sp. Ketiga genera tersebut termasuk bakteri fakultatif dan berfungsi sebagai bakteri perombak bahan organik. Kelimpahan bakteri di karang Acropora sp. berkisar antara 1,0x104 Cfu/ml hingga 8,4x105 Cfu/ml. Pada stasiun I kelimpahan bakteri sebesar 2,0x104 Cfu/ml hingga 6,2x105Cfu/ml, stasiun II kelimpahan bakteri sebesar 1,0x104 Cfu/ml hingga 8,4x105Cfu/ml, serta pada stasiun III kelimpahan bakteri sebesar1,0x104 Cfu/ml hingga 1,3x105Cfu/ml. Kelimpahan bakteri tertinggi ditemukan pada stasiun II. Jenis bakteri Listeria sp. mendominasi dengan nilai 8,4x105 Cfu/ml sedangkan bakteri Micrococcus sp. memiliki nilai terendah yaitu 1,0x104 Cfu/ml. Kata kunci: Jenis Bakteri; Kelimpahan Bakteri; Identifikasi Bakteri; Acropora sp.; Pulau Panjang ABSTRACT Panjang Island in the north of Jepara has coral reef areas which the dominant coral species is Acropora sp. This ecosystem is the habitat that supports to life for their surrounding aquatic organism, including microorganisms. The existence of bacteria in coral colonies is required to support nutrients availability for zooxanthellae photosynthesis inside coral polyps. The purposes of this study are to determine the type and abundance of bacteria present on Acropora sp. coral species on the reef flat coral reefs in Panjang Island Jepara. This study was conducted in March-April 2016 by using descriptive method. The material of research are supernatant of Acropora Sp after centrifuged and continued to isolation of bacteria, culture, morphology test and biochemical test. The results obtained is there are three species of bacteria that identified in Acropora sp. Those are, Listeria sp., Bacillus sp. [1], Bacillus sp. [2] and Micrococcus sp. All those genera include to facultativebacteria and serves as organic material decomposer bacteria. The abundance of bacteria in the Acropora sp. coral are between 1,0x104 Cfu/ml to 8,4x105 Cfu/ml. At the station I abundance of bacteria was2,0x104 Cfu/mlto 6,2x105Cfu/ml, station II abundance of bacteria was 1,0x104 Cfu/ml to 8,4x105Cfu/m, and at station III abundance of bacteria was 1,0x104 Cfu/ml to 1,3x105Cfu/ml. The highest abundance of bacteria is located at station II.The type of Listeria sp. bacteria dominates the highest value, that is 8,4x105 Cfu/ml while Micrococcus sp. bacteria has the lowest value, that is 1,0x104 Cfu/ml. Keywords: Type of Bacteria; The Abundance of Bacteria; Identification of Bacteria; Acropora sp.; Panjang Island