Abstract

A total of 99 E. coli urinary tract isolates were investigated for phylogenetic groups and 21 virulence related genes in relation to fluoroquinolone and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim resistance. We found that the B2 group was by far the most prevalent among susceptible isolates, while resistant isolates were more evenly distributed among groups A, B2 and D. Isolates from the B2 group exhibited the highest prevalence of virulence factors. Virulence genes hlyA , iroN and kpsMTII were statistically associated with fluoroquinolone susceptible isolates and picU with

sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim susceptible isolates. Fluoroquinolone susceptible isolates of the phylogenetic group A were significantly associated with genes papGII , kpsMTII and iss and the susceptible group B 2 isolates with genes hra in iroN. Among isolates susceptible to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim the presence of the hra gene

was statistically significantly associated with phylogenetic group B2, while among resistant isolates, papGII was associated with phylogenetic group D.

Keywords

Escherichia coli , urinary tract, phylogenetic groups, virulence trait, fluoroquinolone resistance, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim resistance

Abstract

The analysis of the quality of X-ray structures from Mycobacterium tuberculosis FtsZ proteins, which are deposited in the ProteinDataBank, gave a possibility to select a 2Q1Y (Chain A) structure as a template for future in silico research. Also several spatial models of FtsZ protein from Escherichia coli were reconstructed with on-line servers »Swis -Model Workspace« and I-Taser , than the most appropriate structure was selected. Basing on complex bioinformatic study, the model, which was rebuilt by SwissModel server from 2Q1Y (chain A) template, was supposed as the most significant.

Keywords

FtsZ, Escherichia coli , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , 3D-structure modelling and verification, in silico

Abstract

UV-B irradiation of barley sprouts within the range of 0.5-4.3 kJ/m2 induced an increase in the number of chromosome aberrations in the root meristem and pathologies in the reproductive system. Enhancement of cytomixis, increase of polymorphism and cytopathology of pollen grains were observed in the male generative

system. The inverse trend was observed when intensity of cytomixis was compared to the pollen grain sterility. Damages induced by low doses of UV-B radiation were eliminated neither by DNA reparation nor by cell selection and were preserved in many cell generations. High UV-B level led to the activation of cytomixis due to which the population of microsporocytes was released from the excess load. It is presumed that cytomixis present a form of cell selection which was induced by an excess of microsporocyte disturbances.

Keywords

chromosome aberrations, root meristem, microsporangium, cytomixis, pollen grain sterility, cell selection, UV-B radiation, Hordeum distichum L.

Abstract

Cytokinins are known to attenuate defence responses of plants after elicitor application or inoculation with fungi. To evaluate their role in the regulation of colonisation of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) seedlings with mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungus, we analysed the effects of zeatin riboside (ZR) on: i) growth of ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius and pathogen Heterobasidion annosum in axenic cultures, ii) colonisation intensity of selected fungi on P. abies seedlings and iii) induction of defence reactions of spruce seedlings following elicitor treatment. Mycorrhizal fungus P. tinctorius showed increased growth at concentrations higher than 10 -2 μM ZR that was accompanied by increased ergosterol concentrations. In contrast, decreased growth of pathogen H. annosum was observed at the highest ZR (10 μM) concentration. ZR treatment also increased colonisation of spruce seedlings

with the mycorrhizal fungus. Application of cell wall preparations of both fungi increased peroxidase (POD) activity in the roots of treated spruce seedlings, whereas only elicitors of H. annosum increased also phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, levels of soluble phenolics and salicylic acis (SA) concentrations. Application of ZR

negated the increased activity of POD that was observed in elicitor treated seedlings, accompanied by increased levels of soluble phenolics in the roots of elicitated seedlings. In contrast, no effects of ZR treatment on PAL activity and SA accumulation could be observed. Our results suggest involvement of ZR in the regulation of cell

wall modifications during the fungal colonisation with P. tinctorius and formation of ectomycorrhizae, by affecting the growth of fungal partner and non-specific defence reactions of the plant host.

Keywords

cytokinins, peroxidases, phenolics, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, Picea abies

Abstract

The paper presents wet meadow vegetation with taxon Molinia caerulea

(L.) Moench subsp. caerulea in Slovenia. The main objective of this study was to

examine the plant species composition and plant species richness of wet meadow plant

communities with the mentioned dominating or co-dominating plant taxon. Vegetation

was recorded in accordance with standard Central European method. Vegetation types

were classified by means of multivariate analysis. Four associations from the alliance

Molinon Koch 1926 were identified and analysed: Plantagini altissimae-Molinietum

caeruleae Marchiori & Sburlino 1982, Selino-Molinietum caeruleae Kuhn 1937, Carici

davallianae-Molinietum caeruleae Špániková 1978 and Junco-Molinietum caeruleae

Preising 1951 ex Klapp 1954. Ecological characteristics, plant species composition and

richness of the delimited plant communities are presented, as well as their syntaxonomic

position and distribution. For two of the mentioned communities relevés made

in Slovenia are published here for the first time.

Keywords

Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench subsp. caerulea, plant species composition, vegetation ecology, wetlands

Abstract

We evaluated the status of lynx in the Swiss Alps for the period 2005–2009. Even though the number of lynx presence signs remained almost stable between the present (2,068 signs) and previous pentad (2,091), there was a 7.6% increase in the area occupied by the 5-km circular buffers around the confirmed lynx signs of presence over the five years period (12,637 km 2). The north-western Swiss Alps (VI) remained the compartment with the highest number of chance observations. It was followed by compartments central Switzerland west (III) and north-eastern Switzerland (II). These sub-populations acted as source in the current pentad, as signs of reproduction were reported almost every year. The translocation to north-eastern Switzerland is still the only significant contribution to the spatial increase of the lynx range in the last 10 years in the Swiss Alps. The small and vulnerable north-eastern Switzerland lynx sub-population plays an important role for the Alpine population. There is hope that in the future this sub-population could act as stepping stone to the eastern Alps and together with individuals dispersing from the central Switzerland west (III) subpopulation would enable to found a new sub-population in central Switzerland east (IV). The status of the sub-population in the Valais (VII) is less clear. As only few signs of reproduction and mortalities were reported over the pentad, it acted more as sink than a source population. From the few signs of lynx presence reported in the remaining compartments (Grisons V, central Switzerland east IV and Ticino VIII) we concluded that only a few single lynx that did not yet establish the typical social organisation occur there. An occupancy-based population estimate from a parallel study resulted in about 111 (SE = 10) independent lynx for the period 2005–2009. This is higher than the 60–90 individuals estimated for the previous pentad.

Keywords

Alps, distribution, Lynx lynx , monitoring, status, Switzerland

Abstract

We give a short overview of the monitoring results of lynx in the 5-year period 1995–2009. There is no confirmed evidence that there are lynx in the German Alps. Single individuals might have visited the area but signs occur only sporadically. In 2008 Large Carnivore Network has been established to identify and document signs of lynx, wolf and bear. It is the first step to systemize the lynx monitoring. A natural recolonization of the German Alps is not expected in the near future.

Keywords

Lynx lynx , status, monitoring, German Alps

Abstract

The tremendous development of science and technology has influenced many aspects of our everyday lives, society and environment. A good example of such technology is biotechnology. However, besides its promise, this technology has also raised several controversial issues to which answers are not easily available. With

increasing knowledge and applications on one side and controversy on the other the teaching of science is, anything but easy. Development of competencies for these issues, and questions like why, when, and how to integrate modern biotechnology into science education are becoming prominent in the near future. Nowadays, when we are confronted with issues of varying degrees of complexity and importance, it is necessary that teachers at all levels of education have the basic tools to cope with these issues. This is one of reason why we have attempted to establish what kind of knowledge, values and opinions about genetic engineering and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are characteristic for the students, future Elementary Teachers, at

three Slovene Faculties of Education. We collected answers of 360 questionnaires from pre-service elementary school teachers and analysed their statements from the field of general and classical genetics, modern biotechnology, legislation and the acceptance of different kind of GMOs. Prospective teachers have some knowledge of general and classical genetics and less knowledge about the use of modern biotechnology. They

have concerns and fears about different kind of GMOs, mostly negative attitudes towards different kinds of GMOs, or they hold no strong opinions about them. Microorganisms and plants are generally more acceptable than GM animal. Furthermore, more knowledge does not mean that individual GMOs are more acceptable.

Keywords

genetically modified organisms, GMO, students of elementary edu cation