Influencia de seis portainjertos de vid sobre el comportamiento vitícola de la cv. Malbec y estudio de las relaciones hídricas que se establecen

El uso de portainjertos en la vid se ha difundido por su resistencia a filoxera y nemátodos, pero también por su tolerancia a condiciones adversas del suelo. Por otro lado, los portainjertos modifican las relaciones fuente-destino, influyendo en el comportamiento vegetativo y reproductivo de las plantas y en la composición de la uva, lo cuál puede ser utilizado como una herramienta de manejo agronómico. A fin de evaluar si existe un comportamiento diferencial de los portainjertos en cuanto a expresión vegetativa, vigor, rendimiento y composición de la uva, y explicar dichas diferencias en términos de exploración radical, relaciones hídricas, asimilación de carbono, eficiencia en el uso del agua y partición de asimilados se realizó un ensa-yo a campo de cv. Malbec sobre seis portainjertos (3309 C, 1103 P, 140 Ru, SO4, Harmony y Cereza) y a pie franco. Los portainjertos 140 Ru, 1103 P y SO4 tuvieron una mayor tendencia a la producción de uva (mayor Índice de Ravaz), y Franco, Cereza y 3309 C a vegetar, mostrando Harmony una situación intermedia. Las ba-yas sobre el pie Cereza tuvieron un mayor peso (1,96 g) que sobre Harmony (1,75 g). No se encontraron diferencias en los polifenoles de las bayas entre portainjertos. La fotosíntesis de la planta entera (Amax) de Franco, 1103 P y SO4 fue mayor que la de Harmony. La conductancia hidráulica foliar específica (kL) de Harmony fue me-nor que la de Cereza, y su conductancia hidráulica (kH) fue menor que la de Franco, Cereza y SO4. El número de raíces totales de 140 Ru fue mayor que el de 1103 P, SO4 y Harmony. El portainjerto 140 Ru se destacó por privilegiar el desarrollo radi-cal y reproductivo sobre el vegetativo, y por su mayor eficiencia en el uso del agua (EUA). Las diferencias entre portainjertos pueden ser explicadas en parte por dife-rencias en la kL que a su vez incide en el estado hídrico de las plantas (ΨL). De ma-nera que cuando la kL es más baja, el ΨL es menor (i.e., Harmony), y cuando la kL es más alta, el ΨL es mayor (i.e., Franco y Cereza). Mayores ΨL se asocian con mayores superficies foliares.

Heat stress effects on crop performance and tools for tolerance breeding

Abiotic stress is one of the most common causes of crop deficit and loss and hence an important area of study. Moreover, concerns regarding global climate change over past decades mean the study of different abiotic stresses appears to be essential if its effects are to be mitigated. The current review covers the effects of heat stress on crop performance, the response crops make when subjected to this stress and the development of tools designed to breed for stress tolerant crops. Distinct levels of the problem are considered, from the morphological/anatomical, through the physiological and to the biochemical/molecular. The study of heat shock proteins (HSPs), quantitative trait loci (QTLs) identification and the relationship between metabolomics (OMICS) and heat stress are given special consideration.

Misoprostol in addition to routine treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: A hospital-based randomized-controlled trial in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a major killer of women worldwide. Standard uterotonic treatments used to control postpartum bleeding do not always work and are not always available. Misoprostol's potential as a treatment option for PPH is increasingly known, but its use remains ad hoc and available evidence does not support the safety or efficacy of one particular regimen. This study aimed to determine the adjunct benefit of misoprostol when combined with standard oxytocics for PPH treatment. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in four Karachi hospitals from December 2005 – April 2007 to assess the benefit of a 600 mcg dose of misoprostol given sublingually in addition to standard oxytocics for postpartum hemorrhage treatment. Consenting women had their blood loss measured after normal vaginal delivery and were enrolled in the study after losing more than 500 ml of blood. Women were randomly assigned to receive either 600 mcg sublingual misoprostol or matching placebo in addition to standard PPH treatment with injectable oxytocics. Both women and providers were blinded to the treatment assignment. Blood loss was collected until active bleeding stopped and for a minimum of one hour after PPH diagnosis. Total blood loss, hemoglobin measures, and treatment outcomes were recorded for all participants. Results: Due to a much lower rate of PPH than expected (1.2%), only sixty-one patients were diagnosed and treated for their PPH in this study, and we were therefore unable to measure statistical significance in any of the primary endpoints. The addition of 600 mcg sublingual misoprostol to standard PPH treatments does, however, suggest a trend in reduced postpartum blood loss, a smaller drop in postpartum hemoglobin, and need for fewer additional interventions. Women who bled less overall had a significantly smaller drop in hemoglobin and received fewer additional interventions. There were no hysterectomies or maternal deaths among study participants. The rate of transient shivering and fever was significantly higher among women receiving misoprostol Conclusion: A 600 mcg dose of misoprostol given sublingually shows promise as an adjunct treatment for PPH and its use should continue to be explored for its life-saving potential in the care of women experiencing PPH. Trial Registration: Clinical trials.gov, Registry No. NCT00116480

Temperature tolerance of western Baltic Sea Fucus vesiculosus - growth, photosynthesis and survival

Fucus vesiculosus L. (Phaeophyceae) is the most abundant and hence ecologically most important primary producer, carbon sink and habitat provider in the western Baltic Sea. All F. vesiculosus L. specimens were collected on 23 April 2014 from a depth of 0.2-1 m in the non-tidal Kiel Fjord, western Baltic Sea (54°27'N; 10°12'E), where this species forms dense and almost monospecific stands on stones. After sampling the algal thalli were stored in a refrigerator box with water from the sampling site, transported to Bremerhaven and stored at 10 °C for one day in filtered seawater. Experiments were conducted with vegetative apical tips (6.7±0.5 cm length), the actively growing region of F. vesiculosus, which were randomly selected and cut from 144 different individuals prior to the experiments. These tips were acclimated to laboratory conditions for three days in filtered seawater at 10 °C before the start of the experiment. Furthermore, 30 additional vegetative apices were freeze-dried to document the initial biochemical status of F. vesiculosus in its native habitat. A temperature gradient was installed in a walk-in constant cooling chamber (15 °C) in nine water baths (5, 10, 15, 20, 24, 26, 27, 28 and 29 °C ± 0.1 °C) which were tempered by thermostats (5, 10 and 15 °C: Huber Variostat CC + Pilot ONE, Peter Huber Kältemaschinen GmbH, Offenburg, Germany; 20 and 28 °C: Haake DC3, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, USA; 24, 26, 27 and 29 °C: Haake DC10). Every temperature treatment consisted of four 2 L glass beakers (n = 4). In each beaker four F. vesiculosus apices were grown in 2 µm-filtered North Sea water diluted with demineralized water in a ratio of 1:1 and enriched with nutrients after Provasoli (1968; 1/10 enrichment), leading to a salinity of about 15.6 which equaled habitat conditions. The algae were exposed to an irradiance of 130 µmol photons m-2 s-1 ±10 % (Powerstar HGI-TS 150 W, OSRAM GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany) measured at the top of the beaker under a 16:8 h L:D cycle. The media in the beakers was changed every third or fourth day and aerated with artificial air containing 380 ppm CO2 (gas mixing device; HTK Hamburg GmbH, Hamburg, Germany). Before the experiment, the algae were acclimated to the final temperatures in steps of 5 °C for 2 days each, beginning at 10 °C. After 21 days exposure time, three out of four samples per replicate were freeze-dried for further biochemical analyses, and afterwards the thermostats were turned off to reduce the temperature to 16±0.4 °C for another 10 days permitting growth under post-culture conditions.

Signals of resilience to ocean change: high thermal tolerance of early stage Antarctic sea urchins (Sterechinus neumayeri) reared under present-day and future pCO2 and temperature

We tested the hypothesis that development of the Antarctic urchin Sterechinus neumayeri under future ocean conditions of warming and acidification would incur physiological costs, reducing the tolerance of a secondary stressor. The aim of this study is twofold: (1) quantify current austral spring temperature and pH near sea urchin habitat at Cape Evans in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica and (2) spawn S. neumayeri in the laboratory and raise early developmental stages (EDSs) under ambient (-0.7 °C; 400 µatm pCO2) and future (+2.6 °C; 650 and 1,000 µatm pCO2) ocean conditions and expose four EDSs (blastula, gastrula, prism, and 4-arm echinopluteus) to a one hour acute heat stress and assess survivorship. Results of field data from 2011 to 2012 show extremely stable inter-annual pH conditions ranging from 7.99 to 8.08, suggesting that future ocean acidification will drastically alter the pH-seascape for S. neumayeri. In the laboratory, S. neumayeri EDSs appear to be tolerant of temperatures and pCO2 levels above their current habitat conditions. EDSs survived acute heat exposures >20 °C above habitat temperatures of -1.9 °C. No pCO2 effect was observed for EDSs reared at -0.7 °C. When reared at +2.6 °C, small but significant pCO2 effects were observed at the blastula and prism stage, suggesting that multiple stressors are more detrimental than single stressors. While surprisingly tolerant overall, blastulae were the most sensitive stage to ocean warming and acidification. We conclude that S. neumayeri may be unexpectedly physiologically tolerant of future ocean conditions.

Source data for Plos ONE publication Redefining thermal regimes to design reserves for coral reefs in the face of climate change

Reef managers cannot fight global warming through mitigation at local scale, but they can use information on thermal patterns to plan for reserve networks that maximize the probability of persistence of their reef system. Here we assess previous methods for the design of reserves for climate change and present a new approach to prioritize areas for conservation that leverages the most desirable properties of previous approaches. The new method moves the science of reserve design for climate change a step forwards by: (1) recognizing the role of seasonal acclimation in increasing the limits of environmental tolerance of corals and ameliorating the bleaching response; (2) including information from several bleaching events, which frequency is likely to increase in the future; (3) assessing relevant variability at country scales, where most management plans are carried out. We demonstrate the method in Honduras, where a reassessment of the marine spatial plan is in progress.

Diabetes gestacional : el rol del ejercicio físico en su prevención

Introducción. La prevalencia de la Diabetes Gestacional (DG) varía en todo el mundo, así como entre los grupos raciales y étnicos del mismo país. Hasta la fecha actual, no se ha llegado a un consenso en el criterio diagnóstico, y eso dificulta una estimación veraz de prevalencia entre países. A pesar de ello, es ineludible obviar el incremento en la incidencia de esta complicación en todo el mundo, y la trascendencia de sus riesgos a la salud pública. En España, según los criterios clásicos –del National Diabetes Data Group- existe una alta prevalencia en un 8,8 % de DG en gestantes. Es importante encontrar la mejor vía para la prevención de la DG y, uno de los factores de riesgo parece ser el aumento excesivo de peso durante el embarazo. El ejercicio es un elemento fundamental para el control del metabolismo de la glucosa y para reducir los niveles de hiperlipidemia. Sin embargo, existe controversia para definir el tipo de sesiones, duración e intensidad que puedan contribuir a su prevención. Objetivo. Conocer en qué medida el ejercicio físico programado durante el embarazo, combinado en agua y tierra, con ejercicios aeróbicos y de tonificación muscular, puede actuar como un factor de prevención de la DG. Al mismo tiempo, valorar si exceder las recomendaciones de peso puede influir el diagnóstico de la DG. Material y Métodos. Este estudio se desarrolló mediante una colaboración entre la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid y los Servicios de Ginecología y Obstetricia del Hospital Universitario de Puerta de Hierro, el Hospital Universitario de Torrelodones y el Centro de Salud de Torrelodones. Se obtuvo la aprobación del Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica (CEIC). Se realizó un ensayo clínico, aleatorizado, controlado, no enmascarado. 272 mujeres gestantes sanas dieron su consentimiento informado para la inclusión en el estudio. De las cuáles, finalmente 257 (edad= 33,2±4,4 años) fueron analizadas, 101 de ellas correspondientes al grupo intervención (GI, n=101) y 156 al grupo control (GC, n=156). El inicio del programa correspondió a la semana 10-14 del embarazo hasta el final, la 38-40. Con una frecuencia de 3 sesiones semanales y una duración de 60 y 50 minutos, en tierra y agua, respectivamente. Resultados. Se halló diferencias significativas en los valores en los 180 min del test de tolerancia oral a la glucosa [GI: 98,00±29,48 mg/dl vs. GC: 116,25±29,90 mg/dl (t64= 2,37; p= 0,021)] y, de igual modo, el GI mostró menor prevalencia de la DG [GI: 1 %, Ejercicio y DG n= 1 vs. GC: 8,8 %, n= 13 (2 1= 6,84; p= 0,009)] y una estimación de riesgo significativa (OR= 9,604; 95 % CI: 1,23-74,66). La excesiva ganancia de peso fue menor en el GI [GI: 22,8 %, n= 23 vs. GC: 34,9 %, n= 53 (2 1= 4,22; p= 0,040)], pero no existió una correlación con la incidencia de DG (ϕ= -0,007; p= 0,910). Conclusiones. El programa de ejercicio desarrollado durante el embarazo mostró efectividad en la reducción de la prevalencia de la DG, preservó la tolerancia a la glucosa y redujo la excesiva ganancia de peso materno. Background. The prevalence of Gestational Diabetes (GD) varies around the world, as well as between racial and ethnic groups within the same country. Currently, there is not a consensus about the diagnostic criteria, and that makes it difficult to obtain accurate estimates of prevalence between countries. The increased trend in the prevalence across the globe and the risks for public health cannot be ignored. In Spain, according to the diagnostic criteria of National Diabetes Data Group, there is a prevalence of 8.8 % for GD in pregnant women. It is important to look for the best way to prevent GD and one of the risk factors seems to be excessive weight gained during pregnancy. Exercise is an essential element for glucose metabolic control and reducing hyperlipidemia levels. However, there is controversy to define the type of activity, duration and intensity to prevent GD. Objective. To assess the effectiveness of an exercise programme carried out during pregnancy (land/aquatic activities), both aerobic and muscular conditioning can help to the prevent GD. Also, to assess if excessive maternal weight gain influences the GD diagnosis. Material and methods. Collaboration between the Technical University of Madrid and the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Torrelodones University Hospital and Health Center of Torrelodones supported the study. It was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CEIC). A clinical, randomized controlled trial recruited 272 pregnant women without obstetric contraindications and gave informed consent for inclusion in the study. Of these women, 257 were studied (age= 33,2±4,4 years), 101 in intervention group (IG, n= 101) and 156 in control group (CG, n= 156). A physical exercise program three times per week during pregnancy was developed. The duration of the sessions was 60 minutes and 50 minutes in land and water, respectively. Results. The IG showed lower maternal values in the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) at 180 minutes [IG: 98,00±29,48 mg/dl vs. CG: 116,25±29,90 mg/dl (t64= 2,37; p= 0,021)] and the IG reduced the prevalence of GD [IG: 1%, n= 1 vs. CG: 8,8 %, n= 13 (2 1= 6,84; p= 0,009)] with a significance risk estimate (OR= 9,604; 95 % CI: 1,23- 74,66). Excessive maternal weight gain was less in the IG [IG: 22,8 %, n= 23 vs. CG: Exercise and GD 34,9 %, n= 53 (2 1= 4,22; p= 0,040)] but there was no correlation with the prevalence of GD (ϕ= -0,007; p= 0,910). Conclusions. The exercise programme performed during pregnancy reduced the prevalence of GD, preserved glucose tolerance and reduced excessive maternal weight gain.

Growth data from a field trial of Quercus suber plants regenerated from selected trees and their half-sib progenies by somatic embryogenesis

The development of reliable clonal propagation technologies is a requisite for performing Multi-Varietal Forestry (MVF). Somatic embryogenesis is considered the tissue culture based method more suitable for operational breeding of forest trees. Vegetative propagation is very difficult when tissues are taken from mature donors, making clonal propagation of selected trees almost impossible. We have been able to induce somatic embryogenesis in leaves taken from mature oak trees, including cork oak (Quercus suber). This important species of the Mediterranean ecosystem produces cork regularly, conferring to this species a significant economic value. In a previous paper we reported the establishment of a field trial to compare the growth of plants of somatic origin vs zygotic origin, and somatic plants from mature trees vs somatic plants from juvenile seedlings. For that purpose somatic seedlings were regenerated from five selected cork oak trees and from young plants of their half-sib progenies by somatic embryogenesis. They were planted in the field together with acorn-derived plants of the same families. After the first growth period, seedlings of zygotic origin doubled the height of somatic seedlings, showing somatic plants of adult and juvenile origin similar growth. Here we provide data on height and diameter increases after two additional growth periods. In the second one, growth parameters of zygotic seedlings were also significantly higher than those of somatic ones, but there were not significant differences in height increase between seedlings and somatic plants of mature origin. In the third growth period, height and diameter increases of somatic seedlings cloned from the selected trees did not differ from those of zygotic seedlings, which were still higher than data from plants obtained from somatic embryos from the sexual progeny. Therefore, somatic seedlings from mature origin seem not to be influenced by a possible ageing effect, and plants from somatic embryos tend to minimize the initial advantage of plants from acorns

Exercise during pregnancy improves maternal glucose screen at 24-28 weeks: a randomised controlled trial

Objective. The influence of an exercise programme performed by healthy pregnant women on maternal glucose tolerance was studied. Study design. A physical activity (PA, land/aquatic activities) programme during the entire pregnancy (three sessions per week) was conducted by a qualified instructor. 83 healthy pregnant women were randomly assigned to either an exercise group (EG, n=40) or a control (CG, n=43) group. 50 g maternal glucose screen (MGS), maternal weight gain and several pregnancy outcomes were recorded. Results. Significant differences were found between study groups on the 50 g MGS. Values corresponding to the EG (103.8±20.4 mg/dl) were better than those of the CG (126.9±29.5 mg/dl), p=0.000. In addition, no differences in maternal weight gain and no cases of gestational diabetes in EG versus 3 in CG (7%) (p>0.05) were found. Conclusion. A moderate PA programme performed during pregnancy improves levels of maternal glucose tolerance.

Dos modelos por ensayo y error: Villa Stonborough y Villa Moller = Two trial and error processes: Villa Stonborough and Villa Moller.

Uno de los procesos de desarrollo más comunes para llevar a cabo un proyecto arquitectónico es el ensayo y error. Un proceso de selección de pruebas que se suele abordar de dos maneras, o bien se efectúa con el fin de ir depurando una posición más óptima, o bien sirve para explorar nuevas vías de investigación. Con el fin de profundizar en esto, el artículo presenta el análisis de dos diferentes procesos de proyecto de viviendas desarrolladas por ensayo y error, obras referenciales en la historia de la arquitectura, la Villa Stonborough de Wittgenstein y la Villa Moller de Adolf Loos. Ambas aunque pertenecientes al mismo periodo histórico, están desarrolladas de maneras muy opuestas, casi enfrentadas. De su estudio se pretende localizar los conceptos que han impulsado sus diferentes vías de producción, para poder extrapolados a otros casos similares. ABSTRACT: One of the most common processes to develop an architectonic project is the trial and error method. The process of selection of tests is usually done on two different ways. Or it is done with the goal to find out the most optimized position, or it is used to explore new ways of research. In order to investigate this item, the article shows the analysis of two different processes of housing projects that have been done by trial and error. Constructions, that are references in the history of architecture, the Villa Stonborough by Wittgenstein and the Villa Moller by Adolf Loos. Although both of them belong to the same historical period, they are developed by different ways, almost confronted. Thanks to this analysis we will attempt to localize the concepts that drove into their different way of production and then we will try to extrapolate these properties to other similar cases.

Thermographic imaging: assessment of drought and heat tolerance in Spanish germplasm of Brachypodium distachyon.

The annual grass Brachypodium distachyon has been recently recognized as the model plant for functional genomics of temperate grasses, including cereals of economic relevance like wheat and barley. Sixty-two lines of B. distachyon were assessed for response to drought stress and heat tolerance. All these lines, except the reference genotype BD21, derive from specimens collected in 32 distinct locations of the Iberian Peninsula, covering a wide range of geo- climatic conditions. Sixteen lines of Brachypodium hybridum, an allotetraploid closely related to B. distachyon were used as reference of abiotic-stress well-adapted genotypes. Drought tolerance was assessed in a green-house trial. At the rosette-stage, no irrigation was applied to treated plants whereas their replicates at the control were maintained well watered during all the experiment. Thermographic images of treated and control plants were taken after 2 and 3 weeks of drought treatment, when stressed plants showed medium and extreme wilting symptoms. The mean leaf temperature of stressed (LTs) and control (LTc) plants was estimated based upon thermographic records from selected pixels (183 per image) that strictly correspond to leaf tissue. The response to drought was based on the analysis of two parameters: LTs and the thermal difference (TD) between stressed and control plants (LTs – LTc). The response to heat stress was based on LTc. Comparison of the mean values of these parameters showed that: 1) Genotypes better adapted to drought (B. hybridum lines) presented a higher LTs and TD than B. distachyon lines. 2) Under high temperature conditions, watered plants of B. hybridum lines maintained lower LTc than those of B. distachyon. Those results suggest that in these species adaptation to drought is linked to a more efficient stomata regulation: under water stress stomata are closed, increasing foliar temperature but also water use efficiency by reducing transpiration. With high temperature and water availability the results are less definite, but still seems that opening stomata allow plants to increase transpiration and therefore to diminish foliar temperature.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Included in a Pregnancy Exercise Program Is Effective in Primary Prevention of Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AIMS: To investigate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) taught in a general exercise class during pregnancy on the prevention of urinary incontinence (UI) in nulliparous continent pregnant women. METHODS: This was a unicenter two armed randomized controlled trial. One hundred sixty-nine women were randomized by a central computer system to an exercise group (EG) (exercise class including PFMT) (n = 73) or a control group (CG) (n = 96). 10.1% loss to follow-up: 10 from EG and 7 from CG. The intervention consisted of 70-75 sessions (22 weeks, three times per week, 55-60 min/session including 10 min of PFMT). The CG received usual care (which included follow up by midwifes including information about PFMT). Questions on prevalence and degree of UI were posed before (week 10-14) and after intervention (week 36-39) using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF). RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the EG. Reported frequency of UI [Never: CG: 54/60.7%, EG: 60/95.2% (P < 0.001)]. Amount of leakage [None: CG: 45/60.7%, EG: 60/95.2% (P < 0.001)]. There was also a statistically significant difference in ICIQ-UI SF Score between groups after the intervention period [CG: 2.7 (SD 4.1), EG: 0.2 (SD 1.2) (P < 0.001)]. The estimated effect size was 0.8. CONCLUSION: PFMT taught in a general exercise class three times per week for at least 22 weeks, without former assessment of ability to perform a correct contraction was effective in primary prevention of UI in primiparous pregnant women.

Allelic variation of a dehydrin gene cosegregates with chilling tolerance during seedling emergence

Dehydrins (DHNs, LEA D-11) are plant proteins present during environmental stresses associated with dehydration or low temperatures and during seed maturation. Functions of DHNs have not yet been defined. Earlier, we hypothesized that a ≈35-kDa DHN and membrane properties that reduce electrolyte leakage from seeds confer chilling tolerance during seedling emergence of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in an additive and independent manner. Evidence for this hypothesis was not rigorous because it was based on correlations of presence/absence of the DHN and slow electrolyte leakage with chilling tolerance in closely related cowpea lines that have some other genetic differences. Here, we provide more compelling genetic evidence for involvement of the DHN in chilling tolerance of cowpea. We developed near-isogenic lines by backcrossing. We isolated and determined the sequence of a cDNA corresponding to the ≈35-kDa DHN and used gene-specific oligonucleotides derived from it to test the genetic linkage between the DHN presence/absence trait and the DHN structural gene. We tested for association between the DHN presence/absence trait and both low-temperature seed emergence and electrolyte leakage. We show that allelic differences in the Dhn structural gene map to the same position as the DHN protein presence/absence trait and that the presence of the ≈35-kDa DHN is indeed associated with chilling tolerance during seedling emergence, independent of electrolyte leakage effects. Two types of allelic variation in the Dhn gene were identified in the protein-coding region, deletion of one Φ-segment from the DHN-negative lines and two single amino acid substitutions.

Constitutive expression of the cold-regulated Arabidopsis thaliana COR15a gene affects both chloroplast and protoplast freezing tolerance

Cold acclimation in plants is associated with the expression of COR (cold-regulated) genes that encode polypeptides of unknown function. It has been widely speculated that products of these genes might have roles in freezing tolerance. Here we provide direct evidence in support of this hypothesis. We show that constitutive expression of COR15a, a cold-regulated gene of Arabidopsis thaliana that encodes a chloroplast-targeted polypeptide, enhances the in vivo freezing tolerance of chloroplasts in nonacclimated plants by almost 2°C, nearly one-third of the increase that occurs upon cold acclimation of wild-type plants. Significantly, constitutive expression of COR15a also affects the in vitro freezing tolerance of protoplasts. At temperatures between −5 and −8°C, the survival of protoplasts isolated from leaves of nonacclimated transgenic plants expressing COR15a was greater than that of protoplasts isolated from leaves of nonacclimated wild-type plants. At temperatures between −2 and −4°C, constitutive expression of COR15a had a slight negative effect on survival. The implications of these data regarding possible modes of COR15a action are discussed.

Immunization of metastatic breast cancer patients with a fully synthetic globo H conjugate: A phase I trial

The carbohydrate antigen globo H commonly found on breast cancer cells is a potential target for vaccine therapy. The objectives of this trial were to determine the toxicity and immunogenicity of three synthetic globo H-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugates plus the immunologic adjuvant QS-21. Twenty-seven metastatic breast cancer patients received five vaccinations each. The vaccine was well tolerated, and no definite differences were observed among the three formulations. Serologic analyses demonstrated the generation of IgM antibody titers in most patients, with minimal IgG antibody stimulation. There was significant binding of IgM antibodies to MCF-7 tumor cells in 16 patients, whereas IgG antibody reactivity was observed in a few patients. There was evidence of complement-dependent cytotoxicity in several patients. Affinity column purification supported the specificity of IgM antibodies for globo H. On the basis of these data, globo H will constitute one component of a polyvalent vaccine for evaluation in high-risk breast cancer patients.