Transient dynamics of an altered large marine ecosystem

Overfishing of large-bodied benthic fishes and their subsequent population collapses on the Scotian Shelf of Canada's east coast and elsewhere resulted in restructuring of entire food webs now dominated by planktivorous, forage fish species and macroinvertebrates. Despite the imposition of strict management measures in force since the early 1990s, the Scotian Shelf ecosystem has not reverted back to its former structure. Here we provide evidence of the transient nature of this ecosystem and its current return path towards benthic fish species domination. The prolonged duration of the altered food web, and its current recovery, was and is being governed by the oscillatory, runaway consumption dynamics of the forage fish complex. These erupting forage species, which reached biomass levels 900% greater than those prevalent during the pre-collapse years of large benthic predators, are now in decline, having outstripped their zooplankton food supply. This dampening, and the associated reduction in the intensity of predation, was accompanied by lagged increases in species abundances at both lower and higher trophic levels, first witnessed in zooplankton and then in large-bodied predators, all consistent with a return towards the earlier ecosystem structure. We conclude that the reversibility of perturbed ecosystems can occur and that this bodes well for other collapsed fisheries.     

A molecular clone of HTLV-III with biological activity

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an epidemic immunosuppressive disease characteristically associated with a depletion of T lymphocytes of the helper/inducer phenotype. Numerous converging lines of research have implicated a human T-cell lymphotropic retrovirus, HTLV-III, in the pathogenesis of AIDS. Recently, several distinct forms of the HTLV-III genome were molecularly cloned in phage and extensively characterized. In the present study, a clone containing full-length HTLV-III proviral DNA was inserted into a plasmid and used to transfect cord blood T cells from normal newborn humans. We demonstrate that this molecular clone is infectious in vitro and causes marked cytopathic effects on T-cell cultures. This is the first direct evidence that the HTLV-III genome, rather than a minor component of the virus complex, is cytopathic for T cells. Using this biologically competent clone and mutants derived from it, it should now be possible to localize the subgenomic regions that contribute to the biological effects of HTLV-III.     

Effects of feeding on healthy and diseased corn plants on a vector and on a non-vector insect

Insect-transmitted plant pathogens can have positive, negative or no effects on the vector insect. Effects could be direct (caused by the pathogen) or indirect (mediated by changes in the plant). Pathogen effects on non-vector insects are less well known.Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), an insect that is not a vector of the corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS), weighed less 15 days after feeding on CSS-infected corn plants relative to insects feeding on healthy corn plants. Fecundity of non-vector insects that were removed from diseased plants was higher than for insects coming from healthy plants. ForDalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), an insect that transmits CSS, there were no differences in weight, longevity, eggs per day, weekly or total fecundity after feeding on healthy or on CSS-infected corn plants. Significant differences in some phloem amino acids were detected between healthy and CSS-infected plants. Infected plants also showed an increased phloem acidity as disease symptoms progressed. Feeding on CSS-infected corn plants by an insect that does not vector the pathogen infecting the plant can have favorable consequences as evidenced by an increased fecundity.Scientific aritcle no. 8819, contribution no. A-6605 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Alteichin: an unusual phytotoxin fromAlternaria eichorniae,a fungal pathogen of water hyacinth

Summary The phytopathogenic fungusAlternaria eichorniae attacks water hyacinth, an economically significant aquatic weed. The novel phytotoxin alteichin was isolated from liquid cultures of this fungus and its structure was deduced by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Altheichin is a doubly hydrated form of 4,9-dihydroxy perylene-3,10-quinone. A single step dehydration of alteichin to anhydroalteichin is catalyzed both by acid and by a crude enzyme preparation from water hyacinth.We thank Dr R. N. Strange for the protoplast assay. Funding was provided by BARD 1-31-79, NIH-CA 24487, Bristol Laboratories, the Montana Agricultural Expt. Station, and NSF.     

Alteichin: an unusual phytotoxin from Alternaria eichorniae, a fungal pathogen of water hyacinth

The phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria eichorniae attacks water hyacinth, an economically significant aquatic weed. The novel phytotoxin alteichin was isolated from liquid cultures of this fungus and its structure was deduced by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Altheichin is a doubly hydrated form of 4,9-dihydroxy perylene-3, 10-quinone. A single step dehydration of alteichin to anhydroalteichin is catalyzed both by acid and by a crude enzyme preparation from water hyacinth.     

Antihypertensive activity of some novel pyridinylidene arylurea derivatives in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

3 novel pyridinylidene arylurea derivatives were found to lower arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Their relative oral potency ranged from 6 to 32 times that of guanethidine. The onset of antihypertensive action following their oral administration was less than 1 h and the duration of action ranged from 8 to over 24 h. The antihypertensive activity of the pyridinylidene arylureas was found to be assoicated with depletion of tissue catecholamines. Compound C depleted cardiac norepinephrine with little or no effect on total brain norepinephrine levels. It is suggested that compound C may have useful antihypertensive properties without CNS depressant activity.     

Melanocyte biology and skin pigmentation

Melanocytes are phenotypically prominent but histologically inconspicuous skin cells. They are responsible for the pigmentation of skin and hair, and thereby contribute to the appearance of skin and provide protection from damage by ultraviolet radiation. Pigmentation mutants in various species are highly informative about basic genetic and developmental pathways, and provide important clues to the processes of photoprotection, cancer predisposition and even human evolution. Skin is the most common site of cancer in humans. Continued understanding of melanocyte contributions to skin biology will hopefully provide new opportunities for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases.