Biology Commons^™

Use Of Molecular Probes To Assess Geographic Distribution Of Pfiesteria Species, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

We have developed multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for the detection of Pfiesteria sp. in cultures and environmental samples. More than 2,100 water and sediment samples from estuarine sites of the U.S. Atlantic and gulf coasts were assayed for the presence of Pfiesteria piscicida Steidinger & Burkholder and Pfiesteria shumwayae Glasgow & Burkholder by PCR probing of extracted DNA. Positive results were found in about 3% of samples derived from routine monitoring of coastal waters and about 8% of sediments. The geographic range of both species was the same, ranging from New York to Texas. Pfiesteria spp. are likely …

Classification And Identification Of Pfiesteria And Pfiesteria-Like Species, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

Dinoflagellates can be classified both botanically and zoologically; however, they are typically put in the botanical division Pyrrhophyta. As a group they appear most related to the protistan ciliates and apicomplexans at the ultrastructure level. Within the Pyrrhophyta are both unarmored and armored forms of the dominant, motile flagellated stage. Unarmored dinoflagellates do not have thecal or wall plates arranged in specific series, whereas armored species have plates that vary in thickness but are specific in number and arrangement. In armored dinoflagellates, the plate pattern and tabulation is a diagnostic character at the family, subfamily, and even genus levels. In …

Invasion Terminology: Should Ecologists Define Their Terms Differently Than Others? No, Not If We Want To Be Of Any Help!, Mark Davis, K Thompson

Mark Davis

No abstract provided.

Genetic Polymorphism In Gymnodinium Galatheanum Chloroplast Dna Sequences And Development Of A Molecular Detection Assay, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

Nuclear and chloroplast-encoded small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences were obtained from several strains of the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium galatheanum . Phylogenetic analyses and comparison of sequences indicate that the chloroplast sequences show a higher degree of sequence divergence than the nuclear homologue. The chloroplast sequences were chosen as targets for the development of a 5'–3' exonuclease assay for detection of the organism. The assay has a very high degree of specificity and has been used to screen environmental water samples from a fish farm where the presence of this dinoflagellate species has previously been associated with fish kills. Various hypotheses …

Genetic Heterogeneity Of White-Tailed Deer: Management Lessons From A Long-Term Study, Michael H. Smith, James M. Novak, J. D. Peles, J. R. Purdue

James M. Novak

Genetic data from a long-term (16-year) study of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) were examined to evaluate spatial and temporal genetic heterogeneity in this species. Based on our analyses of the long-term data set, three major findings emerged, all of which have important implications for management of white-tailed deer: (1) There exists significant spatial genetic heterogeneity in white-tailed deer based on analyses of allozyme frequencies and mtDNA haplotypes. This heterogeneity exists on a much smaller spatial scale than would be expected for such a large and potentially mobile species as 0. …

Real–Time Pcr Monitoring Of Estuarine Water Samples For Pfiesteria Piscicida, A Dinoflagellate Associated With Fish Kills And Human Illness, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

No abstract.

Public Access And Use Of Electronically Archived Data: Ethical Considerations, Mark Davis, D Tilman, S Hobbie, Cl Lehman, Et Al.

Mark Davis

No abstract provided.

Abnormal Expression Of P27kip1 Protein In Levator Ani Muscle Of Aging Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders – A Relationship To The Cellular Differentiation And Degeneration, Antonin Bukovsky, Pleas Copas, Michael R. Caudle, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Tamara Dassanayake, Bridgett Asbury, Stuart E. Van Meter, Robert F. Elder, Jeffrey B. Brown, Stephanie B. Cross

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

Background Pelvic floor disorders affect almost 50% of aging women. An important role in the pelvic floor support belongs to the levator ani muscle. The p27/kip1 (p27) protein, multifunctional cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, shows changing expression in differentiating skeletal muscle cells during development, and relatively high levels of p27 RNA were detected in the normal human skeletal muscles.

Methods Biopsy samples of levator ani muscle were obtained from 22 symptomatic patients with stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and overlaps (age range 38–74), and nine asymptomatic women (age 31–49). Cryostat sections were investigated for p27 protein expression and type I (slow …