Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV) infects a very wide range of plant species (>1000 species). We recently demonstrated that a previously undescribed gene (2b) encoded by RNA 2 of the tripartite RNA genome of CMV is required for systemic virus spread and disease induction in its hosts. Herein we report that when this CMV gene is replaced by its homologue from tomato aspermy cucumovirus (TAV), th...

A cell hybrid has been selected from fusion of a mouse myeloma and rat spleen cells immunized against mouse lymphoma cells that produces monoclonal antibody against the mouse lymphocyte surface glycoprotein, T200. Antibody binding assays employing the monoclonal antibody show that there are about 50,000-100,000 molecules of T200 glycoprotein on mouse thymocytes and that similar antigens are pre...

BACKGROUND The genetic basis of postzygotic isolation is a central puzzle in evolutionary biology. Evolutionary forces causing hybrid sterility or inviability act on the responsible genes while they still are polymorphic, thus we have to study these traits as they arise, before isolation is complete. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Isofemale strains of D. mojavensis vary significantly in their...

This study investigated the factors that determine the dynamics of bacterial communities in a complex system using multidisciplinary methods. Since natural and engineered microbial ecosystems are too complex to study, six types of synthetic microbial ecosystems (SMEs) were constructed under chemostat conditions with phenol as the sole carbon and energy source. Two to four phenol-degrading, phyl...

Two reciprocal interspecies hybrid class I histocompatibility genes have been constructed between genomic clones of human HLA-A2 and murine H-2Kb. The proteins encoded by these genes have been designated A21+2/Kb, where the polymorphic domains, alpha 1 and alpha 2, of HLA-A2 are linked to the carboxyl-terminal domains (alpha 3, transmembrane, and intracytoplasmic domains) of H-2Kb, and Kb1+2/A2...

We provide the first evidence for interspecific warfare in bees, a spectacular natural phenomenon that involves a series of aerial battles and leads to thousands of fatalities from both attacking and defending colonies. Molecular analysis of fights at a hive of the Australian stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria revealed that the attack was launched by a related species, Tetragonula hockingsi, ...

The influence of temperature on reproduction and movement was examined for seven geographic isolates of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, three of B. mucronatus, and two of their interspecific hybrids. All nematode isolates tended to be more active and fecund the higher the temperature, with the isolates of B. xylophilus reaching a reproductive peak at higher temperatures than isolates of B. mucronat...

OmpF is one of the major general porins of Enterobacteriaceae that belongs to the first line of bacterial defense and interactions with the biotic as well as abiotic environments. Porins are surface exposed and their structures strongly reflect the history of multiple interactions with the environmental challenges. Unfortunately, little is known on diversity of porin genes of Enterobacteriaceae...