The Beta vulgaris-derived resistance gene Rz2 confers broad-spectrum resistance against soilborne sugar beet-infecting viruses from different families by recognizing triple gene block protein 1

Sugar beet cultivation is dependent on an effective control of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV, family Benyviridae), which causes tremendous economic losses in sugar production. As the virus is transmitted by a soilborne protist, the use of resistant cultivars is currently the only way to control the disease. The Rz2 gene product belongs to a family of proteins conferring resistance towards diverse pathogens in plants. These proteins contain coiled-coil and leucine-rich repeat domains. After artificial inoculation of homozygous Rz2 resistant sugar beet lines, BNYVV and beet soilborne mosaic virus (BSBMV, family Benyviridae) were not detected. Analysis of the expression of Rz2 in naturally infected plants indicated constitutive expression in the root system. In a transient assay, coexpression of Rz2 and the individual BNYVV-encoded proteins revealed that only the combination of Rz2 and triple gene block protein 1 (TGB1) resulted in a hypersensitive reaction (HR)-like response. Furthermore, HR was also triggered by the TGB1 homologues from BSBMV as well as from the more distantly related beet soilborne virus (family Virgaviridae). This is the first report of an R gene providing resistance across different plant virus families.

Production of a Beet chlorosis virus full-length cDNA clone by means of Gibson assembly and analysis of biological properties

Beet chlorosis virus (genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae), which is persistently transmitted by the aphid Myzus persicae, is part of virus yellows in sugar beet and causes interveinal yellowing as well as significant yield loss in Beta vulgaris. To allow reverse genetic studies and replace vector transmission, an infectious cDNA clone under cauliflower mosaic virus 35S control in a binary vector for agrobacterium-mediated infection was constructed using Gibson assembly. Following agroinoculation, the BChV full-length clone was able to induce a systemic infection of the cultivated B. vulgaris. The engineered virus was successfully aphid-transmitted when acquired from infected B. vulgaris and displayed the same host plant spectrum as wild-type virus. This new polerovirus infectious clone is a valuable tool to identify the viral determinants involved in host range and study BChV protein function, and can be used to screen sugar beet for BChV resistance.

[Floating thrombus of the internal carotid artery as a rare complication in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer]

We report the successful thrombectomy of the internal carotid artery. A 33-year-old woman suffered from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after treatment with FSH/HCG for in-vitro fertilization. She developed a transient left hemiparesis. This was caused by a floating thrombus located in the internal carotid artery. Open surgical treatment with thrombectomy prevents recurrent neurological symptoms.

In vitro sensitivity testing of cells of histologically typified ovarian carcinomas and carcinoma of corpus with 3H-cyclophosphamide-metabolites in the serum of man after massive dose therapy

Cells of a carcinoma of the uterine corpus and of five ovarian carcinomas were cultured in vitro with monolayer and sandwich methods, respectively. After 24-hours-incubation with serum samples of patients treated with a massive dose of 3H-cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg body weight i.v.)-the samples were taken at different times after application-these cultures with a chromatographically defined content of free metabolites were interpreted, guided by morphological criteria. Incubation of the cultures with serum samples taken 5 hours after application of the massive dose turned out to be a practical system for detection, before the start of therapy, of the sensitivity of malignant tumors to cyclophosphamide. Statements about the proliferation kinetics of the malignant cells, about the active ultimate form of the antitumor agent and its way of action, which are not guaranteed experimentally, are largely eliminated by this method. The justification for using 4-hydroxy- and 4-hydroperoxy-cyclophosphamide to test the sensitivity of malignant cells in vitro to cyclophosphamide was critically examined.

[Tests of the sensitivity of histologically characterized carcinomas of the ovary or corpus to 4-hydroperoxicyclophosphamide, amethopterine, mitopodozide and VM-26 sandoz, using the technique of primary culture (author's transl)]

Cells from three carcinomas of the uterine corpus and from 14 ovarian carcinomas have been cultured in vitro by the monlayer and sandwich methods. They were evaluated on the basis of morphological criteria after 24 hours of incubation with 4-hydroperoxicyclophosphamide, amethopterine, mitopodozide and VM-26 Sandoz, using two dose ranges in each case. The index of 3H-thymidine was determined by means of two parallel experiments. Later results concerning pharmacokinetics of the cyclophosphamide have lead us to apply the technique of primary culture. Owing to the long duration of the incubation period, the 4-hydroperoxicyclophosphamide with its secondary and degradation products can influence the greatest possible numbers of cells through several phases of the cell cycle, thus obtaining an approach to in-vivo kinetics. A concentration of substrate per unit of volume, higher than the actually in vivo expected, is to compensate the short half-life of 4-hydroperoxicyclophosphamide as well as the lack of the supply-function of current dynamics. 4-hydroperoxicyclophosphamide was the cytostatic agent with the largest range of effectiveness, followed by amethopterine, while the mitotic poisons mitopodozide and VM-26 Sandoz were less effective. The histology and degree of differentiating of the tumors as well as the proliferation rate are not correlated in a distinct manner with sensitivity to cytostatics. Pretreatment with cytostatics of with irradiation revealed no certain influence upon subsequent sensitivity to cytostatics.

[Isoelectric focusing of an alkylating 3H-cyclophosphamide derivative from human bladder urine]

1) A stable polar 3H-cyclophosphamide metabolite capable of alkylating 4-(p-nitrobenzyl) pyridine and relatively high concentrated in human bladder urine was isolated. The compound has the pI value 9.06. It is a phosphoramide mustard conjugate. 2) Determination of the isoelectric point was accomplished by means of a new thin-layer isoelectric focusing technique applicable for characterizing loaded parts of low molecular weight substance mixtures.