Knowledge and use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men in Berlin - A multicentre, cross-sectional survey.

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has likely contributed to large decreases in HIV incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in several major cities. Berlin has seen a smaller decline, and affordable PrEP has been accessible through formal channels in Germany only since autumn 2017. We aimed to investigate knowledge and use of PrEP among MSM in Berlin, and factors predictive of a desire to use PrEP and history of PrEP use.

Molecular profiling of the Phytophthora plurivora secretome: a step towards understanding the cross-talk between plant pathogenic oomycetes and their hosts.

The understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions in plant diseases is of crucial importance to gain insights on different virulence strategies of pathogens and unravel their role in plant immunity. Among plant pathogens, Phytophthora species are eliciting a growing interest for their considerable economical and environmental impact. Plant infection by Phytophthora phytopathogens is a complex process coordinated by a plethora of extracellular signals secreted by both host plants and pathogens.

Sweets for the foe - effects of nonstructural carbohydrates on the susceptibility of Quercus robur against Phytophthora quercina.

The root-rot pathogen Phytophthora quercina is a key determinant of oak decline in Europe. The susceptibility of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) to this pathogen has been hypothesized to depend on the carbon availability in roots as an essential resource for defense. Microcuttings of Q.

Phosphite protects Fagus sylvatica seedlings towards Phytophthora plurivora via local toxicity, priming and facilitation of pathogen recognition.

Phytophthora plurivora causes severe damage on Fagus sylvatica and is responsible for the extensive decline of European Beech throughout Europe. Unfortunately, no effective treatment against this disease is available. Phosphite (Phi) is known to protect plants against Phytophthora species; however, its mode of action towards P.

Multivariate analysis of physiological parameters reveals a consistent O3 response pattern in leaves of adult European beech (Fagus sylvatica).

• Increasing atmospheric concentrations of phytotoxic ozone (O(3) ) can constrain growth and carbon sink strength of forest trees, potentially exacerbating global radiative forcing. Despite progress in the conceptual understanding of the impact of O(3) on plants, it is still difficult to detect response patterns at the leaf level. • Here, we employed principal component analysis (PCA) to analyse a database containing physiological leaf-level parameters of 60-yr-old Fagus sylvatica (European beech) trees.

Enhanced ozone strongly reduces carbon sink strength of adult beech (Fagus sylvatica)--resume from the free-air fumigation study at Kranzberg Forest.

Ground-level ozone (O(3)) has gained awareness as an agent of climate change. In this respect, key results are comprehended from a unique 8-year free-air O(3)-fumigation experiment, conducted on adult beech (Fagus sylvatica) at Kranzberg Forest (Germany). A novel canopy O(3) exposure methodology was employed that allowed whole-tree assessment in situ under twice-ambient O(3) levels.

Changes in susceptibility of beech (Fagus sylvatica) seedlings towards Phytophthora citricola under the influence of elevated atmospheric CO2 and nitrogen fertilization.

The growth-differentiation balance hypothesis (GDBH) predicts changes in susceptibility of plants against herbivores with changing resource availability. In the presented study we tested the validity of the GDBH for trees infected with a root pathogen. For this purpose Fagus sylvatica seedlings grown under different atmospheric CO(2)- and soil nitrogen regimes were infected with the root pathogen Phytophthora citricola.

Quantification of mRNAs and housekeeping gene selection for quantitative real-time RT-PCR normalization in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) during abiotic and biotic stress.

Analyses of different plant stressors are often based on gene expression studies. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) is the most sensitive method for the detection of low abundance transcripts. However, a critical point to note is the selection of housekeeping genes as an internal control.

Photosynthetic and leaf water potential responses of Alnus glutinosa saplings to stem-base inoculaton with Phytophthora alni subsp. alni.

Three-year-old Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (alder) saplings were single or double inoculated at the stem base with Phytophthora alni subsp.

Evidence that branch cuvettes are reasonable surrogates for estimating O3 effects in entire tree crowns.

Within the scope of quantifying ozone (O(3)) effects on forest tree crowns it is still an open question whether cuvette branches of adult trees are reasonable surrogates for O(3) responses of entire tree crowns and whether twigs exhibit autonomy in defense metabolism in addition to carbon autonomy. Therefore, cuvette-enclosed branches of mature beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees were compared with branches exposed to the same and different ozone regimes by a free-air fumigation system under natural stand conditions by means of a VICE VERSA experiment. For this purpose, cuvettes receiving 1 x O(3) air were mounted in trees exposed to 2 x O(3) and cuvettes receiving 2 x O(3) air were mounted in trees exposed to 1 x O (3) in the upper sun crown.

Flux-based response of sucrose and starch in leaves of adult beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) under chronic free-air O3 fumigation.

Investigations on sucrose and starch contents in leaves of 60-year-old beech trees ( FAGUS SYLVATICA L.) are the focus of the present study. Five trees were exposed to a twice ambient ozone regime (2 x O(3)) with a free-air canopy exposure system throughout the seasons and five trees under the prevailing ambient ozone regime served as controls (1 x O(3)).

Synopsis of the CASIROZ case study: carbon sink strength of Fagus sylvatica L. in a changing environment--experimental risk assessment of mitigation by chronic ozone impact.

Databases are needed for the ozone (O(3)) risk assessment on adult forest trees under stand conditions, as mostly juvenile trees have been studied in chamber experiments. A synopsis is presented here from an integrated case study which was conducted on adult FAGUS SYLVATICA trees at a Central-European forest site. Employed was a novel free-air canopy O(3) fumigation methodology which ensured a whole-plant assessment of O(3) sensitivity of the about 30 m tall and 60 years old trees, comparing responses to an experimental 2 x ambient O(3) regime (2 x O(3), max.

Physiological changes of Fagus sylvatica seedlings infected with Phytophthora citricola and the contribution of its elicitin "citricolin" to pathogenesis.

Beech seedlings were infected with the root rot pathogen Phytophthora citricola to study its impact on leaf physiology and water status. Net photosynthesis rate decreased two days after inoculation in infected seedlings. In contrast, electron quantum yield of photosystem II, leaf water potential, and total water consumption were only slightly impaired until 6 dpi.

The plant's capacity in regulating resource demand.

Regulation of resource allocation in plants is the key to integrate understanding of metabolism and resource flux across the whole plant. The challenge is to understand trade-offs as plants balance allocation between different and conflicting demands, e.g.

Phytophthora pseudosyringae sp. nov., a new species causing root and collar rot of deciduous tree species in Europe.

In several studies of oak decline in Europe, a semi-papillate homothallic Phytophthora taxon was consistently isolated, together with other Phytophthora species, from rhizosphere soil samples. It was also found associated with necrotic fine roots and stem necroses of Fagus sylvatica and Alnus glutinosa. Due to morphological and physiological similarities, the semi-papillate isolates were previously identified as P.

Seasonal changes of plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase and endogenous ion current during cambial growth in poplar plants.

The plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase (PM H(+)-ATPase), potassium ions, and endogenous ion currents might play a fundamental role in the physiology of cambial growth. Seasonal changes of these parameters were studied in twigs of Populus nigra and Populus trichocarpa. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against the PM H(+)-ATPase, x-ray analysis for K(+) localization and a vibrating electrode for measurement of endogenous ion currents were used as probes.

Ethical guidance on human embryonic and fetal tissue transplantation: a European overview.

This article presents an overview of regulations, guidelines and societal debates in eight member states of the EC about a) embryonic and fetal tissue transplantation (EFTT), and b) the use of human embryonic stem cells (hES cells) for research into cell therapy, including 'therapeutic' cloning. There appears to be a broad acceptance of EFTT in these countries. In most countries guidance has been developed.

cDNA cloning and expression of a class II acidic chitinase from sweet orange.

A citrus cDNA encoding a class II acidic chitinase was isolated from a nonembryogenic cell line of sweet orange using the tobacco cDNA clone PROB3. Northern blot analysis revealed that the corresponding mRNA is expressed in young, green bark but not in leaves, roots, or flavedo.

Uptake of 3H-catecholamines by rat liver cells occurs mainly through a system which is distinct from uptake1 or uptake2.

Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with 200 nmol/l 3H-(-)-noradrenaline or 50 nmol/l 3H-(-)-adrenaline for 15 min, in Krebs-Henseleit solution at 37 degrees C, gassed with 95% O2 5% CO2. Monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase were inhibited with pargyline (500 mumol/l) and Ro 01-2812 (3,5-dinitropyrocatechol; 2 mumol/l), respectively. Total radioactivity present in the cells, which corresponded mostly to intact 3H-amine, was measured.

Effect of sympathetic denervation on the relaxing responses of rabbit arterial smooth muscle.

1. The present study reports on the influence of chemical denervation by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on the relaxing responses to carbachol, sodium nitroprusside, zaprinast, adenosine, forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) of ring preparations of rabbit renal and femoral arteries. 2.

Identification and characterization of acidic hydrolases with chitinase and chitosanase activities from sweet orange callus tissue.

Acidic chitinases (EC 3.2.1.