PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Barbara Schulz

Publications and source records attributed to Barbara Schulz.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Tithoniamarin and tithoniamide: a structurally unique isocoumarin dimer and a new ceramide from Tithonia diversifolia.

Tithoniamarin (1), a new isocoumarin dimer and a new ceramide, named tithoniamide (2a), have been isolated from Tithonia diversifolia, in addition to the known beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol glucopyranoside. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. Preliminary studies showed that 1 has antifungal and herbicidal activities against Microbotryum violaceum and Chlorella fusca.

Asteraceae↗

DNA microarray wet lab simulation brings genomics into the high school curriculum.

We have developed a wet lab DNA microarray simulation as part of a complete DNA microarray module for high school students. The wet lab simulation has been field tested with high school students in Illinois and Maryland as well as in workshops with high school teachers from across the nation. Instead of using DNA, our simulation is based on pH indicators, which offer many ideal teaching characteristics. The simulation requires no specialized equipment, is very inexpensive, is very reliable, and takes very little preparation time. Student and teacher assessment data indicate the simulation is popular with both groups, and students show significant learning gains. We include many resources with this publication, including all prelab introductory materials (e.g., a paper microarray activity), the student handouts, teachers notes, and pre- and postassessment tools. We did not test the simulation on other student populations, but based on teacher feedback, the simulation also may fit well in community college and in introductory and nonmajors' college biology curricula.

Curriculum↗

The endophytic continuum.

In spite of the term 'endophyte' being employed for all organisms that inhabit plants, mycologists have come to use the term 'fungal endophyte' for fungi that inhabit plants without causing visible disease symptoms. The term refers only to fungi at the moment of detection without regard for the future status of the interaction. This paper is a review of literature on non-balansiaceous fungi involved in asymptomatic colonisations of plants. These fungal endophytes represent a continuum of fungi with respect to physiological status, infection modus, colonisation pattern, secondary metabolism, life-history strategy, and developmental and evolutionary stages, but also with respect to the fungal and host taxa involved in the symbioses. We hypothesize that there are no neutral interactions, but rather that endophyte-host interactions involve a balance of antagonisms, irrespective of the plant organ infected. There is always at least a degree of virulence on the part of the fungus enabling infection, whereas defence of the plant host limits development of fungal invaders and disease. It is also hypothesized that the endophytes, in contrast to known pathogens, generally have far greater phenotypic plasticity and thus more options than pathogens: infection, local but also extensive colonisation, latency, virulence, pathogenity and (or) saprophytism. This phenotypic plasticity is a motor of evolution.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Botryane metabolites from the fungus Geniculosporium sp. isolated from the marine red alga Polysiphonia.

Eleven new botryane metabolites (1-11) were isolated together with four known cytochalasins (12-15) from the mitosporic fungus Geniculosporium sp., which is associated with the red alga Polysiphonia sp. The structures of 1-11 differ from known botryanes in substitution pattern, degree of saturation, and altered sites of oxidation, alkylation, unsaturation, etc. They were determined by spectroscopic methods (mainly extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectral measurements) and X-ray single-crystal analysis. The herbicidal, antifungal, and antibacterial activities of these new natural products were evaluated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Newbouldiaquinone and newbouldiamide: a new naphthoquinone-anthraquinone coupled pigment and a new ceramide from Newbouldia laevis.

Newbouldiaquinone (1), a new naphthoquinone-anthraquinone coupled pigment and a new ceramide named newbouldiamide (2), have been isolated from Newbouldia laevis, besides the known compounds lapachol (3), canthic acid, oleanolic acid, 2-methyl-9,10-anthracenedione, 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl triacontanoate, beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol glucopyranoside. The structure elucidations of the isolated new compounds were performed on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. Preliminary studies showed that 1 is moderately antibacterial against Gram-positive Bacillus megaterium and that 3 has moderate herbicidal and antibacterial activities.

Anthraquinones↗

Biologically active metabolites from fungi, 19: new isocoumarins and highly substituted benzoic acids from the endophytic fungus, Scytalidium sp.

Six known metabolites, two new isocoumarins 4 and 8, and one new highly substituted benzoic acid derivative 9 were isolated from the ethyl acetate culture extract of a fungal endophyte, Scytalidium sp. In addition, another new benzoic acid 10 with an unusual 1,2-dicarbonyl side chain was indirectly identified from its methylated derivatives 10a-10d.

Ascomycota↗

Molecular detection of ascomycetes associated with Fucus serratus.

The association of ascomycetes with Fucus serratus was investigated by comparing the broad-based molecular and cultural diversities of healthy and dead fronds. Four PCR primer pairs were used to amplify the 18S (primers NS1-FR1; NS1-EF3) or 28S rRNA (primers NL209-NL912; NL359-NL912) genes directly from the DNA of algal thalli. Two novel primer pairs, NL209-NL912 and NL359-NL912 giving product sizes of 700 and 559 bp respectively, were designed to amplify the 28S rDNA from ascomycetes specifically. All primer combinations amplified DNA from 33 reference taxa isolated from Fucus serratus, and the products generated by primers NS1-FR1GC and NL359-NL912GC were separated in 18-38% and 38-60% denaturant gradients respectively after DGGE. The 18S rDNA DGGE system resolved eight bands from algal DNA, but many of the sequences separated were not fungal, whereas the 28S rDNA system resolved seven bands that were all identified as ascomycetes. Phylogenetic analysis and BLAST search results of environmental sequences revealed the presence of four main ascomycete groups: (1) the Halosphaeriales, (2) the Hypocreales, (3) an unidentified Lulworthiales complex, and (4) the Pleosporales. Few fungal isolates were detected molecularly suggesting that fungal colonisation of fronds was limited, mainly to species in dead casts.

Ascomycota↗