Schutz und Erhalt pflanzengenetischer Vielfalt : In situ- und Ex situ-Maßnahmen

Die ökologische, ökonomische und kulturelle Bedeutung von Wildpflanzenarten und deren Potential an genetischen Ressourcen werden immer offensichtlicher. Aber unsere Biosphäre verändert sich zunehmend drastischer, wodurch die natürliche Artenvielfalt stark bedroht ist. Die „Convention on Biological Diversity“ (CBD) hat sich ein Aufhalten des Biodiversitätsverlustes zum Ziel gesetzt. In situ- Maßnahmen wird dabei eine hohe Priorität zugesprochen, aber Ex situ-Maßnahmen werden immer dringender und dies insbesondere hinsichtlich des Erhalts genetischer Variabilität auf Populationsebene. Botanische Gärten sind durch ihre traditionell großen Sammlungen und Ausstellungen als Standardinstitutionen für eine Ex situ-Erhaltung prädestiniert. Aber der Wert und die Bedeutung dieser Sammlungen für den Erhalt der natürlichen genetischen Variabilität bleibt de facto beschränkt. Wir plädieren daher mit Nachdruck für Saatgutgenbanken für Wildpflanzen. Diese Vorgehensweise wird in mehreren Ländern bereits herangezogen - in Deutschland aber nicht. Saatgutgenbanken sind die einfachste und preisgünstigste Ex situ-Strategie zum Erhalt der pflanzengenetischen Vielfalt. Saatgutgenbanken für Wildpflanzen haben das Ziel, natürliche pflanzengenetische Ressourcen zu schützen und zu erhalten. In Kombination mit In situ-Maßnahmen haben sie große Bedeutung für den Naturschutz, z.B. im Rahmen von Wiederbesiedlungsmaßnahmen.The world is facing a dramatic change of the biosphere. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and biological invasions are regarded as greatest threat for biodiversity. To stop the current loss of biodiversity is a matter of worldwide concern, and is the goal of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992). Priority is given to in situ measures against species decline, however should be supported by ex situ conservation, and in the light of the ever increasing loss of biodiversity, ex situ measures are becoming more and more urgent, especially when protecting genetic variation at the population level. There is growing awareness of the ecological, economic and cultural significance of wild plant species and their potential as genetic resources. Botanic gardens are the standard institutions for ex situ conservation. With their huge collections on display botanical gardens are the most effective multipliers for increasing public awareness of the value of biodiversity and conservation needs. However, there are limitations which reduce the value of the collections of the botanical gardens for conservation of genetic variability. We therefore strongly argue for seed gene banks of wild plants, a strategy which has been already adopted in several countries but not in Germany. Seed gene banks are the easiest and least expensive way for preserving plant genetic variability. The aim of seed gene banks for indigenous wild plants are protection and conservation of natural plant genetic resources and promoting integrated ex situ and in situ conservation efforts e.g. for reintroduction strategies

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Outbreak, Germany, and Calculation of Outbreak Start

On the basis of a large outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a German university hospital, we estimated costs (≈1 million Euros) that could have been avoided by early detection of the imminent outbreak. For this purpose, we demonstrate an easy-to-use statistical method

Loki Schmidt-Genbank für Wildpflanzen am Botanischen Garten der Universität Osnabrück

Zur Erhaltung genetischer Ressourcen, wissenschaftlicher Forschung und im Rahmen zentraler Informationsdatenbanken sind Ex situ-Sammlungen in Form von Genbanken notwendig. Die Botanischen Gärten sollten Saatgutgenbanken von Wildpflanzen zukünftig aufbauen bzw. etablieren, um die Erhaltungsmaßnahmen und den Schutz der natürlichen pflanzengenetischen Ressourcen weiter voranzubringen. Am Botanischen Garten der Universität Osnabrück ist eine Genbank für Wildpflanzen eingerichtet worden, die insbesondere Saatgut gefährdeter Gefäßpflanzenarten Nordwestdeutschlands beherbergt und unter trockenen Bedingungen bei minus 20°C in speziellen Alu-Polyethylenfolien aufbewahrt. Gegenwärtig befinden sich 1800 Saatgutproben von 620 Wildpflanzenarten aus 65 Pflanzenfamilien in der Genbank. In einer Access basierten Datenbank ist jeder Beleg auch online abrufbar (www.wildpflanzen-genbank.de) und im Herbarium “OSBU“ der AG Botanik als Belegexemplar hinterlegt. Wir planen die Integration der Loki Schmidt-Genbank und das dezentrale Netzwerk von regionalen Saatgut-Genbanken für Wildpflanzen in die Organisation „Nationales Inventar Pflanzengenetischer Ressourcen Deutschlands“ (PGRDEU) und hier in das untergeordnete Netzwerk „Deutsche Genbank für Crop Wild Relatives” (CWR), dessen Koordination dem Botanischen Garten Osnabrück obliegen würde. Botanische Gärten können als Institutionen die Nachhaltigkeit der Einrichtung solcher Systeme gewährleisten und sind deshalb die richtigen Ansprechpartner für diese Kooperation.There is a growing awareness for the significance of seed gene banks as an ex situ-strategy for the maintenance of plant genetic resources. At the Botanical Garden of the University of Osnabrueck we established a seed gene bank for wild plants of Northwest Germany. We have already collected material of 1800 accessions from 620 species and 65 families. The seeds are dried and stored in special plastic bags in minus 20°C. Information about each accession is listed in an access database which is online available (www.wildpflanzen-genbank.de). Voucher material is documented in the herbarium OSBU of the AG Botany at the University of Osnabrueck. We plan to integrate the Loki Schmidt Gene Bank and the decentralised network of seed gene banks for wild plants into the organisation “National Inventory of Plant Genetic Resources Germany” (PGRDEU) and here in the subordinated network “German Gene Bank for Crop Wild Relatives” which shall be coordinated in the Botanical Garden in Osnabrueck. Institutions like Botanical Gardens are able to guarantee for the sustainability of such systems and are the most probable partners in the cooperation

WEL Gene Bank: The National Gene Bank for German Crop Wild Relative Species

Die "Genbank Wildpflanzen für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft" (Genbank WEL) wurde 2009 als ein bundesweites Netzwerk gegründet, um die Nutzung wildlebender pflanzengenetischer Ressourcen in Deutschland zu sichern und deren Verfügbarkeit als Saatgut gewährleisten zu können. Wildpflanzen für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (WEL-Arten, im englischen crop wild relatives) stellen mit mehr als 2.800 Arten einen beachtlichen Anteil der ca. 4.300 heimischen Farn- und Blütenpflanzen dar. Mit der Saatgutgenbank WEL wurde eine wertvolle Ressource für zukünftige Forschungsprojekte und Anwendungen in der Pflanzenzüchtung geschaffen, die derzeit über 4.500 Akzessionen von 272 WEL-Arten umfasst. An dem Netzwerk sind die Botanischen Gärten Berlin, Karlsruhe, Osnabrück und Regensburg sowie die Pädagogische Hochschule Karlsruhe beteiligt. Der WEL-Genbankbestand soll durch weitere Sammlungsaktivitäten ausgebaut werden. Aufgrund fehlender Finanzierungsmittel kann dies nicht zielgerichtet durchgeführt werden und es besteht dringender Handlungsbedarf zur Weiterentwicklung der WEL-Genbank.The German “Genbank für Wildpflanzen für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft” (WEL) is a gene bank for crop wild relatives for which the German term ‘WEL’ species has been coined. The WEL gene bank was established in 2009 as a national network to protect wild plant genetic resources in Germany to protect and ensure availability of WEL seed material. The 2,800 species of wild plants used for nutrition and agriculture (crop wild relatives) represent a substantial proportion of our native 4,300 fern and flowering plant species. The WEL gene bank project has produced a valuable resource for future research projects and for use in crop breeding. Participating in this network are the Botanical Gardens of Berlin, Karlsruhe, Osnabrück and Regensburg, as well as the Educational College of Karlsruhe. The WEL gene bank is under management of the Botanical Garden of Osnabrück, Germany. The Information and coordination centre of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) is responsible for the integration of the WEL gene bank in the “National Specialist Programme for Plant Genetic Resources” (PGDEU). There are currently 4,500 accessions of 272 species in the WEL gene bank. Currently no further funding is available, although the WEL gene bank needs further development

Understanding tumor localization in multiparametric MRI of the prostate—effectiveness of 3D printed models

IntroductionUnderstanding tumor localization in multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) of the prostate is challenging for urologists but of great importance in mpMRI-fused prostate biopsy or radical prostatectomy. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of 3D printed models of the prostate to help urologists to locate tumors.Methods and Participants20 urologists from University Medical Center Mainz (Germany) were asked to plot the location of a cancer suspicious lesion (PI-RADS ≥ 4) on a total of 30 mpMRI on a prostate sector diagram. The following 3 groups (as matched triplets) were divided into: mpMRI only, mpMRI with radiological report and mpMRI with 3D printed model (scaled 1:1). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way and two-way ANOVA (with bonferroni post-test).ResultsOverall, localization of the suspicious lesion was superior with the radiological report (median of max. 10 [IQR]: MRI 2 [IQR 1;5], MRI + report: 8 [6.3;9], MRI + 3D model 3 [1.3;5.8]; p < 0.001). Residents with <1 year of experience had a significantly higher detection rate using a 3D printed model [5 (5;5.8)] compared to mpMRI alone [1.5 (1;3.5)] (p < 0.05). Regarding the estimation of index lesion extension, the 3D model showed a significant benefit (mean percentage difference [95% CI]: MRI alone 234% [17.1;451.5], MRI + report 114% [78.5;149.6], MRI + 3D model 17% [−7.4;41.3] (p < 0.01).ConclusionUrologists still need the written radiological report for a sufficient understanding of tumor localization. The effectiveness of the 3D printed model regarding tumor localization is particularly evident in young residents (<1 year) and leads to a better overall assessment of the tumor extension

Junior doctors' experiences with interprofessional collaboration:Wandering the landscape

Context The transition from medical student to junior doctor is challenging. Junior doctors need to become part of the physician community of practice (CoP), while dealing with new responsibilities, tasks and expectations. At the same time, they need to learn how to navigate the frontiers and intersections with the other communities of practice that form the Landscape of Practice (LoP). This study aims to understand how junior doctors experience interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and what elements shape these experiences considering their transition to clinical practice. Methods In this multicentre qualitative study, 13 junior doctors individually drew two rich pictures of IPC experiences, one positive and one negative. A rich picture is a visual representation, a drawing of a particular situation intended to capture the complex and non-verbal elements of an experience. We used semi-structured interviews to deepen the understanding of junior doctors' depicted IPC experiences. We analysed both visual materials and interview transcripts iteratively, for which we adopted an inductive constructivist thematic analysis. Results While transitioning into a doctor, junior doctors become foremost members of the physician CoP and shape their professional identity based on perceived values in their physician community. Interprofessional learning occurs implicitly, without input from the interprofessional team. As a result, junior doctors struggle to bridge the gap between themselves and the interprofessional team, preventing IPC learning from developing into an integrative process. This professional isolation leaves junior doctors wandering the landscape of practice without understanding roles, attitudes and expectations of others. Conclusions Learning IPC needs to become a collective endeavour and an explicit learning goal, based on multisource feedback to take advantage of the expertise already present in the LoP. Furthermore, junior doctors need a safe environment to embrace and reflect on the emotions aroused by interprofessional interactions, under the guidance of experienced facilitators

Ambient Intelligence and Persuasive Technology: The Blurring Boundaries Between Human and Technology

The currently developing fields of Ambient Intelligence and Persuasive Technology bring about a convergence of information technology and cognitive science. Smart environments that are able to respond intelligently to what we do and that even aim to influence our behaviour challenge the basic frameworks we commonly use for understanding the relations and role divisions between human beings and technological artifacts. After discussing the promises and threats of these technologies, this article develops alternative conceptions of agency, freedom, and responsibility that make it possible to better understand and assess the social roles of Ambient Intelligence and Persuasive Technology. The central claim of the article is that these new technologies urge us to blur the boundaries between humans and technologies also at the level of our conceptual and moral frameworks

On the Wegener granulomatosis associated region on chromosome 6p21.3

BACKGROUND: Wegener granulomatosis (WG) belongs to the heterogeneous group of systemic vasculitides. The multifactorial pathophysiology of WG is supposedly caused by yet unknown environmental influence(s) on the basis of genetic predisposition. The presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in the plasma of patients and genetic involvement of the human leukocyte antigen system reflect an autoimmune background of the disease. Strong associations were revealed with WG by markers located in the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) region in the vicinity of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DPB1 and the retinoid X receptor B (RXRB) loci. In order to define the involvement of the 6p21.3 region in WG in more detail this previous population-based association study was expanded here to the respective 3.6 megabase encompassing this region on chromosome 6. The RXRB gene was analysed as well as a splice-site variation of the butyrophilin-like (BTNL2) gene which is also located within the respective region. The latter polymorphism has been evaluated here as it appears as a HLA independent susceptibility factor in another granulomatous disorder, sarcoidosis. METHODS: 150–180 German WG patients and a corresponding cohort of healthy controls (n = 100–261) were used in a two-step study. A panel of 94 microsatellites was designed for the initial step using a DNA pooling approach. Markers with significantly differing allele frequencies between patient and control pools were individually genotyped. The RXRB gene was analysed for single strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). The splice-site polymorphism in the BTNL2 gene was also investigated by RFLP analysis. RESULTS: A previously investigated microsatellite (#1.0.3.7, Santa Cruz genome browser (UCSC) May 2004 Freeze localisation: chr6:31257596-34999883), which was used as a positive control, remained associated throughout the whole two-step approach. Yet, no additional evidence for association of other microsatellite markers was found in the entire investigated region. Analysis of the RXRB gene located in the WG associated region revealed associations of two variations (rs10548957 p(allelic )= 0.02 and rs6531 p(allelic )= 5.20 × 10(-5), OR = 1.88). Several alleles of markers located between HLA-DPB1, SNP rs6531 and microsatellite 1.0.3.7 showed linkage disequilibrium with r(2 )values exceeding 0.10. Significant differences were not demonstrable for the sarcoidosis associated splice-site variation (rs2076530 p(allelic )= 0.80) in our WG cohort. CONCLUSION: Since a microsatellite flanking the RXRB gene and two intragenic polymorphisms are associated significantly with WG on chromosome 6p21.3, further investigations should be focussed on extensive fine-mapping in this region by densely mapping with additional markers such as SNPs. This strategy may reveal even deeper insights into the genetic contributions of the respective region for the pathogenesis of WG

Molecular and functional profiling identifies therapeutically targetable vulnerabilities in plasmablastic lymphoma

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) represents a rare and aggressive lymphoma subtype frequently associated with immunosuppression. Clinically, patients with PBL are characterized by poor outcome. The current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis is limited. A hallmark of PBL represents its plasmacytic differentiation with loss of B-cell markers and, in 60% of cases, its association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Roughly 50% of PBLs harbor a MYC translocation. Here, we provide a comprehensive integrated genomic analysis using whole exome sequencing (WES) and genome-wide copy number determination in a large cohort of 96 primary PBL samples. We identify alterations activating the RAS-RAF, JAK-STAT, and NOTCH pathways as well as frequent high-level amplifications in MCL1 and IRF4. The functional impact of these alterations is assessed using an unbiased shRNA screen in a PBL model. These analyses identify the IRF4 and JAK-STAT pathways as promising molecular targets to improve outcome of PBL patients