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“A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the mobilization of phosphorus from Senegalese natural rock phosphate (NRP) for growth of Gliricidia sepium and Sesbania sesban seedlings. Levels of tested NRP were compatible with high

AM fungal proliferation but modified pattern of root colonization according to plant cultivar and fungal species. NRP NVP-HSP990 applications and AM inoculation positively stimulated growth parameters and shoot mineral mass of G. sepium and S. sesban after four months cultivation. More than 200% of weight gains in S. sesban were recorded with all AM fungi combined with 600 or 800 mg NRP. With Gliricidia, only Glomus aggregatum in presence with these high

NRP levels induced the same tendency. Glomus fasciculatum enhanced twice height growth of Sesbania in presence of 400, 600 and 800 mg NRP. The impact of dual application of AM fungi and NRP on nutritional content was more marked with Sesbania than in Gliricidia seedlings.”
“Treatment with TNF alpha inhibitors increases risk of reactivating a latent tuberculosis\infection (LTBI). Therefore screening, prior to therapy with TNF alpha inhibitors, has been AG-14699 recommended, even in low-endemic areas such as well-developed Western Europe countries. We evaluated interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), as opposed to tuberculin skin test (TST), for detection of LTBI in refractory inflammatory disease patients prior to the initiation of a first TNF alpha inhibitor. In addition, we evaluated the impact of impaired cellular immunity on IGRA. Patients starting on TNF alpha inhibition were screened for LTBI by TST and IGRA (Quantiferon-TB Gold). Data on tuberculosis exposure and Bacillus Calmette-Gu,rin (BCG) vaccination were obtained. Cellular immunity was assessed by CD4(+) T lymphocyte cell count. Nine out

of 56 patients (16.1%) tested positive for LTBI. A concordant positive result was present in three patients with a medical history of tuberculosis exposure. Six patients with discordant test results had either: (1) a negative TST and positive IGRA in combination with a medical history of tuberculosis exposure (n = 1) or (2) a positive TST and negative IGRA in combination with BCG vaccination (n = 3) or a medical history of tuberculosis exposure (n = 2). CD4(+) T lymphocyte selleck inhibitor cell counts were within normal limits, and no indeterminate results of IGRA were present. IGRA appears reliable for confirming TST and excluding a false positive TST (due to prior BCG vaccination) in this Dutch serie of patients. In addition, IGRA may detect one additional case of LTBI out of 56 patients that would otherwise be missed using solely TST. Immune suppression appears not to result significantly in lower CD4(+) T lymphocyte cell counts and indeterminate results of IGRA, despite systemic corticosteroid treatment in half of the patients.