​org.​uk/​, John van Wyhe, director). J.P. acknowledges the financial support by grants BFU2006-01951/BMC from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FP7-KBBE-2007-212894 (TARPOL project, European Union). The support of the Institut Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti (Universita di Roma, La Sapienza) and the generous hospitality of Professor Ernesto https://www.selleckchem.com/products/wh-4-023.html di Mauro (Universita di Roma, La Sapienza) to A.L. are gratefully acknowledged. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source

are credited. References Aulie R (1970) Darwin and spontaneous generation. J Amer Sci Affil 22:31–33 Bastian HC (1907) The evolution of life. P. Dutton and Co, New York Bronn HG (1860) [Review of] Ch. Darwin: on the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life (London 1859). Neues Jahrbuch Autophagy Compound Library price für Mineralogie, Geognosie, Geologie und Petrefaktenkunde:112–116 [Translated in David Hull, 1973. Darwin and His Critics: The Reception of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by the Scientific Community. University of Chicago Press, Chicago pp. 120–124] Calvin M

(1969) Chemical evolution: Molecular evolution towards the origin of living systems on the Earth and elsewhere. Oxford University Press, New York Crowe MJ (1986) The extraterrestrial life debate 1750–1900: The idea of a plurality of worlds from Kant to Lowell.

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Dahm R (2005) Friedrich Miescher and the discovery of DNA. Dev Biol 278:274–288PubMedCrossRef Darwin Ch (1863) The selleck products doctrine of heterogeny and modification of species. Athenæum no. 1852, 25 April 1863:554–555. [Reprinted in: van Wyhe J 2009:334–337] Darwin Ch (1868) The variation of animals and plants under domestication, 2 vols. Murray, London Darwin F (ed) (1887) The life and letters of Charles Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter, 3 vols. STK38 John Murray, London De Beer G (1959) Some unpublished letters of Charles Darwin. Notes Rec R Soc Lond 14:12–66CrossRef de Beer G (ed) (1960) Darwin’s notebooks on transmutation of species. Part IV, Fourth notebook [E] (October 1838–10 July 1839). Bull Brit Mus (Nat Hist) Hist Ser 2: 151–183 de Beer G, Rowlands MJ, Skramovsky BM (eds) (1967) Darwin’s notebooks on transmutation of species. Part VI. Pages excised by Darwin. Bull Brit Mus (Nat Hist) Hist Ser 3:129–176 Farley J (1977) The spontaneous generation controversy: from Descartes to Oparin. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore Haeckel E (1862) Die Radiolarien (Rhizopoda Radiaria). Eine Monographie. Druck und Verlag Von Georg Reimer, Berlin Lazcano A (2002) Foreword to Lynn Margulis and Michael Dolan’s early life.

The number of such antioxidants exceeds that of AC220 research buy antioxidant vitamins. The availability of these unidentified antioxidants

in individual diet could thus affect the correlation between levels of 8-oxodG and antioxidant vitamins. Some dietary components also could up-regulate DNA repair without having any recognised antioxidant function. Interestingly, a positive association was observed in our study between the levels of 8-oxodG and those of the two vitamins, but only in the cases and not in the controls. However, this observation should be interpreted with caution, in the light of the foregoing discussion. Moreover, to arrive at a more convincing conclusion, our data would have to be expanded and adjusted for possible confounders such as age which can become the predominant, independent determinant of oxidative damage as has been discussed recently [43]. In view of the conflicting reports in the literature and the results of the present study, the

“”antioxidant hypothesis”" seems open to criticism. Is there indeed a relationship between antioxidant selleck inhibitor vitamins and oxidatively-damaged DNA? Secondly, are the concentrations of antioxidants and 8-oxodG in the blood representative measures of the situation FHPI cell line in the target tissue of the carcinogenesis and a true reflection of overall cellular DNA damage? Thirdly, do we have reliable tools to examine this correlation? The choice and reliability of biomarkers such as 8-oxodG has also been debated [28, 30, 46]. The reliability of 8-oxodG is influenced by its method of detection since its artefactual production is a serious concern. Notably, the values of 8-oxodG reported in this study are low and reach the background level of 8-oxodG recommended by ESCODD for HPLC-ED measurement, indicating

that these were not an artefact. It is known that individuals have different responses to oxidative damage and that the risk for oxidative stress-related cancer varies according to both, the environmental exposure and the genetic background. The human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase1 (hOGG1) is one of the major enzymes involved in DNA base excision repair (BER). Tolmetin A positive relationship between hOGG1 mRNA expression and 8-oxodG suggests that the expression level of hOGG1 may be interpreted as a biomarker of exposure to oxidative DNA damage [47, 48]. On the other hand, some studies indicated that there was no interaction between these parameters [12, 49, 50], which could be explained by the fact that hOGG1 is weakly expressed in certain tissues such as the aerodigestive tract tissue [51]. The activity of hOGG1 can be impaired by a polymorphic mutation at codon 326, the hOGG1 Ser 326 Cys polymorphism. However, the phenotypic impact of hOGG1 Ser 326 Cys polymorphism is unclear.

Specimens examined: Austria, Kärnten, Völkermarkt, Eisenkappel, at roadside, 1–2 km from the village, heading to Seebergsattel, MTB 9553/3, 46°26′16″ N 14°33′40″ E, elev. 780 m, on the hymenium of Fomitopsis pinicola/Picea abies, soc. Ophiostoma polyporicola, 31 Oct. 2005, H. Voglmayr

& W. Jaklitsch, W.J. 2882 (WU 29414, culture CBS 121274 = C.P.K. 2430). Niederösterreich, Lilienfeld, Sankt Aegyd am Neuwalde, Lahnsattel, virgin forest Neuwald, MTB 8259/1, 47°46′32″ N 15°31′25″ E, elev. 980 m, on the hymenium of a basidiome of Fomitopsis pinicola lying on the ground, soc. Melanospora sp., Ophiostoma polyporicola, 27 Sep. 2006, H. Voglmayr, W.J. 2990 (WU 29416, culture C.P.K. 2476). Mödling, Wienerwald, Kaltenleutgeben, BTSA1 in vivo between Am Brand and Cilengitide Stangau, MTB 7862/4, 48°06′41″ N, 16°08′26″ E, elev. 500 m, on a basidiome of Fomitopsis pinicola on a log of Fagus sylvatica, soc. Hypocrea pulvinata, 5 Oct. 2008, W. Jaklitsch & O. Sükösd, W.J. 3221 (WU 29418). Steiermark, Bruck/Mur, Gußwerk, Rotmoos bei Weichselboden, forest edge, MTB 8356/2, 47°40′58″ N 15°09′26″ E, elev. 690 m, on Fomitopsis pinicola on corticated log of Alnus incana lying on the ground, 12 cm thick, soc. Ophiostoma polyporicola, 27 Sep. 2006, H. Voglmayr, W.J. 2993 (WU 29417, culture CBS 121270 = C.P.K. 2478). Tirol, Innsbruck-Land, learn more Zirl, Zirler Alnetum (south of the river Inn), MTB 8733/1, 47°16′22″ N 11°13′50″ E, elev. 600 m,

on hymenium and upper side of Fomitopsis pinicola Acetophenone fallen from standing trunk of Alnus incana to the ground, also on bark, soc. H. pulvinata, 2 Sep. 2003, W. Jaklitsch, W.J. 2359 (WU 29425). Czech Republic, Southern Bohemia, Žofín,

Žofínský prales, MTB 7354/1, on a basidiome of Fomitopsis pinicola, soc. Ophiostoma polyporicola, 27 Sep. 2008, A. Urban, W.J. 3223 (WU 29419). Spain, Asturias, Puerto de Pajares, Hayedo de Valgrande, 43º 00′ 04″ N 5º 46′ 41″ W, elev. 1000 m, on Fomitopsis pinicola/Fagus sylvatica; 14 Aug. 2009 (ERD-4884). Switzerland, Bern, Büetigen, on Fomitopsis pinicola, soc. various hyphomycetes, overmature, 13 Oct. 2005, W. Gams (WU 29415, culture C.P.K. 2434). Notes: This species, originally described from Japan (Doi 1972), occurs also in North America, but was apparently unknown in Europe until recently. It often occurs together with H. pulvinata on the same basidiome, both species residing on the hymenium, while H. pulvinata frequently also grows on the upper side. Both species are often accompanied by Ophiostoma polyporicola, sometimes by Melanospora cf. lagenaria. Morphological differences permit easy distinction from H. pulvinata. Examination of the surface of fresh stromata, ideally before ascospore ejection, in the stereo-microscope is usually sufficient: H. pulvinata has minute ostioles surrounded by a ring-like, diffusely greenish yellow to orange-brown coloured stroma surface, followed by white mycelium, while H.

Self-reported and expert-rated assessment for individual workplaces was taken into account, while those articles based on job titles were excluded. Studies dealing exclusively with organisational factors (e.g. overtime work) were also excluded. Inclusion criteria of diseases were cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, angina pectoris, stroke and mTOR inhibitor hypertension. Outcomes such as atherosclerosis, blood pressure described as a metric variable and other subclinical measures as

well as gestational hypertension were not included in this review. In order to minimise bias from reversed causality as well as recall bias and other methodological restrictions, only prospective aetiological cohort studies and randomised controlled trials (RCT) were included. Prognostic studies with CVD patients were excluded from the analyses. In addition, case–control, cross-sectional and aggregated studies, as well as narrative reviews were excluded. Further, systematic reviews were checked for studies that had

been missed by the search strategy of the presented systematic review. Relevant publications were added to the analyses. Scientific articles were selleck screening library identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYNDEX, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library with defined search terms (see above). A senior medical information specialist performed the search in July 2008. After finishing the main data analyses, the procedure was repeated in March 2010 to identify studies published since the first search (see Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Flowchart Two readers (EM.B and B.S.) decided independently on inclusion or exclusion of all identified

publications based on title and—if available—abstract. Tyrosine-protein kinase BLK In order to avoid bias, readers were blinded to the name of the authors. In case of disagreement, consent was MLN2238 achieved by discussion, or a third reader (A.S.) was involved. Multiple publications based on the same cohort were retained if they involved analyses on different exposure methods or outcomes, e.g. stress measured as job strain and as effort–reward imbalance. If outcomes differed only slightly, such as cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the most comprehensive publication was considered. If exposure, methods and outcomes were identical in two articles, they were regarded as multiple publications and the one which was described in more detail was retained. Retrieved papers were evaluated by the two readers in respect to the level of evidence using a modified version of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) checklist for cohort studies (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network 2008; Harbour and Miller 2001). Since no randomised trials were found, the respective SIGN checklist for RCTs was not applicable. A third reader (A.S.) served as an arbiter in case of disagreement concerning the level of evidence of a study.

The chemical composition of the early terrestrial atmosphere: Formation of a reducing atmosphere from CI-like material. Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 112: E05010. Kasting, J. F. (1993). Earth’s early atmosphere. Science, 259: 920–926. Kasting, J. F., Howard, M. T., Wallmann, K., Veizer, J., Shields, G., and Jaffres, J. (2006). Paleoclimates, ocean depth, and the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 252: 82–93. Knauth, P. and Lowe, D. R. (2003).

High Archean climatic temperature inferred from oxygen isotope geochemistry of cherts in the 3.5 Ga Swaziland Supergroup, South Africa. GSA Bull., 115: 566–580. Robert, F. and www.selleckchem.com/products/mm-102.html Chaussidon, M. (2006). A palaeotemperature curve for the Precambrian Selleckchem ARS-1620 oceans based on silicon isotopes in cherts. Nature, 443: 969–972. Shields, G. and Veizer, J. (2002). Precambrian marine carbon isotope database: version 1.1. Geol. Geochem. Geophys., 3: June 6. Tian, F., Toon, O. B., Pavlov, A. A., and De Sterck, H. (2005). A hydrogen rich early Earth atmosphere. Science, 308: 1014–1017. Walker, J. C. G. (1977). Evolution of the Atmosphere. Macmillan, New York. E-mail:

kasting@essc.​psu.​edu Synthesis of Nucleic Acid Components Raffaele Saladino Agrobiology & Agrochemistry Department, University of Tuscia, Via S, Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy Plausible scenarios for the origin of life entail the selleck products robust prebiotic synthesis of informational polymers by condensation of simple chemical precursors (Saladino and Di Mauro, 2005). Among the chemical precursors taken into consideration, two related compounds, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and formamide (NH2COH, 1), were matter of thorough

analyses (Saladino and Di Mauro, 2004; Saladino and Di Mauro, 2006; Saladino and Di Mauro, 2007). The attention for these two compounds is mainly due Non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase to their ability to synthesize nucleic bases and amino acids under experimental conditions relatively mild and coherent with those existing on the primitive Earth. Noteworthy, formamide is the only chemical precursor able to synthesize at the same time, in addition to some amino acid derivatives, both purine and pyrimidine nucleic bases (Ciciriello, Saladino and Di Mauro, 2007; Costanzo, Saladino and Di Mauro, 2007; Ciciriello, Saladino and Di Mauro, 2008). Here we show, in agreement with the seminal hypotheses of Bernal (Bernal, 1951) and Cairns-Smith Cairns-Smith 1992), that the prebiotic chemistry of formamide is finely tuned by the presence of different metal oxides and minerals in the reaction mixture, thus modelling the microenvironment of the primitive Earth. These compounds can act as catalysts for condensation processes, enhancing the concentration of the reactant and preserving newly formed biomolecules from chemical and photochemical degradation.

Osteopor Int 19:1733–1740CrossRef 21. Majumdar SR, Johnson JA, McAlister FA, Bellerose D, Russell AS, Hanley DA, Morrish DW, Maksymowych WP, Rowe BH (2008) Multifaceted intervention to improve diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in patients with recent wrist fracture: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ 178:569–575PubMedCrossRef

22. Miki RA, Oetgen ME, Kirk J, Insogna KL, Lindskog DM (2008) Orthopaedic management improves the rate of early osteoporosis treatment after hip fracture: a randomized clinical trial. J Bone Jt Surg- A 90:2346–2353CrossRef 23. Rozental TD, Makhni EC, Day CS, Bouxsein ML, Rozental TD, Makhni EC, Day CS, Bouxsein ML (2008) this website Improving evaluation and treatment for osteoporosis following distal radial fractures: a prospective randomized

intervention. selleck inhibitor J Bone Jt Surg-Am 90:953–961CrossRef 24. Little EA, Eccles MP (2010) A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to improve post-fracture investigation and management of patients at risk of osteoporosis. Implem Sci 5:80. doi:10.​1186/​1748-5908-5-80 CrossRef 25. Dickson L, Cameron C, Hawker G, Ratansi A, Radziunas I, Bansod V, Jaglal S (2008) Development E2 conjugating inhibitor of a multidisciplinary osteoporosis telehealth program. Telemedicine e-Health 14(5):473–478CrossRef 26. Siminoski K, Leslie WD, Frame H, Hodsman A, Josse RG, Khan A, Lentle BC, Lévesque J, Lyons DJ, Tarulli G,

Brown JP (2005) Recommendations for bone mineral density reporting in Canada. Can Assoc Radiol J 56(3):178–188PubMed 27. Brown JP, Fortier M (2006) Canadian Consensus Conference on Osteoporosis 2006 Update. JOGC 172:S95–S112 28. Majumdar SR, Rowe BH, Folk D, Johnson JA, Holroyd BH, Morrish DW, Maksymowych WP, Steiner IP, Harley CH, Wirzba B, Hanley DA, Blitz S, Russell AS (2004) A controlled trial to increase detection and treatment of osteoporosis in older patients with a wrist fracture. Annals Intern Med 141:366–373 29. Cadarette SM, Jaglal SB, Raman-Wilms L, Beaton DE, Paterson JM (2010) Osteoporosis quality indicators using healthcare utilization data. Osteoporos Int. doi:10.​1007/​s00198-010-1329-8 30. Cadarette SM, Beaton DE, PTK6 Gignac MAM, Jaglal SB, Dickson L, Hawker GA (2007) Minimal error in self-report of having had DXA, but self-report of its results was poor. J Clin Epidemiol 60:1306–1311PubMedCrossRef 31. Majumdar SR, Johnson JA, Lier DA, Russell AS, Hanley DA, Blitz S, Steiner IP, Maksymowych WP, Morrish DW, Holroyd BR, Rowe BH (2007) Persistence, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness of an intervention to improve the quality of osteoporosis care after a fracture of the wrist: results of a controlled trial. Osteoporosis Int 18:261–270CrossRef 32.

Therefore, although there are no experimental data on its biochemical function, in E. meliloti and R. leguminosarum it has Eltanexor clinical trial been hypothesized that this protein may be involved in the synthesis and/or excretion of Nod factors [42]. In the pathogens analyzed in this study, NodN could have an auxiliary function during infection, modulating the induction of cell proliferation, since Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer, Rhizobium,

Brucella, and Bartonella have similar strategies of infection, although the mechanisms are different [43]. The NodD reconstruction showed highly divergent; therefore, it was not possible to evidence the separation between photosynthetic, methylotrophic, and bioremediation bacteria from the group including symbiotic and pathogenic

bacteria. The divergence observed might be related to NodD function in host-bacteria symbiosis. The host-bacteria specificity is established due to NodD-dependent upregulation of nod genes in response to flavonoids in the host plant’s root exudates. NodD directly interacts with flavonoids to activate nod gene transcription, check details altering the response of the host cell according to the flavonoids secreted [44, 45]. Although NodD is involved in activation of other nodulation genes, this protein belongs to the LysR-type transcriptional regulator family, which regulates a variety of genes, including those involved in virulence, quorum sensing, and motility [46]. Besides this, triclocarban some species have more than one copy of the nodD gene. However, the phylogenetic analysis was performed using the peptide sequence codified by the nodD that precedes the operon nodABC. Since NodD can recognize different inducers, and the processes of GS-7977 infection and nodule formation require other determinants than these specific proteins, including other important proteins for the bacterium-host recognition [47], we may suppose that, in R. vitis, the nodD ortholog gene might be involved in the regulation of genes related to infection. VirB8, VirB9, and VirB10 are transmembrane proteins that compose the type IV secretion system (T4SS), a

structure consisting of several subunits that mediates the translocation of macromolecules by the cell envelope of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, used by many pathogens for the secretion of virulence determinants in the process of colonization of host tissues [48]. A type IV secretion system equivalent to that of plant pathogens has been described in the animal pathogens Bartonella and Brucella. In species of these genera, it has been demonstrated that VirB proteins are required in stages of the infection as colonization and inhibition of apoptosis and are essential for the virulence of some pathogens [49–51]. In the symbionts E. meliloti and M. loti, T4SS is not involved in the invasion and persistence of these microorganisms in their hosts [52]. In E.

This will require more transparency on the part of science and policy. More inclusive research processes will require more honest conversations about the processes and judgements that feed into the practice of science. Scientists often want to maintain their own view about what constitutes science, and check details present results in a corresponding format. This view of science emphasises objective and value-free science,

preference for technical solutions, and advancement of scientific method and rationality as preferred logic (Cortner 2000). Such a view is quite different from ideas of blurred and co-evolving science-policy (e.g. Guston 1999), post-normal science (Funtowicz and Ravetz 1993) or ‘mode 2’ science (Nowotny et al. 2001), and does not tally well with complex HMPL-504 price and uncertain biodiversity problems. Similarly, decision-makers will need to be more transparent about how decisions are made, and how and when scientific knowledge is used by policy-makers. Scientists often perceive that scientific knowledge makes up a large part of the foundation of the decision-making process. In reality, scientific knowledge may only be a small component of the policy process. This is not necessarily a problem, as long as policy makers are transparent

in their decision-making processes, sharing their views, interests and concerns Rapamycin with scientists, to help frame research plans that are mutually engaging, useful and relevant. A policy-maker who had had experience of such a process remarked “it’s resource well spent to spend the time with the scientists agreeing the method and click here helping steer the work” (U3). Increased collaborations with policy-makers during the research process can also decrease the problems of value-laden

science, by opening up uncertainties and promoting inclusiveness in knowledge production (Pielke 2007). Developing briefing notes for researchers was suggested as a potentially useful starting point for discussions, as were the requirement for a (funded) synthesis of the evidence at the start of research projects and a science-policy interface strategy (Young et al. 2013). Although research may start as a direct response to a policy need, research processes can stray off the policy need as it progresses. Regular discussions and meetings may be required to check that research is still aligned to the policy problem(s). Similarly, policy needs and views will change over time. Whilst it will not always be possible or appropriate for research plans and outputs to neatly ‘fit’ with evolving policy needs and thinking, keeping in close contact throughout the course of a project can help to identify where engagement can be made. Similarly, policy needs and thinking may need to change in response to scientific understandings and insights from research.

PubMedCrossRef 65. Hanahan D: Studies on transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmids. J Mol Biol 1983, 166:557–580.PubMedCrossRef 66. Kessler B, de Lorenzo V, Timmis KN: A general system to integrate lacZ fusion into the chromosome of gram negative bacteria: regulation of the Pm promoter of the TOL plasmid studied with all controlling elements in monocopy. Mol Gen Genet 1992, 233:293–301.PubMedCrossRef Authors’ contributions buy NVP-BGJ398 JRM and MA performed the majority of the experiments, participated in bioinformatics analysis, study design, and in crafting of the manuscript. MRB, MJ, and FIG performed some growth experiments and RMN analyses. JJN and CV conceived the study, participated

in the design, coordination, bioinformatic analysis, and crafting of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.”
“Background Historically, taxonomic analyses have been performed using

a diverse and often arbitrary selection of morphological and phenotypic characteristics. Today, these characteristics are generally considered unsuitable for generating reliable and consistent taxonomies for prokaryotes, as there is no rational basis for choosing which morphological or phenotypic selleck chemicals properties should be examined. Moreover, it is doubtful that individual phenotypes or small collections of phenotypes can consistently and correctly represent evolutionary Aurora Kinase relationships [1]. The unsuitability of phenotypic traits, along with the advent of DNA sequencing, selleck inhibitor has led to 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons becoming the standard technique

for taxonomic analyses [1], although it has been argued that the cpn60 gene allows for greater evolutionary discrimination [2]. Over time, the trend has moved toward using a greater number of genes to infer phylogenetic relationships–in part due to the increasing ease and reduced cost associated with DNA sequencing, but also due to doubts about the accuracy of evolutionary relationships inferred from a single gene. Phylogeny can be inferred from a number of universally conserved housekeeping genes using multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) [3, 4]. While 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and MLSA have proven to be effective tools for phylogenetics, a major deficiency inherent in these techniques is that only a small amount of information is used to represent an entire organism. This practice has largely been accepted due to the time and cost of genome sequencing. However, recent improvements in sequencing technology have substantially reduced the resources necessary to sequence a genome, and there are now numerous genome sequences available in publicly accessible databases. The accelerating pace of genome sequencing provides the opportunity to explore the use of entire genomes in analyzing evolutionary relationships.

Even though primarily European Scientists are eligible to propose COST Actions and to receive funding, the international community can and does participate. This special issue is dedicated to a COST Action ROCK inhibitor FA1103 on biotechnological and agricultural exploitation of endophytes, entertained by 150 scientists from over 20 countries. Eleven original papers, one review and two non COST Action papers have been compiled, all of which are dealing

with various aspects of JIB04 fundamental and applied research on fungal endophytes. The broad spectrum of the contributions, which are representative of the scientific scope of the Action,

is illustrated find more by reports on innovative methods for all taxa inventories (molecular ecology), studies relating to bioprospecting. The utility of the newly arising “–omics” technologies, above all for the functional characterisation of these organisms in view of potential beneficial applications for humankind is thus emphasised. The spectrum of included publications extends from detection and monitoring of these cryptic organisms, their isolation and taxonomic classification in the scope of a One-Fungus-One Name Concept, their exploitation for novel bioactive compounds, Tau-protein kinase to the evaluation of their ecological importance. Exciting new results on the ecology of the Neotyphodium-Poaeceae symbiosis and a success story of their utility in biocontrol are presented. On the other hand, a possible sound explanation is given for the failure to attain sustainable biotechnological production of taxol from cultures of fungal endophytes. Participation in the COST Action FA1103 will broaden the expertise of Early-Stage Researchers, and such funding schemes should eventually be adopted by the global

mycological community. The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) programme aims to establish pan-European research networks on interdisciplinary, topical research themes that are in the scope of the goals of the research framework of the European Commission. COST Actions can be granted after proposals of scientist consortia comprising members from at least five different countries in various domains. Those include, e.g., Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences (BMBS), Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and Technologies (CMST), Earth System Science and Environmental Management (ESSEM), Food and Agriculture (FA), Forests, their Products and Services (FPS), and Trans-Domain (TD) activities.