Volume 66, Issue 3

This review describes a new enzymatic method for in vitro glycogen synthesis and its structure and properties. In this method, short-chain amylose is used as the substrate for branching enzymes (BE, EC 2.4.1.18). Although a kidney bean BE and Bacillus cereus BE could not synthesize high-molecular weight glucan, BEs from 6 other bacterial sources produced enzymatically synthesized glycogen (ESG). The BE from Aquifex aeolicus was the most suitable for the production of glycogen with a weight-average molecular weight (M w) of 3,000–30,000 k. The molecular weight of the ESG is controllable by changing the concentration of the substrate amylose. Furthermore, the addition of amylomaltase (AM, EC 2.4.1.25) significantly enhanced the efficiency of this process, and the yield of ESG reached approximately 65%. Typical preparations of ESG obtained by this method were subjected to structural analyses. The average chain length, interior chain length, and exterior chain length of the ESGs were 8.2–11.6, 2.0–3.3, and 4.2–7.6, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy and intrinsic viscosity measurement showed that the ESG molecules formed spherical particles. Unlike starch, the ESGs were barely degraded by pullulanase. Solutions of ESG were opalescent (milky-white and slightly bluish), and gave a reddishbrown color on the addition of iodine. These analyses revealed that ESG shares similar molecular shapes and solution properties with natural-source glycogen. Moreover, ESG had macrophage-stimulating activity and its activity depends on the molecular weight of ESG. We successfully achieved large scale production of ESG. ESG could lead to new industrial applications, such as in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical fields.

Utilization of lipids-free waxy starch by distillery yeasts in fuel ethanol production can contribute to better management of renewable resources, like cereals, especially maize Zea mays L. But the efficient conversion of starch into glucose-rich fermentable substrate, and subsequently to ethanol, needs more research on hydrolysis and fermentation conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lack of natural corn grain lipids on the process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using chemometric techniques of designed experiments, commercial enzymatic preparations and distillery yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCY-11-3. Based on the results and statistical software support we can conclude that extraction of lipids from corn grains did not lead to statistically significant increase or decrease of glucose concentration in starch hydrolysis. The ethanol concentration in fermentation mash according to analysis was not statistically significantly affected by lipids extraction. The separated lipids could serve as a source of very valuable corn oil.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is well known enterohemorrhagic pathogen responsible for infections among animals including a man. The main source of this bacterium is cattle, that is mostly asymptomatic and through that E. coli O157:H7 can simple transfer to food products. Therefore, there is a need for rapid, sensitive and specific detection method. The present work is focused on its detection by a heptaplex polymerase chain reaction, which targets genes from known virulent regions of E. coli O157:H7. According to obtained results this approach is able to reach the detection sensitivity of 4 colony-forming units (CFU) from a culture and 6 and 8 CFU from milk and meat samples, respectively, independently of tested sample volume.

Twenty Salmonella Infantis strains resistant against kanamycin, tetracycline, neomycin, spectinomycin, sulphonamide, nalidixic acid and trimethoprim were selected for this study out of 103 Salmonella strains isolated from broiler samples collected from several markets in the Bolu and Ankara regions of Turkey. The resistance genes aadA1, aphA1, sul1, tet(A), dfrA5/dfrA14 and gyrA were determined for these multidrug-resistant S. Infantis strains. S. Infantis strains contained a mega plasmid with the molecular size of 206 kb. The strains were divided into three groups according to the pulsed field gel electrophoresis patterns of XbaI digested chromosomal DNA. A Ser83→Tyr83 point mutation was found in the gyrA gene of all quinolone-resistant isolates. Filter mating experiments showed that 206 kb plasmid transferred nalidixic acid resistance associated with class I integrons.

The quality of running waters is reflected in the composition of benthic diatom assemblages. The biological assessment of changes in the composition, and thus of changes in water quality, was carried out in the lowland mid-sized Bzura River, Central Poland, over the period of 30 years. The benthic diatom material consisted of samples collected in two investigation periods, in 1972 and in 2003–2004. The methods applied were three diatom indices, IPS — Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index, GDI — Genetic Diatom Index and TDI —Trophic Diatom Index, and the OMNIDIA computer program, which are commonly used in Europe. The aim of the study was demonstrating the process of restoration that occurred in the river. The Bzura was included to the most polluted ones in Poland till 1996. Since 1998 a gradual improvement in water quality has been observed, which is caused by a number of biological-technical measures, mostly a proper organization of sewage management in most cites located on the river. In 1972 the IPS classified Bzura water into Water Quality Class IV-V, while in 2003–2004 it reached much higher values, i.e. Class III–IV. On the basis of the GDI Class III was determined in the whole river in 2003–2004, while its values indicated Class III–IV in 1972. The trophic index, TDI attributed Bzura water to the eutrophic to hypereutrophic zone in 2003–2004, and to one degree better water, i.e. from the mesoeutrophic to eutrophic zone, in 1972. From the carried out research it follows that the IPS is the best index, which may be commonly applied to assess saprobic pollution of running waters in Poland. It indicated an improvement in water that occurred in the Bzura over 30 years and took into account the impact of pollution sources and tributaries in given river sections.

A new freshwater epiphytic Prorocentrum species, Prorocentrum rivalis, from the temperate region of the Haute-Vienne, France, is described. This species is the third freshwater species identified among approximately 60 marine Prorocentrum species. This new species is described using scanning electron microscope and phylogenetic analyses by a polyphasic approach (LSU rRNA sequences combined with 9 morphological characters). The phylogenetic analysis attests that P. rivalis is close to other planktonic freshwater species and the freshwater Prorocentrum clade is evolutionarily derived from an epiphytic freshwater prorocentroid ancestor. The unique marine species in the freshwater clade results from an ecophysiological reversion. P. rivalis differs from other epiphytic taxa by its rarity, its temperate distribution and its ecophysiological needs. The phylogeny confirms also that all planktonic Prorocentrum species are evolutionarily derived from epiphytic/benthic ancestors.

The study reports results of morphometric measurements of two morphologically similar charophytes, Chara globularis Thuill. and Chara virgata Kütz.. Although both species differ in ecological spectra, they can co-occur in the same lakes. Morphological differences given in identification keys can be problematic in the field study. Therefore, additional features were tested and suggested as possibly useful, supplementary differences. 10 individuals of both species growing under similar conditions (littoral of a meromictic, mesotrophic lake, mid-Western Poland) were collected in the vegetation season 2005. Statistical tests evidenced that out of 9 features 6 differed the studied species. Axis diameter, the length of internodes and the length of branchlets revealed the most significant differences. Chara virgata is smaller than Chara globularis even in similar or common habitats. The proposed branchlet length: internode length ratio, higher for Chara virgata than for Chara globularis, can be applied as a useful measure for the species differentiation, particularly under conditions where both charophytes co-occur.

The first locality of Carex vaginata Tausch from the Western Carpathians is reported. This glacial relic was found at a refugial site in the Mt. Kubínska hoľa (the Oravská Magura Mts, Slovakia), in the saddle peat bog at 1,312 m a.s.l.

Morphological characters, habitat preference, and currently known distribution of the species Gagea szovitsii (A.F. Láng) Besser, a new indigenous vascular plant species of Central Europe, are presented. The plant was found in alkali grasslands of the south-eastern part of the Great Hungarian Plain (SE Hungary). Currently, this can be regarded to the westernmost occurrence of this pontic species. Both G. szovitsii and its closest relative G. bohemica are briefly characterized here with respect to their identification, ecology and distribution. Original illustrations on G. szovitsii are presented. The paper firstly emphasizes the difference of reproductive strategy between G. szovitsii and G. bohemica; the former reproduce itself primarily sexually via seeds, while the latter reproduce itself in asexual way principally by bulbils. Taking the paleo-environmental history of its habitat into consideration, the species can be regarded as an ancient, indigenous Pontic-Pannonian steppe element of Hungary.

In this study, the morphological and anatomical features of endemic Lamium moschatum Miller var. rhodium (Gand.) R. Mill (Lamiaceae) are described in detail. Lamium moschatum var. rhodium has an annual taproot. The stem is erect and clearly quadrangular. The leaves are broadly ovate to cordate-ovate or nearly suborbicular in shape. Inflorescense is verticillate cyme. The corolla is white and the tube is curved and bears an annulus inside, near the base. Cross-sections of the root, stem, petiole, leaf, calyx, corolla and generative organs were examined and the anatomical features of the taxon are discussed. Furthermore, glandular hairs distributed on the plant taxon are shown. In karyological research, chromosome numbers were determined as 2n = 18. The results are presented with photographs and tables.

Teucrium montanum L. and T. polium L. are the two closest Teucrium L. species from sect. Polium (Mill.) Schreb in Turkey. In addition, they are sympatric for some part of their range in Turkey. In this study, comparative anatomical and micromorphological studies of the two species are carried out. They have been investigated by their leaf and stem anatomical features, as well as nutlet micromorphological characteristics. The results of anatomical studies show that the anatomical characters of both taxa are observed to be similar to the general features of the family Lamiaceae anatomy, except for lacking rich collenchyma at the corners. Both taxa are similar in stem anatomy and their leaves exhibit xeromorphy. However, trichome morphology on the stems and the leaves appear to have a taxonomic value in segregation of the two taxa. Light and scanning electron microscope studies on the nutlets also show that nutlet shapes, measures and surface micromorphologies are different in the two species. Whereas nutlet surfaces are bireticulate in both species, the nutlets are larger and primary sculpturing is more distinct in T. polium than in T. montanum. Moreover, the nutlets are oblong to oblong-ovoid and larger in T. polium, but ovoid and smaller in T. montanum.

The root anatomy of the subalpine to alpine plant species Saussurea discolor (Willd.) DC., and Saussurea pygmaea (Jacq.) Spreng., (Asteraceae) has been investigated by means of light and fluorescence microscopy on specimens of Austrian provenance. Both species develop a so called interxylary cork which mediates the splitting of the root into various strands. This phenomenon takes place in the secondary xylem and involves the development of a periderm separating the originally solid xylem cylinder. Interxylary cork is currently known from approximately 40 species of the Dicotyledones. This is the first report of this specific anatomical structure from the two studied species.

Thalictrum foetidum L. (Ranunculaceae), a morphologically variable and widely distributed species of temperate and alpine Himalayas is worked out cytologically for the first time from India. Earlier studies from outside India were restricted to chromosome counts and karyotypic analysis. We studied the male meiosis, microsporogenesis and pollen viability in the wild accessions from the cold deserts of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Pangi Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Present cytomorphological surveys in the species record the existence of two distinct morphotypes involving plant size; colour and size of leaf/leaflet; dentation of leaflet lobes; and degree of leaf pubescence. All the accessions in the two morphovariants share the same meiotic chromosome number (n = 21) and adds a new intraspecific hexaploid cytotype. The accessions show the phenomenon of cytomixis involving transfer of chromatin material among proximate pollen mother cells (PMCs) and associated meiotic abnormalities like, out of plate bivalents, interchromosomal connections, and laggards, bridges and micronuclei at anaphases/telophases. Microsporogenesis results into abnormal sporads (tetrads with micronuclei, dyads, triads and polyads). The products of such sporads resulted into some pollen sterility and pollen grains of heterogeneous sizes. The persistent occurrence of phenomenon of cytomixis and associated meiotic abnormalities and consequently pollen sterility and pollen grains of heterogeneous sizes in the hexaploid cytotype of T. foetidum seems to be under some genetic factors associated with the genome.

Breeding linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) using haploid techniques allows breeders to develop new cultivars in a shorter time period. Many research groups successfully created new linseed genotypes through anther culture; however ovary culture has been the subject of only a few earlier studies. In the present study, the effect of genotype and growth regulators combination on callus induction and shoots regeneration in ovary culture of nine commercially important linseed cultivars was investigated. Ovaries were cultured on modified MS medium supplemented with three different combinations of plant growth regulators. Variable callogenic responses were expressed by all of the genotypes tested on different induction media. The results suggested that specific combination of growth regulators for callus induction must be designed for each genotype. Shoot regeneration from ovary derived callus is a critical phase of the whole gynogenetic process. Differences in adventitious shoot formation frequency among genotypes were demonstrated and four responsive genotypes have been selected. Ovary derived callus from cultivar ‘Mikael’ manifested the highest adventitious shoot formation frequency with a high number of shoots per explant. The optimum ratio of growth regulators for shoot regeneration was shown to depend on the genotype. Cultivars ‘Linola’, ‘Mikael’ and ‘Szaphir’ showed the highest shoot regeneration frequency when callus had originated on induction medium supplemented with 2 mg L−1 BAP and 2 mg L−1 NAA, while combination of 1 mg L−1 BAP and 2 mg L−1 IAA promoted shoot formation in ovary-derived callus of ‘Barbara’. The highest rate of shoots per explant has been obtained in second subculture.

In order to understand the biological activity of humic substances (HS), the effect of four humic acids (HA) and one fulvic acid (FA) on seed germination and early growth of cosmopolitan weed Chenopodium album agg. were tested. Humic substances of diverse origin were used, namely purified commercial HA, HA isolated from lignite, cambisol and podzol, and FA from mountain spruce forest soil. Data processing by two-way ANOVA has shown that type of the tested substances was a more important factor on seed development than used concentration. The major differences in germination and length of shoots were found in the first days of the experiment. Commercial and lignite HA stimulated the seed germination and growth, while podzol HA inhibited them. After this initial phase, all humic substances stimulated the seed development, but these stimulations were not significant (P < 0.05). At the end of germination test, the greatest stimulation effect (up to 20%) was achieved with the lignite HA.

Upland and lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) showed different mechanisms of water stress resistance. Hydroponically grown 3-week-old seedlings of a lowland variety IR64 and an upland variety were exposed to 15% polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). After 7 d of treatment, IR64 maintained high relative water content and developed a well-branched root. Therefore, IR64 had better water-deficit tolerance than Azucena under PEG treatment. To identify water-deficit-responsive proteins associated with the tolerance differences between two ecotypes, a comparative proteomic analysis of roots was conducted. Out of 700 proteins reproducibly detected on two-dimensional electrophoresis gels, 65 proteins exhibited significant changes in at least one ecotype at 48 h of water deficit. Only 15 proteins showed different responses to water deficit between the two ecotypes. Twelve proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/time of flight-mass spectrometry, which involved in energy and metabolism, protein processing and degradation, detoxification and pathogenrelated (PR) proteins, i.e. PR-1a, RSOsPR10 and JIOsPR10. All three PR proteins were induced more strongly in IR64 than in Azucena by water deficit at both protein and mRNA level. The results suggested that PR-1a, RSOsPR10 and JIOsPR10 may play important roles in protecting root cells against water deficit in rice.

Four populations of the North American ancylid gastropod Ferrissia fragilis have been found in Southern Italy, thus expanding the known Eurasian distribution range of this invasive gastropod to the Mediterranean area. Both mitochondrial markers used for the molecular identification of the sampled specimens (16S and COI) showed a modest to absent haplotypic diversity in the studied Ferrissia populations from Europe and Asia, and their perfect identity with some of the haplotypes observed in North American F. fragilis populations. In the light of the scarce molecular diversity observed in the whole Palaearctic area and of the growing evidences for the ongoing spreading of the species in Europe, the occurrence of a single invasion event from North America possibly linked with aquarium plant trade followed by a rapid spreading of the species in Eurasia is suggested. The record of F. fragilis in Southern Italy caused some doubts on the presence of autochthonous Ferrissia populations in Europe and on the actual existence of Ferrissia wautieri. A molecular analysis of Ferrissia specimens from the loci typici of F. wautieri (Northern Italy) and F. clessiniana (Egypt) is definitely opportune.

Narrow-clawed crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus is a native European freshwater crayfish species, also distributed in Croatian freshwater systems belonging to the Black Sea drainage. Its taxonomical status is still in the process of change and discussion, and the data on morphological, molecular, ecological and zoogeographical characteristics of this species are scarce. Therefore, comparative analyses of morphological characteristics were applied with the aim to contribute to the knowledge on the morphometrical and meristical characteristics of A. leptodactylus. Recent research proved that measurements of a large number of morphometrical characteristics, in combination with multivariate statistical analysis, could provide a good instrument for identification and differentiation between populations. In this research altogether 143 animals were analysed (121 from two Croatian populations and 22 from Armenia). 22 morphometrical characteristics and 4 meristical characteristics, per crayfish, were measured. It was found that males and females differ between populations in measured meristical and morphometrical characteristics. None of recorded meristical characteristics proved itself to be reliable characteristic for distinguishing populations. From measured morphometrical characteristics the most discriminant characteristics for separating males from different populations were those describing carapace shape and for females those that describe shape of the claws.

We studied abundance and diversity patterns of terrestrial isopod assemblages along a ‘micro-scale’ vertical gradient in sinkholes in the Aggtelek National Park, Hungary. Time restricted manual sampling yielded ten native species, including endemic and rare ones. Along the gradient we found no major differences in species richness and -composition, and abundance decreased from the bottoms to the upper zones of the sinkholes. Species specific habitat preference on a vertical gradient showed two distinct groups by indicator species analysis: occurrence of habitat “generalists” was irrespective of vertical zones while “specialists” were restricted to the bottoms of the dolines. The latter group is formed mainly by rare species. We found that both diversity and evenness of isopod assemblages were highest in the bottom zone. Our results draw the attention to the significance of such common, yet undiscovered surficial depressions that can provide shelters for rare and specialist species and can provide shelter for survival of populations under changing climatic conditions.

New data about the Pselaphinae fauna of South-Western Bulgaria (Belasitsa Mts) are presented. Bythinus angustioculus sp. n. is described. The genus Protamaurops Müller, 1944 and the species Plectophloeus nubigena (Reitter, 1877) and Bryaxis leonhardi Reitter, 1902 are reported for the first time in Bulgaria.

Altogether 26 species of phloemophagous and xylophagous insects, 47 species of parasitoids, 14 species of predators and 7 species of inquilines were identified on the branches of Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. petraea and Q. robur, diameter 3–15 cm, at 24 sites in Serbia over the period 1992–1996. The greatest number of the identified species were taken from Q. petraea branches (66), followed by Q. cerris (49), Q. frainetto (48) and Q. robur (43). Among the identified phloemophagous and xylophagous insects, the most frequent and the most abundant species were Scolytus intricatus, Agrilus angustulus and Xylotrechus antilope. The most frequent and the most abundant parasitoid was Ecphylus silesiacus. In some samples, the species Entedon ergias, Cheiropachus quadrum and Dendrosoter protuberans were also among the more abundant parasitoids. The most significant predator was the species Tilloidea unifasciata, and the most significant inquilines were the species Poecilothrips albopictus and Asynapta pectoralis.

The species composition of the family Anthomyiidae in six peat-bogs in the Šumava Mts is analysed with regards to dominance, constancy, seasonal occurrence and type of distribution of each species. Anthomyiid communities in all sites are compared based on the number of species, species richness, diversity and equitability indices, as well as coefficients of similarity and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Three collecting methods are compared: yellow pan water traps (439 specimens/43 species), sweeping (93/18) and Malaise traps (97/22). Three species, Pegoplata aestiva (24.17%), Delia platura (14.47%), and Hylemya nigrimana (11.29%) were eudominant, two further species were dominant: Delia cardui (8.74%) and Botanophila fugax (8.27%). Two species, Botanophilia fugax and Delia platura, were found in all study sites. These species, together with those collected in five sites (Delia cardui, Heterostylodes nominabilis and Hylemya vagans), had a constancy rate higher than 75% and belonged to the category of euconstant species.

Together 22,119 individuals and 47 species of mesostigmatic mites, and 485 individuals of fleas belonging to 6 species were obtained from 16 winter nests of mound-building mouse, Mus spicilegus. The most abundant mite species were Laelaps algericus (38.2%), Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (20.9%), Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (16.9%) and Alliphis halleri (8.3%). Ctenophthalmus assimilis (87%) was the highly predominant flea, present in all the positive nests. On the basis of trophic and topic relations, mites were assorted into four ecological groups; parasites had the highest abundance (67% of all individuals). The density peak values of individual ecological mite groups differed the during season. The population peak of the predominant mite species L. algericus was in December, predominance of females was registered throughout the study period. The maximum abundance of fleas was reported in January and May.

This study was built on the assumption that mother (queen) and workers (nurses) distribute their genes either through swarms (female biomass) or through the drones (male biomass). The swarming mood of the bee colonies was suppressed by an exactly defined increase in drone rearing. We studied the efficiency of reproductive investments (on genetic and energetic levels) of the mother and workers to the next generations. The equalization of fitness of the mother and nurses was achieved by a deliberately induced change in numerically stable sex asymmetry of a bee colony. A swarm was compensated with its energy demand and a volume ratio of distributed genetic information. The newly introduced term “reproductive investment complex” (RIC) includes the reproductive potential of the mother and reproductive energy of workers into care for the mother and for the brood. The number of individuals of one sex was closely connected with the weight of individuals of the oppposite sex. The described method of suppression of swarming mood was successfully tested on 60 honey bee colonies over seven years (2003–2009). A number of beekeepers that were acquainted with this method confirmed the success.

In this study karyotypic features of the five species of the family Bufonidae from the central area of Argentina are described. The species are Rhinella achalensis, Rhinella arenarum, Rhinella fernandezae, Rhinella schneideri and Melanophryniscus stelzneri. The metaphases were obtained from intestinal and testis cells, using conventional techniques. Twenty metaphasic figures per individual were analyzed and the total length of each chromosome and the length of the four arms were measured. The obtained measurements were processed using Excel 2000 to obtain the average length of the arms p and q, the arm ratio, the centromeric index, the relative chromosome length and the relative arm length. All species showed karyotype 2n = 22, and karyotype formula of 6: 5. Pairs one to six were large, with a relative chromosome length between 18.64–7.59%; pairs seven to eleven were small, with a relative chromosome length between 7.18–2.42%. In all species the chromosome morphology was metacentric or submetacentric. Karyotype and ideograms were made for all species, based on morphometric parameters of the chromosome complement. Finally, discriminant analysis was used to separate the five species analyzed, with a highly significant classification rate of 80% and P < 0.0001. These results agree, in general, with those presented by other authors, however, in M. stelzneri detailed karyological studied have not been made so far, thus this work represents a significant contribution to the karyotypic decryption features of this species and the Rhinellla species from central area of Argentina.

The purpose of this study was to describe the autumn migration dynamics of juvenile (n = 3075) and adult (n = 596) robin Erithacus rubecula in Hungary. Capturing and ringing of birds took place at five bird ringing stations of Actio Hungarica between 13 August and 27 October, 2004. The number of captured juvenile and adult individuals rated to one net was the lowest in the reeds of Izsák and the highest in the woody areas of Szalonna, where adults were present at a higher proportion. The migration dynamics of the robin showed that the end of September and the beginning of October was the peak time for passing through Hungary. Based on the estimated time of the 10% of daily capture, it can be stated that juvenile birds started their migration as early as the end of August or at the beginning of September while the migration of the adults started later. The migration started earliest in Szalonna and latest in Izsák. The comparison of daily catch dynamics (based on the estimated time of 10% and 50% of daily captures) of juveniles and adults between study sites showed that similarity of daily capture was higher in the case of juveniles. The five study sites had different qualities from the point of view of the robins’ habitat preference. Our results showed that the reed-bed of Izsák had only peripheral importance while the other forest and bushy study areas played a key role in resting and feeding during the migration of the robin.

The autogenic cardiomyocytes transplantation presents numerous challenges in clinical application, such as the difficulty to obtain the autogenic cells, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate allogenic or xenogenic cardiomyocytes transplantation. In this study, the experimental rabbits with acute infarcted myocardium were randomly divided into 3 groups: the 7-day cultured cardiomyocytes group, the 2-day cultured cardiomyocytes group and the control group. Neonate rat cardiomyocytes were labeled by DAPI and then injected into the acute infarcted myocardium of rabbits. After transplantation, results showed that, compared to the control group, the survival number of grafted cardiomyocytes in the cultured group is significantly larger (P < 0.05), with the implanted cardiomyocytes parallel to the host myocardium in an aligning direction. However, compared to the control group, the ventricular wall of the two experimental groups is thicker and the condition of myocardial fibrosis is better, especially to 7-day cultured cardiomyocytes group. These results suggested that the transplantation of xenogenic cardiomyocytes into curing acute ischemic heart of animal model is possible.

The paper describes macro- and micromorphological features of Geomyces destructans, the fungus which is associated with the white-nose syndrome (WNS) bat disease in North America. This species was isolated from hibernating Myotis myotis at two sites in Malé Karpaty Mts (the old mine Pod medveđou skalou and the ZbojnÍcka Cave) in Western Slovakia. Besides Geomyces destructans, the species Isaria farinosa, Cladosporium macrocarpum and Alternaria tenuissima were isolated, too. All strains are deposed at the Department of Soil Science, Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia) and in CMF at Institute of Soil Biology in Českějovice (Czech Republic).