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Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z67 is a diazotrophic endophyte able to colonize the interior of many economically relevant crops such as rice, wheat, corn and sorghum. Structures of siderophores produced by bacterial endophytes have not yet been elucidated. The aim of this work was to identify and characterize the siderophores produced by this bacterium. In a screening for mutants unable to produce siderophores we found a mutant that had a transposon insertion in a non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) gene coding for a putative siderophore biosynthetic enzyme. The chemical structure of the siderophore was predicted using computational genomic tools. The predicted structure was confirmed by chemical analysis. We found that siderophores produced by H. seropedicae Z67 are a suite of amphiphilic lipopeptides, named serobactin A, B and C, which vary by the length of the fatty acid chain. We also demonstrated the biological activity of serobactins as nutritional iron sources for H. seropedicae. These are the first structurally described siderophores produced by endophytic bacteria.

A cytotechnology retraining program was developed to meet the special needs of practicing cytotechnologists in New Jersey and New York. These cytotechnologists were no longer qualified to practice in their profession because of changes in the rules and regulations governing licensed laboratories in New York. The retraining program model described incorporates components from an existing Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation-approved, university-based cytotechnology program and allows re-trainees to receive credit when they have successfully completed comprehensive challenge examinations for certain courses. Graduates from this program meet New York state qualifications and are eligible to take the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry certification examination for cytotechnologists. The program model described can be modified to meet a variety of retraining needs for cytotechnologists, including the retraining of inactive cytotechnologists who are required to update their theory and professional skills before reentering the job market.