Activation of T cells through a T cell-specific epitope of CD45.

The 180- and 190-kDa isoforms of CD45 are preferentially expressed on the helper inducer (memory) subset of CD4 cells. In order to generate monoclonal antibodies against the extracellular domains of these isoforms and determine whether they could regulate the function and activation of these cells, we developed a mAb, anti-4H2D, by immunizing Balb/c mice with an isogenic mouse pre-B cell line expressing the human 190-kDa CD45 isoform. Anti-4H2D reacts with approximately 60% of T cells, 70% of CD4 cells, and 60% of CD8 cells. The CD4 cell population defined by this mAb corresponds functionally and phenotypically to that defined by the CD45RO+CD29+ subset. Western blotting demonstrated that anti-4H2D reacts primarily with the 190-kDa isoform of CD45 and to a minor extent, the 205- and 180-kDa CD45 isoforms. Interestingly, this mAb reacted with only a subpopulation of mature thymocytes and peripheral T cells, despite the fact that the 190-kDa CD45 isoform, as well as CD45RO and CD29, is more widely distributed on cells of hematopoietic origin. The 4H2D epitope was neuraminidase sensitive, indicating that anti-4H2D reacts with a carbohydrate epitope which is present on only a subset of the T cells containing the 190-kDa CD45 isoform epitopes. Functional studies showed that soluble anti-4H2D augmented T cell proliferation induced by the CD2 and CD3 pathways, and treatment of T cells with this mAb up-regulated [Ca2+]i flux induced by both anti-CD2 and anti-CD3 mAbs. These results suggest that the 190-kDa CD45 isoform on human CD4 cells is heterogeneous and that the 190-kDa isoform recognized by anti-4H2D regulates the function and activation of CD4 helper T cells.     

Ultrastructural observations on the redial tegument of Paramphistomum epiclitum from the planorbid snail, Indoplanorbis exustus.

The morphology of the tegument in the redia of Paramphistomum epiclitum (Digenea: Paramphistomidae) resembles that shown by most larval and adult digeneans; an outer surface syncytium is in continuity with the cytoplasm of in-sunken, nucleated cytons. Although tegumental cytons usually contain a single nucleus, some display up to six nuclei. The tegumental syncytium lining the pharynx of P. epiclitum rediae lack underlying cytons. The apical membrane of the tegument is elaborated by folds and microvilli, which presumably facilitate uptake of nutrients and/or exchange of ions involved in osmoregulation. A single type of secretory body, resulting from the fusion of smaller vesicles produced at Golgi complexes in the cytons, occurs throughout the tegument. Uniciliate sensory receptors occur in the surface syncytium particularly around the oral opening.     

Liverwort genomes display extensive structural variations

PIKE, L. M., HU, A., RENZAGLIA, K. S. & MUSICH, P. R., 1992. Liverwort genomes display extensive structural variations. Analyses of the total genomic DNA of eight species of liverworts and two species of green algae by thermal denaturation and CsCl buoyant density gradient centrifugation reveal a high degree of structural complexity and interspecific heterogeneity. The hepatic taxa exhibit two or more DNA components of varying base composition. Average G4-C contents of total cellular DNA calculated from melting profiles are similarly variable, ranging from 38% to 53% G + C. The green alga Chara , a member of the ancestral line to land plants, shows similarities with liverworts in possessing multiple DNA components of comparable complexity, whereas Hydrodiciyon DNA displays a single component. Detailed hybridization analyses of individual density gradient fractions using α-tubulin, rRNA and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit (rbcL) gene probes were performed to locate the low-copy number and moderately repetitive nuclear genes, and the chloroplast chromosome, respectively. The location of each gene within the density gradient is highly variable among the organisms examined; a-tubulin occurs in fractions ranging from 44–64% G + C, rDNA in 50–64% G + C fractions, and the RbcL gene is located in fractions from 30–59% G + C. For a given species, the two nuclear genes normally overlap in their distributions within the gradient. In most instances, neither gene occurs in the major DNA components, indicating that these components may contain repetitive DNAs. The observed variation in the density of the rbcL gene implies substantial reorganization of the chloroplast genome. The overall differences in the genomic components within and between taxa provide insight into the dynamics of DNA structure that have occurred during the extended evolutionary history of these organisms.     

用飞机喷洒有机磷超低容量制剂防治蝗虫

本文总结了1975—1980年在新疆巴里坤草原等地区进行的笼内药剂品种筛选试验、地面和飞机超低容量喷雾治蝗试验。结果表明:马拉松、马拉松与敌敌畏混剂、乐果、稻丰散和乙基稻丰散5种飞机超低容量制剂均可取代六六六粉剂防治各种蝗虫。每亩喷洒量为100—150克;每亩有效药量:马拉松、马拉松与敌敌畏混剂为25—45克;乐果为20—30克;稻丰散和乙基稻丰散为25—40克,蝗虫死亡率在90%以上。 使用飞机超低容量制剂治蝗具有防效好,功效高,成本低和环境污染少等优点。目前已在新疆、内蒙、青海和辽宁等省(自治区)大面积应用。累计防治面积达一千一百万亩,深受牧区群众欢迎。     

松梢蚧

松梢蚧又称松针蚧,是同翅目珠蚧科松蚧属专寄生在松树针叶上的害虫。由于它发生起始于松树梢头的新针叶,有些地区的群众称它为松梢蚧,表达了它发生的特点。松树受害严重的可使枝梢上的针叶大部脱落,影响松树生长。 在我国浙江早已发现中华松梢蚧(Matsucoccus sinensis Chen)。Ferris(1950)重新描述了在昆明云南松上采到的所谓中华松梢蚧。我们研究了从昆明采集的标本,发现它不是中华松梢蚧,而是一个新种。Ferris的鉴定和重新描述,很容易引起对中华松梢蚧的误解。     

马尾松干蚧的研究(一)

马尾松干蚧(Matsucoccus massonianae Y. & H.)是同翅目珠蚧科(Margarodidae)松蚧属(Matsucoccns)的一个种。1973年秋首先在宁波市郊和鄞县天童林场育王林区的马尾松林中发现。以后在台州、舟山等地的马尾松林中也相继发现。它以若虫寄生于松树树干或树冠下部大枝条的皮层缝隙内,吸食树液。被害的植株轻则树势衰弱、生长缓慢,严重者树冠下部枝条下垂,针叶枯黄,树皮翘裂,并引起小蠹虫(Blastophagus sp.)等次期害虫的侵袭,以致整株枯死。     

Cleavage of PrePL by Lon promotes growth and pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae

ATP-dependent Lon proteases function in bacterial pathogenesis by regulating the expression of the Type III secretion system; however, little is known about how Lon proteases regulate fungal pathogenesis. We previously investigated Lon-binding proteins involved in fungal pathogenesis that interact with PrePL, the smallest Magnaporthe oryzae Lon-binding protein. Here, we show that Lon cleaves PrePL and produces Pc, an extracellular 11-kDa isoform with catalase and peroxidase activity. The ΔPrePL loss-of-function strain showed stronger sporulation and accelerated disease development, suggesting a temporally specific negative regulatory mechanism controlled by PrePL in disease progression. Neither the truncated Pc, nor the full-length PrePL missing the Lon cleavage site complemented the ΔPrePL phenotype, suggesting that full-length PrePL and Pc both function in fungal development. PrePL targeted to the mitochondria undergoes hydrolysis by Lon to produce Pc, which accumulates in the fungal apoplast. Importantly, recombinant Pc induced plant defence responses and cell death after being infiltrated into selected plant leaves, indicating that it functions as an avirulence factor. This work thus reveals a novel pathogenic factor in the fungal Lon-mediated pathway. Additionally, our results provide new insight into the functions of a full-length protein and its cleaved isoform in fungal pathogenesis.