The cytotaxonomy ofEmilia spp. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) occurring in Brazil

Analysis of several populations in a large part of the distribution area of the genusEmilia in Brazil has revealed only two species: the diploidE. sonchifolia and the tetraploidE. fosbergii. The more widely reportedE. coccinea was not found. They show a karyotype constancy in morphology and chromosome number (2n = 10 and 2n = 20, respectively), C-banding pattern and number of secondary constrictions. Some indications were found thatE. fosbergii may be an allopolyploid and that its ancestors had different genome sizes.     

Molecular analysis of yellow fever virus 17DD vaccine strain.

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation produces most of the yellow fever (YF) vaccine prepared worldwide. As part of a broader approach to determine the genetic variability in YF 17D seeds and vaccines and its relevance to viral attenuation the 17DD virus was purified directly from chick embryo homogenates which is the source of virus used for vaccination of millions of people in Brazil and other countries for half a century. Neutralization and hemagglutination tests showed that the purified virus is similar to the original stock. Furthermore, radioimmune precipitation of 35S-methionine-labeled viral proteins using mouse hyperimmune ascitic fluid revealed identical patterns for the purified 17DD virus and the YF 17D-204 strain except for the 17DD E protein which migrated slower on SDS-PAGE. This difference is likely to be due to N-linked glycosylation. Finally, comparison by northern blot hybridization of virion RNAs of purified 17DD with two other strains of YF 17D virus revealed only genome-sized molecules for all three viruses. These observations suggest that the vaccine phenotype is primarily associated with the accumulation of mutations.     

Steroid bioconversion in a novel aqueous two-phase system

A novel aqueous two-phase system, based on polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and monosodium glutamate, was tested for the 1-dehydrogenation of hydrocortisone-based substrates. This system led to higher substrate solubilities and biocatalyst/steroid separation levels when compared with alternative systems. The addition of short-chain monohydric alcohols resulted in higher solubilities and more favourable partition coefficients for the tested substrates. Bioconversion activities in PEG/glutamate systems with 2,5% (v/v) methanol were comparable to those measured in monophasic buffer-methanol medium.     

Candida albicans and three other Candida species contain an elongation factor structurally and functionally analogous to elongation factor 3.

A cell-free poly(U)-dependent translation elongation system from Candida albicans is ATP-dependent due to the presence of an elongation factor 3 (EF3)-like activity. Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomes added to a C. albicans postribosomal supernatant (PRS) supported poly(U)-dependent elongation, suggesting that the C. albicans lysate contained a soluble translation factor functionally analogous to the S. cerevisiae translation factor EF-3. The presence of EF-3 in C. albicans was confirmed by Western blotting using an antibody raised against S. cerevisiae EF-3. This antibody was also used to screen a selection of Candida species, all of which possessed EF-3 with molecular mass in the range of 110-130 kDa.     

Nonaspiration fine needle cytology. Application of a new technique to nodular thyroid disease

The basic principle underlying fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the aspiration of cellular material from target masses, often utilizing fairly high suction pressures. The procedure requires a needle and a syringe, advisedly held in a syringe holder, enabling single-handed suction to be exercised. Mastery of the technique is variable, with few operators acquiring consistent skill. A new technique, pioneered in France but essentially unpublicized, eliminates active aspiration, replacing it by the principle of capillary suction of fluid or semifluid material into a thin channel (a fine needle). This nonaspiration sampling method was tested in a consecutive series of 50 solid thyroid nodules. Simultaneously performed conventional FNAs served as controls. Cell samples were cytologically assessed as unsuitable, diagnostic/adequate or diagnostic/superior, without knowledge of the sampling method employed. Diagnostically superior specimens were obtained significantly more frequently by the nonaspiration technique in 36 benign lesions and 13 neoplasms. The method of nonaspiration fine needle cytology ("cytopuncture") is described and illustrated, and the implications for its use in other sites are discussed.     

Holozygosity for sex-linked genes in males of the termiteIncisitermes schwarzi

The termite Incisitermes schwarzi has multiple sex chromosomes that have arisen by repeated translocations between autosomes and previously existing sex chromosomes. Two sex-linked allozyme loci--Acp-1 and Est-3--are holozygous, not hemizygous, in males (the heterogametic sex). Both loci show less than 1% crossing-over between X and Y chromosomes, and alleles of both are in marked disequilibrium with respect to X vs Y linkage. The two loci assort independently in female meiosis, indicating that they lie on different sex chromosomes. But they are tightly linked in male meiosis because of nonrandom assortment of the multiple X and Y chromosomes in males of this species. The findings of holozygosity and strong linkage disequilibrium suggest that differential selection in the two sexes at or near these loci may be responsible for the establishment of the translocations in this species. The existence of active Y-linked alleles also suggests that the translocations may have occurred recently.     

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of [1-13C]glucose metabolism in Crithidia fasciculata. Evidence of CO2 fixation by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase

The non-invasive technique of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance was applied to study glucose metabolism in vivo in the insect parasite Crithidia fasciculata. It was found that under anaerobic conditions [1-13C]glucose underwent a glycolytic pathway whose main metabolic products were identified as [2-13C]ethanol, [2-13C]succinate and [1,3-13C2]glycerol. These metabolites were excreted by C. fasciculata into the incubation medium, while in the cells [3-13C]phosphoenolpyruvate was also detected in addition to the aforementioned compounds. The C3 acid is apparently the acceptor of the primary CO2 fixation reaction, which leads in Trypanosomatids to the synthesis of succinate. By addition of sodium bicarbonate to the incubation mixture L-[3-13C]malate was detected among the excretion products, while the ethanol:succinate ratio of 2.0 in the absence of bicarbonate changed to a ratio of 0.6 in the presence of the latter. This was due to a shift of the balance between carboxylation of phosphoenolpyruvate, leading to succinate, and pyruvate decarboxylation leading to ethanol. The addition of 25% 2H2O to the incubation mixture led to the formation of [2-13C, 2-2H]ethanol derived from the prior incorporation of 2H+ into pyruvate in the reactions mediated by either pyruvate kinase or malic enzyme. However, no 2H+ incorporation into L-malate was detected, excluding the possibility that the latter was formed by carboxylation of pyruvate, and lending support to the idea that L-malate results from the carboxylation of phosphoenolpyruvate to oxaloacetate by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The formation of [2-13C, 2-2H]-succinate under the same conditions reflected the uptake of 2H+ during the reduction of fumarate. When the incubations were carried out in the presence of 100% 2H2O, several [1-13C, 1-2H]ethanol species were detected, as well as [2-13C, 2-2H]malate and [1,3-13C2, 1,3-2H2]glycerol. The former deuterated compounds reflect the existence of NAD2H species when the incubations were carried out in 100% 2H2O, while the incorporation of 2H+ into [1,3-13C2]glycerol must be attributed to the phosphoglucose-isomerase-mediated reaction during glycolysis.     

Nutrient addition experiments in Lago Jacaretinga,Central Amazon,Brazil: 2. The effect of humic and fulvic acids

Enrichment experiments consisting of additions of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and humic and fulvic acids were carried out using natural phytoplankton assemblages from Lago Jacaretinga, Central Amazon, Brazil. The addition of nutrients resulted in greatly stimulated primary production whereas addition of humic and fulvic acids had no effect. When both nutrients and humic and fulvic acids were added in combination, algal community response was identical to treatments in which only nutrients had been added. The result contrasts with previous phytoplankton culture studies in which the addition of humic material to the culture media increased production. Comparison of absorbance spectra indicated a severe reduction in the quantity and quality of light in Amazonian black waters relative to that in white waters.     

Mixing patterns in Amazon lakes

The diel mixing patterns of two small floodplain lakes, Lago Jacaretinga in the Amazon drainage, and Lago Cristalino in the Rio Negro system, were investigated during both the high-water and low-water states of the Amazon River hydrograph. Measurements included temperature, oxygen, ammonia, phosphate, and chlorophyll. In both lakes thermal stratification developed during the day and was eroded at night. During the low-water period when the lakes were shallow, nocturnal circulation extended to the lake bottom, whereas when the lakes were deeper (greater than about 5 m), circulation did not reach the bottom and an anoxic hypolimnion developed. During the low-water period, percent of oxygen concentrations were relatively high but always less than saturation. Low oxygen concentrations were observed during the high-water period. At all times nocturnal mixing supplied a significant amount of oxygen to the lake ecosystems. Nighttime upward mixing of recycled nitrogen and phosphorus also appeared to be important nutrient sources for algal productivity.     

Unsuccessful induction of low-zone tolerance to bovine serum albumin injected into the subarachnoid space

Introduction of T-dependent antigens into the subarachnoid space (isas) resulted in higher systemic antibody responses in mice than injections into the peritoneal cavity (ip) or other sites commonly used for immunization. Antibody production in isas immunized mice was not increased by treatment with cyclophosphamide (Cy) at doses known to abolish T-suppressor-cell activity, but such treatment increased antibody production in ip immunized mice toward the higher level which was observed in the isas immunized animals. Suppressor cell-dependent low zone tolerance (LZT) to TNP-BSA could not be induced by isas injections of deaggregated BSA (d-BSA). Conversely, mice which were unresponsive to ip injected d-BSA showed consistent systemic antibody responses when the antigen was injected isas. These observations indicate that immune responses initiated within the CNS are associated with relatively ineffective induction of systemic suppressor cell activity.