Spatial Distribution of Flavonoid Conjugates in Relation to Glucosyltransferase and Sulfotransferase Activities in Flaveria bidentis

The spatial distribution of sulfated and glucosylated flavonols as well as of the enzymes involved in the later steps of their biosynthesis, sulfotransferase and glucosyltransferase, were investigated in the shoots of Flaveria bidentis. The highest amounts of both types of flavonoid conjugates (as micromole per gram fresh weight) and the highest activities of their enzymes (as picokat per milligram) were detected in the terminal bud and the first pair of leaves. Sulfotransferase activity was also highest in the upper stem segments and in the basal section of the leaves. Western blot analysis of protein extracts showed that variations in sulfotransferase activity in different tissues correlate well with the amounts of immunodetected enzyme protein. These results were discussed in relation to the possible role of conjugated flavonoids in plant growth.     

Host-vector systems for the thermotolerant methanol-utilizing bacteriaMethylophilus spp. KISRI-Strains

Fourteen recombinant plasmids were constructed by inserting fragments of pSAS, a naturally occurring plasmid ofMethylophilus spp. KISRI-5, into the multiple cloning sites of pUC19. Six recombinants and three knownEscherichia coli plasmids were used to transform three thermotolerant methylotrophic KISRI strains by use of an optimized protocol of electroporation. Analysis of transformants for plasmid DNA showed that all plasmids were stable in the methylotrophic hosts. These studies offer opportunities to developMethylophilus spp. as host-vector systems.     

Isolation of spore-forming bacilli from mosquitoes in natural breeding habitats in Iraq

New isolates of spore-forming bacilli from larvae and pupae of 3 species of mosquitoes are recorded in central Iraq.Bacillus sphaericus Meyer and Neide was isolated fromCulex pipiens (L.) larva.Bacillus carotarum Koch andBacillus cereus Frankland & Frankland were isolated fromTheobaldia longiareolata (Macquart) pupae.Bacillus laterosporus Laubach andBacillus thuringiensis (H 18) were isolated fromAedes caspius (Pallas) larvae. In addition, unidentifiedBacillus spp. were isolated fromCx. pipiens, T. longiareolata andAe. caspius larvae. Examination of soil samples collected from mosquito natural breeding habitats revealed isolates ofB. cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis H4a 4b; H 12 and H 16 and an unidentifiedBacillus sp.

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Résumé Des souches bactériennes sporogènes sont isolées de moustiques qui se trouvent dans la région centrale de l'Irak. Les résultats obtenus sont les suivants:Bacillus sphaericus Meyer & Neide [Culex pipiens (L.), larve],Bacillus carotarum Koch etBacillus cereus Frankland & Frankland [Theobaldia longiareolata (Macquart), nymphe],Bacillus laterosporus Laubach etBacillus thuringiensis (H 18) [Aedes caspius (Pallas), larvel]. L'examen des larves deCulex pipiens. T. longiareolata etAe. caspius, ainsi que l'analyse des échantillons du sol prélevés dans la région montrent la présence deBacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis H4a 4b; H12 plus H16 et d'autresBacillus non identifiés.

     

The mast cells of the mammalian central nervous system. IX. Development of the mast cells in the brain of the young rat

There are four potentially granular or frankly granular cells within the connective tissue compartment of the mammalian central nervous system, whether this is part of the surface leptomeninges or the leptomeningeal sleeves around parenchymal blood vessels larger than capillaries. These are: Cells that behave like macrophages, part of the mononuclear phagocyte system of the body; they are granular to varying degrees (containing lysosomes). Brown-pigmented granular cells which are mainly located on the surface but are also seen for varying distances along blood vessels as they pass inside the CNS of pigmented animals. Mast cells (MCs) which are granular and located especially prominently in surface leptomeninges of young mammals, and, in adults, are restricted to special parts of the CNS. Granular cells, referred to by me as neurolipomastocytoid cells (NLMs), are numerous, ubiquitously distributed, and seem to have morphological features in common with those of both MCs and macrophages. The exact identity of these NLMs still needs to established. One approach was to study the development of all three non-pigmented cells in the immature brain of the albino rat, especially at the ultrastructural level. This communication represents the findings regarding the MCs. The MCs appear to arise from a small mononuclear cell and to go through maturation stages identical to those described by others for MCs outside the CNS. The greatly flattened adjacent leptomeningeal cells are an easily identifiable entity especially due to their peculiar glycogen content in the young.     

m-Octopamine: Normal Occurrence with p-Octopamine in Mammalian Sympathetic Nerves

The development of a radiochemical enzyme assay for p-octopamine in 1969 led to its identification in a large number of invertebrate nerve systems and in mammalian sympathetic nerves. The original method by which p-octopamine was measured has now been found to be nonspecific; however, modifications of this procedure can determine both m- and p-octopamine. We recently developed a new specific method for the unequivocal identification and quantitative determination in tissue of the six octopamine and synephrine isomers. With this method--negative chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry--the more physiologically active m-octopamine has been found in association with p-octopamine in 10 organs of the rat. m-Octopamine is present in concentrations equal to those of p-octopamine in heart, spleen, and liver and in concentrations from 30 to 60% of p-octopamine in adrenals, vas deferens, brain, kidney, large intestine, bladder, and lungs. In vivo inhibition of monoamine oxidase markedly increased the concentrations of both m- and p-octopamine in all organs examined. Both amines were virtually absent from all organs except the adrenals following chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine, thereby establishing that m- and p-octopamine are localized within sympathetic nerve endings.     

Immunochemical studies of serum, urine and calculus proteins in urolithiasis

Total serum protein levels in 70 patients with urolithiasis were not significantly different from those in 20 control subjects, although certain variations were detected in individual protein patterns. In contrast, total urinary protein was significantly higher in patients with urolithiasis. 4-6 different components, i.e., albumin, alpha 1-acidic glycoprotein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, Gc-globulin, fibrinogen and immunoglobulin G, were found in the matrices of calculi and in urine, suggesting that proteinuria may play a role in the formation of stones in patients with urolithiasis.     

Pathology of the human pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis

Lungs of twelve patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis (Pb) were studied in an attempt to understand the pathogenesis of the pulmonary disease. Ribbons of the lung parenchyma including the hilar region and directed towards apical, basal and lateral regions were subdivided into sections from the hilar, intermediate and peripheral segments. The following histopathological reactions directly or indirectly related to P. brasiliensis were described and analysed in relation to the number of slides studied and the pulmonary region involved: (1) pneumonic reaction; (2) early granulomatous formation; (3) mature and healed granulomata; (4) mixed pattern (early and mature granuloma in the same pulmonary area visualized in the slide); (5) pulmonary fibrosis.It was concluded that chronic pulmonary Pb is a recurrent disease affecting equally both lungs. Fibrosis was connected mainly with the progressive evolution of the granulomata towards cicatrization and to a lesser degree probably to a direct induction by the fungi. Based chiefly on the tendency of the fibrosis to run around bronchi and to make up septa interconnecting bronchi and vessels it was hipothesized that these findings were the result of a previous chronic specific lymphangitis by the fungi. Hilar fibrosis would be the result of this lymphangitis and/or of the progression of the specific granulomatous reaction seen in the hilar lymph nodes.Non specific forms of arteritis and areas of destructive emphysema related to granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis were described. Three cases developed pulmonary hypertension.     

Role of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli in cattle and buffalo calf diarrhoea

Abstract 273 Strains of Escherichia coli isolated from diarrhoeic and healthy control cattle and buffalo calves in Sri Lanka, were tested for Verocytotoxin (VT) and for heat-stable (ST) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxins. VT and ST toxigenic E. coli were significantly associated with diarrhoea, accounting for 28% and 18% of diarrhoeic episodes, respectively. LT toxigenic E. coli were not significantly associated with diarrhoea.