Differential recognition of the serologically defined HLA-A2 antigen by allogeneic cytotoxic T cells

A comprehensive analysis of human alloimmune cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for the HLA-A2 antigen identified 11% of HLA-A2 positive cells as outliers. In total, 11 unrelated serologically indistinguishable, but distinguishable by cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) HLA-A2 positive outlier cells were identified. The outlier cells could be subdivided in two subgroups according to reactivity patterns obtained with CTLs directed against the HLA-A2 antigen of outlier cells and their inhibitory capacity in specific competitive inhibition experiments. Thus, the serologically defined HLA-A2 specificity can be divided into at least three subtypes using CTLs specific for the HLA-A2 antigen. Moreover, CTLs specific for an HLA-A2 subtype could be induced when responder cells expressed a different HLA-A2 subtype antigen. On the basis of several family studies, we conclude that the subtype HLA-A2 antigens are inherited in a codominant way.     

The Effects of Direct Instillations of a Therapeutic Mixture Into the Tracheobronchial Tree

Twenty-two patients with chronic productive bronchitis or bronchiectasis were treated by direct instillations of normal saline and N-acetylcysteine into the trachea through a percutaneous catheter following a period of conventional routine therapy.The instillation, using either normal saline or varying concentrations of N-acetylcysteine did not produce significant change in alveolar gas exchange as reflected by measurement of arterial PaCO₂ and the alveolar arterial gradient for oxygen during and after the introduction of the medication into the bronchial tree. Studies were carried out after patients had been stabilized breathing pure oxygen on an IPPB machine for 30 minutes.Evaluation of the treatment by means of pulmonary function tests demonstrated significant improvement in overall function following therapy.The results indicate that the technique of tracheobronchial lavage is physiologically benign and that overall improvement in pulmonary function can be obtained by this means in cases of the type described in this study.     

Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in normal and vitrified plants of Agave tequilana Weber propagated in vitro

Agave tequilana stem explants were used to produce adventitious shoots under a set of different water potentials induced by different concentrations of gelrite in the medium. At high water potentials all shoots were vitrified; as the medium water potential became more negative the degree of vitrification decreased but the number of shoots per explant also diminished. The enzymes NADH and NAD-GDH (EC. 1.4.1.2) were measured along the water potential gradient. GDH activity was high in the non-vitrified tissues and decreased significantly in the vitrified ones.Abbreviations GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - MS Murashige and Skoog medium - MSO methionine sulfoximine - PVP polyvinylpolypyrrolidone - GS glutamine synthetase - GOGAT glutamine: oxoglutarate amino transferase     

Production of 5-methoxypodophyllotoxin in cell suspension cultures of Linum flavum L.

Cell suspension cultures of Linum flavum L., routinely grown on a NAA-containing medium, accumulated low levels of the phenylpropanoid-derived lignan 5-methoxypodophyllotoxin (5-MPT), up to 0.004% on a dry weight basis. Feeding experiments with the precursor L-phenylalanine resulted in a 3–5-fold increase in 5-MPT levels, but caused the levels of PAL activity to fall. Treatment of the cultures with the elicitor Nigeran, either alone or in combination with phenylalanine, caused the 5-MPT production to cease, even though PAL activity was rapidly enhanced by these treatments. Transfer of the cultures to NAA-free medium resulted in a 40–50 fold higher level of 5-MPT accumulation, the PAL activity levels being lowered compared to the routinely grown cells. With these more differentiated cultures, phenylalanine feeding and elicitor treatment, both on its own and in combination with the precursor, had no effect on 5-MPT production, even though the PAL activity levels were higher than in the untreated cells. It can be concluded that in lignan-accumulating cultures of L. flavum, PAL activity is nearly always detectable and seems to show a reciprocal relationship with 5-MPT accumulation.Abbreviations 5-MPT 5-methoxypodophyllotoxin - PAL phenylalanine ammonia lyase (EC 4:3:1.5) - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid     

A tomato cDNA inducible by salt stress and abscisic acid: nucleotide sequence and expression pattern

We have characterized a new tomato cDNA, TAS14, inducible by salt stress and abscisic acid (ABA). Its nucleotide sequence predicts an open reading frame coding for a highly hydrophilic and glycine-rich (23.8%) protein of 130 amino acids. Southern blot analysis of tomato DNA suggests that there is one TAS14 structural gene per haploid genome. TAS14 mRNA accumulates in tomato seedlings upon treatment with NaCl, ABA or mannitol. It is also induced in roots, stems and leaves of hydroponically grown tomato plants treated with NaCl or ABA. TAS14 mRNA is not induced by other stress conditions such as cold and wounding. The sequence of the predicted TAS14 protein shows four structural domains similar to the rice RAB21, cotton LEA D11 and barley and maize dehydrin genes.     

A new species of Lernanthropus De Blainville, 1822 (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae) parasitic on Menticirrhus ophicephalus (Jenyns) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) from the Peruvian coast

Lernanthropus huamani n. sp. (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae), a parasite of the Peruvian sciaenid fish Menticirrhus ophicephalus (Jenyns), is described and illustrated. The new species differs from all other species of Lernanthropus by a combination of characters, including the dorsal plate, legs and other appendages. L. guacoldae Villalba & Fernández, 1984 is considered a synonym of L. pacificus Oliva & Duran, 1982.