Element concentration variability in the whaleworm Anisakis simplex s.l.

Concentrations of the elements C, N, Fe, Na, K, Ca and Mg were analysed by chromatography and atomic absorption spectrometry in the whaleworm Anisakis simplex sensu lato. Nearly all mean inorganic element concentrations measured were higher in adult worms than in larval forms. Similarly, adults contained significantly higher nitrogen (i.e. lower C/N ratio values) than either eggs or larvae. Evidence for the significance of the parasitic life cycle stage and the systematic position of their hosts on the element concentration variability is discussed.     

Associated Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation (ALPPS) vs Selective Portal Vein Ligation (PVL) for Staged Hepatectomy in a Rat Model. Similar Regenerative Response?

Associated liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a two-stage hepatectomy technique which can be associated with a hypertrophic stimulus on the future liver remnant (FLR) stronger than other techniques–such as portal vein ligation (PVL). However, the reason of such hypertrophy is still unclear, but it is suggested that liver transection combined with portal vein ligation (ALPPS) during the first stage of this technique may play a key role. The aim of this study is to compare the hypertrophic stimulus on the FLR and the clinical changes associated with both ALPPS and PVL in a rat surgical model. For this purpose, three groups of SD rats were used, namely ALPPS (n = 30), PVL (n = 30) and sham-treated (n = 30). The second stage of ALPPS (hepatectomy of the atrophic lobes), was performed at day 8. Blood and FLR samples were collected at 1, 24, 48 hours, 8 days and 12 weeks after the surgeries. ALPPS provoked a greater degree of hypertrophy of the FLR than the PVL at 48 hours and 8 days (p<0.05). The molecular pattern was also different, with the highest expression of IL-1β at 24h, IL-6 at 8 days, and HGF and TNF-α at 48 hours and 8 days (p<0.05). ALPPS also brought about a mild proliferative stimulus at 12 weeks, with a higher expression of HGF and TGF-β (p<0.05) than PVL. Clinically, ALPPS caused a significant liver damage during the first 48 hours, with a recovery of liver function at day 8. In conclusion, ALPPS seems to induce higher functional hypertrophy on the FLR than PVL at day 8. Such regenerative response seems to be leaded by a complex interaction between pro-mitogenic (IL-6, HGF, TNF-α) and antiproliferative (IL1-β and TGF-β) cytokines.     

Phleomycin resistance as a dominant selectable marker for plant cell transformation

Tobacco cells are sensitive to bleomycin and phleomycin. The Tn5 and the Streptoalloteichus hindustanus (Sh) bleomycin resistance (Ble) genes conferring resistance to these antibiotics have each been inserted into two plant expression vectors. They are flanked by the nopaline synthase (nos) or the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoters on one side, and by the nos polyadenylation signal on the other. These four chimaeric genes were introduced into the binary transformation vector pGA 492, which were thereafter mobilized into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404. The resulting strains were used to transform Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc using the leaf disc transformation procedure. In all cases, phleomycin- and bleomycin-resistant tobacco plants were regenerated from transformed cells under selective conditions; however the highest frequency of rooted plants was obtained when transformation was carried out with the Sh Ble gene under the control of the 35S promoter. Phleomycin resistance was stably transmitted to sexual offspring as a dominant nuclear trait as confirmed by Southern blotting.     

Inhibition of hexose transport by glucose in a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase mutant ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The rate of hexose transport was approximately 60% lower for both the high- and the low-affinity components of hexose uptake when a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase mutant ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae was preincubated with glucose, as compared with preincubation with water. Similarly theJ _max value of the high-affinity system of the mutant was 25–35 % of the correspondingJ _max value for normal cells incubated with glucose. Accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate or of some other metabolite, such as fructose 6-phosphate or trehalose, may be responsible for this striking inhibition.     

Proton extrusion inSaccharomyces cerevisiae mutants in very dilute suspensions

Substrate-induced H⁺ extrusion was studied in dilute (0.04–0.5 mg dry mass per mL) unbuffered suspensions ofS. cerevisiae. Wild-type strains 196-2 and K and 196-2-derived mutants altered in hexose transport, glucosephosphate isomerase, mannosephosphate isomerase, pyruvate kinase, and arho petite mutant were characterized as to growth, biochemical and H⁺-pumping properties. Their H⁺ extrusion differed, depending on strain, growth conditions, and the H⁺-efflux-inducing substrate; the efficiency of the process depended critically on the balance between substrate uptake, its dissimilation, attendant mobilization of energy sources and build-up of acidity sources in the cell, and the energy supply to H⁺excreting systems.     

Nucleotide sequence of a human monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody specific for a rabies virus-neutralizing monoclonal idiotypic antibody reveals extensive somatic variability suggestive of an antigen-driven immune response

We previously described the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) isolated from EBV-transformed human PBL after immunization with rabies vaccine. The present study concerns the molecular characteristics of the Ab2 and the germ-line elements that gave rise to it. The H chain of this antibody derives from the small VHV family of human V region gene segments. Parallel studies on the germ-line VHV gene isolated from the same individual revealed that the expressed molecule contains 19 nucleotide differences in the VH gene segment. The D segment of Ab2 could have arisen by a D to D fusion; the J segment is a JH6. Extensive somatic variation evident in the H chain variable region of this naturally arising monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody suggests that this Ab2, the product of a CD5+ B cells, was the consequence of an Ag-driven immune response.     

Antipeptide antibodies that recognize a lymphocyte substance P receptor

In an effort to investigate the presence of substance P (SP) receptors on lymphocytes, polyclonal antibodies against SP receptors were developed. The immunogen used to generate these antibodies was a peptide encoded by an RNA complementary to the mRNA for SP. The rationale for using this SP complementary peptide (termed SP CP) as an immunogen resulted from the observation that 3H-SP bound to microtiter wells coated with SP CP in a dose dependent and saturable fashion. Furthermore, binding was blocked with excess unlabeled SP or SP antagonist, D-Pro2-D-Phe7-D-Trp9-SP. Inasmuch as the peptide, SP CP, specifically bound 3H-SP, we hypothesized that antibodies against this peptide might recognize a SP receptor binding site. Using the SP receptor positive lymphoblast cell line, IM-9, affinity-purified antibodies against SP CP but not antibodies against keyhole limpet hemocyanin recognized a molecule on the surface of IM-9 cells. Anti-SP CP binding to IM-9 cells was blocked with excess SP antagonist, suggesting that the antibody and the SP antagonist were competing for the same binding site. In support of this possibility, anti-SP CP antibodies blocked 3H-SP binding to IM-9 cells. An immunoaffinity column coupled with antibodies against SP CP bound protein from solubilized IM-9 cells. This isolated protein bound 125I-Tyr8-SP and binding was specifically blocked with SP as well as by SP antagonist, neurokinin A, and eledoisin. Passthrough material did not bind SP suggesting that a SP receptor had been purified. Western blot analysis of solubilized IM-9 cell proteins using anti-SP CP antibodies but not preimmune IgG recognized a single protein of 58,000 D. Taken together, these results demonstrate that antibodies against SP CP recognize a SP receptor present on the lymphocyte cell line, IM-9.     

Fine needle aspiration of peripheral neuroepithelioma of soft tissues.

Peripheral neuroepithelioma of soft tissue is a malignant primitive neuroectodermal tumor that appears both in children and adults and usually has a poor outcome. Fine needle aspiration on two patients with tumors in the lower limbs showed small round cells with unipolar processes and a tendency to form Homer-Wright rosettes. The cells had a round to oval nucleus with fine chromatin, up to four small, conspicuous nucleoli and vacuolated, periodic acid-Schiff-positive cytoplasm. The diagnosis was supported by electron microscopic study of the aspirate, which showed features of neuroblastic differentiation (i.e., neurosecretory granules), and by histologic, immunohistochemical and cytogenetic study of the resected tumors.     

Cloning and characterization of theeapB andeapC genes ofCryphonectria parasitica encoding two new acid proteinases, and disruption ofeapC

Two new proteinases secreted byCryphonectria parasitica, namely EapB and EapC, have been purified. The corresponding structural genes were isolated by screening a cosmid library, and sequenced. Comparison of genomic and cDNA sequences revealed that theeapB andeapC genes contain three and two introns, respectively. The products of theeapB andeapC genes as deduced from the nucleotide sequences, are 268 and 269 residues long, respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequencing data indicates that EapC is synthesized as a zymogen, which yields a mature 206-amino acid enzyme after cleavage of the prepro sequence. Similarly, sequence alignment studies suggest that EapB is secreted as a 203-residue form which shares extensive similarities not only with EapC but also with two other acid fungal proteinases. However, they display distinct structural features; for example, no cysteine residue is found in EapC. TheeapC gene was mutated using a two-step gene replacement strategy which allowed the specific introduction of several stop codons at the beginning of theeapC coding sequence in an endothiapepsin-deficient (EapA⁺)C. parasitica strain. Although the resulting strain did not secrete EapC, it still exhibited residual extracellular proteolytic activity, which could be due to EapB.