The impact of tick parasites on the behaviour of the lizard Tiliqua rugosa

Populations of the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, near Mt. Mary, South Australia carry natural infestations of two tick species Aponomma hydrosauri and Amblyomma limbatum. In field experiments at two sites, 18 km apart, lizards with experimentally increased tick loads had smaller home ranges, moved shorter distances in a day, and were found basking more but moving less often than lizards from which ticks were experimentally removed. The results were consistent for adult lizards in two years, and for sub-adults in a third year. Laboratory trials showed that juvenile lizards that had tick infestations had lower sprint speeds than uninfested siblings, and that adults with tick infestations had less endurance than those that were uninfested. The results contrast with those of a previous survey that showed that lizards with high tick loads had greater body size and remained longer at a site, but indicate that there may be a balance, for lizards, between the fitness advantages in occupying habitats with high-quality resources, and the costs from parasites that also prefer those habitats. Received: 02 March 1999 / Accepted: 07 October 1999     

Developmental delays in exploration and locomotor activity in male rats exposed to low level lead

Delays in the development of exploratory and locomotor behavior in neonatal male rats (up to 21 days of age) are shown to accrue as a consequence of low level lead exposure. Cross fostering experiments indicate that these delays are primarily due to prenatal exposure. These Pb induced behavioral modifications appear to be associated with the delays in synaptogenesis and biochemical development of the cerebral cortex reported previously (4, 18). A new behavioral bioassay for detecting delays in brain development is described.     

Effect of tween 80 on exploratory behavior and locomotor activity in rats

Exploratory behavior and locomotor activity is enhanced in male rat pups (aged 10 to 20 days) whose dams received a chronic dose (1.25 ml/l) of Tween 80 via their drinking water. This enhancement manifests itself during the diurnal period of the day. These data suggest that Tween 80 has an effect on the CNS which could lead to misinterpretation of results in toxicology studies that use this compound as a dosage vehicle.     

Microbial transformation of 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-β,D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α,D-galactopyranoside (TGS) by soil populations

Summary Soil microorganisms from one site were shown to be consistently capable of the transformation of 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-,d-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-,d-galactopyranoside (TGS) in laboratory batch cultures. With fresh soils, all of the available chloride ions were released from the molecule. Subcultures of a TGS-dehalogenating bacterial community produced a progressive decline in the dehalogenating capabilities towards the substrate. The soil organisms did not utilise TGS as a carbon source. The transformation was achieved by co-metabolism and was probably supported by an unknown component in the soil. Four bacterial species were isolated from the TGS-dehalogenating soil community: twoBacillus species, anAcinetobacter group isolate and aMicrococcus group isolate. Thin-layer chromatography confirmed the disappearance of the chlorosugar and high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that neither of the constituent monosaccharides—1,6-dichlorofructose nor 4-chlorogalactosucrose was accumulated as an intermediate.

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Resumen Microorganismos de suelo de cierto lugar demostraron consistemente ser capaces de realizar la transformación de 1,6-dicloro-1,6 dideoxi--D-fructofuranosil-4-cloro-4-deoxi-,D-alactopiranosa (TGS) in culturas de laboratorio de tipo discontinuo. Con muestras frescas de suelo, todos los iones cloruro fueron liberados de la molecula. Subculturas de una comunidad bacterial capaz de dehalogenizar TGS produjeron una declinación progresiva de la capacidad de dehalogenizar el substrato. Los microorganismos no utilizaron el TGS como fuente de carbono. La transformación se realiza por co-metabolismo y probablemente se base en un componente del suelo, no determinado. Cuatro especies bacteriales fueron aisladas de la comunidad de bacterias de suelo con capacidad de dehalogenar el TGS: dos especies deBacilo, unaAcinelobacteria y unMicrococo. Estudios de cromatografía de capa delgada confirmaron la desaparición del clorosacárido, y estadios de cromatografía liquida demostraron que ninguno de los componentes monoscáridos — 1,6-diclorofructuosa y 4-clorogalactosucrosa — eran acumulados como productors intermedios.

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Résumé Les microorganismes du sol d'un certain endroit ont été démontrés être capable, sans exception, de la transformation de 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-,D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-,D-galactopyranoside (TGS) en cultures de laboratoire du type discontinu. Avec des prélèvements frais du sol, tous les ions disponibles de chlorure ont été libérés de la molécule. Des souscultures d'une communauté bactérienne capable de déhalogeniser le TGS ont produit un déclin progressif de la capacité de déhalogeniser le substrat. Les microorganismes du sol n'ont pas utilisé le TGS comme source de carbone. La transformation s'est accomplie par cometabolisme et, probablement, s'est basée sur un component indéterminé du sol. Quatre espèces bactériennes ont été isolées de la communauté de bactéries du sol capable de déhalogeniser le TGS: deux espèces deBacillus, unAcinetobacter et unMicrococcus. Des études de chromatographie de couches fines ont confirmées la disparition du chlorosaccharide, tandis que des études de chromatographie liquide de haut rendement ont démontrées que, des monosaccharides constituants, ni 1,6-dichlorofructose ni 4-chlorogalactosucrose, n'ont été accumulés comme produits intermédiaires.

     

Joint report of the Third International Bovine Lymphocyte Antigen (BoLA) Workshop, Helsinki, Finland, 27 July 1986

Two hundred and eighty-two alloantisera were submitted by 20 participating laboratories from 13 countries and tested against lymphocytes of 1298 cattle. The cell panel consisted of samples from 38 Bos taurus breeds, 11 Bos taurus crossbreeds, 4 Bos indicus breeds, 6 Bos taurus x Bos indicus, and a variety of other crossbred populations. Using a standardized lymphocytotoxicity test, all 17 previously identified BoLA specificities were confirmed. The workshop produced agreement on 16 new lymphocyte alloantigenic specificities. Three of the new specificities behaved as splits of previously identified BoLA specificities. Four of the new specificities behaved as alleles at the agreed BoLA-A locus. Seven new specificities are tentatively assigned to the BoLA-A locus but require further definition. Two new specificities may represent products of a second closely-linked BoLA locus.     

Immobilization of Penicillium chrysogenum: spore growth on Celite

Summary Penicillium chrysogenum spores have been immobilized by adsorption on two grades of wet or dry diatomaceous earth particles, Chromosorb-W and Celite R-633. Almost 90% of the spores were adsorbed within 2 h and those remaining in suspension were removed by washing to minimise the growth of free mycelia. After germination the immobilized biomass was almost independent of the spore loading on the particles and whether or not the spore suspension was added to wet or dry particles. The free biomass obtained was less than 5% of the immobilized biomass.     

Effect of antibiotics on lysine production in free and immobilized cells of Bacillus subtilis

Summary In immobilized cell preparations growth of cells outside the immobilization matrix as free cells is normally undesirable due to the appearance of cells in the product stream and clogging of such systems. Antibiotics could be used to arrest such free cell growth while allowing the synthesis and excretion of the product into the medium. Chloramphenicol (200 /ml) and/or novobiocin (10 /ml), when added during the growth of Bacillus subtilis allowed the production and excretion of lysine into the medium. Chloramphenicol at 200 /ml effectively arrested free cell growth and hence the lysine being produced was almost entirely due to immobilized cells. Novobiocin on the other hand at concentrations of 100 /ml, stopped free cell growth, but also prevented the production of l-lysine. Productivities and yields of lysine were adversely affected by chloramphenicol or novobiocin, probably due to a great decrease in cell viability.Offprint requests to: C. J. Israilides