Distribution and altitudinal structuring of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in southern Anatolia, Turkey: their relation to human cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The two Old World genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, were both recorded in southern Anatolia in Turkey. Phlebotomus species predominated and comprised about 93% of the entire collection (3,172 specimens). Out of the sixteen species identified, two belonged to the genus Sergentomyia: S. dentata and S. theodori. The remaining fourteen species in the genus Phlebotomus were grouped under four subgenera including some species that are elsewhere known to act as vectors of human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Most of the Phlebotomus were P. tobbi (32.5%), but P. papatasi, P. transcaucasicus, P. halepensis, P. galilaeus, P. sergenti, P. syriacus, P. neglectus, P. simici, P. alexandri, P. similis, P jacusieli, P. perfiliewi, and P. brevis were also identified. There were two associations of sand fly fauna with altitudinal gradient; the first one at relatively higher altitudes and the second one at lower altitudes. The transition between these two assemblages was within the range of 800-1,000 m. It is likely that Adana and Hatay provinces are transitional areas between western and eastern Anatolia. Mountains do not appear to be important geographical barriers for sand fly distribution. We also found that the proven vector P. sergenti is a widely distributed species throughout southern Anatolia and this species, together with its closely related species P. similis, shows sympatry in Konya Province.     

Effect of incubation conditions, inhibitors, 2-mercaptoethanol and testosterone on RNA synthesis in ram spermatozoa

In vitro studies on RNA synthesis using washed ram spermatozoa were carried out by measuring the incorporation of (3)H-uridine into RNA. Penicillin-G (100 mug/ml medium) was added to prevent contamination by microorganisms. Spermatozoa were quickly separated from seminal plasma by washing twice in Tris-HCl buffer (at pH 7.2) and centrifuged at 1,000 g for 5 min. Washed spermatozoa were then diluted to 1 10 , 1 20 or 1 40 (v/v) by the same buffer system (containing 400 mg% glucose) and were incubated in air at 37 degrees C for 1, 2 and 4 h. Results indicated that the rate of RNA synthesis was maximal at 1 40 semenbuffer dilution (5-8 x 10(7) spermatozoa/ml) and increased linearly up to 4 h of incubation. The rate of RNA synthesis at 1 40 dilution also increased linearly as the dose of exogenous glucose substrate was increased up to 400 mg%. Denaturation of the ram spermatozoa by 1% HgCl(2) caused almost complete inhibition of RNA synthesis that amounted to 97% of the control samples. Incubation of spermatozoa with 50, 100 or 200 mug/ml chloramphenicol also inhibited uridine incorporation by 86 to 94%, while equivalent doses of cycloheximide did not. On the other hand, the incorporation of (3)H-uridine into the RNA of ram spermatozoa was significantly enhanced by graded doses of 2-mercaptoethanol (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 muM) and of testosterone (15 and 30 mug/ml). The results of this study indicate RNA synthesis, mainly of mitochondrial origin, by mature ram sperm. The data also suggest a role for intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the regulation of sperm RNA synthesis.     

A novel approach for whey recycling in production of bacterial insecticides

A simplified approach was devised to recycle sweet whey in production of spore-δ-endotoxin complex from certain entomopathogenic varieties ofBacillus thuringiensis Berliner. The process suggested aimed at the protection of the environment through dual channels namely biological oxygen demand (BOD) reduction of the byproduct under investigation and its incorporation in a microbial fermentation for production of pollution-free biological insecticides. The sweet whey could be used successfully for endotoxin production as complete fermentation media both as such and with simple treatments. Supplementation of whey media with ground leguminous seeds and fodder yeast resulted in marked increase in the yields of endotoxin produced but the toxicity was not increased proportionnally. Standard biological assays revealed high efficiency of certain strains ofB.t. var.entomocidus, kurstaki andgalleriae in producing endotoxins highly active against 3rd instar larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis Boisduval,Spodoptera exigua Hübner andHeliothis armigera Hübner. The suggested approach and the findings obtained are discussed in view of their application feasibilities.

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Résumé Une méthode simplifiée a été mise au point pour recycler le petit lait dans la production du complexe spore-δ-endotoxine de certaines variétés entomopathogènes deBacillus thuringiensis Berliner. Le procédé proposé a pour but la protection de l'environnement par un double canal chimique, c'est-à-dire la réduction de la demande biologique en oxygène du sous produit étudié et son incorporation dans une fermentation microbienne pour la fabrication d'insecticides biologiques non polluants. Le petit lait peut être employé avec succès pour la production d'endotoxine à la fois en tant que milieux complets de fermentation et avec des traitements simples. L'addition aux milieux à base de petit lait de graines de légumineuses et de levure alimentaire aboutit à une augmentation sensible des rendements en endotoxine mais la toxicité n'est pas accrue en proportion. Des essais biologiques normalisés montrent une activité élevée de certaines souches deB.t. var.entomocidus, kurstaki etgalleriae qui produisent des endotoxines très actives à l'égard des larves de 3e stage deSpodoptera littoralis Boisduval,Spodoptera exigua Hübner etHeliothis armigera Hübner. La méthode proposée et les résultats obtenus sont discutés en vue de leur faisabilité d'application.

     

Microbial transformation of zearalenone to a zearalenone sulfate.

The conversion of zearalenone by various microorganisms was studied. A new polar metabolite was formed in addition to alpha- and beta-zearalenols. The structure of the new metabolite was determined as zearalenone-4-O-sulfate conjugate on the basis of enzymatic and acid hydrolysis, followed by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopic analysis. The results obtained demonstrate that Rhizopus arrhizus catalyzes sulfation of zearalenone at the C-4 hydroxyl group.     

Anthropological studies among Libyans. Erythrocyte genetic factors,serum haptoglobin phenotypes and anthropometry

Anthropological studies were done on 1276 Libyans from the Mediterranean cities of Tripoli and Benghazi, and from Sabha southward in The Sahara. The incidences of hemoglobin (Hb)-S and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency were low in the coastal areas and significantly high in Sabha. Hb-C occurred sporadically in Tripoli and Sabha, and was absent from Benghazi in the east. One case of Hb-J Benghazi was noted. There were no significant differences in the ABO blood group and Rh₀ (D) type distributions in the three localities. G-6-PD gene Gd^A frequency was significantly high in Sabha. The lowest value of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) gene PGD^A frequency and highest value of the gene PGD^C were in Sabha. Adenylate kinase (AK) gene AK² was only detectable in Tripoli. Acid phosphatase (AP) gene P^a frequency in Sabha was more than twice that in Tripoli and Benghazi, while P^c was distinctly lower in Sabha than in the northern cities. Haptoglobin gene Hp¹ frequency was almost identical in all areas. Anthropometric measurements revealed overall homogeneity of the three samples, closer similarity in the coastal region to adjacent North African populations, and Negroid influence in the Saharan Libyans. Anthropometry substantiated findings from blood markers.     

Combination of AT-101/cisplatin overcomes chemoresistance by inducing apoptosis and modulating epigenetics in human ovarian cancer cells

We investigated the effects of AT-101/cisplatin combination treatment on the expression levels of apoptotic proteins and epigenetic events such as DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzyme activities in OVCAR-3 and MDAH-2774 ovarian cancer cells. XTT cell viability assay was used to evaluate cytotoxicity. For showing apoptosis, both DNA Fragmentation and caspase 3/7 activity measurements were performed. The expression levels of apoptotic proteins were assessed by human apoptosis antibody array. DNMT and HDAC activities were evaluated by ELISA assay and mRNA levels of DNMT1 and HDAC1 genes were quantified by qRT-PCR. Combination of AT-101/cisplatin resulted in strong synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cells. Combination treatment reduced some pivotal anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, HIF-1A, cIAP-1, XIAP in OVCAR-3 cells, whereas p21, Bcl-2, cIAP-1, HSP27, Clusterin and XIAP in MDAH-2774 cells. Among the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bad, Bax, Fas, phospho-p53 (S46), Cleaved caspase-3, SMAC/Diablo, TNFR1 and Cytochrome c were induced in OVCAR-3 cells, whereas, Bax, TRAILR2, FADD, p27, phospho-p53 (S46), Cleaved caspase-3, Cytochrome c, SMAC/Diablo and TNFR1 were induced in MDAH-2774 cells. Combination treatment also inhibited both DNMT and HDAC activities and also mRNA levels in both ovarian cancer cells. AT-101 exhibits great potential in sensitization of human ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin treatment in vitro, suggesting that the combination of AT-101 with cisplatin may hold great promise for development as a novel chemotherapeutic approach to overcome platinum-resistance in human ovarian cancer.     

Fourteen morphotypes of Entodinium ovumrajae (Ophryoscolecidae, Entodiniomorphida) found in the Dromedary camel of Egypt

During a survey of the ciliate protozoal composition of the stomach contents of nine dromedary camels of Egypt, fourteen morphotypes of Entodinium ovumrajae, which has been considered as a species peculiar to camels, were found in six camels. Except for five morphotypes including one originally described as an independent species and its forms, these were newly detected. These morphotypes, divided into three groups, can be identified mainly by the morphology of their ectoplasmic processes. Each camel had on average, about five morphotypes of this species.     

Interactions between Hox-negative cephalic neural crest cells and the foregut endoderm in patterning the facial skeleton in the vertebrate head

The vertebrate face contains bones that differentiate from mesenchymal cells of neural crest origin, which colonize the median nasofrontal bud and the first branchial arches. The patterning of individual facial bones and their relative positions occurs through mechanisms that remained elusive. During the early stages of head morphogenesis, an endodermal cul-de-sac, destined to become Sessel's pouch, underlies the nasofrontal bud. Reiterative outpocketings of the foregut then form the branchial pouches. We have tested the capacity of endoderm of the avian neurula to specify the facial skeleton by performing ablations or grafts of defined endodermal regions. Neural crest cells that do not express Hox genes respond to patterning cues produced regionally in the anterior endoderm to yield distinct skeletal components of the upper face and jaws. However, Hox-expressing neural crest cells do not respond to these cues. Bone orientation is likewise dependent on the position of the endoderm relative to the embryonic axes. Our findings thus indicate that the endoderm instructs neural crest cells as to the size, shape and position of all the facial skeletal elements, whether they are cartilage or membrane bones.