A reappraisal of the terverticillate penicillia using biochemical, physiological and morphological features. I. Numerical taxonomy

Three-hundred-and-forty-eight strains representing the major species of terverticillate penicillia, and including representatives of other closely and distantly related species, were included in a numerical taxonomic study. One-hundred characters were derived from morphological features, physiological and biochemical activities and SEM micrographs. Strains were compared by both Gower's coefficient and Pattern difference, and clustered using the average linkage algorithm. Thirty-seven species or species-complex clusters were recovered at approximately 70% similarity; they generally corresponded to existing taxonomic concepts. Several species were shown to contain variants or chemotypes which were often supported by differences in conidial shape and ornamentation. The use of different types of characters enabled a number of new and previously accepted species to be shown to be either variants or deteriorated examples of other species. Variation in properties both between and within species was considered, particularly in relation to strain stability.     

Obstetric outcome in homeless women.

OBJECTIVE--To characterise the pregnant homeless population booking and delivering at St Mary''s Hospital, London, and ascertain whether their obstetric outcome was adversely affected by their homeless condition. DESIGN--Retrospective comparison of demographic characteristics of 185 homeless women booking for delivery with those of housed women booking in the same period and with the population of North West Thames region; comparison of obstetric performance of homeless women with subgroup of the housed population (group matched for age, parity, and ethnic origin). SETTING--Consultant obstetric unit, St Mary''s Hospital, London. SUBJECTS--All women booking between April 1987 and March 1988 who subsequently had a registrable birth. MAIN RESULTS--185 (8%) Of the 2308 women studied were homeless. Compared with the housed population, they had a larger proportion of young women, women of high parity, and Indo-Pakistani women and a smaller proportion of primiparas. Homeless women booked later and had had more previous obstetric problems than housed women. Pregnancy outcome (assessed by birth weight and prematurity rates) was worse than that of both women housed locally and the regional population. Antenatal attendance, complications, intrapartum performance, and perinatal outcome of homeless women did not differ from those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS--This study has been unable to show any significant differences in the outcome of pregnancy in homeless women that can be directly attributed to living in bed and breakfast accommodation, but these women have sociodemographic characteristics and obstetric risk factors that contribute to a poorer outcome in pregnancy than for the general population.     

Th1 T cell responses to HIV-1 Gag protein delivered by a Listeria monocytogenes vaccine are similar to those induced by endogenous listerial antigens.

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular bacterium that lives and grows in the cytoplasm of the host cell. The hallmark of a listerial infection is a cell-mediated immune response to its own secreted virulence factors. Thus, L. monocytogenes vaccines engineered to secrete HIV proteins may be ideal vectors for boosting cellular immune responses against HIV. Using strains of L. monocytogenes that stably express and secrete HIV Gag (Lm-Gag) to deliver this Ag to the immune system, we have previously shown strong MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic T cell responses to this protein. In this study, we examine MHC class II-restricted T cell responses to HIV-Gag delivered by Lm-Gag. We demonstrate the induction of CD4+ T cells that are HIV-Gag specific and identify three epitopes in two strains of mice, BALB/c (H-2d) and C57BL/6 (H-2b), two of which are both H-2d and H-2b restricted, but are not immunodominant for both haplotypes. In addition, we show that the CD4+ T cells induced are of the Th1 phenotype that produce IFN-gamma at levels similar to CD4+ T cells induced to endogenous listerial Ags. These studies suggest that chromosomally modified strains of L. monocytogenes may be useful as vaccine vectors for the induction of Th1 T cell responses against HIV.     

Environmental and seasonal influences on red raspberry flavour volatiles and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes

Raspberry volatiles are important for perceptions of sensory quality, mould resistance and some have nutraceutical activities. Twelve raspberry character volatiles were quantified, 11 of them in fruit from two seasons, from plants from the Glen Moy × Latham mapping population growing in both open field and under cover (polytunnels). Effects of season and environment were examined for their impact on the content of α-ionone, α-ionol, β-ionone, β-damascenone, linalool, geraniol, benzyl alcohol, (Z)-3-hexenol, acetoin, acetic and hexanoic acids, whilst raspberry ketone was measured in one season. A significant variation was observed in fruit volatiles in all progeny between seasons and method of cultivation. Quantitative trait loci were determined and mapped to six of the seven linkage groups, as were candidate genes in the volatiles pathways.     

Progesterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone in sheep: a model of their distribution and metabolism.

The rates of metabolism of progesterone and 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20alpha-diHP) in sheep have been measured during and after the infusion of tracer amounts of [3H]progesterone. There were significant differences in the blood concentration of [3H]progesterone between experiments, but these were not attributable to the stage of gestation or to the difference between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. The mean (+/- S.E.M.) metabolic clearance rate of progesterone was 3-277 +/- 0-239 litres blood/min. The simplest model of the distribution of progesterone was one containing two pools, V1[P] and V2[P], where [p] is the blood concentration of progesterone, and in 23 experiments on 7 sheep the mean pool dimensions were 7-8[P] mug and 70[P] mug, respectively. This model was developed to include the formation of 20alpha-diHP from progesterone. Progesterone appeared to be the major source of 20alpha-diHP, though this did not seem to be an obligatory metabolite. The parameters obtained gave comparably low residual deviations for both labelled steroids and were consistent with other observations made on progesterone clearance.     

Creatine phosphokinase elevation in a case of tick paralysis

The results of studies on a case of tick paralysis in a female child are described. The patient was paralysed by a single female specimen of Dermacentor andersoni Stiles attached to the left temporal area of the scalp. Paralysis of the lower limbs, incoordinate respiration and weakness of the arms were evident.The findings on physical examination and the results of diagnostic laboratory procedures are reported and the possible significance of the results is discussed. The only abnormal laboratory finding was an elevated level of plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity occurring during the paralytic phase and persisting for 10 days.