Propionate and butyrate dependent bacterial sulfate reduction at extremely haloalkaline conditions and description of Desulfobotulus alkaliphilus sp. nov.

Evidence on the utilization of simple fatty acids by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) at extremely haloalkaline conditions are practically absent, except for a single case of syntrophy by Desulfonatronum on acetate. Our experiments with sediments from soda lakes of Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia) showed sulfide production with sulfate as electron acceptor and propionate and butyrate (but not acetate) as an electron donor at a pH 10–10.5 and a salinity 70–180 g l^?1. With propionate as substrate, a highly enriched sulfidogenic culture was obtained in which the main component was identified as a novel representative of the family Syntrophobacteraceae. With butyrate as substrate, a pure SRB culture was isolated which oxidized butyrate and some higher fatty acids incompletely to acetate. The strain represents the first haloalkaliphilic representative of the family Desulfobacteraceae and is described as Desulfobotulus alkaliphilus sp. nov.     

Aldosterone and electrolyte content in blood and myocardium of rats after single physical load in acute alcoholic intoxication]

It is shown that acute alcoholic intoxication causes essential changes of aldosterone content and balance of electrolytes in blood plasma of Wistar rat males. The SPL test revealed the inadequate reaction in the mineral-corticoid function of the adrenal glands in the rats with acute alcoholic intoxication. The method of the free choice of the load by the experimental rats is the most optimal way to assess. The rats with acute alcoholic intoxication displayed smaller tolerance to physical load.     

Role of the Phytogenic Field of Larch of the Prefire Generation in Forming Edaphic Conditions in Burned-out Forest Areas

It is shown that larch of the prefire generation is the main edificator at the early stages of progressive successions in burned-out areas. Its environment-forming effect manifests itself most strongly in the phytogenic field of living trees, where edaphic conditions similar to those in primary larch forests are formed within ten years after the fire. This is accompanied by an increase in the numbers of microorganisms utilizing organic and mineral nitrogen, as well as in the rate of nitrogen mineralization in plant microgroups of this zone. Hence, living trees remaining in a burned-out area promote restoration of the initial edaphic conditions.     

Measuring and Modeling Streamer Velocity at an Air Discharge in a Highly Inhomogeneous Electric Field

Plasma Physics Reports - The velocities of the positive and negative streamers in the air at atmospheric pressure are experimentally, theoretically, and computationally studied at the discharge of...     

Natranaerofaba carboxydovora gen. nov., sp. nov., an extremely haloalkaliphilic CO-utilizing acetogen from a hypersaline soda lake representing a novel deep phylogenetic lineage in the class ‘Natranaerobiia’

An anaerobic enrichment with CO from sediments of hypersaline soda lakes resulted in a methane-forming binary culture, whereby CO was utilized by a bacterium and not the methanogenic partner. The bacterial isolate ANCO1 forms a deep-branching phylogenetic lineage at the level of a new family within the class ‘Natranaerobiia’. It is an extreme haloalkaliphilic and moderate thermophilic acetogen utilizing CO, formate, pyruvate and lactate as electron donors and thiosulfate, nitrate (reduced to ammonia) and fumarate as electron acceptors. The genome of ANCO1 encodes a full Wood–Ljungdahl pathway allowing for CO oxidation and acetogenic conversion of pyruvate. A locus encoding Nap nitrate reductase/NrfA ammonifying nitrite reductase is also present. Thiosulfate respiration is encoded by a Phs/Psr-like operon. The organism obviously relies on Na-based bioenergetics, since the genome encodes for the Na⁺-Rnf complex, Na⁺-F1F0 ATPase and Na⁺-translocating decarboxylase. Glycine betaine serves as a compatible solute. ANCO1 has an unusual membrane polar lipid composition dominated by diethers, more common among archaea, probably a result of adaptation to multiple extremophilic conditions. Overall, ANCO1 represents a unique example of a triple extremophilic CO-oxidizing anaerobe and is classified as a novel genus and species Natranaerofaba carboxydovora in a novel family Natranaerofabacea.     

Effect of immunodepression on virus multiplication and interferon and antibody formation in animals]

Administration of high doses of imuran had no significant effect on the multiplication of influenza A/PR8 and Coxsackie A6 viruses. However, the serum levels of interferon and antibody were completely suppressed. Peripheral leukocytes of mice given imuran produced no interferon in vitro. These data suggest that the impairment of formation of the antiviral immunity factors resulting from the administration of high doses of immunosuppressants, such as used during the graft rejection crises, could serve as one of the main causes facilitating viral infections in the course of the transplantation therapy. The results could be of practical importance for the development of the optimal immunosuppression schedules during the organ transplantation.     

Morphological analysis of the adaptive changes in the myocardium under individually measured physical load]

Studying morphological changes of the myocardium in the organic, cellular and subcellular levels of experimental animals (dogs) has shown that standard physical load on tradmill band graded only by external parameters of work (time of running, its speed etc.) causes different changes in different animals. In contrast to it, the method of individually graded physical load proposed by the author (1970, 1972) considers the depth of myocardium responses, the degree of its morphofunctional changes corresponding to certain stages of changes in the parameters of cardio-vascular activity and respiratory system. Using the relationship of pulse rate and frequency of respiration as a diagnostic test made it possible to establish 6 stages of myocardium responses to physical load. Each of these stages has a complex of morpho-functional changes in the myocardium and corresponds to certain adaptive shifts on the organism level. On these foundations one can prognoze the depth of morphological changes in the myocardium basing upon diagnostic tests. So, the proposed experimental model of individual selection of the value of physical load according to responses of the organism rather than to external parameters of work as well as the established principle of the stage character of adaptive responses may be used in the practice of investigators for directed influence on the myocardium to form its certain qualities.