Comparative Evaluation of Trace Metal Distribution and Correlation in Human Malignant and Benign Breast Tissues

Selected trace metals were analyzed in human malignant and nonmalignant (benign) breast tissue samples by the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. In malignant tissues, dominant mean concentrations were revealed by Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Al at 927, 552, 231, 61.7, 36.5, 18.3, and 8.94 microg/g, respectively, while the mean metal levels in benign tissues were 903, 435, 183, 63.3, 24.7, 14.5, and 10.1 microg/g, respectively. Average concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, K, Ca, and Zn were noted to be significantly higher in the malignant tissues compared with the benign tissues. Significantly strong correlations (r > 0.50) in malignant tissues were observed between Mn and Co, Mn and Cd, Cd and Cr, Fe and Mn, Cd and Co, Fe and Co, Mg and Pb, Cd and Fe, Mg and Ni, Pb and Ni, Ni and Sr, and Fe and Pb, whereas, Cd and Co, Cd and Mn, Co and Mg, Co and Mn, Cu and Mn, Co and Ni, Mg and Ni, Cd and Cu, Cd and Ni, Ca and Mg, Mn and Pb, Cu and Ni, Fe and Ni, Cd and Mg, Co and Cu, Cr and Na, and Cd and Cr revealed strong and significant relationships in benign tissues at p < 0.001. Principal component analysis of the metals data yielded six principal components for malignant tissues and five principal components for benign tissues, with considerably different loadings, duly supported by cluster analysis. The study revealed a considerably different pattern of distribution and mutual correlations of trace metals in the breast tissues of benign and cancerous patients.     

内蒙古白绒山羊若干数量性状遗传参数的研究

本研究应用女母回归法、公畜内女母回归法、半同胞相关法和单元内半同胞相关法对内蒙古阿尔巴斯白绒山羊的产绒量、绒厚、毛长、体重、绒伸直长度和细度等六个性状的遗传参数进行了估测。结果表明：（1）绒量遗传力介于0.26～0.45之间;绒厚遗传力介于0.33～0.56之间;毛长遗传力介于0.23～0.32之间;体重的遗传力介于0.1 6～0.36之间;绒伸直长度遗传力为0.24;绒细度的遗传力为0.14。（2）产绒量与绒厚、绒厚与毛长、长度与绒厚、长度与毛长的遗传相关分别介于0.33～0.79、0.51～0.69 、0.38～0.60、0.74～0.90之间,存在较强的正向遗传相关;绒量与毛长、绒量与体重、绒厚与体重、细度与绒厚、细度与绒量、细度与体重的遗传相关分别为0.11～0.38、0 .06～0.17、0.15～0.36、0.02～0.11、0.24～0.35、0.13～0.32之间,存在较弱的正向遗传相关;毛长与体重、长度与绒量、长度与体重、长度与细度、细度与毛长之间的遗传相关介于-0.14～-0.28、-0.09～-0.20、-0.18～-0.23、-0.27～-0.31、-0 .17～-0.28之间,存在中等偏弱的负向遗传相关。（3）绒量、绒厚、毛长、体重的重复率分别为0.42、0.27、0.59、0.18。     

Fingernails as biological indices of metal exposure

Metal determination in human tissues is the most common application of biological monitoring for screening, diagnosis and assessment of metal exposures and their risks. Various biopsy-materials may be used. This paper deals with the quantitative determination of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn concentrations in nails of male subjects exposed to these metals alongwith their respective controls, while working in locomotive, carriage and roadways workshops, and lead battery factories. The levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in fingernails, assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, were compared with their respective controls by student ‘t’ test. All the obtained values were correlated to the personal and medical history of the subjects under study. Significantly high levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn were present in smokers, compared to nonsmokers. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn and Fe were not significantly high in vegetarian subjects. It was also observed that there is no contribution of liquor towards nail-metal concentration. Significant correlations were observed between skin disease and Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu; hypertension and Cd, Mn, Cu; mental stress and Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn; diabetes and Cr, Mn, Ni; chest pain and Pb; respiratory trouble and Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn; tuberculosis and Zn; acidity and Cd; and ophthalmic problems and Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn     

鱼蛋白有机液肥对小粉土酶活性和微生物生物量碳、氮的影响

采用恒温土壤培养方法,研究了4种不同鱼蛋白有机液肥施用量[0(对照)、0.5、1.5、2.5 ml·kg-1]条件下小粉土酶活性和微生物生物量碳、氮的变化,及其与土壤养分的相关关系.结果表明:在整个培养过程中,不同鱼蛋白有机液肥施用量处理下土壤pH值变化范围为7.07～7.31,与对照无显著差异;土壤磷酸酶活性显著增强,分别为对照的1.27、1.90、1.96倍;土壤脲酶活性分别比对照提高39.81%、78.06%、173.24%;蛋白酶活性比对照提高56.37%、108.29%、199.98%;土壤微生物生物量碳、氮均随肥料添加量的增加而逐渐增大,分别为对照的1.67、3.95、4.74倍和1.21、2.43、4.06倍.土壤脲酶和蛋白酶活性以及土壤微生物生物量碳、氮在不同施用量处理下达到峰值点的时间不同.土壤磷酸酶、脲酶和蛋白酶活性、土壤微生物生物量碳、氮与土壤养分均呈显著正相关.施用鱼蛋白有机液肥可以显著促进小粉土微生物的生长及酶活性的提高,从而促进土壤有机质的分解转化和速效养分的释放.     

落叶松人工林施肥对土壤酶和微生物的影响

以落叶松(Larix gmelinii)二代1年、一代14年和34年人工林为研究对象,对林地进行了不同施肥实验处理．结果表明,施肥能不同程度地促进或抑制土壤酶活性和土壤微生物数量,尤其是对根际土壤生理活性影响效果更为明显．相同处理对不同发育阶段土壤酶活性和土壤微生物数量的影响效果不同．二代1年生幼林地最佳施肥方案是处理9,其土壤过氧化氢酶活性、蛋白酶活性、多酚氧化酶活性、脲酶活性、蔗糖酶活性、微生物总量、细菌数量、放线菌数量和真菌数量分别比对照提高413.49％、22．10％、20．56％、220．00％、49．46％、238．88％、247．24％、106．70％和366．67％;一代34年生最佳施肥方案是处理5。根际与非根际土壤过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、多酚氧化酶、脲酶和蔗糖酶活性、微生物总量、细菌数量、真菌数量分别比对照提高30．44％、16．91％、0．22％、43．06％、124．18％、119．92％、87．66％、17．57％、24．55％、77．01％、168．62％、251．85％、183.33％、250．0％、38．24％和128．57％;一代14年生幼龄林需要适量的氮肥和有机无机混合肥,较理想的施肥方案为处理2和处理9,处理2根际与非根际土壤过氧化氢酶活性、蛋白酶活性、脲酶活性分别比对照提高44．39％、94．83％、4．62％、13.98％、10．70％和129．76％．处理9根际与非根际土壤微生物总量、细菌数量、真菌数量分别比对照增加176．49％、266．63％、198．04％、275．56％、66.67％和143．75％．     

Quantification and characterisation of cyclo-oxygenase and lipid peroxidation inhibitory anthocyanins in fruits of Amelanchier

The levels of bioactive anthocyanins in the fruits of Amelanchier alnifolia, A. arborea and A. canadensis have been determined by HPLC. Cyanidin 3-galactoside (1) was present in the fresh fruit of the three species at concentrations of 155, 390 and 165 mg/100 g, respectively. Cyanidin 3-glucoside (2) was present only in A. alnifolia and A. canadensis at concentrations of 54 and 48 mg/100 g, respectively. The anthocyanins were confirmed by LC-ESI/MS and NMR studies. At 100 ppm, anthocyanin mixtures from the three species inhibited cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 enzymes at 66 and 67%, 60 and 72%, and 51 and 76%, respectively. The positive controls used in the COX assays were aspirin, Celebrex and Vioxx at 180, 1.67 and 1.67 ppm, respectively, and showed 74 and 69%, 5 and 82% and 0 and 85% COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition, respectively. Anthocyanins 1 and 2 and cyanidin (3) inhibited COX-1 enzyme 50.5, 45.62 and 96.36%, respectively, at 100 ppm, whereas COX-2 inhibition was the highest for 3 at 75%. In the lipid peroxidation inhibitory assay, anthocyanin mixtures at 10 ppm from the three species showed activities of 72, 73 and 68%, respectively, compared with 89, 87 and 98% for commercial anti-oxidants butylated hydoxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, and tert-butylhydroxyquinone at 1.67, 2.2 and 1.67 ppm, respectively. At 10 ppm, compounds 1-3 inhibited lipid peroxidation by 70, 75 and 78%, respectively.     

中国14个特殊旁系族群的头面部特征比较

头面部特征是人类学各人种进行分类的重要依据,在人类学的研究中被用作亲缘关系的证据。2006-2016年在四川、云南、西藏、贵州、海南、新疆、内蒙古共调查14个族群成人2989人(男性1434人,女性1555人)的16项头面部指标,比较这些族群头面部特征差异。研究结果如下:1)在男性族群中木雅人、尔苏人、临高人、白马人的面宽、头宽均较大。图瓦人、布里亚特人、摩梭人的面宽、头宽、形态面高、鼻高值均较大。僜人、革家人、莽人的面宽、头宽较小,而形态面高、鼻高值较大。空格人的面宽、头宽、形态面高、鼻高值均较小。2)在女性族群中图瓦人、布里亚特人的头宽、面宽、鼻高、耳上头高均较大。革家人、空格人的头宽、面宽、鼻高、耳上头高均较小。木雅人、尔苏人、八甲人、白马人、夏尔巴人的头宽、面宽较大,鼻高、耳上头高较小。僜人、克木人、莽人的头宽、面宽较小,而鼻高、耳上头高较大。3)头宽、容貌耳长跟纬度、年平均气温、年降雨量等环境因子相关性较高。4)通过聚类分析和主成分分析木雅人、尔苏人、白马人与羌族头面部特征比较接近。克木人与佤族头面部特征最为接近。革家人、僜人、莽人头面部特征比较接近。图瓦人、布里亚特人头面部...     

白背飞虱若虫和雄雌成虫唾液腺蛋白鉴定

【目的】对白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera唾液腺蛋白进行鉴定及功能注释分类,探究不同发育阶段和不同性别的白背飞虱唾液腺蛋白之间的区别与联系。【方法】麻醉白背飞虱若虫、雄成虫和雌成虫,解剖收集唾液腺组织,提取蛋白,还原烷基化和酶解,利用液相色谱串联质谱技术鉴定蛋白。与Unigene蛋白数据库进行比对,并通过KOG分析,对唾液腺蛋白进行功能注释分类。【结果】白背飞虱若虫、雄成虫和雌成虫特有的唾液腺蛋白分别为385, 168和82个,若虫与雄成虫、若虫与雌成虫及雄成虫与雌成虫共有的唾液腺蛋白分别为319, 60和60个。KOG功能注释显示与细胞过程和信号传导相关的蛋白数量最多,若虫、雄成虫和雌成虫特有以及若虫与雄成虫、若虫与雌成虫及雄成虫与雌成虫共有的这类蛋白数量分别为81, 22, 70, 19, 21和12个,这些蛋白主要发挥着翻译后修饰、蛋白质更新、伴侣蛋白,细胞内运输、分泌和囊泡运输及信号转导作用。【结论】白背飞虱唾液腺蛋白在参与信号转导机制方面表现较为活跃,这可能与其刺吸危害有一定的关系。     

四氯乙烯和镉对草鱼的单一与联合毒性效应

以静水生物测试法研究了四氯乙烯和重金属镉对草鱼的单一与联合毒性,同时采用Marking相加指数法对二者的联合毒性进行了评价.单一毒性试验表明:四氯乙烯对草鱼24、48、72和96 h的半数致死浓度(LC₅₀)分别为49.12、41.68、36.37和34.30 mg·L^-1;镉对草鱼24、48、72和96h的LC₅₀分别为45.58、34.81、28.63和24.05mg·L^-1;二者对草鱼均有毒性,而且为高毒,镉的毒性大于四氯乙烯.联合毒性试验表明:二者毒性比为1∶1,暴露时间为24、48、72和96 h时四氯乙烯和镉的LC₅₀分别为24.63、12.54、9.88和7.08 mg·L^-1以及17.11、8.71、6.87和4.92 mg·L^-1,相加指数AI(additive index)分别为0.14、0.81、0.95和1.43,联合作用结果为协同效应,并且随着时间的增加,协同作用增强;二者浓度比为1∶1, 暴露时间为24、48 、72和96 h时四氯乙烯和镉的LC₅₀分别为17.00、11.18、10.61和9.19 mg·L^-1,AI分别为0.39、0.70、0.51和0.54,联合作用为协同作用.     

东喜马拉雅地区多孔菌区系和生态习性

对东喜马拉雅地区多孔菌区系和生态习性进行了分析,发现该地区多孔菌极为丰富,共有10目19科101属372种,其中优势科为多孔菌科和锈革孔菌科,优势属为木层孔菌属和多孔菌属。种的区系地理成分可以分为8类,其中北温带类型种类最多,表明东喜马拉雅地区多孔菌具有明显的北温带区系特征。该地区的多孔菌有常见种、偶见种、稀有种和濒危种分别为156、141、54和21个;有腐生菌304种、寄生菌49种、菌根菌19种。在寄主方面,能够生长在被子植物上的有256种,裸子植物上的有137种,既能生长在被子植物,也能生长在裸子植物上的有40种,地上生长的有19种。东喜马拉雅地区的裸子植物,特别是云杉属、松属和冷杉属树木对于多孔菌的生长更重要,因为生长在这些属树木上的多孔菌分别有71、68和51种,高于该地区被子植物其他属树木上的多孔菌。     

生态系统服务功能及其生态经济价值评价

生态系统服务功能是指生态系统与生态过程所形成及所维持的人类赖以生存的自然环境条件与效用。它不仅为人类提供了食品、医药及其它生产生活原料,更重要的是维持了人类赖以生存的生命支持系统,维持生命物质的生物地化循环与水文循环,维持生物物种与遗传多样性,净化环境,维持大气化学的平衡与稳定。人们逐步认识到,生态服务功能是人类生存与现代文明的基础。近年来生态系统服务功能的研究已引起了人们的广泛重视,生态学家、经济学家纷纷探讨生态系统服务功能的内涵与定量评价方法,并已成为当前生态学与生态经济学研究的前沿课题。本文拟系统地分析生态系统服务功能的研究进展与趋势,生态系统服务功能价值的评估方法,并探讨生态系统服务功能及其与可持续发展研究的关系.     

浙江油茶产地土壤和果实金属元素含量特征

为探讨油茶(Camellia oleifera)产地土壤和油茶果实中金属元素分布和富集特征,在油茶果实成熟期,对浙江5个油茶产地土壤及油茶果实中金属元素进行污染分析和富集能力评价.结果表明,浙江油茶产地土壤中Pb、Cr、Cd、As、Hg、Ni、Cu和Zn含量低于农用地土壤污染风险筛选值,综合污染等级为安全.个别产区常山...     

Accumulation of Minerals by Leccinum scabrum from Two Large Forested Areas in Central Europe: Notecka Wilderness and Tuchola Forest (Pinewoods)

Leccinum scabrum sporocarps and associated topsoils from two areas in Poland have been characterized for contents and bioconcentration potential of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn. Topsoil and fruitbody element composition varied between the two study sites, most likely as a result of local soil geochemistry. Element content of the labile fraction in topsoil from both sites followed the ‘pseudo‐total’ fraction and median values (mg kg^?1 dry matter) were: K 380 and 340, Mg 760 and 840, P 1100 and 920, Al 3800 and 8100, Ag 0.31 and 0.28, Ba 28 and 37, Ca 920 and 790, Cd 0.23 and 0.23, Co 2.0 and 1.7, Cu 3.2 and 3.6, Fe 2800 and 6300, Mn 280 and 180, Na 99 and 110, Ni 7.8 and 8.8, Pb 12 and 18, Rb 1.3 and 2.1, Sr 4.8 and 4.0 and Zn 22 and 19, respectively. Only for some elements such as K, Mg, Al, Ag, Ca, Co, Mn, Na, Ni, Sr and Zn we found concentration differences between the two study sites for the caps of sporocarps. With the exception of Al, Mn, Na and Pb, stipes showed a similar tendency. Caps had a higher concentration of K, Rb, P, Mg, Al, Ag, Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni compared to stipes, while Na, Ba and Sr contents were higher in stipes. The comparison of soil and fruitbody concentrations indicates that L. scabrum bioconcentrate some elements while others are bioexcluded.     

A survey of tissue-specific isozyme expressions during chicken ontogeny

The ontogenetic trends in the expression of 25 isozymes in liver, gizzard, heart, and pectoralis muscle of White Leghorn chickens were examined using starch gel electrophoresis. Little change in expression during development was evident in liver S-AAT-A, GPI-A, S-ICDH-A, S-MDH-A and M-MDH-A, in gizzard S-ACON-A, ADH-A, GPI-A, HK-1, HK-3, ME-A PEP-1, and PGM-A, in heart ADH-A, HK-1, HK-3, ME-A, PEP-2, PGM-A, and LDH-A, in pectoralis M-ACON-A, S-ACON-A, ADH-A, HK-1, HK-3, ME-A, PEP-2, and PGM-A, and in liver, gizzard, and heart M-ACON-A, ALD-A, CK-A, G3PDH-A, HK-1, and PGDH-A. Increasing levels of activity were demonstrated in liver ADH-A, ME-A, and PEP-2, in heart M-MDH-A, S-ICDH-A, M-ICDH, and M-AAT-A, and in pectoralis LDH-A, LDH-B, G3PDH-3, ALD-A, CK-A, HK-2, and PGM-B. There was a decrease in the activity of HK-1 in liver and in PEP-1 and PGDH-A in pectoralis muscle throughout development. While CK-C is active in the embryonic pectoralis, CK-A is restricted to later developmental stages. Isozyme expressions in regions of the pectoralis containing fast and slow muscle fibers in 7-month-posthatch individuals were noted and found to be identical. The results underscore the need to use similar developmental stages and tissue samples in comparative electrophoretic studies of birds.This study was supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Grant A9866 to J.P.B.     

太湖梅梁湾漫衰减系数季节性差异及其主导因素

利用2006-08-16、2007-3-28和2007-11-12三次在太湖梅梁湾15个样点的观测数据,对漫衰减系数(Kd)及其影响因素的时空差异性进行分析,发现:梅梁湾地区Kd的主要决定因素是总吸收系数,后向散射作用对Kd具有一定的影响作用,但非主导作用;梅梁湾地区水体Kd影响因素的主次关系并非固定不变,而是随着水体组分的季节性变化而变化,3月份Kd的主导影响因素是非色素物质,其次是有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)、色素物质和后向散射作用,而8月份的主导影响因素是色素物质,其次是非色素物质、CDOM和后向散射作用,而11月份相对较为复杂,在440nm处主导影响因素是非色素物质,其次是色素物质、CDOM和后向散射作用,595nm处主导影响因素是非色素物质吸收作用,其次是色素物质吸收作用、后向散射作用、CDOM吸收作用,675nm处主导影响因素是色素物质,其次是非色素物质、后向散射作用和CDOM.     

Genetic parameters of libido in Brazilian Nellore bulls

Genetic, environmental and phenotypic correlations between libido, testicular measurements, body weight and semen traits were estimated by multiple-trait-restricted maximum likelihood (MTDFREML) under animal models. Reproductive records, collected from 1992 to 1997, of 288 Nellore bulls were used. Estimates of heritability for libido unadjusted, adjusted for scrotal circumference and adjusted for body weight, were 0.34 +/- 0.10, 0.31 +/- 0.10, and 0.19 +/- 0.11, respectively. Genetic correlations between libido and body weight, scrotal circumference, testis length, testis width, testis volume and testis consistency were, respectively, 0.69, -0.43, -0.31, -0.16, 0.10, 0.87, and between libido and semen volume, sperm motility, vigor, gross motility, major, minor and total defects were, respectively, 0.71, 0.51, 0.12, 0.16, 0.31, 0.26 and 0.43. Results suggested that selection for libido would be effective and that it would lead to desirable correlated response for scrotal circumference, physical and morphological semen traits and undesirable correlated response in body weight.     

Antifungal and antiviral products of marine organisms

Marine organisms including bacteria, fungi, algae, sponges, echinoderms, mollusks, and cephalochordates produce a variety of products with antifungal activity including bacterial chitinases, lipopeptides, and lactones; fungal (-)-sclerotiorin and peptaibols, purpurides B and C, berkedrimane B and purpuride; algal gambieric acids A and B, phlorotannins; 3,5-dibromo-2-(3,5-dibromo-2-methoxyphenoxy)phenol, spongistatin 1, eurysterols A and B, nortetillapyrone, bromotyrosine alkaloids, bis-indole alkaloid, ageloxime B and (-)-ageloxime D, haliscosamine, hamigeran G, hippolachnin A from sponges; echinoderm triterpene glycosides and alkene sulfates; molluscan kahalalide F and a 1485-Da peptide with a sequence SRSELIVHQR; and cepalochordate chitotriosidase and a 5026.9-Da antifungal peptide. The antiviral compounds from marine organisms include bacterial polysaccharide and furan-2-yl acetate; fungal macrolide, purpurester A, purpurquinone B, isoindolone derivatives, alterporriol Q, tetrahydroaltersolanol C and asperterrestide A, algal diterpenes, xylogalactofucan, alginic acid, glycolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, sulfated polysaccharide p-KG03, meroditerpenoids, methyl ester derivative of vatomaric acid, lectins, polysaccharides, tannins, cnidarian zoanthoxanthin alkaloids, norditerpenoid and capilloquinol; crustacean antilipopolysaccharide factors, molluscan hemocyanin; echinoderm triterpenoid glycosides; tunicate didemnin B, tamandarins A and B and; tilapia hepcidin 1-5 (TH 1-5), seabream SauMx1, SauMx2, and SauMx3, and orange-spotted grouper β-defensin. Although the mechanisms of antifungal and antiviral activities of only some of the aforementioned compounds have been elucidated, the possibility to use those known to have distinctly different mechanisms, good bioavailability, and minimal toxicity in combination therapy remains to be investigated. It is also worthwhile to test the marine antimicrobials for possible synergism with existing drugs. The prospects of employing them in clinical practice are promising in view of the wealth of these compounds from marine organisms. The compounds may also be used in agriculture and the food industry.     

山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和修复工程综合成效评估技术框架

我国实施了诸多生态保护修复工程,取得了显著成效。然而,以往工程多以湿地、森林、草原等单一类型的生态系统为保护修复目标,缺乏区域整体性、系统性考虑。2016年以来,我国开始从完整流域的视角出发,系统考虑生态系统完整性、自然地理单元连续性和社会经济可持续性,实施山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和修复工程。该类工程保护修复目标多样、内容庞杂,因而成效评估面临子项目类型多、空间尺度多、目标维度多、项目实施周期短等诸多挑战。就空间尺度而言,评估对象既要涵盖常规评估中相对较大的、确定的空间范围,也要涵盖具有相对类似生态问题或目标的保护修复单元,以及实际采取措施的子项目;就时间尺度而言,既要考虑工程实施结束时的成效,也要考虑实施结束后的成效动态;就评估内容而言,既要关注社会、生态、经济效益,也要考察工程措施与生态效应之间的关系、不同类型子项目的关联性与协同性、工程的整体性与系统性。研究基于上述背景制定了一个新型评估框架,重点强调基于子项目、保护修复单元以及工程范围三个尺度的指标体系,以及生态、社会、经济、管理四个方面的评估内容。新的评估框架将有助于完善山水林田湖草沙一体化保护和修复工程标准体系,为推进国土空...     

Chemical characterization of lipopolysaccharides from Proteus strains used in Weil-Felix test

The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) extracted from Proteus strains OX2, OX19, and OXK used as antigens in the Weil-Felix test, were characterized by chemical analysis and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). To separate the O-polysaccharide, core-oligosaccharide, and lipid A moieties, each LPS was treated with 2% acetic acid, centrifuged, and applied to Sephadex G-50 column. The core-oligosaccharides contained L-glycero-D-mannoheptose, D-glycero-D-mannoheptose, glucose (Glc), galactose, 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid, uronic acid, phosphate, glucosamine (GlcN), and galactosamine (GalN). The lipid A preparations contained GlcN, GlcN-phosphate, and three fatty acids (myristic, plamitic, and beta-hydroxymyristic acids). However, the O-polysaccharides of OX2- and OXK-LPS had different chemical compositions which consisted of Glc, GlcN, and quinovosamine, and Glc, uronic acid, and GalN, respectively, while OX19-LPS seemed to lack O-polysaccharide.