Some Interesting Books Received

Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres -     

Interesting relations in the HLA system

There exists no absolute binding between the antigens HLA-Cw 2, Cw 3 and Cw 4, on the one hand, and HLA-B 27, HLA-B 15 and HLA-Bw 35, on the other hand. Even if 91% of human beings with HLA Cw 4 will simultaneously have the antigen HLA-Bw 35, another antigen as HLA-B 27 or HLA-B 15 can be identified in approximately 55% of individuals with HLA-Cw 2 and Cw 3. In this connection, the joint presence of some pairs of cross-reacting HLA antigens (A 2 and A 28, B 5 and Bw 35, B 7 and B 27, B 8 and B 14, B 12 and Bw 2) could be proved and their frequency be determined. 2 cases of a simultaneous presence of two subtypes of HLA-A 10 antigen, A 25 and A 26, could be found in family examinations. Moreover, two atypical bindings of anti-HLA-Bw 4 and anti-HLA-Bw 6 cytotoxins with HLA antigens could be identified: 7,49% of HLA-Bw 35 positive lymphocytes no positive response with anti-HLA-B 4 and 1,69% of HLA-B 12 with anti-HLA Bw 6. The importance of the findings for determining HLA in practice is discussed.     

Interesting things come in small packages

Population metagenomics reveals the reduced metabolic capacities of a marine nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium that lacks many of the signature features of typical cyanobacteria.