Ostracoda (Crustacea) from Lizard Island,northern Great Barrier Reef,Australia. I. Families: Cytherellidae,Loxoconchidae, Cytherideidae,Cytheruridae, Paracytherideidae,Pectocytheridae, Krithidae,Cytheromatiidae, Bythocytheridae,Cytheridae

This paper deals with the taxonomy of the ostracod families Cytherellidae, Cytheridae, Cytheromatidae, Cytherideidae, Krithidae, Loxoconchidae, Paracytherideidae, Cytheruridae, Pectocytheridae and Bythocytheridae from the coral reefs around Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. 22 species belonging to these families were found. 7 species had been described from Australian coasts, 1 from the Red Sea and 1 with Indopacific-Westatlantic distribution. 9 species are newly described and 4 species remain in open nomenclature.     

Potential Compounds for Oral Cancer Treatment: Resveratrol,Nimbolide, Lovastatin,Bortezomib, Vorinostat,Berberine, Pterostilbene,Deguelin, Andrographolide,and Colchicine

Oral cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths in South-Asian countries. There are very limited treatment options available for oral cancer. Research endeavors focused on discovery and development of novel therapies for oral cancer, is necessary to control the ever rising oral cancer related mortalities. We mined the large pool of compounds from the publicly available compound databases, to identify potential therapeutic compounds for oral cancer. Over 84 million compounds were screened for the possible anti-cancer activity by custom build SVM classifier. The molecular targets of the predicted anti-cancer compounds were mined from reliable sources like experimental bioassays studies associated with the compound, and from protein-compound interaction databases. Therapeutic compounds from DrugBank, and a list of natural anti-cancer compounds derived from literature mining of published studies, were used for building partial least squares regression model. The regression model thus built, was used for the estimation of oral cancer specific weights based on the molecular targets. These weights were used to compute scores for screening the predicted anti-cancer compounds for their potential to treat oral cancer. The list of potential compounds was annotated with corresponding physicochemical properties, cancer specific bioactivity evidences, and literature evidences. In all, 288 compounds with the potential to treat oral cancer were identified in the current study. The majority of the compounds in this list are natural products, which are well-tolerated and have minimal side-effects compared to the synthetic counterparts. Some of the potential therapeutic compounds identified in the current study are resveratrol, nimbolide, lovastatin, bortezomib, vorinostat, berberine, pterostilbene, deguelin, andrographolide, and colchicine.     

Bat ectoparasites (Nycteribiidae,Streblidae, Siphonaptera,Heteroptera, Mesostigmata,Argasidae, and Ixodidae) from Algeria

Twenty two species of ectoparasites (Family Nycteribiidae: Nycteribia (Listropoda) schmidlii schmidlii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) latreillii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) pedicularia, Penicillidia (Penicillidia) dufourii, and Phthiridium biarticulatum; Family Streblidae: Brachytarsina (Brachytarsina) flavipennis and Raymondia huberi; Order Siphonaptera: Rhinolophopsylla unipectinata arabs, Nycteridopsylla longiceps, Araeopsylla gestroi, Ischnopsyllus intermedius, and Ischnopsyllus octactenus; Order Heteroptera: Cimex pipistrelli, Cimex lectularius, and Cacodmus vicinus; Class Arachnida: Order Mesostigmata: Spinturnix myoti and Eyndhovenia euryalis; Order Ixodida: Family Argasidae: Argas transgariepinus and Argas vespertilionis; Family Ixodidae: Hyalomma dromedarii, Ixodes ricinus, and Ixodes vespertilionis) were recovered from 19 bat species in Algeria. New host records for bats are recorded for the first time: N. schmidlii from Rh. clivosus and R. cystops; N. latreillii from Rh. blasii and P. gaisleri; R. huberi from Rh. clivosus; C. pipistrelli from E. isabellinus and H. savii; C. vicinus from E. isabellinus; S. myoti from P. gaisleri; E. euryalis from P. gaisleri and Rh. blasii; A. vespertilionis from P. gaisleri; I. ricinus from T. teniotis and Rh. hipposideros and H. dromedarii from P. kuhlii. Raymondia huberi is recorded for the first time from Algeria.     

The subfamily Aephnidiogeninae Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae), its status and that of the genera Aephnidiogenes Nicoll, 1915, Holorchis Stossich, 1901, Austroholorchis n. g., Pseudaephnidiogenes Yamaguti, 1971, Pseudoholorchis Yamaguti, 1958 and Neolepocreadium Thomas, 1960

The status of all of the putative member genera of the subfamily Aephnidiogeninae is reconsidered, based mainly on the morphology of the terminal genitalia. Aephnidiogenes Nicoll, 1915 is the only genus retained in the Aephnidiogeninae. Aephnidiogenes major Yamaguti, 1934 from Diagramma labiosum from the southern Great Barrier Reef is redescribed with particular reference to the terminal genitalia, and is shown to lack a true cirrus-sac, a condition considered to be diagnostic of the Aephnidiogeninae. Holorchis Stossich, 1901 is placed in the subfamily Lepidapedinae. Holorchis pycnoporus Stossich, 1901 from Pagellus acarne from off Spanish Sahara and from Diplodus vulgaris from off Italy and H. legendrei Dollfus, 1946 from Sparodon durbanensis and D. sargus from off eastern Cape Province, South Africa and from Pagellus erythrinus from the Adriatic Sea and Italy are studied and illustrated. The terminal genitalia of H. pycnoporus are found to be enigmatic, but those of H. legendrei are found to fit clearly into the 'Lepidapedon-like' pattern. A new genus Austroholorchis is erected in the Lepidapedinae, with A.sprenti (Gibson, 1987) n. comb. as the type-species. Its diagnostic features are its ani, infundibuliform oral sucker and the position of the ovary at about mid-level of the uterus . A. sprenti is illustrated, its hosts in Queensland waters being Sillago maculata, S. analis and S. ciliata. A. levis n. sp. is described from Sillago bassensis from south-western Western Australia. The genus PseudaephnidiogenesYamaguti, 1971 is placed in the Lepidapedinae. P. rhabdosargi (Prudhoe, 1956) from Rhabdosargus sarba from off Natal, South Africa is illustrated and the terminal genitalia of P. rhabdosargi from R. sarba and from R. holubi from off eastern Cape Province and Pseudaephnidiogenes rossi Bray, 1985 from Caffrogobius nudiceps from off eastern Cape Province, South Africa are illustrated. The genus Pseudoholorchis Yamaguti, 1958 is placed in the subfamily Lepocreadiinae. The terminal genitalia of P. pulcher (Manter, 1954) from Latridopsis ciliaris from New Zealand are illustrated. The genus Neolepocreadium Thomas, 1960 is placed in the Lepocreadiidae.     

Bioavailability of selenium from veal, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, flounder, tuna, selenomethionine, and sodium selenite assessed in selenium-deficient rats

The bioavailability of selenium (Se) from veal, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, flounder, tuna, selenomethionine (SeMet), and sodium selenite was assessed in Se-deficient Fischer-344 rats. Se as veal, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, flounder, tuna, SeMet, and sodium selenite was added to torula yeast (TY) basal diets to comprise Se-inadequate (0.05 mg Se/kg) diets. Se as sodium selenite was added to a TY basal diet to comprise a Se-adequate (0.10 mg Se/kg), Se-control diet. The experimental diets were fed to weanling Fischer-344 rats that had been subjected to dietary Se depletion for 6 wk. After 9 wk of the dietary Se repletion, relative activity of liver glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) from the different dietary groups compared with control rats (100%) was: flounder 106%, tuna 101%, pork 86%, sodium selenite 81%, SeMet 80%, beef 80%, chicken 77%, veal 77%, and lamb 58%. Se from flounder was the most efficient at restoring Se concentrations in the liver and skeletal muscle. Se from sodium selenite, SeMet, beef, veal, chicken, pork, lamb, and tuna was not dietarily sufficient to restore liver and muscle Se after 9 wk of recovery following a 6-wk period of Se depletion.     

Multi-element analysis of the rat hippocampus by proton induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, lead, bromine, and rubidium).

A technique for multi-element analysis of brain tissue by proton induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE) is described and data from analysis of fixed and unfixed samples from rat hippocampus, neocortex, amygdala, and spinal cord is presented and commented on. The atoms present in the tissue are bombarded with protons which causes the ejection of electrons from the inner shells. When the "holes" are refilled with electrons from outer shells, X-ray quanta characteristic for each element are emitted. Using a high resolution energy dispersive detector a complete X-ray spectrum of the specimen can be recorded in a single measurement. Detection limits less than or approximately 5 p.p.m. of dry matter are obtained for most elements with atomic number greater than 14 (silicon). Around 13 elements were found in concentrations above the detection limits. The grand means for non-fixed hippocampi were e.g. for Zn - 120 p.p.m.; Rb - 20 p.p.m.; Fe - 150 p.p.m.; Pb - 3 p.p.m; Ni - 5 p.p.m.     

Lysosomal enzyme activities in polymorphonuclear leukocytes,macrophages, serum,and spleen of conventional,germ-free,and antigen-free minnesota miniature swine

The activities of lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, and elastase were lower in PMNs and AMs from GF and AF Minnesota miniature piglets than in the leukocytes from their CONV counterparts. In the spleen and serum of gnotobiotic piglets only the levels of lysozyme were slightly reduced. Substantially depressed activities of these LEs were found also in PMNs from precolostral piglets in comparison with PMNs from their CONV mother. The bisassociation of GF piglets with Enterococcus liquefaciens and Escherichia coli caused an increase of LE activities in their AMs, spleens, and sera. Fewer LEs were released after phygocytic stimulation with zymosan from PMNs of GF, AF, and precolostral piglets than from PMNs of CONV animals of the same age. These data suggest that the antigenic-microbial stimulation is important for the development of normal lysosomal enzyme activities in PMNs and AMs from gnotobiotic animals.     

Purification of Drosophila ribosomal proteins. Isolation of proteins S8, S13, S14, S16, S19, S20/L24, S22/L26, S24, S25/S27, S26, S29, L4, L10/L11, L12, L13, L16, L18, L19, L27, 1, 7/8, 9, and 11

The proteins of Drosophila melanogaster embryonic ribosomes were separated into seven groups (A80 through G80) by stepwise elution from carboxymethylcellulose with lithium chloride at pH 6.5 by procedures previously described [Chooi, W. Y., Sabatini, L. M., MacKlin, M. D., & Fraser, W. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 1425-1433]. Three relatively acidic proteins, S14, S25/S27, and 7/8, have now been isolated from group A80 by ion-exchange chromatog raphy on carboxymethylcellulose eluted with a linear gradient of lithium chloride at pH 4.2. Fractions containing the relatively basic proteins (groups B80 through G80) were furher combined into a total of 24 "pools". The criterion for combination was the migration patterns in one-dimensional polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodS04) of every fifth fraction from the carboxymethylcellulose column. Each pool contained between 1 and 12 major proteins. Proteins S8, S13, S16, S19, S20/L24, S22/L26, S24, S26, S29, L4, L10/L11, L12, L13, L16, L18, L19, L27, 1, 9, and 11 have now been isolated from selected pools by gel filtration through Sephadix G-100. The amount of each protein recovered from a starting amount of 1.8 g of total 80S proteins varied form 0.2 to 10.8 mg. Five proteins had no detectable contamination, and in each of the others the impurities were no greater than 9%. The amino acid composition of the individual purified proteins was determined. The molecular weights of the proteins were estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in NaDodSO4.     

Seroprevalence and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from free-range chickens in Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, and Vietnam

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging chickens (Gallus domesticus) is a good indicator of the prevalence of the parasite's oocysts in soil because chicken feed from the ground. The prevalence of T. gondii in free-range chickens from Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, and Vietnam was determined using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 41 (64%) of 64 chickens from Ghana, 24 (24.4%) of 98 chickens from Indonesia, 10 (12.5%) of 80 chickens from Italy, 6 (30%) of 20 chickens from Poland, and 81 (24.2%) of 330 chickens from Vietnam. Hearts and brains of chickens were bioassayed for T. gondii. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 2 chickens from Ghana, 1 chicken from Indonesia, 3 chickens from Italy, 2 chickens from Poland, and 1 chicken from Vietnam. Toxoplasma gondii isolates from 9 chickens were genotyped using 10 PCR-RFLP markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico. A total of 7 genotypes was identified; the 3 isolates from chickens from Italy were clonal type II, and the others were nonclonal. This is the first report of genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from animals from these countries.     

Construction of an integrated pepper map using RFLP,SSR, CAPS,AFLP, WRKY,rRAMP, and BAC end sequences

Map-based cloning to find genes of interest, markerassisted selection (MAS), and marker-assisted breeding (MAB) all require good genetic maps with high reproducible markers. For map construction as well as chromosome assignment, development of single copy PCR-based markers and map integration process are necessary. In this study, the 132 markers (57 STS from BAC-end sequences, 13 STS from RFLP, and 62 SSR) were newly developed as single copy type PCR-based markers. They were used together with 1830 markers previously developed in our lab to construct an integrated map with the Joinmap 3.0 program. This integrated map contained 169 SSR, 354 RFLP, 23 STS from BAC-end sequences, 6 STS from RFLP, 152 AFLP, 51 WRKY, and 99 rRAMP markers on 12 chromosomes. The integrated map contained four genetic maps of two interspecific (Capsicum annuum ‘TF68’ and C. chinense ‘Habanero’) and two intraspecific (C. annuum ‘CM334’ and C. annuum ‘Chilsungcho’) populations of peppers. This constructed integrated map consisted of 805 markers (map distance of 1858 cM) in interspecific populations and 745 markers (map distance of 1892 cM) in intraspecific populations. The used pepper STS were first developed from end sequences of BAC clones from Capsicum annuum ‘CM334’. This integrated map will provide useful information for construction of future pepper genetic maps and for assignment of linkage groups to pepper chromosomes.     

Plastid stromules: video microscopy of their outgrowth, retraction, tensioning, anchoring, branching, bridging, and tip-shedding

Summary. Stromules are stroma-containing tubules which can grow from the surface of plastids, most commonly leucoplasts and chromoplasts, but also chloroplasts in some tissues. Their functions are obscure. Stills from video rate movies are presented here. They illustrate interaction of stromules with cytoskeletal strands and the anchoring of stromules to unidentified components at the cell surface. Anchoring leads to stretching and relaxation of stromules when forces arising from cytoplasmic streaming act on the attached, freely suspended plastid bodies. Data on stromule growth, retraction, and regrowth rates are provided. Formation and movement of stromular branches and bridges between plastids are described. The shedding of a tip region into the streaming cytoplasm is recorded in frame-by-frame detail, in accord with early observations. Correspondence and reprints: Plant Cell Biology Group, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, PO Box 475, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.     

A new species of Halacarsantia Wolff, 1989 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Asellota, Santiidae) from Wistari Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Halacarsantia acutasp. n. is described from Wistari Reef, Capricorn Group, southern Great Barrier Reef, the first record of the genus from Australia. The new species differs from its congeners in having antenna flagellum composed of 8 articles; epipod apically acute, without setae, broad maxilliped endite and pereopod 1 basis with a short projection. A key to species of the genus is provided.     

Neuroendocrine peptides (insulin, pancreatic polypeptide, neuropeptide Y, galanin, somatostatin, substance P, and neuropeptide gamma) from the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii.

The traditional view that Testudines (tortoises and turtles) should be regarded as the surviving clade of the anapsid reptiles rather than classified with the diapsid reptiles (snakes, lizards, and crocodiles) has recently been challenged. Neuropeptide Y, neuropeptide gamma, and somatostatin-14 were isolated from an extract of the brain, substance P and galanin from an extract of the intestine, and insulin and pancreatic polypeptide from an extract of the pancreas of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii. Despite that crocodilians did not appear until the late Triassic, the amino acid sequences of the tortoise peptides resemble those of the American alligator quite closely. The primary structures of neuropeptide Y, somatostatin-14, and neuropeptide gamma are the same in tortoise and alligator. The primary structures of substance P, insulin, galanin, and pancreatic polypeptide in the two species differ by 1, 3, 5, and 8 amino acid residues, respectively. Although fewer neurohormonal peptides from squamates (lizards and snakes) have been characterized, the primary structures of neuropeptide gamma, insulin, and pancreatic polypeptide from the Burmese python and the desert tortoise differ by 3, 8, and 18 residues, respectively. The data suggest, therefore, a closer phylogenetic relationship between Testudines and Crocodilians than that derived from 'classical' analyses based on morphological criteria and the fossil record.     

Vitamin E, Selenium, Trolox C, Ascorbic Acid Palmitate, Acetylcysteine, Coenzyme Q, β-Carotene, Canthaxanthin, and (+)-Catechin Protect Against Oxidative Damage to Kidney, Heart, Lung and Spleen

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets that varied qualitatively and quantitatively in antioxidants. Kidney, heart, lung, and spleen homogenates were incubated at 37°C with and without hydroperoxide or Fe⁺². Protection of antioxidants against oxidative damage to tissue was determined by measurement of oxidized heme proteins. Tissues from rats supplemented with dietary vitamin E and selenium showed protection compared to tissues from rats on the basal diet. Tissues from rats with diets containing larger quantities of antioxidants and both fat soluble antioxidants: vitamin E, β-carotene, coenzyme Q₁₀, ascorbic acid 6-palmitate and water soluble antioxidants: selenium, trolox C, acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q₀, (+)-catechin, showed the highest protection.     

The electron affinities of deprotonated adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil, and thymine

Electron attachment rates and gas phase acidities for the canonical tautomers of the nucleobases and electron affinities for thymine, deprotonated thymine, and cytosine are reported The latter are from a new analysis of published photoelectron spectra. The values for deprotonated thymine are (all in eV) keto-N1-H, 3.327(5); enol-N3-H, 3.250(5), enol-C2OH, 3.120(5) enol-N1-H, 3.013(5), and enol-C4OH,3.123(5). The values for deprotonated cytosine, keto-N1-H, 3.184(5); trans-NH-H, 3.008(5); cis-NH-H, 3.039(5); and enol-N1-H, 2.750(5) and enol-O-H, 2.950(5). The gas phase acidities from these values are obtained from these values using experimental or theoretical calculations of bond dissociation energies. Kinetic and thermodynamic properties for thermal electron attachment to thymine are obtained from mass spectrometric data. We report an activation energy of 0.60 eV and electron affinity of thymine, 1.0(1) eV.     

Rat heparan sulphates. A study of the antithrombin-binding properties of heparan sulphate chains from rat adipose tissue, brain, carcase, heart, intestine, kidneys, liver, lungs, skin and spleen.

Adult male rats were given [35S]sulphate intraperitoneally. Heparan [35S]sulphate (HS) chains were recovered from adipose tissue, brain, carcase, heart, intestine, kidneys, liver, lungs, skin and spleen by digestion with Pronase, precipitation with cetylpyridinium chloride, digestion with chondroitin ABC lyase and DNAase and gradient elution from DEAE-Sephacel. Purity was confirmed by agarose-gel electrophoresis and degradation with HNO2. Fractionation by gradient elution from antithrombin-agarose indicated that the proportion of HS with high binding affinity for antithrombin (HA-HS) ranged from 4.7% (kidneys) to 21.5% (brain). On a mass basis the major sources of HA-HS were carcase, skin and intestine. HA-HS from intestine was arbitrarily divided into subfractions I-VI, with anticoagulant activities ranging from 1 to 60 units/mg [by amidolytic anti-(Factor IIa) assay] and from 4 to 98 units/mg [by amidolytic anti-(Factor Xa) assay], indicating that the antithrombin-binding-site densities of HA-HS chains covered a wide range, as shown previously for rat HA-heparin chains [Horner, Kusche, Lindahl & Peterson (1988) Biochem. J. 251, 141-145]. HA-HS subfractions II, IV and VI were mixed with samples of HA-[3H]heparin chains and rechromatographed on antithrombin-agarose. Affinity for matrix-bound antithrombin did not correlate with anticoagulant activity, e.g. HA-HS subfraction IV [38 anti-(Factor Xa) units/mg] was co-eluted with HA-heparin chains [127 anti-(Factor Xa) units/mg].     

Isolation of eukaryotic ribosomal proteins. Purification and characterization of the 60 S ribosomal subunit proteins L4, L5, L7, L9, L11, L12, L13, L21, L22, L23, L26, L27, L30, L33, L35', L37, and L39.

The proteins of the large subunit of rat liver ribosomes were separated into seven groups by stepwise elution from carboxymethylcellulose with LiCl at pH 6.5. Seventeen proteins (L4, L5, L7, L9, L11, L12, L13, L21, L22, L23, L26, L27, L30, L33, L35', L37, and L39) were isolated from three of the groups (B60, D60, G60) by ion exchange chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose and by filtration through Sephadex. The amount of protein obtained varied from 0.5 to 15 mg. Eight of the proteins (L9, L11, L13, L21, L22, L35', L37 and L39) had no detectable contamination; the impurities in the others were no greater than 9%. The molecular weight of the proteins was estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate; the amino acid composition was determined.