Long-Term Storage of Bacteriophages of Lactic Streptococci

Four phage strains representing phages of Streptococcus lactis, S. cremoris, and S. diacetilactis were selected for the observation of the effect of cold storage on their viability. Phages were stored at 4 C and at -18 C, or were frozen at approximately -70 C and stored at -18 C. They were found to display a high degree of stability with these storage methods. The same phage strains showed good stability to storage at room temperature for 3 weeks after thawing and also to alternate freezing and thawing eight times. Three series consisting of from 23 to 31 lactic streptococcal phage preparations were observed over periods extending up to 6 years, and with only a few exceptions were found to store satisfactorily at -18 C after quick freezing. Although the same phage preparations stored at 4 C were generally somewhat less stable, many were stable when stored by both methods.     

自然干燥对冬虫夏草寄主蝠蛾卵孵化的影响

研究在室内自然空气湿度下放置的时间长短对冬虫夏草(Cordyceps)寄主昆虫贡嘎蝠蛾Hepialus gonggaensis Fu et Huang卵孵化率的影响。卵早期的研究结果为:第1批、第2批和第3批卵于室内自然空气湿度下保存的时间达26,11和16h后再保湿都可以正常孵化并且孵化率与对照无显著性差异,所孵化幼虫在饲养初期的成活率分别达62.0%,41.4%和43.4%,与对照无显著性差异。卵中期干燥放置36h的孵化率为66.7%,所孵化幼虫在饲养初期的成活率为50.0%,孵化率和成活率都与对照无显著性差异。卵晚期干燥放置24h的孵化率为70.0%,所孵化幼虫在饲养初期的成活率为49.0%,孵化率和成活率都与对照无显著性差异。以上结果表明,经历一定时间的干燥不会对卵的正常孵化有影响。     

Genetic analysis of bacteriophage phi 29 of Bacillus subtilis: integration and mapping of reference mutants of two collections.

Reference mutants of Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 of the Madrid and Minneapolis collections were employed to construct a genetic map. Suppressor-sensitive and temperature-sensitive mutants were assigned to 17 cistrons by quantitative complementation. Three-factor crosses were used to assign an unambiguous order for the 17 cistrons. Recombination frequencies determined by two-factor crosses were used to construct a linear genetic map of 24.4 recombination units. The genes were numbered sequentially from left to right (1 to 17) according to their relative map position.     

Immunochemistry of Biliproteins

Biliproteins were extracted from representatives of the Cyanophyta, Rhodophyta, and Cryptophyta and purified. Both purified and crude biliproteins were used to stimulate rabbit antibody directed specifically against the biliproteins. The antigenic and immunogenic inter-relationships of these proteins were investigated by the Ouchterlony double diffusion technique. C-phycocyanins from all sources were found to be antigenically and immunogenically related and apparently also related to allophycocyanin but not to any of the phycoerythrins. Larger antigenic differences among phycoerythrins from different groups of algae were discovered. The role of aggregation of the individual biliproteins in their immunochemistry was characterized. Attempts were made to determine the phylogenetic significance of these results. The immunochemical aspects of the biliproteins were striking in that protein antigens from vastly different cell types were found to be closely related. This relationship may be interpreted as supporting the suggestion that Rhodophyta evolved from Cyanophyta or from some common ancestral stock.     

恒河猴麻疹病的诊断与治疗

目的探索恒河猴麻疹病的诊断、治疗及防制方法。方法隔离病猴,采集猴血清,环境消毒,对病死猴进行病理学观察、抗体ELISA和病毒免疫组织化学检测,以及治疗。结果病猴被确诊为患猴麻疹,隔离发病猴3只,其中死亡1只,康复2只,未出现麻疹病的进一步扩大流行。采用头孢曲松钠、地塞米松、利巴韦林等治疗取得了显著治疗效果。结论预防是控制麻疹病的关键,运输及环境改变是致病的诱因,快速诊断、科学用药和综合防治是减少损失的关键。     

Pili of Pasteurella multocida of porcine origin

Abstract Using electron microscopy, pili with at least two distinct morphologies were observed on strains of Pasteurella multocida isolated from pigs with atrophic rhinitis. Rigid pili were found on 60–80% of all cells observed. These pili had a strong tendency to lie flat along the side of the outer cell membrane of P. multocida and as a result frequently were difficult to see. After growth in vitro, piliated P. multocida cells produced few pili (approx. 3–5 per cell). Heavily piliated cells were occasionally observed. The second type of pili were curly and also were difficult to visualize. Cells from cultures containing piliated cells failed to attach to red blood cells and to immobilized mucus.     

Origin of intestinal disaccharidases of Ascaris suum

Disaccharidases from the gut of Ascaris suum were investigated to determine whether they were synthesized by the worm or whether they were host enzymes adsorbed to the worms' intestinal cells. Alpha-d-glucoside glucohydrolase (maltase) (EC 3.2.1.20), Beta-d-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase (invertase) (EC 3.2.1.26) and 1-glucohydrolase (trehalase) (EC 3.2.1.28) from Ascaris were studied in both a membrane (brush border)-bound and solubilized form with regard to temperature stability and pH optima. Data collected were compared to similar data on hog intestinal enzymes. Worm maltase and trehalase were relatively heat labile, whereas the hog enzymes were more stable to heat inactivation. Worm invertase was heat stable in comparison to the hog enzyme. The pH optima for Ascaris maltase and invertase were different from those of hog disaccharidases, whereas the pH optimum for trehalase from both parasite and host were similar. Tissue homogenates of second-stage larvae contained measurable maltase, but not sucrase, or trehalase activity. Results suggested that Ascaris intestinal disaccharidases represent three distinct enzymes of parasite rather than host origin.     

Antibiotic sensitivity of staphylococci isolated from the surface of the skin of the breasts in pregnant women

Nine hundred and fourty coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative strains of staphylococci isolated from the skin surface of the mammary glands of 94 pregnant women were tested by the disc agar diffusion method for their sensitivity to five antibiotics. The highest number of the isolates were sensitive to erythromycin and lincomycin (87.7 and 89.7 per cent, respectively). The highest number of moderately resistant strains were detected with respect to methicillin. 19 out of 42 cultures of Staph. aureus were resistant to benzylpenicillin and 24 cultures were resistant to tetracycline. Among staphylococci 130 strains or 13.8 per cent were polyresistant.     

两种血吸虫病DNA疫苗的候选抗原基因研究

目的：以日本血吸虫基因SjFABP和SjGST原核表达产物检测二价DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST在体内诱发的特异性抗体。方法：克隆日本血吸虫抗原基因SjFABP和sjGST,构建重组原核表达载体pET30a-SjFABP、pET30a-SjGST及真核表达载体pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST;将pET30a-SjFABP和pET30a-sjGST进行原核表达,并将表达产物用镍亲和柱分离纯化;采用Western印迹对日本血吸虫DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST免疫4周后的BALB／c小鼠血清进行特异性抗体检测。结果：克隆了日本血吸虫抗原基因SjFABP（399bp）和町GST（657bp）,并构建了pET30a-SjFABP、pET30a-SjGST及pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST重组质粒;经Western印迹检测,pET30a-SjFABP及pET30a-SjGST原核表达的抗原蛋白均能够与经日本血吸虫二价DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST免疫的小鼠的血清产生特异性免疫反应。结论：日本血吸虫町尉即和町GST基因的原核表达系统成功建立;原核表达的抗原蛋白具有免疫原性;以原核表达产物可检测日本血吸虫DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SiFABP-SiGST在体内诱发的特异性抗体。     

First observations of the burrows of Anguilla japonica

The burrow morphology of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica was studied using in situ resin‐casting in a mud bottomed tidal drainage channel adjacent to the Fukui River in Tokushima, Japan. Two eels (62·5 and 56·3 cm total length) were initially fished from the burrows to verify that they were being used by A. japonica . Casts were made of 10 burrows that were found to have from one to three openings and main tunnels that were parallel to the axis of water flow in the channel. The maximum depths of the tunnels in the mud were 17·8–30·0 cm. The diameters of main tunnels ranged from 1·2 to 7·9 cm, were almost always wider than the bodies of the Japanese eels examined, and were more variable in the horizontal axis than in the vertical axis. There were no other animals capable of constructing a long and thin burrow in this channel, so these observations indicate that anguillids are able to construct their own burrows in soft mud sediments that may be used for extended periods of time.     

小峰熊蜂蜂王蛹期发育蛋白质组分析

为了探明小峰熊蜂Bombus hypocrita蜂王蛹期发育蛋白质表达调控方面的特点,揭示其发育的分子机理。采用双向电泳法对小峰熊蜂蜂王蛹期发育进行蛋白质组研究,结果在小峰熊蜂蜂王蛹期的白眼期(A期)、褐眼期(B期)和黑眼期(C期)分别检测到81、80和75个蛋白点,特有蛋白质分别为8个、7个和2个,共有蛋白质为61个,A期到B期有4个蛋白质显著上调,5个显著下调,B期到C期有7个蛋白质显著上调,1个显著下调,A期到C期有10个蛋白质显著上调,有4个显著下调。此外,3个蛋白质是在A、B期表达C期关闭,6个蛋白质A、C期表达,B期关闭,5个蛋白质A期关闭,而B、C期表达。初步表明小峰熊蜂蜂王从蛹期发育到成蜂过程中,不仅需要一些保守蛋白质来调控,而且还需要一些特异蛋白质。     

三个品系小型猪正常心电图的比较

目的建立清醒状态记录小型猪心电图的方法,并对3个品系小型猪6个导联心电图进行分析比较。方法选用4月龄广西巴马猪7头、5月龄五指山小型猪6头、中国农大小型猪10头,清醒状态下吊床保定,测定Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVR、aVL和aVF6个导联的心电图。结果3个品系小型猪心电图的波形与人相似,心率较快,在3个品系之间差别不明显,存在偶发性窦性心率不齐。广西巴马猪、五指山小型猪和中国农大小型猪的P-R间期分别介于0．08—0．10s、0．08—0．11s和0．08—0．11s;QRS波群分别介于0．04—0．06s,0．04—0．07s和0．04～0．05s。3个品系小型猪均有清晰的S-T段,偏移小于1mm。结论本研究获得了3个品系小型猪清醒状态时的心电图基本数据,经比较,3个品系之间无明显差异。     

Organization of song of rose-breasted grosbeaks

Rose-breasted grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus) in Quebec had repertoires of fifteen to twenty-three syllables per bird, some of which were similar among neighbours. These were presented in songs with modes of nine to eleven syllables per song. Consecutive songs often began with the same syllables, even as many as three or four in succession, but overall sequences were usually different. The sequences were found to fit first and second order Markov models. Immediate repetitions of syllables within songs occurred uncommonly and were peculiar to particular syllables. The duration of intervals usually related directly to the immediately preceding syllables and song types. Where two syllables frequently followed another, the time intervals at the switches were usually significantly different between the two although the differences did not relate to the probabilities of the switches. There was a tendency to alternate long and short syllables. The applications of these findings to models of neural control are discussed.     

Osmotic fragility of erythrocytes of two breeds of domestic fowl in the warm humid tropics

Erythrocyte (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) values were found to be higher in Nigerian domestic fowls than those in Hubbard fowls. PCV and Hb values were higher in males than in females in both breeds. Erythrocytes of the Nigerian fowl were observed to be more susceptible to osmotic haemolysis than were erythrocytes of the Hubbard fowl. Erythrocytes of male fowls were osmotically more fragile than were those of female fowls in both breeds.     

Light microscopic study of blood vessels of the nasal cavity of the pig

4 adult pigs were used for light microscopic studies to depict the relationship between nasal blood vessels and the surface epithelium, and to describe the histomorphology of these vessels. After giving an electric shock, animals were bled to death. Tissues were collected from three regions in the nasal cavity after splitting heads sagitally. Different types of vessels were described and a new classification was suggested. Arteries were muscular in type with, as well as without, internal elastic laminae. Thick-walled veins (characterized by smooth muscle cells in the tunica media) were present throughout the nasal cavity, while thin-walled veins or cavernous spaces were discernible only in the caudal one third of the nasal cavity. Further, arteriovenous anastomoses, epithelioid arterioles, and free smooth muscle cells in the propria submucosa were observed throughout the nasal cavity.     

Mounting of the transducers in measurement of segmental motion of the spine

A seated female subject was subjected to sinusoidal whole body vibration at 2, 4, 5 and 6 Hz. Accelerations were measured by accelerometers on pins screwed into the spinous process. The pins were also fitted with light emitting diodes (LED). The displacement of these LEDs were compared to LEDs attached directly to the skin. Substantial differences in measured displacements were noted between surface mounted LEDs and those mounted on pins rigidly attached to the skeleton. These differences were more marked further out from the center line.     

Effect of Hymenolepis nana infection on immunological responses of mice to sRBC

In an attempt to investigate the effect of Hymenolepis nana infection on immunological responses to sRBC in ICR strain of mice, cellular and humoral immune responses were chronologically monitored after sensitization with sRBC. Mice weighing about 20 g were allocated into artificial and natural infection groups. The shell-free eggs of H. nana were inoculated into mice on the day 0 (initial) and day 10 in the former group, and praziquantel (25 mg/kg/day) was administered for 3 days to the one half of the mice at the 15th day after the first inoculation and to all of the mice in natural infection group. In artificial infection group, the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to sRBC was considerably decreased on the day 10 after the first inoculation, and then elevated gradually to normal. Eosinophils in the peripheral blood increased slightly. The hemagglutinin (HA) and hemolysin (HE) titers during the early stage were shown to be more or less higher than those of control. Thereafter, the titers were returned to normal, followed by a transient decrease on the day 15 post-infection. The sRBC rosette and antibody-treated rosette-forming capacities on the day 15 post-infection were temporarily lowered but became higher thereafter. The mucosal mast cells (MMC) in the small intestine were gradually increased to make a peak on the day 10 post-infection and then maintained more or less at lower level. After praziquantel treatment, the DTH and the number of eosinophils were decreased slightly and the MMC number and sRBC rosette-forming capacity were considerably decreased. The titers of HA and HE and antibody-treated rosette-forming capacity, however, were elevated in general. In natural infection group, the DTH, the number of eosinophils, and MMC which were elevated due to H. nana infection were gradually returned to normal after praziquantel treatment. The titers of HA and HE which were decreased by parasite infection were increased to normal after the treatment. However, the capacities of sRBC rosette or antibody-treated rosette formation were maintained at low levels in spite of the treatment. These results revealed that the immune responses to sRBC were significantly activated during H. nana infection, although they were transiently decreased during the days 10-15 post-infection.     

Characterization of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida: a comparative study of strains of different geographic origin

A total of 130 strains of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida isolated in Denmark, Norway, Scotland, Canada and the USA were examined. The strains originated from farmed salmonid fish. The biochemical, physiological and serological characteristics, antibiotic resistance patterns and cell surface-related properties were compared. Aeromonas salmonicida was found to be remarkably consistent in general cultural and biochemical characteristics. It is noteworthy that the strains were positive in the fermentation of L-arabinose and were negative in the fermentation of D-arabinose. All the strains were highly proteolytic. It was observed, however, that 5% of the strains did not digest calf and trout serum and the production of haemolysin and degradation of casein by the same strains were delayed compared with the other strains. Common to all of the rough strains were auto-aggregation and ability to bind the dyes Coomassie brilliant blue and Congo red and the majority of these strains were highly hydrophobic. The strains were tested for their susceptibility to 22 antibacterial agents. Antibiotic resistance profiles of Aer. salmonicida indicated that resistance to the quinolones and oxytetracycline was increasing and that multi-resistant strains were found in several countries. The variation found in antibiograms could have potential as epidemiological markers in certain geographic areas.     

Transmission electron microscopical studies of the site of attachment of Ancylostoma ceylanicum to the small bowel mucosa of the dog

The host-parasite interaction at the site of attachment of the adult hookworm, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, to the small bowel mucosa of the dog has been examined by transmission electron microscopy. The lamina propria around the heads of the worms showed intense infiltration with neutrophilic and eosinophilic leucocytes, and plasma cells were also prominent. Erythrocytes were extravasated within the lamina propria while the portions of mucosa engulfed into the buccal cavities of the worms were necrotic and included aggregates of collagen fibres. Within the lumina of the worms were erythrocytes in varying stages of lysis together with other necrotic debris. The mucous membrane adjacent to the heads of the worms was ulcerated while more distant enterocytes were small, distorted and displayed various degrees of microvillar loss. Many mucosal blood vessels had platelet aggregates within their lumina but no fibrin deposition was observed. Vessels were often seen in the bases of the ulcers and were prone to rupture. Erythrocytes and leucocytes were seen in the dog intestinal lumen in close proximity to the bodies of the worms.     

Comparison of two methods of preparing enzyme-antibody conjugates: application of these conjugates for enzyme immunoassay.

Two methods of preparing enzyme-antibody conjugates were evaluated. High yields of conjugate were obtained with both methods. The first procedure utilizes the homobifunctional crosslinking reagent N,N′-o-phenylenedimaleimide. Sulfydryl residues were introduced into second antibodies by reaction with methyl-mercaptobutyrimidate. The modified antibodies were reacted with N,N′-o-phenylenedimaleimide, excess reagent was removed by gel filtration, and the activated antibodies were cross-linked to β-galactosidase. Up to 80% of the enzyme was conjugated to immunologically active antibody with approximately 90% retention of enzyme activity. The second method utilizes the heterobifunctional meta-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS). The antibodies were reacted with MBS, excess reagent was removed by gel filtration and the activated antibodies were crosslinked to β-galactosidase. Typically, approximately 80% of the enzyme was conjugated to immunologically active antibody with approximately 90% retention of both enzyme and antibody activity. Conjugates prepared using these two procedures were used as labels in an immunoassay system and were able to detect approximately 5 to 10 ng of first antibodies. The MBS procedure was simpler to perform, could more easily be adapted to large-scale work, and gave more reproducible results, and the conjugates produced were able to detect slightly lower concentrations of first antibody.