The melanoidin-containing preparation MIGI-K from mussels and its characteristics]

The physico-chemical properties of preparation MIGI-K from mussels are given. Some characteristics of melanoidin fractions of MIGI-K are presented, their similarity to standard melanoidin is revealed. The given data on biological activity of the preparation permit to consider MIGI-K as immunomodulator.     

The possibility of using the preparation MIGI-K in districts exposed to radioactive contamination following the accident at the Chernobyl AES]

A preparation from mussels, MIGI-K, used as an additive to the diet of people working at the Chernobyl power plant has proved to be efficient in increasing the total resistance of the body, including the resistance to ionizing radiation. In experiments with animals, MIGI-K has been shown to accelerate excretion of 45Ca and 86Rb from the body. The combination of these properties of MIGI-K permits us to consider it an efficient drug to be used within the regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster.     

Possibilities of using the protective activity of MIGI-K under conditions of radionuclide contamination

Experimental studies of mussel hydrolyzate MIGI-K show that this drug has the ability to increase the general and radiation resistance of the human body. Moreover, MIGI-K facilitates elimination of incorporated radionuclides from the body. A series of properties of this drug, in particular, the absence of toxicity or harmful side effects, makes it possible to apply MIGI-K as an adaptogen (a food supplement exhibiting therapeutic and preventive action and used to increase excretion of radionuclides from people who took part in the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant).     

The biological effects in animals in relation to the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station. 7. The content of lipid peroxidation products and free fatty acids and the catalase activity in a number of organs and tissues of rats]

The content of malonic dialdehyde, dienic conjugates and free fatty acids, and catalase activity were determined in some organs and tissues of chronically irradiated rats. Certain regularities were found in lipid metabolism changes. The MIGI-K preparation was shown to normalize some indices under study.     

EPR characterization of an oxygen-evolving photosystem II preparation from the transformable cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803.

The transformable cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 has a photosynthetic apparatus that is similar to that of plants. Because of the ease with which this organism can be genetically manipulated and isotopically labeled, Synechocystis has been used extensively in recent studies of electron transfer in the water-splitting complex, photosystem II. Here, we present the first EPR characterization of a highly active oxygen-evolving preparation from this organism. This preparation shows oxygen-evolution activities in the range from 2400-2600 mumol of O2/(mg of chlorophyll.h). We show that this preparation is stable enough for room temperature EPR studies. We then use this assay to show that the lineshapes of the D+ and Z+ tyrosine radicals are identical in this preparation, as has been observed in photosystem II complexes from a wide variety of photosynthetic species. We also present the first multiline EPR spectrum that has been observed from the Synechocystis manganese cluster.     

The development of subunit and synthetic vaccines using recombinant DNA technology

Vaccination of humans and animals against invasion by pathogenic organisms is an effective and integral component of preventive medicine. Traditionally, vaccines have been prepared from various forms of killed or attenuated whole organisms. Such killed or attenuated vaccines presumably retain some of the important antigenic determinants of the organism which can elicite an effective immune response in the vaccinated host. Major drawbacks encountered with these types of vaccines include the introduction of undesirable side-effects after vaccination, as well as induction of only partial protection in some cases. In addition to killed or attenuated vaccines, partially purified antigenic determinants from the whole organism have been used as vaccines. However, the cost and difficulties involved in preparation of the purified antigen often make this an uneconomical approach. Within the last decade, the advent of recombinant DNA technology has brought about a new approach in the preparation of vaccines. In this review, some of the recent developments in several research areas leading to the production of effective vaccines will be presented to demonstrate the promising future of this new approach to vaccine development.     

Cellular immune response in Pneumocystis carinii infection

Pneumocystis carinii is an important pulmonary pathogen causing disease in immunocompromised individuals. The majority o f conditions predisposing to Pneumocystis pneumonia are associated with profound defects in cellular immunity. Although our understanding o f the host response to the organism is still limited, advances in antigen preparation and the availability o f animal models have permitted an improved understanding of some aspects o f the cell-mediated immune response to Pneumocystis. In this review, George Smulian and Sue Theus will highlight recent advances in our knowledge regarding the role of macrophages, T cells and cytokines in the response to the organism.     

Patch Clamp Recordings from Embryonic Zebrafish Mauthner Cells

Mauthner cells (M-cells) are large reticulospinal neurons located in the hindbrain of teleost fish. They are key neurons involved in a characteristic behavior known as the C-start or escape response that occurs when the organism perceives a threat. The M-cell has been extensively studied in adult goldfish where it has been shown to receive a wide range of excitatory, inhibitory and neuromodulatory signals¹. We have been examining M-cell activity in embryonic zebrafish in order to study aspects of synaptic development in a vertebrate preparation. In the late 1990s Ali and colleagues developed a preparation for patch clamp recording from M-cells in zebrafish embryos, in which the CNS was largely intact^2,3,4. The objective at that time was to record synaptic activity from hindbrain neurons, spinal cord neurons and trunk skeletal muscle while maintaining functional synaptic connections within an intact brain-spinal cord preparation. This preparation is still used in our laboratory today. To examine the mechanisms underlying developmental synaptic plasticity, we record excitatory (AMPA and NMDA-mediated)^5,6 and inhibitory (GABA and glycine) synaptic currents from developing M-cells. Importantly, this unique preparation allows us to return to the same cell (M-cell) from preparation to preparation to carefully examine synaptic plasticity and neuro-development in an embryonic organism. The benefits provided by this preparation include 1) intact, functional synaptic connections onto the M-cell, 2) relatively inexpensive preparations, 3) a large supply of readily available embryos 4) the ability to return to the same cell type (i.e. M-cell) in every preparation, so that synaptic development at the level of an individual cell can be examined from fish to fish, and 5) imaging of whole preparations due to the transparent nature of the embryos.     

Intensity of lipids peroxidation and state of antioxidant protective system in calves, which have had dyspepsia

The intensive development of lipids peroxidation with simultaneous deficit of antioxidant protective factors in organism of calves, which have had neonathal enteropathology was shown. The effectiveness of phospolipid preparation FLP-MD, which makes antioxidant protective mechanisms stronger during this pathological state, and may be recommended as a drug for reparation therapy in complex scheme of dyspepsia medical treatment and proves a necessity of the antioxidant preparations application.     

A Species of Corynebacterium Isolated from Fermenting Cassava Roots

S ummary : A species of Corynebacterium not described in the 7th edition of Bergey's Manual has been isolated from grated cassava ( Manihot utilissima ) root allowed to ferment for some days during the preparation of 'gari', a farinaceous food eaten in Nigeria. The organism ferments starch, dextrose, maltose, sucrose, salicin, xylose and arabinose with the production of acid only, and produces bright yellow colonies of a characteristic form on litmus-lactose agar. It has been suggested that this organism, if accorded specific status, should be named Corynebacterium manihot.     

Lipids of Paramecium

This review is the first on the composition and metabolism of Paramecium lipids. This ciliated protozoa is a useful system for studying the structure and function of biomembranes since it can be grown under chemically defined culture conditions in large numbers; much is known about its genetics, membrane electrophysiology, and ultrastructure; and mutants with defective membrane functions are available which are reported to have lipid alterations. Pure preparation of the cell surface ciliary membrane are readily isolated. The organism and its ciliary membrane contain a variety of polar lipids, sterols, and steryl esters. The polar lipids include substantial amounts of ether lipids, sphingolipids, and phosphonolipids. the biosyntheses of fatty acids and specific moieties of complex lipids in this organism are beginning to be examined with promises of elucidating biosynthetic mechanisms that are more difficult to study in other organisms. More information on lipid metabolism is required to identify the bases for the defects in putative lipid/membrane mutants.     

A High-Throughput Fatty Acid Profiling Screen Reveals Novel Variations in Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Related Algae

Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by gas chromatography (GC) is a common technique for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of acyl lipids. Methods for FAME preparation are typically time-consuming and labor-intensive and require multiple transfers of reagents and products between reaction tubes and autosampler vials. In order to increase throughput and lower the time and materials costs required for FAME preparation prior to GC analysis, we have developed a method in which 10-to-20-mg samples of microbial biomass are transferred to standard GC autosampler vials, transesterified using an emulsion of methanolic trimethylsulfonium hydroxide and hexane, and analyzed directly by GC without further sample handling. This method gives results that are essentially identical to those obtained by the more labor- and material-intensive FAME preparation methods, such as transmethylation with methanolic HCl. We applied this method to the screening of laboratory and environmental isolates of the green alga Chlamydomonas for variations in fatty acid composition. This screening method facilitated two novel discoveries. First, we identified a common laboratory strain of C. reinhardtii, CC-620, completely lacking all ω-3 fatty acids normally found in this organism and showed that this strain contains an inactivating mutation in the CrFAD7 gene, encoding the sole ω-3 desaturase activity in this organism. Second, we showed that some species of Chlamydomonas make Δ6-unsaturated polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) rather than the Δ5 species normally made by the previously characterized laboratory strains of Chlamydomonas, suggesting that there is species-specific variation in the regiospecificity and substrate selectivity of front-end desaturases in this algal genus.     

Inhibition of the development of Dictyostelium discoideum by isolated plasma membranes

The life cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum can be divided into two mutually exclusive phases: growth and development. A distinguishing characteristic of the two phases is the absence of intercellular communication during vegative growth, and the many forms of such interaction during development. We have investigated the role of the cell surface membrane during the aggregation and development of this organism. We have asked the question: Are there molecules on the cell surface which are necessary for aggregation, and if so, can they be isolated in a biologically active membrane preparation? Further, when do these molecules appear during normal development, and does the interaction between two neighboring cell surfaces signal the cell or affect their subsequent development in any way? We have been able to isolate a partially purified plasma membrane fraction which is capable of specifically blocking the aggregation of other cells. Additional characterization of this preparation suggests that isolated aggregation phase membranes display a new, or newly exposed, heat-stable component which is capable of interacting with vegetative cells in such a way as to halt development.     

Microbial transformation of steroids--II. Transformations of progesterone, testosterone and androstenedione by Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Phycomyces blakesleeanus transformed progesterone, testosterone and androstenedione into mixtures of products. Five monohydroxylated metabolites were obtained in reasonable yields from the progesterone transformation. Only 7 alpha- and 15 beta-hydroxyprogesterone have been reported previously from this organism. We find that it gives these two metabolites and also 6 beta-, 14 alpha- and 15 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone as major products. Five compounds were also purified from testosterone transformation mixtures. Two of these were monohydroxylated, two were ring A dehydrogenation products, and two were oxidised at C-17. The products were identified as 6 beta-hydroxytestosterone, 7 alpha-hydroxytestosterone, androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (1-dehydroandrostenedione), 17 beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3-one (1-dehydrotestosterone) and androstenedione. All five metabolites were produced in reasonable yields, although hydroxylation was the minor transformation in this case. Only two significant products were formed from androstenedione. Both were reduced at C-17; one was also monohydroxylated. They were testosterone and 14 alpha-hydroxytestosterone. The testosterone and androstenedione transformation products have not been reported previously for this organism. We also report for the first time the preparation of P. blakesleeanus cell-free extracts which transformed progesterone reasonably efficiently and faithfully in vitro, although the proportions of each product varied from one extract to another.     

微生物代谢组学的前处理及分析技术

微生物代谢组学主要研究细胞生长或生长周期某一时刻细胞内外所有低分子量代谢物。分析技术的不断发展促进了微生物代谢组学研究的进展。本文结合微生物样品前处理方法, 综述了目前研究中所采用的各种分析技术的特点与应用, 并展望微生物代谢组学研究中分析技术的发展趋势。     

无活菌苏云金杆菌制剂对稻纵卷叶螟和小菜蛾的田间药效评价试验

本文报道不含有活菌的苏云金杆菌可湿性粉剂在田间应用的药效试验。结果表明:经过辐射处理杀灭活孢子后的苏云金杆菌对稻纵卷叶螟和小菜蛾有良好的防治效果,与未经过处理的Bt可湿性粉剂的效果相比不存在明显的差异。由于该种制剂不含有活菌,对生态环境无不良影响,在田间应用将更加安全。     

The safety of the preparation viroden for vertebrate animals]

Toxicity-pathogenicity test of viroden, a new preparation, and its acting agent--a mosquito densonucleosis virus (MDV) has been carried out on warm-blooded animals. It is shown that the preparation is not toxic for laboratory animals (white common mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits), chicken embryos and cell cultures of warm-blooded animals. The MDV is not adapted to a warm-blooded organism with different ways of introduction and in passages. Using electron and luminescent microscopy, serological reactions, specific test systems and a biological test for sensitive insects no explicit or latent infection was found in animals, chicken embryos and cell cultures of vertebrates with primary infection and in passages. Sensibilized animals shown an immunological rearrangement of the organism proceeding by the retarded hypersensitivity type.     

A fluorescently-labelled r-RNA targeted oligonucleotide probe for the in situ detection of G-bacteria of the genus Amaricoccus in activated sludge

A fluorescently-labelled r-RNAtargeted oligonucleotide probe specific for members of the genus Amaricoccus, which includes one group of the Gram-negative G-Bacteria seen in activated sludge systems, is described. These organisms, previously 'identified' on their distinctive morphology of cocci in tetrads, have been associated with poor performance of biological nutrient removal (EBNR) plants, by out-competing the polyphosphate accumulating bacteria. Methods of sample preparation for probing activated sludge are detailed, and preliminary surveys of 46 plants, using this probe, show that G-Bacteria belonging to the genus Amaricoccus are seen not only in large numbers in EBNR systems but also in conventional plants. The presence of single cells of this organism was common, emphasizing the dangers of relying on morphology and cell arrangement to identify these bacteria.     

Cytoplasmic RNA extraction from fresh and frozen mammalian tissues

The quality of collections of expressed sequence tags andfull-length cDNAs is adversely affected by the presence of "junk" clones derivedfrom unspliced or partially spliced RNAs present in conventional total RNA preparations. One can overcome this problem by using intact cytoplasmic RNA to create cDNA libraries, but the methods in the literature that describe the preparation of RNA only work well for extracting cultured cells. Cell lines are not as diverse as one would like, and to clone comprehensive sets of human and model organism full-length cDNAs, libraries have to be prepared from tissue samples. Thus, we have developed a robust and inexpensive method that allows intact cytoplasmic RNA to be extracted from both fresh and frozen mammalian tissues. A mouse full-length, cap-trapped cDNA library prepared with RNA using this new procedure had excellent characteristics.