Virulence of bacteria-associated, Crithidia-associated, and axenic Entamoeba histolytica: experimental hamster liver infections with strains from patients and carriers.

Experimental infections of the hamster liver were carried out with five strains from patients with clinical amoebiasis and ten strains from asymptomatic carriers. Inocula of comparatively small size (12000-36000 amoebae) were injected under the liver capsule. 1. The virulence of the patient strains varied from 21-96% (see article) and declined sharply within 7-15 weeks after elimination of the associated bacterial flora. The virulence of the carrier strains varied from 0-100%, probably fluctuating with changes in the concomitant bacterial flora (Table 1). 2. The interrelation between size of inoculum, period of bacteria-free growth, and virulence was demonstrated with a Crithidia-associated patient strains (Table 2). 3. A patient strain showed a faster decrease of virulence during axenic than in Crithidia-associated cultivation (Table 3). 4. Two successive passages through hamster liver resulted in a marked increase of virulence of two bacteria-free strains, lasting for several months (Table 4). 5. A significant enhancement of virulence of Crithidia-associated and axenic amoebae by reassociation with a mixed bacterial flora during two weeks, followed by elimination of the bacteria, was demonstrated with two strains. The restored virulence was lost again within a few weeks (Table 5). 6. The virulence of an attenuated patient strain did not become manifest by adding large numbers of dead amoebae to the inoculum (Table 6). 7. The pathology of the different lesions caused in the hamster liver by the amoebae is described, including one of a granulomatous type, frequently found after inoculation with bacteria-free amoebae. 8. In an attempt to explain the occurrence of strains differing in pathogenicity an hypothesis is put forward based on the idea of selection of virulence and avirulent amoebae.     

Basal and spontaneous exocrine pancreatic secretion in conscious and anaesthetized chickens, Gallus domesticus

Basal exocrine pancreatic secretion was studied in anaesthetized and conscious chickens and spontaneous secretion was studied in anaesthetized chickens. Results are compared with those of other vertebrates to estimate the specific pattern of this secretion in birds. The flow of pancreatic juice was greater in conscious chickens than when anaesthetized (Table 1). Amylase activity was greater than that of the other species and was of the same order in anaesthetized and conscious birds (Table 1). A spontaneous exocrine pancreatic secretion was seen to remain after eliminating a large part of the tonic influences (Table 2).     

Linkage of genes for PHI,halothane sensitivity,A-O inhibition,H red blood cell antigens and 6-PGD variants in pigs*

Data from one apparent crossover between S and H, two between PHI and HAL on one side and S on the other, and one between PHI on one side and HAL, S and H on the other, indicate a gene order in pigs of Phi-Hal-S-H-Pgd for genes for PHI, halothane sensitivity, inhibition of expression of A and O, H red blood cell antigens and 6-PGD types. Rasmusen et al. (1980) provided data for a gene order in pigs ofPhi-Hal-H-Pgd for genes for phosphohexose isomerase (PHI) isozyme variants, halothane sensitivity (HAL), H red cell antigens and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) variants, and suggested that there might be a locus for a gene for inhibition of expression of A and O separate from the locus for H. This is contrary to an earlier proposal by Rasmusen (1972) that the H-system genotype directly influences expression of A and O. Imlah (1980) suggested that the recessive gene for halothane sensitivity has a suppressant effect on the expression of A and O. Andresen (1981) proposed that the locus for inhibition of A and O (for which Rasmusen, 1964, proposed the symbol S) was between the loci for HAL and H types. Data presented in Table 1, which includes haplotypes for three recombinant offspring described by Rasmusen et al. (1980) (883-1, 233-3 and 3864-1) as well as one other recombinant (296-2) provide evidence for the gene order for five genes proposed by Andresen. Types for 6-PGD are listed for all pigs, although they do not provide evidence for gene order in these cases. Male 883-1 (Table 1, and Rasmusen et al., 1980, Table 5) provided the original evidence for recombination between S and H. His phenotype, as well as his genotype as revealed by progeny test (Rasmusen et al., 1980, Table 6) indicated that recombination had occurred between the genes for PHI, HAL and S and the gene for H type in his dam, so that the S locus mapped between H and the loci for the other three traits. The phenotype of one of his sons (233-3, Table 1, and Rasmusen et al., 1980, Table 6) indicated that there had been a recombination between genes for PHI and HAL types on one side and S and H types on the other, providing evidence that the S locus was separate from PHI and HAL as well as H. Another pig listed in Table 1,3864-1, was also described by Rasmusen et al. (1980, Table 9) as a recombinant. This pig provides evidence for recombination between PHI on one side and HAL, S and H on the other, establishing a gene order of Phi-Hal-S-H-Pgd. The last pig listed in Table 1,296-2, is a recombinant comparable to 233-3. The H type of his dam provides markers indicating the recombination was between PHI and HAL on one side and S and H on the other, although the unusual expression of HAL phenotype in both parents of 296-2 makes her haplotypes somewhat uncertain. (Recombination may have been between PHI and HAL rather than as indicated in Table 1.) In spite of incomplete penetrance for HAL (Ollivier et al., 1975; Smith & Bampton, 1977) which makes haplotypes for HAL questionable in some cases, the other genetic markers available are useful to show that recombination has taken place. Without considering the results of halothane testing, if the apparent recombinants are accepted as being as indicated, the order of the genes at the other four loci seems established. Alleles for S types appear to be separable by recombination from those for PHI and H, and the S locus appears to be between the loci for PHI and H. For the five loci, data obtained thus far are cohsistent with a gene order of Phi-Hal-S-H-Pgd.     

Erratum to Central European Journal of Biology, Volume 8, Issue 9

Paper by Osyczka and Rola “Cladonia lichens as the most effective and essential pioneers in strongly contaminated slag dumps” in Volume 8, Issue 9, 876–887 / September 2013; DOI: 10.2478/s11535-013-0210-0 contains incorrect units in Table 2 and Table 3. The correct Tables 2 and 3, together with their captions are presented below.     

NaCl胁迫对高粱根、叶鞘和叶片液泡膜ATP酶和焦磷酸酶活性的影响

NaCl胁迫初期 ,Na 主要在根和叶鞘中积累。相应地 ,根和叶鞘液泡膜ATP酶和焦磷酸酶水解活性、依赖ATP和PPi的质子泵活性及Na /H 逆向转运活性均明显增加 ,根和叶鞘的生长没有受到抑制。NaCl胁迫后期 ,Na 开始向地上部分运输并在叶片中积累。此时 ,叶片液泡膜质子泵和Na /H 逆向转运活性开始增加 ,根和叶鞘的Na/K比增加 ,其液泡膜ATP酶和焦磷酸酶水解活性、质子泵活性和Na /H 逆向转运活性下降。相应地 ,根和叶鞘的生长也下降。当保温介质中Na/K比超过 1时 ,液泡膜微囊ATP酶和焦磷酸酶活性均随Na/K比的增加而下降。表明非盐生植物液泡膜质子泵在盐胁迫的初期对Na 在液泡内的积累及其耐盐性起重要作用     

Effect of liming on EUF-nutrient fractions in the soil,on nutrient contents of grape leaves and on grape yield

Summary In pot experiments with vine, liming significantly raised EUF-Ca 20°C as well as EUF-Ca 80°C values of an acid clay soil (pH 4.2). This resulted in a marked rise in Ca contents of vine leaves (Table 2). High amounts of K fertilizers without lime raised mainly the EUF-Ca 20°C values whereas the EUF-80°C values remained at a low level (Table 3). Liming lowered the EUF-K 20°C values and as a result the ratio EUF-K 80°C C/EUF-K 20°C increased from 0.7 to 1.0.High K applications raised the K content of the leaves at flowering stage but at grape ripening a marked decrease in K content was observed (Table 5). In contrast, the application of both lime and K fertilizer raised the K content of leaves at both flowering and ripening. Grape yield increased as well (Table 11).Liming raised the EUF-P values of the soil and to a lesser extent the P contents of leaves (Tables 6 and 7).High K applications without lime raised the Mn contents of leaves (Table 9), Exchange processes due to K fertilizer addition were reflected in increased EUF-Mn values (Table 9).The highest yield (three-year average) was obtained in a high K treatment (22 g K₂O/pot) in combination with lime (40 g CaO/pot).     

Superoxide dismutase in Cryptococcus neoformans varieties gattii, grubi, and neoformans

Some clear dissimilarities occur among the varieties of Cryptococcus neoformans but there are few studies about the differences among individual yeast antioxidant enzymes. The total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and the copper, zinc-depend SOD (Cu,ZnSOD) and manganese-dependent SOD (MnSOD) isoenzymes of five reference C. neoformans strains belonged to A, B, C, AD and D serotypes (Table I) and other nine C. neoformans isolates (Table II) were determined. There were significant differences (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) in total SOD activity among the varietie gattii (serotype C) and the other varieties. Cu,ZnSOD showed difference (p < 0.05) between A and D serotypes. These results point out a variety and serotype-independent SOD activity in C. neoformans reference strains and the other isolates that were evaluated.     

Synthesis, and cytotoxic and antiplatelet activities of oxime- and methyloxime-containing flavone, isoflavone, and xanthone derivatives

A series of oxime- and methyloxime-containing flavone, isoflavone, and xanthone derivatives (1-12) were synthesized (Scheme) and evaluated for their cytotoxic (Table 1) and antiplatelet activities (Table 2). The in vitro anticancer assay indicated that the cytotoxicity of structurally related compounds decreases in the order isoflavones (7a-7c) > flavones (8a-8c) > xanthones (9a-9c), electron-releasing substituents (R) on the Ph ring being favorable (mean GI50 values of 2.84, 12.3, and 20.9 microM for 7c, 8c, and 9c, resp.). The inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid (AA) similarly decreased from the isoflavone 1 (IC50 = 2.97 microM) to the flavone 2 (7.70 microM) to the xanthone 3 (inactive). Thereby, compound 1 seems to be a promising lead, since it was not only the most-potent aggregation inhibitor (IC50 = 2.97 microM), but was also found to be noncytotoxic at a concentration of 100 microM.     

猕猴桃愈伤组织的生理差异与原生质体生长和分化的关系

美味猕猴桃和中华猕猴眺子叶愈伤组织系A_(16)N_1,A_(11)B_2和A_(14)N_7,A_(14)B_2的生理分析表明:愈伤组织系A_(16)N_1和A_(14)N_7的原生质体再生细胞能持续分裂。而愈伤组织系A_(11)B_2和A_(14)B_2的原生质体再生细胞不能持续分裂。前两个愈伤组织系的多胺含量高,酚酸含量低,超氧物歧化酶活性高。过氧化物酶活性低,可溶性蛋白质和氨基酸含量高,说明用于取得并分离原生质体的材料的生理状态对原生质体生长、分化有影响。     

Experimental Infection with Mycobacterium Avium,Serotype 2, in Pigs

The immunizing effect of BCG vaccination against infection with M. avium was evaluated in pigs on the basis of clinical and pathological findings and numbers of acid-fast organisms in the tissues. In experiments with small and large challenge doses i.v. (10−2 and 5 mg) the vaccinated animals were found to be partially protected. As compared to non-vaccinates, a reduction of viable organisms was found in vaccinates examined 28-31 or 70-73 days after challenge (Table 4), and fewer positive tissues were found in vaccinates than in non-vaccinates (Table 3). The most obvious results were seen in the experiment with a challenge dose of 10−2 mg i.V., where the number of organisms was consistently smaller in vaccinates than in non-vaccinates (Table 4). In contact infection experiments, the observations in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs were limited and the results difficult to evaluate. There seemed to be a protection, as judged by histopathological and cultural findings. kw|Keywords|k]Mycobacterium avium, Serotype 2; k]BCG vaccination; k]challenge, intravenous, oral; k]pigs     

Recognition sequences of restriction endonucleases and methylases--a review

The properties and sources of all known endonucleases and methylases acting site-specifically on DNA are listed. The enzymes are crossindexed (Table I), classified according to homologies within their recognition sequences (Table II), and characterized within Table II by the cleavage and methylation positions, the number of recognition sites on the DNA of the bacteriophages lambda, phi X174 and M13mp7, the viruses Ad2 and SV40, the plasmids pBR322 and pBR328 and the microorganisms from which they originate. Other tabulated properties of the restriction endonucleases include relaxed specificities (Table III), the structure of the restriction fragment ends (Table IV), and the sensitivity to different kinds of DNA methylation (Table V). Table VI classifies the methylases according to the nature of the methylated base(s) within their recognition sequences. This table also comprises those restriction endonucleases, which are known to be inhibited by the modified nucleotides. Furthermore, this review includes a restriction map of bacteriophage lambda DNA based on sequence data. Table VII lists the exact nucleotide positions of the cleavage sites, the length of the generated fragments ordered according to size, and the effects of the Escherichia coli dam- and dcmI-coded methylases M X Eco dam and M X Eco dcmI on the particular recognition sites.     

Effects of photoperiod, melatonin administration and thyroid block on spontaneous daily torpor and temperature regulation in the white-footed mouse,Peromyscus leucopus

Summary Cold exposed (13°C) mice maintained on a short day photoperiod (9L:15D) became torpid 9 times more frequently than long day photoperiod (16L:8D) animals (Table 1). Mice on a short day photoperiod also exhibited a 26% increase in nesting behavior, a 9% decrease in food consumption and a 49% increase in norepinephrine induced thermogenesis (Table 2). No change in resting metabolism was observed. Similarily, chronic melatonin administration (subcutaneously implanted beeswax pellet containing 3.5 mg melatonin) elicited a 2.5 fold increase in spontaneous daily torpor relative to shamimplanted mice (Table 3). Mice treated with melatonin exhibited a 33% increase in nesting behavior and a slight decrease in food consumption. Although thyroid block (propyl-thiouracil) increased the incidence of daily torpor only slightly, it did effect an 11% decrease in resting metabolism, a 42% decrease in norepinephrine induced thermogenesis and a 5% decrease in food consumption. Thyroid block did not alter nesting behavior.     

Element composition of inner ear lymphs in cats,lizards, and skates determined by electron probe microanalysis of liquid samples

Summary Siliconized, glass micropipets whose tips were filled with oil were used to obtain small (<100 nl) liquid samples from perilymphatic and endolymphatic regions of the inner ears of anesthetized animals: 3 cats, 19 alligator lizards (Gerrhonotus multicarinatus), and 8 skates (Raja erinacea). Samples of cerebrospinal fluid and seawater were also obtained for skates. Electron probe microanalysis was used to measure the concentrations of the following elements in each sample: K, Na, Cl, Ca, Mg, P, S. The Na and K concentrations in cat perilymph (Fig. 1 and Table 2) agree with previous estimates (Table 4) while endolymph samples show relatively low Na and high K concentrations. From a comparison of our results with previous work (Table 3), we infer that contamination of endolymph samples with perilymph is relatively low in our study, and that no large species difference in endolymph content is indicated by present data available for mammals. Our results show that Cl concentration is higher and Ca and Mg concentrations are lower in endolymph than in perilymph. The composition of perilymph in cats and alligator lizards is roughly the same (Figs. 1 and 2, Table 2). Uncontaminated endolymph samples in lizards were apparently difficult to obtain, although the compositions of a few samples suggest that endolymph K concentration is high and Na concentration is low. In skates the concentration of Na is nearly the same in the two inner ear lymphs (Fig. 3 and Table 2), in contrast to the roughly hundredfold ratio of perilymph to endolymph Na concentrations found in the higher vertebrates. The element composition of perilymph is correlated with the composition of seawater in which the skates were kept, whereas the endolymph composition shows no such correlation.Abbreviations CSF cerebrospinal fluid - EL samples, PL samples samples judged by visual criteria alone to be from the endolymphatic and perilymphatic spaces, respectively - SW sea water This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Health Science Fund. We thank the following people for contributions to this work: D. Beil, K. Blouch, and E. Marr.     

Correction to: Isolation,Characterization, and Expression Profiling of Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase Gene from Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (FaNDPK) under Salt Stress

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - The original version of this article unfortunately contained some mistakes in article Title and Table 1.     

Pereira,Michael E.; McGlynn,Catherine A.: Special relationships instead of female dominance for redfronted lemurs,Eulemur fulvus rufus. American Journal Of Primatology 43:239&ndash&258, 1997.

Table II in the above-referenced article was printed incorrectly. The correct version appears below. The publisher regrets this error.     

Gluconeogenesis in isolated liver cells of the eel,Anguilla japonica

Summary The pathway of gluconeogenesis from pyruvate, lactate and alanine was investigated in isolated liver cells of the eel. Amino-oxyacetate, a transaminase inhibitor, inhibited gluconeogenesis not only from lactate, but also from pyruvate by 60%.d-Malate did not inhibit gluconeogenesis from either of the substrates (Table 1 A).The effects of various amino acids on gluconeogenesis were investigated. Leucine accelerated gluconeogenesis from pyruvate or alanine (Table 2). Leucine promoted the incorporation of¹⁴C-pyruvate into glutamate and aspartate, and increased the glutamate content. The specific activity of¹⁴C-aspartate was increased markedly by leucine (Table 5).From the investigation of subcellular distribution of enzymes unique to gluconeogenesis, it was found that pyruvate carboxylase was located almost exclusively in the mitochondrial fraction, and that phophoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and aspartate transaminase were located in both the mitochondrial and the cytosolic fractions (Table 7).From these results it is concluded that the oxaloacetate-aspartate pathway is a major route in gluconeogenesis from any of the substrates in the eel liver.Abbreviations AOA amino-oxyacetate - PEP phosphoenolpyruvate     

王锦蛇心的位置及其组织学参数和 胶原纤维含量的增龄变化

为阐明王锦蛇（Elaphe carinata）心的位置、组织学参数和胶原纤维含量的发育可塑性,采用形态测量、苏木精-伊红染色和 Masson 染色方法,测定了 1 龄、2 龄以及 50 日龄内王锦蛇个体身体大小和心位置,同时测定并分析了 50 日龄内个体心内膜、心肌层和心外膜的厚度,以及胶原纤维含量的增龄变化。王锦蛇的体重、体全长和体重与体全长的比值都在 2 龄组最高,1 龄组其次,2 和 1 龄组均显著高于 50 日龄内各组（P < 0.05）。肥满度 3 日龄组和 7 ~ 10 日龄组都显著高于 1 和 2 龄组（P < 0.05）。心与吻端的距离,1 和 2 龄组都显著高于其他日龄组（P < 0.05）,但心与吻端的距离与体全长的比值未见组间差异（P > 0.05）。心肌层厚度 50 日龄组显著高于 3 日龄组、20 日龄组和 30 日龄组（P < 0.05）,心外膜和心内膜厚度未见日龄差异（P > 0.05）。心肌层和心壁胶原纤维含量 50 日龄组都显著高于 3 日龄组和 20 日龄组（P < 0.05）。王锦蛇心与吻端的距离与体全长的比值随发育进程无明显变化,在首次 蜕皮和主动摄食后,心肌层厚度增厚、胶原纤维含量增多,提示心肌功能逐渐增强。     

四川瓦屋山金色林鸲的巢址选择和繁殖记录

2010~2011年4~7月,在四川省瓦屋山自然保护区对金色林鸲(Tarsiger chrysaeus)的繁殖生态和巢址选择进行了研究。共发现26巢,金色林鸲2010年和2011年的繁殖成功率分别为43.8%和44.4%,孵化率分别为52.5%和60.0%;育雏成功率分别为85.7%和100.0%。主成分分析表明,影响金色林鸲巢址选择的主要因子包括巢位因素、苔藓盖度因素和乔木郁闭度因素。步道两侧的土坎为金色林鸲巢址选择提供了适宜条件。在瓦屋山,人类活动是影响金色林鸲繁殖、巢址选择、巢的分布和数量的重要因素,并存在两面性;人行步道的修建为金色林鸲提供了更多适宜的巢址,而游客的频繁活动限制了金色林鸲的繁殖活动。     

经大豆DNA溶液处理的水稻后代种子的粗蛋白和氨基酸含量分析初报

以大豆为外源DNA供体,用浸种及幼苗期浇灌法和花粉管通道法直接将大豆总DNA导入受体水稻,经常规栽培获得水稻后代种子。采用微量凯氏定氮法和氨基酸自动分析仪进行水稻后代种子糙米的粗蛋白含量和氨基酸含量的测定。结果显示:三组经大豆DNA溶液处理获得的水稻后代种子糙米粗蛋白平均含量分别为16.42%、16.80%和19.87%,与对照组相比有明显提高,统计分析都达到极显著的差异(P < 0.01);在氨基酸含量测定中,有些材料的总氨基酸(除色氨酸以外)含量高达17.20%、16.86%和16.09%,其中赖氨酸的含量分别为0.60%、0.60%和0.57%,与对照组相比也有明显提高,统计分析差异也都达到极显著水平(P < 0.01)。本试验结果充分说明,利用大豆总DNA的导入方法有可能达到迅速有效地提高稻米蛋白质及赖氨酸含量的目的。     

荞麦与大豆叶片中草酸含量差异及其可能的原因

用1/5浓度Hoagland营养液培养荞麦和大豆幼苗l0 d后,荞麦叶片、根及其分泌物中的草酸含量均明显高于大豆,说明荞麦叶片的草酸形成能力强.荞麦叶片中存在少量的草酸氧化酶活性,而大豆中未检测到该酶活性,表明荞麦具有一定的降解草酸的能力.乙醇酸氧化酶(GO)催化乙醇酸氧化的活性两种植物之间虽差异不明显,但该酶催化乙醛酸氧化的活性荞麦显著高于大豆.荞麦GO对乙醛酸的Km值明显低于大豆GO,同时其乙醛酸含量也较高,因此其叶片中由乙醛酸形成草酸的速率应高于大豆.由此认为,由乙醛酸氧化生成草酸可能是植物草酸合成限速步骤之一,其反应速率高低可能导致不同种类植物叶片中草酸含量的差异.