Heliothrix oregonensis,gen. nov., sp. nov., a phototrophic filamentous gliding bacterium containing bacteriochlorophyll a

An unusual filamentous, gliding bacterium was found in a few hot springs in Oregon where it formed a nearly unispecific top layer of microbial mats. It contained a bacteriochlorophyll a-like pigment and an abundance of carotenoids. There were no chlorosomes or additional chlorophylls. The organism was aerotolerant and appeared to be photoheterotrophic. It was successfully co-cultured with an aerobic chemoheterotroph in a medium containing glucose and casamino acids. Although it has many characteristics in common with the genus Chloroflexus, the lack of chlorosomes and bacteriochlorophyll c and the aerobic nature of this organism indicate that it should be placed in a new genus. This conclusion is supported by 5S rRNA nucleotide sequence data.     

Immunotoxicotherapy: protective effect of anti-colchicine antibodies in acute colchicine poisoning in rabbits and mice

Anti-colchicine antibodies are able to neutralize toxic effects of colchicine after acute intoxication in rabbits and mice. The protecting effect is demonstrated by active immunization (rabbits) or passive immunization (mice). These data suggest that the immunotoxicotherapy may be useful for compounds (colchicine) with intracellular action.     

Evaluation of three portable samplers for monitoring airborne fungi

Airborne fungi were monitored at five sample sites with the Burkard portable, the RCS Plus, and the SAS Super 90 air samplers; the Andersen 2-stage impactor was used for comparison. All samplers were calibrated before being used simultaneously to collect 100-liter samples at each site. The Andersen and Burkard samplers retrieved equivalent volumes of airborne fungi; the SAS Super 90 and RCS Plus measurements did not differ from each other but were significantly lower than those obtained with the Andersen or Burkard samplers. Total fungal counts correlated linearly with Cladosporium and Penicillium counts. Alternaria species, although present at all sites, did not correlate with total count or with amounts of any other fungal genera. Sampler and location significantly influenced fungal counts, but no interactions between samplers and locations were found.     

Effect of sample transport systems on survival of bacteria in ground beef.

The effects of two transport systems and cryoprotective agents on the survival of bacteria in ground beef samples were evaluated. Survival of Clostridium perfringens in ground beef samples after simulated transport (72 h) was higher (about 99%) in Dry Ice than in Trans Temp shipping units (-3 degrees C). There were no significant differences between the two transport systems in survival of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or aerobic bacteria. Mixing ground beef samples at a ratio of 1:1 (wt/vol) with 10, 20, or 30% buffered solutions of dimethyl sulfoxide or glycerol before freezing improved the survival of C. perfringens and coliforms in both transport systems. Recovery of E. coli was significantly higher with the addition of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide before Dry Ice transport. Addition of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide resulted in a 100% recovery of both S. aureus and aerobic bacteria from ground beef after simulated transport in Trans Temp shipping units. The use of cryoprotective agents can improve the survival of bacteria during transport of ground beef samples.     

Recognition of human minor alloantigen(s) by cytotoxic lymphocytes in vitro

Lymphocytes from an extensively transfused patient with aplastic anemia were induced to cytotoxicity against target cells from several HLA-matched siblings by in vitro stimulation with allogeneic cells. Effective stimulating cells shared HLA-B7 with the patient, but not all B7 individuals were effective. An additional factor, which was found to segregate in both the patient's and an unrelated sibship, was also necessary. Segregation of this minor alloantigen, W, was also revealed among the patient's HLA-matched sibs by differential susceptibility to lysis by effectors from the patient. The ratio of six positive to four negative siblings suggests that the antigen difference might be coded by a single locus. Lymphocytes from a normal sib, who like the patient is lacking the minor antigen, could not be induced to cytotoxicity against positive targets. Thus in vivo sensitization of the donor of the responding cells appears to be necessary for the demonstration of the cytotoxic response to the minor antigen in vitro. No correlation was observed between the segregation pattern of W and of known blood group antigens, and no cytotoxic antibody to W was detected in the patient's serum in several trials.Abbreviations used in this paper MHC major histocompatibility complex - Tc thymus dependent cells capable of mediating cytotoxicity in the absence of Immoral antibody - GVHD graft versus host disease - CML cell mediated lympholysis - MLC unidirectional mixed lymphocyte culture - ADCC antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity     

Translocation 46,XY,t(2;5) (q37;q14) and mental retardation. Clinical and cytogenetic study]

A boy, suffering from severe mental and motor retardation, was found to be the carrier of an apparently balanced chromosomal rearrangement studied by autoradiography and fluorescence.