Vascular smooth muscle mitochondria: Magnesium content and transport

Endogenous magnesium content and magnesium transport of isolated bovine vascular smooth muscle mitochondria were studied. Mitochondria isolated from atherosclerotic bovine arteries contained two to three times as much magnesium (178 nmol/mg of mitochondrial protein) as those isolated from normal arteries (67 nmol/mg of mitochondrial protein). Electron-opaque granules were visible in the unstained unfixed mitochondria and could be shown with electron probe analysis to consist of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. At concentrations of external Mg²⁺ from 0 to 6 mm, the vascular smooth muscle mitochondria exhibited respiratory substrate-supported release of Mg²⁺ as studied with metallochromic indicator, eriochrome blue, using dual-wavelength spectrophotometry. The maximal velocity of energized release (3 nmol of Mg²⁺/s/mg of mitochondrial protein) was observed at 4 mm external Mg²⁺ and the half-maximal transport occurred at 0.5 mm.     

The amino acid sequence of chick skin collagen α1-CB7: The presence of a previously unrecognized triplet

Because alignment of the amino acid sequences of chick skin collagen α2-CB3 (1) with the relevant portion of chick skin collagen α1-CB7 (2) suggested that a Gly-X-Y triplet may have been missed in the latter, the peptide TM-2, produced by tryptic digestion of maleylated α1-CB7, was reinvestigated. Cleavage by trypsin at the unblocked lysine at position 18, and isolation of the resulting COOH-terminal peptide, showed this to be a 15-residue peptide containing a previously unrecognized Gly-Pro-Hyp triplet. Sequencing of the peptide showed this to occupy positions 4 through 6, or 56 through 58 of α1-CB7. The latter thus has 271 instead of 268 residues, and the α1[I] chain 1055 instead of 1052.     

Isolation and properties of a ferredoxin from Anabaena Flos-Aquae

Ferredoxin was isolated from the blue-green alga Anabaena flos-aquae. Its homogeneity was shown by conventional and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel columns, the latter indicating a pI at ca pH 3·7. The absorption spectrum had, in the oxidized state, maxima at 462, 421, 327 and 276 nm, with a shoulder at 284 nm, a spectrum characteristic of plant-type ferredoxins. The 421 : 276 nm absorbance ratio was typically 0.49. The ferredoxin effectively mediated the photoreduction of NADP⁺ by barley chloroplasts depleted of native ferredoxin. The MW obtained by sedimentation-equilibrium and sedimentation velocity-diffusion coefficient studies was ca 12 000 daltons, a value somewhat higher than suggested by amino acid composition data. The ferredoxin contained 2Fe and 2S per molecule.     

A cutin acid in Pinus sylvestris microspores

Nonacosan-10-ol (0.7%) and the cutin acid, 9,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid (0.3%) are present in Pinus sylvestris microspores. The pollen coat hence has some features in common with leaf cuticles.     

Reconstitution of pig lymphocyte plasma membranes from solubilized components, with particular reference to membrane-associated immunoglobulins

Plasma membranes of lymphocytes obtained from pig mesenteric lymph nodes were reconstituted after solubilization with bile salts. The proportion by weight of immunoglobulin in the reconstituted membrane was no greater than about 5-10% of that in the original membrane. Possible reasons for the low reincorporation of immunoglobulin are discussed.     

Making genomic surveillance deliver: A lineage classification and nomenclature system to inform rabies elimination

The availability of pathogen sequence data and use of genomic surveillance is rapidly increasing. Genomic tools and classification systems need updating to reflect this. Here, rabies virus is used as an example to showcase the potential value of updated genomic tools to enhance surveillance to better understand epidemiological dynamics and improve disease control. Previous studies have described the evolutionary history of rabies virus, however the resulting taxonomy lacks the definition necessary to identify incursions, lineage turnover and transmission routes at high resolution. Here we propose a lineage classification system based on the dynamic nomenclature used for SARS-CoV-2, defining a lineage by phylogenetic methods for tracking virus spread and comparing sequences across geographic areas. We demonstrate this system through application to the globally distributed Cosmopolitan clade of rabies virus, defining 96 total lineages within the clade, beyond the 22 previously reported. We further show how integration of this tool with a new rabies virus sequence data resource (RABV-GLUE) enables rapid application, for example, highlighting lineage dynamics relevant to control and elimination programmes, such as identifying importations and their sources, as well as areas of persistence and routes of virus movement, including transboundary incursions. This system and the tools developed should be useful for coordinating and targeting control programmes and monitoring progress as countries work towards eliminating dog-mediated rabies, as well as having potential for broader application to the surveillance of other viruses.     

A scoping review of burden of disease studies estimating disability-adjusted life years due to Taenia solium

BackgroundTaenia solium is the most significant global foodborne parasite and the leading cause of preventable human epilepsy in low and middle-income countries in the form of neurocysticercosis.ObjectivesThis scoping review aimed to examine the methodology of peer-reviewed studies that estimate the burden of T. solium using disability-adjusted life years.Eligibility criteriaStudies must have calculated disability-adjusted life years relating to T. solium.Charting methodsThe review process was managed by a single reviewer using Rayyan. Published data relating to disease models, data sources, disability-adjusted life years, sensitivity, uncertainty, missing data, and key limitations were collected.Results15 studies were included for review, with seven global and eight national or sub-national estimates. Studies primarily employed attributional disease models that relied on measuring the occurrence of epilepsy before applying an attributable fraction to estimate the occurrence of neurocysticercosis-associated epilepsy. This method relies heavily on the extrapolation of observational studies across populations and time periods; however, it is currently required due to the difficulties in diagnosing neurocysticercosis. Studies discussed that a lack of data was a key limitation and their results likely underestimate the true burden of T. solium. Methods to calculate disability-adjusted life years varied across studies with differences in approaches to time discounting, age weighting, years of life lost, and years of life lived with disability. Such differences limit the ability to compare estimates between studies.ConclusionsThis review illustrates the complexities associated with T. solium burden of disease studies and highlights the potential need for a burden of disease reporting framework. The burden of T. solium is likely underestimated due to the challenges in diagnosing neurocysticercosis and a lack of available data. Advancement in diagnostics, further observational studies, and new approaches to parameterising disease models are required if estimates are to improve.