Asymmetric labeling of amino lipids in liposomes.

Fluorescamine and trinitrobenzenesulfonate were used as chemical probes to differentially label amino phospholipids in liposomes. At low concentrations, fluorescamine reacts primarily with amino lipids on the external half of the bilayer. Further increase in fluorescamine concentration resulted in a linear increase of labeling indicating penetration and reaction with the internal half of the bilayer. Because of the pH requirements of the fluorescamine reaction, internal labeling was eliminated with a H+ gradient: inside acidic/outside alkaline. Differential labeling was also achieved with trinitrobenzenesulfonate, which is normally not permeable but which can be transported by valinomycin-K+ complex and react with internal amines. Thus, either half of the bilayer can be labeled with the same or different reagents. When liposomes were double-labeled, the fluorescence of fluorescamine was quenched by the trinitrobenzenesulfonate label. This quenching was reversed by solubilizing the liposomes with acidic ethanol. No quenching occurred when fluorescamine-labeled liposomes were mixed with trinitrobenzenesulfonate-reacted liposomes (or trinitrophenylated methylamine) suggesting close proximity of two labels is required for quenching. Conditions which promoted vesicular fusion promptly produced quenching. These differential labeling procedures can be usefully applied to quantitate aminolipids on internal and external vesicular surface, monitor vesicular fusion, and assess liposomal structure.     

Surface structures and sense organs of the cypris larva of Balanus balanoides as seen by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Various features of the settlement stage larva (cyprid) of the barnacle, Balanus balanoides (L.), were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The cuticle of the valves is pitted and in section has a characteristic ultrastructure. Small sensory setae protrode from the surface of this cuticle and are probably mechanoreceptors able to sense water movement around the larva. Each of the pair of caudla appendages which protrude from between the larval valves posteriorly, is made up of several sensory setae. These appendages are able to sense settlement surface topography. Certain other features of the larva are alos described and their roles discussed; such features include the frontal filaments, antennules and thoracic limbs.     

Impact of vaginal microbiome communities on HIV antiretroviral-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug metabolism

Despite the efficacy of antiretroviral-based pre-exposure prophylactics (PrEP) in men who have sex with men, studies in women have produced widely varying outcomes. Recent evidence demonstrates that vaginal microbial communities are associated with increased HIV acquisition risk and may impact PrEP efficacy. Here, we investigate the mechanisms underlying how vaginal bacteria alter PrEP drug levels and impact HIV infection rates ex vivo. Using cervicovaginal lavages (CVLs) from women with or without bacterial vaginosis (BV), we identified microbial metabolism of PrEP drugs in BV samples through LC-MS/MS analysis of soluble drug levels and metabolite formation in dual T-cell cultures. CVL samples were assessed for microbiome analysis using sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. We also observed non-Lactobacillus bacteria that are associated with BV may potentially impact PrEP efficacy through increased HIV infection rates in co-cultures containing Lactobacillus or BV bacteria, PrEP drugs, CEM-GFP cells, and HIV-1_LAI virus. Finally, we used these data to develop a novel predictive mathematical simulation modeling system to predict these drug interactions for future trials. These studies demonstrate how dysbiotic vaginal microbiota may impact PrEP drugs and provides evidence linking vaginal bacteria to PrEP efficacy in women.     

Regulatory factors produced by lymphocytes. I. The occurrence of multiple alpha-lymphotoxins associated with ribonuclease activity.

Supernatant fluids of mitogen-activated human tonsil lymphocytes contain large amounts of a factor toxic to mouse L cells. This substance, with a m.w. of 80,000 +/- 5,000 daltons, is called alpha-lymphotoxin (alpha-LT), to differentiate it from another toxin elaborated by mitogen activated human blood lymphocytes, called beta-lymphotoxin (beta-LT), which differs from alpha-LT in size (45,000 +/- 5,000 daltons), antigenicity, and stability. Further purification of alpha-LT by sequential phosphocellulose and DEAE-cellulose chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) identifies a series of cytotoxins differing in ion exchange characteristics and electrophoretic mobilities. The three PAGE fractions (PAGE Ia, Ib and II), recovered in 2, 4.6, and 21% yield from the starting serum-free culture supernatant, represent purifications of 24-, 24- and 1851-fold, respectively. Each cytotoxic fraction has a ribonuclease activity. Comparison of RNase and mouse L cell cytotoxic activities of the three alpha-LT fractions shows that both activities for all three fractions have a similar temperature stability pattern and that both are similarly inhibited by DNA, single strand forms better than double strands, by glycerol in 5 to 20% concentration, and by protein denaturing reagents. These observations suggest, but do not prove, that mouse L cell toxicity and RNase activity are mediated by the same substance, which appears to occur in multiple or isozymic forms.     

DESCRIPTIONS OF LAST INSTAR LARVAE OF THREE ENNOMINAE (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) SPECIES FROM KOREA

Abstract Morphological features of mature larvae of Petelia rivulosa (Butler), Exangerona prattiaria (Leech) and Culcula panterinaria (Bremer & Grey) of Ennominae are described and illustrated. All specimens examined are deposited in the Insect Collection of Department of Forest Resources Protection, Kangwon National University, Korea.     

Copper resistance determinants in bacteria.

Copper is an essential trace element that is utilized in a number of oxygenases and electron transport proteins, but it is also a highly toxic heavy metal, against which all organisms must protect themselves. Known bacterial determinants of copper resistance are plasmid-encoded. The mechanisms which confer resistance must be integrated with the normal metabolism of copper. Different bacteria have adopted diverse strategies for copper resistance, and this review outlines what is known about bacterial copper resistance mechanisms and their genetic regulation.     

Fertility after bilateral cryptorchidism. Evaluation by paternity, hormone, and semen data.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of the fertility of a cohort of formerly bilaterally cryptorchid men in comparison with a group of formerly unilaterally cryptorchid men, and a group of control men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a detailed questionnaire concerning paternity and factors related to paternity, a cohort of formerly bilateral cryptorchid men were studied and compared with men who had undergone orchiopexy for unilateral cryptorchidism, and a group of control men. All study subjects had had surgery at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., between 1955 and 1975. A subset of the full cohort underwent clinical evaluation that included a physical examination, serum hormonal determination and semen analyses. RESULTS: Paternity rates are significantly lower among the formerly bilaterally cryptorchid men who have attempted to father a child (65.3%) as compared to the formerly unilaterally cryptorchid (89.7%; p < 0.001) and control men (93.2%; p < 0.001). Differences in the ability to father children are also apparent when semen and hormone levels are compared between the three groups. The bilateral group has significantly lower sperm density and inhibin B levels, and higher FSH and LH levels, than the unilateral and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Men born with bilateral cryptorchidism have severely compromised fertility in adulthood. This reduction in fertility is clearly shown in comparisons of both paternity rates, and in semen and hormone analyses, between the formerly bilateral, formerly unilateral, and control groups.