Anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies do not add much to the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome

The presence of anti-alpha-fodrin autoantibodies has been reported to be a highly specific and sensitive test for the diagnosis of Sj?gren's syndrome (SjS). We looked (in Nijmegen) for anti-alpha-fodrin, anti-Ro60, and anti-La autoantibodies in a cohort of 51 patients with rheumatic diseases (primary SjS [21], secondary SjS 6, rheumatoid arthritis [RA] 12, systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] 6, and scleroderma 6) and in 28 healthy subjects, using ELISA, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation. The same samples were analyzed with an alternative anti-alpha-fodrin ELISA in Hanover. The Nijmegen ELISA of the sera from primary SjS showed sensitivities of 43% and 48% for IgA- and IgG-type anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies, respectively. The Hanover ELISA showed sensitivities of 38% and 10% for IgA- and IgG-type anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies, respectively. The ELISAs for alpha-fodrin showed six (Nijmegen) and four (Hanover) anti-alpha-fodrin-positive RA sera. IgA and IgG anti-fodrin antibodies were also present in four patients with secondary SjS. The sensitivities of Ro60 and La-antibodies in the Nijmegen ELISA were 67% and 62%, respectively. Unlike anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies, all anti-Ro60 and anti-La positive sera could be confirmed by immunoblotting or RNA immunoprecipitation. Thus, anti-Ro and anti-La autoantibodies were more sensitive than anti-alpha-fodrin autoantibodies in ELISA and were more frequently confirmed by other techniques. Anti-La antibodies appear to be more disease-specific than anti-alpha-fodrin antibodies, which are also found in RA sera. Therefore, the measurement of anti-alpha-fodrin autoantibodies does not add much to the diagnosis of Sj?gren's syndrome.     

Melon rugose mosaic virus, the cause of a disease of watermelon and sweet melon

A mechanically transmissible virus with isometric particles c. 32 nm in diameter, was isolated from infected watermelons and sweet melons in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. Purified virus preparations contained two major sedimenting components with sedimentation coefficients of 61S and 117S. In isopycn ic centrifugation in CsCl the particles formed a single band of buoyant density 1.39 g cm^-3. Preparations of virus particles comprised of a single polypeptide of mol. wt c. 22 000 and ssRNA of mol. wt 2.1 × 10⁶. The virus was serologically related to three of six subgroups of tymoviruses tested. The name melon rugose mosaic virus is proposed for this newly described virus.     

Electrophoretic Karyotype and Linkage Groups of the Amoeboflagellate Naegleria gruberi

ABSTRACT. We have constructed a molecular karyotype for two strains of Naegleria gruberi using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Each strain has about 23 chromosomes, considerably more than any previous estimate. These chromosomes range in size from 400 kilobasepairs to over 2,000 kilobasepairs. In Naegleria , construction of the DNA karyotype depends on assessment of the anomalous electrophoretic mobility of the circular ribosomal RNA genes. We have determined the chromosomal locations of an identified unique gene (flagellar calmodulin) and four identified multigene families (α- and β-tubulin, actin, ubiquitin), as well as three differentially expressed genes of unknown functions. The ca. 12 actin genes are dispersed over at least seven chromosomes, whereas the majority of the more than eight α-tubulin genes are confined to a single chromosome. The ubiquitin genes are found on five chromosomes in one strain and seven in the other and the β-tubulin genes are on three or four. Our observations provide a foundation for molecular genetic studies in this organism.     

The phylogeography of European Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) based on RFLP analysis of the NDl/16sRNA region of the mtDNA

The diversity and distribution of mtDNA haplotypes in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from 13 river systems across the species' European range was investigated. Salmon were screened by agarose electrophoresis for variation in a 1400 base pair fragment spanning the ND-1 and 16SrRNA genes. The fragment was amplified by PCR and digested using the restriction endonucleases Avail, Dral, Haelll, Hinfl and Rsal. Nine haplotypes were identified and resolved by parsimony analysis into two major clades. Clade I was ubiquitous and predominated in all samples while Clade II was restricted to eight out of 94 individuals in two of the 13 rivers. The first clade shows two sublineages whose frequency distribution is strongly associated with geography. One sublineage dominated in river systems draining into the Baltic sea and in Iceland, and the other in the river systems elsewhere in Europe. No geographical patterns were apparent within these regions but haplotype frequencies among samples, both within and outside the Baltic region, were significantly heterogeneous. Approximately 8% of haplotype frequency variation occurred among samples, 44% between Baltic and non-Baltic samples and 48% within samples. Baltic samples had a significantly lower haplotype and nucleotide diversity than non-Baltic samples. Current and historical factors potentially responsible for the observed levels and distribution of the haplotype variation are discussed.     

文蛤的生物沉积和呼吸排泄过程及其在双台子河口水层-底栖系统中的耦合作用

为揭示河口埋栖性双壳贝类优势种类在水层——底栖系统中的生态耦合作用,利用生物沉积物捕集器和封闭式代谢瓶,于双台子河口现场研究了文蛤主要生理生态过程如生物沉积速率、耗氧率、排氨率和排磷率的季节变化。结果表明,文蛤的生物沉积速率、耗氧率、排氨率及排磷率均具有明显的季节变化:夏季最高,冬季最低。二龄及三龄文蛤个体的生物沉积速率周年变化分别为0.02—0.30 g-1个-1d-1、0.06—0.60 g-1个-1d-1;耗氧率变化分别为0.45—16.64 mg-1个-1d-1、1.03—30.51 mg-1个-1d-1;排氨率季节变化分别为0.001—0.14 mg-1个-1d-1、0.002—0.28 mg-1个-1d-1;排磷率季节变化分别为0.002—0.069 mg-1个-1d-1、0.003—0.16 mg-1个-1d-1。文蛤的生物沉积速率及呼吸排泄速率均受龄期制约:在同一季节,文蛤的单位个体生物沉积速率及呼吸和排泄速率均表现为二龄三龄。方差分析显示,季节、龄期及两者交互作用对文蛤生物沉积速率、耗氧率、排氨率及排磷率均有显著影响。基于不同季节双台子河口文蛤生物量(0.67个/m2、2.4 g/m2),估算出文蛤种群每年向该河口排放大约5321.90 t生物沉积物(干重)、1.43 t NH+4-N和0.93 t PO3-4-P,并且消耗大约221.59 t O2。研究结果表明,文蛤通过生物沉积及呼吸排泄作用,大大加强了双台子河口沉积物-水界面的物质交换通量,在双台子河口水层-底栖系统耦合作用中扮演着重要生态角色。     

Detection of two loci involved in (1-->3)-beta-glucan (curdlan) biosynthesis by Agrobacterium sp. ATCC31749, and comparative sequence analysis of the putative curdlan synthase gene

Genes essential for the production of a linear, bacterial (1-->3)-beta- glucan, curdlan, have been cloned for the first time from Agrobacterium sp. ATCC31749. The genes occurred in two, nonoverlapping, genomic fragments that complemented different sets of curdlan( crd )-deficient transposon-insertion mutations. These were detected as colonies that failed to stain with aniline blue, a (1-->3)-beta-glucan specific dye. One fragment carried a biosynthetic gene cluster (locus I) containing the putative curdlan synthase gene, crdS, and at least two other crd genes. The second fragment may contain only a single crd gene (locus II). Determination of the DNA sequence adjacent to several locus I mutations revealed homology to known sequences only in the cases of crdS mutations. Complete sequencing of the 1623 bp crdS gene revealed highest similarities between the predicted CrdS protein (540 amino acids) and glycosyl transferases with repetitive action patterns. These include bacterial cellulose synthases (and their homologs), which form (1-->4)-beta-glucans. No similarity was detected with putative (1-->3)- beta-glucan synthases from yeasts and filamentous fungi. Whatever the determinants of the linkage specificity of these beta-glucan synthases might be, these results raise the possibility that (1-->3)-beta-glucans and (1-->4)-beta-glucans are formed by related catalytic polypeptides.      

Comparative clinical data for gingivitis treatment using gels from Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) and chlorhexidine (CHX)

Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) has various properties like anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, anti oxidant for curing diseases. It is a plant with known medicinal value in Indian system of medicine. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the effectiveness of Ocimum sanctum with Chlorhexidine (CHX) which is a standard material for the treatment of gingivitis. We used 30 gingivitis subjects divided into 2 groups. Group I used Tulsi gel (n= 15) and Group II used CHX gel (n = 15) for treatment. Tulsi and CHX gel use was advised for 1 month. The Clinical parameters assessed were gingival Index (GI), plaque Index (PI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) assessed at a time interval of 30 days. Statistical analysis was completed using the SPSS software 23.0. Data showed that GI and PD for Tulsi and CHX in pre and post groups are not significant with p > 0.05. Moreover, PI is not significant with p>0.05 among pre Tulsi, pre CHX and post CHX. However, data is significant with p<0.05 for Tulsi group. CAL is significant with p<0.05 among pre/post Tulsi groups. However, this is not significant with p>0.05 among pre/post CHX groups. Data shows that 2% of Tulsi is effective in reducing gingival bleeding and inflammation. Thus, clinical data shows that Tulsi gel is promising for the treatment of gingivitis.