Characterization of a 56-kb plasmid of Erwinia amylovora Ea322: its noninvolvement in pathogenicity

A plasmid from Erwinia amylovora strain Ea322, pCPP60, was studied for its involvement in the phytopathogenicity of this strain. Eviction through incompatibility and curing with acridine orange did not affect the pathogenic capability of Ea322. The plasmid was characterized as self-transmissible with a narrow host range. Hybridization of its origin of replication with plasmids of different incompatibility groups revealed affiliation with IncF. The exact subgroup was not determined, although it does not belong to IncFI, IncFII, IncFIV, or IncFV. A sequence of 800 bp, required for conjugation in cis, was cloned in pUC9. A "miniplasmid" containing the origin of replication in a 1.2-kb sequence was constructed. Its high copy number was in contrast with the stringently controlled copy number of the native plasmid of one to three copies per chromosome equivalent.     

Variability of entrainment of cohesive sediments in freshwater

Estimates of sediment entrainment are required for models of particle transport in lakes and estuaries but are difficult to make because of the multiplicity of factors affecting cohesiveness of surficial sediments. We present results of sediment resuspension studies performed in an annular flume calibrated with laser-Doppler velocimetry. In our experiments, using sediments collected from two sites in the R. Raisin which flows into L. Erie and from one site in the western basin of L. Erie near the mouth of the R. Raisin, we applied shear stresses at the sediment-water interface in steps from 2 to 12 dyne/cm². Percent water content at the surface of the sediments was either 77 or 74%, and trials were run with and without oxygenating the water overlying the sediments. Entrainment rates as a function of shear stress at the sediment-water interface were best described by a power-law relationship. All but 14% of the variability in the power law expression was due to shear stress and percent water content; the variability not accounted for was due to differences in particle size distributions, chemical properties, and biological activity in the sediments.     

Adherence Patterns and DNA Probe Types of Escherichia coli Isolated from Diarrheal Patients in China

One hundred and seventy-two strains of Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheal patients in Beijing, P. R. China, were analyzed for plasmid DNA profile, HEp-2 cell adherence ability and reactivity to 10 previously described DNA probes. They had not been recognized as pathogenic E. coli in China. Of the 110 strains tested, 76 (69%) contained one or multiple large plasmids. Of the 71 strains with the large plasmids 64 could adhere to HEp-2 cells. Of the 172 strains, 102 (59.3%) were hybridized with at least one of the 10 probes. Of those, seven strains hybridized with enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) probe. Their serotypes were O128 (two strains), O6 (one strain), and O111 (one strain). Three strains were untypable. Six and three strains were hybridized with enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) attaching and effacing genes (eae) or EPEC adherence factor (EAF) probe, respectively. Two non-O157: H7 strains hybridized with enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) probe. Seventy-two strains (41.9%) hybridized with shiga-like toxin 2 or 1 (SLT2 or SLT1) probes. Among the SLT1 or SLT2 probe-positive strains, 54 hybridized with invasive (INV) plasmid probe developed for identification of enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and Shigella species. The INV and SLT probe-positive strains might represent a new variety of verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC).     

腐殖酸对小麦抗旱性的生理效应

在干旱气候条件下,喷施腐殖酸钠（ＨＡ）、黄腐酸钠（ＦＡ）可降低土壤水分损耗,提高小麦叶片持水能力,叶片细胞超氧物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）、过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）活性明显提高,丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）含量和电解质渗出率明显降低,可减缓叶绿素降解,增强光合速率和光合产物积累,延缓植株衰老,小麦抗旱性增强,千粒重增加．     

Epipolarization Microscopic Immunogold Assay: a Combination of Immunogold Silver Staining, Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent Assay and Epipolarization Microscopy

We describe a new immunoassay which combines an immunosorbent assay, Immunogold silver staining and epipolarization microscopy. Our new assay procedure features multiple samples on a single microscope slide, and high sensitivity of epipolarization microscope for detection of silver-enhanced colloidal gold as a final immunoassay product. We call the new immunoassay “on slide immunogold assay” (OSIGA). This new method uses biotinylated antibody and streptavidin-gold reaction with silver enhancement technique. With OSIGA it is possible to investigate 30 samples on a single microscopic slide. Our preliminary studies used 10-20 μ1 samples and detected nanogram quantities of a standardized protein solution. Unlike enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which has a limited time for reading the final color products, the OSIGA specimens can be dried or resin mounted for longer storage and future reference.     

自由基与软骨基质胶原蛋白类型改变

本文利用ＳＤＳ－聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳方法,定量研究了体外培养的软骨细胞和软骨组织基质中Ⅱ型胶原蛋白的含量。结果表明氧自由基（·Ｏ－２和·ＯＨ）和具有自由基性质的物质（黄腐酸,镰刀菌毒素）可使软骨细胞合成,分泌异常的非Ⅱ型的胶原蛋白,同时,硒化合物可明显地抑制此种效应。