Tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole,diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) or co-administration of albendazole with DEC in the clearance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wuchereria bancrofti</Emphasis>in asymptomatic microfilaraemic volunteers in Pondicherry,South India: a hospital-based study

Background  

The tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole (400 mg), diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) (6 mg/kg bodyweight) or co-administration of albendazole (400 mg) + DEC (6 mg/kg bodyweight) was studied in 54 asymptomatic Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemic volunteers in a double blind hospital-based clinical study.     

Spatial and temporal expression of histone demethylase,Kdm2a,during murine molar development

The histone demethylase, lysine (K)-specific demethylase 2A (Kdm2a), is highly conserved and expressed ubiquitously. Kdm2a can regulate cell proliferation and osteo/dentinogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental tissue. We used quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry to detect Kdm2a expression during development of the murine molar at embryonic days E12, E14, E16 and E17 and postnatal days P3 and P14. Immunohistochemistry results showed no positive staining of Kdm2a at E12. At E14, Kdm2a was expressed weakly in the inner enamel epithelium, stellate reticulum cells and dental sac. At E16, Kdm2a was expressed mainly in the inner and outer enamel epithelium, stratum intermedium and dental sac, but weaker staining was found in cervical loop and dental papilla cells adjacent to the basement membrane. At E17, the strongest Kdm2a staining was detected in the ameloblasts and stronger Kdm2a staining also was detected in the stratum intermedium, outer enamel epithelium and dental papilla cells compared to the expression at E16. Postnatally, we found that Kdm2a was localized in secretory and mature ameloblasts and odontoblasts, and dentin was unstained. Real-time RT-PCR showed that Kdm2a mRNA levels in murine germ cells increased from E12 to E14 and from E14 to E16; no significant change occurred at E16, E17 or P3, then the levels decreased at P14 compared to P3. Kdm2a expression may be closely related to cell proliferation, to ameloblast and odontoblast differentiation and to the secretion of extracellular enamel and dentin during murine tooth development.     

Unique tetrads of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epilobium luteum</Emphasis> (Onagraceae: Onagreae) pollen from Alaska

Aperture morphology of tetrad pollen of Epilobium luteum (Onagraceae: Epilobieae) from three Alaskan collections is highly variable. The first collection appears to lack apertures altogether and is presumed to consist of immature pollen gains in a genus known to achieve mature size before the apertures become distinctly protruding. A second collection has tetrads with 3- and 4-apertured grains, the apertures in the latter are often irregularly spaced and not in apposition with the apertures of neighboring members. The third collection consists of the more typical 3-apertured members that characterize the majority of Epilobium pollen grains. In all of these collections individual pollen grains (monads) are interspersed among the tetrads. The variations in the number of apertures emphasize the importance of having a comprehensive understanding of the stage of development of the pollen (taxon) examined when describing pollen collections. In the first collection this would mean the recognition that in Onagraceae apertures occur in the later stages of microspore ontogeny. In the latter two collections a thorough background of the literature of the pollen morphology on this largest Onagraceae taxon is useful for the understanding of the significance of a range of aperture numbers on Epilobium pollen grains.     

Mutagenesis of the fusion peptide-like domain of hepatitis C virus E1 glycoprotein: involvement in cell fusion and virus entry

Background  

Envelope (E) glycoprotein E2 of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) mediates binding of the virus to target cell receptors. Nevertheless, the precise role of E1 in viral entry remains elusive.     

TRACKING POLLEN FLOW OF SOLANUM ROSTRATUM (SOLANACEAE) USING BACKSCATTER SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND X-RAY MICROANALYSIS

A technique using micronized metal powders was developed for both general labeling of pollen and marking of individual pollen grains. After labeling, pollen flow is analyzed by the use of backscatter scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. To test the efficiency and efficacy of the technique, we assessed differences in pollen distribution in Solanum rostratum, an enantiostylous species with dimorphic anthers which are putatively feeding and pollinating anthers. Pollen from each set of anthers was labeled using different micronized metal powders. We could not confirm the differentiation of functional anthers in S. rostratum. This technique provides an efficient and convenient method for tracking pollen movement within and between flowers, and anthers within a single blossom can be differentially marked.     

Recycling cell surface glycoproteins undergo limited oligosaccharide reprocessing in LEC1 mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells

The ability of particular cell surface glycoproteins to recycle and become exposed to individual Golgi enzymes has been demonstrated. This study was designed to determine whether endocytic trafficking includes significant reentry into the overall oligosaccharide processing pathway. The Lec1 mutant of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells lack N - acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GlcNAc-TI) activity resulting in surface expression of incompletely processed Man5GlcNAc2 N -linked oligosaccharides. An oligosaccharide tracer was created by exoglycosylation of cell surface glycoproteins with purified porcine GlcNAc-TI and UDP-[3H]GlcNAc. Upon reculturing, all cell surface glycoproteins that acquired [3H]GlcNAc were acted upon by intracellular mannosidase II, the next enzyme in the Golgi processing pathway of complex N -linked oligosaccharides (t1/2= 3-4 h). That all radiolabeled cell surface glycoproteins were included in this endocytic pathway indicates a common intracellular compartment into which endocytosed cell surface glycoproteins return. Significantly, no evidence was found for continued oligosaccharide processing consistent with transit through the latter cisternae of the Golgi apparatus. These data indicate that, although recycling plasma membrane glycoproteins can be reexposed to individual Golgi-derived enzymes, significant reentry into the overall contiguous processing pathway is not evident.