Anhydrobiosis in Nematodes II: Carbohydrate and Lipid Analysis in Undesiccated and Desiccate Nematodes

Glycogen, trehalose, glucose, and total lipid contents of six nematode species were studied. Anhydrobiotic Anguina tritici and Ditylencbus dipsaci stored trehalose in preference to glycogen and only small amounts of glucose were detected. Glycogen content was also reduced in anhydrobiotic Aphelenchus avenae. Conversely, Panagrellus redivivus and Turbatrix aceti contained large amounts of glycogen, appreciable amounts of glucose, and minimal amounts of trehalose. Ditylenchus myceliophagous "curds" contained low amounts of glycogen and very little trehalose; total lipid was 60% of that in fresh samples. The lipid contents of fresh samples of P. redivivus, T. aceti, and A. avenae were high (23.1, 21.9, and 36.7% dry weight, respectively), but in anhydrobiotic A. avenae larvae the level was reduced by over 60%. In contrast, lipid levels remained high in anhydrobiotic A. tritici and D. dipsaci larvae (40.6 and 38.3%, respectively). Analysis of lipid composition in anhydrobiotic A. tritici and A. avenae did not indicate any specific metabolic adaptations to desiccation survival.     

The Role of Chloride in Acetylcholine Metabolism

Abstract: The chloride dependence of acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis and release and of choline uptake was studied in synaptosomal preparations from rat brain. The substitution of propionate for chloride, in the presence of 35 m m -potassium, lowered the ACh content of the synaptosomes. However, in the presence of 5 m m -potassium, the ACh level in synaptosomes was reduced, but significantly less so. Propionate had no effect on choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6) activity when measured in a standard chloride-containing medium. In the presence of propionate, the spontaneous release of ACh was unchanged, but potassium-stimulated release of ACh was markedly reduced as compared with a chloride-containing medium. The synthesis of ACh, as measured by the net increase in the amount of ACh in the synaptosomes and that released to the medium, was reduced with propionate at 5 m m -potassium and was totally inhibited when the potassium concentration was increased to 35 m m . Choline uptake studies revealed that with propionate only a low-affinity component of the choline transport system existed. Further, the V _max was markedly reduced when the potassium concentration was increased to 35 m m . The results suggest that under certain conditions choline transported by a low-affinity system might provide a substantial source of choline for ACh synthesis.     

Maturation of ribosomal precursor RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A mutant with a defect in both the transport and terminal processing of the 20 S species

A mutant (CLP-8) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses an abnormal ratio of native ribosomal subunits since it has an apparent deficiency of cytoplasmic 40 S subparticles. The mutant also has an abnormal anti-association factor activity. The lesion(s) responsible for the ribosomal subunit inbalance is not temperature-sensitive and is incomplete since the mutant still grows, albeit at a reduced rate compared to that of its parent. The lesion(s) in CLP-8 is, however, expressed at the level of 20 S ribosomal precursor RNA maturation. Thus, relative to the wild-type strain, there is both a slowed transport of 20 S ribosomal precursor RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and a slowed cytoplasmic conversion of this RNA component into the mature 18 S form.     

Isolation of an aggregation inhibitory factor from non-adhesive mouse teratoma cells

An aggregation inhibitory factor (AIF) has been extracted from mouse ascites teratoma cells (that do not aggregate in culture) that retards adhesion of cultured teratoma cells of the same cell line (that do aggregate). Preliminary characterization of AIF on polyacrylamide gels suggests that AIF is a protein composed of four subunits. Extraction of AIF from ascites teratoma cells was accomplished without significant loss of viability by a technique involving the application of an electric field to large numbers of whole cells suspended in a hypertonic electrode buffer. In tests of adhesion, AIF consistently and immediately inhibited aggregation of cultured teratoma cells after 5, 10, 15, and 30 min of incubation. Furthermore, a reduced concentration of AIF resulted in a corresponding decrease in inhibition, suggesting a concentration-dependent action. AIF may help explain how cultured teratoma cells adhere, whereas ascites teratoma cells of the same subline do not adhere.     

Halogenated monoterpenes of the red alga Microcladia

The red marine algae Microcladia borealis, M. californica and M. coulteri produce several unusual halogenated monoterpenes including violacene, plocamene-B, plocamene-C, and plocamane-D. The isolation of these terpenes along with a study of their variation in each Microcladia at different locations are described.     

Human brucellosis: Widespread information deficiency hinders an understanding of global disease frequency

BackgroundFor decades, human brucellosis has been recognized worldwide as a significant cause of morbidity, yet the annual incidence of this disease remains unknown. We analyzed this frequency, using international reports (2005–2019), identifying information gaps, and distinguishing a possible path forward.Methodology/Principal findingsA novel approach to estimating the incidence of this disease was explored. We utilized annual health data extracted from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)–World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) database, assessing the dataset completeness and representativeness of the data for the world population. Additionally, we assessed the reported country level human brucellosis case counts and the factors that influenced the observed changes over time. Our analysis revealed incomplete and unrepresentative information, preventing the estimation of annual human brucellosis case incidence at the global level. In the OIE-WAHIS database, only 48.4% of the required reports have been submitted as of 2019, with approximately 47.3% of the world population represented. Additionally, geographic regions were disproportionate in completeness, representativeness, and actual reported case counts. Africa and Asia constituted the majority of reported cases, while simultaneously submitting the lowest percentage of reports as well as covering the lowest percentage of their populations within those reports, when compared to the rest of the world.Conclusions/SignificanceThe global annual frequency of human brucellosis cases remains elusive. Furthermore, there exists great heterogeneity in diagnostic, surveillance, and reporting systems worldwide, calling into question the validity of available information. This study reveals that the Neglected Zoonotic Disease priority status for brucellosis should be restored.