Epitopes that span the tau molecule are shared with paired helical filaments

Tau protein has been shown to be an integral component of Alzheimer paired helical filaments (PHF). However, the extent to which tau is incorporated into PHF has not been clear because the antibodies used to label PHF generally do not have precisely defined epitopes. Here we define the antigenic sites for five monoclonal antibodies that react with tau and cross-react with SDS-extracted neurofibrillary tangles. The reactive sites were determined by screening a lambda gt11 sublibrary expressing small fragments of the tau sequence. The mapped epitopes were found to span almost the entire length of tau, suggesting that PHF contains tau in its entirety or nearly in its entirety. One antibody was found to cross-react with microtubule-associated protein 2, implying some degree of homology between the two proteins.     

Metabolism and some characteristics of lactobacilli isolated from the rumen of young calves

Fourteen strains of lactobacilli isolated from the rumen of young calves were studied to determine their biochemical characteristics, growth parameters, metabolism on lactose and sensitivity to 28 antimicrobial agents. Thirteen homofermentative strains belonged to Lactobacillus acidophilus and one heterofermentative strain resembled Lact. fermentum. The relevance of rumen lactobacilli to the nutrition of calves is discussed.     

A clinico-physiological study of the mechanism of the cholecystokinetic action of medicinal mineral waters of the naftusia type]

It is stated that the cholecystokinetic action of curative waters of naftusia type is due to the interaction of its organic substances, particularly bitumens, with mucous membrane of gastroduodenal zone by the intramural reflex mechanism with participation of humoral factor. It is indicated by attenuation or suppression of the effect by pharmacons interrupting the work of interchemoreception, N- and M-cholinoreceptors, beta-adrenoreceptors; intensification of the effect by blockade of alpha-adrenoreceptors; its reversion by nonselective stimulation of adrenoreceptors; release of gastrin, glucagon and insulin into blood.     

Selection and physiological study of culture of Bacillus circulans-- producer of butirosin]

For isolating a highly active variant of the butirosin-producing culture, a strain forming trace amounts of the antibiotic substance was used. Exposure to nitrosomethylbiuret and nitrosoguanidine and the use of selective media containing streptomycin and butirosin resulted in a 30-fold increase in the strain productivity. Thin layer chromatography of the produced antibiotic substance in the solvent system developed by the authors, mass spectrometry and assay of the antimicrobial spectrum in regard to ++gram-positive and ++gram-negative bacteria by using the known aminoglycosidine-inactivating enzymes revealed that the substance was identical to butirosin. Along with the major product, the fermentation broth contained up to 5 per cent of ribostamycin.     

Antibiotic therapy of children in a gnotobiological unit]

The clinical effect of antibiotics in treatment of children at the age of 2 months to 5 years with acute pneumonia during a gnotobiological department in the wards of the 1st class purity and under the conditions of a routine pediatric hospital was estimated. The course of the antibiotic therapy amounted to 4.7 +/- 0.42 days in the gnotobiological department and 12.0 +/- 0.3 days in the routine hospital. After recovery the patients were discharged in 7.61 +/- 0.76 days from the gnotobiological department and in 15.2 +/- 1.11 days from the routine hospital.     

Catalytic effect of gamma-thrombin on synthetic low molecular weight peptide substrates]

Hydrolysis and respective catalytic parameters of hydrolysis of ester peptide substrates that contain residues of hydrophobic and nonpolar amino acids in P2, P3 subsites have been studied. It is shown that efficiency of hydrolysis by thrombin is determined by the length of polypeptide chains and by the nature of the amino acids in P2, P3 subsites in the substrate. In spite of the fact that gamma-thrombin retains the conformation activity of the catalytic centre the local conformation changes of the second binding region of the enzyme have been discovered.     

Effect of stress factors on carboxypeptidase H activity in areas of the rat brain]

It is established that carboxypeptidase H activity increases as affected by various stress factors in the rat brain departments. The increase of the enzyme activity because of the emotional-pain stress is of continuous character. Possible role of carboxypeptidase H in the development of the stress response is discussed.     

A method for determining the toxigenicity of micromycetes]

A method is suggested to determine toxigenicity of microscopic fungi from genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, etc. which contaminate fodder, food products and environment objects. The method is based on the property of micromycetes isolated from fodder, food products and environment objects to produce mycotoxins under optimal conditions of their cultivation on the nutrient media. Their further extraction by the organic solvent, evaporation and emulsification of the extract and its peroral introduction to young female rats cause a disease and death of animals. The suggested method may be used for recognizing and preventing mycotoxicoses of farm animals and poultry.