GENETICS OF PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI. V. HETEROCARYONS INVOLVING FORMAE OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM

Garber , E. D., Ellen G. Wyttenbach , and T. S. Dhillon . (U. Chicago, Chicago, Ill.) Genetics of phytopathogenic fungi. V. Heterocaryons involving formae of Fusarium oxysporum. Amer. Jour. Bot. 48(4): 325–329. 1961.—Heterocaryons involving mutant strains of 4 formae of Fusarium oxysporum were studied; the strains differed in nutritional requirements, resistance to acriflavine, and colonial morphology and color. Spores from the heterocaryons gave colonies on minimal medium which resembled one component strain in morphology and color; spores from heterocaryons involving f. pisi yielded colonies on complete medium containing a concentration of acriflavine inhibitory to the other component strain.     

Carnitine/xenobiotics transporters in the human mammary gland epithelia, MCF12A

The barrier function of the human mammary gland collapses if challenged with cationic drugs, causing their accumulation in milk. However, underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. To gain insight into the mechanism, we characterized transport of organic cations in the MCF12A human mammary gland epithelial cells, using carnitine and tetraethylammonium (TEA) as representative nutrient and xenobiotics probes, respectively. Our results show that the mammary gland cells express mRNA and proteins of human (h) novel organic cation transporters (OCTN) 1 and hOCTN2 (a Na+-dependent carnitine carrier with Na+-independent xenobiotics transport function), which belong to the solute carrier superfamily (SLC) of transporters. Other SLC OCTs such as hOCT1 and extraneuronal monoamine transporter (EMT)/hOCT3 are also expressed at mRNA levels, but hOCT2 was undetectable. We further showed mRNA expression of ATB0+ (an amino acid transporter with a Na+/Cl(-)-dependent carnitine transport activity), and Fly-like putative transporter 2/OCT6 (a splice variant of carnitine transporter 2: a testis-specific Na+-dependent carnitine transporter). TEA uptake was pH dependent. Carnitine uptake was dependent on Na+, and partly on Cl-, compatible with hOCTN2 and ATB0+ function. Modeling analyses predicted multiplicity of the uptake mechanisms with the high-affinity systems characterized by K(m) of 5.1 microM for carnitine and 1.6 mM for TEA, apparently similar to the reported hOCTN2 parameter for carnitine, and that of EMT/hOCT3 for TEA. Verapamil, cimetidine, carbamazepine, quinidine, and desipramine inhibited the carnitine uptake but required supratherapeutic concentrations, suggesting robustness of the carnitine uptake systems against xenobiotic challenge. Our findings suggest functional roles of a network of multiple SLC organic cation/nutrient transporters in human mammary gland drug transfer.     

Murine IL-10 gene transfer inhibits established collagen-induced arthritis and reduces adenovirus-mediated inflammatory responses in mouse liver

The effects of homologous IL-10 administration during an established autoimmune disease are controversial, given its reported immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive properties. Studies of collagen-induced arthritis have shown efficacy with repeated administrations of IL-10; however, when the EBV IL-10 homologue was administered via adenovirus gene transfer technology the results were equivocal. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of prolonged homologous IL-10 administration via adenovirus-mediated gene delivery on the progression of established arthritis. Collagen type II (CII)-immunized mice received i.v. injections of 10(7) or 10(8) PFU of an E1-deleted adenoviral vector containing the murine IL-10 gene (AdIL-10), after arthritis onset. Mice were monitored for 3 wk for disease progression, and gene transduction was assessed by quantification of serum mIL-10. CII-specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses were analyzed by lymph node cell proliferation, cytokine production, and anti-CII Ab responses. Furthermore, because adenoviral vectors have been reported to induce organ dysfunction due to cell-mediated immune responses to the viral Ags, we have also evaluated delayed-type hypersensitivity responses and reactive hepatitis to the systemically delivered adenovirus and whether the IL-10 produced could influence those responses. Sustained suppression of autoimmune arthritis and elevated serum levels of IL-10 were achieved in our study. AdIL-10 treatment reduced cell-mediated immune reactivity, but did not affect humoral responses. Furthermore, IL-10 was able to reduce, but not totally abrogate, adenovirus-induced hepatic inflammation. These findings provide further insights into the diverse interplay of immune processes involved in autoimmune inflammation and the mechanism of cytokine immunotherapy.     

PARTAKE Survey of Public Knowledge and Perceptions of Clinical Research in India

Background

A public that is an informed partner in clinical research is important for ethical, methodological, and operational reasons. There are indications that the public is unaware or misinformed, and not sufficiently engaged in clinical research but studies on the topic are lacking. PARTAKE – Public Awareness of Research for Therapeutic Advancements through Knowledge and Empowerment is a program aimed at increasing public awareness and partnership in clinical research. The PARTAKE Survey is a component of the program.

Objective

To study public knowledge and perceptions of clinical research.

Methods

A 40-item questionnaire combining multiple-choice and open-ended questions was administered to 175 English- or Hindi-speaking individuals in 8 public locations representing various socioeconomic strata in New Delhi, India.

Results

Interviewees were 18–84 old (mean: 39.6, SD±16.6), 23.6% female, 68.6% employed, 7.3% illiterate, 26.3% had heard of research, 2.9% had participated and 58.9% expressed willingness to participate in clinical research. The following perceptions were reported (% true/% false/% not aware): ‘research benefits society’ (94.1%/3.5%/2.3%), ‘the government protects against unethical clinical research’ (56.7%/26.3%/16.9%), ‘research hospitals provide better care’ (67.2%/8.7%/23.9%), ‘confidentiality is adequately protected’ (54.1%/12.3%/33.5%), ‘participation in research is voluntary’ (85.3%/5.8%/8.7%); ‘participants treated like ‘guinea pigs’’ (20.7%/53.2%/26.0%), and ‘compensation for participation is adequate’ (24.7%/12.9%/62.3%).

Conclusions

Results suggest the Indian public is aware of some key features of clinical research (e.g., purpose, value, voluntary nature of participation), and supports clinical research in general but is unaware of other key features (e.g., compensation, confidentiality, protection of human participants) and exhibits some distrust in the conduct and reporting of clinical trials. Larger, cross-cultural surveys are required to inform educational programs addressing these issues.     

The C-terminus of Raf-1 acts as a 14-3-3-dependent activation switch

The Raf-1 protein kinase is a major activator of the ERK MAPK pathway, which links signaling by a variety of cell surface receptors to the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and migration. Signaling by Raf-1 is regulated by a complex and poorly understood interplay between phosphorylation events and protein–protein interactions. One important mode of Raf-1 regulation involves the phosphorylation-dependent binding of 14-3-3 proteins. Here, we have examined the mechanism whereby the C-terminal 14-3-3 binding site of Raf-1, S621, controls the activation of MEK-ERK signaling. We show that phosphorylation of S621 turns over rapidly and is enriched in the activated pool of endogenous Raf-1. The phosphorylation on this site can be mediated by Raf-1 itself but also by other kinase(s). Mutations that prevent the binding of 14-3-3 proteins to S621 render Raf-1 inactive by specifically disrupting its capacity to bind to ATP, and not by gross conformational alteration as indicated by intact MEK binding. Phosphorylation of S621 correlates with the inhibition of Raf-1 catalytic activity in vitro, but 14-3-3 proteins can completely reverse this inhibition. Our findings suggest that 14-3-3 proteins function as critical cofactors in Raf-1 activation, which induce and maintain the protein in a state that is competent for both ATP binding and MEK phosphorylation.     

Campylobacter jejuni strains compete for colonization in broiler chicks

Campylobacter jejuni isolates possess multiple adhesive proteins termed adhesins, which promote the organism's attachment to epithelial cells. Based on the proposal that one or more adhesins are shared among C. jejuni isolates, we hypothesized that C. jejuni strains would compete for intestinal and cecal colonization in broiler chicks. To test this hypothesis, we selected two C. jejuni strains with unique SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis macrorestriction profiles and generated one nalidixic acid-resistant strain (the F38011 Nal(r) strain) and one streptomycin-resistant strain (the 02-833L Str(r) strain). In vitro binding assays revealed that the C. jejuni F38011 Nal(r) and 02-833L Str(r) strains adhered to LMH chicken hepatocellular carcinoma epithelial cells and that neither strain influenced the binding potential of the other strain at low inoculation doses. However, an increase in the dose of the C. jejuni 02-833L Str(r) strain relative to that of the C. jejuni F38011 Nal(r) strain competitively inhibited the binding of the C. jejuni F38011 Nal(r) strain to LMH cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Similarly, the C. jejuni 02-833L Str(r) strain was found to significantly reduce the efficiency of intestinal and cecal colonization by the C. jejuni F38011 Nal(r) strain in broiler chickens. Based on the number of bacteria recovered from the ceca, the maximum number of bacteria that can colonize the digestive tracts of chickens may be limited by host constraints. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that C. jejuni strains compete for colonization in chicks and suggest that it may be possible to design novel intervention strategies for reducing the level at which C. jejuni colonizes the cecum.     

cAMP-dependent protein kinase and lipolysis in rat adipocytes. I. Cell preparation, manipulation, and predictability in behavior

With the use of -cAMP/+cAMP activity ratios of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) in fat cell extracts as an index of cellular cAMP concentrations, it is apparent from both the current literature and from data presented in this paper that classical cell isolation procedures yield cells whose behavior is unpredictable from day to day. Herein, procedures are described for isolating adipocytes, preparing cytosolic extracts, and assaying A-kinase that result in kinase activity ratios in isolated cells equal to those in the fat pad from which cells are derived, approximately 0.05. An important modification in the procedure is the inclusion of 200 nM exogenous Ado in all cell manipulation media, and the data indicate that variable removal of contaminating endogenous Ado accounts for unpredictable results with standard cell isolation techniques. A further benefit of Ado inclusion is greatly reduced cell lysis. Acute removal of Ado with adenosine deaminase results in rapid elevation of A-kinase activity ratios and lipolysis which, in fasted animals, equals that achieved with lipolytic hormones. Cells from fed animals exhibit poor predictability in behavior. Moreover, A-kinase activity ratios exhibit seasonal tendencies in response to Ado removal, with cells isolated in spring being more activated than cells isolated later in the year. The information and procedures in this paper form the basis for succeeding papers on the regulation of adipocyte metabolism by hormones.     

Studies on Bacteriophage Distribution

Twenty-eight bacteriophage strains active on one or more species of Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from sewage and were classified into seven host range groups. Two isolates resemble S13, three isolates appear to be closely related to T₁, and one seems to be related to T even phages. Members of one host range group are active on three bacterial species, viz., Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Shigella sonnei. Some of the E. coli K12 strains selected for resistance to phage HK019 are sensitive to S13 but not to φ×174.     

Coliphage HK243: Biological and Physicochemical Characteristics

Coliphage HK243 can form plaques on Escherichia coli C and K-12, but not B. The plaques are 1–2 mm in diameter and are opaque areas which clear upon exposure to chloroform vapor. During one-step growth, the eclipse and the latent periods are 20 and 30 min, respectively. Phage-infected cells continue to produce cell-free plaque-forming units for as long as 80 min after the end of the latent period, although at high multiplicities of infection (MOI) most cells lyse. No lysogenic bacteria have been found among survivors, so HK243 is considered a virulent phage. Some of the cells surviving a high MOI challenge are maltose negative and resistant to both HK243 and coliphage lambda. This fact has made possible the isolation of lambda-resistant mutants of lambda-lysogens. However, no serological cross-reaction between the phages lambda and HK243 has been detected. Genetic data involving three essential loci and a locus controlling plaque morphology suggest a circular linkage map. The virions are tadpole-shaped with an icosahedral head 68 nm long which is attached to a flexible tail 131 nm long. The phage has a linear, duplex DNA genome of molecular weight approximately 44 × 10⁶ and a base composition of 33% adenine, 31% thymine, 16% guanine, and 20% cytosine.