Tolerance induction by the peroral administration of protein antigens

The possibility of inducing systemic tolerance in animals by feeding them with ovalbumin and human serum was studied on mice, rats and rabbits. Antibodies to ovalbumin, human serum albumin and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) were determined by the passive hemagglutination test in the sera of the test and control animals after the second immunization made through a parenteral route. Tolerance to all the antigens under study was obtained in mice and rats, while in rabbits such feeding was found to produce the priming effect. The degree of tolerance was the greater, the more was the dose of the antigen and the longer was the period of feeding. Different proteins showed varying tolerogenic activity; the same degree of tolerance in mice was obtained by feeding them with IgG in a dose of 0.3-0.5 mg and with ovalbumin or human serum albumin in a dose of 6-12 mg (per gram of body weight). Tolerance was determined on day 3 after the course of feeding was over; in 3 weeks tolerance essentially decreased, and in 1.5-2 months it was replaced by normal reactiveness. Tolerance induced by the oral administration of antigens proved to be immunologically specific.     

Determination of the heat resistance of spores using a solid heating block system

A simple and accurate technique for the determination of the heat resistance of spores is described. The technique combines a modified capillary tube method with a solid heating block. The come-up time of spore suspensions was found to be short and simple and accurate technique is suggested for the correction of the come-up times. Experimental results are presented for the destruction of spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus at 120 which indicates the accuracy and reproducibility of the new method.     

The Coccidian Genus Calyptospora n. g. and Family Calyptosporidae n. fam. (Apicomplexa), with Members Infecting Primarily Fishes1

Calyptospora n. g. was erected for Eimeria funduli because the sporocyst of that species lacks Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies, has a veil supported by sporopodia, and has an anterior apical opening. A suture may be present, but it does not completely divide the sporocyst into two valves. Because C. funduli has an obligatory invertebrate intermediate host, we established Calyptosporidae n. fam. to accommodate Calyptospora and tentatively to accept Goussia. A new subgenus, Plagula, is erected for species of Goussia with a sporocystic veil not supported by sporopodia. We consider the family more primitive than Eimeriidae, Sarcocystidae, and possibly Lankesterellidae.     

Some dermatoglyphic traits in breast carcinoma

The finger and palmar prints of 60 women with breast carcinoma were studied. The results were compared with two groups of healthy women, the first consisted of old women and the second of young women. The dermatoglyphics seem to be of little use in the diagnosis of cancers of ectodermic origin. Supported by M.P.I. 60%, 1983     

Plant phosphoglucose isomerase genes lack introns and are expressed in Escherichia coli

Nuclear genes that appear to encode both cytosolic and plastid isozymes of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), an essential glycolytic enzyme, have been isolated from three diploid species of the annual wild flower genus Clarkia (Onagraceae). The genes do not contain introns and are expressed to varying degrees in Escherichia coli when cloned in either Charon 35 phage or pUC plasmid vectors. The PGI proteins synthesized in E. coli form dimers, are catalytically active, and their electrophoretic mobilities are similar to those of appropriate Clarkia PGIs. The nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding a plastid isozyme of C. unguiculata is described.     

Segregation Distortion of Marker Nuclear Genes in Alloplasmic and Isoplasmic Lines of Barley

Inheritance of barley nuclear genes responsible for various morphological marker traits was studied in hybrid populations F₂ and F_a. Nine marker genes showed deviation from Mendelian monogenic inheritance depending on the cross direction and maternal cytoplasm. Segregation biases to both recessive mutant and dominant normal phenotypes were observed. Mechanisms of the segregation bias related to cytoplasm substitution in iso- and alloplasmic lines are discussed.     

The phospholipid-bound fatty acids of fowl and turkey spermatozoa

The composition of the phospholipid-bound fatty acids in the spermatozoa of the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, and fowl, Gallus domesticus, was studied. The types of fatty acids were similar in the two birds. The ratio of polyunsaturated : saturated fatty acids was generally low but slightly higher in the turkey than in the fowl. The significance of the findings in relation to the origin of the semen collected in these gallinaceous birds and the greater difficulty of freezing turkey spermatozoa was discussed.     

Intraspecific genetic variation of a Fagus sylvatica population in a temperate forest derived from airborne imaging spectroscopy time series

1. The growing pace of environmental change has increased the need for large‐scale monitoring of biodiversity. Declining intraspecific genetic variation is likely a critical factor in biodiversity loss, but is especially difficult to monitor: assessments of genetic variation are commonly based on measuring allele pools, which requires sampling of individuals and extensive sample processing, limiting spatial coverage. Alternatively, imaging spectroscopy data from remote platforms may hold the potential to reveal genetic structure of populations. In this study, we investigated how differences detected in an airborne imaging spectroscopy time series correspond to genetic variation within a population of Fagus sylvatica under natural conditions.
2. We used multi‐annual APEX (Airborne Prism Experiment) imaging spectrometer data from a temperate forest located in the Swiss midlands (Laegern, 47°28'N, 8°21'E), along with microsatellite data from F. sylvatica individuals collected at the site. We identified variation in foliar reflectance independent of annual and seasonal changes which we hypothesize is more likely to correspond to stable genetic differences. We established a direct connection between the spectroscopy and genetics data by using partial least squares (PLS) regression to predict the probability of belonging to a genetic cluster from spectral data.
3. We achieved the best genetic structure prediction by using derivatives of reflectance and a subset of wavebands rather than full‐analyzed spectra. Our model indicates that spectral regions related to leaf water content, phenols, pigments, and wax composition contribute most to the ability of this approach to predict genetic structure of F. sylvatica population in natural conditions.
4. This study advances the use of airborne imaging spectroscopy to assess tree genetic diversity at canopy level under natural conditions, which could overcome current spatiotemporal limitations on monitoring, understanding, and preventing genetic biodiversity loss imposed by requirements for extensive in situ sampling.