Biochemical characteristics of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI in a family with one affected infant

Summary The parents of a child with the clinical symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI were identified as third-degree cousins. Biochemical analysis of the dermis of the patient revealed a complete lack of hydroxylysine in the dermal collagen. The dermis of both parents contained only half the amount of hydroxylysine found in healthy individuals. Hydroxylation of prolyl residues was normal in the skin of the patient and his parents. Investigation of the collagen synthesized by fibroblasts derived from the skin of the patient showed a normal proportion of type I and type III collagen. However, while hydroxylation of prolyl residues was normal in type I and type III collagen, hydroxylation of lysyl residues was markedly lower than normal in both type I and type III collagen.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF) Frankfurt, November 18–20, 1977     

Der positive Phototropismus dicotyler Keimpflanzen

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 1 Textabbildung     

Expression of alloantigens LY-5 and LY-6 on cytotoxic effector cells.

With anti-Ly antisera and complement it has been possible to demonstrate that cytotoxic effector cells generated in vitro against allogeneic cells carry the alloantigen Ly-5 and Ly-6. The studies show that antisera directed against the Ly-6 antigens, together with complement, eliminate essentially all of the killer cells, of the appropriate strain, while killing only 50 to 60% of Thy-1+ cells. Anti-Ly-5 antsera and complement lysed 55 to 65% of Thy-1+ cells and killed a significant portion, but not all, of the cytotoxic cells. The later finding was investigated in more detail since it suggested a degree of heterogeneity within the killer cell subpopulation. However, the data did not support that conclusion, at least for allogeneic killer cells.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the Orculinae from Northeastern Turkey (Mollusca: Stylommatophora: Orculidae)

Summary

Some species of the Orculidae from the drainage area of the river çoruh are investigated and a lectotype is designated for Schileykula batumensis (Retowski, 1889). The range of this species and of Schileykula trapezensis (Stojaspal, 1981) is defined and the existence of intermediate forms is shown. These intermediates can be explained by the introgression of populations that are not yet completely isolated reproduetively. A new left-coiled subspecies of trapezensis is described. The problem of mirror images is discussed.     

Exceptional Segregation of a Selectable Marker (Kan(r)) in Arabidopsis Identifies Genes Important for Gametophytic Growth and Development

Genes transformed into plants are usually inherited in a regular Mendelian manner. There are, however, transformants in which the selectable trait fails to segregate as expected. Genetic analysis of the kanamycin-resistance (Kan(R)) trait in >900 independent transformants of Arabidopsis revealed that 9% produced progeny families with an enormous deficiency of Kan(R) individuals. Self-pollination of individual Kan(R) plants from these families revealed lines that continued to segregate for a deficiency of Kan(R) seedlings. In subsequent generations, the segregation ratio in these families stabilized at ~1 Kan(R): 3 Kan(S). Molecular analyses showed that the deficiency of Kan(R) individuals reflected the complete absence of the introduced DNA. Reciprocal backcrosses to untransformed plants showed unequal transmission of the Kan(R) trait through the gametes in these exceptional lines. In five cases, this was primarily a failure of transmission through the microgametophyte (pollen) and in the other two cases, primarily a failure of transmission through the megagametophyte (embryo sac or egg). The number of seeds per silique was reduced by 50% in the latter two lines. We conclude that our exceptional transformants contain T-DNA insertions that delete or disrupt genes essential for gametophytic growth and development.     

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Based Vaccines Protect Nonhuman Primates against Bundibugyo ebolavirus

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs). Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for human use. Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV)-based vaccine vectors, which encode an EBOV glycoprotein in place of the VSV glycoprotein, have shown 100% efficacy against homologous Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV) or Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) challenge in NHPs. In addition, a single injection of a blend of three rVSV vectors completely protected NHPs against challenge with SEBOV, ZEBOV, the former Côte d''Ivoire ebolavirus, and Marburg virus. However, recent studies suggest that complete protection against the newly discovered Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BEBOV) using several different heterologous filovirus vaccines is more difficult and presents a new challenge. As BEBOV caused nearly 50% mortality in a recent outbreak any filovirus vaccine advanced for human use must be able to protect against this new species. Here, we evaluated several different strategies against BEBOV using rVSV-based vaccines. Groups of cynomolgus macaques were vaccinated with a single injection of a homologous BEBOV vaccine, a single injection of a blended heterologous vaccine (SEBOV/ZEBOV), or a prime-boost using heterologous SEBOV and ZEBOV vectors. Animals were challenged with BEBOV 29–36 days after initial vaccination. Macaques vaccinated with the homologous BEBOV vaccine or the prime-boost showed no overt signs of illness and survived challenge. In contrast, animals vaccinated with the heterologous blended vaccine and unvaccinated control animals developed severe clinical symptoms consistent with BEBOV infection with 2 of 3 animals in each group succumbing. These data show that complete protection against BEBOV will likely require incorporation of BEBOV glycoprotein into the vaccine or employment of a prime-boost regimen. Fortunately, our results demonstrate that heterologous rVSV-based filovirus vaccine vectors employed in the prime-boost approach can provide protection against BEBOV using an abbreviated regimen, which may have utility in outbreak settings.     

Die enzymatische Auxinbildung aus Tryptophan unter Einfluss eines nativen Inhibitors

Ohne ZusammenfassungHerrn Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c.Hermann von Guttenberg in Verehrung zum. Geburtstag.     

Upregulation of HLA class II, but not intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or interleukin-3 (IL-3) in synergy with dexamethasone.

In this study we have compared the effects of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on purified normal blood monocytes, with two other haemopoietic growth factors, Interleukin (IL-) 3 and Macrophage (M-)CSF on HLA class I, class II and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression in the presence and absence of dexamethasone (Dex). IL-3 alone, like GM-CSF, was a weak inducer of HLA class II expression but in combination with Dex markedly enhanced HLA-DR, DP and DQ expression. Similar changes were observed for HLA class I expression. The response to both IL-3 and GM-CSF was not additive in the presence of an optimal concentration of one cytokine and titrating concentrations of the other indicating that they may use common receptors and signal transduction mechanisms. Although IL-3 or GM-CSF alone also enhanced ICAM-1 expression, Dex inhibited both constitutive and the cytokine induced expression of this antigen. In contrast M-CSF, in the presence or absence of Dex, failed to enhance ICAM-1, HLA class I or II expression. These observations further highlight differences between the effects of the haemopoietic growth factors GM-CSF and IL-3 versus M-CSF in the regulation of monocyte function. Finally, the distinct effect of a combination of glucocorticoids with GM-CSF or IL-3 to induce high levels of HLA expression on human monocytes suggests they may have an important role during inflammatory conditions in vivo.