Virulence-associated characteristics and phage lysogenicity of two morphologically distinct colonies of Vibrio cholerae O139 serogroup

Abstract The presence of a temperate phage was demonstrated in a strain of Vibrio cholerae O139 isolated from a patient. Spontaneous variants with translucent colonies had lost this phage. The loss of the phage was associated with increased hydrophobicity, indicating the loss of the capsule. These clones were sensitive to serum bactericidal activity, showed decreased expression of such presumed virulence factors as proteases, motility and mannose-sensitive pili. Furthermore, excision of the phage made the strain dependent on purines for growth.     

Testis size,epididymis weight,and sperm competition in rhesus macaques

The intensity of sperm competition is often measured using the gonadosomatic index (testes/body weight). But sperm competition could be mediated more by size of the epididymis than by size of the testicles, and little information is available on the relationship between testicular and epididymal size. We found that both organs were positively correlated in size among male rhesus macaques. Body weight accounted for over 70% of the variance in testicle size and volumetric estimates of testicle size accurately reflected testicle weight. We conclude that methods for ascertaining testicle size are accurate, but the covariation in size between testicles and epididymis will hamper understanding of the physiological mechanisms involved in sperm competition in primates. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Minireview: Metabolic control of the reproductive physiology: Insights from genetic mouse models

This article is part of a Special Issue Energy Balance.     

Isolation and characterization of Zymomonas mobilis mutants resistant to octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride,a detergent acting on hopanoid-producing bacteria

Growth of the hopanoid-producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis was inhibited at low concentrations of the cationic detergent octadecyltrimethylammoniumchloride (OTAC). A relationship between sensitivity of Zymomonas mobilis to OTAC, presence of hopanoids and ethanol tolerance was postulated. Mutants resistant to OTAC were isolated from strains ZM1 and ZM4. They did not present any alteration of the hopanoid content and their squalene cyclases showed the same sensitity to OTAC as the parent enzymes. Resistance to OTAC paralleled pleiotropic effects including, enhanced accessibility of the membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase, important release of proteins from cells by Tris/HCl treatment, increased resistance to antibiotics and increased sensitivity to ethanol. In addition, OTAC^R mutants were also characterized by the synthesis or the overproduction of an outer membrane protein (F53) not detected on 2D-PAGE maps of parent strains and by a normal heat shock response. The role of hopanoids, heat shock proteins, protein F53 and membrane organization in ethanol tolerance is discussed.Abbreviations OTAC octadecyltrimethylammoniumchloride - SLS sodium lauryl sarcosinate     

Changes in breathing pattern at loads near perceptual threshold at different work levels

Five subjects were tested to determine the threshold for detection of an added resistance to inspiration in three tests, one at rest and two with exercise (mild = 50 W; moderate = 100 W) on a cycle ergometer. Changes in the breathing pattern were examined at added resistances near the perceptual threshold. Added inspiratory resistances with a 50% probability of detection were very variable at rest; they decreased significantly from rest (250 Pa.l-1.s-1) to moderate exercise (98 Pa.l-1.s-1) in four subjects. It is suggested that physical exercise may cause discomfort even when workers wearing a respirator do not have any abnormal sensation during sedentary work. Breathing patterns were compared between resistance loaded and unloaded breathing during each test. Decreases in inspiratory peak flow and acceleration of flow early in inspiration were found in resistance loaded breathing in almost all tests and a tendency for tidal volume to decrease was found during moderate exercise only. The ratios of resistance loaded to unloaded breathing for inspiratory time (ti) and total time (tt) tended to be greater in the detected than in the undetected responses at rest and during mild exercise but not during moderate exercise. This would imply that further prolongation of ti and tt in the detected responses was attributable to conscious or subconscious aspects of the resistance leading responses: however, these adjustments in breathing, which reduce frequency, would be less likely to occur as the work rate increases.     

Multiple Phenotypic Changes Associated with Large-Scale Horizontal Gene Transfer

Horizontal gene transfer often leads to phenotypic changes within recipient organisms independent of any immediate evolutionary benefits. While secondary phenotypic effects of horizontal transfer (i.e., changes in growth rates) have been demonstrated and studied across a variety of systems using relatively small plasmids and phage, little is known about the magnitude or number of such costs after the transfer of larger regions. Here we describe numerous phenotypic changes that occur after a large-scale horizontal transfer event (∼1 Mb megaplasmid) within Pseudomonas stutzeri including sensitization to various stresses as well as changes in bacterial behavior. These results highlight the power of horizontal transfer to shift pleiotropic relationships and cellular networks within bacterial genomes. They also provide an important context for how secondary effects of transfer can bias evolutionary trajectories and interactions between species. Lastly, these results and system provide a foundation to investigate evolutionary consequences in real time as newly acquired regions are ameliorated and integrated into new genomic contexts.     

Opioids and central baroreflex control: a site of action in the nucleus tractus solitarius

These studies investigated whether the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) is a central site where opioids modulate baroreceptor reflexes. Microinjections into the NTS of [D-Ala2,MePhe4, Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO) significantly reduced reflex-mediated depressor responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the aortic nerve. Subsequent NTS injections of naloxone restored baroreflexes to control levels. These results demonstrate that the NTS is a central site where exogenously administered opioids can modulate baroreceptor reflexes. NTS injections of naloxone had no effect on baroreflex function, suggesting that tonic activation of opioid receptors at this site plays little or no role in central baroreflex control.