Comparison of different delivery systems of DNA vaccination for the induction of protection against tuberculosis in mice and guinea pigs

The great challenges for researchers working in the field of vaccinology are optimizing DNA vaccines for use in humans or large animals and creating effective single-dose vaccines using appropriated controlled delivery systems. Plasmid DNA encoding the heat-shock protein 65 (hsp65) (DNAhsp65) has been shown to induce protective and therapeutic immune responses in a murine model of tuberculosis (TB). Despite the success of naked DNAhsp65-based vaccine to protect mice against TB, it requires multiple doses of high amounts of DNA for effective immunization. In order to optimize this DNA vaccine and simplify the vaccination schedule, we coencapsulated DNAhsp65 and the adjuvant trehalose dimycolate (TDM) into biodegradable poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres for a single dose administration. Moreover, a single-shot prime-boost vaccine formulation based on a mixture of two different PLGA microspheres, presenting faster and slower release of, respectively, DNAhsp65 and the recombinant hsp65 protein was also developed. These formulations were tested in mice as well as in guinea pigs by comparison with the efficacy and toxicity induced by the naked DNA preparation or BCG. The single-shot prime-boost formulation clearly presented good efficacy and diminished lung pathology in both mice and guinea pigs.     

Treating potato ridges in spring with aldicarb, D-D or dazomet to control potato cyst-nematode, Heterodera rostochiensis, in sandy clay and peat loam soils

Applied to potato ridge soil in spring, before potatoes were planted, small amounts of aldicarb (10-3 kg/ha or less) controlled potato cyst-nematodes (Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.) better than large amounts of dazomet (110–466 kg/ha) or D-D (102–439 kg/ha). Applied in spring 1968 and 1969 to heavily infested sandy clay soil 466 kg dazomet/ha allowed Majestic potatoes to grow and yield well in both years without increasing the number of nematodes in the soil after harvest, but in peaty loam dazomet was toxic to potato plants and, when applied in autumn, killed fewer nematodes. D-D in potato ridges in spring controlled nematodes less well than dazomet or aldicarb, but 896 kg D-D/ha injected in sandy clay soil in autumn increased potato yield the following year without increasing the number of nematodes after harvest.     

Preparative chromatography for obtaining pure samples of rosaniline,magenta II,and new fuchsine

A simple low pressure liquid chromatographic method is reported that can separate the basic fuchsine homologues, rosaniline, magenta II and new fuchsine from an impure commercial dye. The chromatographic purity of the separated dyes is > 90%. All homologues were obtained in multi-milligram amounts per chromatographic run; precise yields depend on the composition of the starting material and potentially may be greater. This is a useful preparative procedure for generating chromatographically pure samples of basic fuchsine homologues, especially those that cannot be obtained in pure form by direct synthesis.     

Mestizaje and Law Making in Indigenous Identity Formation in Northeastern Brazil: "After the Conflict Came the History"

In this article, I explore issues of authenticity, legal discourse, and local requirements of belonging by considering the recent surge of indigenous recognitions in northeastern Brazil. I investigate how race and ethnicity are implicated in the recognition process in Brazil on the basis of an analysis of a successful struggle for indigenous identity and access to land by a group of mixed-race, visibly, African-descended rural workers. I propose that the debate over mestizaje (ethnoracial and cultural mixing) in the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America can be reconfigured and clarified by broadening it to include such Brazilian experiences. I argue that the interaction between two processes—law making and indigenous identity formation—is crucial to understanding how the notion of "mixed heritage" is both reinforced and disentangled. As such, this article is an illustration of the role of legal discourse in the constitution of indigenous identities and it introduces northeastern Brazil into the global discussion of law, indigenous rights, and claims to citizenship.     

Water quality assessment of the Siluko River,southern Nigeria

The water quality of the Siluko River, Edo State, Nigeria was investigated from March to August 2015 to determine its suitability for drinking and usage for domestic purposes. Water samples collected from three stations were tested for thirteen physico-chemical parameters using standard analytical procedures. Temperature, phosphate and chloride were significantly different across the three stations. All other parameters, with the exception of turbidity, dissolved oxygen and phosphate, were within the permissible limits recommended by the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and World Health Organization (WHO). Water Quality Index (WQI) values ranged from 11.24 to 16.15, indicating excellent water quality. While the quality of the water from the Siluko River is suitable for drinking and domestic usage, to prevent future deterioration of the water, it is recommended that the regulating authorities monitor effluents discharged into the river from human activities.     

Microsatellites as DNA markers in cultivated peanut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis hypogaea</Emphasis> L.)

Background  

Genomic research of cultivated peanut has lagged behind other crop species because of the paucity of polymorphic DNA markers found in this crop. It is necessary to identify additional DNA markers for further genetic research in peanut.     

Phospholipase D Activity in the Tetrahymena pyriformis GL

Phospholipase D (PLD) is an enzyme which participates in the signalling mechanism cleaving phosphatidylcholine (PC) to choline and phosphatidic acid (PA). In Tetrahymena pyriformis GL this enzyme activity is enhanced by different kinds of agonists (sodium orthovanadate, sodium fluoride and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), and its activity can be inhibited by inhibitors such as pertussis toxin, calphostin C, genistein, trifluoperazine. These results suggest that the PLD signalling pathway is connected with the tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C, phosphatidylinositol and G-protein coupled signalling pathways. By demonstrating the PLD activity in Tetrahymena our knowledge on the signalling mechanisms at a unicellular level has been extended. The results support our view that most transducing mechanisms that are characteristic of mammalian cells are also in the protozoan Tetrahymena. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of Growth and Yield of Winter and Spring Wheats

In a field experiment to investigate the physiological causesof variation in yield between autumn- and spring-sown wheatand between old and new varieties, the grain yields of the winterwheats were 3-15 per cent, greater than of the spring ones andthe new varieties Cappelle-Desprez and Jufy I yielded 40-70per cent, more than Squarehead's Master and Atle. Nitrogen fertilizerincreased the yields of Cappelle-Desprez and Jufy I more thanof Atle, and decreased the yield of Squarehead's Master by makingit lodge. Until ear emergence the winter varieties had greater leaf-areaindices (L) and dry weights, but smaller net assimilation rates(E), than the spring varieties. Square-head's Master had greaterL but smaller E, and similar dry weight to Cappelle-Desprez.Jufy I had similar E to Atlc, but greater L and dry weight.Nitrogen increased L and dry weight, but decreased E. All thedifferences in E between varieties and nitrogen treatments couldbe explained by the opposite effects on L, that is to say, thedifferences in E were caused by variation in mutual shadingarising from the differences in L and not by changes in leafphysiology. L of winter wheat reached its maximum at the end of May, butL of spring wheat continued to increase until ear emergence.Afterwards Ldecreased more rapidly for winter than for springwheat, so that eventually spring wheat had the greater L. Thesedifferences in the time changes of L partially compensated forthe shorter growth period of spring wheat, and tended to equalizethe grain yield from winter and spring sowings. After ear emergence total dry weight of winter varieties continuedto be greater than of spring ones, but the difference in dryweight of ears was much smaller because ear: shoot dry-weightratio was greater for the spring varieties. Total dry weight,ear dry weight and ear: shoot ratio were all greater in thenew than in the old varieties. Leaf area duration (D) afterear emergence was slightly greater for the winter than for thespring varieties and similar for old and new. The apparent efficiencyof this leaf area in grain production, measured by the grainleaf ratio (ratio of grain dry weight to D), was similar forwinter and spring varieties but greater for new than for old.This suggests that Cappelle-Desprez and Jufy I have higher grainyields because their ears photosynthesize more than do the earsof Squarehead's Master and Atle. Before ear emergence winter varieties had more shoots than springones, and old varieties more than new. After ear emergence therewere only small differences in numbers of ears; percentage survivalwas greater for spring than for winter and for new than forold varieties. Differences in dry weight between varieties were not causedby differences in nitrogen uptake.     

THE EFFECT OF GIBBERELLIC ACID ON LEAF AREA AND DRY-MATTER PRODUCTION IN MAJESTIC POTATO

When gibberellic acid (50 p.p.m. in aqueous solution) was sprayed twice or six times at weekly intervals on potato plants (var. Majestic) with a low or high nitrogen supply it did not affect rate of leaf production on the main axis, but caused earlier senescence of leaves, especially with the more frequent spraying, and inhibited leaf production and growth on laterals of the high-nitrogen plants at nodes 10 and 11 but not at other nodes. This central region of the stem appears to have a low growth potential, probably because it lies midway between two zones of active growth, viz. the basal branches and the younger leaves on the main stem. Competition between these is increased by gibberellic acid. Gibberellic acid increased leaf area even when lack of nitrogen was restricting growth but this did not produce extra dry matter. Tuber weight was increased more in high-nitrogen plants by two sprayings than by six sprayings. The net assimilation rate of low-nitrogen plants was halved by spraying but was not changed in high-nitrogen plants where the value was similar to that of low-nitrogen control plants. The high-nitrogen plants had absorbed nearly all the available nitrogen between the second and third harvests, but plants treated with gibberellic acid, nevertheless, had more total dry weight and tuber dry weight than the controls. The nitrogen content of the leaves expressed on an area basis was lower in sprayed plants and, with continued spraying, fell at the third harvest to equal that of low-nitrogen plants. Evidently, the effect of gibberellic acid depended on the interaction between the rate of application and the nitrogen supply, but further work is necessary to define the conditions that give the maximal effect on dry-matter production.