Wild Animal Mycobacterial Isolates

Thirteen strains of mycobacteria isolated from deer and various species of wild birds were analysed by gas chromatography (GG) for cellular fatty acids and by thin-layer chromatography (TLG) for polar lipids. These strains were compared to reference strains of Mycobacterium avium, M. para tuberculosis and M. mal-moense. All the examined strains exhibited a generally similar fatty acid pattern characterized by relatively large amounts of hexadenca-noate (16:0), octadecenoate (18:1), octadecanoate (18:0) and 10-me-thyl-octadecanoate (tuberculostearic acid, 10-Me-18:0). Several additional acids were also generally present but in smaller amounts. By means of small but distinct differences in fatty acid composition, the wild animal isolates could be distinguished from both M. paratuber-culosis and M. malmoense but not from M. avium. The TLG polar lipid patterns on the other hand separated the wild animal isolates into 2 distinct groups of complex and simple polar lipid composition which corresponded to the morphologically smooth and rough types, respectively. The complex patterns of the smooth strains were comparable to those of the M. avium serovars whereas both the rough wild animal isolates and all the M. paratuber-culosis strains showed a simple pattern of polar lipids. Both fatty acid profiles and TLG polar lipid patterns support allocation of the wild animal isolates to the MAIS complex. Moreover, the 2 chemical techniques, particularly the GC procedure, are very useful for a more rapid and precise identification of the slow-growing wild animal mycobacterial isolates which have hitherto been characterized on basis of vague criteria.     

Protein kinase C gamma expression mimics phorbol ester-induced transcriptional activation of a murine VL30 enhancer element

Protein kinase C (PKC), a critical component in the regulation of cell growth, is thought to participate in transmitting the signals of certain cell surface receptor activation events to the nucleus. We have previously shown that stable expression of the PKC gamma isoenzyme in NIH 3T3 cells causes altered growth and enhanced tumorigenicity. In this report, we show that transient expression of the PKC gamma isoenzyme can trans-activate a murine VL30 enhancer element in a pattern similar to that of the phorbol ester tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. In contrast, ras activation of this element is distinct both quantitatively and qualitatively from PKC gamma and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate activation. These results provide direct evidence that PKC is the cellular mediator in the activation of phorbol ester-responsive genes and suggest a mechanism by which abnormal PKC expression might lead to altered growth control by changing the pattern of cellular gene expression.     

Control of respiration in proteoliposomes containing cytochrome aa3. I. Stimulation by valinomycin and uncoupler

1. Both valinomycin and p-trifluoromethoxy carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone (FCCP) are required for full release of respiration by cytochrome c oxidase-containing proteoliposomes (prepared by sonicating beef heart cytochrome aa₃ in salt solution with 4 parts phosphatidylcholine, 4 parts phosphatidylethanolamine and 2 parts cardiolipin) in the presence of external ascorbate and cytochrome c. In the absence of valinomycin the response to FCCP is rather sluggish, as reported by Wrigglesworth et al. (1976) (Abstracts, 10th Int. Congr. Biochem., No. 06-6-230).2. The K_m for cytochrome c in 67 mM, pH 7.4, phosphate buffer with ascorbate as substrate, was 9 μM in both absence and presence of valinomycin and FCCP. Energization thus acts non-competitively towards cytochrome c oxidation.3. The apparent K_m for oxygen is greater in the energized than in the deenergized state; double reciprocal plots of respiration rate versus oxygen concentration are concave downward in the absence of uncouplers, as found with intact mitochondria. Energization thus acts “competitively” towards oxygen.4. Despite the lack of a functional ATPase system, all the kinetic features of energization found in intact mitochondria can be mimicked in the reconstituted liposomes. This supports the chemiosmotic idea that electrical and perhaps H⁺ gradients modify the oxidase activity in reconstituted vesicles.     

Selective chemical changes of gonadotropic hormones by means of neuraminidase from Vibrio cholerae.

Experiments indicate that Neuraminidase from Vibrio Cholerae selectively cleaves sialic acid derivate from FSH, but leaves the LH sialic acid derivative. By performing a specific test for LH - the OAAD test - we found that the LH activity is not influenced by the presence of Neuraminidase. The FSH activity is destroyed by Neuraminidase but the enzyme itself influences the ovarian weight, resulting in a weight decrease observed 48 hours after injection. Before or after this "critical time" no decrease is observed.     

Electrical properties of the cellular transepithelial pathway in Necturus gallbladder. II. Ionic permeability of the apical cell membrane.

Microelectrode techniques were employed to study the ionic permeability of the apical cell membrane of Necturus gallbladder epithelium. Results obtained from continuous records in single cells, and from several cellular impalements shortly after a change in solution, were similar and indicate that both the apical membrane equivalent electromotive force (Va) and electrical resistance (Ra) strongly depend on external [K]. Cl substitutions produced smaller effects, while the effects of Na substitutions with N-methyl-D-glucamine on both Va and Ra were minimal. These results indicate that the permeability sequence of the apical membrane is PKgreater thanPClgreater than PNa. From the calculated absolute value of PNa it is possible to estimate the diffusional Na flux from the mucosal solution into the cells (from the cell potential and an assumed intracellular Na concentration). The calculated flux is roughly three orders of magnitude smaller than the measured net transepithelial flux in this tissue and in gallbladders of other species. Thus, only a minimal portion of Na entry can be attributed to independent diffusion. From estimations of the electrochemical potential gradient across the apical membrane, Cl transport at that site must be active. At the serosal cell membrane, Na transport takes place against both chemical and electrical potentials, while a significant portion of the Cl flux can be passive, if this membrane has a significant Cl conductance. The changes in shunt electromotive force and in transepithelial potential after mucosal substitutions were very similar, indicating that transepithelial bi-ionic potentials yield appropriate results on the properties of shunt pathway.     

Mechanism of Rh prophylaxis: an experimental study on specificity of immunosuppression.

The mechanism by which Rh immunization is prevented by IgG anti-D was investigated by studying the specificity of immunosuppression. 62 D-negative Kell(K)-negative male volunteers were given two successive stimuli of 1 ml D-positive K-positive red cells. Thirty-one of the volunteers were also given 13-14 mug of IgG anti-K immediately after each stimulus, the others acting as controls. Anti-D developed in 11 of the 31 controls and in one of the 31 volunteers who had received anti-K. This marked suppression of the anti-D response by IgG anti-K was accompanied by the rapid clearance of the injected red cells to the spleen. This shows that the predominant mechanism that must be operating when IgG anti-D prevents Rh immunization is not antigen specific but is one that must involve the whole red cell, probably through destruction within splenic macrophages.     

合肥秋冬季茶园天敌对假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜的空间跟随关系

为了合理保护和利用天敌及科学地选取抽样方法,开展了合肥地区秋冬季4个品种茶园假眼小绿叶蝉Empoasca vitisGothe和茶蚜Toxoptera aurantii Boyer与其天敌之间空间关系研究,运用地学统计学方法求得天敌和害虫各自的变程,用灰色关联度分析方法分析害虫与天敌变程的关联度,关联度值越大的天敌在空间上对害虫的跟随关系越密切。分析了2010年9月28日至11月25日期间假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜数量最少的舒茶早茶园和二种害虫数量最多的平阳特早茶园天敌对害虫空间上的跟随关系,结果表明,二种茶园的假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜及其4种主要天敌均为聚集分布,舒茶早茶园与假眼小绿叶蝉空间上跟随关系密切的前二位天敌是斜纹猫蛛Oxyopes sertatus L.Koch(0.8594)和草间小黑蛛Erigonidium graminicolum Sundevall(0.8397),与茶蚜空间上跟随关系密切的前二位天敌是草间小黑蛛(0.7448)和斜纹猫蛛(0.7433);平阳特早茶园与假眼小绿叶蝉空间上跟随关系密切的前二位天敌是八斑球腹蛛Theridion ocomaculatum Bose.et Str(0.8207)和斜纹猫蛛(0.8104),与茶蚜空间上跟随关系密切的前二位天敌是八斑球腹蛛(0.8324)和斜纹猫蛛(0.7730)。其中,11月25日4种茶园假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜数量均较多。分析了该日另外二个茶树品种福云六号和龙井长叶茶园假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜与其天敌的空间关系,结果表明,二种茶园假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜及其天敌均为聚集分布,福云六号茶园与假眼小绿叶蝉变程值(3.8182)最接近的天敌是斜纹猫蛛(4.7222),与茶蚜变程值(6.5854)最接近的天敌是斜纹猫蛛(4.7222);龙井长叶茶园与假眼小绿叶蝉变程值(1.0000)最接近的天敌是八斑球腹蛛(1.0000),与茶蚜变程值(4.5000)最接近的天敌是斜纹猫蛛(7.6316)。总之,秋冬季4个品种茶园斜纹猫蛛在空间上是假眼小绿叶蝉和茶蚜跟随关系最密切的天敌,其次是八斑球腹蛛和草间小黑蛛。     

李肖叶甲成虫数量及三维空间格局动态

对合肥地区李肖叶甲成虫数量动态及三维空间格局进行研究,结果表明该成虫5月下旬初见,6月4日至7月16日为发生高峰期,9月上旬仍有零星虫口。6月4日至9月10日种群增长模型为y=1692.2258e-0.0545t,6月4日至8月27日树冠上部部位增长模型为y=205.60e-0.0523t,树冠西部部位的增长模型为y=257.13e-0.0505t。样地中的李肖叶甲5月21日至8月13日半变异函数方程是y=0.0709x3-10.479x2+391.67x-300.71、y=-0.0122x3+1.1201x2-19.781x+317.84、y=-0.0013x3+0.1613x2-4.4862x+67.363、y=-0.0016x3+0.9177x2-11.495x+551.94、y=-0.0029x3+0.3034x2-7.5906x+103.37和y=-0.0002x3+0.0172x2-0.4975x+13.691,变程在20.3938—65.0289之间,均为聚集格局,聚集强度指标表明也均为聚集格局;树冠东、西、南、北方位的水平分布5月21日至8月13日的C值均大于1,I值均大于0,CA值均大于0,Iw值均大于1,为聚集格局;树冠上、中、下方位的垂直分布6月4日至8月13日的C值均大于1,I值均大于0,CA值均大于0,Iw值均大于1,为聚集格局;5月21日至8月13日的树冠东、南、西、北、上、中、下部位的C值均大于1,I值均大于0,CA值均大于0,Iw值均大于1,三维分布均为聚集格局。用Iwao公式计算的结果与聚集强度指标分析的结果一致。6月4日—8月13日林间李肖叶甲的种群聚集均数λ值均大于2,聚集是李肖叶甲本身的行为所致。     

城市扩张与耕地保护耦合对陆地生态系统碳储量的影响——以湖北省为例

城市扩张对生态系统的影响可以分为城市扩张对生态用地的直接挤占以及为补充城市扩张占用的耕地对生态用地二次挤占两个连锁的过程。以往的研究大多只关注城市扩张对生态系统的直接影响,忽略了城市扩张与耕地保护耦合的间接影响。针对这一问题,采用GIS空间分析方法和InVEST模型定量评估了2000年至2015年湖北省城市扩张与耕地保护耦合对陆地生态系统碳储量的影响。结果显示:(1)城市扩张与耕地保护耦合导致湖北省陆地生态系统碳储量减少40.90 Tg;(2)由城市扩张与耕地保护耦合导致的陆地生态系统碳储量的减少量中,耕地保护传导作用间接导致的占比31%。结果表明,城市扩张与耕地保护的耦合是导致生态系统碳储量减少的主要原因之一。忽视城市扩张通过耕地保护的传导作用对生态系统碳储量的间接影响,会导致城市扩张对陆地生态系统碳储量的影响被严重低估。