Altered DNA synthesis in a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium that channels bacteriophage P22 toward lysogeny.

Pox-1, a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium, strongly channels P22 toward lysogeny. Viral DNA synthesis in this slow-growing mutant is delayed to a greater extent than viral protein synthesis. The relative enhancement of c2 repressor synthesis results in much higher repressor/DNA synthesis ratios in Pox-1 than in wild-type cells. This probably accounts for the high frequency of lysogenization.     

Close genetic and physical linkage between the murine haemopoietic growth factor genes GM-CSF and Multi-CSF (IL3).

The two murine haemopoietic growth factors, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and Multi-CSF (interleukin 3) stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of an overlapping set of haemopoietic progenitor cells and are produced coordinately following activation of T lymphocytes. Here we report the chromosomal location of the genes encoding these two factors. Initially both genes were assigned to chromosome 11 by analysis of mouse/Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids. Genetic analysis using an interspecies (Mus musculus X Mus spretus) back-cross confirmed this assignment by demonstrating that both the GM-CSF and Multi-CSF genes are genetically linked to the SPARC gene, which had been independently assigned to sub-band B1 of chromosome 11. Analysis of physical distances by pulsed field gel electrophoresis demonstrated further that the two CSF genes lie within 230 kb of each other. However examination of the subchromosomal region containing all three loci by pulsed field gel analysis showed that SPARC is at least 400-500 kb distant from the region containing the two CSF genes.     

IgA and IgG antibodies to Candida albicans in the genital tract secretions of women with or without vaginal candidosis

Levels of anti-Candida albicans immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum and cervicovaginal secretions from 64 non-pregnant women with vaginal candidosis and 158 uninfected non-pregnant women. Specific IgA and IgG were detected in the serum and secretions of all 222 women. There was no significant difference between the mean levels of specific IgA or IgG in secretions from women with candidosis and those of uninfected women. Neither was there a significant difference between mean levels of specific IgA or IgG when women using oral contraception were compared with others who were not. There was a significant correlation between the levels of IgA and IgG in serum and secretions from women with candidosis and from uninfected women. Blastospore and hyphal forms of C. albicans were seen in vaginal smears from 29 of the 64 women with culture-proven candidosis: in nine, both IgA- and IgG-coated C. albicans cells were recovered from the genital tract; in a tenth, IgG-coated cells were found.     

Validation of tiger beetles as distinct family (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), review and reclassification of tribal relationships

The higher-level taxonomy of tiger beetles is re-evaluated in light of recent publications based on large taxon sets and a large number of genetic loci. These studies have demonstrated that tiger beetles are a distinct family, Cicindelidae Latreille, sister to the Carabidae Latreille (ground beetles) or Trachypachidae Thomson (false ground beetles) + Carabidae. Recent phylogenies have also recovered consistent patterns in higher-level relationships within the tiger beetles that challenge the traditional taxonomic framework, most of which is more than a century old. These phylogenetic results are reviewed along with concordant morphological characters to create an updated higher-level classification. The subfamily Collyrinae Csiki is not supported by any modern data. We recognize six tribes, Manticorini Laporte (new sense), Megacephalini Laporte (new sense), Collyridini Brullé, Ctenostomatini Laporte, Cicindelini Latreille and the reinstated Oxycheilini Chaudoir (with emended spelling).     

Exploring the midgut proteome of partially fed female cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus)

The continued development of effective anti-tick vaccines remains the most promising prospect for the control of the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. A vaccine based on midgut proteins could interfere with successful tick feeding and additionally interfere with midgut developmental stages of Babesia parasites, providing opportunities for the control of both the tick and the pathogens it transmits. Midgut proteins from partially fed adult female cattle ticks were analysed using a combination of 2-DE and gel-free LC-MS/MS. Analysis of the urea-soluble protein fraction resulted in the confident identification of 105 gut proteins, while the PBS-soluble fraction yielded an additional 37 R. microplus proteins. The results show an abundance of proteins involved in mitochondrial ATP synthesis, electron transport chain, protein synthesis, chaperone, antioxidant and protein folding and transport activities in midgut tissues of adult female ticks. Among the novel products identified were clathrin-adaptor protein, which is involved in the assembly of clathrin-coated vesicles, and membrane-associated trafficking proteins such as syntaxin 6 and surfeit 4. The observations allow the formulation of hypotheses regarding midgut physiology and will serve as a basis for future vaccine development and tick-host interaction research.