Detection of Giardia intestinalis assemblages A, B and D in domestic cats from Warsaw, Poland

Giardia intestinalis is a complex species divided into 7 assemblages (A - G). Two of them (A and B) are infective for both humans and animals. In cats four assemblages can occur: A, B, D, and F Assemblages A and B infect either cats, dogs and humans, assemblage D infects cats and dogs and assemblage F only cats. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of G. intestinalis in cats from Warsaw. From November 2006 to March 2007 a hundred sixty samples of stool were collected and examined by light microscopy. G. intestinalis cysts were detected in 3.75% of samples. DNA extracted from positive samples was used as template for PCR-RFLP using Giardia specific primers and the amplicons were sequenced. A comparison of the obtained DNA sequences with the Giardia sequences in the GeneBank database revealed assemblage A in 1.25% of the investigated cats, assemblage B in 1.25% and D in 1.25%.     

I – V characteristics and electrical conductivity of synthetic melanin

I – V characteristics for synthetic melanin were investigated at – 10 and 25°C. It was found that the Ohm law is valid for low voltages whereas the Child law holds for higher ones. Furthermore, the steady state electrical conductivity was estimated. The change of activation energy from 0.76 eV for low temperatures to 1.58 eV was noticeable near 0°C.     

EMBRYO SAC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CV. KS MALE-STERILE,FEMALE-STERILE LINE OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX)

Light microscopic observations were made on 22 ovules from fertile plants and 108 ovules from sterile plants of the cv. KS synaptic mutant, a highly male-sterile, female-sterile line of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (2n = 2x = 40). Ovules of fertile siblings contained normal embryo sacs and embryos. Ovules from sterile plants contained various irregularities. The most consistent abnormality was the failure of the embryo sac to attain normal size. Small megasporocytes of irregular shape were seen; only one megasporocyte of normal shape and size was noted. No linear tetrads were found. However, two ovules contained nonlinear triads. A range from zero to 28 cells and nuclei, of various sizes, were identifiable in small megagametophytes and embryo sacs. Degeneration of these nuclei and cells was noted as early as the four-nucleate gametophyte stage. Other ovules contained degenerated nucellar centers without embryo sacs. Two ovules appeared to be normal. Late postpollination stages were marked by shrunken nucellus and integuments. The presence of pollen tube traces, endosperm, and aborting embryos in ovules of hand-pollinated flowers from sterile plants suggested that no incompatibility was involved. Degeneration of the gametophyte and embryo sac contents at many developmental stages indicated a wide array of effects, possibly resulting from meiotic irregularities similar to those seen in microsporogenesis of this mutant.     

Mist trickling bioreactor for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Centaurium erythraea</Emphasis> Rafn growth of shoots and production of secoiridoids

Shoots of Centaurium erythraea Rafn were cultivated in 5 l mist trickling bioreactor for 21 and 28 days increasing their dry weight from 0.54 g to 13.7 g and 18.3 g, respectively. About 6880 shoots from 223 initial shoot-tips in 21-day bioreactor producing cycle were produced. The shoots could be successfully rooted and transferred to soil. Secoiridoid accumulation (expressed as a sum of gentiopicroside, sweroside and swertiamarin) in shoots after 21 days of culture reached about 303 mg l⁻¹.     

Role of Salmonella and Yersinia in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthropathies and rheumatoid arthritis. II. Antibodies to Salmonella and Yersinia in sera and synovial fluids

IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies against Yersinia Yop proteins, Yersinia LPS and Salmonella LPS from different serogroups were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a 885 serum samples and 92 synovial fluids. The control group consisted of 200 healthy blood donors. Compared with control subjects, patients with arthritis showed significantly increased titres of antibodies against Yersinia Yop, Yersinia LPS and Salmonella LPS appropriately in 21.7%, 44.0% and 56.0% serum samples. The prevalence of positive antibody levels was highest in Yersinia serogroup O3 and Salmonella serogroup B and D antibodies. The IgA titres were found to be much higher in adults than in children and youngsters but IgM titres consequently decreased with age. Investigation of synovial fluids obtained from patients with arthritis showed that Yersinia and Salmonella antibodies in synovial fluid mirror those in serum by concentration, by specificity and by distribution in classes.     

Frequency and susceptibility patterns of non-fermenting gram-negative rods isolated from patients hospitalised in intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital

The aim of the study was to assess frequency and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of non-fermenting gram-negative rods isolated from clinical specimens obtained from patients requiring intensive care, with emphasis on profile of the unit. Identification of cultured isolates was done using automated VITEK and API systems (bioMerieux, France). Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was tested by a disk-diffusion method according to the NCCLS recommendations. In total the analysis comprised 425 strains of non-fermenting gram-negative rods, constituting 58.9% of all isolates of gram-negative bacteria. In blood cultures predominated strains of A. baumannii (46.8%) and P. aeruginosa (40.4%), while in cultures of other clinical specimens these bacteria comprised 42.9% and 43.9% of isolates. Major differences were observed in frequency of these species on both ICU units. Strains of non-fermenting rods isolated from blood cultures comprised a lower percentage of strains susceptible to antimicrobials (particularly cefepime and carbapenems) than isolates cultured from other specimens. Strains of A. baumannii resistant to imipenem and meropenem were detected with a frequency of 12.5% and 26.7%, respectively. Resistance of P. aeruginosa strains to carbapenems was 62.2% and 44.3%, respectively. There was a relatively high percentage of strains susceptible to cefepime (82.0%), ceftazidime (78.9%), amikacin (77.8%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (69.7%). Conclusions: 1. There was a predominance (58.9%) of strains of gram-negative non-fermenting rods. 2. Isolates from blood cultures were characterised by a much higher percentage of resistant strains in comparison to other specimens. 3. Strains of A. baumannii resistant to carbapenems were recorded. 4. There were differences in frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility among the strains of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii depending on the type of clinical specimen and ICU profile.     

Assessing genetic variation to predict the breeding value of winter triticale cultivars and lines

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses for selection of the best parents for breeding of hybrid winter triticale. Phenotypic diversity was measured for 8 agronomic traits in 10 parents and 27 F1 hybrids. Genotypic diversity was measured by 91 AFLP markers. Coefficients of correlation of genetic similarity (AFLP-GS) with both Euclidean distances and mean values of the traits were generally not significant. A correction of the preliminary binary matrix into trait-specific derived matrices increased the values of 5 correlation coefficients to a significant level. The correlation of AFLP-GS with mid-parent heterosis of grain weight per plant was low but significant (r = -0.452). Our study confirms the effectiveness of marker preselection for obtaining AFLP-GS better correlated with heterosis. The use of derived matrices is promising for reducing the number of cross combinations tested for specific combining ability.     

Interaction of Helicobacter pylori with sialylated carbohydrates: the dependence on different parts of the binding trisaccharide Neu5Ac{alpha}3Gal{beta}4GlcNAc

We have recently shown that binding of Helicobacter pylori to sialylated carbohydrates is dependent on the presence of the carboxyl group and the glycerol chain of Neu5Ac. In this work we investigated the importance of GlcNAc in the binding trisaccharide Neu5Acalpha3Galbeta4GlcNAc and the role of the N-acetamido groups of both Neu5Ac and GlcNAc. An important part of the project was epitope dissection, that is chemical derivatizations of the active carbohydrate followed by binding studies. In addition we used a panel of various unmodified carbohydrate structures in the form of free oligosaccharides or glycolipids. These were tested for binding by hemagglutination inhibition assay, TLC overlay tests, and a new quantitative approach using radiolabeled neoglycoproteins. The studies showed that the N-acetamido group of Neu5Ac is important for binding by H. pylori, whereas the same group of GlcNAc is not. In addition, Fuc attached to GlcNAc, as tested with sialyl-Lewis x, did not affect the binding. Free Neu5Ac was inactive as inhibitor, and Neu5Acalpha3Gal turned out to be active. The binding preference for neolacto structures was confirmed, although one strain also was inhibited by lacto chains. The combined results revealed that an intact Neu5Ac is crucial for the interactions with H. pylori. Parts of Gal also seem to be necessary, whereas the role of the GlcNAc is secondary. GlcNAc does influence binding, however, primarily serving as a guiding carrier for the binding epitope rather than being a part of the binding structure.     

Assessment of potential application of binary mixtures of 2,4-d with novel aminophosphonates

A series of new aminoalkane- and aminofluorenephosphonates was synthesized for agrochemical application. The particular compounds had different alkyl substituents at the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus atoms. Their pesticidal activity was checked by applying various experimental methods. These included the measurements of compounds' potency: to inhibit growth of cucumber and germination of white mustard seeds, to influence on the membrane potential of algae and to damage human erythrocyte membranes resulting in hemolysis. All the aminophosphonates were also used in equimolar binary mixtures with the well-known herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), to check, if using such mixtures, the biological efficiencies found for particular compounds could be enhanced due to interactions between aminophosphonates and 2,4-D. The results demonstrated, that depending on the structural features of the compounds, the final effects differed from antagonistic, through additive to the most promising synergistic ones. However, the type of interaction between 2,4-D and the compounds studied found in different experiments was somewhat different. In order to estimate those effects various statistical methods were used (toxic unit method, isobole method).