Antigens and Antigenic Variability of the African Trypanosomes*†

SYNOPSIS. The recent literature on the physical, chemical and biological characterization of antigens from the African trypanosomes is reviewed. The antigens are divided into three major groups: a) variant-specific antigens, b) common antigens, and c) host-like antigens. The variant-specific antigen(s) are relatively small molecular weight proteins located on the surface of the trypanosome, and are involved in protection and agglutination. It is suggested that there is more than a single variant-specific antigen on the cell surface. In contrast, the common antigens are internal or somatic antigens which are believed to have structural or enzymatic functions but are not involved in either protection or agglutination. In addition, evidence is also presented which suggests that there are host-like antigens within the surface coat and/or membranes of the trypanosomes. The importance of these three groups of antigens, and the mechanis(s) of antigenic variation are discussed in relationship to the immune response of the host to the African trypanosomes. Several possible approaches for future investigations are described.     

Antibody of Restricted Heterogeneity secreted by Spleen Fragments

SMALL fragments of lymphoid tissue in culture will incorporate radioactive amino-acids into secreted immunoglobulin. Electrophoresis followed by autoradiography has been used to indicate the degree of heterogeneity of the immunoglobulin^1–5. Fragments of lymph node from a rabbit immunized with low doses of Salmonella organisms^2–4 and of spleens from reconstituted irradiated mice immunized with sheep erythrocytes⁵ have been studied.     

Ontogeny of the Immune System in Amphibians

SYNOPSIS. Experiments with amphibians have revealed that tissuesallografted in embryonic and early larval life may later succumbto a host immunological attack. In Xenopus, the ontogeny ofthis alloimmune response is correlated with the lymphoid maturationof the thymus. This article describes experiments primarilydesigned to ascertain if such a correlation exists in Rana pipiens. Initially, a histological study of the differentiation of thelymphomyeloid complex of the leopard frog was undertaken. At18–21°C lymphoid histogenesis is well under way inthe thymus and is beginning in many other organs during thethird week of larval life. Extensive growth and differentiationof these organs follow. Observations are also presented on thestructure, function and development of the lymphoid and Iymphomyeloidorgans from late larval life throughmetamorphosis to adulthood. Experiments were then performed to determine the onset of thealloimmune response to embryonically transplanted neural foldmaterial. At 18–21°C incompatibility phenomena, albeitslight, are first detected in these grafts as early as 17 daysafter fertilization, i.e. 15 days after transplantation. Thus,in the leopard frog, the alloimmune response develops soon afterlymphoid maturation of the thymus. At later stages of development,a more vigorous response is witnessed, concomitant with a rapidphase of lymphoid organ differentiation.     

Infaunal or semi-infaunal bellerophont gastropods: analysis of Euphemites and functionally related taxa

Burrowing and plowing gastropods may have existed prior to the Mesozoic, contrary to the conservative tendency of categorizing Paleozoic archaeogastropods as herbivorous hardground dwellers. We propose that Euphemites and other bellerophontiform molluscs such as Praematuratroph and Beyrichidiscus make functional and paleoecological sense only if reconstructed with an internal shell adapted to an infaunal mode of life. Attributes diagnostic of a probable infaunal mode of life in fossil bellerophontiform molluscs include: (1) lack of apertural flare; (2) restricted aperture; (3) low rate of whorl expansion; (4) semi-radial aperture; (5) extensive secondary shell deposits; (6) absence of extensive collabral ornament; (7) dorsolateral or umbilical furrows; (8) color patterns indicative of mantle extension and retraction capabilities; (9) absence of shell breakage and repair; and (10) associated lithologies indicative of penetrable substrates such as mudstones. Niche diversity in the bellerophontacean molluscs was probably much greater than previously suspected. This is entirely consistent with their long geologic range. Most bellerophontaceans, particularly the Late Paleozoic forms, were probably either 'nestling' or semi-infaunal with the apertural margins enwrapped by mantle or mantle and foot. As such they may have been particularly susceptible to predation during the postulated Mesozoic increase in number of infaunal predators- a factor which may have been contributory to the bellerophontacean demise.     

Photosynthetic rates in four tropical African fresh waters

SUMMARY. Seasonal changes in photosynthetic rates of phytoplankton and underwater light in four Kenyan fresh waters (Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island Crater, Oloidien Lake and Winam Gulf) were measured in 1973 and 1974. Daily variations in water temperature were only slightly less than seasonal changes, and complete vertical mixing usually occurred each day. Well oxygenated water from top to bottom provided evidence for daily mixing. The vertical profiles of photosynthetic rates in the four lakes had the familiar feature of subsurface maxima. Of the photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), 1% coincided with the limit of detection of photosynthesis in Naivasha and Crescent Island Crater. The PAR at the depth of the maximal photosynthetic rate was higher for Naivasha (mean= 1.71 einsteins (E) m^?2) than for the Oloidien and Crescent Island Crater (means = 1.23 and 1.20 E m^?2 h^?1, respectively). The maximal rates of photosynthesis (mg O2 m^?3 h^?1) were usually higher in Oloidien (260–750) and Winam Gulf (230–640) than in Naivasha (150–240) and were least in Crescent Island Crater (50–180). Chlorophyll-a concentrations were directly related to photosynthetic rates. Because of the inverse relation between euphotic zone depth and maximal photosynthetic rates, the areal rates varied less among the lakes than the volumetric rates (i.e. 3.0–12.1 g O2 m^?2 day^?1). The efficiency of utilization of PAR expressed on a molar basis ranged from 6.1 to 1.9 mmol O₂ E^?1, but was usually 2–4 mmol O₂ E^?1. The seasonal changes over a 12-month period in the areal photosynthetic rates ranged from a 3-fold variation in Oloidien and Crescent Island Crater to a 1.5-fold variation in Naivasha. In Winam Gulf over a 5-month period a 2.3-fold variation occurred.     

The relation between body size and resistance to desiccation in two species of Zaprionus (Drosophilidae)

Abstract.

• 1 Resistance to desiccation and body size were studied in the drosophilid flies Zaprionus vittiger and Z.tuberculatus.
• 2 Populations in a hot dry low altitude area were compared with those in a nearby cooler wetter high altitude area in the north-eastern Transvaal of South Africa, using laboratory strains established from these populations.
• 3 No between-area differences were found for either body size or resistance to desiccation considered separately.
• 4 However, in Z.tuberculatus, regression analyses using strain mean values showed a strong positive correlation between the two characters amongst strains derived from low altitude populations but not amongst strains derived from high altitude populations.
• 5 It is concluded that differences of genetic organization have evolved between low and high altitude populations of Z.tuberculutus.
• 6 From differences between species and sexes it is concluded that both body size and some unknown factor related to sex may influence resistance of desiccation.

     

Evolution and Ecology of Parthenogenesis in Earthworms

A model for the origin of parthenogenesis in hermaphroditesis developed. If a dominant mutation causing parthenogeneticdevelopment of eggs without affecting meiotic production ofsperm arises, the parthenogens will increase in frequency tofixation. Concomitantly, there is selection for reallocationof resources from male to female-related functions in both parthenogeneticand sexual individuals. Occasional fertilization of unreducedeggs may produce polyploid clones. Both the loss of male-relatedstructures and polyploidy are common in parthenogenetic earthworms.Parthenogenesis should be favored in patchy and temporally unstablehabitats, in which -selection may be expected, because it facilitatescolonization and rapid population growth, and because selectionby the biotic component of the environment presumably is reduced.Parthenogenetic earthworms commonly occur in decaying logs,leaf litter, and the upper, organic layers of the soil, whereassexual species more often inhabit the deeper, more stable soilhorizons. Long-term persistence of clones depends on their abilityto survive and reproduce under a variety of environmental conditions.It is proposed that successful clones possess "general purpose"genotypes that allow persistence in spite of temporal changesand facilitate active dispersal through heterogeneous environmentsbetween patches of prime habitat. Two common clones of the parthenogeneticearthworm Octolasion tyrtaeum seem to possess general purposegenotypes, as they occur in a wide variety of soil and habitattypes and are geographically widespread.     

Composition and Behavior of the Nucleolar Organizer of the Nucleolar Variant of Axolotls; Review and Comparison to Other Systems

SYNOPSIS. Studies on the nudeohis in various species of Amphibia,including the Mexican axolotl, have contributed to an understandingof the function of the nucleolar organizing region. In the firstpart of this paper we have reviewed some of the research onnucleolar variants in the axolotl. These variants were recognizedin different strains of laboratory reared animals. The phenotypesinclude diminished nucleolar size and possible alterations inthe levels of rDNA. The expression of several of these variantnucleolar phenotypes does not, however, reflect a simple deletionof rRNA genes. Evidence from analyses of several mutant andapparently normal strains indicate that some animals have relativelyhigh levels of rRNA redundancy, while others, including someanimals which display variant nucleolar sizes, display "normal"levels. Data on the inheritance of rRNA genome sizes in the axolotlis reviewed. The observation that intermediate levels of redundancywere detected in some crosses is discussed in terms of inheritancedata from other organisms. In the second part of this reviewa variety of information, obtained from studies of various organisms,on nucleolar expression is discussed.     

Biological Interactions and the Realized Niche of Euplotes vannus from the Salt Marsh Aufwuchs

SYNOPSIS. Euplotes vannus , a hypotrich ciliate. grows well over broad ranges of temperature and salinity. It requires higher densities of food (> 1 × 10⁴ cells/ml) for rapid reproduction than do the other herbivores, the foraminiferan Al-logromia laticollaris (> 1 × 10² cells/ml), and the nematode Chromadorina germanica (∼ 1 × 10³ cells/ml), to which it was compared. If food levels were initially very high (∼ 1 × 10⁸ cells/ml) the ciliates reproduced rapidly and consumed the algae faster than it could reproduce. Some balance between the algae and the ciliates was achieved at initial algal concentrations of ∼ 1 × 10⁵ cells/ml. In microcosm experiments at 25 C with equal numbers of C. germanica and A. laticollaris. E. vannus proved to be a very poor competitor; reaching only 20% of control levels when grow with C. germanica and only 13% when cultured with A. laticollaris . It was a better competitor in 2-species microcosms, at lower temperatures, and when its ratio to the other species was initially higher.
The experimental evidence suggests that E. vannus is best adapted to being a migrating initial colonizer of fresh algal blooms.