Isolation of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (LC variant, Y-Goat) from naturally aborted bovine fetuses

Seven strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (LC, Y-Goat) were isolated from 4 of 85 (4.7%) cases of bovine abortion. The biochemical characters of all the isolates were homogenous (except for one sucrose negative isolate), but variation in sensitivity to neomycin, kanamycin and streptomycin were noted. The only gross lesions of internal organs in aborted fetuses were congestion of liver and lungs, and hemorrhagic patches on the heart surface. Significant microscopic lesions were encountered in lungs (edema of the interlobular septae, thickened alveolar wall, lymphocytic infiltration, septal hyperplasia and alveolar infiltration with neutrophils and macrophages), liver (mild lymphocytic infiltration in the hepatic triad, hypertrophy of Von-kupffer cells), kidney (degenerative necrosis and desquamation of tubular epithelium, and the marked lymphocytic infiltration in the interstitium), spleen (depleted lymphoid tissues, infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophage and plasma cells in the red pulp) and heart (lymphocytic myocarditis). The observations of this study focus on the role of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides (LC variant) in bovine abortions.     

Some studies on the respiration of stonefly nymph,Paragnetina media (Walker)

The gills of Paragnetina media function as true respiratory organs. The animals with all the thoracic gill removed did not respire more than a few minutes. The respiratory rates showed a correlation to the body weight.     

Rearing and maintenance of plecopteran nymphs

Summary A device for rearing and maintenance of Plecopterans was designed and constructed. This apparatus is satisfactory for rearing other aquatic species. A desired water temperature and current velocities can be achieved in the apparatus.     

Rapid in vitro differentiation of Sesbania bispinosa plants — a leguminous shrub

Multiple shoots differentiated from hypocotyl explants of Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.F. Wight, a leguminous woody shrub, when cultured on Gamborg's basal medium alone or in combination with 6-benzyl aminopurine (10^–7–10^–4 M). For cotyledonary explants 6-benzyl aminopurine (10^–6–10^–4 M) was necessary. The shoots rooted when cultured on Gamborg's basal medium containing indole-3-butyric acid (10^-5 M). Plantlets thus formed were transferred to soil where they have flowered and also set fruits.     

Studies of the structure--function relationships of Neurospora crassa pyruvate kinase: interaction with blue dextran--sepharose and Cibacron blue 3G-A

Blue dextran--Sepharose and Cibacron blue 3G-A interact with pyruvate kinase of Neurospora crassa. The enzyme is readily released from the substituted Sepharose column by elution with 0.17 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.9), or 2 mM fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP), but not with either of the substrates, ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), at 2 mM. Cibacron blue 3G A is a noncompetitive inhibitor of pyruvate kinase with respect to both substrates. It appears to compete with the allosteric effector, FDP, for binding to the enzyme surface. A lack of elution of the enzyme from the immobilized blue dextran matrix by adenine nucleotides and the absence of a difference spectrum in the 650- to 700-nm range suggest that a "dinucleotide-fold" substructure is not implicated in the dye binding sites on pyruvate kiase. The interaction of Cibacron blue 3G-A and this enzyme can be followed fluorometrically; incremental additon of the dye to the enzyme solution results in a progressive decrease in the fluorescence of surface tryptophanyl residues. The quenching of fluorescence of exposed aromatic groups is subject to reversal following addition of FDP to the pyruvte kinase--Cibacron blue complex.     

Effect of certain herbicides on survival, growth, and nitrogen fixation of blue-green alga Anabaena doliolum Bharadwaja

Growth and fixation of nitrogen were retarded in Anabaena doliolum when grown on elemental nitrogen in presence of four different herbicides. The alga was found to be intolerant to these chemicals under nitrogen fixing conditions even in low concentrations. An inhibition of photosynthesis has been regarded as the main basis of herbicidal activity besides other interactions.