A microagglutination test for blood typing rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta

We have developed a microagglutination test for typing rhesus monkey erythrocytes that is sensitive, accurate and easy to perform. The technique requires only microliter quantities of antiserum and cells, and agglutination is easily detected using an inverted microscope. An advantage of this technique is that the typing plates can be stored at -70 degrees C without loss of activity. The results of typing over 400 rhesus blood samples with this technique were 95% concordant with results using the standard microtitre agglutination technique. Preliminary results indicate that this test is also adaptable to typing human blood.     

Study of permeation and blocker binding in TMEM16A calcium-activated chloride channels

We studied the effects of mutations of positively charged amino acid residues in the pore of X. tropicalis TMEM16A calcium-activated chloride channels: K613E, K628E, K630E; R646E and R761E. The activation and deactivation kinetics were not affected, and only K613E showed a lower current density. K628E and R761E affect anion selectivity without affecting Na⁺ permeation, whereas K613E, R646E and the double mutant K613E + R646E affect anion selectivity and permeability to Na⁺. Furthermore, altered blockade by the chloride channel blockers anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (A-9-C), 4, 4''-Diisothiocyano-2,2''-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS) and T16inh-A01 was observed. These results suggest the existence of 2 binding sites for anions within the pore at electrical distances of 0.3 and 0.5. These sites are also relevant for anion permeation and blockade.