Tuberculosis in wildlife (review)

The cases of tuberculosis in wild animals of different systematic groups recorded and published in the world literature since the time of discovery of the agent of tuberculosis have been presented. The epizootiology, routes of dissemination of the infection, clinical manifestations and some other characteristics accounting for the present status of tuberculosis in wild animals have been described.     

Humoral immunity in mice with transplantable leukemia during chemoimmunotherapy]

The article treats of the effect of cyclophosphamide (CP), and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and their combination on the development of transplantable leukemia-hemocytoblastosis in mice and some host humoral immune reactions. The optimal combinations of the CP (on the 3rd day after the transplantation of leukemia) and of the CFA (on the 10th day) led to increase in the average survival up to 93,9 days (8.5 days in control). This combination also increased the survival of 42.9% of the animals for over 180 days. Enhancement of humoral immunity proved to take place in the course of chemoimmunotherapy. In spite of deep immunodepression after the CP and CFA administration the number of antibody-producing cells increased and enhancement of the cytotoxic activity of the serum IgM was observed.     

Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid and phenibut on the central links of the vascular reflexes with chemo- and mechanoreceptors of the aorto-carotid zone]

Experiments were conducted on decerebrated cats. A depressive effect of gamma-aminobutyruc acid (GABA)--100--200 mg/kg and its phenyl derivative phenibut--20 mg/kg--on depressive reactions of the systemic arterial pressure and on the inhibition of spontaneous bioelectrical activity in the renal nerve occurring in stimulation of the mechanoreceptors of the carotid sinus and of the sinus and depressor nerve afferents (having a mechanoreceptor modality) was demonstrated. Pressor reactions of the systemic arterial pressure and evoked bioelectrical activity were enhanced in the renal nerve in stimulation of chemoreceptors of the carotid sinus following administration of the same GABA and phenibut doses. The data obtained are interpreted from the aspect of a deprimating action of GABA and phenibut in the area of the paramedian reticular nuclei of the medulla oblongata.     

Electromethanogenesis: a Promising Biotechnology for the Anaerobic Treatment of Organic Waste

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology - The ability of microorganisms to carry out interspecies electron transfer during the degradation of organic substances under anaerobic conditions opens up...     

Analysis of the mitochondrial DNA variation in pond smelt Hypomesus olidus (Osmeridae)

Pond smelt Hypomesus olidus (Pallas, 1814), one of the five species of the genus Hypomesus, family Osmeridae, was examined for intraspecific variation of the mitochondrial DNA cytb (1062 bp) and COI (567 bp) genes. Among the ten single substitutions discovered, only one, leading to the substitution of isoleucine by valine, was nonsynonymous, while the remaining substitutions were synonymous. The degree of genetic divergence among pooled nucleotide sequences in H. olidus populations examined constituted 0.4% on average, ranging from 0.2 to 0.6%. These values were not higher than the levels of divergence between the individuals within the populations. Phylogenetic analysis of the populations examined did not reveal their subdivision depending of their geographic location, and pointed to the absence of intraspecific differentiation of the species.     

Detection of new double-membrane structures in native mitochondria by the method of small-angle neutron scattering

The structure of mitochondrial cristae has been studied for the first time by the method of small-angle neutron scattering. Experiments were performed on intact (functioning) mitochondria from rat liver. Mitochondrial cristae are usually considered to be folds of the inner membrane with arbitrary variable intermembrane distances. Under conditions of low-amplitude swelling, mitochondrial cristae transformed into double-membrane structures with a distance of 190 Å between the central planes of the membranes. The formation of double-membrane structures and their structural parameters did not depend on the method for inducing swelling which was accomplished either by placing the mitochondria into a hypotonic medium or through the opening of nonspecific pores.