Possibility of decreasing the anticomplement activity of human immunoglobulin preparations via chemical modification

The physicochemical and immunological properties of the experimental batches of the preparations of placental immunoglobulin, obtained by some methods of chemical modification of the molecule of IgG, have been studied. The possibility of abolishing the anticomplement properties of the preparations treated with sulfitolytic agents manufactured in the USSR has been shown. The optimum conditions permitting the production of the preparation with faintly pronounced anticomplement properties and the full monomer structure of its molecule have been established.     

Action of bioglycans from marine invertebrates on macrophage functioning

The data on the absorption and bactericidal function of macrophages are presented. It was shown in vivo that bioglycans 42 and 106 had a stimulating action on phagocytosis of Y. pseudotuberculosis and S. typhimurium capable of persisting in macrophages for prolonged periods. Addition of the bioglycans to the cultures of the macrophages from intact animals increased the absorption activity of the macrophages and somewhat potentiated their bactericidal activity. Under the action of the bioglycans the level and rate of the carbon clearance in the blood flow increased. The results of the study are promising for adequate control of infections caused by intracellularly located pathogens.     

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum on germination and growth of tomato seedlings

Significant stimulation of germination of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Odessa plum) with poor initial germination capacity was achieved by soaking their seeds during 6 h in suspensions of nine out of ten Lactobacillus plantarum strains tested. The increase in percentage of germination ranged from 15.1 to 7.6 %. Lengths of shoots, main and lateral roots and development of root hairs increased after inoculation of seeds with studied L. plantarum strains. The treatments of seeds with L. plantarum expanded shoot lengths by 16.4–18.2 %. Stimulation of main root lengths in the tested tomato seedlings varied from 10.5 to 31.4 %, and the stimulation of lateral roots from 28.6 to 32.2 %. Lactobacilli from different strains exert different effects on the seedlings: for instance, inoculation with certain strains resulted in the stimulation of the main root growth and the inoculation with another strain stimulated shoot growth or growth of the lateral roots. It is the first report about plant-stimulating activities of L. plantarum from different ecological niches (plant surfaces, surfaces of edible mushrooms, dairy products) in the absence of nutritional compounds.     

Molecular taxonomy reveals broad trans-oceanic distributions and high species diversity of deep-sea clams (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae: Pliocardiinae) in chemosynthetic environments

Large vesicomyid clams are common inhabitants of sulphidic deep-sea habitats such as hydrothermal vents, hydrocarbon seeps and whale-falls. Yet, the species- and genus-level taxonomy of these diverse clams has been unstable due to insufficiencies in sampling and absence of detailed taxonomic studies that would consistently compare molecular and morphological characters. To clarify uncertainties about species-level assignments, we examined DNA sequences from mitochondrial cytochrome-c-oxidase subunit I (COI) in conjunction with morphological characters. New and published COI sequences were used to create a molecular database for 44 unique evolutionary lineages corresponding to species. Overall, the congruence between molecular and morphological characters was good. Several discrepancies due to synonymous species designations were recognized, and acceptable species names were rectified with published COI sequences in cases where morphological specimens were available. We identified seven species with trans-Pacific distributions, and two species with Indo-Pacific distributions. Presently, 27 species have only been documented from one region, which might reflect limited ranges, or insufficient geographical sampling. Vesicomyids exhibit the greatest species diversity along the northwest Pacific ridge systems and in the eastern Pacific, along the western America margin, where depth zonation typically results in segregation of closely related species. The broad distributions of several vesicomyid species suggest that their required chemosynthetic habitats might be more common than previously recognized and occur along most continental margins.