Effects of growth conditions on the activities of superoxide dismutase and NADH-oxidase/NADH-peroxidase inStreptococcus lactis

An increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity inStreptococcus lactis was observed when the cells were grown at increased oxygen partial pressures or exposed to hyperbaric oxygen tensions. The NADH-oxidase/NADH-peroxidase activities inS. lactis increased in galactose-grown cells when cultivated in air compared with N₂/CO₂. This effect did not occur when glucose was the carbon source; however, an increase in the activities of these enzymes was observed in oxygen atmosphere. The correlation between SOD, NADH-oxidase/NADH-peroxidase, and the metabolic pathways involved is discussed. The effect of manganese on the SOD activity is also considered.     

The identification of the periodic behaviour in an epidemic model

In this paper we study a method for the identification of the unknown parameter of the periodic function and also the first component of the state vector, in a mathematical model which describes the evolution of some diseases with an oro-fecal transmission.To solve the identification problem we use a numerical method to integrate the differential equations system, which reproduces the stability properties of the above mentioned continuous system.The numerical methods which we propose can be applied also to a spatial semi discretization of the reaction-diffusion model which is a diffusive generalization of the system that we consider in this paper.Finally, through an analysis on both the continuous and the discrete system we also obtain a necessary condition on the experimental data in order that a periodic trajectory of the system exists.Work supported by: Progetto Finalizzato Controllo Malattie da Infezione-CNR and by Ministero Pubblica Istruzione     

Calcium alginate immobilized cells of clostridium acetobutylicum for solvent production

Conclusions Immobilized vegetative cells ofC. acetobutylicum has a similar product formation pattern when incubated in a simple glucose-salts solution as ordinary growing cells. If vegetative cells of the organism are immobilized in the solvent production phase, solvents are continuously produced on extended incubation.By immobi1izing spores of the organism the disturbance of the cells metabolic activity during the immobilization procedure was avoided. After the outgrowth of viable cells within the gel, the washed gel preparation retained at a high production capacity in the non-growth stage and the results indicate that continuous production might be fully possible. The butanol productivity was also found to be higher with immobilized cells than in a normal batch process.     

Sodium influx in isolated gills of the freshwater mussel,Ligumia subrostrata

Summary Isolated gills of the freshwater mussel,Ligumia subrostrata, accumulate Na from a pondwater bathing medium. The rate of Na transport by the isolated gill is 13.2±1.1 mol (g dry gill·10 min)^–1 which equals or exceeds the estimated Na transport rate of intact animals. Sodium influx is saturable with aV _max of 13.6±1.2 mol (g dry gill·10 min)^–1 and an affinity (K _s) of 0.17 mM Na/l. The isolated gills survive prolonged exposure to pondwater with a constant of 890 l O₂ (g dry gill·h)^–1 over a 4 h period. Sodium transport in the isolated gills is stimulated 80% above control values by 10^–4 M serotonin, 60% by 0.5 mM cAMP and 60% by 12.5 g/ml nystatin. Sodium influx is inhibited by 0.5 mM amiloride and 1 mM lithium.     

The Marfan syndrome locus: confirmation of assignment to chromosome 15 and identification of tightly linked markers at 15q15-q21.3

The Marfan syndrome is a common autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue. Despite many years of intensive investigation, the primary genetic defect has not yet been identified. Reverse genetic methods, targeted at mapping this disease gene, have resulted in an initial report of linkage of the genetic locus for the Marfan phenotype in Finnish families to two polymorphic markers on chromosome 15. We have investigated four large multiplex American families with classic Marfan syndrome using standard genetic linkage methods. Our data confirm the assignment of the Marfan syndrome gene to chromosome 15, but establish a more centromeric location (defined by markers D15S25 and D15S1) as the most probable site for the genetic defect (lod score = 12.1, theta = 0.00). These data should facilitate identification and characterization of the Marfan syndrome gene and, in selected families, have immediate application to diagnosis of equivocal cases or prenatal counseling.     

Biofilm build-up of Pseudomonas putida in a chemostat at different dilution rates

Summary A test system was set up where the build-up of a biofilm on a defined surface could be studied in a carbon source limited chemostat.The attachment of P. putida ATCC 11172 to glass when growing on L-asparagine was studied at different dilution rates (specific growth rates) from 0.1 to 1.5 h^–1 The number of attached colony forming units (cfu) increased with dilution rate from 1×10⁶ cfu/cm² at 0.1 h^–1 to 4×10⁷ cfu/cm² at 1.0 h^–1 and then the attachment decreased to about 6×10⁶ cfu/cm² at higher dilution rates (1.1–1.5 h^–1). The number of attached cfu was measured after 24 h exposure. The value of the maximum specific growth rate in batch culture was 0.6 h^–1.The total amount of attached cell-mass followed roughly the same pattern as the viable count.The viable count of the cells suspended in the growth medium showed its lowest value at the same dilution rate as resulted in maximum adhesion.It was shown that the effect of growth rate on the biofilm build-up of P. putida is significant, and ought to be borne in mind when continuous culture systems are set up and results evaluated.     

Spontaneous regression of Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia. VI. Structural and antigenic differences between the regressing and conventional strains of virus.

The regressing and conventional strains of Friend virus were compared by neutralization assays, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and tryptic peptide mapping of the individual viral components. Neutralization rates of the two viruses differed in the presence of monospecific anti-gp70 antiserum and sera from regressed or immunized mice. Neutralization of regressing Friend virus, but not conventional Friend virus, occurred when the viruses were incubated with anti-p15(E) and complement. Human serum inactivated conventional Friend virus more rapidly than regressing Friend virus, probably as a result of virolysis induced by the reaction of viral p15(E) with human complement component C1. Structural differences between the viruses were detected in their gp70 viral glycoproteins and p15(E) and p12 proteins. Analysis of different stocks and clonal isolates of the viruses showed that the differences between the gp70 and p15(E), but not the p12 proteins, were associated with the regressing phenotype of the regressing strain of Friend virus.