Isolation and Identification of Alkalitolerant Bacteria with Hydrolytic Activity from a Soda Sludge Storage

Microbiology - From a technogenic soda sludge storage, 58 cultures of alkalitolerant bacteria with amylase, lipase, protease, and cellulase activities were isolated and identified using a medium...     

Endophytic Bacteria as Effective Agents of New-Generation Biopesticides (Review)

In this review, the data on endophytic bacteria with protective properties are covered, and their characteristics and species composition are discussed. The mechanisms of fungicidal and insecticidal activities, including the synthesis of lipopeptides, siderophores, and hydrolases, systemic resistance induction, and the production of insecto-toxic compounds, are analyzed. Possible methods for the production of complex biological preparations are considered; the preparations are based on endophytic microorganisms and would protect plants from both pathogens and pests. The means of extending their activity spectrum via the combination of different strains or the construction of new recombinant endophytic strains by genetic engineering techniques are also considered.     

Inhibition of interferon secretion by vinblastine

The plant alkaloids vinblastine and colchicine are known to arrest cells in mitosis by virtue of their binding to spindle protein. These drugs are also capable of binding to microtubule protein and causing these structures to disaggregate into nonfunctional subunits (1, 2). Microtubular structures are thought to be involved in the secretory process of a number of proteins including insulin (7), collagen (4), and thyroid hormone (12). In this report we present our findings on the effects of these two drugs on the synthesis and secretion of interferon in a high producing human foreskin fibroblast strain (FS-4) (11).     

Highly selective affinity labeling of DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase of bacteriophage T7

T7 phage RNA polymerase was affinity labelled in the presence of its promoter by treatment with an ATP gamma-derivative (a phosphoamide obtained from 4-(N-chloroethyl, N-methyl)aminobenzylamine, or one of esters obtained from 2-methoxy-4-formylphenol, 4-formylphenol, and 2[N-(4-formylphenyl), N-methyl]-aminoethanol) followed by addition of [alpha-32P]GTP. The most efficient labelling took place with the alkylating phosphoamide reagent.     

Fractionation of "tricholysine" by isoelectric focusing

A possibility to fractionate fibrinolytically and thrombolytically active complex "tricholysin" into five components, differing in iso-points and in enzymatic activity, is demonstrated by means of isoelectric focusing using ampholine solution within pH range 3.0-10.0. Homogenous fraction IV (isopoint 6.8-7.0) has a low caseinolytic activity and a high specific fibrinolytic and esterase activities. This fraction is characterized with a high ability of plasminogen activation. Serine, threonine, alanine and valine are found to prevail in amino acid composition of the fraction IV, its molecular weight being 39000.     

Morphogenetic action of trichothecin on Trichothecium roseum]

Trichothecin and some conditions of cultivation, especially high concentrations of carbon favour differentiation of the submerged mycelium of Trichothecium roseum, i.e. formation of submerged conidia, bud forming cells, chlamidospores, chains of barrel-shaped cells capable of germination and development of new generations of the submerged mycelium. Biosynthesis of trichothecin is connected with growth of these generations of the mycelium which are characterized by a high dehydrogenase activity. Synthesis of fibrinolytic enzymes is also possible in the period of growth of a weakly differentiated mycelium.     

Physical criteria of pathological processes. I. Change in the functional hemispheric asymmetry at various stages of rheumatic diseases]

The functional interhemispheric asymmetry of brain in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases was estimated by measuring brain direct current potentials. It is shown that different types of functional interhemispheric asymmetry correspond to different stages of systemic rheumatic diseases. At early stages, the left hemisphere asymmetry dominates, at expressed stages, the right hemisphere asymmetry is prevalent, and the terminal stage is characterized by the loss of functional interhemispheric asymmetry.