A review of nutrient enrichment in the estuaries of Scotland: Implications for the natural heritage

The present nutrient status of 43 rivers entering Scottish estuaries and firths is reviewed using monitoring data for nitrogen concentrations from the river purification authorities and other sources. Nitrogen concentrations range from very low, with no evidence of elevated levels, to a small number of sites which are highly nitrogen-enriched. Only one estuary site, the Ythan in North-east Scotland, has been proposed as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, where a number of chemical and ecological criteria outlined in the EC Nitrate Directive have been met, with potential serious consequences for the natural heritage interests of the estuary. Evidence of nitrogen enrichment in the waters of other Scottish estuaries is discussed in relation to the nitrogen levels in the Ythan Estuary. In addition, the results of ecological studies are discussed for two sites of international importance for waders and waterfowl, viz. Montrose Basin and the Eden Estuary, where there is evidence that changes may be occurring in the intertidal ecology of these estuaries as a result of nutrient enrichment. Requirements for future monitoring and research on nutrient enrichment in the Ythan and other estuaries are discussed. A general approach to nitrogen reductions in the Ythan catchment is presented, in addition to alternative options which might have additional benefits for natural heritage interests.     

Precursor phenotype of lymphokine-activated killer cells in the mouse

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity has been proposed to functionally differ from natural killer (NK) activity largely on the basis of a broader target cell spectrum and different kinetics of response to interleukin 2 (IL 2). Similarly, it has been proposed that the precursor cells for LAK activity are phenotypically distinct from NK cells. In most precursor studies, phenotype comparisons have been made between fresh NK cells and LAK cells which have been generated by 3 to 5 days of culture in IL 2. In the present study, we utilized positive selection with monoclonal antibodies to characterize the surface phenotype of precursor cells which give rise to rIL 2-augmented NK activity within 24 hr and to classically generated LAK activity which appears after 3 to 5 days of culture in rIL 2. The results demonstrated that highly purified (93 to 95%) Lyt-2+ or L3T4+ T lymphocytes were unable to generate appreciable amounts of either augmented NK activity or LAK activity when cultured with rIL 2, whereas the highly purified (98%) Lyt-2-, L3T4-, asialo GM1+ lymphocyte subset gave rise to both augmented NK and LAK activities. These findings demonstrate that both augmented NK and LAK activities can arise from precursors expressing the same phenotype. Overall, the results suggest that NK cells in mouse spleen constitute a major precursor component for the generation of LAK activity from that organ.     

Structure and regulation of the anthranilate synthase genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: II. Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli

The genes for the large and small subunits of anthranilate synthase (trpE and trpG, respectively) have been cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAC174 into E. coli by R-prime formation with the broad-host- range plasmid R68.44. Sequential subcloning into plasmid vectors reduced the active Pseudomonas DNA fragment to a length of 3.1 kb. We obtained evidence that this region contains the promoter for its own expression and retains a vestigial regulatory response to tryptophan scarcity or excess.      

LGL-1: a non-polymorphic antigen expressed on a major population of mouse natural killer cells

Rat mAb have been raised to mouse liver-derived large granular lymphocytes (LGL). One of these mAb (4D11) binds specifically to mouse LGL and appears to recognize a non-allelic determinant on NK-active cell populations. The Ag recognized by 4D11 is expressed on LGL of all mouse strains tested, including C57BL/6 (B6), BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, and SJL/J; thus, we have provisionally called this Ag LGL-1. Analysis of various lymphoid and hemopoietic tissues has indicated that only normal tissues known to contain NK activity have 4D11+ cells. With B6 and B6 congenic strains, a positive correlation exists between the number of LGL in a sample and the percentage of 4D11 immunofluorescence-positive cells detected by flow cytometric analysis. Dual color immunofluorescence analyses indicate that some LGL-1+ cells are also stained for Ly-1 and Thy-1. A very small subset exists that is weakly positive for CD3 and LGL-1. However, virtually no cells are seen which co-express LGL-1 and Ly-2. LU activity against YAC-1 targets was increased 7- to 700-fold in LGL-1+ spleen cells obtained by cell sorting from several different strains of mice (B6, BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, SJL/J, and athymic/nude). Sorted, LGL-1- spleen cells contained little or no NK activity. Cells positively selected for LGL-1 also contained between 50 and 60% LGL by morphology. By using facilitated in vitro antibody plus C' treatments, the majority of NK activity can be depleted from both B6 spleen and liver-derived leukocyte populations enriched for NK cells. mAb 4D11 was also shown to precipitate a protein of approximately 87 kDa from the surface of enriched murine NK cells. This mAb should prove valuable for understanding the role of NK cells in the immune response.     

Natural killer (NK) cell subsets in the mouse. NK-1.1+/LGL-1+ cells restricted to lysing NK targets, whereas NK-1.1+/LGL-1- cells generate lymphokine-activated killer cells

Our laboratory has recently identified a novel Ag, LGL-1, that is expressed on a major population of mouse NK cells. Two color immunofluorescence analysis has demonstrated that spleen cells consist of two major subsets of NK cells. We have identified an NK-1.1+/LGL-1+ subset that consists of 50% of the total NK cells and an NK-1.1+/LGL-1- subset comprising the remaining 50%. Because numerous reports have identified NK cells as the major cell type mediating lymphokine-activated killing (LAK), the NK-1.1+/LGL-1+ and NK-1.1+/LGL-1- subsets were examined for their contribution toward LAK generation, as defined by their ability to lyse P815 tumor targets. Antibody plus C depletion experiments with the use of anti-LGL-1 indicated that LGL-1+ cells were not found on LAK precursor or effector cells. Two-color cell sorting experiments were also performed to separate freshly isolated NK-1.1+/LGL-1+ spleen cells from the NK-1.1+/LGL-1- subset. It was found that the vast majority of LAK activity (greater than 95%) is derived from the NK-1.1+/LGL-1- cells. Cell sorting of LAK effectors also demonstrated that the NK-1.1+/LGL-1- cells mediated the vast majority of lysis against P815 targets. Similar results were obtained when NK cell subsets were analyzed for their contribution toward ADCC. These findings may prove important in understanding and further elucidating the contribution of NK cells to the LAK phenomenon. Our data also indicates that subsets of NK cells exist that may function differently in response to stimulation by various lymphokines and cytokines.     

Observations of terrestrial locomotion in wild Polypterus senegalus from Lake Albert,Uganda

Polypterids, the most basal actinopterygians, are a group of fish long-considered living fossils and holding a key position for understanding fish and tetrapod evolution. Knowledge of the natural history of Polypterus is limited, their having been studied in little detail since the early 1900s. The locomotory habits of wild Polypterus senegalus from Lake Albert, Uganda, were investigated in 2014. High-speed videography demonstrated the capability of large Polypterus to move overland successfully. Contrary to previous evidence, field observations found that terrestrial locomotion in Polypterus is not inherently restricted by body size. Evidence that Polypterus exhibit this behaviour as part of their natural life history can be found in the existence of environmental challenges and the presence of adaptations for amphibious life.     

Immunologic function and cell surface antigen expression of lymphocytes of dystrophic mice

Previous studies have reported abnormalities of thymic histology and cell numbers in 129/ ReJ-dy homozygous dystrophic mice, suggesting an association between murine muscular dystrophy and disorders of the immune system. The present study of C57BL/6J-dy^2J and 129/ReJ-dy homozygous dystrophic mice included a thorough analysis of thymic development and histology, of T-cell function demonstrated by mitogen stimulation, mixed-leukocyte culture, and graft-vs-host assays, and of surface antigen expression as measured by flow microfluorometry. Although sporadic differences can be seen in some dystrophic mice, we find no evidence of consistent abnormalities of the immune system in murine muscular dystrophy. It does not seem possible, therefore, to study either the dy or the dy^2J defect through analysis of lymphocytes. The feasibility of elucidating metabolic or membrane defects by utilizing cell populations other than those most conspicuously affected by a mutation with multisystem effects is discussed and our coincidental finding of a subpopulation of T cells with unusual antigenic properties is described.