Acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase complex from Archaeoglobus fulgidus

The acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase (ACDS) multienzyme complex catalyzes the reversible cleavage and synthesis of acetyl-CoA in methanogens. This report of the enzyme complex in Archaeoglobus fulgidus demonstrates the existence of a functional ACDS complex in an organism that is not a methanogen. The A. fulgidus enzyme complex contained five subunits of 89, 72, 50, 49.5, and 18.5 kDa, and it catalyzed the overall synthesis of acetyl-CoA according to the following reaction: w CO₂ + 2 Fd_red(Fe²⁺) + 2 H⁺ + CH₃– H₄SPt + CoA ⇌ acetyl-CoA + H₄SPt + 2 Fd_ox(Fe³⁺) + H₂O where Fd is ferredoxin, and CH₃–H₄SPt and H₄SPt denote N ⁵-methyl-tetrahydrosarcinapterin and tetrahydrosarcinapterin, respectively. Received: 27 October 1997 / Accepted: 29 January 1998     

<i>Trichoderma</i> spp. fostering growth on <i>Capsicum chinense</i> Jacq. seedlings and antagonistic against <i>Meloidogyne incognita</i>

Fourteen native strains of Trichoderma spp. from wildand agricultural pathosystems in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, with growth-promoting ability of Capsicum chinense Jacq. seedlings were evaluated and antagonistic effect of their filtrate against second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita. The strains Th05-02 and Th27-08 showed the best significant effects on plant hight variable increments 55.57 and 47.62%, theTh07-04 with 29.48% more root length, theTh02-01 and Th07-04 isolates increased from 48.71 to 84.61% in volume radical and 53.40% of total dry biomass. Statistical analysis (p≤0.001) of Th43 and Th43-13-14 filtrates caused 100% mortality at 24 and 48h. In the test of reversibility to 24 h after replacing the filtrates Th43-13, Th43-14, TH09-06 and TH20-07 by sterile distilled water, the J2 did not recover their viability, so they were considered as the best potential strains of Trichoderma spp. with antagonistic capacity in J2 of M.incognita.     

The Gamesmanship of Sex: A Model Based on African American Adolescent Accounts

This article examines adolescent understanding of the social context of sexual behavior. Using grounded theory to interpret interviews with 39 African American male and female adolescents, the article builds a model of sex-related behavior as a set of interrelated games. A courtship game involves communication of sexual or romantic interest and, over time, formation of a romantic relationship. A duplicity game draws on conventions of a courtship game to trick a partner into having sex. A disclosure game spreads stories about one's own and others' sex-related activities to peers in a gossip network. Finally, a prestige game builds social reputation in the eyes of peers, typically based on gender-specific standards. The article concludes by examining the meanings that sex-related behavior may have for adolescents and the potential use of social know ledge for facilitating adolescent health, [adolescence, sexuality, African American, game theory, health promotion]     

丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶瞬时表达小鼠模型的建立

目的:建立丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶体内活性评价模型。方法:利用NS4A/B是NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶作用底物的特性,构建融合基因NS3/NS4A/B-SEAP,底物片段NS4A/B插在NS3/4A和人分泌性碱性磷酸酶(SEAP)之间,融合基因表达后SEAP的分泌依赖于有活性的NS3/4A在NS4A/B位点的切割。将含融合基因的质粒NS3/4A(△4AB)SEAP通过水动力转染技术转染到小鼠体内,检测小鼠血清中SEAP的活性,高活性的SEAP是该评价体系成立的证据。结果与结论:在瞬时表达NS3/4A的小鼠血清中检测到了高活性的SEAP,建立了可用于评价抗NS3/4A的小鼠体内瞬时模型。     

Population differences in density and resource allocation of ornamental tail feathers in the barn swallow

Many organisms show well‐defined latitudinal clines in morphology, which appear to be caused by spatially varying natural selection, resulting in different optimal phenotypes in each location. Such spatial variability raises an interesting question, with different prospects for the action of sexual selection on characters that have a dual purpose, such as locomotion and sexual attraction. The outermost tail feathers of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) represent one such character, and their evolution has been a classic model subject to intense debate. In the present study, we examined individuals from four European populations to analyze geographical variation in the length and mass of tail feathers in relation to body size and wing size. Tail feather length differed between sexes and populations, and such variation was a result of the effects of natural selection, acting through differences in body size and wing size, as well as the effects of sexual selection that favours longer tails. The extra enlargement of the tail promoted by sexual selection (i.e. beyond the natural selection optimum) could be achieved by increasing investment in ornaments, and by modifying feather structure to produce longer feathers of lower density. These two separate processes accounting for the production of longer and more costly tail feathers and less dense feathers, respectively, are consistent with the hypothesis that both Zahavian and Fisherian mechanisms may be involved in the evolution of the long tails of male barn swallows. We hypothesize that the strength of sexual selection increases with latitude because of the need for rapid mating as a result of the short duration of the breeding season at high latitudes. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 105 , 925–936.     

The Occurrence and Ape-to-Ape Transmission of the Entodiniomorphid Ciliate Troglodytella abrassarti in Captive Gorillas

ABSTRACT. Entodiniomorphid ciliates are often present in the colons of wild apes. In captive apes the infection tends to gradually disappear, with the exception of Troglodytella abrassarti . We used fecal examinations to screen the gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) in European (Czech Republic, UK) and Australian Zoos to explore the ape-to-ape transmission pattern of T. abrassarti . Gorillas from two out of three European Zoos were positive for T. abrassarti , while gorillas from the Australian Zoo were negative. We documented a horizontal transmission of T. abrassarti to a non-infected adult gorilla introduced into a Troglodytella -positive group in the Prague Zoo and traced the origin of the ciliate infection to the Paignton Zoo (UK) using serial fecal examinations. During this study, two infant gorillas born in the Prague Zoo (CZ) first became positive for T. abrassarti at the age of 9 mo. Ciliate morphology and the sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer rDNA spacer region revealed that T. abrassarti affects both captive gorillas and chimpanzees. We conclude that zoo transport plays a major role in the distribution of T. abrassarti among captive gorillas.     

Silica-based cationic bilayers as immunoadjuvants

Background  

Silica particles cationized by dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) bilayer were previously described. This work shows the efficiency of these particulates for antigen adsorption and presentation to the immune system and proves the concept that silica-based cationic bilayers exhibit better performance than alum regarding colloid stability and cellular immune responses for vaccine design.