Light and Electron Microscopic Studies of Microorganisms Growing in Rotating Biological Contactor Biofilms

The biofilms growing in the first compartments of two rotating biological contactors used to treat municipal wastewater were examined by light and electron microscopy. The biofilms were found to contain a complex and varied microbial community that included filamentous and unicellular bacteria, protozoa, metazoa, and (possibly) bacteriophage. The predominant microorganism among these appeared to be a filamentous bacterium that was identical to Sphaerotilus in both morphological and ultrastructural characteristics. It was possible to isolate a Sphaerotilus-like bacterium from each contactor. Both the Sphaerotilus filaments and the wide variety of unicellular bacteria present tended to contain poly-β-hydroxybutyrate inclusions, a probable indication that these organisms were removing carbon from the wastewater and storing it. The microbial population of the biofilms appeared to be metabolically active, as evidenced by the presence of microcolonies and dividing cells.     

Immunocytochemistry of brain-reactive monoclonal antibodies in peripheral tissues

Among a total of 135 tissue-reactive monoclonal antibodies previously prepared, 81 were brain-selective and were classified into neuronal and non-neuronal categories. The neuronal antibodies were again subdivided into antineurofibrillar, antiperikaryonal-neurofibrillar, and antisynapse-associated groups. On the basis of morphologic, developmental, biochemical, and pathologic criteria, the antibodies in at least two of these groups were found to detect heterogeneous antigens (called "neurotypes") rather than different antigenic determinants in single antigens. On examining the distribution in peripheral organs of staining patterns of 11 antineuronal brain-reactive antibodies, we now confirm that these antibodies are, indeed, largely brain-specific. In general, non-neuronal elements in liver, lung, heart, thymus, intestine, adrenal, and spleen remained unstained. However, most of the antibodies stained peripheral neural elements. Occasional antibodies did stain selected, non-neuronal structures. Four out of five antineurofibrillar antibodies stained nerve fibers in adrenal medulla, intestine and thymus. All of three antiperikaryonal-neurofibrillar antibodies also stained nerve fibers in the adrenal medulla, but not in other organs. Two out of three antisynapse-associated antibodies stained what appear to be nerve contacts on adrenal medullary cells, but not on any other peripheral cells examined. The non-neuronal peripheral staining patterns were restricted to selective nuclear staining exhibited by two out of five antineurofibrillar antibodies and the staining of macrophage and selected cardiac muscle nuclei by two of three antisynapse-associated antibodies. However, one antineurofibrillar antibody also stained the cytoplasm of selected liver cells. Among non-neuronally reacting antibodies, two antibodies stained nuclei of all cells except neurons in brain as well as peripheral organs. An antibody staining the ciliary epithelium of choroid plexus also stained basal bodies of ciliated bronchial epithelium. The overall data suggest that the specificity of brain-reactive antibodies is high and that their cross-reactivity with epitopes in non-nervous tissue is rare. In these cases, the antibodies seem to provide specific reagents for these additional structures as well as for their specific brain antigens.     

Isolation and Purification of Prodigiosin from Vibrio psychroerythrus

The red pigment of Vibrio psychroerythrus (formerly marine psychrophile NRC 1004) was identified as prodigiosin by comparison of its mass spectrum, absorption spectrum in the visible range, and chromatographic behavior with prodigiosin isolated from Serratia marcescens. The properties of the V. psychroerythrus pigment were clearly distinguishable from five other prodigiosin-like compounds isolated from three different microorganisms.     

A model for studying the initiation of normal calcification in vivo

1. Rat costal cartilage was found to begin to calcify normally when the rats weigh 35-45g. 2. The cartilage is suggested as a model for the study in vivo of mechanisms concerned with normal calcification. 3. The model was tested by studying the incorporation of fluoride into the mineral deposited in the tissue. 4. The percentage of inorganic material in cartilage rose from approx. 3% of the dry weight in the uncalcified tissue to 62% in the tissue from rats weighing 300g. 5. Mineral deposited had a calcium/phosphorus molar ratio of 1.65. 6. After the oral administration of sodium fluoride to rats, fluoride was incorporated into cartilage mineral. 7. The concentration of fluoride in cartilage ash increased rapidly with calcification and the mineral became more highly fluoridated than the corresponding rib bone. 8. Fluoridated mineral showed a marked decrease in citrate concentration.     

Electron microscopy of spore germination and cell wall formation in Mucor rouxii

Summary The fine structure of ungerminated and aerobically germinated sporangiospores of Mucor rouxii was compared. The germination process may be divided into two stages: I, spherical growth; II, emergence of a germ tube. In both stages, germination is growth in its strictest sense with overall increases in cell organelles; e.g., the increase in mitochondria is commensurate with the overall increase in protoplasmic mass. Noticeable changes occurring during germination are the disappearance of electron-dense lipoid bodies, formation of a large central vacuole and, most strikingly, formation of a new cell wall. Unlike many other fungi, M. rouxii does not germinate by converting the spore wall into a vegetative wall. Instead, as in other Mucorales, a vegetative wall is formed de novo under the spore wall during germination stage I. This new wall grows out, rupturing the spore wall, to become the germ tube wall. Associated with the apical wall of the germ tube is an apical corpuscle previously described. The vegetative wall exhibits a nonlayered, uniformly microfibrillar appearance in marked distinction to the spore wall which is triple-layered, with two thin electron dense outer layers, and a thick transparent inner stratum. The lack of continuity between the spore and vegetative walls is correlated with marked differences in wall chemistry previously reported. A separate new wall is also formed under the spore wall during anaerobic germination leading to yeast cell formation. On the other hand, in the development of one vegetative cell from another, such as in the formation of hyphae from yeast cells, the cell wall is structurally continuous. This continuity is correlated with a similarity in chemical composition of the cell wall reported earlier.     

Studies on Survival of Bacteria: Rhythmic Response of Microorganisms to Freeze-Drying Additives

Various materials were mixed with suspensions of Serratia marcescens and other organisms. Samples were removed and frozen at intervals after mixing; the number of cells that survived both freeze-drying and exposure to air varied rhythmically as a function of time between mixing and freezing. When assayed before or immediately after drying there were essentially no fluctuations. The response was evident only when these dried samples were exposed to air. In a typical experiment, the number of cells surviving in the sample frozen 30 sec after adding propyl gallate was at least 10 times that in samples frozen either 20 sec earlier or 20 sec later. Other "peaks" in survival were observed at approximately 125 and 450 sec, but the times at which the peaks were observed were not consistent from one experiment to the next. Although we have been unable to control or predict the time at which maxima in resistance occur, we have shown that the phenomenon does occur with Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as with S. marcescens. Furthermore, a rhythmic response also was obtained after a change in pH or cell concentration. It appears that microorganisms respond physiologically and synchronously to changes in their environment, and some of these responses have survival value.     

SPHEROIDAL AND RING NUCLEOLI IN AMPHIBIAN OOCYTES : Patterns of Uridine Incorporation and Fine Structural Features

In maturing oocytes of the newt Triturus viridescens, the nucleoli undergo a series of morphological changes that are very similar to those described by Callan for the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. The nucleoli first assume the form of spheroids which then become extended into ring or necklace shapes that are DNase-sensitive; in mature oocytes the nucleoli revert to a spheroidal form. Short term in vitro incorporation studies with uridine-³H on both species show that RNA synthesis occurs in a restricted, eccentric portion of the spheroidal nucleoli, thereby producing an asymmetrical pattern of labeling. In the ring forms, however, the localization of the radioactivity suggests that synthesis takes place symmetrically throughout their entire length. The changes in nucleolar morphology apparently reflect the fact that the component DNA has undergone a redistribution from a localized region in the spheroidal nucleoli to an extended circle in the rings; the patterns of uridine-³H incorporation, therefore, parallel the distribution of DNA in both the spheroidal and the ring nucleoli. Ultrastructurally, the nucleoli contain a fibrillar component that corresponds in position to that of the DNA. The typical spheroidal nucleolus consists of a fibrillar core situated eccentrically and surrounded by a hull of granular, ribonucleoprotein material. The ring nucleoli are composed of a central fibrous region that is ensheathed all around its circumference by a layer of similar granular material. This granular substance is thicker at intervals along the length of the rings, representing the "beads" of the necklaces.     

ELECTRON-OPAQUE BODIES AND FAT DROPLETS IN MOUSE LIVER AFTER FASTING OR GLUCOSE INJECTION

Fasting produces an increased mobilization of lipid from adipose tissue to the liver and a decreased hepatic lipogenesis, but the administration of glucose stimulates lipid synthesis by the liver. After fasting of C3H mice numerous electron-opaque bodies and large lipid droplets were present in the liver. In the liver of untreated controls only a few small electron-opaque bodies and an occasional fat droplet were observed. After glucose injection the number of electron-opaque bodies in the liver was no greater than that observed in livers of saline-injected controls. In the livers of all groups these bodies were located intracellularly within cytoplasmic vesicles; those in extracellular locations were not membrane bounded and were located at indented and thickened hepatocyte plasma membranes or within the space of Disse. In fasted liver the dense bodies were often associated with large fat droplets.     

Derepression of Phosphomannose Isomerase by Regulator Gene Mutations Involved in Capsular Polysaccharide Synthesis in Escherichia coli K-12

A regulator gene mutation (capR) that causes increased synthesis of capsular polysaccharide and derepressed synthesis of several enzymes involved in polysaccharide synthesis also derepresses phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) synthesis. In contrast, a second mutation (capS, which maps separately from capR) that causes increased production of the same polysaccharide does not lead to increased synthesis of PMI (nor of several of the other enzymes involved in polysaccharide synthesis). Introduction of the capR9 allele by transduction or mutation of capR(+) to capR can change the phenotype of a mannose-negative nonmucoid strain to a mannose-positive mucoid phenotype. Thus, genotype capR(+)man-2 is mannose-negative and nonmucoid, but genotype capR9 man-2 is mannose positive and mucoid. Other interactions between these alleles in the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide are recorded.