Analysis of the HLA-A10-crossreacting group of antigens by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing

The antigens belonging to the HLA-A10 group, HLA-A25, -A26, -Aw34, and -Aw66, have been characterized serologically during the International Histocompatibility Workshops. However, it remains difficult to discriminate between the HLA-A26 antigen on the one hand and the HLA-Aw34 and -Aw66 antigens on the other on the basis of serology. In this paper, we compare the serologically defined antigens with the data obtained by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing. The results indicate that the serologically well-defined HLA-A25 antigen cannot be discriminated from the HLA-A26 antigen by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing. In contrast, this technique can indeed be used to discriminate between HLA-A26, -Aw34 and -Aw66 antigens. In addition, the biochemical analysis suggests further heterogeneity of the HLA-Aw34 antigen. This antigen can be subdivided into three variants.     

Dynamic light-scattering studies on the effect of heat and disinfectants on spores of Bacillus cereus.

The relative stability of spores of Bacillus cereus grown at three different temperatures was examined by using quasi-elastic light scattering (q.l.s.) in conjunction with turbidity and scanning electron microscopy (s.e.m.). Cultures grown at 20, 30 and 40 degrees C (BC20, BC30 and BC40 respectively) were compared in terms of (i) their effective hydrodynamic radius, rH, as determined from q.l.s. and (ii) their gross morphology, as determined from s.e.m. The effects of autoclaving at 121.1 degrees C on both these properties was also examined. We observed (1) that cultures BC20 and BC30 appeared to have similar values for rH, whereas that of BC40 appeared some 50% higher, and (2) BC40 had a correspondingly much lower heat resistance (its structural integrity was lost after about 20 min autoclaving, whereas that of BC20 and BC30 was retained even after 80 min autoclaving). These data were in good agreement with independent measurements of heat-resistance coefficients. Changes in the hydrodynamic radius, polydispersity (both using q.l.s.) and turbidity were monitored with time on addition of the disinfectants sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid; again BC40 appeared to have a lower resistance.     

Physiological and pathogenic characteristics of Nocardia brasiliensis isolated from human mycetomas

A previous analysis of the physiological properties of Nocardia brasiliensis strains isolated from soil of Tucumán proves that non-pathogenic strains have a different behaviour pattern from the pathogenic strains.In the present paper, 16 Nocardia brasiliensis strains isolated from human mycetomas were studied in the same way. The object is to determine if any of the Nocardia brasiliensis present in soil can produce human mycetomas.The macro and micromorphological, biochemical (17 tests), physiological (4 tests) and pathological characteristics were determined for each of the strains. Experimental pathogenicity was determined using albino Swiss mice by inoculation into the footpads.The strains of Nocardia brasiliensis that cause human mycetomas have the same physiological pattern and experimental pathogenicity as the virulent strains present in soil.     

Simultaneous analysis of skin response to the different L.E.T. regions of a 55 MeV helium ion beam

Summary Rat tail epidermis was used to analyze the in vivo response of a biological system to heavy particle irradiation. The conical configuration of the rat tail gives rise to a variable energy degradation of the beam thus yielding information on the damage elicited by 2 different L.E.T. regions of the helium beam at different sites on the same sample. Cytochrome oxidase activity and epidermal thickness were used to analyze the metabolic and structural radioinduced response. Quantitative evaluation of radiation damage revealed marked variations within a few micrometers of tissue.     

Development of an enzymatic procedure to produce high-protein amaranth flour

Summary A basic procedure was developed to produce high-protein amaranth flour (HPAF) using a commercial preparation of heat-stable alpha-amylase. Slurries (20%, w/v) of gelatinized whole flour were liquefied at 70 and 90°C, pH 6.5, 0.1% (w/v) enzyme concentration and 30 min hydrolysis time. Protein content of raw flour was increased from 15 to 29.6 or 39.3% at liquefaction temperatures of 70 or 90°C, respectively. Some physicochemical and functional properties of HPAF were assessed. HPAF might be used as a dry milk extender.     

Metallothionein induction by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

In the present study we report on the effects of commonly used nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on metallothionein (MT) and MT-I mRNA levels. A single dose of chloroquine (100 mg/kg), diclofenac (100 mg/kg), indomethacin (10 mg/kg), or piroxicam (100 mg/kg) was administered ip to C57B1 mice. After 18 h, MT levels were determined with a Cd-saturation radioassay. MT-I mRNA levels were measured by Northern Blot analyses using a probe containing the mouse MT-I gene. All drugs tested caused an increase in the MT content of the liver but not of the kidneys and lung. The lowest and highest effects were observed with chloroquine (8 times the control value) and diclofenac (18 times), respectively. In accordance with the stimulation of MT synthesis, increased accumulation of hepatic MT-I mRNA could be demonstrated. These results indicate that elevated MT levels may contribute to the effectiveness of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).     

Structure of tobacco genes encoding thaumatin-like proteins

Two tobacco genes encoding thaumatin-like proteins were cloned and sequenced. Both genes are expressed after infection of tobacco with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Comparison of the upstream sequences of these genes with those of other TMV-inducible tobacco genes revealed limited regions of homology.     

Single-stranded DNA used as an efficient new vehicle for transformation of plant protoplasts

In relation to the question which DNA form (single- or double-stranded) is transferred by Agrobacterium tumefaciens to plant cells, we studied the behaviour of single-stranded DNA, as compared to double-stranded DNA, when it is introduced into plant protoplasts by electroporation. To this end, we cloned a construct with a plant NPTII gene as well as a CAT gene in the M13 vectors tg130 and tg131. We found that both complementary single-stranded molecules gave rise to substantial CAT activity in plant protoplasts, suggesting that single-stranded DNA is converted into double-stranded DNA by the plant cell replication machinery. Unexpectedly, we found that single-stranded DNA leads to a 3–10 fold higher frequency of stable transformation (selection for kanamycin resistance) than double-stranded DNA. These results indicate that the use of single-stranded DNA might be considered in experiments in which optimal transformation frequencies are needed, e.g. with protoplasts form recalcitrant plant species.Abbreviations ss single-stranded - ds double-stranded - CAT chloramphenicol acetyl transferase - NPTII neomycin phosphotransferase II - RT room temperature     

Characterisation of neuropeptides of the AKH/RPCH-family from corpora cardiaca of Coleoptera

Summary Extracts of corpora cardiaca from two members of the family Tenebrionidae,Zophobas rugipes andTenebrio molitor, from one member of the Chrysomelidae,Leptinotarsa decemlineata, and from three members of the Scarabaeidae,Pachnoda marginata, P. sinuata andMelolontha hippocastani, were assayed for adipokinetic and hypertrehalosaemic activity in acceptor locusts (Locusta migratoria) and cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), respectively. All corpus cardiacum material tested, except that from the cockchafer,M. hippocastani, gave positive bioassay results. Biological activities of corpus cardiacum extracts from all species investigated can be resolved on reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Gland extracts from the two tenebrionid species each show a single peak of biological activity associated with a single peak of UV absorbance having an identical retention time in both species. The two biologically active fractions from the corpora cardiaca of the potato beetle,L. decemlineata, coelute with exogenous (synthetic) hypertrehalosaemic hormones I and II of the American cockroach. The two species of the genusPachnoda contain two active compounds in their glands; compound I of each species is more abundant and elutes just ahead of the (synthetic) hypertrehalosaemic hormone of the cockroachBlaberus discoidalis. The gland material ofM. hippocastani exhibits and absorbance peak with the same retention time as the major peak from thePachnoda-species; however, this peak material does not elicit biological activity in the assays used here. After fractionation by RP-HPLC the main biologically active compounds were subjected to amino acid analyses. All factors are peptidic and contain 8 amino acid residues. The peptides from the tenebrionid species have the amino acid residues Asx₍₂₎, Glx₍₁₎, Ser₍₁₎, Pro₍₁₎, Leu₍₁₎, Phe₍₁₎ and Trp_(i), whereas the main peptide from corpora cardiaca ofP. marginata contains the residues Asx₍₂₎, Glx₍₁₎, Ser₍₁₎, Pro₍₁₎, Tyr₍₁₎, Leu₍₁₎ and Trp₍₁₎. Amino acid composition analyses of the two active fractions fromL. decemlineata reveal the residues Asx₍₂₎, Glx₍₁₎, Ser₍₁₎, Pro₍₁₎, Val₍₁₎, Phe₍₁₎ and Trp₍₁₎ for compound I and Asx₍₁₎, Glx₍₁₎, Thr₍₂₎, Pro₍₁₎, Leu₍₁₎, Phe₍₁₎ and Trp₍₁₎ for compound II.