Preparation of anti-inhibitor serum and its effect on the multiplication of influenza virus

Antiserum был подготовлен противингибитор вируса haemagglutination (IVH)одна из эмбриона chorioallantoic мембр анныепутем иммун изации морских св инокЭто анти-инги битора в сыворотке заблокирован ингибирование IVH из chorioallantoicмембран в haemagglutination испытанияно ника кого влияния на ре цепторы эритроци товСыворотке кро] ви не влияет рост chorioallantoic мембраны клет ок инет нейтрализ овать воздействи е на вирус гриппа Она снизилась спо собность chorioallantoic мембр ан для adsorb вируса гри ппа, а также степен ь размножения вир усав такого рода тканиАвторы хоте ли бы поблагодари ть г-н Г. Ruttkay-Ne -палубе и для проведения эле ктрофореза меру ния.     

Nefiracetam (DM-9384) reverses apomorphine-induced amnesia of a passive avoidance response: Delayed emergence of the memory retention effects

Nefiracetam is a novel pyrrolidone derivative which attenuates scopolamine-induced learning and post-training consolidation deficits. Given that apomorphine inhibits passive avoidance retention when given during training or in a defined 10–12h post-training period, we evaluated the ability of nefiracetam to attenuate amnesia induced by dopaminergic agonism. A step-down passive avoidance paradigm was employed and nefiracetam (3 mg/kg) and apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) were given alone or in combination during training and at the 10–12h post-training period of consolidation. Co-administration of nefiracetam and apomorphine during training or 10h thereafter produced no significant anti-amnesic effect. However, administration of nefiracetam during training completely reversed the amnesia induced by apomorphine at the 10h post-training time and the converse was also true. These effects were not mediated by a dopaminergic mechanism as nefiracetam, at millimolar concentrations, failed to displace either [³H]SCH 23390 or [³H]spiperone binding from D₁ or D₂ dopamine receptor subtypes, respectively. It is suggested that nefiracetam augments molecular processes in the early stages of events which ultimately lead to consolidation of memory.     

Paleobiology of Etruscan populations

A research project on the population biology of ancient Etruscans has recently started. The aim of this multidisciplinary research is the anthropological definition of Etruscan populations, about which little is known. The study of the skeletal remains is expected to lead to the identification of characteristics typical of this group, which will be used to establish affinities and differences with other contemporary Italic populations, as well as with previous and subsequent groups. An outline of the project is presented here, together with an indication of the problems concerning the availability of material. A summary of previous research on Etruscans is also given. In the final section, preliminary results are presented on one aspect of the research presently under way, namely the odontometric study of different groups of Etruscan populations. These results suggest a homogeneity within the groups described under the common label “Etruscans”.     

Distribution of extracellular polysaccharides and flotation of anaerobic sludge

 Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) were quantified in dense granules and loose flocs by chemical analysis of the uronic acid content. Their distribution within the aggregates was determined by microscopic staining. Granules contained a higher amount of EPS (1–1.6 mg/g volatile suspended solids, VSS) than flocs (0.3 mg/g VSS). In granules approximately 50% of the total amount of EPS was present in a 40-μm-thick zone on the surface. The remainder was dispersed in the rest of the aggregate. In flocs the highest concentration was present in the centre and the EPS layer on the surface was not found. Tests showed that flocculent sludge was very sensitive to flotation, while the studied granules did not float. The lower susceptibility to flotation of granules as compared to flocs was attributed to the presence of the hydrophilic EPS coating that prevents attachment of gas bubbles. Received: 21 November 1995/Received last revision: 15 April 1996/Accepted: 22 April 1996     

Artificial nest predation and habitat fragmentation: different trends in bird and mammal predators

Predation on artificial nests was studied in Belgian deciduous forest fragments between 1 and 200 ha Predation rates were compared to fragment size, distance from the forest edge, time period (three replicates), and nest type (ground and tree) Logistic regression analysis showed that overall nest predation did not vary with distance from the edge, forest size, and time period Birds represented over 70% of all predator attacks but their importance decreased in larger areas and away from the forest edge where mammals were responsible for much of the nest predation It is concluded that the effect of habitat fragmentation depends on the composition of the local predator community     

Bacteria Associated with Cysts of the Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines)

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, causes economically significant damage to soybeans (Glycine max) in many parts of the world. The cysts of this nematode can remain quiescent in soils for many years as a reservoir of infection for future crops. To investigate bacterial communities associated with SCN cysts, cysts were obtained from eight SCN-infested farms in southern Ontario, Canada, and analyzed by culture-dependent and -independent means. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations of cyst contents revealed a microbial flora located on the cyst exterior, within a polymer plug region and within the cyst. Microscopic counts using 5-(4,6-dichlorotriazine-2-yl)aminofluorescein staining and in situ hybridization (EUB 338) indicated that the cysts contained (2.6 ± 0.5) × 10⁵ bacteria (mean ± standard deviation) with various cellular morphologies. Filamentous fungi were also observed. Live-dead staining indicated that the majority of cyst bacteria were viable. The probe Nile red also bound to the interior polymer, indicating that it is lipid rich in nature. Bacterial community profiles determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis were simple in composition. Bands shared by all eight samples included the actinobacterium genera Actinomadura and Streptomyces. A collection of 290 bacteria were obtained by plating macerated surface-sterilized cysts onto nutrient broth yeast extract agar or on actinomycete medium. These were clustered into groups of siblings by repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR fingerprinting, and representative isolates were tentatively identified on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence. Thirty phylotypes were detected, with the collection dominated by Lysobacter and Variovorax spp. This study has revealed the cysts of this important plant pathogen to be rich in a variety of bacteria, some of which could presumably play a role in the ecology of SCN or have potential as biocontrol agents.     

Cloning and comparative mapping of a gene from the commonly deleted region of DiGeorge and Velocardiofacial syndromes conserved in C. elegans

We have identified and cloned a gene, ES2, encoding a putative 476 amino acid protein with a predicted M _r of 52,568. The gene is localized within the DiGeorge/Velocardiofacial syndrome locus on 22q11.2 and is deleted in all the patients in which a deletion within 22q11 could be demonstrated, with the exception of one patient. ES2 is expressed in all the tissues studied. Sequence comparison showed identity with five ESTs and at the amino acid level the sequence was highly similar to, and collinear with, a hypothetical C. elegans protein of unknown function. Mutation analysis was performed in 16 patients without deletion, but no mutation has been found. The cDNA sequence is conserved in mouse and is localized on MMU16B1-B3, known to contain a syntenic group in common with HSA 22q11.2. Received: 25 March 1996 / Accepted: 15 May 1996     

A method for introducing site-specific mutations using oligonucleotide primers and its application to site-saturation mutagenesis

Oligonucleotide primer-directed mutagenesis is a useful molecular biological tool, which is invalubable for the study of the structure/function relationships in proteins and for the creation of mutant proteins possessing modified or novel biological activities. Mutagenesis studies in which a site-saturation approach is employed require a high-efficiency mutagenesis procedure, which will generate a population of mutated molecules containing an even distribution of all possible amino acid changes, or a subset thereof. This article describes such a mutagenesis technique and discusses the adaptations that are necessary to perform sitesaturation mutagenesis.