Construction of isogenic gonococci with variable porin structure: effects on susceptibility to human serum and antibiotics

Protein I (PI) is the most abundant protein on the gonococcal cell surface and besides its porin function it may have important properties contributing to pathogenicity. By allelic exchange using cloned PI genes from FA19 (PIA) and MS11 (PIB) and a selectable marker introduced closely downstream of these genes, we constructed sets of isogenic gonococcal strains that differ only in their PI gene. Analysis revealed that PI has a major effect on stable resistance to normal human serum, and a slight effect on low-level resistance to antibiotics. All PIA/B hybrids were hypersusceptible to serum, suggesting a possible explanation for why such hybrids do not occur in nature.     

Scalp reconstruction with a prefabricated abdominal flap carried by the radial artery.

Custom prefabrication of free flaps provides an unlimited variety of applications, since flaps can be created with expendable tissues and without restriction to naturally occurring vascular territories. These principles also can be used to customize flaps that could not be completed by conventional means. We report a case of scalp reconstruction using a random-pattern abdominal flap in which a radial artery fascial flap was induced to serve as the vascular carrier. In addition to providing durable scalp coverage, the prefabricated free flap enabled salvage of an abdominal flap that would otherwise have been aborted after intermediate transfer to the forearm.     

Azov Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus maeoticus (Engraulidae) under the Sea of Azov Salinization in 2014–2018

Journal of Ichthyology - The paper considers the effect of the Sea of Azov salinization on the food supply to anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus maeoticus as the level of salinity was rising from 12.7...     

Relationships within theRugopharynx delta species complex (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) from Australian marsupials inferred from allozyme electrophoretic data

Relationships between the strongyloid nematodesRugopharynx delta, R. zeta, R. omega, R. longibursaris, R. mawsonae andR. sigma, all from macropodid marsupials, were investigated using allozyme data. The phylogenetic trees derived from the electrophoretic data set were congruent with those of the hosts and were consistent with the hypothesis that the species complex originated in pademelons of the genusThylogale and diversified in rock-wallabies (Petrogale spp.) and scrub wallabies of the subgenusNotamacropus. Host switching is evident only between closely related macropodid taxa.     

Effects of intranasally administered substance P in parkinsonian syndrome]

The effect of intranasal substance P injection on parkinsonian syndrome and the generator of pathologically enhanced excitation (GPEE) in caudate nuclei (CN) was investigated. MPTP or reserpine administration in old rats induced oligokinesia, rigidity and tremor followed by the high amplitude slow and rapid waves in both CN. The bilateral intranasal injection of substance P (25 micrograms/kg) resulted in an increase in motor activity and almost completely abolished the rigidity and tremor. The reduction of extrapyramidal symptoms was considered as a result of the inhibition of GPEE in CN. The possibility of substance P entry from nasal cavity into the brain was discussed. The changes of the substance P balance in nigrostriatal system was suggested to be on of the pathogenetic links of parkinsonian syndrome.     

An Inducible DamID System for Profiling Interactions of Nuclear Lamina Protein Component Lamin B1 with Chromosomes in Mouse Cells

At the level of DNA organization into chromatin, there are mechanisms that define gene expression profiles in specialized cell types. Genes within chromatin regions that are located at the nuclear periphery are generally expressed at lower levels; however, the nature of this phenomenon remains unclear. These parts of chromatin interact with nuclear lamina proteins like Lamin B1 and, therefore, can be identified in a given cell type by chromatin profiling of these proteins. In this study, we created and tested a Dam Identification (DamID) system induced by Cre recombinase using Lamin B1 and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. This inducible system will help to generate genome-wide profiles of chromatin proteins in given cell types and tissues with no need to dissect tissues from organs or separate cells from tissues, which is achieved by using specific regulatory DNA elements and due to the high sensitivity of the method.     

Quantification of short term signaling by the epidermal growth factor receptor.

During the past decade, our knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in growth factor signaling has proliferated almost explosively. However, the kinetics and control of information transfer through signaling networks remain poorly understood. This paper combines experimental kinetic analysis and computational modeling of the short term pattern of cellular responses to epidermal growth factor (EGF) in isolated hepatocytes. The experimental data show transient tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor (EGFR) and transient or sustained response patterns in multiple signaling proteins targeted by EGFR. Transient responses exhibit pronounced maxima, reached within 15-30 s of EGF stimulation and followed by a decline to relatively low (quasi-steady-state) levels. In contrast to earlier suggestions, we demonstrate that the experimentally observed transients can be accounted for without requiring receptor-mediated activation of specific tyrosine phosphatases, following EGF stimulation. The kinetic model predicts how the cellular response is controlled by the relative levels and activity states of signaling proteins and under what conditions activation patterns are transient or sustained. EGFR signaling patterns appear to be robust with respect to variations in many elemental rate constants within the range of experimentally measured values. On the other hand, we specify which changes in the kinetic scheme, rate constants, and total amounts of molecular factors involved are incompatible with the experimentally observed kinetics of signal transfer. Quantitation of signaling network responses to growth factors allows us to assess how cells process information controlling their growth and differentiation.