Isolation of fraction no. 10 from Taenia saginata and evaluation of its specificity for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis

In an attempt to prove the specificity of the crude Taenia saginata antigen for the immunodiagnosis of bovine cysticercosis, a major and highly immunogenic fraction (F10), responsible for the formation of the typical "long band" reaction in immunoelectrophoresis, has been isolated from T. saginata proglottides by immunoaffinity chromatography. The immunoabsorbent was prepared by coupling a specifically raised hyperimmune serum (HIS) anti-F10 to Sepharose 4B. The purity of the isolated F10 was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation reactions. The HIS anti-F10, however, cross-reacted with several larval and adult Taenia spp. Consequently, F10 showed cross-reactions with the sera of animals infected with hydatid cysts or larval T. hydatigena. F10 also reacted with HIS anti-F5 (Echinococcus granulosus) but was shown to be non-identical with the well known F5 of E. granulosus. These data prove that F10 of T. saginata was not species-specific but showed a group specificity for the taeniid family - a situation analogous to F5 of E. granulosus.     

Evolution of chromosomal abnormalities in sequential cytogenetic studies of ataxia telangiectasia

Summary Sequential cytogenetic studies of four patients with ataxia telangiectasia showed the progressive development of lymphocyte clones, each marked with a rearranged chromosome 14. Initial studies had shown random chromosomal breaks and rearrangements. Later studies in all patients showed nonrandom rearrangement of chromosome 14 with a breakpoint at 14q12 and with the distal segment translocated to either chromosome 14 or 7. The proportion of circulating lymphocytes carrying the marker tended to increase with time, accounting for the majority of the lymphocytes eventually in one case. The marked lymphocyte clones evolved further, as a result of loss of the small centric portions of the rearranged chromosome 14 (14pter14q12).Perhaps the abnormal clones in ataxia telangiectasia escape immunologic surveillance and flourish in an immunologically impaired environment. Subsequent to the loss of the centric portion of the rearranged chromosome 14, the cells may acquire additional capabilities that enhance malignant transformation.     

Aquatic oligochaeta from among the roots of eichhornia crassipes solms

The paper records the presence of sixteen species of aquatic oligochaetes, belonging to the Aeolosomatidae (1 species). Naididae (13 species) and Tubificidae (2 species), living in association with the floating roots of the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes Solms., from a tank in Vizianagaram town in Andhra Pradesh, India. Of these, Aeolosoma hyalinum Bunke, 1967 and Dero obtusa D'Udekem, 1855 are new records for the Indian sub-continent.     

Active transport of calcium in membrane vesicles from Mycobacterium phlei.

Active transport of calcium ions has been demonstrated in inside-out membrane vesicles from Mycobacterium phlei mediated by respiratory linked substrates as well as by ATP hydrolysis. The uptake of calcium exhibited an apparent Km of 80 microM and V of 16.6 nmol calcium uptake x min-1 x mg protein-1. A fortyfold concentration gradient for calcium ions was calculated for both the ATP-induced and the respiration-induced transport of calcium. Removal of coupling-factor-latent ATPase resulted in the complete loss of ATP-driven Ca2+ transport whereas the respiration-driven uptake was reduced by 40-50%. The uptake of calcium was inhibited by the proton conducting ionophores carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and Gramicidin-D. The accumulated calcium was freely exchangeable with external calcium and was rapidly released by the addition of inhibitors of energy transduction, proton-translocating uncouplers or the ionophore A23187. The uptake of the weak base, methylamine, upon the oxidation of respiratory-linked substrates or the hydrolysis of ATP showed the generation of a protein gradient (inside acidic) which was partially collapsed on the addition of calcium ions. These results suggest that a Ca2+/H+ antiport mechanism may be responsible for the transport of calcium.     

Light microscopic features of the rete testis,the vas efferens,the epididymis and the vas deferens in the adult rhesus monkey

The present study was carried out to determine the detailed histological and cytological features of the excurrent ducts of the male reproductive system in the rhesus monkey. The excurrent ducts show a regional difference in their histological features. The use of some of these features as histological markers and their possible functional significance are discussed. The epithelial cells in the different components of the excurrent duct system possess cytological features which suggest their involvement in absorption and the secretion of different products into the lumen.