A single amino acid substitution in the V1 loop of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 alters cellular tropism.

Specific point mutations which affect viral tropism have been identified in both the V3 loop and in the CD4-binding region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 surface glycoprotein gp120. Here we report that a single point mutation in the first variable region (V1) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strain JRCSF is responsible for a change in viral tropism.     

Genetic and Cytogenetic Analysis of the 43a-E Region Containing the Segment Polarity Gene Costa and the Cellular Polarity Genes Prickle and Spiny-Legs in Drosophila Melanogaster

A cytogenetic analysis of the 43A-E region of chromosome 2 in Drosophila melanogaster is presented. Within this interval 27 complementation groups have been identified by extensive F(2) screens and ordered by deletion mapping. The region includes the cellular polarity genes prickle and spiny-legs, the segmentation genes costa and torso, the morphogenetic locus sine oculis and is bounded on its distal side by the eye-color gene cinnabar. In addition 19 novel lethal complementation groups and two semi-lethal complementation groups with morphogenetic escaper phenotypes are described.     

Enumeration of Obesumbacterium proteus in brewery yeasts and characterization of isolated strains using Biolog GN microplates and protein fingerprinting

Of a range of media tested for enumeration of Obesumbacterium proteus in brewers' yeast, Universal Beer agar and Wallerstein Laboratories Differential medium were most effective. MacConkey agar (several types) and Membrane Lauryl Sulphate agar were least effective. Other media (Wort agar, YM agar) were of intermediate efficacy. Nine O. proteus strains from commercial yeast samples were characterized using the API 20E test kit, the Biolog GN microplate (BGNM) and by SDS-PAGE of their total soluble proteins. Both the BGNM and SDS-PAGE techniques allowed the strains to be differentiated from one another: the API 20E kit did not. All strains isolated from UK breweries belonged to O. proteus biogroup II. Four of these strains displayed a branching cell morphology not hitherto described in any member of the Enterobacteriaceae.     

Ecosystem-level effects of re-oligotrophication and N:P imbalances in rivers and estuaries on a global scale

Trends and ecological consequences of phosphorus (P) decline and increasing nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (N:P) ratios in rivers and estuaries are reviewed and discussed. Results suggest that re-oligotrophication is a dominant trend in rivers and estuaries of high-income countries in the last two–three decades, while in low-income countries widespread eutrophication occurs. The decline in P is well documented in hundreds of rivers of United States and the European Union, but the biotic response of rivers and estuaries besides phytoplankton decline such as trends in phytoplankton composition, changes in primary production, ecosystem shifts, cascading effects, changes in ecosystem metabolism, etc., have not been sufficiently monitored and investigated, neither the effects of N:P imbalance. N:P imbalance has significant ecological effects that need to be further investigated. There is a growing number of cases in which phytoplankton biomass have been shown to decrease due to re-oligotrophication, but the potential regime shift from phytoplankton to macrophyte dominance described in shallow lakes has been documented only in a few rivers and estuaries yet. The main reasons why regime shifts are rarely described in rivers and estuaries are, from one hand the scarcity of data on macrophyte cover trends, and from the other hand physical factors such as peak flows or high turbidity that could prevent a general spread of submerged macrophytes as observed in shallow lakes. Moreover, re-oligotrophication effects on rivers may be different compared to lakes (e.g., lower dominance of macrophytes) or estuaries (e.g., limitation of primary production by N instead of P) or may be dependent on river/estuary type. We conclude that river and estuary re-oligotrophication effects are complex, diverse and still little known, and in some cases are equivalent to those described in shallow lakes, but the regime shift is more likely to occur in mid to high-order rivers and shallow estuaries.     

Glycine: An important potential component of spinal shock

Amino acid neurotransmitters (AANTs) play a major role in maintenance of muscle tone. Abnormal AANT concentrations are associated with hyper- or hypotonic states. Flaccidity from spinal shock commonly occurs after spinal cord injury (SCI) and may be associated with changes in AANT concentrations. Ischemic SCIs created in the lumbar region of rabbits by intraaortic balloon occlusion produced spastic or flaccid injuries. Microdialysis sampling of AANTs from the injured segmental structures was done 3 days after SCI. Evoked potentials were used to monitor spinal cord stability. No significant changes in AANT levels occurred in the spastic or flaccid group after 4 hour sampling. However, flaccid animals had baseline glycine levels 2–3 times higher (p<0.001) than spastic animals or controls. High concentrations of the inhibitory AANT glycine is associated with flaccidity following SCI, or spinal shock, but not spasticity. Glycinergic compounds directed toward suppression of excess muscle tone deserve further study.     

Differentiation of species in Gonioloboceras

The type specimen ofGonioloboceras goniolobum (Meek), rediscovered by Spath in the British Museum, is the foundation for a more accurate comparative study of this and other species ofGonioloboceras.Gonioloboceras described asG. goniolobum byElias in 1938 is differentiated asGonioloboceras schmidti, new species. Suture sets (new term) for several growth stages inG. goniolobum (Meek),G. welleriSmith,G. schmidtiElias, G.eliasiMiller &Owen, andG. asiaticumLibrovitch are assembled and used for differentiation of the species.The Kazakhstan goniatite faunule containingG. asiaticum is considered of very late Pennsylvanian age.