Tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole,diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) or co-administration of albendazole with DEC in the clearance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wuchereria bancrofti</Emphasis>in asymptomatic microfilaraemic volunteers in Pondicherry,South India: a hospital-based study

Background  

The tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole (400 mg), diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) (6 mg/kg bodyweight) or co-administration of albendazole (400 mg) + DEC (6 mg/kg bodyweight) was studied in 54 asymptomatic Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemic volunteers in a double blind hospital-based clinical study.     

A P Element Containing Suppressor of Hairy-Wing Binding Regions Has Novel Properties for Mutagenesis in Drosophila Melanogaster

P elements are widely used as insertional mutagens to tag genes, facilitating molecular cloning and analyses. We modified a P element so that it carried two copies of the suppressor of Hairy-wing [su(Hw)] binding regions isolated from the gypsy transposable element. This transposon was mobilized, and the genetic consequences of its insertion were analyzed. Gene expression can be altered by the su(Hw) protein as a result of blocking the interaction between enhancer/silencer elements and their promoter. These effects can occur over long distances and are general. Therefore, a composite transposon (SUPor-P for suppressor-P element) combines the mutagenic efficacy of the gypsy element with the controllable transposition of P elements. We show that, compared to standard P elements, this composite transposon causes an expanded repertoire of mutations and produces alleles that are suppressed by su(Hw) mutations. The large number of heterochromatic insertions obtained is unusual compared to other insertional mutagenesis procedures, indicating that the SUPor-P transposon may be useful for studying the structural and functional properties of heterochromatin.     

Derivation of scenario-specific water quality guidelines for acid mine drainage in South Africa,using a risk-based approach

Acid mine drainage (AMD) continues to threaten water quality in many mining regions globally. Data paucity renders it challenging to inform appropriate water quality management strategies for a succinct scientific understanding of the effects of AMD on freshwater ecosystems. The current study investigated the effects of AMD collected from a defunct coalmine in Mpumalanga, South Africa, on freshwater ecosystems using a risk-based approach on five indigenous species, Adenophlebia auriculata, Burnupia stenochorias, Caridina nilotica, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Oreochromis mossambicus in 2016. Species responded differently to AMD after 96 hours and 240 hours of exposure in static experimental test designs. Burnupia stenochorias was more sensitive to AMD after 96 and 240 hours of exposure, whereas O. mossambicus was tolerant during short-term exposure, but became more sensitive after 240 hours of exposure than the other species tested. The availability of metals in AMD was directly associated with dilution rate. Scenario-specific water quality guidelines for AMD have been derived as 0.122% for short-term and 0.014% for long-term exposure. These may form important indicative dilutions for other AMDs that do not match the scenarios of this study. The toxicity of AMD to a wide range of aquatic species, including field validations, requires further investigation.