Balanced hereditary polymorphism and the mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the populations of 17 countries of Europe. I. A correlation analysis

The correlation analysis of ratios between six polymorphic genetic systems (ABO, MNSs, Rh, Hp, Gm, HLA) and mortality from ishemic heart disease, brain vascular lesions, and hypertensive disease in 17 European populations has been made. A statistically significant correlation has been established between the populational frequency of most of the 50 phenotypes and genes under study, and mortality. The qualitative structure of correlations and their quantitative expression depend on the cause of death, age and sex. The possible mechanisms of relationship between the genetic populational differences and mortality from cardiovascular diseases are discussed.     

Immunization with baculovirus-expressed VP4 protein passively protects against simian and murine rotavirus challenge.

A baculovirus-expressed VP4 protein derived from the simian rhesus rotavirus (RRV) was used to parenterally immunize murine dams. VP4-immunized dams developed high levels of neutralizing antibodies against RRV and low levels of cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against human strains Wa, ST3, and S2 and animal strains SA-11, NCDV, and Eb. Newborn mice suckled on VP4-immunized dams were protected against a virulent challenge dose of the simian strain RRV and against murine rotavirus Eb. The cross-reactive nature of the serum-neutralizing response generated by VP4 immunization and the protective efficacy of the immunization suggest that recombinant-expressed VP4 proteins should be considered as viable vaccine candidates.     

Inheritance of cellulose- and lignin-degrading ability as well as endoglucanase isozyme pattern in Dichomitus squalens

Summary The progeny of Dichomitus squalens CBS-432-34 is heterogeneous with respect to specific growth rate on glucose, cellulolytic ([U¹⁴C]cellulose ¹⁴CO₂) and ligninolytic ([¹⁴C]synthetic lignin ¹⁴CO₂) activities with little correlation between these metric characters. Variations do not show clear-cut phenotypes but rather a continuous range between extreme values pointing to multigenic control of these characters. Most homocaryons showed decreased cellulolytic or ligninolytic activity compared to the parent dicaryon. However a few homocaryons were comparable or even superior to the parent dicaryon for ligninolytic or cellulolytic activity with no correlation between each factor. Strains with reduced cellulolytic activity and altered isozyme patterns of endoglucanases were isolated in the progeny of D. squalens CBS-432-34. While the parent strain produced three main endoglucanase multiple enzymes designated EnI, EnII and EnIII, several strains in the progeny produced a different multiple enzyme pattern. In contrast to the quantitative ability to degrade cellulose, multiple enzyme pattern variation in the progeny did not show continuous variations. characterization of heterocaryon phenotypes derived from Ien⁺ and Ien 1 homocaryons and first filial generation (f1) analysis showed that genetic control of the multiple enzyme pattern (Ien 1 phenotype) in D. squalens is complex. Offprint requests to: E. Odier     

Effect of modifiers of natural biological response on the functional activity of macrophages (oncological aspect)

Induction of cytotoxicity by biological response modifiers (BRMs) is only one aspect of macrophage activation. After the use of BRMs there were other changes in the functional activity of cells and in particular their increased production or secretion of a number of growth factors. Thus, activation of macrophage antitumor activity induced by BCG vaccine was transitory while activation of growth factor production was more stable in time which finally led to increased proliferation of tumor cells. Combined use of cyclophosphamide and BCG vaccine significantly increased not only the toxicity induced by BCG vaccine but also their liberation of the growth factors. Such macrophages lost their ability to control the growth of a small number of the tumor cells cultivated in their presence. Development of ways for directed activation of macrophages aimed at elimination of the tumor cells which survived the chemotherapy should include evaluation of the combined effect of various BRMs and chemotherapeutics on both antitumor and protumor activity i. e. ability to produce the factors stimulating the tumor growth.