The metabolic and phagocytic activities of leukocytes from patients receiving corticosteroid and radiation therapy, and patients with bacterial infections.

Peripheral blood leukocytes from patients given corticosteroid or radiation therapy, as well as patients with bacterial or viral infections, were studied with regard to the selected enzyme activities of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) and reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase were assayed spectrophotometrically on mixed leukocyte suspensions in isotonic glycerol. Enzyme activities of G-6PD and NADPH oxidase in patients receiving corticosteroid or radiation therapy were significantly lower than the enzyme activity of 6-PGD. In patients with bacterial infections, activities of the three enzymes increased but in patients with viral infections, only the activities of NADPH oxidase and G-6PD were slightly decreased. Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dyereducing activities of neutrophils from patients receiving corticosteroid or radiation therapy were attenuated which coincides with the reduced activities of HMS enzymes. From these results, it is likely that the reduced activities of intraleukocytic HMS enzymes of patients receiving corticosteroid or radiation therapy are correlated with intracellular bactericidal activities which might result from the attenuated level of hydrogen peroxide production.     

Microscopical Investigation of the Efifect of Helminthosporol on Rice Seedlings

The elongation of the second leaf sheaths of rice seedlings was promoted strongly by helminthosporol as well as by gibberellic acid. A greater dosage of helminthosporol was required in order to induce the same amount of elongation. Cells of treated plants were somewhat longer than those of controls. The elongation of the second leaf sheath was caused mainly by an increase in cell number. Both helminthosporol and gibberellic acid promoted the elongation of cells in the basal portion of the second leaf sheath.     

Genetic exchange between two freshwater apple snails, Pomacea canaliculata and Pomacea maculata invading East and Southeast Asia

Two species of apple snails, Pomacea canaliculata and Pomacea maculata (formerly Pomacea insularum), have invaded many countries of East and Southeast Asia from their native range in South America. This study investigated the genetic structure of the two species invading these areas. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the nuclear gene elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α) detected two well-supported clades (Clade C and Clade M). Both P. canaliculata and P. maculata were represented in each clade. Some snails had both Clade C and Clade M EF1α sequences. These results suggest genetic exchange between snails of the two clades. A mating experiment between P. canaliculata with Clade C EF1α sequences and P. maculata with Clade M EF1α sequences resulted in viable F1 progeny under laboratory conditions. The genetic exchange was also inferred in some populations collected from Argentina, suggesting an existence of hybrid in the native range. Simple identification of EF1α types using a restriction enzyme, ApaLI, detected significant geographical structure of the EF1α variants in the invaded area. The divergent geographical structure could have resulted from either the founder effect or the bridgehead effect, although further genetic analysis is needed to clarify this. Average individual egg weight, which is an indicator of egg size, was higher in P. canaliculata than P. maculata in both field and laboratory reared samples, suggesting that some (probably most) P. canaliculata and P. maculata invading East and Southeast Asia still maintain species-specific populations.