Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei

Five polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized for Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei. Loci were isolated using a partial Sau3A1 genomic library by the sequencing of randomly selected clones and by a biotinylated (CT)₁₀ and (GT)₁₀ probes screening procedure. The last strategy resulted in the most useful data. About 40% of the clones showed a previously reported satellite/microsatellite (PVS1), reducing the chance of finding new microsatellite regions. Whereas two of the microsatellite loci with more than 10 alleles will be useful for mating analysis in a breeding program, the others might prove useful for population genetic studies.     

Osteoderm histology of the Pampatheriidae (Cingulata,Xenarthra, Mammalia): Implications for systematics,osteoderm growth,and biomechanical adaptation

Pampatheres are extinct, large‐bodied cingulates, which share morphological characters with both armadillos and glyptodonts but are considered to be more closely related to the latter. The osteoderm histology of six pampathere taxa was examined and compared to the histology of other cingulate osteoderms. This study investigates the development and functional adaptation of pampathere osteoderms as well as the phylogenetic relationships of the Pampatheriidae within the Cingulata. We found that pampathere osteoderms share a uniform histological organization based on a basic diploe‐like structure. After initial stages of intramembranous growth, metaplastic ossification, that is, the direct incorporation and mineralization of pre‐existing protein fibers, plays an important role in osteoderm development and provides information on various kinds of soft tissue otherwise not preserved. The latest stages of osteoderm growth are dominated by periosteal bone formation especially in the superficial cortex. Movable band osteoderms show regular arrangements of incorporated fibers that may increase the resistance of particularly weak areas against strain. The histological composition of pampathere osteoderms is plesiomorphic in its basic structure but shows a number of derived features. A unique array of Sharpey's fibers that are incorporated into the bone matrix at sutured osteoderm margins is interpreted as a synapomorphy of pampatheres. The arrangement of dermal fibers in the deep and superficial cortexes supports the close relationship between pampatheres and glyptodonts. J. Morphol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Characterization of sequential immune complexes in infective endocarditis by Western blot analysis

A patient with cutaneous vasculitis during infective endocarditis due to Lactobacillus casei was studied. Immune complexes (IC) were isolated from serum at the time of diagnosis and after 4 wk of therapy. Purification of IC used differential polyethylene glycol precipitation and competitive binding to staphylococcal protein A. In situ radioiodination of IC was performed, followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Anti-IC antisera were raised in rabbits by immunization with purified IC. IC were characterized by SDS-PAGE followed by electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose, incubation with antiserum and then with 125I protein A, and autoradiography. Although early and late IC differed quantitatively, there were no differentiating immunochemical features. Both IC contained a 60,000 dalton component that did not react with preimmune serum nor with anti-normal human serum. This component reacted with antiserum rendered specific for L. casei by affinity chromatography. The restricted antigen-antibody representation in IC contrasted with a wider panel of antibody activity in patient serum. The Western blot analysis proves to be an ideal method for the characterization of IC because of its sensitivity, dissociative capability, and preservation of immunoreactivity. IC isolated at a time removed from the original antigenic challenge may provide insight into the nature of the inciting antigen.