Non-invasive blood sampling from primates using laboratory-bred blood-sucking bugs (Dipetalogaster maximus; Reduviidae, Heteroptera)

Primates are easily stressed by the conventional veterinary blood sampling routine and consequently, measured blood parameters may be biased. In this study, we tested blood-sucking bugs (Dipetalogaster maximus) on one lemur and two ape species (Microcebus murinus, Pongo abelii, Pan paniscus) as an alternative, non-invasive technique for bleeding primates. Within time periods of between 6 and 62 min we obtained blood volumes of 0.01–2.4 ml in 11 out of 12 trials from all three species. Therefore, we conclude that these bugs represent a new, gentle and effective tool for bleeding captive primates without stress.     

血型单克隆抗体试剂稳定剂的研究

为了进一步提高抗A、抗B血型单克隆抗体试剂的稳定性,实验中分别以不同配比的甘油、蔗糖、明胶和EDTA为稳定剂主要成分加入血型单抗试剂,放置在不同条件下观察试剂的稳定性。结果表明,所筛选出的一种稳定剂对血型单抗试剂具有良好的保护作用,试剂在2~8℃条件下放置12个月,凝集效价保持不变,并且该稳定剂对血型单抗的特异性、亲和力、凝集效价和凝集强度均无影响。     

SPF级与普通级新西兰兔血液学参数的比较

目的对普通级新西兰兔进行剖宫产,获得SPF兔,比较SPF兔和普通级兔血液学参数。方法采取剖宫产手术培育成无菌兔,接种正常寄生菌使之SPF化。耳缘静脉采血,自动生化分析仪测定SPF兔、普通级兔血液学参数。结果经检测SPF兔符合国家SPF兔标准;SPF兔和普通级新西兰兔白细胞数、血红蛋白、红细胞容积、中性粒细胞百分比、嗜酸性粒细胞百分比、嗜碱性粒细胞百分比、中性粒细胞数、单核细胞数、嗜酸性粒细胞数、嗜碱性粒细胞数、总蛋白、球蛋白、白蛋白/球蛋白、谷酰转肽酶、葡萄糖、钙、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇等参数差异极显著（P〈0.01）;血小板数、淋巴细胞百分比、肌酐差异显著（P〈0.05）;红细胞数、平均红细胞体积、平均血红蛋白含量、平均血红蛋白浓度、红细胞体积分布宽度、平均血小板体积、单核细胞百分比、淋巴细胞数、白蛋白、丙氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、总胆红素、碱性磷酸酶、尿素氮、尿酸、磷、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、磷酸肌酸激酶、乳酸脱氢酶差异不显著（P〉0.05）。结论不同等级微生物环境对新西兰兔血液学指标有显著影响。     

BacT／Aler3D全自动血培养仪的临床应用及评价

目的评价全自动血培养仪BacT／Aler3D的临床应用情况。方法对BacT／Aler3D全自动血培养仪检测的1853份标本,其检出的阳性率、病原菌种类及阳性检出时间进行了评估。结果1853份血培养分离出病原菌189株,阳性率为10．2％,分离出病原菌23种,最快检出时间为2h,24h以内阳性率为68．5％,48h内阳性率为87．3％,72h以内阳性率为92．3％。结论BacT／Aler3D全自动血培养仪提高血培养的阳性率,检出的细菌种类多,污染机会少,缩短阳性检出时间,而且操作简便,结果快速、准确。     

正常人和肝病患者血中“致密体”及其与纳米细菌的关系

目的研究正常和肝病患者血液中圆球体样微生物的生物学特性,初步确定纳米细菌与该种可滤过物的关系。方法将正常人和肝病患者培养阴性的血培养物进行细菌L型、穿菌和厌氧菌培养。同时取沉淀用透射电镜观察。L型培养液用0．45μm和0．22μm滤器过滤,接种RPMI 1640培养基,细胞培养条件下培养45d,用鼠抗纳米细菌单克隆抗体8D10免疫组化和钙盐染色进行纳米细菌鉴定。血浆纳米细菌培养阳性者12000×g离心后,进行普通和L型细菌培养。结果36／39患者和60／60健康对照血培养液中呈现类似于L型的巨型体、圆球体、原生小体的不明微生物。电镜观察圆球体内为电子致密样物质,周围未见细胞壁结构。电镜和光镜下可见其粘附在红细胞上或存在于红细胞内。滤过后培养物钙盐染色有5／39阳性,但纳米细菌免疫组化染色均阴性。纳米细菌阳性的培养物转种,未见一般细菌、细菌L型和上述血中“致密体”。结论血培养中致密体样微生物与纳米细菌无关,可能在维持机体正常免疫功能上具有一定意义。     

Heritability, plasticity and canalization of Ural owl egg size in a cyclic environment

Avian egg size is highly variable on the population level, but is considered inflexible on the individual level. On the basis of 2969 measurements of individual eggs collected during 1981-2005, we analysed heritability, plasticity and selection on egg size in the Ural owl, a long-lived bird that preys on voles. Vole abundance varied in a 3-year cycle, creating varying food supply across the cycle's phases. Ural owl egg size is heritable (h(2) = 60%). Ural owls lay larger eggs in improved food conditions. On the basis of repeated breeding records of 59 females that bred in all vole cycle phases, we show that intra-individual adjustment (plasticity) explained 22.4% of the variation in egg size across phases. Egg size was under stabilizing selection. Extremely small and extremely large eggs had reduced hatchability, and individuals who laid either large or small eggs had lower lifetime fledgling production than the ones laying intermediately sized eggs. Our findings illustrate how maternal investment in egg size can both be heritable and highly responsive to variable environmental conditions, and suggest that variation in the investment in egg size across individuals is canalized.     

Comparative studies of the antioxidant effects of a naturally occurring resveratrol analogue – <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-3,3′,5,5′-tetrahydroxy-4′-methoxystilbene and resveratrol – against oxidation and nitration of biomolecules in blood platelets

The action of two phenolic compounds isolated from the bark of Yucca schidigera: trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene and its analogue -- resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene, present also in grapes and wine) on oxidative/nitrative stress induced by peroxynitrite (ONOO(-), which is strong physiological oxidant and inflammatory mediator) in human blood platelets was compared. The trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene, like resveratrol, significantly inhibited protein carbonylation and nitration (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method) in the blood platelets treated with peroxynitrite (0.1 mM) and markedly reduced an oxidation of thiol groups of proteins (estimated with 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitro-benzoic acid)] or glutathione (measured by high performance liquid chromatography method) in these cells. The trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene, like resveratrol, also caused a distinct reduction of platelet lipid peroxidation induced by peroxynitrite. The obtained results indicate that in vitro trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene and resveratrol have very similar protective effects against peroxynitrite-induced oxidative/nitrative damage to the human platelet proteins and lipids. Moreover, trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene proved to be even more potent than resveratrol in antioxidative tests. We conclude that the novel tested phenolic compound -- trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene isolated from Y. schidigera bark possessing Generally Recognized As Safe label given by the Food and Drug Administration and allows their human dietary use -- seems to be a promising candidate for future evaluations of its antioxidative activity and may be a good candidate for scavenging peroxynitrite.     

Characterization of a novel vanadium-binding protein (VBP-129) from blood plasma of the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea

The ascidians, the so-called sea squirts, accumulate high levels of vanadium, a transition metal. Since Henze first observed this physiologically unusual phenomenon about one hundred years ago, it has attracted interdisciplinary attention from chemists, physiologists, and biochemists. The maximum concentration of vanadium in ascidians can reach 350 mM, and most of the vanadium ions are stored in the + 3 oxidation state in the vacuoles of vanadium-accumulating blood cells known as vanadocytes. Many proteins involved in the accumulation and reduction of vanadium in the vanadocytes, blood plasma, and digestive tract have been identified. However, the process by which vanadium is taken in prior to its accumulation in vanadocytes has not been elucidated. In the present study, a novel vanadium-binding protein, designated VBP-129, was identified from blood plasma of the vanadium-rich ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis samea. Although VBP-129 mRNA was transcribed in all A. sydneiensis samea tissues examined, the VBP-129 protein was exclusively localized in blood plasma and muscle cells of this ascidian. It bound not only to VO²⁺ but also to Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺; on the other hand, a truncated form of VBP-129, designated VBP-88, bound only to Co²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. In a pull-down assay, an interaction between VanabinP and VBP-129 occurred both in the presence and the absence of VO²⁺. These results suggest that VBP-129 and VanabinP function cooperatively as metallochaperones in blood plasma.     

Dissemination of extracellular and intracellular Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in the blood flow

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite. It has been thought that T. gondii can disseminate throughout the body by circulation of tachyzoite-infected leukocytes (intracellular parasite) in the blood flow. However, a small number of parasites exist as free extracellular tachyzoites in the blood flow (extracellular parasite). It is still controversial whether the extracellular parasites in the blood flow disseminate into the peripheral tissues. In this study, we evaluated the dissemination efficiency of the extracellular and intracellular parasites in the blood flow using GFP-expressing transgenic parasite (PLK/GFP) and DsRed Express-expressing transgenic parasite (PLK/RED). When PLK/GFP and PLK/RED tachyzoites were injected, as intracellular and extracellular forms respectively, at the same time into the tail vein of a mouse, many disseminated green fluorescent PLK/GFP tachyzoites were observed in the lung, the spleen, the liver and the brain. However, only a few red fluorescent PLK/RED tachyzoites were detected in these organs. When PLK/GFP and PLK/RED tachyzoites were injected in the opposite manner, that is, as extracellular and intracellular forms respectively, the majority of tachyzoites in these tissues were PLK/RED tachyzoites. Collectively, these results indicate that intracellular tachyzoites mainly disseminate throughout the body and that extracellular tachyzoites hardly contribute to parasite dissemination.