Nosema parkeri sp. n., a Microsporidan from the Argasid Tick, Ornithodoros parkeri Cooley

SYNOPSIS. Nosema parkeri sp. n. is described from nymphs and adults of the argasid tick, Ornithodoros parkeri Cooley, from a laboratory colony. Schizogonic and sporogonic stages are described from various tick tissues. Spores are binucleate, measuring 3.2 (3–4) × 1.9 (1.8–2.5) μm. Transmission is transovarial and transstadial. The parasite does not appear to affect adversely the development or reproduction of the tick. Dermacentor andersoni Stiles was experimentally infected. Attempts to infect Swiss mice by tick feeding or by injection of infected tick suspensions were unsuccessful. The microsporidan differs in structure from Encephalitozoon ixodis Weiser) and Nosema slovaca Weiser & Reháček, the only other microsporidans known from ticks.     

Immune response to human influenza virus hemagglutinin expressed in Escherichia coli

Cloned DNA fragments coding for parts of strain WSN (H1N1) influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) were fused to a bacterial leader DNA derived from the Escherichia coli trp operon. Fusion proteins produced consisted of 190 amino acids of trpLE' protein at the amino terminus, and HA amino acids, either 1-308, 1-396, or 1-548 (complete HA), at the carboxyl terminus. These proteins were expressed at high levels (10-20% of total protein) in E. coli starved for tryptophan. A CNBr fragment (HA1-211) was derived from HA-308. Each of the proteins was purified and used for immunizing mice and rabbits. The antibody produced was shown to bind to (i) the HA fusion proteins, (ii) detergent-treated viral HA, (iii) HA, on intact virions, and (iv) the HA on the surface of cells infected with influenza virus. This shows that the HA fusion proteins expressed in bacteria can elicit antibodies that recognize at least some determinants of the native viral HA, and probably could lead to development of an anti-influenza vaccine.     

Molecular cloning of unintegrated visna viral DNA and characterization of frequent deletions in the 3' terminus

Visna viral DNA, like other retroviral DNA, exists in two circular forms in infected cells. The larger probably contains two copies of the LTR, the smaller, one copy. Recombinant DNA techniques were used to clone unintegrated circular visna viral DNA in the lambda WES . lambda B vector. Circular visna viral DNA was digested with the restriction enzyme SstI, which yields a 9.2-kb viral DNA fragment containing 90% of the viral genome colinear with the restriction map of linear viral DNA. This fragment extends from a site about 900 bp from the left (5') end of the viral DNA molecule, through the 3' region, including U3 and R sequences at its right (3') end. The recombinant clones isolated contain visna viral DNA inserts which range in size from 3.1 kb to 9.2 kb. All the clones contain the 5' region intact, but most had sustained deletions of varying lengths in the 3' terminal region of the cloned fragment.     

Phage P22 helps phage MB78 to overcome blockage of DNA maturation in rifampicin-resistant host

Bacteriophage MB78, a virulent phage ofSalmonella typhimurium cannot grow in rifampicin-resistant mutant (rif-39) of the host having altered RNA polymerase. The temperate phage P22 which cannot multiply in presence of the virulent phage MB78 can, however, help MB78 to overcome replication inhibition in rif-39. The processing of concatemeric phage DNA to monomer is blocked in this nonpermissive host. Superinfection with P22 induces synthesis of at least five P22 specific polypeptides which help phage MB78 in the processing of the concatemeric DNA and maturation of phage particles.     

四川省自贡市幼儿园3至5岁儿童乙型肝炎病毒感染情况及影响因素

为了解四川省自贡地区3～5岁幼儿乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染情况,并探索与感染有关的因素,1985年调查了1167名幼儿,其HBV总感染率为41.13％,HBsAg阳性率12.68％。幼儿的HBV感染与母亲HBsAg阳性密切相关。共检查母亲409例,38例HBsAg阳性,其幼儿HBsAg阳性率为50％(19/38),HBsAg阴性的母亲371例,其幼儿HBsAg阳性率9.97％(37/371),来自HBsAg阳性母亲的阳性子女占33.3％(19/56)。1986年随访HBV易感幼儿448例,HBV年感染率为12.95％(58/448),HBsAg年阳转率3.79％。HBV年感染率与原幼儿班级HBsAg阳性率的高低有关。     

抑菌生的研究总结报告

本文报告一种由枯草杆菌制成的生态制剂,并命名为抑菌生(Subtilobiogen)。该制剂对创、烧伤感染有治疗作用。经过安全试验、急性毒性试验、Ames试验和微核试验证明,该制剂是一种无害、无毒和有致突变作用的活菌制剂。抑菌生有膏剂、乳剂及粉剂3种剂型。抑菌生在试管和体内对金黄色葡萄球菌、绿脓杆菌和大肠杆菌均具有抑菌作用。临床观察证明,将抑菌生喷洒在创面上,对浅Ⅱ°度、深Ⅱ°度及混合型烧伤感染均具有明显疗效。实验组(181例)与对照组(174例)相比较,在统计学上具有显著性差异。抑菌生的作用机制,经过初步试验证明,与营养争夺和占位性保护有关,因为枯草杆菌的生长速度超过金黄色葡萄球菌、绿脓杆菌和大肠杆菌的生长速度。     

烧伤肠球菌肠源性感染

肠球菌是宿主肠道中正常G~ 球菌,目前已成为医源性感染的重要致病菌。临床上有30％肠球菌感染患者感染源不明,拟肠道来源可能性最大。本文给小鼠肌注灭滴灵3日,造成动物肠系膜淋巴结(MLN)肠球菌的感染率为40％;肌注灭滴灵加口服链霉素,MLN的感染率上升为90％,肝脾内脏中的感染率为83％;联合使用上述抗生素合并25％体表面积烧伤,动物发生致死性肠球菌性肠源性感染,动物诸内脏中肠球菌感染的检出率均高达100％。本研究证明肠球菌感染可以是肠源性的。     

Analysis of productivity in lysis-deficient lambda expression systems

The integrated state of lambda in the host chromosome in lysogeny can be combined with its extrachromosomal replication in the lytic state to achieve high cloned gene productivities. Our previous studies on lambda expression systems(21,22) have shown 100% segregational stability of the cloned gene in lysogeny and cloned gene product levels up to 15% of total cell protein in a mutant lytic state. However, the expression phase of systems based on Escherichia coli JM109 and JM105 showed partial lysis of the productive culture despite a mutation in the lysis gene S of the lambda vector resulting in extracellular release of the cloned gene product. In the current study, we have eliminated partial lysis in the expression phase of lambda systems and conducted a detailed comparative analysis of these systems in relation to maximization of cloned gene productivity. The elimination of partial cell lysis by using a nonpermissive strain Y1089 did not enhance product yields vs. earlier systems that exhibited partial lysis. The elimination of nonessential lambda protein production by construction of a new vector NP326 did not yield higher product yields presumably because of the small fraction of these proteins in the lytic state. Temperature induction of the lysogen Y1089(NM1070) resulted in higher product levels than direct infection of Y1089 by the phage vector at a high multiplicity. Using infection experiments, we found the promoter lacUV5 in the vector lambdaZEQS to yield threefold higher product levels than lac in NM1070, suggesting possible further enhancement of productivity with stronger promoters. The occurrence or absence of partial lysis in lambda systems could be used beneficially to achieve extracellular or intracellular product as desired. The large capacity of lambda vectors for insert DNA suggests potential applications in obtaining highly amplified levels of operons and multienzyme systems. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of the VAM fungus Glomus sp. on the growth and yield of soybean inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum

The effect of two Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains (D344 and Urbana), on the frequency and intensity of infection by a VAM fungal Glomus sp. and the effect of VAM on biomass production by nodulating plants were tested in soybean growing in a soil containing low levels of accessible P and N. During the initial stage of vegetative growth, mycorrhiza frequency in roots inoculated with the two rhizobial strains did not differ. However, during flowering it was 178% higher in roots with the strain D344 than in the presence of the strain Ubrana. At final harvest (green pods) the VAM frequency did not differ in the presence of either strain. VAM positively affected biomass production, foliar concentrations of P, Zn and Cu, and number and dry matter yield of pods, but did not increase concentrations of total N and K. In nonmycorrhizal plants total nitrogenase activity (not nodule mass) and growth were higher with the rhizobial strain Urbana. The greatest nitrogenase activity, growth and yield occurred in the presence of the VAM fungus, and did not differ for plants with different strains of rhizobia.