Granulosis virus in the intestinal lumen of Neoaplectana carpocapsae: Retention of infectivity after treatment with formaldehyde or high pH

High pH values (>11.0) cause the dissolution of occlusion bodies of the granulosis virus (GV) of Pseudaletia unipuncta and subsequent inactivation of the virus within 24 hr. The GV is also inactivated within 48 hr by 0.04% formaldehyde. The GV is found in the intestinal lumen of infective third stage nematodes (dauer juveniles) of Neoaplectana carpocapsae when development occurs in GV-infected hosts. The GV in these dauer juveniles retains its infectivity even when the nematodes are placed into an alkaline solution with pH values of 11.1 or 12.1 or in 0.04% formaldehyde up to 336 hr. However, significant loss of infectivity of GV occurs when the nematodes are in formaldehyde but not at high pH values. The dauer juveniles are ensheathed by the second stage cuticle. This cuticle probably protects the GV in the intestinal lumen of the nematode from the high pH and formaldehyde.     

Growth interactions among blue-green (Anabaena Oscillarioides,Microcystis aeruginosa) and green (Chlorella sp.) algae

The growth interactions amongst the blue-green algal species Anabaena oscillarioides, Microcystis aeruginosa and the green alga, Chlorella sp. were studied both in mixed cultures and in filter cultures separated by a membrane filter in the two arms of an interaction U-tube. The role of nutrients especially phosphate upon the interaction has also been studied. Anabaena and Microcystis both inhibited the growth of Chlorella while Microcystis also inhibited the growth of Anabaena. The inhibitory effect of Microcystis was found to be dependent on high concentrations of the initial algal inocula and independent of the initial concentration of nutrients such as inorganic phosphate, indicating that the nature of the inhibition is probably due to the production of inhibitory extracellular products by Microcystis. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of Anabaena on Chlorella is the consequence of nutrient competition with Anabaena competing more effectively for the available phosphate.     

Role in hemolysis of the interaction of tellurium compounds with glutathione

We have shown that tellurite and tellurate require the interaction with reduced glutathione (GSH) to hemolyze human erythrocytes. The study of the nature of this interaction is the main object of this paper. The degree of hemolysis was determined by the method of Angelone. The addition of extracellular 1 mM GSH or cysteine increased the rate of hemolysis. Concanavalin A (0.3 mg/mL) and/or 4 mg/mL adenosine did not affect the hemolysis by 0.1 mM tellurite. One tenth to 1 mM 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate (SITS) inhibited this hemolysis by 60–100%. Millimolar GSH released this inhibition. Incubation of 0.1 mM tellurite with 1 mM GSH for 90 min at 37°C, produced a hemolytic agent when prepared and tested under nitrogen, but one that was not active when prepared in air. The hemolysis byp-hydroxymercuribenzoate orp-hydroxymercuriphenylsulfonate did not involve GSH. Scanning electron micrographs showed a sphero-echinocyte transformation, in the pre-hemolytic stage, with all the agents tested. The rate of penetration of tellurite plays a role in determining the rate of hemolysis, as shown by the effect of SITS. The release by GSH of the inhibition by SITS poses questions concerning the site of action and cell membrane penetration of the hemolytic agent. Telluride or some intermediate in the interaction of GSH with tellurite is the actual hemolytic agent.     

Interaction of amino acids with glycyl-glycine transport in the mammalian intestine

In order to investigate a possible interaction between free amino acids and dipeptides during their mucosal uptake in man and monkey, perfusion studiesin vivo and uptake studiesin vitro using labelled and non-labelled dipeptides and amino acids have been carried out. In contrast to the observations of other workers, inhibition of glycyl-glycine uptake was observed with free leucine and methioninc but not with glycine, proline, hydroxyproline or alanine. Leucine and methionine caused inhibition of cytosol glycyl-glycine hydrolase activity, while glycine had no effect. The dipeptide uptake and dipeptide hydrolysis by cytosol enzyme was competitively inhibited by leucine. Although brush border glycyl-glycine hydrolase was also inhibited by leucine, the inhibition was noncompetitive. These data indicate that a few free amino acids can interact with dipeptides during uptake. This interaction might occur either at the transport step or at the stage of intracellular dipeptide hydrolysis. The work reported here was carried out at Wellcome Research Unit, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore 632 004.     

Interpersonal relationships and personal space: Research review and theoretical model

This article reviews research concerning interpersonal distance as a function of interpersonal relationships, attraction, and reactions to spatial invasion. To integrate research findings, we propose a simple model, based on the idea that people seek an optimal distance from others that becomes smaller with friends and larger for individuals who do not expect to interact. The model describes comfort-discomfort as a function of interaction distance in three situations: interacting friends, interacting strangers, and strangers who do not expect interaction. These three personal space profiles are discussed in terms of qualifying variables, such as seated vs. standing interaction, sex composition of the dyad, intimacy of conversation topics, and situational variables.A version of the theoretical section of this article was presented at the 82nd annual convention of the American Psychological Association in a symposium entitled Getting Close: Personal Space and Privacy, New Orleans, 1974. An earlier version of the material appears in a book by Irwin Altman (1975).     

Characterizing the Interaction between Root-knot Nematodes and Soil-borne Fungi which are Pathogenic to Passion Fruit (Passiflora Edulis)

For decades there have been anecdotal claims of synergistic interactions between plant-parasitic nematodes and soil-borne fungi causing decline of productivity of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) orchards. An empirical confirmation of these disease complexes would impact disease management and plant breeding for resistance. To test those claims, we subjected passion fruit plants to single or concomitant parasitism by Meloidogyne javanica or M. incognita and Fusarium nirenbergiae or Neocosmospora sp. under controlled conditions. Non-inoculated plants served as control for the assays. The severity of shoot symptoms and variables related to plant growth, the extent of fungal lesions, and nematode reproduction were assessed to characterize the interactions. The shoot symptoms and effect on plant growth induced by the pathogens varied, but no synergy between the pathogens was observed. Moreover, the volume of tissue lesioned by the fungi was not affected by co-parasitism of the nematodes. Conversely, plant resistance to the nematodes was not affected by co-parasitism of the fungi. The interactions M. incognita-F. nirenbergiae, M. incognita-Neocosmospora sp., M. javanica-F. nirenbergiae, and M. javanica-Neocosmospora sp. were not synergistic as previously claimed, but instead neutral.     

砂培条件下施加钙、砷对蜈蚣草吸收砷、磷和钙的影响

在砂培条件下 ,研究施加钙、砷对蜈蚣草生长和砷、磷和钙的吸收及转运的影响。添加砷对蜈蚣草的生物量 (根、叶柄和羽叶的干物重 )虽未达到显著影响 (p<0 .0 5) ,但添加 0 .1 mmol/L砷时 ,表现出刺激生长效应。提高介质中钙浓度明显抑制蜈蚣草根系生长 ,钙浓度过高还会显著限制地上部生长。供应 0 .0 3mmol/L钙时 ,蜈蚣草羽片砷浓度为 42 1 8mg/kg,明显高于 2 .5和 5 mmol/L钙处理下相应的砷浓度。砷的转运系数 (羽片 /根 )随着介质中砷浓度的升高而增大 ,随着介质中钙浓度的升高而减少。这说明一定范围内提高介质中砷浓度促进砷向地上部运输 ,而钙却明显抑制砷向地上部转运。钙和砷浓度过高时 ,植株均会出现中毒症状。钙中毒表现为叶脉变褐和叶肉坏死 ;而砷中毒现象表现在叶尖和叶缘变褐。介质中砷限制蜈蚣草根部对磷的吸收 ,但对地上部磷浓度无显著影响。介质中添加砷 ,植物体内钙浓度升高 ,可能起缓解砷毒的作用。钙、砷对蜈蚣草羽片砷累积量和总累积量均有极显著的交互作用 ,钙是负交互效应 ,砷是正交互效应。添加 2 .5和 5.0 mmol/L钙时 ,相对于 0 .0 3 mmol/L钙处理分别减少地上部砷累积量 2 0 .8%和73.1 %。这表明在应用蜈蚣草进行植物修复时 ,介质中出现过高浓度的钙是不利于提高土壤修复效率     

Discovery and SAR analysis of phenylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxole-based proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for the development of cholesterol-lowering drugs. In the discovery of PCSK9/LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor) protein-protein interaction (PPI) impairing small molecules, a total of 47 phenylbenzo[d][1,3] dioxole-based compounds were designed and synthesised. The result revealed that the 4-chlorobenzyl substitution in the amino group is important for the PPI disrupting activity. In the hepatocyte-based functional tests, active compounds such as A12, B1, B3, B4 and B14, restored the LDLR levels on the surface of hepatic HepG2 cells and increased extracellular LDL uptake in the presence of PCSK9. It is notable that molecule B14 exhibited good performance in all the evaluations. Collectively, novel structures targeting PCSK9/LDLR PPI have been developed with hypolipidemic potential. Further structural modification of derived active compounds is promising in the discovery of lead compounds with improved activity for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia-related disorders.     

青藏高原高寒草地生态系统服务功能的互作机制

青藏高原高寒草地是我国重要的畜牧业生产基地和生态安全屏障.高寒草地退化不仅影响了当地畜牧业生产和牧民生活,而且严重地威胁着我国和东亚地区的生态安全.从高寒草地生态系统的生态、生产和生活功能角度出发,分析了青藏高原高寒草地生态系统在人口、放牧压力与资源环境承载力的相互作用关系,及其生态、生产和生活功能比例结构变化对高寒草地生态系统服务功能的影响,阐明了高寒草地生态系统服务功能的多元耦合、多维连锁和多重反馈的相互作用机制.并以藏北那曲地区为例,把2008年农牧民脱贫线和小康线作为生活功能标准,通过生态服务功能当量,确定了维持高寒草地生态系统可持续发展的生态、生产和生活功能比例结构.据此,估测了牧民的生活功能达到脱贫线和小康线标准时允许的人口承载量.结果表明,高寒草地退化使草地生态系统的人口承载量下降了60％.以那曲地区2008年的实际的牧业人口量与允许的人口承载量相比,高寒草地退化后,实际牧业人口占脱贫标准的36％,但小康标准超载了118.9％.因此,调控人口承载量是实现青藏高原高寒草地生态系统的生态、生产和生活功能协调发展的关键.