Effect of Moniliformis moniliformis density on distribution within the definitive host population (Rattus norvegicus)

The population dynamics of Moniliformis moniliformis was studied in ‘free-ranging’ laboratory rats, Rattus norvegicus, presented with different relative density levels of M. moniliformis in cockroaches, Periplaneta americana. Changes in selected population parameters of the negative binomial distribution were evaluated as indicators of changes in aggregation. A significant increase in the degree of aggregation of parasites occurred as a result of the increase in relative density of infective stages available to the rats. This increase in aggregation was due to the increase in over-dispersion that occurred in female rats only. The degree of aggregation in females was found to be significantly higher than that in males at both treatment levels. The best indicators of the degree of aggregation were found to be the ratio of the variance to the relative density and the ratio of the log-variance to log-relative density. Changes in k were not correlated with changes in over-dispersion or the relative density.     

Analysis of a disease transmission model in a population with varying size

An S I R S epidemiological model with vital dynamics in a population of varying size is discussed. A complete global analysis is given which uses a new result to establish the nonexistence of periodic solutions. Results are discussed in terms of three explicit threshold parameters which respectively govern the increase of the total population, the existence and stability of an endemic proportion equilibrium and the growth of the infective population. These lead to two distinct concepts of disease eradication which involve the total number of infectives and their proportion in the population.Partially supported by NSF Grant No. DMS-8703631. This work was done while this author was visiting the University of VictoriaResearch supported in part by NSERC A-8965     

A Markov approach for describing post-fire succession of vegetation

Vegetation dynamics in the coastal area of the Seto Inland Sea region in Japan, where wild fires occur frequently, were described using a stationary Markov model. In this region, vegetation types ofMiscanthus-Pleioblastus grassland,Lespedeza-Mallotus scrub,Pinus-Rhododendron forest andCrassocephalum-Erechtites community have been identified, and these show cyclic succession under the influence of fires. The model uses parameters determining fire frequency and rate of successional change to analyze the effect of variation in these parameters on the areal ratio of each vegetation type at equilibrium and on the time taken for one vegetation type to succeed another (elapsed successional time). The effect of fire frequency differs between hypothetical habitats with high and low productivity. A policy for vegetation management in areas of high and low productivity is proposed. The advantages and limitations of applying Markov models to studies of vegetation succession are also discussed.     

The effects of feedback lighting on the circadian drinking rhythm in the diurnal new world primate Saimiri sciureus

Feedback lighting provides illumination primarily during the subjective night (i.e., the photosensitive portion of the circadian cycle) in response to a given behavior. This technique has previously been used to test the nonparametric model of entrainment in nocturnal rodents. In three species (Rattus norvegicus, Mesocricetus auratus, and Mus musculus), the free-running period of the locomotor activity rhythm was similar whether the animals were exposed to continuous light or discrete light pulses occurring essentially only during the subjective night (i.e., feedback lighting). In the current experiments, feedback lighting was presented to squirrel monkeys so that light fell predominantly during the subjective night. Feedback lighting was linked to the drinking behavior in this diurnal primate so that when the animal drank, the lights went out. Despite the seemingly adverse predicament, the monkeys maintained regular circadian drinking rhythms. Furthermore, just as the period of the free-running activity rhythms of nocturnal rodents exposed to continuous light or feedback lighting were similar, the period of the drinking rhythms of the squirrel monkeys in continuous light and feedback lighting were comparable (25.6 +/- 0.1 and 25.9 +/- 0.1 hours, respectively), despite a substantial decrease in the total amount of light exposure associated with feedback lighting. The free-running period of monkeys exposed to continuous dark (24.5 +/- 0.1 hours) was significantly shorter than either of the two lighting conditions (P < 0.001). The results presented for the drinking rhythm were confirmed by examination of the temperature and activity rhythms. Therefore, discrete light pulses given predominately during the subjective night are capable of simulating the effects of continuous light on the free-running period of the circadian rhythms of a diurnal primate. The response of squirrel monkeys to feedback lighting thus lends further support for the model and suggests that the major entrainment mechanisms are similar in nocturnal rodents and diurnal primates.     

Degradation of diarylethane structures by Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar I

Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar I was isolated from a pulp mill effluent based on its ability to grow on synthetic media containing 1,2-diarylethane structures as the sole carbon and energy source. Analysis of samples taken from cultures of this strain in benzoin or 4,4-dimethoxybenzoin (anisoin), showed that cleavage between the two aliphatic carbons takes place prior to ring fission. Intermonomeric cleavage was also obtained with crude extracts. Substrates of this reaction were only those 1,2-diarylethane compounds that supported growth of the bacterium. The purification and partial characterization of an enzyme that catalyzes the NADH-dependent reduction of the carbonyl group of benzoin and anisoin is also reported.     

Cannibalism as a life boat mechanism

Under certain conditions a cannibalistic population can survive when food for the adults is too scarce to support a non-cannibalistic population. Cannibalism can have this lifeboat effect if (i) the juveniles feed on a resource inaccessible to the adults; and (ii) the adults are cannibalistic and thus incorporate indirectly the inaccessible resource. Using a simple model we conclude that the mechanism works when, at low population densities, the average yield, in terms of new offspring, due to the energy provided by one cannibalized juvenile is larger than one.     

Structural and functional domains of cellobiohydrolase I from trichoderma reesei

Limited proteolysis (papain) of the cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I, 65 kDa) from Trichoderma reesei led to the seperation of two functional domains: a core protein (55 kDa) containing the active site, and a C-terminal glycopeptide (10 kDa) implicated in binding to the insoluble matrix (cellulose). The quaternary structures of the intact CBH I and its core in solution are now compared by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. The molecular parameters derived for the core (Rg=2.09 nm, D_max=6.5 nm) and for the intact enzyme (Rg=4.27 nm, D_max=18 nm) indicate very different shapes. The resulting models show a tadpole-like structure for the intact enzyme where the isotropic part coincides with the core protein and the flexible tail part should be identified with the C-terminal glycopeptide. Thus in this enzyme, functional differentiation is reflected in structural peculiarities.Abbreviations SAXS small angle X-ray scattering - SDS-PAGE SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - IEF-PAG polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing; cellobiohydrolase (CBH, 1,4--glucan cellobio hydrolase (E.C.3.2.1.91)) - D_max maximum diameter - Rg radius of gyration     

A model for gramicidin A′-phospholipid interactions in bilayers

A model is proposed for the effect of gramicidin A on the order and structure of phospholipid dispersions. According to this model, the addition of gramicidin A influences the surrounding lipids via two independent mechanisms. The first arises from a drop in surface pressure for those lipids substantially bounded by gramicidin A. The second mechanism arises from the increase in the phospholipid headgroup spacing due to the small polar region of the polypeptide. The model provides an explanation for the currently available NMR, X-ray diffraction and Langmuir monolayer results. The model also suggests mechanisms for the ability of gramicidin A to trigger a transition of the lipid from the lamellar to hexagonal II phase, the dependence of this transition on the lipid chain length and the formation of a lamellar phase with lysophosphatidylcholine.Abbreviations NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - DMPC dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine - S molecular order parameter - CSA chemical shift anisotropy - DPPC dipalmitoylphosphati-dylcholine - LPC lysophosphatidylcholine     

Structural similarities among the high molecular weight protein fractions of oilseeds

Data on the physico-chemical properties of proteins from soybean, groundnut, sesame seed, sunflower seed, safflower seed, mustard seed, rapeseed and cotton seed are fairly extensive. An examination of the available data on high molecular weight proteins suggests that there are similarities in many of their properties. In this report the similarity in amino acid composition, size and shape, molecular weight, secondary structure, subunit composition, association-dissociation at high and low pH, stability towards denaturants, hydrolysis by enzymes and quaternary structure of the high molecular weight proteins is discussed. Based on these similarities a model has been proposed for the associationdissociation, denaturation and reassociation behaviour of the high molecular weight proteins of oilseeds.