Effect of anti-mosquito antibodies on the infectivity of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei to Anopheles farauti

The effect of mouse anti-mosquito antibodies, present in the bloodmeal, on the infectivity of Plasmodium berghei Vincke to Anopheles farauti Laveran was investigated. Significantly fewer oocysts developed in mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with sugar-fed mosquito midgut antigens than in mosquitoes feeding on control mice. Mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with the midgut antigens derived from sugar-fed mosquitoes also showed reduced mortality and had lower infection rates than those fed on unimmunized mice. Blood-fed midgut antigen was less effective in producing these effects than sugar-fed midgut antigen.     

Molecular biology of wound-inducible proteinase inhibitors in plants

Abstract. The techniques of molecular biology are being employed to investigate at the gene level the systemically mediated, wound-induced accumulation of two defensive proteinase inhibitor proteins in plant leaves. These techniques have added a new dimension to biochemical and physiological studies already underway to understand the mechanism of induction by wounding. The acquisition of cDNAs from the RNAs coding for the two inhibitors facilitated studies of mRNA synthesis in leaves in response to wounding, and provided probes to obtain wound-inducible proteinase inhibitor genes from tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) and potato (Solarium tuberosum) genomes. Successful transformations of tobacco plants with fused genes, containing the 5' and 3' regions of the inhibitor genes with the open reading frame of the chloramphenicol acelyltransferase ( cat ) gene, have provided a wound-inducible chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CATase) activity with which to seek cis- and transacting elements that regulate wound-inducibility to help to understand the interaction of cytoplasmic and nuclear components of the intracellular communication systems that activate the proteinase inhibitor genes in response to wounding by insect pests.     

Serotonin uptake in the central nervous system of rats fed a corn-diet

1. Endogenous serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindol acetic acid (5-HIAA) content and exogenous 5-HT uptake (Km and Vmax) were measured in different brain regions (cerebellum, diencephalon, brain stem and telencephalon) of rats fed with a corn diet and restricted protein (8%) diet during 6 weeks. 2. A reduction of 5-HT levels was found in all regions studied of animals fed a corn diet, whereas, 5-HIAA was only decreased in brain stem and diencephalon. 3. An important increase in Km and Vmax were registered in brain stem and diencephalon of protein restricted animals, whereas, an increase of 5-HT uptake affinity in cerebellum, brain stem and telencephalon (35, 42 and 33% respectively) was observed. Simultaneously, under corn diet conditions, the Vmax decreased 40, 30 and 34% respectively in those regions. 4. It is suggested that the brain stem was the more sensitive area under nutritional restricted conditions and the development of some possible compensatory mechanisms of the 5-HTergic system is discussed.     

Mitogen-like monoclonal anti-actin antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (IgM kappa) have been produced to actin isolated electrophoretically from L cell extracts. These monoclonal anti-actin antibodies bind to intact L cells and modulate DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, much like affinity-purified polyclonal rabbit antibody to the same Mr 42,000 actin. In addition, monoclonal antibodies specific for actin from Entamoeba histolytica also bound to and modulated the growth of L cells. A monoclonal antibody directed against a neuroblastoma surface antigen did not produce stimulation of L cells, and the binding activity of anti-actin monoclonal antibody to L cells was removed by absorption with actin covalently coupled to Sepharose. These observations demonstrate the specificity of interaction between the anti-actin monoclonal antibodies and the surface of intact L cells. We conclude that a surface actin-like molecule on the L cell, when bound by specific monoclonal antibody, initiates a stimulatory signal which results in enhanced cellular metabolism.     

Taenia solium: cell reactions to the larva (Cysticercus cellulosae) in naturally parasitized, immunized hogs

In hogs naturally infected with Taenia solium larvae (i.e., Cysticercus cellulosae), we studied the host response induced by antigens obtained from the larvae. Histopathological studies of cysticerci removed after 4 and 8 weeks of immunization showed an intense inflammatory reaction surrounding the larvae. The response was greater in the 8-week specimens. A dense layer of eosinophils was in close contact with the external membrane of the bladder wall and, in several cases, the eosinophils had infiltrated this tegument. Many eosinophils were seen in the spiral canal of larvae. This infiltration by eosinophils increased with time. Preparations from the 8-week samples showed many degenerated and disrupted eosinophils whose granules were found in close contact with the outer membrane of the larval tegument and, in some cases, had entered through the broken surface of this structure. More than 90% of the larvae were found in various stages of degeneration; the rest were completely destroyed and surrounded by a mass of eosinophils. After immunization, peripheral blood eosinophilia increased to 17%, whereas the eosinophilia of the control hog was 4% throughout the study. The larval worms removed from control hogs showed intact structures, with a low degree of infiltration by eosinophils and a discrete inflammatory reaction surrounding the bladder wall of the larvae.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: distribution of fluorescently labeled tubulin and actin in epimastigotes

Cytoskeletal components were visualized in epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi by double immunofluorescence microscopy using monospecific antibodies against tubulin and against actin. Intense staining of the flagellum and the edges of the cell body was observed when the cells were stained with anti-tubulin, reflecting the presence of the basal bodies, the flagellar axoneme and the subpellicular microtubules. A less intense staining was seen in the cell body of epimastigotes stained with anti-actin. However, an intense staining was observed with this antibody in the flagellum, in a pattern similar to that observed with anti-tubulin. It is suggested that the paraxial structure, which is formed by a complex array of 6-nm-thick microfilaments is composed, at least in part, of actin.     

吗啡耐受大鼠心房心钠素的释放及其基因转录

本工作应用心钠素放射免疫测定和分子杂交技术首次发现,吗啡耐受大鼠血浆心钠素水平显著降低,心房内心钠素含量明显升高,同时心房内心钠素特异性mRNA水平也相应提高,提示在吗啡耐受时大鼠心房内心钠素的合成和贮存增加,释放减少。     

Production of DON-related trichothecenes byFusarium graminearum Schw from Krasnodarski krai of the USSR

34Fusarium graminearum Schw isolates produced 4-deoxynivalenol to form significant amounts of 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol and lesser amounts of 4 — deoxynivalenol monoacetates on grain substratesin vitro. This is the first report on the capability a large group of naturally occurring isolates to produce 4,7-dideoxynivalenol. The average levels of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol on rice, corn, barley, and wheat as a substrate were respectively 26.8, 14.0, 12.8, and 10.5% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. 4, 7 — dideoxynivalenol was present in all examined naturally contaminated wheat kernel samples at levels of 1.7 to 7.9% of the level of 4-deoxynivalenol. These findings suggest that more attention should be given to the occurrence of 4,7-dideoxynivalenol in cereals.     

兔核移植胚胎起始发育的超微结构研究

对兔核移植胚胎起始发育的超微结构变化进行电镜观察,并与供体桑椹胚细胞,受体卵母细胞及同期正常受精胚胎的超微结构进行比较,“原核”期兔核移植胚胎的超微结构明显不同于供体桑椹胚细胞及受体卵母细胞的超微结构,而与同期正常受精胚胎相似,但有些核移植胚胎中皮质反应,及核仁和线粒体中出电子致密的网眼结构,与正常受精卵存在差别,分裂至２－细胞期时,与正常２－细胞胚超微结构更相似,结果提示,兔胚胎细胞核移植后,供     

细菌Ⅵ型分泌系统效应蛋白的装配及功能的研究进展

蛋白分泌作为细胞之间传递信号的途径之一,在微生物生存竞争中也扮演着重要的角色。革兰氏阴性菌可以通过Ⅵ型分泌系统(type Ⅵ secretion system, T6SS)将效应蛋白传递至胞外或原核和真核微生物中,从而介导微生物间的竞争或宿主-细菌的相互作用,最终建立竞争优势。本文主要总结了T6SS的结构与组成,并重点对效应蛋白的装配以及其与免疫蛋白的作用机制的研究进展进行阐述,为以后靶向T6SS抗菌药物的研制提供新思路。