Circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium berghei: gene cloning and identification of the immunodominant epitopes.

The gene encoding the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei was cloned and characterized. A cDNA library made from P. berghei sporozoite RNA was screened with a monoclonal antibody for expression of CS protein epitopes. The resulting cDNA clone was used to isolate the CS protein gene from a lambda library containing parasite blood-stage DNA. The CS protein gene contains a central region encoding two types of tandemly repeated amino acid units, flanked by nonrepeated regions encoding amino- and carboxy-terminal signal and anchorlike sequences, respectively. One of the central repeated amino acid unit types contains the immunodominant epitopes.     

Reduction of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction during trichloroethylene anesthesia.

A double-lumen tube was inserted into the trachea of dogs anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital (30-40 mg/kg). Blood flow/unit lung volume in each lung was measured with 133Xe. Both lungs were initially ventilated with oxygen and measurements of pulmonary blood flow, CO2 output, cardiac output, and blood gases were made. When nitrogen was administered to one lung blood flow was diverted to the opposite lung. The diversion of flow was reduced by the inhalation of 1% trichloroethylene but returned after withdrawal of the anesthetic. There were no significant changes in cardiac output. Changes in CO2 output and arterial Po2 were compatible with the xenon results. It is concluded that trichloroethylene may increase arterial hypoxemia by reducing vasoconstriction in hypoxic areas of lung.     

Acid-sensing ion channel 3 mediates peripheral anti-hyperalgesia effects of acupuncture in mice inflammatory pain

Background  

Peripheral tissue inflammation initiates hyperalgesia accompanied by tissue acidosis, nociceptor activation, and inflammation mediators. Recent studies have suggested a significantly increased expression of acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) in both carrageenan- and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation. This study tested the hypothesis that acupuncture is curative for mechanical hyperalgesia induced by peripheral inflammation.     

Land-use,environment, and their impact on butterfly populations in a mountainous pastoral landscape: species richness and family-level abundance

Extensive grasslands are considered to be of high biodiversity value, but are under threat from intensification and abandonment. We studied butterfly species richness and abundance in 47 hay and grazing meadows in the Picos de Europa, northern Spain in 2004. Nine transects were walked around the perimeter of the meadows from the 1 June to 28 July with butterflies recorded to species or species-group. Land-use, abiotic, and sward variables were also recorded. Change in meadow extent was estimated by comparing a digital map of open meadows with a cadastral map with 1950s provenance. We found: A decrease in open area, mostly attributable to reduction in grazing meadows. 75 or more butterfly species with species richness principally, and positively, influenced by altitude and presence of scrub in the body of the meadow. Hay meadow management was a positive influence on richness of satyrids. When all butterflies were considered together, the only significant factor influencing abundance was Plantago lanceolata (−ve). For sub-groups of the butterfly community there was no consistent pattern, although P. lanceolata was identified as a (−ve) factor in relation to hesperiid, nymphalid, satyrid, and Viola-feeding fritillary groups. Several regression models included components that could be linked to abiotic influences (water, aspect, altitude) but many were indicative of abandonment or relaxation of management intensity (scrub, Pteridium aquilinum, Asphodelus albus), sward components, fragmentation (distance to nearest meadow, number of meadows within 100 m), and land use (hay management, summer grazing). The results are discussed in relation to changing socio-economics, including the potential impact of tourism, and the need for financial instruments to support extensive farming.     

Protein structure similarity from principle component correlation analysis

Background  

Owing to rapid expansion of protein structure databases in recent years, methods of structure comparison are becoming increasingly effective and important in revealing novel information on functional properties of proteins and their roles in the grand scheme of evolutionary biology. Currently, the structural similarity between two proteins is measured by the root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) in their best-superimposed atomic coordinates. RMSD is the golden rule of measuring structural similarity when the structures are nearly identical; it, however, fails to detect the higher order topological similarities in proteins evolved into different shapes. We propose new algorithms for extracting geometrical invariants of proteins that can be effectively used to identify homologous protein structures or topologies in order to quantify both close and remote structural similarities.