The effects of biogenic and abiogenic disulphides on endothelial cells in culture: Comparison of three methods of viability assessment

Effects of biogenic and abiogenic disulfides on viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture were studied using three methods: inclusion of neutral red (NR) into cells, quantification of intracellular ATP, and modifications of the Mosmann method (1983), the essence of which consists in reduction of tetrazolim salts—MTT and MTS—by cells (Mosmann, 1983). 2,2′-Dithio-bis(N,N-diethyl)dietanamine (DS) was used as an abiogenic sulfide. As for biogenic disulfides, we used oxydized glutathione (GSSG) and garlic oil (GO), the major component of which is diallyl disulfide (DADS). It has been established that DS and GO have a compatible cytotoxic effect (ES₅₀ amounts to ～0.6 mM), whereas GSSG at a concentration up to 1 mM had no effect on the viability of endothelial cells. It has been demonstrated for the first time that DS and GO can serve as mediators of plasma-membrane oxidoreductase activity, with tetrazolium salts being used as the substrate, which may cause a false-negative effect. In this connection, Mosmann’s method has serious limitations in evaluating the effect of disulfides on cell viability, although it can be used when studying the mechanism of their action.     

Variable Tandem Repeat VcA of Vibrio cholerae

Computer analysis revealed seven potential variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) loci in the Vibrio cholerae genome. Specific primers were designed to amplify locus VcA located on chromosome 2 and containing a TGCTGT repeat. The locus was found in all tested strains from aV. cholerae strain collection, the repeat number varying from 3 to 23. In total, 14 VcA alleles were observed. The VcA locus was proposed as a marker for the molecular typing of V. cholerae strains.     

Energy distributions of superthermal ions in regime with sawtooth oscillations during neutral beam injection at the Globus-M tokamak

Specific features of the energy distributions of fast ions during neutral beam injection at the Globus-М tokamak are considered. Different loss mechanisms that can lead to the formation of a specific shape of the energy spectrum of superthermal ions are analyzed. The effect of sawtooth oscillations on the loss of fast ions is discussed.     

Growth of Phytomonas serpens in a Defined Medium; Nutritional Requirements

ABSTRACT. Three strains of Phytomonas serpens two from tomatoes, Lycopersicon esculentum one from the insect Phtia picta (Hemiptera, Coreidae), were cultivated in a chemically defined medium developed from a defined medium for cultivating insect flagellates. Besides organic growth factors required by other insect trypanosomatids this flagellate requires, serine and inositol. Glutamine stimulates growth, and, surprisingly, does not require heme.