Further results on the survival of a gene represented in a founder population

This paper is concerned with gene survival in a population which may increase without density dependence according to a generalization of the Moran model for haploid individuals. A selective advantage to one allele and the possibility of differential reproductive rates are allowed. Simple conditions are given for ultimate homozygosity to be certain and for the possibility of ultimate polymorphism. The results complement and extend those of Heyde (1981, 1982).     

Gentamicin and amikacin repress the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in culture, probably by inhibiting a parasite acid phospholipase

Human erythrocytes were loaded with either gentamicin or amikacin and subsequently infected with the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum and grown in culture. Parasite invasion of erythrocytes was unaffected by the drugs, but subsequent development was retarded. The digestion of host cell cytosol in ring-stage parasites was inhibited by the drugs. A substantial acid, Ca2+-independent phospholipase activity could be monitored in parasite cytosol and was found to be inhibited by the drugs. These results imply that phospholipases are involved in the feeding mechanism of the parasite and that gentamicin and amikacin exert their inhibitory activity by affecting these enzymes.     

Pendelluft flow in symmetric airway bifurcations.

We propose a mathematical model for pendelluft flow in a single airway bifurcation. The model is motivated by an apparatus used in an experimental study of the pendelluft by Ultman et al. (1988). We derive differential equations governing the fluid flow, which directly connect physiological parameters to the variables determining the pendelluft; this approach allows us to include nonlinearity in the model. If nonlinearity is neglected, our model is identical to the R-I-C circuits used by previous investigators. If nonlinearity is retained, we show that pendelluft can occur even in perfectly symmetric airway bifurcations. For the specific apparatus used in the experiments of High et al. (1991), we demonstrate that two qualitatively different pendelluft flows can occur in the system.     

Sequence analysis of a 101-kilobase plasmid required for agar degradation by a Microscilla isolate.

An agar-degrading marine bacterium identified as a Microscilla species was isolated from coastal California marine sediment. This organism harbored a single 101-kb circular DNA plasmid designated pSD15. The complete nucleotide sequence of pSD15 was obtained, and sequence analysis indicated a number of genes putatively encoding a variety of enzymes involved in polysaccharide utilization. The most striking feature was the occurrence of five putative agarase genes. Loss of the plasmid, which occurred at a surprisingly high frequency, was associated with loss of agarase activity, supporting the sequence analysis results.     

A putative GDP–GTP exchange factor is required for development of the excretory cell in Caenorhabditis elegans

The Caenorhabditis elegans excretory cell extends tubular processes, called canals, along the basolateral surface of the epidermis. Mutations in the exc-5 gene cause tubulocystic defects in this canal. Ultrastructural analysis suggests that exc-5 is required for the proper placement of cytoskeletal elements at the apical epithelial surface. exc-5 encodes a protein homologous to guanine nucleotide exchange factors and contains motif architecture similar to that of FGD1, which is responsible for faciogenital dysplasia. exc-5 interacts genetically with mig-2, which encodes Rho GTPase. These results suggest that EXC-5 controls the structural organization of the excretory canal by regulating Rho family GTPase activities.     

Protective reaction of the myocardium in poisoning

Intensive synthesis of collagen-like substance was revealed in the rabbit myocardium during experimental diphtheria intoxication. It was more marked in the right ventricle 24 hours after the injection of diphtheria toxin. Since similar changes (the substance was mainly formed around blood vessels) have been observed in other cases of toxic myocardial alterations (i.e. ethanol intoxication, injection of pharmacological agents, etc.), it can be assumed that it is a standard protective reaction of the altered heart to the penetration of toxic agents from the blood into the myocardial tissue.