Orthologous gene-expression profiling in multi-species models: search for candidate genes

Microarray-driven gene-expression profiles are generally produced and analyzed for a single specific experimental model. We have assessed an analytical approach that simultaneously evaluates multi-species experimental models within a particular biological condition using orthologous genes as linkers for the various Affymetrix microarray platforms on multi-species models of ventilator-associated lung injury. The results suggest that this approach may be a useful tool in the evaluation of biological processes of interest and selection of process-related candidate genes.     

Physiological Heterothallism and Sexuality in Euascomycetes: A Partial History

Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Rapid immunoenzyme analysis

A variant of the immunoenzyme assay, reducing the duration of the assay procedure by 3 hours in comparison with the standard technique, is presented. This rapid variant is sufficiently sensitive and reproducible.     

The development of an immunoenzyme method for determining human secretory IgA

The results of the work on the development of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for the determination of secretory IgA (S-IgA) are presented. A first, S-IgA was isolated from human colostrum and used as the basis for obtaining biologically active immunosorbent; then antibodies to S-IgA were isolated and the specific conjugate was obtained. The determination of S-IgA was carried out by the method of sandwich EIA. The newly developed EIA system permitted the determination of S-IgA only, giving no positive reactions with serum immunoglobulins. The data thus obtained make it possible to regard this assay system as specific, sensitive and suitable for further trials.     

Analysis of specificity in the serodiagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Analysis of serum samples for the presence of antibody to AIDS-inducing virus was carried out with the use of the Virognostika diagnosticum manufactured by Organon (the Netherlands). As a result, 6.1% of sera from patients with hematologic diseases, 5.7% of sera from oncologic patients, and 9.2% of sera from hepatitis B patients proved to be "positive" according to the criteria of the manufacturer. However the positively reacting sera could be neutralized by sorption on human red cells, groups AB and 0 and by treatment with the lysate of human lymphocyte culture, which was indicative of the fact that false positive reactions were probably due to the contamination of the antigenic preparation by components of the producer-cell membrane.     

The development of methods for obtaining monospecific ingredients for immunoenzyme analysis

The methods of the modification of Salmonella O- and H-antigens and the preparation of biologically active sorbents on their basis have been developed. The use of these sorbents has permitted the isolation of affinity antibodies with strictly defined specific activity. The work shows the possibility of the successful use of carriers obtained on the basis of porous glass, chemically modified by acrylic copolymers containing activated carboxylic groups, and intended for the immobilization of antigens of both protein and carbohydrate nature.     

Comparison of the diagnostic value of methods for determining antibodies against the Salmonella group-B O-antigen

The analysis of serum samples from 124 patients with the bacteriologically confirmed diagnosis of group B salmonellosis has revealed that the specific neutralization variant of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) makes it possible to detect IgA, IgG and IgM more effectively than the indirect EIA variant and the passive hemagglutination test.     

Expression of Toll-like receptor 2 is up-regulated in monocytes from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by pulmonary and systemic inflammation which flare-up during episodes of acute exacerbation (AECOPD). Given the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the induction of inflammatory responses we investigated the involvement of TLRs in COPD pathogenesis.

Methods

The expression of TLR-2, TLR-4 and CD14 in monocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. To study the functional responses of these receptors, monocytes were stimulated with peptidoglycan or lipopolysaccharide and the amounts of TNFα and IL-6 secreted were determined by ELISA.

Results

We found that the expression of TLR-2 was up-regulated in peripheral blood monocytes from COPD patients, either clinically stable or during AECOPD, as compared to never smokers or smokers with normal lung function. Upon stimulation with TLR-2 ligand monocytes from COPD patients secreted increased amounts of cytokines than similarly stimulated monocytes from never smokers and smokers. In contrast, the expressions of TLR-4 and CD14 were not significantly different between groups, and the response to lipopolysaccharide (a TLR-4 ligand) stimulation was not significantly different either. At discharge from hospital TLR-2 expression was down-regulated in peripheral blood monocytes from AECOPD patients. This could be due to the treatment with systemic steroids because, in vitro, steroids down-regulated TLR-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrated that IL-6, whose plasma levels are elevated in patients, up-regulated in vitro TLR-2 expression in monocytes from never smokers.

Conclusion

Our results reveal abnormalities in TLRs expression in COPD patients and highlight its potential relationship with systemic inflammation in these patients.

     

Epidemiological investigation of the first case of AIDS detected in a citizen of the USSR

The penetration and spread of infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus has been detected in the USSR. The infection was brought by a homosexual who got infected in East Africa in 1982. In the USSR he infected 5 out of his 22 sexual partners who, in their turn, transferred the infection to 3 women in heterosexual intercourse. One of these women gave birth to a seropositive child. As the result of blood transfusion from a donor infected via a homosexual contact, 5 blood recipients got infected.     

Big game hunting in New Zealand: per capita effort,harvest and expenditure in 2011–2012

Recreational big game hunters make a significant contribution to conservation through kills of deer, pigs, chamois and tahr. New opportunities for managing recreational hunting through the proposed Game Animal Council underscore the need to understand the implications of potential changes in recreational hunting participation and harvests. Based on a survey of hunters' recall over a year, hunters averaged 15.63 (SEM = 0.58) big game hunts per year, spending 30.53 (SEM = 0.85) days hunting and killing 8.92 (SEM = 0.69) big game animals. Hunters commonly targeted several species on a single hunt, with highly skewed distributions for hunter effort and kills. Mean monthly expenditure on big game hunting items was $296.78 (SEM = $8.95). Results demonstrate that big game hunting is a significant activity in New Zealand, but this varies considerably among hunters with a small number responsible for the vast majority of kills. These are important considerations for future big game hunting management.