Transmission of Megatrypanum Trypanosomes to Cervus dama by Tabanidae1

Four fallow deer, Cervus dama, became infected with Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) sp. by oral application of triturated guts from tabanids collected in an area with deer but without any cattle; four control calves remained negative. Upon challenge with triturated guts from tabanids from an area with pastured cattle, the four calves became infected with Trypanosoma (M.) theileri. The prepatent period in deer was five days or less. Haematopota spp. and Tabanus spp. were identified as vectors of the deer trypanosomes. It is concluded that the trypanosomes of C. dama belong to a Megatrypanum species that is not identical with T. theileri.     

Development of solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the determination of epidermal growth factor receptor and pp60c-src tyrosine protein kinase activity.

Solid-phase ELISAs for the determination of EGF receptor (EGF-R) and pp60c-src tyrosine protein kinase activity are described. The methods were developed and optimized using purified recombinant EGF-R intracellular domain (ICD) and pp60c-src tyrosine protein kinases. A standardized assay that utilizes poly (GluNa-Tyr)4:1 as substrate and a monoclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibody for detection is described. Assay conditions for both enzymes were optimized with respect to substrate and ELISA plate-coating condition, divalent metal ion preferences, enzyme concentration, apparent kinetic constants for ATP, and reaction linearity. Following standardization, a number of reference tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors were tested in the ELISAs and compared to results obtained using solution-phase radioactive tyrosine protein kinase assays, which are based on the transfer of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP to synthetic substrate. To enable a comprehensive comparison, IC50 values obtained in the ELISA were compared with values obtained in radioactive assays using both the holo-EGF-R and EGF-R ICD kinases. No substantial qualitative differences between these assays were seen. For many routine tyrosine protein kinase assays, semiquantitative or qualitative measurement of TPK activity is adequate. For such purposes, the ELISAs would be an attractive alternative to radioactive assays.     

Physical mapping of three fruit ripening genes：Endopolygalacturonase,ACC oxidase and ACC synthase from apple（Malus x domestica） in an apple rootstock A106（Malus sieboldii

The apple rootstock,A106(Malus sieboldii),had 17 bivalents in pollen mother cells at meiotic metaphase 1,and 17 chromosomes in a haploid pollen cell.Karyotypes were prepared from root-tip cells with 2n=34 chromosomes,Seven out of 82 karyotypes(8.5%) showed one pari of satellites at the end of the short arm of chromosome 3.C-bands were shown on 6 pairs of chromosomes 2,4,6,8,14,and 16 near the telomeric regions of short arms.Probes for three ripening-related genes from Malus x domestica:endopolygalacturonase(EPG,0.6kb),ACC oxidase(1.2kb),and ACC synthase(2kb)were hybridized in situ to metaphase chromosomes of A106.Hybridization sites for the EPG gene were observed on the long arm of chromosome 14 in 15 out of 16 replicate spreads and proximal to the centromere of chromosomes 6 and 11.For the ACC oxidase gene,hylridization sites were observed in the telomeric region of the short arm of chromosomes 5 and 11 in 87% and 81% of 16 spreads respectively,proxiaml to the centromere of chromosome 1 in 81% of the spreads,and on the long arm of chromosome 13 in 50% of the spreads. Physical mapping of three fruit ripening genes in an apple rootstock A106.Twenty five spreads were studied for the ACC synthase gene and hybridization sites were observed in the telomeric region of the short arm of chromosome 12 in 96% of the spreads.chromosomes 9 and 10 in 76% of the spreads,and chromosome 17 in 56% of the spreads.     

Frequent nest relocation in the ant Aphaenogaster araneoides: resources, competition, and natural enemies

Sessile and vagile organisms differ from one another in some fundamental ways, including methods of resource acquisition and competition. Ant colonies are typically studied as sessile entities, even though a large fraction of ant species frequently relocate their nests in the course of their life history. Little is known about the causes and consequences of nest relocation, but it is likely that the costs and benefits of relocation are driven by nest quality, neighborhood competition, or resource availability. In this paper, we document several cycles of nest relocation in a population of the Central American ant Aphaenogaster araneoides . In our first experiment, we tracked the pattern of relocation, testing whether environmental characteristics and colony demography were associated with relocation behavior. In our second experiment, we manipulated resource availability by adding or subtracting leaf litter, which is known to predict colony growth. We found that colonies relocated their nests once per week on average and colonies often reoccupied nests from which they had once emigrated. Larger colonies relocated more frequently than smaller colonies, and quickly growing colonies utilized a greater number of nests within their home range compared to slowly growing colonies. Relocation events were most likely to occur in periods when vapor pressure deficits were greatest. Nearest neighbor distance and other measures of environmental conditions were not associated with relocation behavior and there was no significant effect of litter removal or supplementation. We found evidence that multiple natural enemies attacked A. araneoides colonies. Based on the demographic correlates of relocation and our rejection of other plausible hypotheses, we propose that nest relocation is driven by the escape from natural enemies.     

Genetic analysis suggests functional interactions between the N- and C-terminal domains of the TetA(C) efflux pump encoded by pBR322.

Genetic analysis of the tetA(C) gene of pBR322 indicates the importance of two-cytoplasmic loops in the TetA(C) protein (P. McNicholas, I. Chopra, and D. M. Rothstein, J. Bacteriol. 174:7926-7933, 1992). In this study, we characterized second-site suppressor mutations that suggest a functional interaction between these two cytoplasmic regions of the protein.     

The cytokineplast: purified, stable, and functional motile machinery from human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes

We examined the formation of motile, chemotactically active, anucleate fragments from human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN, granulocytes), induced by the brief application of heat. These granule-poor fragments are former protopods (leading fronts, lamellipodia) that become uncoupled from the main body of the cell and leave it, at first with a connecting filament that breaks and seals itself. The usual random orientation of such filaments can be controlled by preorientation of cells in a gradient of the chemotactic peptide, N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (F-Met-Leu-Phe) (2x10(-9) M- 1x10(-8)). Cytochalsin B, 2.5-5 μg/ml, prevents fragment formation; colchicine, 10(-5) M, does not. In scanning electron micrographs, fragments are ruffled and the cell body rounded up and rather smooth. In transmission electron micrographs, fragments contain microfilaments but lack centrioles and microtubules. Like intact cells, both bound and free fragments can respond chemotactically to an erythrocyte destroyed by laser microirradiation (necrotaxis); the free, anucleate fragments may do so repeatedly, even after having been held overnight at ambient temperatures. We propse the name cytokineplast for the result of this self-purification of motile apparatus. The exodus of the motile machinery from the granulocyte requires anchoring of the bulk of the cell to glass and uncoupling, which may involve heat-induced dysfunction of the centrosome. In ultrastructural studies of the centrosomal region after heat, centriolar structure remains intact, but pericentriolar osmiophilic material appears condensed, and microtubules are sparse. These changes are found in all three blood cell types examined: PMN, eosinophil, and monocyte. Of these, the first two make fragments under our conditions; the more sluggish monocyte does not. Uncoupling is further linked to centrosomal dysfunction by the observation that colchicines-treated granulocytes (10(-5)M, to destroy the centrosome’s efferent arm) make fragments after less heat than controls. If motive force and orientation are specified mainly from the organelle-excluding leading front, then endoplasmic streaming in PMN is a catch-up phenomenon, and microtubules do not provide the vector of locomotion but rather stabilize and orient the “baggage” (nucleus, granuloplasm)—i.e., they prevent fishtailing. Moreover, constraints emanating from the centrosome may now be extended to include, maintenance of the motile machinery as an integral part of the cell.     

Exploring the Potential Health Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of AIDS Vaccine within a Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Response in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Background

The Investment Framework Enhanced (IFE) proposed in 2013 by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) explored how maximizing existing interventions and adding emerging prevention options, including a vaccine, could further reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This article describes additional modeling which looks more closely at the potential health impact and cost-effectiveness of AIDS vaccination in LMICs as part of UNAIDS IFE.

Methods

An epidemiological model was used to explore the potential impact of AIDS vaccination in LMICs in combination with other interventions through 2070. Assumptions were based on perspectives from research, vaccination and public health experts, as well as observations from other HIV/AIDS interventions and vaccination programs. Sensitivity analyses varied vaccine efficacy, duration of protection, coverage, and cost.

Results

If UNAIDS IFE goals were fully achieved, new annual HIV infections in LMICs would decline from 2.0 million in 2014 to 550,000 in 2070. A 70% efficacious vaccine introduced in 2027 with three doses, strong uptake and five years of protection would reduce annual new infections by 44% over the first decade, by 65% the first 25 years and by 78% to 122,000 in 2070. Vaccine impact would be much greater if the assumptions in UNAIDS IFE were not fully achieved. An AIDS vaccine would be cost-effective within a wide range of scenarios.

Interpretation

Even a modestly effective vaccine could contribute strongly to a sustainable response to HIV/AIDS and be cost-effective, even with optimistic assumptions about other interventions. Higher efficacy would provide even greater impact and cost-effectiveness, and would support broader access. Vaccine efficacy and cost per regimen are critical in achieving cost-effectiveness, with cost per regimen being particularly critical in low-income countries and at lower efficacy levels.