Ultrastructure of nervous tissue developing in the anterior chamber of the eye. 1. Perikaryons and dendrites

Embryonic tissues of septum and hippocampus were transplanted into the anterior eye chamber (AEC) of adult rats. The morphology of initial embryonic tissues and of transplants within 3 to 4 months of cultivation in AEC was studied. The transplanted tissue consists of neuroblasts and immature neurones: no synaptic contacts are observed. Within 3 to 4 months, highly differentiated neurones establishing synaptic contacts can be seen in the transplants. At the same time the fine structure of perikaryons and dendrites undergoes some changes: increased vacuolization, transformation of ergastoplasm into lamellar bodies. These can be due to an elevated functional activity of some neurones. Another group of morphological abnormalities (increased number of dendrite processes and microphyllopodia, somatic spines, dendrite cones of growth, tight junctions between perikaryons) suggests incomplete tissue maturation. These might be due to the absence of normal afferent and trophic influences in AEC.     

Ultrastructure of the synaptic endings in nerve tissue transplants developing in the anterior chamber

Embryonic septum of hippocampus was grafted into the anterior eye chamber (AEC) of adult recipient rats. The fine structure and distribution of synaptic endings were studied in the hippocampus (HC) and septum (ST) grafts developing in oculo for 3-4 months. On the basis of the structure of postsynaptic regions, asymmetrical and symmetrical synapses are distinguished, whose distribution on the body and dendrites of hippocampal and septal neurons is basically similar with that in situ. As in vivo, axo-somatic, axo-dendrite and axo-spine forms of synaptic endings have been observed. Neuropile has, basically, normal structure, judging by the ratio of nerve and glial elements, but sometimes dendro-dendrite contacts and glomerular-like synaptic structures are observed which are not characteristic of the studied brain regions. Besides, the grafts contain an increased number of serial and tangential synapses, as well as axonal terminals with the signs of growth cones. The observed structural deviations appear to be due to incomplete tissue maturation in the absence of normal afferentation.     

Mutagenic effect of mitomycin C on different strains of oleandomycin producer Streptomyces antibioticus

Mitomycin C, a DNA-tropic antibiotic, was shown to have a lethal effect on spore sprouts of two strains of Streptomyces antibioticus, an organism producing oleandomycin. When the time of exposure to the antibiotic increased there was an almost equal decrease in the survival rate. The mutagen action on the morphological variation and antibiotic production of the two closely related strains were diverse due to their genetic differences. The strain isolated after the culture treatment with a chemical mutagen and subjected to a more prolonged maintaining selection showed lower variation with respect to its colony morphology. The other strain isolated after treatment of the culture with high concentrations of its own antibiotic showed lower variation with respect to its antibiotic production property. The shift in the antibiotic production in the direction of the low active variants was characteristic of the both highly productive strains.     

Use of transposons for studying the genetic organization of Vibrio cholerae non 01]

The nonagglutinating vibrions having Tn-elements inserted into the chromosome were obtained as a result of conjugal transfer of vector plasmids carrying the different transposons (Tn9, Tn10, Tn601, Tn5-Mob) and of the consequent isolation of plasmid-free clones of Vibrio cholerae non OI. Identification of auxotrophic mutations induced by the transposons inserted into the bacterial genome made possible the construction of the primary chromosomal map of Vibrio cholerae non OI. The efficient donor strains of Vibrio cholerae non OI were constructed by introducing the transposon Tn5-Mob and the helper plasmid RP-4. The donors are capable of oriented conjugal transfer of chromosome.     

Transposon mutagenesis, elimination and mobilization of plasmids in nitrogen-fixating bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp245

The expressed difference in the plasmid profile of A. brasilense Sp245 is registered as a result of Tn5-Mob-mutability. Integration of the vector pSUP5011 into one of the A. brasilense Sp245 plasmid and using of the Tn5-Mob transposon to mobilize the 85Md cryptic plasmid are reported. The properties of A. brasilense Sp245 with the mutant plasmids composition (surface structure, acetylene and nitrate reduction, ability to a number of carbohydrates utilization, formation of melanin, antibiotics resistance specter) have been analyzed. The transposon Tn5-Mob insertion into the 85Md plasmid resulted in isolation of a mutant excreting a melanin-like pigment into the medium. The results suppose 85Md plasmid participation in melaninogenesis.     

Argasid tick lysozyme action on HEp-2 cells

The cytotoxic effect on Argasidae lysozyme was shown on a model of cell line HEp-2 in comparison to egg lysozyme. The lysozyme was obtained from homogenates of Ornithodoros papillipes of subfamily Ikodoidea. The lysozyme in concentrations of 300 and 500 gamma/ml had a cytotoxic effect, while in doses of 50 and 100 gamma/ml it has no such activity. The cells of line FL were not sensitive to the above concentrations of the lysozyme. In concentrations of 500 gamma/ml and higher the egg lysozyme had an analogous cytotoxic effect on the cells of line Hep-2. The comparative study of the cariogrammes of the cell monolayer treated with the Argasidae and egg lysozymes, as well as the study of the level of 3H-thimidine incorporation into the cell DNA showed the absence of the preparations effect of the mitotic activity of the cells and DNA synthesis by them.     

Production in an Actinomyces levoris culture under the action of an actinophage specific to it of variants with stable preservation of its resistance to the phage]

Act. levoris 28, an organism producing levorin was treated with an actinophage virulent to it. Variants of the organism were isolated from the secondary growth of the culture. As a result of lysogenization with the above phage the variants acquired stability to it which was preserved during the further generations. In the previous experiments carried out by the authors the variants isolated from the secondary growth of the culture after its exposure to the same phage lost their stability to the phage as a result of loosing the prophage by it during the subsequent passages. The phage stable variants did not differ from the initial culture either in the activity of levorin or the levorin composition. The phages found in the initial culture 28, and the virulent mutant were identical with respect to the particles morphology and antigenic properties which confirmed their relation.     

A correlation between BCL-2 modifying factor,p53 and livin gene expressions in cancer colon patients

Accumulating evidence has revealed that livin gene and BCL-2 modifying factor (BMF) gene are closely associated with the initiation and progression of colon carcinoma by activating or suppressing multiple malignant processes. Those genes that can detect colon - cancer are a promising approach for cancer screening and diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate correlation between livin, BMF and p53 genes expression in colon cancer tissues of patients included in the study, and their relationship with clinicopathological features and survival outcome in those patients. In this study, 50 pathologically diagnosed early cancer colon patients included and their tissue biopsy with 50 matched adjacent normal tissue, and 50 adenoma tissue specimens were analyzed for livin gene and BMF gene expressions using real time PCR. The relationship of those genes expressions with clinicopathological features, tumor markers, Time to Progression and overall survival for those patients were correlated in cancer colon group. In this study, there was a significant a reciprocal relationship between over expression of livin gene and down regulation of BMF and p53 genes in colon cancer cells. Livin mRNA was significantly higher, while BMF and p53 mRNA were significantly lower in colorectal cancer tissue compared to benign and normal colon tissue specimens (P < 0.001), however, this finding was absent between colon adenomas and normal mucosa. There was a significant association between up regulation of livin and down regulation of BMF and p53 expressions with more aggressive tumor (advanced TNM stage), rapid progression with metastasis and decreased overall survival in cancer colon patients, hence these genes can serve as significant prognostic markers of poor outcome in colon cancer patients. This work highlights the role of livin, BMF and p53 genes in colorectal tumorigenesis and the applicability of using those genes as a diagnostic and prognostic markers in patients with colon carcinoma and as a good target for cancer colon treatment in the future.     

Biocides formulation of essential oils having antimicrobial activity

Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway, eucalyptus, geranium and lemon were tested for their antimicrobial activities against some plant pathogenic micro-organisms (Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternate, Penicilium italicum Penicilium digitatum and Botyritus cinerea). Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway were selected as an active ingredient for the formulation of biocides due to their efficiency in controlling the tested micro-organisms. Successful emulsifiable concentrates (biocides) were prepared from these oils using different emulsifiers (Emulgator B.L.M. Tween20 and Tween80) and different fixed oils (sesame, olive, cotton and soybean oils). Physico-chemical properties of the formulated biocide (spontaneous emulsification, emulsion stability test, cold stability and heat stability tests as well as viscosity, surface tension and pH) were measured. The prepared biocides were ready to be tested for application in a future work as a safe pesticide against different pathogens.