Characterization of genetic differences between Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium strains of diverse virulence with a focus on the glycopeptidolipid biosynthesis cluster

The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) encompasses important pathogens in both animals and humans, yet little information is available on the factors required for MAC virulence. An animal isolate, M. avium strain 724 was found to be considerably more virulent in Balb/c mice than a human isolate, M. avium strain A5. To identify the genetic basis of this difference subtractive hybridization was applied, which resulted in the isolation of six DNA fragments unique to strain 724. BLAST searches showed that three sequences belonged to a large gene cluster responsible for biosynthesis of M. avium glycopeptidolipids (GPLs). To reveal the nature of variation between strains in the GPL cluster 27.5kb of a clone containing the A5 serotype-specific GPL (ssGPL) cluster was isolated, sequenced and compared to the corresponding region in other M. avium strains. The ssGPL cluster was highly conserved in the 5' region between all strains and serotypes tested; the 3' region reflects extensive divergence among serotypes including whole gene deletions and insertions of sequences containing open reading frames but lacking identity to any known genes.     

Immunohistochemical study of the otic ganglion in the pig

The presence of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was studied in neurons and nerve fibers of the porcine otic ganglion. ChAT-positive neurons were very numerous while VAChT-positive nerve cells were moderate in number. The number of neurons containing NPY and VIP was lower and those containing SOM, GAL, SP or CGRP were observed as scarce, or single nerve cells. The above mentioned substances (except SOM) were present in nerve fibers of the ganglion. ChAT- and VAChT-positive nerve fibers were numerous, while the number of nerve terminals containing NPY, VIP and SP was lower. GAL- and CGRP-positive nerve fibers were scarce.     

Die Scharlachkrankheit an Pflaume,Pfirsich und Aprikose

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Tracing Pharmaceuticals in the Unsaturated Zone (10 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   One of the first occurrences of pharmaceutically active compounds in groundwater was reported from the sewage irrigation farms south of Berlin. At these sewage irrigation farms treated sewage effluent passed the soil and unsaturated zone before reaching the aquifer. Clofibric acid was detected in pore water from soils of those sewage irrigation farms in concentrations between 65 ng/L and 1430 ng/L. The aim of this study was to investigate the transport behavior of regularly detected clofibric acid, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and propyphenazone under conditions comparable to those at the sewage irrigation farms in a multiple compound sand column laboratory experiment. Materials and Methods   Sediment column experiments were conducted to study the transport of pharmaceuticals in the unsaturated zone. The migration was measured in fine to medium grained sand and leaching solution containing 1 mg/L of pharmaceutically active compounds and 61 mg/L of the tracer lithium chloride (LiCl). For the analysis of the pharmaceutical compounds the water samples were adjusted to a pH value of 2 and then extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Before extraction, the samples were spiked with a surrogate standard for analytical quality control. The sample extracts were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM). Depending on the sample volume (100 to 200 mL) and the matrix, the limits of detection were between 1 and 10 ng/L, and the limits of quantitation were between 5 and 25 ng/L. Analysis for calcium, magnesium and lithium were carried out using a 'Trace Scan' ICP-AES from Thermo Jarrel Ash. Sodium, potassium, iron and manganese were analyzed using a Philips PU 9400 flame AAS. Analysis of anions was performed on a Dionex ion chromatograph DX 120. Results   At the sewage irrigation farms the average concentrations of clofibric acid in the unsaturated zone declined from higher values near ground surface (480 ng/L) to lower values near the groundwater table (65 ng/L). From the pharmaceuticals analyzed only clofibric acid, primidone and propyphenazone could be analyzed in the first (upper) aquifer at the sewage irrigation farms. All other pharmaceuticals could neither be detected in the first aquifer nor in the deeper aquifers. Breakthrough curves from soil column experiments revealed no transformation and no retardation for clofibric acid, whereas transformation of diclofenac was so high (79%) that no retardation factor could be calculated. Ibuprofen was significantly transformed (37%), transformation of propyphenazone (17%) was quite low and retardation (Rf = 2.05) was in the range of previously conducted column experiments. Discussion   The results confirm previously conducted experiments with clofibric acid where this compound was identified as highly mobile and persistent. The results that diclofenac and ibuprofen are significantly transformed where unexpected as other studies exhibited much lower transformation under saturated conditions at least for diclofenac. However, lower pH values and higher oxygen contents in the unsaturated zone compared to the aquifer may explain this observed high transformation of these compounds at the column experiments. Conclusions   We conclude that irrigation with sewage effluent containing the compounds used in our experiments will lead to an input into groundwater of clofibric acid, whereas diclofenac and ibuprofen will most likely be transformed during the passage. Propyphenazone will be retarded but will most likely occur in groundwater. These results from the column experiments coincide very well with the occurrence of the pharmaceuticals clofibric acid, primidone, and propyphenazone in the first aquifer. Recommendations and Perspective  : The results underline the need to study the sorption of pharmaceuticals on various materials. e.g. organic matter, surfaces at pH values occurring in the unsaturated zone. Future field studies will also include the investigation of desorption behavior in the unsaturated zone.     

Acetylation of 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole revisited

The products of the acetylation reactions of the common herbicide 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole were investigated using HPLC, GC-MS, 1H NMR, and FTIR spectroscopy. The conventional annular monoacetylation procedures with acetyl chloride are not regioselective and furnish a mixture of isomers. Traditional diacetylation in neat acetic anhydride under reflux produces a mixture of di-, mono-, and triacetylated derivatives. By using equivalent amounts of acetic anhydride in a dimethylformamide solution, a rapid and selective annular monoacetylation of 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole was achieved. The monoacetylation proceeds via the formation of the intermediate, 1-acetyl-3-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole, which had not been observed previously and which undergoes transformation into the known 1-acetyl-5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole. Neat acetic anhydride at room temperature affords the diacetylated derivative, 1-acetyl-3-(acetylamino)-1H-[1,2,4]triazole both from 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole itself and from either 1-acetyl-5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole or 5-(acetylamino)-1H-[1,2,4]triazole. The atypical product of the second acetylation, 1-acetyl-5-(acetylamino)-1H-[1,2,4]triazole, has been identified. These results may be useful in the development of effective and selective preparative procedures for the acetylation of 5-amino-1H-[1,2,4]triazole.     

Involvement of mammalian Mus81 in genome integrity and tumor suppression

Mus81-Eme1 endonuclease has been implicated in the rescue of stalled replication forks and the resolution of meiotic recombination intermediates in yeast. We used gene targeting to study the physiological requirements of Mus81 in mammals. Mus81-/- mice are viable and fertile, which indicates that mammalian Mus81 is not essential for recombination processes associated with meiosis. Mus81-deficient mice and cells were hypersensitive to the DNA cross-linking agent mitomycin C but not to gamma-irradiation. Remarkably, both homozygous Mus81-/- and heterozygous Mus81+/- mice exhibited a similar susceptibility to spontaneous chromosomal damage and a profound and equivalent predisposition to lymphomas and other cancers. These studies demonstrate a critical role for the proper biallelic expression of the mammalian Mus81 in the maintenance of genomic integrity and tumor suppression.     

Das Sprinkler— Röstverfahren zur Gewinnung von Kenaf-, Jute-und Sunn-Faser in Kenya und Tanganyika

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Reviews

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Varia

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition -