Systemic candidiasis from Candida albicans colonizing the gastrointestinal tract of mice.

Reproducible induction of systemic Candida infection was achieved by treating mice in which Candida colonization had been established in the gastrointestional tract by aminobenzylpenicillin treatment. Systemic candidiasis was induced in these mice by X-ray irradiation followed by immunosuppressive doses of dexamethasone or X-ray irradiation followed by immunosuppressive doses of trypan blue. Macrophages seem to play an important role in thie systemic infection.     

Increase of proteolytic activity inLactobacillus casei by X-ray irradiation

Summary A study was conducted on the effect of X-ray irradiation on proteolytic activity ofLactobacillus casei (RTS). Substantial increase (82%) in the proteolytic activity was noted among the isolates of X-ray irradiation survivors after 18,000 R.     

Die Wirkung der Ultraviolettbehandlung auf die Überlebensverhältnisse röntgenbestrahlter Mäuse

Summary 300 r whole body X-ray irradiation of mice did not decrease the circulating platelet count, if this dose was preceeded by 24 h of ultraviolet-irradiation. More animals survived the X-ray (500, 550, 600 r) injury, if the irradiation occurred after ultraviolet treatment given 24 and 48 h before. The number of days survived is also increased. The ultraviolet light seems to have some protective effect against injury caused by X-ray.     

Protective effect of Shigyaku-to,a traditional Chinese herbal medicine,on the infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice

The antiviral activity of Shigyaku-to (TJS-109), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was investigated in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). TJS-109 is a combination of the medicinal plant extracts fromZingiberis siccatum rhizoma,Aconiti tuber andGlycyrrhizae radix in a specific proportion. Mice infected with a 10 LD₅₀ dose of HSV-1 were treated with TJS-109 orally at doses of 1.25 to 20 mg/kg 2 days before, and 1 and 4 days after the infection. The treated groups had 80% (1.25 mg/kg), 40% (5 mg/kg) and 23% (20 mg/kg) mortality rates 25 days after the infection as compared with a 100% mortality rate in control mice treated with saline. When HSV-1 infected mice (recipients) received CD8⁺T cell fractions derived from spleens of mice treated with TJS-109 (donors), 70% of recipients survived, as compared with 0% survivors in the groups of mice treated with saline, B cell fractions, CD4⁺ T cell fractions or macrophage-enriched fractions prepared from the same donors. TJS-109 did not show any virucidal activities against HSV-1 or any virostatic activities on the growth of HSV-1 in Vero cells. These results suggest that TJS-109 protected mice exposed to lethal amounts of HSV-1 through the activation of CD8⁺ T cells.     

The course ofPlasmodium berghei infection in mice latently infected withToxoplasma gondii

Summary The course of infection with 2 different virulent strains ofPlasmodium berghei was investigated in mice latently infected withToxoplasma gondii. When given the highly virulent ANKA strain ofP. berghei all Toxoplasma-infected mice died but the survival time was prolonged. After infection with the less virulent strain K 173 mice could survive the subsequent infection. In these cases levels of parasitemia depended upon the duration of theT. gondii infection. Mice infected for about 6 weeks withT. gondii showed maximum protection. These studies were conducted in the Institut für Medizinische Parasitologie der Universit?t Bonn (D-5300 Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany).     

Action du rayonnement X sur la croissance des cellules internodales de l'algueChara vulgaris L

Summary We have irradiated internodal cells ofChara vulgaris L. at different doses of X rays from 50 to 600 kr. These internodal cells never show mitotic activity and are of plasmodial constitution. When elongations are measured 7, 14 and 21 days after irradiation, we observe increased clongations from 0 to 150 kr. Then, elongations diminish when doses increase from 150 to 600 kr. This absence of proportionality between doses and biological effect is believed to be in relation to the increased amount of certain enzymes liberated by X rays.     

Dose-effects of 8-methoxypsoralen and long wave UV-light in 3T3 cells: evaluation of a phototoxic index

Summary 3T3 cells were cultured until confluency and treated with various doses of 8-methoxypsoralen followed by long wave UV light irradiation. The inhibition of³H-thymidine incorporation was dose-dependent for both, psoralen and light. A phototoxic index (PTI) was established demonstrating that a constant correlation between psoralen and UVA light exists for the photoinactivation in living cells.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.We thank Miss Anne Schröder for her skillful assistance.     

Effect of vitamin E on post irradiation death in mice

Summary The 30-day survival after exposure to 800 Rad⁶⁰Co gamma radiation has been compared for female mice maintained on vitamin E deficient, vitamin E supplemented or regular lab rations before and/or after irradiation. Pre- or post-irradiation dietary supplementation had no effect on survival; however, injection ofa-tocopherol immediately after irradiation significantly reduced radiation lethality.Acknowledgments. This research was supported in part by a grant from the Committee in Aid of Scholarly Activities of Concordia University. The technical assistance of Miss Jocelyne Dagenais is gratefully acknowledged.     

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus-induced diabetes mellitus prevented byCorynebacterium parvum in mice

Summary Corynebacterium parvum prevented the development of encephalomyocarditis virus-induced diabetes in mice, when it was given 3–14 days before the virus infection. This treatment inhibited virus replication in the pancreas of the infected mice at an early stage of the infection.     

Is superoxide dismutase a physiological radioprotector

Summary Prolonged treatment with relatively low doses of ionizing radiation did not induce synthesis of superoxide dismutase, either inDrosophila melanogaster or in mice liver.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the project No. R. III. 13.2.4.     

Isoenzymes of some oxido-reductases in theCandida genus as a basis of species identification after electrophoresis

Zusammenfassung Nach Elektrophorese in Agargel wurden die Isoenzyme von G-6-PDH, LDH und MDH in Extrakten vonCandida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. crusei undC. utilis untersucht. Es liessen sich diverse Isoenzyme von unterschiedlichem Aktivitätsgrad und wohl auch verschiedener Lage in den Isozymogrammen nachweisen, was bestimmte Schlüsse auf betreffendeCandida-Arten erlaubt.     

Kinetics of BRCA1 regulation in response to UVC radiation

To investigate changes in BRCA1 following DNA damage, we exposed MCF-7 cells to increasing doses of ultraviolet C. We observed an increase in BRCA1 protein levels above 78 J/m². This increase was observed as early as 5 min after irradiation. BRCA1 levels were then observed to decrease after 2 h, consistent with the previously published data. By pretreating with cycloheximide prior to irradiation, we observed a decrease in the protein half-life, from 3.5 h to 53 min, suggesting that a decrease in protein half-life may cause the lower levels of BRCA1 after irradiation. We also observed an increase in BRCA1 mRNA within 15 min of irradiation, followed by a decrease after 4 h. These data suggest that newly translated protein may contribute to increases in BRCA1 protein levels. The very rapid changes in BRCA1 support its role as a sensor of DNA damage, as opposed to being a repair gene. Received 6 April 2000; received after revision 23 May 2000; accepted 23 May 2000     

Aragusterol C: A novel halogenated marine steroid from an Okinawan sponge,Xestospongia sp., possessing potent antitumor activity

A novel chlorinated steroid, aragusterol C, was isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge of the genusXestospongia. The compound strongly inhibited the proliferation of KB cells in vitro, and also showed potent in vivo antitumor activity against L1210 cells in mice. The complete structure of aragusterol C was determined by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Effect of X-ray irradiation on developing eggs of the silkworm

Summary Eggs ofB. mori were exposed to X-ray irradiation at different times after laying, and the changes in fertilization, hatchability and mortality of the eggs were observed. Percentage of fertilization and hatchability increased with increasing age of the egg. Statistical analyses of the data show that the observed changes are age-dependent.     

Weitere Untersuchungen zur Induktion von Keimblattveränderungen durch Röntgenstrahlen

Summary A previous experiment withEranthis showed thatRoentgen irradiation of undivided embryos led to a change in the number of cotyledons. In the present publication, the induction of anomalies of the cotyledon was shown after irradiation of early embryo stages on the mother plant in Arabidopsis thaliana, an example of a plant with complete embryos.Which aberration type (synkotyl, anisokotyl, trikotyl, tetrakotyl or multiple seedlings) will arise, seems to be determined neither by theRoentgen dose nor by the stage of development on irradiation. The appearance of predominately regular trikotyl types after application of 2000r, and their gradual disappearance with increasing doses in favour of the irregular trikotyl types, suggests that in the lower doses the main influences are upon the purely chemical reactions in the embryos, which are overlaid by cell damages occurring in a directly biophysical way with increase of the physical primary acts and lead to irregular growth.

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Die Arbeit wurde mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft durchgeführt.     

Hymenolepis nana: Transfer of acquired immunity in mice through sensitized peritoneal exudate cells

Summary Sensitized peritoneal exudate cells from syngeneic donor Swiss albino mice infected with single and repeated doses of viable eggs ofHymenolepis nana produced a significant adoptive immunity in test mice when compared with animals which received non-sensitized (normal) cells. No significant difference was observed among the 2 recipient groups which received singly or repeatedly sensitized peritoneal exudate cells.Acknowledgment. We thank Professor B. M. Sinha for providing facilities and to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for financial assistance.     

Megasatellites: a new class of large tandem repeats discovered in the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata

Megasatellites are DNA tandem arrays made of large motifs; they were discovered in the yeast Candida glabrata. They are widespread in this species (40 copies) but are not found in any other hemiascomycete so far, raising the intriguing question of their origin. They are found mainly in genes encoding cell wall products, suggesting that megasatellites were selected for a function linked to cell–cell adhesion or to pathogenicity. Their putative role in promoting genome rearrangements by interfering with DNA replication will also be discussed.     

Evidence for a role of IFN γ in control ofListeria monocytogenes in T cell deficient mice

Summary The role of interferon (IFN) in controlling chronic infections ofListeria monocytogenes (Listeria) was studied in athymic C57BL/6nu/nu mice, and by treating thymectomized C57BL/6 +/+ mice with monoclonal rat CD4 and CD8-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mab). Mice treated with a combination of the two T cell subset antibodies were similar to athymic, nude mice in being able to contol Listeria infection, keeping the titers below 3–5 log₁₀ bacteria per organ, but they could not eliminate them completely. Treatment with antibodies to IFN of nude or CD4⁺ + CD8⁺-T cell-depleted mice suffering from chronic Listeria infection caused a marked increase of Listeria titers, in liver and spleen. This result implies a role of IFN in maintaining anti-Listeria resistance in mice lacking mature T cells.     

Lebensverlängernde Wirkung von γ-Strahlen auf Männchen des LärchenwicklersZeiraphera diniana (Lepidoptera; Tortricidae)

Summary Males of the larch bud mothZeiraphera diniana live longer when irradiated with 20–40 kR of⁶⁰Co-rays than non-irradiated males. The prolongation of life in the irradiated males is probably neither a consequence of reduced fertility nor due to a hygienic effect, i.e. destruction of parasitic microorganisms. It seems probable that irradiation with the above mentioned doses stimulates certain regenerative processes.     

Distribution of intravenously administered acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors in the mouse

Summary Iodinated acidic or basic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF or bFGF) were separately injected into adult mice to follow their distribution in the main organs of the animals. Iodinated FGFs intravenously injected into mice cleared from blood with aT _1/2 of 30 s. They mainly bound to kidney, liver and spleen. The binding of FGFs to these organs was maintained when the latter were washed with a physiological buffer containing 0.15 M NaCl, but it was eliminated when the buffer contained 2 M NaCl. Simultaneous injections of the FGFs together with increasing doses of heparin weakened the binding of FGF to vessels in a dose-dependent manner.