灾变星

通过灾变研究，我们可以获得一些信息，如相互作用的双星可以包涵一个白矮星从一个轨道伴星吸积，在所有波段观测，都可以看到其经受一次激动人心的再造。灾变过程允许直接和仔细地研究平衡和不平衡吸积盘。反过来这也帮助我们了解X射线双星、黑洞和活动星系核。本书是第一次报导灾变星全面研究的专著，结合理论和观测，也是一本单纯的综合课本。     

Uptake of Pneumocystis carinii mediated by the macrophage mannose receptor

Human exposure to Pneumocystis carinii is common but, in the absence of acquired or genetic dysfunction of either cellular or humoral immunity, exposure rarely leads to illness. Although alveolar macrophages can degrade P. carinii, macrophage receptors involved in P. carinii recognition have not been clearly defined. Characterization of a predominant surface glycoprotein of the high mannose type led us to investigate the role of the macrophage mannose receptor in this process. We report here that binding and uptake of cultured rat P. carinii by human and rat alveolar macrophages is reduced by 90% in the presence of competitive inhibitors of mannose receptor activity and by adherence of alveolar macrophages to mannan-coated surfaces. Further, only those COS cells transfected with the human macrophage mannose receptor complementary DNA that express surface mannose receptors bind and ingest P. carinii. These studies establish that the macrophage mannose receptor is sufficient for uptake of P. carinii and emphasize the role of the alveolar macrophage in first-line host defence against P. carinii.     

Antibodies to gap-junctional protein selectively disrupt junctional communication in the early amphibian embryo

Antibodies to the major protein of rat liver gap junctions, molecular weight 27,000 (27K), have been microinjected into one identified cell of 8-cell stage Xenopus embryos. This treatment selectively disrupts both dye transfer and electrical coupling between the progeny cells. These results provide evidence that the 27K protein is an integral component of the cell-to-cell junctional channel. The disruption of junctional communication at early stages results in specific developmental defects, suggesting that blocking intercellular communication can have a pronounced influence on embryonic development.