Chemotherapy of fish parasites

There are few agents on the market that control fish parasites. These are substances that are mainly used in other hosts; due to the different metabolism of fish, they often have only moderate effects on fish parasites. Therefore, the research and development of fish-specific antiparasitic compounds is needed to avoid the high losses suffered by commercial fish hatcheries. Drugs similar to toltrazuril would perhaps be promising, due to their broad spectrum of efficacy.     

Die sogenannte Impfwut

Zusammenfassung Die im Verlaufe antirabischer Vaccinationen gelegentlich auftretenden paralytischen Komplikationen sind nicht virusbedingt, sondern die Folge einer Antigen-Antikörperreaktion nach Sensibilisierung mit dem organspezifischen Hirnantigen, das in den nicht ätherisierten Tollwutvaccinen enthalten ist. Diesbezüglich von einer Impfwut zu sprechen, erscheint nicht gerechtfertigt. Vielmehr sollte dieser Terminus für die postvaccinalen Komplikationen reserviert bleiben, bei denen der Ausbruch der Erkrankung in direktem Kausalzusammenhang zu dem in einer Vaccine enthaltenen lebenden Virus fixe steht.     

Human acute pancreatitis: Its pathogenesis in the light of immunocytochemical and ultrastructural findings in acinar cells

Summary Human acute pancreatitis results from an autodigestive process frequently associated with alcohol abuse, gall stone disease and shock. Peripancreatic fat necrosis was identified as one of the earliest visible lesions, whereas acinar cell necrosis and haemorrhage were regarded as secondary changes. To examine the alterations in acinar cells in more detail, their enzyme content and fine structural features were studied immunocytochemically using antisera against -amylase, lipase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and pancreatic stone protein, and electronmicroscopically in pancreatic tissues from patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Peripheral acinar cells in the immediate vicinity of fat necrosis were found to be heavily degranulated, while acinar cells at some distance of necrosis fully retained their enzyme content. Other frequent changes of the acinar cells included cuboidal transformation, loss of microvilli, increased occurrence of autophagosomes, and formation of enlarged acinar lumina. As there was no apparent cell membrane leakage or rupture of duct lumina, it is concluded that the acinar cells adjacent to fat necrosis release their granules by undirected basolateral extrusion. The findings thus suggest that one of the basic defects in acute pancreatitis is the uncontrolled release of enzymes from peripheral acinar cells into the interstitial space which, in turn, presumably by the action of lipase, leads to autodigestive fat necrosis.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. G. Seifert on the occasion of his 65th birthdayPresented in part at the Second International Symposium on the Classification of Pancreatitis, Marseille, 1984, and at the Meeting of the European Pancreatic Club, Manchester, 1985     

Beitrag zur regionären Verteilung der Paraty-B-Phagentypen

Zusammenfassung Die Prüfung der Paraty-B-Phagentypen zeigt im Saarland einen hohen Anteil des in Deutschland seltenen Typs Dundee. Ein Vergleich mit den Phagentypen in Frankreich, insbesondere unter Berücksichtigung der departementalen Verteilung, legt es nahe, Über die zweifellos bestehenden engen Verkehrskontakte hinaus ein einheitliches endemisches Vorkommen dieses Typs im Saarland und in Lothringen anzunehmen.     

Changes in plasma levels of interleukin-2 receptor in relation to disease exacerbations and levels of anti-dsDNA and complement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) is expressed and released predominantly by activated T cells. In order to investigate whether disease exacerbations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are preceded by T cell activation, we prospectively measured levels of IL-2R once a month, from 6 months prior to exacerbations until 1 month afterwards. To assess the temporal relation between T cell activation and B cell activation, we measured, in addition, levels of anti-dsDNA, complement C3/C4, and total IgG. During a mean follow-up period of 23 months, 40 exacerbations occurred in 21 out of the 71 participating patients. For the present study one exacerbation per patient was evaluated. During exacerbation levels of IL-2R were increased in 18 out of the 21 cases and correlated with levels of anti-dsDNA (P less than 0.02), C3 (P less than 0.02), and C4 (P less than 0.01), but not with the score of the disease activity index. Levels of IL-2R rose prior to the exacerbation (P less than 0.02) and fell afterwards following treatment (P less than 0.05). Even in the absence of disease activity or during minor disease symptoms IL-2R levels were higher (P less than 0.01) than in healthy controls. Sixteen out of the 21 exacerbations (76%) were preceded by a significant increase in IL-2R. Changes in levels of anti-dsDNA and complement C3/C4 tended to precede changes in levels of IL-2R. We conclude that increased levels of IL-2R, compatible with T cell activation, are present in SLE already during inactive disease. These levels further increased prior to exacerbations of disease. As such, IL-2R is an indicator of disease activity in SLE. Serial measurement of IL-2R is a sensitive test for predicting disease exacerbations of SLE.     

A novel regulation mechanism of DNA repair by damage-induced and RAD23-dependent stabilization of xeroderma pigmentosum group C protein

Primary DNA damage sensing in mammalian global genome nucleotide excision repair (GG-NER) is performed by the xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC)/HR23B protein complex. HR23B and HR23A are human homologs of the yeast ubiquitin-domain repair factor RAD23, the function of which is unknown. Knockout mice revealed that mHR23A and mHR23B have a fully redundant role in NER, and a partially redundant function in embryonic development. Inactivation of both genes causes embryonic lethality, but appeared still compatible with cellular viability. Analysis of mHR23A/B double-mutant cells showed that HR23 proteins function in NER by governing XPC stability via partial protection against proteasomal degradation. Interestingly, NER-type DNA damage further stabilizes XPC and thereby enhances repair. These findings resolve the primary function of RAD23 in repair and reveal a novel DNA-damage-dependent regulation mechanism of DNA repair in eukaryotes, which may be part of a more global damage-response circuitry.     

Noninvasive measurement of cell volume changes by negative staining

To maintain the intracellular concentration of ions and small molecules on osmotic challenges, nature has developed highly sophisticated transport systems for regulating water and ion content. An ideal measurement technique for volume changes of cells during osmotic challenges has to fulfil two requirements: it has to be osmotically inert, and it should allow online monitoring of cell volume changes. Here, a simple fluorescence microscopy-based approach is presented. Using fluorescein as a negative stain, it is possible to monitor cell volume changes without affecting the functionality of cell membranes and cell osmolarity. Measurement of Madine-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells after hypo- and hyperosmotic challenges reveals the main advantages of this approach: besides providing precise and reproducible quantitative data on reversible cell volume changes, the viability of the cells can be assessed directly by the appearance of stain in the cytoplasm. This becomes evident especially after hypo-osmotic challenge of glutaraldehyde-treated cells, which become leaky after fixation, followed by a massive volume change. This new approach represents a very sensitive measurement technique for cell volume changes resulting from water or ion flux, and thus seems to be an ideal tool for studying cell volume regulatory processes.     

The homogeneous photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate by colloidal cadmium sulfide

A completely new method of initiating the homogeneous radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in bulk or in solution via the photogeneration of an electron hole pair in colloidal cadmium sulfide is presented. A polymerization mechanism involving an excited cadmium sulfide particle in both the initiation and termination steps is proposed. In the initiation a methyl methacrylate molecule is oxidized by a positive hole photogenerated in a CdS particle, which results in a novel chain-end structure of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Degradative chain transfer to reduced excited cadmium sulfide particles is responsible for chain termination. Thus, for the first time, a detailed polymerization mechanism in which all states of the polymerization, i.e., initiation, propagation, chain transfer and termination, is presented for the polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by semiconductors. Thermogravimetry (TG) showed that the newly synthesized PMMA has greatly enhanced thermal stability when compared to normal radically prepared PMMA. In fact, the thermal stability approaches that of anionically prepared PMMA but is experimentally much easier to prepare. This technique enables the homogeneous embedding of CdS particles in a polymer matrix.     

In vitro packaging of mature phage DNA by Salmonella phage P22

Mature, headful-sized DNA extracted from the Salmonella phages P22 and L, and P22/L-hybrid phages can be encapsulated in vitro by means of a packaging system for exogenous DNA. The probability of packaging reaches about 10^?3 per headful-sized molecule. The absence of in vitro recombination was demonstrated, to eliminate the possibility that such a process had created concatemers. The endonucleolytic cut at the pac site, which initiates sequential packaging in vivo, does not occur with the mature DNA substrate in vitro. The position of pac on the molecule is not important but the pac-recognizing phage protein gp3 is indispensable for in vitro encapsulation.     

Biochemical investigation with regard to infection and immunity of Eimeria acervulina in the fowl

Summary Biochemical investigation of the fluid surrounding the sporocysts in the oocysts (oocyst fluid) showed the presence of the common amino acids, -isoaminobutyric acid, glycerol, an unidentified carbohydrate and proteins.Incubation experiments with D-glucose-¹⁴C (U) revealed the presence of enzymes able to convert glucose into lactic acid and other acids. Inside the sporocysts the common amino acids, glycerol and the unidentified carbohydrate were also present, but -isoaminobutyric acid did not occur. The carbohydrate binding protein carboglutelin, carbohydrate phosphate and small amounts of glucose and fructose were mainly found inside the sporocysts.Incubation experiments of oocyst fluid mixed with sporocysts with D-glucose-C¹⁴ (U) demonstrated an interchange between the fluid and the sporocysts. In the oocyst fluid lactic acid was formed, but inside the sporocysts the conversion appeared to stop mainly with formation of carbohydrate phosphate.Incubation experiments of intestinal pieces both from immunized and not-immunized birds with oocyst fluid, sporocysts and labelled glucose showed that a stronger reaction took place in immunized birds than in not-immunized ones.Similar experiments were performed with not-immunized birds at different days after a primary infection. The reaction of the intestinal wall, which seemed quite normal again since day 19 after infection, was comparable with that observed in immunized birds.Finally the hypothesis is given, that in the first part of the intestine of immunized birds compounds are present originating from the first infection. These compounds might enhance the reaction between the oocyst fluid and the present feed to such an extent that the pH decreases and much epithelial cells are pushed off possibly together with the sporocysts. Then leakage of serum proteins might occur.