scholarly journals SPECIFIC AND NON-SPECIFIC POLYSACCHARIDES OF TYPE IV PNEUMOCOCCUS

1931 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 625-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Heidelberger ◽  
Forrest E. Kendall

1. Three nitrogen-containing polysaccharides have been isolated from autolyzed cultures of Type IV pneumococcus: (1) a type-specific carbohydrate differing markedly from those of Type I, II, and III pneumococcus, and representing a type of substance hitherto not observed among specific polysaccharides, (2) a chemically similar carbohydrate without specific function, and (3) the "C" substance, or species-specific polysaccharide of Tillett, Goebel, and Avery. 2. The chemical differences between the specific polysaccharides of Pneumococcus are discussed, and the relationship of the new examples to chitin is pointed out and its bearing indicated on the unsettled controversy as to whether or not chitin occurs in bacteria. 3. The data of Tillett, Goebel, and Avery on the "C" substance have been extended.

1935 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Rake

The investigation of this isolated epidemic of meningococcus meningitis at a C.C.C. camp gave an opportunity to examine the carrier state in contacts carrying what were presumably virulent epidemic strains of organisms. With the aid of Miller's technique for the enhancement of the demonstrable virulence of meningococci for mice, it proved possible to test the virulence of the carrier strains from Camp Rusk. These results were consistent despite the interval of from 3 to 4 weeks which intervened between the isolation of the strains and the virulence titrations. Type I strains were found to have a high virulence, while the virulence of Type II strains was moderately high but definitely less than that of the Type I, and atypical strains and strains of N. catarrhalis isolated from carriers showed a very low virulence. The question of the precise nature of the carrier state was investigated. No evidence has been obtained yet as to the existence of a relationship between pharyngitis, coryza or upper respiratory disease and the presence and degree of the carrier state. This is unlike the situation with regard to pneumococcus carriers. On the other hand, it has proved possible to demonstrate reactions within the body to the meningococci in the nasopharynx, consisting of the formation of agglutinins and protective antibodies in the blood serum. 32.3 per cent of Type I and 60 per cent of Type II carrier sera showed moderate or good agglutinins for homologous organisms and 80 per cent of Type I and 40 per cent of Type II sera showed moderate or good protective antibodies against virulent homologous strains. No idea could be obtained as to the relationship of the presence or absence and the degree of serological reaction and the duration of the carrier state.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz K. Jaglarz ◽  
Franck Bazile ◽  
Katarzyna Laskowska ◽  
Zbigniew Polanski ◽  
Franck Chesnel ◽  
...  

Translationally Controlled Tumour Protein (TCTP) associates with microtubules (MT), however, the details of this association are unknown. Here we analyze the relationship of TCTP with MTs and centrosomes inXenopus laevisand mammalian cells using immunofluorescence, tagged TCTP expression and immunoelectron microscopy. We show that TCTP associates both with MTs and centrosomes at spindle poles when detected by species-specific antibodies and by Myc-XlTCTP expression inXenopusand mammalian cells. However, when the antibodies against XlTCTP were used in mammalian cells, TCTP was detected exclusively in the centrosomes. These results suggest that a distinct pool of TCTP may be specific for, and associate with, the centrosomes. Double labelling for TCTP and γ-tubulin with immuno-gold electron microscopy inXenopus laevisoogonia shows localization of TCTP at the periphery of the γ-tubulin-containing pericentriolar material (PCM) enveloping the centriole. TCTP localizes in the close vicinity of, but not directly on the MTs inXenopusovary suggesting that this association requires unidentified linker proteins. Thus, we show for the first time: (1) the association of TCTP with centrosomes, (2) peripheral localization of TCTP in relation to the centriole and the γ-tubulin-containing PCM within the centrosome, and (3) the indirect association of TCTP with MTs.


1962 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-637
Author(s):  
K. L. Chung ◽  
Roma Z. Hawirko

From three species of Lactobacillus and three species of Streptococcus, cultured in a synthetic medium, cell walls were isolated following sonic disintegration and purified by washing. Sera against each species were prepared by injecting three rabbits with cell walls, and three with intact cells. Reciprocal agglutination tests were carried out with unabsorbed and absorbed antisera. More kinds of antibodies were detected with cell-wall antisera than with intact-cell antisera. Many species in the two genera shared common antigens. S. faecalis was the exception. Certain antigens believed to be complex haptens in nature reacted with heterologous antisera. Haemagglutination of tanned erythrocytes sensitized with a particulate cell-wall suspension showed fewer cross reactions than agglutination of intact-cell suspensions.The evidence presented shows the possibility of using antisera against species-specific cell-wall antigens for the identification of these species. The relationship of these species is discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Brückner

AbstractA vast diversity of parasites associate with ants. Living in and around ant nests these organisms must overcome ant colony defenses. As ant defensive behavior is mainly mediated by species-specific cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) or alarm pheromones, ant-associated parasites can either crack their hosts chemical communication code by modifying their own CHC-profiles or use pro-active strategies like chemical weaponry for distraction and repellency. While the chemical nature of ant-parasite interactions has been intensively studied for highly host specific parasites, the chemical-deceptive strategies of the rather rare ant-resembling Heteropterans are unknown. To gain insight into this system, I studied the bug Scolopostethus pacificus (Barber 1918) which can be found near the nests of the ecologically dominant and aggressive velvety tree ant (Liometopum occidentale, Emery 1895). Using behavioral, chemical and molecular approaches I disentangled the relationship of S. pasificus and its host ant. Chemical profiling of the bug and the ant revealed that the bug does not make use of CHC insignificance or mimicry, but instead uses a cocktail of volatile compounds released from its metathoracic glands that likely moderates encounters with its aggressive host. Feeding trials with armed and artificially disarmed bugs revealed a defensive function of the gland exudates. Targeted molecular gut barcoding showed that S. pasificus does not feed on L. occidentale. These results suggest that chemical weaponry, rather than a chemical code-cracking CHC matching or chemical insignificance, enables S. pasificus to get along with and live in close proximity to its host ant.


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 642-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Parraguez ◽  
G. Gajardo

Abstract The populations of Artemia (or brine shrimp) from the Americas exhibit a wide variation in the amount of interphase heterochromatin. There is interest in understanding how this variation affects different parameters, from the cellular to the organismal levels. This should help to clarify the ability of this organism to tolerate brine habitats regularly subject to strong abiotic changes. In this study, we assessed the amount of interphase heterochromatin per nucleus based on chromocenter number (N-CHR) and relative area of chromocenter (R-CHR) in two species of Artemia, A. franciscana (Kellog, 1906) (n=9 populations) and A. persimilis (Piccinelli and Prosdocimi, 1968) (n=3 populations), to investigate the effect on nuclear size (S-NUC). The relationship of the R-CHR parameter with the ionic composition (IC) of brine habitats was also analysed. Our results indicate a significant variation in the amount of heterochromatin both within and between species (ANOVA, p<0.001). The heterochromatin varied from 0.81 ± 1.17 to 12.58 ± 3.78 and from 0.19 ± 0.34% to 11.78 ± 3.71% across all populations, for N-CHR and R-CHR parameters, respectively. N-CHR showed less variation than R-CHR (variation index 15.5-fold vs. 62-fold). At least five populations showed a significant association (p<0.05) between R-CHR and S-NUC, either with negative (four populations, r= from -0.643 to -0.443), or positive (one population, r= 0.367) values.Within each species, there were no significant associations between both parameters (p>0.05). The R-CHR and IC parameters were associated significantly for the magnesium ion (r= 0.496, p<0.05) and also for the chloride, sodium and calcium ions (r = from -0.705 to -0.478, p<0.05). At species level, a significant association between both parameters was also found in A. franciscana populations, for the sulphate and calcium ions, in contrast to A. persimilis. These findings suggest that the amount of interphase heterochromatin modifies the nuclear size in Artemia. Our data also indicate that change in the amount of interphase heterochromatin is in line with the ionic composition of brines. This would be a species-specific phenomenon, whose occurrence may be involved in the ability of this organism to survive in these environments.


1930 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis A. Julianelle

1. Following repeated intracutaneous injections of heat-killed pneumococci rabbits acquire an increased skin reactivity. 2. The increased skin reactivity reaches a maximum after 4 to 6 injections have been made, after which it becomes greatly diminished. 3. The relationship of increased skin reactivity to active resistance to infection by Pneumococcus, and to the presence of species-specific antibodies in the blood, is still obscure. 4. The increased skin reactivity is not transferable by serum from a highly reactive to a normal rabbit. 5. After regression of the reaction to the first injection of Pneumococcus into the skin, there frequently follows a recrudescence, or exacerbation, of the reaction. 6. The increased skin reactivity and secondary reactions are incited alike by all types and all forms of Pneumococcus.


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