Haraldiophyllum erosum comb. nov. (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from Southern and Western Australia

Nitophyllum erosum Harvey (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) is a branched, monostromatic red alga that is readily recognised by its distinctive fringe of branched, multicellular processes. It has been considered to be a member of the genus Myriograrnrne Kylin, since it was thought to have carposporangia borne in short chains, a feature partially diagnostic for that genus. Recent collections of female and cystocarpic material have allowed us to ascertain the structure of the procarp, a feature important in generic placement. The procarp includes two periaxial cells, of which one acts as a cover cell while the other functions as the supporting cell, ultimately bearing two sterile cell groups and a four-celled carpogonial branch. In addition, the carposporophyte includes a distinctive fusion cell that incorporates gametophytic cells from the floor of the cystocarpic cavity, and the carposporangia are single and terminal on gonimoblast filaments. This combination of characters is diagnostic of the genus Haraldiophyllurn, a genus to which we transfer this species as Haraldiophyllum erosurn (Harvey) Millar & Huisman. comb. nov.

Growth and hemolysin production by Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae cultivated in a chemically defined medium

A chemically defined medium (CDM) has been developed which supports both growth and hemolysin production by Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae. Although the growth rate in stationary cultures was substantially slower in CDM than in trypticase soy broth plus 0.6% yeast extract (TSBYE) and slightly slower than in heart infusion broth (HIB), extracellular hemolysin activity in CDM was slightly higher than in HIB and 16-fold greater than in TSBYE. Maximum hemolytic activity was produced in CDM in early to mid log phase of growth. Hemolytic activity in sterile, cell-free culture supernatant fluids persisted for over 10 days at 4 °C and 3–5 days at 37 °C, but was completely destroyed at 56 °C after 30 min. Total hemolysin inactivation was also achieved in the presence of trypsin or pronase (10 units/mL), but no decrease in hemolytic activity was noted in the presence of DNase or RNase. Iron had little effect on the hemolytic activity in the early stages of growth. However, in the later stages of growth, iron had a pronounced effect with hemolyic activity decreasing as the iron concentration increased from 1 to 500 μM. None of these iron concentrations had any effect on the hemolytic activity when added directly to prepared cell-free culture supernatant fluids. The extracellur hemolysin produced by H. pleuropneumoniae in CDM appears to be a heat-labile protein the activity of which is influenced by iron at certain phases of growth.

Removal of O-acetylated sialic acids from rat colonic epithelial glycoproteins by cell-free extracts of rat faeces

Sterile, cell-free, extracts of freshly defaecated Wistar rat faeces in a pH 7.0 "minimal medium" contain neuraminidase(s), capable of removing sialic acids both with and without side-chain substituents from bovine submandibular mucin and rat colonic epithelial glycoproteins, and an esterase which removes O-acetyl substituents from the side chain of sialic acid residues. Studies of the removal of sialic acids from bovine submandibular mucin and rat colonic epithelial glycoproteins indicated that (i) the faecal enzymes removed a greater proportion of the sialic acid of both the de-O-acetylated and native glycoproteins than was removed with Vibrio cholera neuraminidase, (ii) sialic acids were removed more rapidly from de-O-acetylated glycoproteins, and (iii) the resistance to removal of sialic acids was apparently dependent at least in part upon the O-acetyl sialic acid content of the substrate.

In Vitro Studies on the Anemia of Tumor-Bearing Hamsters

1. Sterile, cell-free extracts of the viable portion of a methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma of the hamster were capable of hemolyzing in vitro hamster red blood cells from the donor animals, and from animals with homologous and heterologous tumors. 2. Sterile, cell-free extracts of the necrotic material from this same tumor had little in vitro hemolytic action. 3. Whole tumor extracts varied in their in vitro hemolytic activity depending upon the proportion of viable to necrotic tissue present, with the maximum hemolysis observed when the whole tumor contained more viable than necrotic tissue. 4. Sterile, cell-free extracts of normal hamster liver had a strong hemolytic action on a whole range of red blood cells. 5. Hemolysins elaborated by the viable tissue in transplanted hamster tumors may be one factor contributing to the anemia in hamsters bearing transplantable sarcomas.

The Relationship of Tumor Necrosis to Red Blood Cell Changes in the Hamster

1. Sterile, cell-free saline extracts of the necrotic portion of methylcholanthrene-induced hamster sarcoma injected into non-tumor bearing hamsters produced a statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell levels. 2. These changes in hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cells are comparable to those observed during sarcoma growth. 3. Sterile, cell-free, extracts of viable sarcoma injected into hamsters failed to produce alterations in the hemoglobin, hematocrit or red blood cell values. 4. The necrosis produced during sarcoma growth in the hamster cheek pouch is concluded to be responsible for alterations in the red blood cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit values.