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At least 1,639 records · Page 91Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Interkingdom host jumping underground: phylogenetic analysis of entomoparasitic fungi of the genus cordyceps.

Most members of the ascomycetous genus Cordyceps are endoparasitic fungi of insects and other arthropods, but about 20 of the 300 described species are parasitic to hart's truffles, Elaphomyces spp. In order to understand the evolution of host specificity and the process of interkingdom host jumping in Cordyceps, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of 22 representatives, including 4 truffle parasites and 18 insect parasites, based on nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA sequences. Five monophyletic groups were identified in both nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenies. In three of the five clades, the members utilized hosts from the same insect group, suggesting that the endoparasite-host connections have been conserved to some extent. On the other hand, it was also shown that major host shifts between distantly related insects must have occurred repeatedly. Notably, phylogenetic analyses strongly suggested that parasites of hart's truffles originated from parasites of cicada nymphs during the evolution of the CORDYCEPS: The common habitats of cicada nymphs and hart's truffles, deep underground and associated with tree roots, suggest that the interkingdom host jumping from Animalia to Fungi might have been promoted by the overlapping ecological niche of the unrelated hosts. This finding provides an impressive case of a drastic host shift in favor of the host habitat hypothesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Identification and characterization of ectosymbionts of distinct lineages in Bacteroidales attached to flagellated protists in the gut of termites and a wood-feeding cockroach.

Bacterial attachments to nearly the entire surface of flagellated protists in the guts of termites and the wood-feeding cockroach Cryptocercus are often observed. Based on the polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of the rod-shaped, attached bacteria (ectosymbionts) of several protist species from five host taxa and confirmed their identity by fluorescence in situ hybridizations. These ectosymbionts are affiliated with the order Bacteroidales but formed three distinct lineages, each of which may represent novel bacterial genera. One lineage consisted of the closely related ectosymbionts of two species of the protist genus Devescovina (Cristamonadida). The second lineage comprised three phylotypes identified from the protist Streblomastix sp. (Oxymonadida). The third lineage included ectosymbionts of the three protist genera Hoplonympha, Barbulanympha and Urinympha in the family Hoplonymphidae (Trichonymphida). The ultrastructural observations indicated that these rod-shaped ectosymbionts share morphological similarities of their cell walls and their point of attachment with the protist but differ in shape. Elongated forms of the ectosymbionts appeared in all the three lineages. The protist cells Streblomastix sp. and Hoplonympha sp. display deep furrows and vane-like structures, but these impressive structures are probably evolutionarily convergent because both the host protists and their ectosymbionts are distantly related.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Both apolipoprotein E and A-I genes are present in a nonmammalian vertebrate and are highly expressed during embryonic development.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is associated with several classes of plasma lipoproteins and mediates uptake of lipoproteins through its ability to interact with specific cell surface receptors. Besides its role in cardiovascular diseases, accumulating evidence has suggested that apoE could play a role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease. In vertebrates, apoA-I is the major protein of high-density lipoprotein. ApoA-I may play an important role in regulating the cholesterol content of peripheral tissues through the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. We have isolated cDNA clones that code for apoE and apoA-I from a zebrafish embryo library. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences showed the presence of a region enriched in basic amino acids in zebrafish apoE similar to the lipoprotein receptor-binding region of human apoE. We demonstrated by whole-mount in situ hybridization that apoE and apoA-I genes are highly expressed in the yolk syncytial layer, an extraembryonic structure implicated in embryonic and larval nutrition. ApoE transcripts were also observed in the deep cell layer during blastula stage, in numerous ectodermal derivatives after gastrulation, and after 3 days of development in a limited number of cells both in brain and in the eyes. Our data indicate that apoE can be found in a nonmammalian vertebrate and that the duplication events, from which apoE and apoA-I genes arose, occurred before the divergence of the tetrapod and teleost ancestors. Zebrafish can be used as a simple and useful model for studying the role of apolipoproteins in embryonic and larval nutrition and of apoE in brain morphogenesis and regeneration.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Comparative phylogeography in a genus of coral reef fishes: biogeographic and genetic concordance in the Caribbean.

Geographic barriers that limit the movement of individuals between populations may create or maintain phylogenetically discrete lineages. Such barriers are often inferred from geographic surveys of a single mitochondrial marker to identify phylogenetic splits. Mitochondrial DNA, however, has an effective population size one-fourth that of nuclear DNA, which can facilitate the rapid evolution of monophyletic mtDNA lineages in the absence of geographic barriers. The identification of geographic barriers will thus be more robust if barriers are proposed a priori, and tested with multiple independent genetic markers in multiple species. Here, we tested two proposed marine biogeographic breaks located at the Mona Passage in the Caribbean Sea and at the southern end of Exuma Sound in the Bahamas. We sequenced mitochondrial cytochrome b (400 bp) and nuclear rag1 (573 bp) for nine species and colour forms (183 individuals total) within the teleost genus Elacatinus (Gobiidae) that span the proposed breaks. Our results showed that Mona Passage separated mtcyb and rag1 lineages, with no genetic exchange between populations separated by just 23 km. However, the Central Bahamas barrier was only weakly supported by our data. Importantly, neither barrier coincided with deep genetic splits. This suggests that these two barriers did not initially isolate regional populations, but instead disrupt ongoing gene flow between regions. Our inferred relationships further suggested a division of the Caribbean region into northwestern and southeastern regions, a pattern reflected by some freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates. Our results, coupled with genetic and demographic data from other reef fishes and corals, provide robust support for the Mona Passage as a long-term biogeographic barrier for Caribbean animals.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Biodiversity of Costa Rican salamanders: implications of high levels of genetic differentiation and phylogeographic structure for species formation.

Although salamanders are characteristic amphibians in Holarctic temperate habitats, in tropical regions they have diversified evolutionarily only in tropical America. An adaptive radiation centered in Middle America occurred late in the history of a single clade, the supergenus Bolitoglossa (Plethodontidae), and large numbers of species now occur in diverse habitats. Sublineages within this clade decrease in number from the northern to southern parts of Middle America, and in Costa Rica, there are but three. Despite this phylogenetic constraint, Costa Rica has many species; the number of salamander species on one local elevational transect in the Cordillera de Talamanca may be the largest for any such transect in the world. Extraordinary variation in sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b within a clade of the genus Bolitoglossa in Costa Rica reveals strong phylogeographic structure within a single species, Bolitoglossa pesrubra. Allozymic variation in 19 proteins reveals a pattern largely concordant with the mitochondrial DNA phylogeography. More species exist than are currently recognized. Diversification occurs in restricted geographic areas and involves sharp geographic and elevational differentiation and zonation. In their degree of genetic differentiation at a local scale, these species of the deep tropics exceed the known variation of extratropical salamanders, which also differ in being less restricted in elevational range. Salamanders display "tropicality" in that although speciose, they are usually local in distribution and rare. They display strong ecological and physiological differentiation that may contribute importantly to morphological divergence and species formation.

Altitude↗
PubMed2005

Crystal structures of the HIV-1 inhibitory cyanobacterial protein MVL free and bound to Man3GlcNAc2: structural basis for specificity and high-affinity binding to the core pentasaccharide from n-linked oligomannoside.

The cyanobacterial protein MVL inhibits HIV-1 envelope-mediated cell fusion at nanomolar concentrations by binding to high mannose N-linked carbohydrate on the surface of the envelope glycoprotein gp120. Although a number of other carbohydrate-binding proteins have been shown to inhibit HIV-1 envelope-mediated cell fusion, the specificity of MVL is unique in that its minimal target comprises the Man(alpha)(1-->6)Man(beta)(1-->4)GlcNAc(beta)(1-->4)GlcNAc tetrasaccharide core of oligomannosides. We have solved the crystal structures of MVL free and bound to the pentasaccharide Man3GlcNAc2 at 1.9- and 1.8-A resolution, respectively. MVL is a homodimer stabilized by an extensive intermolecular interface between monomers. Each monomer contains two structurally homologous domains with high sequence similarity connected by a short five-amino acid residue linker. Intriguingly, a water-filled channel is observed between the two monomers. Residual dipolar coupling measurements indicate that the structure of the MVL dimer in solution is identical to that in the crystal. Man3GlcNAc2 binds to a preformed cleft at the distal end of each domain such that a total of four independent carbohydrate molecules associate with each homodimer. The binding cleft provides shape complementarity, including the presence of a deep hydrophobic hole that accommodates the N-acetyl methyl at the reducing end of the carbohydrate, and specificity arises from 7-8 intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The structures of MVL and the MVL-Man3GlcNAc2 complex further our understanding of the molecular basis of high affinity and specificity in protein-carbohydrate recognition.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Parastrombidinopsis shimi n. gen., n. sp. (Ciliophora: Choreotrichia) from the coastal waters of Korea: morphology and small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence.

The planktonic ciliate Parastrombidinopsis shimi n. gen., n. sp. is described from both living cells and quantitative protargol-stained (QPS) preparations and the sequence of the small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) is reported. This species is almost oval when the cells are alive; when stained, it is cylindrical for the upper two-fifths, half-bowl shaped for the middle two-fifths, and narrow rodshaped for the lower one-fifth. The ranges (and mean +/- standard deviation, n = 20) of cell length, cell width, and oral diameter of living cells were 112-221 microm (168 +/- 39), 88-176 microm (121 +/- 30), and 53-110 microm (80 +/- 14), respectively, while those of the QPS-stained specimens (n = 54) were 88-225 microm (162 +/- 29), 55-163 microm (102 +/- 19), and 53-98 microm (69 +/- 9), respectively. Thirty-six to 48 external oral polykinetids had cilia 25-40 microm long. However, unlike Strombidinopsis species sensu stricto, P. shimi has an external oral polykinetid zone that is an open circle. This species has two shorter polykinetids associated with the end of the oral polykinetid zone, deep in the oral cavity. Like Strombidinopsis species in the subclass Choreotrichia, 36-50 somatic kineties were equally spaced around the cell body and extended from the oral to the posterior regions with 68-105 dikinetids per kinety. Both kinetosomes of each kinetid bore cilia 3-10 microm long. Parastrombidinopsis shimi had 2 (1-4) ovoid macronuclei of 20-82 x 15-32 microm. When properly aligned, the sequence of the SSU rDNA of P. shimi (GenBank Accession No. AJ786648) was approximately 5% different from that of Strobilidium caudatum and 6% different from that of two Strombidinopsis species. Based both on morphology and gene sequence divergence, we establish this is as a new species in a new genus belonging to the family Strombidinopsidae.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

MRA of the lower extremities in patients with pulmonary embolism using a blood pool contrast agent: initial experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of blood pool contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to visualize the arterial and venous vessel tree and to detect deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine consecutive patients with pulmonary embolism (mean age = 46 +/- 9) were randomized to various doses of NC100150 (between 0.75 and 6 mg of Fe/kg of body weight). A T1-weighted (T1W) 3D gradient recalled echo (GRE) sequence (TE = 2.0 msec, TR = 5.0 msec) was used. Two observers blinded to the dose of contrast agent assessed image quality, contrast attenuation, and appearance of thrombi. RESULTS: Qualitative assessment of overall MRA image quality and semiquantitative vessel scoring revealed good to excellent delineation of venous and arterial vessel segments independent of the dose of NC100150. However, quantitative region of interest analysis revealed a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the high-dose group than in the mid- and low-dose groups of NC100150 (P < 0.01). Between dose groups, the SNR was independent of vessel type (artery or vein) and vessel segment localization (proximal or distal). All seven venous thrombi (mean length = 7.2 +/- 0.95 cm) were characterized by a very low signal intensity (SI), which was only 16.6 +/- 7% of the SI in adjacent venous segments (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: High-quality MR angiograms of the lower extremities can be obtained using low concentrations of NC100150 in combination with a strong T1W 3D GRE sequence. The obvious delineation of venous thrombi suggests that this technique may be potentially used as a noninvasive "one-stop shopping" tool in the evaluation of thromboembolic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Investigation of stroke in sickle cell disease by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Localized proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), obtained with stimulated echo and spin echo sequences, MR imaging (MRI) and MR angiography (MRA) were used to study the brain in 13 children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. Regions of interest (ROI) studied by MRS included regions appearing normal on MRI as well as regions showing complications of sickle cell disease, including focal deep white matter areas of high signal intensity (deep white matter ischemia, DWMI) seen on long TR images, focal atrophic brain areas, and infarcts. The findings in these studies are summarized as follows: Normal-appearing regions on MRI have normal MRS. In ROI including small areas of DWMI, lactate elevation was not detected, but the levels of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) appeared slightly elevated. In areas of DWMI 1-2 cm in size, reduced blood flow could be seen on MRA and lactate elevation could be detected with MRS. When blood flow to a DWMI region was normal, NAA was reduced and there was little lactate elevation, as cell death had already occurred. ROI consisting of atrophic tissue had reduced NAA levels but total creatine levels were not changed. Sometimes lipids, presumably from broken cell membrane, could be detected. In regions of past massive stroke, all metabolites were absent except for small amounts of lactate or lipids.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Crystal structures of the catalytic domain of human stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) and collagenase-3 (MMP-13) with a hydroxamic acid inhibitor SM-25453.

Crystal structures of the catalytic domain of human stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) and collagenase-3 (MMP-13) with a hydroxamic acid inhibitor SM-25453 have been solved at 2.01 and 2.37A resolutions, respectively. The results revealed that the binding modes for this inhibitor to MMP-3 and -13 were quite similar. However, subtle comparative differences were observed at the bottom of S1' pockets, which were occupied with the guanidinomethyl moiety of the inhibitor. A remarkable feature of the inhibitor was the deep penetration of its long aliphatic chain into the S1' pocket and exposure of the guanidinomethyl moiety to the solvent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Magnetic resonance imaging of changes elicited by status epilepticus in the rat brain: diffusion-weighted and T2-weighted images, regional blood volume maps, and direct correlation with tissue and cell damage.

The rat brain was investigated with structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 12 h after the arrest of pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus lasting 4 h. Histopathological data, obtained immediately after MRI analysis, were correlated with the images through careful evaluation of tissue shrinkage. Diffusion-weighted and T2-weighted imaging showed changes throughout the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and medial thalamus. However, only T2-weighted imaging, based on rapid acquisition relaxation-enhanced sequences, revealed in the cortex inhomogeneous hyperintensity that was highest in a band corresponding to layer V. Regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) maps were generated using T2*-weighted gradient-echo images and an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent. In the cortex, rCBV peaked in superficial and deep bands exhibiting a distribution complementary to the highest T2-weighted intensity. Selective rCBV increase was also documented in the hippocampus and subcortical structures. In tissue sections, alterations indicative of marked edema were found with Nissl staining in areas corresponding to the highest T2-weighted intensity. Degenerating neurons, revealed by FluoroJadeB histochemistry, were instead concentrated in tissue exhibiting hyperperfusion in rCBV maps, such as hippocampal subfields and dentate gyrus, cortical layers II/III and VI, and medial thalamus. The data indicate that:(i) T2-weighted imaging provides a sensitive tool to investigate edematous brain alterations that follow sustained seizures; (ii) rCBV maps reveal regional hyperperfusion; (iii) rCBV peaks in tissue exhibiting marked neurodegeneration, which may not be selectively revealed by structural MRI. The findings provide an interpretation of the brain response to sustained seizures revealed in vivo by different strategies of MRI analysis.

Amygdala↗
PubMed2000

Toxic action/toxicity.

Some six or so physiological systems, essential to normal mammalian life, are involved in poisoning; an intoxication that causes severe injury to any one of them could be life threatening. Reversible chemical reactions showing Scatchard-type binding are exemplified by CO, CN- and cyclodiene neurotoxin insecticide intoxications, and by antigen-antibody complex formation. Haemoglobin (Hb) molecular biology accounts for the allosteric co-operativity and other characteristics of CO poisoning, CN- acts as a powerful cytochrome oxidase inhibitor, and antigen binding in a deep antibody cleft between two domains equipped with epitopes for antigen-binding groups explains hapten-specific immune reactions. Covalent chemical reactions with second-order (SN2) kinetics characterize Hg and Cd poisonings, the reactions of organophosphates and phosphonates with acetylcholinesterase and neurotoxic esterase and the reaction sequence whereby Paraquat accepts electrons and generates superoxide under aerobic conditions. Indirect carcinogens require cytochrome P450 activation to form DNA adducts in target-organ DNA and cause cancer, but a battery of detoxifying enzymes clustered with the P450 system must be overcome. Thus, S-metabolism competes ineffectively with target DNA for reactive vinyl chloride (VC) metabolites, epoxide hydrolase is important to the metabolism and carcinogenicity of alfatoxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzo[a]pyrene, etc.), and the non-toxic 2-naphthylhydroxylamine N-glucuronide acts as a transport form in 2-naphthylamine bladder cancer. VC liver-cancer pathogenesis is explicable in terms of the presence of the glutathione S-transferase detoxifying system in hepatocytes and its absence from the fibroblastic elements, and of the VC concentrations reaching the liver by different administrative routes. In VC carcinogenicity, chemical reactions give imidazo-cyclization products with nucleoside residues of target DNA, and in benzene leukaemia, Z,Z-muconaldehyde forms cyclic products containing a pyrrole residue linked to purine. Increased HbCO concentrations reduce the O2-carrying capacity of the blood, and the changed shape of the O2-Hb dissociation curve parallels disturbance in O2 unloading. CN- acts on electron transport and paralyses respiration. In telodrin poisoning, preconvulsive glutamine formation abstracts tricarboxylic acid intermediates incommensurately with normal cerebral respiration. Antigen-antibody complexing depletes the antibody titre, available against infection. At high doses of Cd, Cd-thionein filtered through the kidneys is reabsorbed and tubular lesions produced. Some organophosphate insecticides promote irreversible acetylcholinesterase phosphorylation and blockade nerve function, and others react with neurotoxic esterase to cause delayed neuropathy. The evidence for Paraquat pulmonary poisoning suggests a radical mechanism involving three interrelated cyclic reaction stages. The action of N- and O8 (O substituent in 6-position of the purine) demethylases explains deletion mechanisms for DNA-alkyl adducts. DNA-directed synthesis in the presence of ultimate carcinogens provides for an estimation of misincorporations, which implicate the same transversions as those found by direct mutagenicity testing. Chemical carcinogens recognize tissue-sensitive cells and modify their heritable genetic complement. Oncoproteins encoded by activated oncogenes signal the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells. The importance of the H-ras oncogene and p53 tumour-suppressor gene is stressed. Antidotal action is analysed; for example, parenteral glutamine administration to telodrin-intoxicated rats restores the depleted cerebral glutamate level and prevents seizures. Glutamate acts as anticonvulsant in petit mal epilepsy. In general, therefore, the reaction of the toxicant-related substance with the relevant target-tissue macromolecule accounts for the biochemical/biological events at a cellular level a

Animals↗
PubMed2026

SIVA: diagonal integration of spatial multi-omics data via spatially informed variational autoencoders and anchor guidance.

MOTIVATION: Understanding cellular states and regulatory programs requires integrative analysis of multiple omics layers. Although recent spatial sequencing technologies allow molecular profiling of cells within their tissue context, paired spatial multi-omics assays are still limited by technical complexity and cost. This creates a pressing need for diagonal integration methods that enable joint analysis of unpaired spatial omics datasets. RESULTS: We propose SIVA, a deep generative framework based on Spatially-Informed Variational Autoencoders with Anchor Guidance, for diagonal integration of spatial multi-modal data. SIVA employs modality-specific variational autoencoders (VAEs) with a hybrid latent embedding that integrates Gaussian process and standard Gaussian priors, enabling joint modeling of spatially structured variation and dominant underlying data distributions across modalities. To facilitate cross-modal alignment in the absence of one-to-one cell correspondence, SIVA adopts a dual integration strategy combining global distribution alignment via Maximum Mean Discrepancy and local correspondence guidance using mutual nearest neighbor anchors. Extensive experiments across multiple cross-slice integration scenarios demonstrate that SIVA achieves robust and accurate integration of unpaired spatial omics datasets, consistently outperforming existing methods. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The source codes are available at https://github.com/PelenJiang/SIVA.

Autoencoder↗
PubMed1990

Interaction of RNase P from Escherichia coli with pseudoknotted structures in viral RNAs.

In a previous study it was shown that RNase P from E. coli cleaves the tRNA-like structure of turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) RNA in vitro (Guerrier-Takada et al. (1988) Cell, 53, 267-272). Cleavage takes place at the 3' side of the loop that crosses the deep groove of the pseudoknot structure present in the aminoacyl acceptor domain. In the present study fragments of TYMV RNA with mutations in the pseudoknot, generated by transcription in vitro, were tested for susceptibility to cleavage by RNase P. Changes in the specificity with respect to the site of cleavage and decreases in the rate of cleavage were observed with most of these substrates. The behaviour of various mutants in the reaction catalyzed by RNase P is in agreement with the present model of the TYMV RNA pseudoknot (Dumas et al. (1987), J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 263, 652-657). Base substitutions in the loop that crosses the shallow groove of the pseudoknot structure resulted, however, in an unexpected decrease in the rate of cleavage, probably due to conformational changes in the substrates. Studies on other tRNA-like structures revealed an important role in the reaction with RNase P for both the nucleotide at the 3' side of the loop that spans the deep groove and the nucleotide at position 4, which correspond to positions--1 and 73, respectively, in tRNA precursors.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2007

Genetic connectivity in the Florida reef system: comparative phylogeography of commensal invertebrates with contrasting reproductive strategies.

Effective spatial management of coral reefs including design of marine protected areas requires an understanding of interpopulation genetic connectivity. We assessed gene flow along 355 km of the Florida reef system and between Florida and Belize in three commensal invertebrates occupying the same host sponge (Callyspongia vaginalis) but displaying contrasting reproductive dispersal strategies: the broadcast-spawning brittle star Ophiothrix lineata and two brooding amphipods Leucothoe kensleyi and Leucothoe ashleyae. Multiple analytical approaches to sequence variation in the mitochondrial COI gene demonstrated a high degree of overall connectivity for all three species along the Florida reef system. Ophiothrix lineata showed significant genetic structuring between Florida and Belize, and a pattern of isolation by distance but no significant genetic structuring along the Florida coastline. Bayesian estimates of migration detected a strong southerly dispersal bias for O. lineata along the Florida reef system, contrary to the general assumption of northerly gene flow in this region based on the direction of the Florida Current. Both amphipods, despite direct development, also showed high gene flow along the Florida reef system. Multiple inferences of long-distance dispersal from a nested clade analysis support the hypothesis that amphipod transport, possibly in detached sponge fragments, could generate the high levels of overall gene flow observed. However, this transport mechanism appears much less effective across deep water as connectivity between Florida and Belize (1072 km) is highly restricted.

Amphipoda↗
PubMed1999

Population structure and phylogenetic characterization of marine benthic Archaea in deep-sea sediments.

During the past few years Archaea have been recognized as a widespread and significant component of marine picoplankton assemblages and, more recently, the presence of novel archaeal phylogenetic lineages has been reported in coastal marine benthic environments. We investigated the relative abundance, vertical distribution, phylogenetic composition, and spatial variability of Archaea in deep-sea sediments collected from several stations in the Atlantic Ocean. Quantitative oligonucleotide hybridization experiments indicated that the relative abundance of archaeal 16S rRNA in deep-sea sediments (1500 m deep) ranged from about 2.5 to 8% of the total prokaryotic rRNA. Clone libraries of PCR-amplified archaeal rRNA genes (rDNA) were constructed from 10 depth intervals obtained from sediment cores collected at depths of 1,500, 2,600, and 4,500 m. Phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences revealed the presence of a complex archaeal population structure, whose members could be grouped into discrete phylogenetic lineages within the two kingdoms, Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. Comparative denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profile analysis of archaeal 16S rDNA V3 fragments revealed a significant depth-related variability in the composition of the archaeal population.

Archaea↗
PubMed1994

Effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on LFA-1 and ICAM-1 expression in gastric mucosa.

Leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium appears to play an important role in gastric injury. This study aimed to develop immunohistochemical staining techniques to investigate the distribution and sequence of expression of both leukocyte [lymphocyte function associated antigen 1 (LFA-1)] and endothelial [intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1)] adhesion molecules in the mucosa after treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In control rats there were 803 +/- 72 LFA-1-stained cells/mm2 in the deep mucosa, 134 +/- 32 cells/mm2 in the superficial mucosa, and 6.4 +/- 1.2 ICAM-1-stained blood vessels/mm2 in the total mucosa. The number of ICAM-1-stained blood vessels in the mucosa increased significantly after 30 min of treatment with intragastric aspirin (30 mM; 25.2 +/- 7.2/mm2, P < 0.01) and indomethacin (20 mg/kg; 20.7 +/- 4.4/mm2, P < 0.01) before any appreciable mucosal damage was evident. This increase was reversed by treatment with misoprostol (100 micrograms/kg) in both aspirin- (7.6 +/- 1.7/mm2, P < 0.01) and indomethacin-treated animals (10.7 +/- 2.6/mm2, P < 0.05). There was no significant increase in LFA-1-positive cells until 60 min of NSAID treatment. We conclude that the adhesion molecules LFA-1 and ICAM-1 are expressed in the normal gastric mucosa and that the number of ICAM-1-stained blood vessels increase rapidly after NSAID treatment. This increase in ICAM-1 expression may be associated with an inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by NSAIDs. These results provide further support for the role of early vascular changes in NSAID gastropathy.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Characteristics and distribution of M cells in arterially perfused canine left ventricular wedge preparations.

BACKGROUND: Much of the characterization of the M cell to date has been accomplished using isolated tissues and cells. This study uses an arterially perfused wedge preparation to examine the characteristics and distribution of M cells within the anterior wall of the canine left ventricle under more physiological conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Floating microelectrodes were used to record transmembrane action potentials simultaneously from epicardial, M region, and endocardial or subendocardial Purkinje sites in isolated arterially perfused canine left ventricular wedge preparations. A transmural ECG was recorded concurrently. M cells with the longest action potentials were found in the deep subendocardium in wedge preparations isolated from the anterior wall of the left ventricle. Fairly smooth transitions in action potential duration (APD) were observed except in the region between epicardium and deep subepicardium. Tissue resistivity increased 2.8-fold in this region and much more modestly in the deep subendocardium. Dispersion of APD90 across the left ventricular wall averaged 51+/-19 and 64+/-25 ms at basic cycle lengths of 1000 and 2000 ms, respectively, whereas transmural dispersion of repolarization time was smaller (34+/-18 and 45+/-25 ms), owing to the endocardial to epicardial activation sequence. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the qualitative differences between the 3 ventricular cell types previously described in isolated tissues and cells are maintained in intact canine left ventricular wall preparations in which the myocardial cells are electrically well coupled. As anticipated, differences in APD are quantitatively smaller because of electrotonic interactions among the 3 cell types. Our data indicate that transmural dispersion of repolarization is the result of intrinsic differences in APD of cells spanning the ventricular wall as well as a heterogeneous distribution of tissue resistivity across the wall.

Action Potentials↗