PTEN inactivation is rare in melanoma tumours but occurs frequently in melanoma cell lines.

Deletions detected in cytogenetic and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies indicate that at least one tumour suppressor gene maps to the long arm of chromosome 10. Previous deletion mapping studies have observed LOH on 10q in about 30% of melanomas analysed. The PTEN gene, mapping to chromosome band 10q23.3, encodes a protein with both lipid and protein phosphatase activity. Somatic mutations and deletions in have been detected in a variety of cell lines and tumours, including melanoma samples. We performed mutation analyses and extensive allelic loss studies to investigate the role this gene plays in melanoma pathogenesis. We found that a total of 34 out of 57 (60%) melanoma cell lines carried hemizygous deletions of chromosome 10q encompassing the PTEN locus. A further three cell lines carried smaller deletions excluding PTEN. Inactivation of both PTEN alleles by exon-specific homozygous deletion or mutation was observed in 13 out of 57 (23%) melanoma cell lines. The mutation spectrum observed does not indicate an important role for ultraviolet radiation in the genesis of these mutations, and evidence from three cell lines supports the acquisition of PTEN aberrations in culture. Ten out of 49 (20%) matched melanoma tumour/normal samples harboured hemizygous deletions of either the whole chromosome or most of the long arm. Mutations within were detected in only one of the 10 tumours demonstrating LOH at 10q23 that were analysed. These results suggest that PTEN inactivation may be important for the propagation of melanoma cells in culture, and that another chromosome 10 tumour suppressor gene may be important for melanoma pathogenesis.

Bovine papillomavirus type 5: partial sequence and comparison with other bovine papillomaviruses.

Two restriction fragments of bovine papillomavirus type 5 (BPV5), of a genomic size of 1.6 and 1.2 kb were subcloned and sequenced. One of them seemed to correspond to the 3' end of the E1 open reading frame (ORF) and the other to the region of the E7, E8 and 5' end of the E1 ORF. Alignments of these fragments with other BPVs showed that BPV5 is only distantly related to the other 5 BPVs.

Bovine papillomavirus type 4 DNA isolated from a skin lesion in a steer.

A lesion on the head of a steer, defined histologically as an epithelial papilloma, yielded DNA which did not hybridise with any of the bovine papillomavirus DNAs usually associated with the formation of skin lesions. DNA from the lesion did hybridise with DNA from bovine papillomavirus 4, even under stringent conditions, and contained a sequence that could be amplified by polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for that virus. Bovine papillomavirus 4 had previously been isolated only from lesions of the upper alimentary canal.

The enumeration of coliforms and E. Coli on naturally contaminated beef: A comparison of the petrifilm(™) method with the Australian Standard.

Petrifilm(™) PEC was compared to Australian Standard (AS) methods for the enumeration of coliforms and Escherichia coli on 50 naturally contaminated beef samples from three meat works. The standard methods consist of a 3-tube most probable number test or a direct plate count on tryptone bile agar for E. coli, and violet red bile agar and the most probable number test for conliorms (AS 1766.2.12.1984 and AS 1766.2.3.1992). No significant difference was found between the methods, except that the count of E. coli on the direct plate method with a resuscitation step was significantly higher than the count on Petrifilm(™), most probable number or direct plate count without resuscitation.

A probable outbreak of rabies in a group of camels in Niger.

Seven camels in a herd of approximately 40 camels belonging to nomadic people in Niger died over a short period. No diagnostic samples were obtained. Brain was obtained from the eighth camel in the group, which died after a clinical illness manifested by unusual behaviour, aggression, pica, ptyalism and terminal paralysis. Rabies virus was demonstrated in the brain of this camel by immunofluorescent staining. Before the deaths of the camels a feral dog had joined the nomadic encampment and died there, and a domestic dog belonging to the group had then died after displaying aggressive behaviour. It is postulated that canine rabies had been transmitted to the camels in the herd.

Approaches to food-based vaccines for domestic chickens.

Domestic chickens were fed viral vaccines that were applied to the surface of food pellets. Responses were judged by the production of specific antibodies, and compared with the responses obtained when the same vaccines were given by conventional routes. Chickens responded similarly to commercial avian infectious encephalomyelitis vaccine given on food or by eyedrop when antibodies were measured by ELISA, and the vaccine virus spread by contact. Increasing the dose of oral vaccine tenfold gave a more rapid serological response but the levels of antibody were not increased. There was no serological response to commercial infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccine given on food. An experimental avian adenovirus vaccine produced a serological response when given on food, but higher levels of antibody were produced in response to vaccination by eyedrop. The vaccine virus spread by contact. It was concluded that current avian infectious encephalomyelitis vaccines, and prospective recombinant vaccines based on avian adenovirus vectors, could be delivered on food.

Genomic sequences of bovine papillomaviruses in formalin-fixed sarcoids from Australian horses revealed by polymerase chain reaction.

Seventy six formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sarcoids from 62 Australian horses, collected over a ten year period, were examined for the presence of genomic sequences from bovine papillomavirus 1 and 2 (BPV1, BPV2) with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequences that could be amplified by primers specific for BPV1 and BPV2 were present in 56 of the 76 sarcoids (73%). A restriction site present in BPV1 and absent from BPV2 was detected in 28 of 34 amplified products that were treated with endonuclease.

Bovine cutaneous papillomas associated with bovine papillomavirus type 5.

Squamous papillomas obtained from bovine facial skin yielded viral DNA indistinguishable from that of bovine papillomavirus type 5. It was separated from recognised bovine papillomaviruses by its restriction endonuclease pattern and hybridization tests with DNA.

Women's worth.

PIP: Jill Conway is a feminist historian, writer, teacher, and now-emerita 1st woman president of Smith College. She claims that women today still suffer from a great deal of oppression. Women around the world are currently in a disadvantage position. In 7 countries women do not have the right to vote. In the US less that .5% of top executives are women. The wage gap in the US between 1939 and 1989 has only shrunk $.10, from $.58-$.68. Conway points out that we are all constrained by our social mores, generational attitudes, political events, and economic circumstances. Few people are able to overcome these things in the way that they live their lives. Conway questions the validity of history written from a male dominated point of view. Around the world the value of women's work is almost always lower than that of men. India is just 1 example, there 75% of women are illiterate and 1/2 the population lives in poverty based on a caste system. Female literacy tripled in the 1st 30 years of independence and by 1981 it had reached 25%. The literacy gap is actually growing in India Today with 44% of girls aged 6 to 11, who are eligible to attend school, not doing so. Rural poverty keeps them at home because their domestic work is more valuable than their education. Other cultural tradition compound the problem: arranged marriages often result in motherhood for 14 year old girls. This is done for many reasons, 1 of which is crop failure insurance. When 2 families are combined through marriage, their total land share grows and they are thus more likely to have enough to eat. Education is just 1 necessary step. Developed nations must realize the realities that exist in the countries they provide aid for. In Africa for example, 70% of continent's food is produced by women. Yet the aid programs of the past have only been designed to offer assistant to men and create jobs for men.^ieng

[Serological and allergological survey of cattle in Niger]. / Enquête sérologique et allergologique sur les bovins au Niger.

A serosurvey and a tuberculination campaign have been conducted throughout Niger in 1989-1990 on cattle to measure the prevalence rate of six diseases: brucellosis (1.4%), haemorragic septicemia (3.9%), tuberculosis (2%), coxiellosis (15.4%), pleuropneumonia (3.7%), Rift Valley fever (0.52%). The results were analysed and compared to livestock service reports.

[Serological survey of small ruminants in 4 districts of Niger]. / Enquête sérologique chez les petits ruminants dans quatre départements du Niger.

In 1990, a serosurvey on 1,474 small ruminants was conducted in four districts of Niger (Maradi, Zinder, Diffa and Dosso). The epidemiology and seroprevalence of eight diseases were studied: Brucella melitensis and B. ovis brucellosis, chlamydiosis, coxiellosis, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, type A pasteurellosis, peste des petits ruminants, Rift Valley fever, Crimée-Congo haemorragic fever. The main health problem for the development of small ruminants farming, seems to be both pasteurellosis and peste des petits ruminants.

[Serological survey in a Sahelian country, the Niger. Sampling problems and results of the serosurveillance of rinderpest]. / Enquête sérologique dans un pays sahélien, le Niger. Problèmes d'échantillonnage et résultats de la sérosurveillance de la peste bovine.

A survey on Rinderpest serology was conducted in Niger with a sample of 2815 sera. The authors present the sampling method and resulting bias. The analysis of the sera is discussed according to the following factors: sex, age, vaccination status and geographic origin of the sera.

[Serological survey on Newcastle and Gumboro diseases, pasteurellosis and pullorosis in local hens in Niger]. / Enquête sérologique sur les maladies de Newcastle et de Gumboro, la pasteurellose et la pullorose chez des poules de race locale au Niger.

A serological survey on avian pathology in a village area was carried out in Niger. It allowed to determine the incidence of pullorosis (47%), pasteurellosis (48%), avian bursal disease (47%) and Newcastle disease (14% in non vaccinated and 63% in vaccinated animals).