Fas/Fas ligand deficiency results in altered localization of anti-double-stranded DNA B cells and dendritic cells.

Autoantibodies directed against dsDNA are found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as well as in mice functionally deficient in either Fas or Fas ligand (FasL) (lpr/lpr or gld/gld mice). Previously, an IgH chain transgene has been used to track anti-dsDNA B cells in both nonautoimmune BALB/c mice, in which autoreactive B cells are held in check, and MRL-lpr/lpr mice, in which autoantibodies are produced. In this study, we have isolated the Fas/FasL mutations away from the autoimmune-prone MRL background, and we show that anti-dsDNA B cells in Fas/FasL-deficient BALB/c mice are no longer follicularly excluded, and they produce autoantibodies. Strikingly, this is accompanied by alterations in the frequency and localization of dendritic cells as well as a global increase in CD4 T cell activation. Notably, as opposed to MRL-lpr/lpr mice, BALB-lpr/lpr mice show no appreciable kidney pathology. Thus, while some aspects of autoimmune pathology (e.g., nephritis) rely on the interaction of the MRL background with the lpr mutation, mutations in Fas/FasL alone are sufficient to alter the fate of anti-dsDNA B cells, dendritic cells, and T cells.

Cellulolytic Enzyme Production by Three Fungi Grown in a Ground Corn Cob Medium 1.

Trichoderma reesei NRRL 11236, Trichoderma viride ATCC 32630, Trichoderma viride ATCC 32098 and Myrothecium verrucaria ATCC 9095 were evaluated for the production of toxic substances with the fertile egg tests. Strains NRRL 11236, ATCC 32630, and ATCC 9095 produced no detectable toxic substance. However, when an oil extract was made of fermented corn cobs, strain ATCC 32098 produced a significant kill of 23.1% of the embryos. Cellulases (C1,Cx) and beta glucosidase production were produced using different ammonium salts as additional nitrogen sources to what the corn cobs contained. Temperatures (23° and 30°C) had no effect on beta glucosidase except for T. viride ATCC 32630 which produced significantly smaller quantities at 30°C than at 23°C.

Production of Pantothenic Acid by Microorganisms Isolated from Fermented Corn Meal 1.

Seven strains of microorganisms out of 35 examined produced pantothenic acid. These included 3 strains of Bacillus licheniformis , 3 strains of Enterobacter cloacae and 1 strain of Hansenula subpelliculosa . Microorganisms not producing pantothenic acid included: Streptococcus faecalis , Lactobacillus brevis , Moraxella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Agrobacterium spp. The non-producers could not use B-alanine or pantoyl lactone or a combination of the two molecules which constitute pantothenic acid. Addition of sucrose (2%) to the nutrient broth reduced pantothenic acid production by about 68%. Control corn meal contained 0.44±0.02 mg pantothenic acid/100 g, whereas fermented corn meal contained 1.84±0.16 mg/100 g after 3 d and 1.48±0.5 mg/100 g after 5 d of fermentation.

Mixed Culture Fermentations To Improve Nutritional Value of Corn Meal 1.

One-step fermentation involving two microorganisms inoculated at the same time and two-step fermentations involving two inoculations of different microbes at different times were used to enrich corn meal. Starch in corn meal was first hydrolyzed by amylases of B. stearothermophilus , E. fibuligera or A. oryzae followed by the growth of C. utilis . The combination of E. fibuligera and C. utilis produced a significant (P<0.05) increase in lysine, methionine, tryptophan. The relative nutritive value (%), which reflected the amino acid balance, increased significantly (P<0.05) with this sequence of microorganisms. Niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin increased significantly (P<0.05) when mixed cultures of A. oryzae and E. fibuligera in combination with C. utilis were employed. When E. fibuligera alone was grown, no significant change was observed in thiamin content but significant increases occurred in niacin and riboflavin. A. oryzae by itself produced significant (P<0.05) changes in niacin, riboflavin and thiamin.

Frequency of illness associated with epidemic hepatitis A virus infections in adults.

Hepatitis A virus infection is often described as mild or asymptomatic, particularly in children. The failure of most adults who are found to be immune to remember symptoms of an illness suggestive of hepatitis A virus supports this belief. In 1982, two large outbreaks occurred in well documented populations of military personnel. These outbreaks were each extensively studied epidemiologically and serologically. It was found that 28/29 (96.6%) hepatitis A infections recognized prior to immune serum globulin in Outbreak A and 35/46 (76.1%) infections in Outbreak A were symptomatic. Symptomatic cases failed to occur beyond eight days of immune serum globulin administration to these predominantly susceptible groups. Between 40 and 70% of patients were icteric. Apparent contrasts in symptoms associated with hepatitis A infection in adults and children suggest a basic age-dependent difference in immune response to such infection.

Toxic effects of fermented and unfermented sorghum meal diets naturally contaminated with mycotoxins.

Male weanling rats fed diets containing fermented and unfermented tannin-free sorghum meals naturally contaminated with traces of ochratoxin A, zearalenone, and an unidentified toxic substance developed anorexia. Mean changes in body weight over a 28-day feeding period for rats fed fermented and unfermented sorghum meal and ANCR casein diets of 8% protein were -2.8, +13.8, and +100.5 g, respectively. Rats fed fermented sorghum meal developed alopecia; hematological findings showed a decreased mean corpuscular volume, hypochromic microcytosis, balanced leukopenia, and hypoproteinuria . Histological findings showed testicular hypoplasia of the germinal epithelium and no mature spermatozoa. Necrosis and mineralization in Henle's loop were also observed. No damage was apparent to the liver, cerebellum, cerebrum, spleen, or adrenal glands.

Cushing's syndrome associated with bronchial adenoma.

A case of Cushing's syndrome associated with a bronchial adenoma treated eight years before with bilateral adrenalectomy was cured by surgical excision of the bronchial adenoma. A discussion of clinical and hormonal features of this lesion is presented. It is concluded that this tumor manifested a capability of synthesizing and releasing substances which are chemically and biologically similar to adrenocorticotropic hormone andmelanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). Stimulation of the adrenal cortex by this material results in hyperplasia and hypersecretion, and stimulation of the melanocytesy MSH resulted in excessive pigmentation. Acknowledgment: We are indebted to Doctors Wendell Nicholson, David N. Orth, and Grant W. Liddle of Vanderbilt University for determinations of ACTH and MSH levels and to Mrs. E.P. Jessup for assistance in preparation of statistical data for this manuscript.

Bacillus stearothermophilus in soils of Iceland.

Bacillus stearothermophilus was found in Icelandic soils. Of the 33 strains studied, only four grew at 25 C. Temperatures as high as 27 C in bare soil at a depth of 1 to 1.5 cm were measured at the collection site. However, to demonstrate growth the cultures had to be incubated for 3 weeks, and soil temperatures remained at 27 C only for shorter periods of time.

Inhibition of spore outgrowth and vegetative growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus by dipicolinate.

Spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus germinated in the presence of sodium dipicolinate (DPA) but did not elongate after the emergence stage of outgrowth. Vegetative growth also was inhibited by Na(2)DPA.

Identification of named cultures of Bacillus calidolactis as Bacillus stearothermophilus.

A study was made of 23 cultures of Bacillus calidolactis. By using cultural, biochemical, and per cent guanine plus cytosine methods, the cultures were found to be B. stearothermophilus.

Sporulation and heat resistance of Bacillus stearothermophilus spores produced in chemically defined media.

The effect of amino acids on sporulation is discussed. Heat-resistant spores were produced in a chemically defined medium.

Studies on variants of Bacillus stearothermophilus strain NCA 1518.

The heat resistance, fermentation reactions, nutritional requirements, and phage sensitivity of 18 selected morphological variants of Bacillus stearothermophilus NCA 1518 were studied. It was found that when smooth variants mutated to rough colonial morphology, there was no concurrent change in fermentation reactions, nutritional requirements, or heat resistance. The smooth variant, and the rough mutants derived directly from it, presented a uniform pattern of biochemical capabilities which differed from the pattern presented by the rough variants isolated from the same stock culture. This led to the conclusion that the smooth and rough types previously observed in stocks of B. stearothermophilus NCA 1518 either were carried in the stock since the original isolation or represent a very profound and uncommon mutation, or that one of the variants has been introduced into the stock culture from an extraneous source sometime in the past.

Study of two bacteriophages of Bacillus stearothermophilus strain NCA1518.

Studies of bacteriophages GH5 and GH8 of Bacillus stearothermophilus strain NCA1518 revealed that their properties were sufficiently different from known phages and from each other to indicate that each was a different entity, although no major deviation was demonstrated.