Torulopsis ethanolitolerans n. sp. and T. ethanolitolerans var. minor n. var.

A new yeasts. Torulopsis ethanolitolerans and its variety minor, both isolated from industrial sulphite fodder yeast cultivated on synthetic ethanol as the only source of carbon, originally designated R 5. R 6 and the variety R 7, are described. This species differs from all recently accepted Torulopsis species (resp., Candida species), which do not assimilate nitrate, not ferment any sugars, not produce urease, by the assimilation of maltose, but not of sucrose, lactose and D-xylose.     

Cytomegalovirus studies of autopsy tissue. I. Virus isolation.

From January through September 1973, 55 virus isolates were recovered from lung and kidney specimens from 44 (8.8%) of 502 unselected autopsy cases. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was isolated 42 times in 34 cases (36 from lung, four from kidney, and one each from pleural and bronchial tissues). Virus isolation was approximately six times more sensitive than histologic detection of CMV infections. Major causes of death included solid malignant tumors, leukemia, lymphoma, and renal allograft rejection; 13 patients had a variety of other diseases, predominantly cardiopulmonary. CMV was recovered from more males than females. The mean age of the CMV-positive group did not differ significantly from that of the CMV-negative group. CMV-positive cases were not preselected on the basis of specimen processing time. Serologic results indicate that recovery of CMV from an autopsy case was seven times more likely when the complement-fixing antibody titer was 1:16 or more.     

Immune interferon. I. Production by lymphokine-activated murine macrophages.

Unfractionated murine spleen cells produce immune interferon (type II) upon stimulation with antigen or mitogen. When spleen cells were passed over glass bead columns, interferon production decreased whereas the mitotic response to the stimulants drastically increased. When these cells were further purified over nylon wool columns, interferon production was totally abolished whereas thymidine incorporation in stimulated cultures was invariably high. Interferon production by nylon wool column-purified lymphocytes could be restored with macrophages grown from bone marrow cultures or spleen cells but not with macrophages from proteose peptone-induced peritoneal exudate cells. It was also found that pure macrophage cultures from spleens of BCG-immunized mice consistently produced interferon activity without any further stimulation. When culture supernatants of activated T lymphocytes, which did not contain any interferon activity, were transferred to macrophage cultures from different sources and incubated for 45 h, interferon activity could be detected in supernatants of macrophage cultures from bone marrow and spleen but not in those from proteose-induced peritoneal exudate cells. It is concluded that certain macrophage populations can be induced to produce interferon activity whereas others are refractory to this induction which appears to be linked to their differentiation state.     

Preimplantation genetics. An overview.

Advances in methods used to detect specific genes or gene products have contributed to the development of methods to identify genetic disorders in preimplantation embryos. A variety of strategies have been developed, including polar body biopsy, removal of cells from multicell stage embryos, and biopsy of the polar trophectoderm from expanded blastocysts. These embryos are derived primarily from oocyte retrievals and in vitro fertilization procedures, although blastocysts could be obtained by uterine lavage. A number of animal models have been evaluated that demonstrate the feasibility of such techniques in the diagnosis of genetic disease. Clinical trials are under way in a number of clinical centers and current outcomes with human embryos are cited.     

Molecular genetic studies on morphologically indistinguishable Myxobolus spp. infecting cyprinid fishes, with the description of three new species, M. alvarezae sp. nov., M. sitjae sp. nov. and M. eirasianus sp. nov.

While studying Myxobolus gill infections of cyprinid fishes, the authors found large, segmented plasmodia in three species: ide (Leuciscus idus), asp (Aspius aspius) and white bream (Blicca bjoerkna). As regards their size and morphology, the spores from these plasmodia corresponded to those of M. dujardini described from chub (Leuciscus cephalus). However, the 18S rDNA sequences of spores from the three cyprinids differed from those of M. dujardini. Based on molecular differences, this paper describes two new species: M. alvarezae sp. nov. from ide and asp, and M. sitjae sp. nov. from white bream. The two new species and M. dujardini had a similar tissue tropism, and infected the multilayered epithelium of the gill filaments. Histological examination of the infected filaments demonstrated that the large plasmodia with multiple buddings were formed from amalgamating small plasmodia. Besides carrying infection in the filamental epithelium, the three above fish species were infected by small intralamellar plasmodia as well. These plasmodia were filled by spores that resembled the roach parasite M. intimus both in morphology and seasonal development. The 18S rDNA sequences of ??intimus-like?? spores from ide and asp differed only in some base pairs from spores found in the type host roach, and were identified as belonging to M. intimus. The spores found in white bream, however, showed 3.6-5.0% difference in DNA sequence from those of M. intimus; therefore, they have been described as M. eirasianus sp. nov. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate the importance of using molecular methods for separating and identifying morphologically corresponding or closely similar Myxobolus spp.     

Cover Picture: Eur. J. Immunol. 7'14

This month's colorful cover features a three‐dimensional plot of the fluorescence signal intensities on a reverse‐phase protein microarray. The plots show the signals generated from serially diluted cell lysates probed for β‐actin, which is used as a protein loading control. The image is taken from the article by Negm et al. (pp. 2096–2110) in which the authors examine the signaling intermediates in the cascading from a mutant TNF‐receptor (TNFR1). The authors found that both a human endothelial‐like cell line transfected with a mutant TNFR1 and primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with TNFreceptor‐associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) constitutively expressed a wide spectrum of signaling intermediates which are associated with a proinflammatory and antiapoptotic phenotype. This identification of this proinflammatory signalome may highlight potential target pathways for TRAPS intervention.     

Immune depression in trypanosome-infected mice. I. Depressed T lymphocyte responses.

Using a wide range of experimental conditions, several kinds of T lymphocyte responses in spleen cell populations from trypanosome-infected mice were studied. Lymphocyte stimulation after culture with the mitogen concanavalin A or with histoincompatible cells differing at H-2 or minor lymphocyte-stimulating loci was reduced or abolished in spleen cells from infected mice when compared with responses of spleen cells from uninfected controls. In addition, cytotoxic lymphocytes were not generated in mixed lymphocyte cultures which contained spleen cells from infected animals. Allogeneic skin grafting experiments performed with normal and infected mice showed that a decreased T lymphocyte response also occurs in vivo. The depressed immune responses were not simply due to low numbers of T lymphocytes in spleens of infected animals, but reflected a generalized immune depression which was not antigen-specific.     

Host immune status in uraemia. II. Serum factors and lymphocyte transformation.

A model of experimentally induced uraemia has been used to study the effect of serum from uraemic rats on the immune responsiveness of thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes. Splenic lymphocytes from normal or uraemic animals responded to mitogenic stimulation with concanavalin A to a similar degree when cultured in a tissue culture medium containing the maximum non-toxic concentration of normal or uraemic serum in the culture system (3%). Serum from uraemic animals, however, had an immunosuppressive effect if the serum was first dialysed for 24 hr before being added to the tissue culture medium. When an alternative vessel was used which allowed the concentration of serum in the medium to be increased to 10%, serum from severely uraemic animals markedly suppressed the capacity of lymphocytes from normal animals to respond to Con A. Thus while serum from uraemic animals can be shown to be immunosuppressive, the results of the experiments are influenced by the conditions in vitro. The type of culture vessel and the concentration of serum in the culture medium are particularly critical determinants. It is likely that variations in laboratory procedures have contributed to the differences of opinion on the effect of serum from uraemic individuals on lymphocyte function.     

Leukemic mitochondria. III. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Quantitative and qualitative electron microscopic studies were performed on the mitochondria of leukemic lymphoblasts in 6 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Similar studies were performed on lymphoblasts from lymph nodes obtained from 10 surgical patients without nodal diseases. Significant quantitative differences between normal and leukemic mitochondria were not observed except for a difference in mitochondrial area per cell (P less than 0.05). This was not significant lacking, qualitative diffecrences were observed. These abnormalities included rare giant mitochondria, disrupted mitochondria with virus-like particles, smaller granules in greater abundance, mitochondrial DNA, and contact between the mitochondrion and nucleus during interphase. Fifty-three percent of the leukemic lymphoblasts contained polyribosomes, as compared to 25% of the normal lymphoblasts. The cells with the polyribosomes contained the giant mitochondria. The leukemic lymphoblasts had an appearance similar to transformed lymphocytes resulting from an immunologic stimulus. This suggests that acute lymphoblastic leukemia may be a disease which is associated with an immunologic response. From the available ultrastructural and biochemical data, it would seem that the leukemic lymphoblast is a product of an abnormal metabolism which affects its ability to differentiate. These ultrastructural findings seem to indicate the need for biochemical investigation of leukemic mitochondria. (Am J Pathol 78:49-58, 1975     

Acquired resistance to ticks. I. Passive transfer of resistance.

Guinea-pigs developed resistance to larvae of the ixodid tick, Dermacentor andersoni, after one infestation. Resistance was characterized by guinea-pigs allowing fewer larvae to engorge (5-15%) during a second exposure than during an initial infestation (70-90%). Larvae feeding on resistant hosts weighed less than larvae engorging on a host with no previous exposure to ticks. Evidence is presented which indicates that this resistance can be passively transferred with viable lymph node cells, but not with serum, from resistant guinea-pigs. Recipients of cells from such resistant animals allowed significantly fewer larvae to engorge than did controls previously unexposed to ticks. This was not so in recipients of immune serum. The protection provided by passive transfer of cells from a resistant donor was not as complete as the protection afforded by natural exposure.     

FRANK GOLDBY, F.R.C.P., M.A., M.D. (1903–1997)

Frank Goldby, Emeritus Professor of Anatomy in the University of London at St Mary's Hospital Medical School (now Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary's) died at Cambridge on 20 October 1997, aged 94, fully compos mentis as those who knew him would have expected, and content enough to go when he had to, having reached the same age as his father. He became a member of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1931, served as Secretary from 1946 to 1956 and as President from 1957 to 1959. He is survived by his wife Helen and 6 children, to whom our deepest sympathy is extended.     

Candida ethanolica n. sp.

A new yeast, Candida ethanolica, isolated from industrial fodder yeast cultivated on synthetic ethanol as the only source of carbon, originally designated III-5 and III-6, is described. This species differs from all recently accepted Candida species in not assimilating nitrate, not producing urease and not fermenting sugars.     

Tumour cell-antibody interactions. I. In vivo experiments.

Goats were immunized with membrane fractions of the L5178Y tumour syngenic to DBA/2 mice. IgG fractions of this antiserum were made tumour specific by repeated in vitro and in vivo absorptions with normal cells and concentrated by adsorption to and elution from tumour cells. In vivo studies indicated that the accumulation of 125I-labelled antibody in tumour tissue could not be improved by extensive purification and concentration. The observed clearance rates of radioactivity from tumours and whole animals showed that the metabolism of antibodies was significantly accelerated in the presence of target cells. It is suggested that a rapid neutralization and degradation of antibody by the target tissue prevents its accumulation in tumour nodules.     

Molecular epidemiology of Vibrio cholerae in the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Enterotoxigenic strains of Vibrio cholerae O-1, biotype El Tor, isolated from a case of cholera in Texas in 1973, an outbreak of cholera in Louisiana in 1978, and Louisiana sewage samples in 1980 and 1981 were analyzed for their genetic similarities. Chromosomal DNA was isolated from each strain, digested with restriction endonuclease, and analyzed by the Southern blot technique. A radioactive probe consisting of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin DNA detected cholera toxin gene sequences in these strains and demonstrated that the toxin gene sequence, if not the entire chromosomal DNA, is identical in these strains and distinctly different from other strains of V. cholerae isolated throughout the world. In addition, two strains of enterotoxigenic V. cholerae non-O-1 isolated from clinical cases, were analyzed and found to possess cholera toxin genes which differed in the DNA sequence from the V. cholerae O-1 strains. We concluded that a single strain of enterotoxigenic V. cholerae O-1 is resident in the U.S. Gulf Coast and that a second reservoir of cholera toxin genes exists in V. cholerae non-O-1 strains in Louisiana.     

Allergy epidemiology in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. III. Trees.

A population skin-tested with pollen from twelve wind pollinated tree species showed a variable level of allergenicity, particularly among adults. Pollen extracts of Box Elder, Willow and Hickory elicited the highest allergic reactions, Oak, Birch, Sycamore, Black Walnut and Poplar more moderate reactions, while allergens from Cottonwood, Maple, Elm and White Ash were less reactive. Since Box Elder is ubiquitous and produces a strongly positive reaction among adults, it should be included among skin tests of those patients known to be allergic to early spring pollen.     

Neisseria spp. and AIDS.

Neisseria meningitidis from various serogroups and two commensal neisseriae (N. sicca and N. perflava) were isolated from 15 patients at various stages of human immunodeficiency virus infection in this clinical and bacteriological study. The cases were grouped into the following three classes: (i) infections with an N. meningitidis strain of a serogroup known to be pathogenic (A, B, or C) and apparently independent of the human immunodeficiency virus infection, (ii) infections with a N. meningitidis strain of a serogroup which is normally either commensal or poorly pathogenic (serogroups Y, X, Z, and Z,29E), (iii) pulmonary and disseminated infections occurring in the course of the clinical evolutionary stage of AIDS, in two cases of which commensal neisseriae (N. sicca and N. perflava) were isolated from blood cultures.     

Legionella birminghamensis sp. nov. isolated from a cardiac transplant recipient.

A Legionella-like organism, strain 1407-AL-H, was isolated from a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen from a cardiac transplant recipient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. The strain grew on buffered charcoal-yeast extract agar (BCYE) but not on BCYE in the absence of cysteine, and it showed gas-liquid chromatographic fatty acid profiles that were predominantly branch chained. Strain 1407-AL-H was antigenically distinct in slide agglutination tests from the 23 Legionella species and 39 serogroups previously described. DNA hybridization studies placed it in a new Legionella species, Legionella birminghamensis (ATCC 43702).     

Leminorella, a new genus of Enterobacteriaceae: identification of Leminorella grimontii sp. nov. and Leminorella richardii sp. nov. found in clinical specimens.

Leminorella is proposed as a new genus for the group of Enterobacteriaceae formerly known as Enteric Group 57. Strains of Leminorella gave positive tests for H2S production, acid production from L-arabinose and D-xylose, and tyrosine clearing; they were negative for indole production, Voges-Proskauer, urea hydrolysis, phenylalanine deaminase, motility, gelatin liquefaction, lysine and ornithine decarboxylases, arginine dihydrolase, growth in KCN, and acid production from adonitol, D-arabitol, cellobiose, erythritol, D-galactose, myo-inositol, lactose, maltose, D-mannitol, D-mannose, melibiose, alpha-CH3-glucoside, raffinose, L-rhamnose, salicin, D-sorbitol, sucrose, and trehalose. By DNA hybridization, strains of Leminorella were only 3 to 16% related to other Enterobacteriaceae and were divided into three groups. Leminorella grimontii is proposed as the type species for the genus and strain CDC 1944-81, ATCC 33999, is designated as the type strain. There were four strains of L. grimontii from stool specimens and two from urine specimens. L. richardii is proposed as the name for the second species (type strain, CDC 0978-82, ATCC 33998). All four L. richardii strains were from stool specimens. L. grimontii can be distinguished from L. richardii because it produces gas from glucose (100%) and acid from dulcitol (83%) and is methyl red positive (100%). One strain, CDC 3346-72, was more related to L. grimontii by DNA hybridization than to L. richardii, but the lower relatedness to both of these species indicated that it may be a third species. Biochemically it could not be distinguished from L. grimontii. All Leminorella strains were resistant (no zone of inhibition) to ampicillin, carbenicillin, and cephalothin. Some of the Leminorella strains were sent to us for Salmonella serotyping, and two reacted weakly in Salmonella antisera. The clinical significance of Leminorella is unknown.