Failure to induce proliferative ileitis in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) by simultaneous infection with Campulobaclerjejuni and Escherichia coli

Conventionally bred golden hamsters (CH) and selectively decontaminated golden hamsters (DH) of a strain Han: AURA were experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) strain isolated from a case of proliferative ileitis and one of four Escherichia C011 (E. 6011) strains of either porcine or human origin (serovars 0124 0138 and 0143) Experimental infection was monitored 32 days post infectionem by watching the c1inica1 signs of diarrhoea by cultivation of the infective agents and by detection of specific IgG antibodies (indirect immunofluorescence technique). All animals infected with C. jejuni alone remained healthy. No combination of C. jejuni and E. coli led to enteritis and diarrhoea. The enteritis induced by mono-infeetion with l? 6011' 0138 1t+ showed histologic signs of an acute process unlikechanges characteristic for proliferative ileitis. Surprisingly, the addition of C. jejuni to this disease provoking E. coli strain prevented the disease.The results suggest that simultaneous infection withC. jejuni and E. coli is not the cause of pro: literative ileitis in hamsters. These findings support the results Stiils (1991) describing a new intracellular bacterium as a real etiologic agent of the disease

Case report: Spontaneous staphylococcal arthritis in athymic SPF mice

Six cases of spontaneous purulent arthritis confined to the hock joints in male Han-NMRI-nu/nu mice have been observed in a SPF colony. Bacteriological examination revealed a protein A-positive Staphylococcus aureus belonging to phagegroup II. results of the histological, bacteriological examinations and the importance of S. aureus of the 3A/3C/55/71 phage complex for small laboratory animal are discussed

Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus phage type 3A/3C/55/71 and Staphylococcus sciuri in germfree euthymic and athymic mice after intravenous infection

To evaluate the possibility ofprotecting our colonies of small laboratory animals against Staphylococcus aureus infections by preassociation with the rodent specific Staphylococcus sciuri, it was first of all necessary to determine the pathogenicity of the S. sciuri strain under consideration. Germfree euthymic Han: NMRI and athymic (T-cell deficient) Han:NMRInu/nu mice were injected intravenously with increasing doses of S. sciuri strain 908/1. S. aureus (phage type 3A/3C/55/71) which is known to cause health problems in SPF colonies of the above mentioned strains of mice was used for comparison.S. aureus infections exhibited a dosedependent morbidity and mortality in both strains of mice. In contrast, S. sciuri did not cause any lethal infection but produced sporadically mild purulent processes in the euthymic mice. Due to the use of relatively small groups a statistical evaluation can only show tendenc1es

An mRNA Blueprint for C-4 Photosynthesis Derived from Comparative Transcriptomics of Closely Related C-3 and C-4 Species

Bräutigam A, Kajala K, Wullenweber J, et al. An mRNA Blueprint for C-4 Photosynthesis Derived from Comparative Transcriptomics of Closely Related C-3 and C-4 Species. Plant Physiology. 2011;155(1):142-156.C-4 photosynthesis involves alterations to the biochemistry, cell biology, and development of leaves. Together, these modifications increase the efficiency of photosynthesis, and despite the apparent complexity of the pathway, it has evolved at least 45 times independently within the angiosperms. To provide insight into the extent to which gene expression is altered between C-3 and C-4 leaves, and to identify candidates associated with the C-4 pathway, we used massively parallel mRNA sequencing of closely related C-3 (Cleome spinosa) and C-4 (Cleome gynandra) species. Gene annotation was facilitated by the phylogenetic proximity of Cleome and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Up to 603 transcripts differ in abundance between these C-3 and C-4 leaves. These include 17 transcription factors, putative transport proteins, as well as genes that in Arabidopsis are implicated in chloroplast movement and expansion, plasmodesmatal connectivity, and cell wall modification. These are all characteristics known to alter in a C-4 leaf but that previously had remained undefined at the molecular level. We also document large shifts in overall transcription profiles for selected functional classes. Our approach defines the extent to which transcript abundance in these C-3 and C-4 leaves differs, provides a blueprint for the NAD-malic enzyme C-4 pathway operating in a dicotyledon, and furthermore identifies potential regulators. We anticipate that comparative transcriptomics of closely related species will provide deep insight into the evolution of other complex traits