Genome Sequences of Microbacteriophages Zada and Ioannes.

Microbacteriophages Zada and Ioannes were isolated from soil and characterized. Genomes were then sequenced and annotated. This was done using the host bacterium Zada and Ioannes are both lytic phages with a morphotype.

The effect of human platelet alloantigen polymorphisms on the in vitro responsiveness to adrenaline and collagen.

A number of clinical studies have suggested that carriage of the low frequency allele (b) of the human platelet antigen 1 (HPA-1) system is a risk factor for coronary thrombosis. We have examined the effect of a series of HPA biallelic polymorphisms (systems -1, -2, -3 and -5) on the in vitro platelet aggregation in response to adrenaline and collagen in 30 healthy volunteers. There was a significantly higher prevalence (10 out of 18) of carriers of the HPA-1b polymorphism among subjects showing a > 50% aggregation response to adrenaline ('responders') than the prevalence (1/12) in 'non-responders' (P < 0.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum lesions and cardiac complications as contributing factors for strokes in beta-thalassemia patients.

Background And Purpose: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) lesions, which lead to intracranial hemorrhages and cardiac complications, predisposing to thrombotic strokes, are frequent findings in beta-thalassemia. Nevertheless, the association of these lesions with strokes in thalassemic patients has not been previously discussed.

Methods: Ten beta-thalassemic patients who developed an intracranial hemorrhage or a thrombotic stroke were reviewed.

Determination of proteolytic activity using L-[4,5-3H]leucine-labelled globin as a substrate.

A method is described for the assay of proteolytic activity, based on the digestion of L-[4,5-3H]leucine globin. L-[4,5-3H]Leucine was incorporated into the substrate at the stage of haemoglobin biosynthesis, using rabbit erythrocytes. Assay methods for proteolytic enzymes have been based on the digestion of haemoglobin, serum albumin or casein, and the determination of the trichloroacetic acid-soluble products [1,2].

Assessment of iron stores in subjects heterozygous for beta-thalassaemia based on serum ferritin levels.

Serum ferritin concentration was assessed in male and female pregnant and non-pregnant thalassaemia carriers and in normal subjects of both sexes. Low ferritin levels were found in 61% of non-pregnant and in 32% of pregnant female beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes whereas male thalassaemia carriers had normal iron stores. Increased ferritin levels were not observed in any of the subjects examined.