[Expression and mutagenesis of genes coding for protein synthesis in the influenza virus].

Double-stranded cDNA copies of the neuraminidase genes of influenza viruses A/Tokyo/3/67 (N2), A/tern/Australia/G70C/75 (N9), and B/Lee/40, and the hemagglutinin genes of A/Memphis/1/71 (H3) and B/Hong Kong/8/73 were cloned into a SV40 vector in which the late region was replaced by the influenza sequences. Thus the influenza genes were expressed in transfected cells under the control of the SV40 late promoter. The Tokyo/67 neuraminidase gene was modified by oligonucleotide-directed site-specific in vitro mutagenesis.

Prevention of cardiovascular disease in general practice: a proposed model.

A screening model based in general practice for the detection of subjects at risk of premature cardiovascular disease is described. Opportunistic screening is performed by a trained nurse who also gives initial advice on management. Immediate feedback to patients is possible since a rapid dry chemistry technique is used to measure blood cholesterol concentrations.

Mutant of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 deficient in DNA adenine methylation.

A mutant of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 deficient in methylation of the adenine residues in the sequence 5'-GATC-3' was isolated. The mutation (dam-1) was linked to the cysG locus, and the properties of the mutant were similar to those of Escherichia coli dam mutants. Reversion of the hisC3076 frameshift marker by 9-aminoacridine was substantially enhanced by the dam-1 mutation, implying a direct role for adenine methylation in the prevention of frameshift mutation induction.

Gene and protein sequence of an influenza neuraminidase with hemagglutinin activity.

An influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) of the N9 subtype also has hemagglutinin (HA) activity (W. G. Laver, P.

Construction of a gentamicin resistance gene probe for epidemiological studies.

A 7.7-kilobase BamHI fragment was cloned from the transconjugant of a clinical isolate of Escherichia coli containing a 120-kilobase multiresistance IncC plasmid. The recombinant plasmid conferred resistance to kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim.

Molecular analysis of DNA and construction of genomic libraries of Mycobacterium leprae.

Molecular analysis of DNA from Mycobacterium leprae, "Mycobacterium lufu," and Mycobacterium vaccae has demonstrated that the G + C (guanine plus cytosine) contents of the DNAs are 56, 61, and 65%, respectively, and that the genome sizes are 2.2 X 10(9), 3.1 X 10(9), and 3.

Response of patients and doctors to the 1983 'pill scare'.

The immediate response of patients and doctors to the recent adverse publicity about the combined oral contraceptive ;Pill' were studied in two separate locations: a major family planning clinic and a large provincial health centre. Consultations arising from anxiety about the Pill were less than the general practitioners had anticipated but extra sessions were required at the family planning clinic to cope with the increased demand. Differences in the responses of doctors were observed both within and between the two locations.

Changes in resistance in mixed infections of susceptible and benzimidazole resistant strains of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis passaged in sheep.

Benzimidazole resistant strains of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were each diluted with equal numbers of their respective susceptible genotypes and passaged in separate worm-free sheep. The progeny of the mixed susceptible and resistant infections were diluted with equal numbers of susceptible genotypes before passaging on two further consecutive occasions in worm-free sheep. In H contortus the amount of thiabendazole required to prevent a 50 per cent egg hatching (LC50) was reduced at each generation, but the reduction was significant (P less than 0.

Prolonged anthelmintic effect of closantel and disophenol against a thiabendazole selected resistant strain of Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

Two long-acting anthelmintics, closantel and disophenol, were tested by treatment 90, 60 and 30 days before challenge with a thiabendazole selected laboratory strain of Haemonchus contortus. The sheep were slaughtered 28 days after infection for total worm counts. A significant reduction in the number of adults remaining at autopsy was recorded after treatment with both anthelmintics 30 and 60 days before challenge but there was zero efficacy when the animals were treated 90 days before challenge.

Investigations for anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes from goats.

Field results from a commercial goat herd, based on egg counts and larval differentiation, suggested that anthelmintic resistance was present to albendazole, fenbendazole, levamisole, morantel, naphthalophos and phenothiazine. When the isolate was tested in sheep, using levamisole or oxfendazole, a possible resistance was shown for Trichostrongylus sp but no resistance was demonstrated in Haemonchus or Ostertagia spp. Ivermectin at a dose rate of 100 micrograms/kg was more than 98 per cent efficient in removing the adults of each of the three species of nematode.

A modification of the formol-ether concentration technique for increased sensitivity in detecting Schistosoma mansoni eggs.

The low Schistosoma mansoni egg counts generally found in Puerto Rico require a sensitive technique for epidemiologic studies. The Ritchie formol-ether concentration technique has been modified to make it more useful for this purpose. The modified technique was compared with the older technique by analyzing fecal specimens from ten individuals with varying levels of infection.

Effects of cerebellar lesions on saccadic eye movements.

1. Areas of cerebellar cortex related to saccadic eye movements were ablated in three Macaca mulatta monkeys trained to fixate visual targets. There followed a postoperative dysmetria of saccadic eye movements which appeared to be the result of an impairment specifically within the saccadic system.