ALBERT

Notes: SYNOPSIS. Miamiensis avidus n. g., n. sp., a marine facultative parasite, is described. Morphological studies were made on specimens treated with the Chatton-Lwoff silver impregnation technique and living material was examined with phase microscopy. Particular attention was given the infraciliature of the buccal apparatus and its importance to generic assignment in the order Hymenostomatida.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. A comparison of the effects upon trypsin-dispersed chick liver cell cultures of a virulent (Jones' Barn) and a non-pathogenic (Lahore) strain of Trichomonas gallinae revealed significant differences in behavior of the parasites in cell cultures and in the response of such cultures. The virulent strain multiplies faster in nutrient medium in the presence of cell cultures; stimulates great activity of the macrophages; is not handled effectively by these phagocytes in which it can multiply causing their ultimate destruction; is found significantly more often within the cytoplasm of the liver epithelial and fibroblast-like cells; causes very much more profound degenerative changes in all the cells, both invaded and non-invaded; and suppresses effectively the division rate of the fibroblast-like cells. On the other hand, the nonpathogenic strain multiplies at a lower rate in the presence of cell cultures; stimulates less activity of the macrophages; is handled readily by these phagocytes in which it multiplies only very rarely, if ever; is found seldom within the liver epithelial and fibroblast-like cells; causes far less degeneration of all the cell culture elements; and suppresses significantly less the dlvision rate of the fibroblast-like cells.At the end of a 20–24 hour period typically only a few living cells are left in cultures exposed even to attenuated isolates of the virulent strain, whereas those inoculated with the mild one do not show much degeneration even after 28 hours. The effects upon the cell cultures of cell-free filtrates of actively growing trichomonad cultures are relatively minor, but the changes caused by the filtrates of cultures of Jones' Barn strain appear to be more extensive than those caused by similar filtrates of Lahore strain.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. An iron deficiency was noted for Tetrahymena grown in a proteose-peptone-yeast extract medium. Thus, the addition of an iron chelate and glucose was found to give consistent and luxuriant growth, whereas a number of other additives, including sodium acetate, an inorganic salt mixture lacking iron, and vitamins were found to be without influence on growth rate or cellular yield.Iron-deficient cells showed a marked reduction of oxidative capacity when suspended in a non-nutrient medium as well as when supplied with oxidizable substrates. A 1 hour incubation of iron-deficient Tetrahymena with iron chelate restored oxidative capacity only when the cells were suspended in a nutrient (peptone) medium. Growth of Tetrahymena in media autoclaved with salts resulted in cells with a larger volume but with no increase in oxidative capacity.The addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol elevated respiration of cells suspended in a non-nutrient medium, and of iron deficient cells suspended in the growth medium, suggesting that this compound increases the availability of iron or iron containing compounds, or by-passes the limiting steps.Respiratory quotients were lowered by an iron deficiency and elevated when the cells were grown in the presence of iron and glucose. This suggests more complete utilization of the carbohydrate, possibly due to the activity of a number of enzymes known to be iron-containing metalloproteins that are required for oxidative glucose dissimilation.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. Small amebas are difficult to describe because of the lack of permanent morphological criteria. Investigations from the nuclear division and physiological points of view may be useful, but the study of motion and behaviour under natural conditions gives better results in order to show the natural relationship. Descriptions of four new forms of small marine amebas are given. These species belong to the genera Rugipes, Acanthamoeba, Flabellula and Vahlkampfia.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. The development of the macronuclear Anlagen of Paramecium aurelia was studied by means of electron, light and ultra-violet microscopy of timed stages following conjugation. In the youngest Anlagen, no differentiated structures could be made out, and staining reactions gave little or no indications of the presence of DNA or RNA. As development proceeds, a number of conspicuous “sponge-like” RNA-containing bodies surrounded by a “matrix” containing DNA can be seen. Eventually these RNA bodies develop DNA centres and apparently disintegrate, yielding the “large bodies” characteristic of the mature macronucleus, and the “small bodies” then also appear. The relation of these observations to interpretations of the structural elements in the macronucleus is discussed.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. Two new species of Isospora are described from the feces of an eastern spotted skunk Spilogale putorius ambarvalis imported into Montana from Florida. The oocysts of I. spilogales n. sp. are 29 to 38 by 22 to 28 μ and contain 2 sporocysts measuring 17 to 22 by 13 to 16 μ; a few Caryospora-like oocysts containing a single sporocyst were considered abnormal I. spilogales oocysts. The oocysts of I. sengeri n. sp. are 16 to 23 by 12 to 18 μ and contain 2 sporocysts measuring 10 to 14 by 8 to 12 μ.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. The Tulahuen and Peruvian strains of Trypanosoma cruzi have been compared as to their ability to metabolize C14-glucose uniformly labeled, or labeled in carbons 1, 2, or 6. Most of the radioactivity from uniformly labeled glucose is incorporated into organic acids in both strains, but significant radioactivity is also recovered in CO2. The Tulahuen strain has a slightly higher rate of glucose consumption, and the rate of incorporation of uniformly labeled glucose-C14 into CO2 is also higher. More radioactivity is incorporated into proteins from uniformly labeled glucose-C14 in the Tulahuen strain, but the radioactivity recovered in total organic acids is fairly similar in both cases. On the basis of the rates of C14O2 production from C14-glucose specifically labeled in carbons 1, 2, or 6, as well as the rates of incorporation into glycerol from uniformly labeled C14-glucose and glucose-6-C14, it is considered that the reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway play a more important role in the Tulahuen strain. The pentose phosphate pathway accounts for 41.4% of the glucose catabolized by the Tulahuen strain compared to only 27.9% in the Peruvian strain. It is suggested that differences in the participation of alternative pathways of carbohydrate metabolism may have some relationship to pathogenicity.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. Dactylosoma is a genus of blood protozoa which undergo schizogony, without producing pigment, in the red cells of the lower vertebrates, especially amphibia. The best known species is D. ranarum, but even for this species the life cycle, except as it occurs in the erythrocyte, and the vector remain unknown. Study of slides from the blood of two species of Formosan frogs, Rana guentheri and R. limnocharis, revealed Dactylosoma ranarum in the former, and what appeared to be a new species, for which the name Dactylosoma taiwanensis is proposed, in the latter. Rana limnocharis has not previously been known to be a host of Dactylosoma, nor has this genus of parasite been reported from Formosa. Dactylosoma ranarum, though not known from many species of frogs and toads, occurs in Asia, Africa, Europe, and in Central and South America. This suggests that it must have been a parasite of Anura for a very long time. Since frogs and toads are incapable of long migrations and are very intolerant of salt water, so wide a distribution may also have palaeogeographic significance.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. The formation of chains was induced both in exponentially growing and in synchronized cultures of Tetrahymena Pyriformis GL, by application of one or two hr 34°C shocks. An arrest in constriction along the division furrow is brought about as a result of prolonged exposure to 34° during an early phase of cell division.After return to optimal temperatures, the chains remain in their original tandem configuration. They possess two sets of cortical structures, and generally also two macronuclei.Subsequently, two new oral primordia appear, one in each component. These primordia develop in synchrony with each other. The later development of the chains is correlated with the placement of the oral primordia. In some situations, these primordia form immediately posterior to the pre-existing oral areas and replace them; in these cases, the original division furrow is obliterated, and irregular and probably unstable homopolar doublets form. More frequently, one or both of the oral primordia are normal division primordia. In these cases, the original oral area of the anterior component persists, while that of the posterior component is resorbed. The original fission line persists, and two new fission lines are formed anterior to each of the new oral primordia. When constriction takes place along the new fission lines, the original arrested fission line is occasionally reactivated, and the chain then divides into four cells. More often, the original furrow is not reactivated (or only incompletely reactivated), and the chain divides into two or three cells, depending on how close the two new division furrows are to each other.The chains ultimately give rise to normal clones of singlet cells. No clones of doublets were observed.In the Discussion, the synchronization of developmental events in the two components of the chain is emphasized. The cases of reactivation of the original fission line in synchrony with constriction along the newly formed fission lines seem to indicate that furrowing results from an interaction of a preformed cortical site (fission line) with a pervasive substance which acts to trigger constriction.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. Studies were carried out on the introduction of labeled precursors into the DNA of Paramecium aurelia (syngen 4, stock 51) by way of the bacteria that are used for food. A thymine-requiring strain of Escherichia coli (15 T−) was labeled by growth in either H3-methyl thymidine or 2-C14 bromouracil, washed free of the exogenous label, and fed to the paramecia. The tritium label from the bacteria was incorporated almost exclusively into the DNA of the paramecia, whereas it was much less specifically incorporated when introduced directly from the medium. The Cu label from bromouracil was also incorporated mainly into the DNA of the paramecia although a small amount appeared in RNA. The formation of labeled food vacuoles was followed. Food vacuoles were formed at a nearly constant rate, with the total number of vacuoles increasing throughout the cycle. The lifetime of the vacuoles was about 2.5 hours. Incorporation of the label into the DXA of the paramecia begins within a few minutes of the formation of the first labeled vacuole. DNA synthesis begins about 1.5 hr after the previous fission (total cell cycle about 5.8 hr) and progresses at a nearly constant rate throughout the remainder of the cycle.