ALBERT

Notes: A new species of Coccidia, Eimeria neosciuri sp. now, has been described from the squirrel host, Sciurns (Neo-sciurus) carolinensis. The oocysts (21.8-28.0 ju X 13.7-18.1) are elliptical in shape without a visible micropyle. The sporo- cysts are oval with protruding nipple. The endogenous stase; of this species occur in the epithelial cells of the villi of the upper ileum. Oocyst production declines in about a fortnight after a rise to its maximum during the first 6-10 days.

Notes: Ergosterol was isolated from the non-saponifiable lipids of Euglena. For this, after saponification of the cells, the petroleum-ether extract was chromatographed on deactivated alumina. Development was achieved by pet. ether and 10% (v/v) benzene in pet. ether, and the sterol fraction was subsequently eluted with 10% (v/v) ethyl acetate in pet. ether. This sterol was identified as ergosterol by a) precipitation with digitonin, b) The Liebermann-Burchard reaction, c) co-chromatography with known ergosterol, d) ultraviolet absorption spectrum, e) conversion to the acetate with determination of the melting and mixed melting points and !” infra-red absorption spectrum of the acetate derivative. By these techniques, ergosterol content was measured in the-following strains of Euglena gracilis under various conditions of nutrition and illumination: bacillaris and Z strains, and several albino and pigment mutants derived from them. A. functional chloroplast seems unnecessary for ergosterol synthesis; the ergosterol content of cells (dry weight basis) was constant regardless of strain and growth conditions.

Notes: The structure of the excretory apparatus of Paramecium caudatum and P. aurelia was studied in electro-micrographs of ultrathin sections. The so-called nephridial plasma visible in light microscopy was revealed as a network of fine branching tubules (nephridial tubules), of average diameter about 200 Å, which surround the nephridial canals. The nephridial tubules are connected peripherally directly to branches of the endoplasmic reticulum, which extends throughout the organism. During diastole of the radial canals the nephridial tubules open into the nephridial canals, but this connection is broken during systole. Surrounding the nephridial plasma are bundles of larger tubular elements (about 500 Å diameter).The osmiophile wall of the terminal nephridial canal continues without change in the walls of the ampulla, the injection canal and the contractile vacuole. Contractile fibrillar elements, arranged in fiat band-like bundles and of tubular structure (about 150-250 A diameter) without periodic cross-striations, begin at the top of the ampulla and extend, along the surface facing the pellicle, over the injection canal and contractile vacuole to the excretory canal, which they surround as a spiral envelope.The closing of the contractile vacuole to the excretory canal is effected by a relatively compact membrane without pores, so that the emptying of the vacuole must follow breaking of this membrane. The function of the excretory system is discussed in the light of these new observations.

Notes: Nucleic acid, the nitrogen content per cell, and cell and nuclear volume were determined in 4 green and 2 heat-induced colorless strains of Euglena gracilis and one strain of Astasia longa. All strains of Euglena were identical in cell and nuclear volume. The deoxyribonucleic acid content per cell of the apoplastidic strains was higher than that of the corresponding green strains by I1/, times. Although their nuclei were not enlarged, Feulgen staining of the colorless strains was also more intense. The significance of the increase in DNA in experimentally induced apoplastidy is discussed. As for N total nucleic acid P, and pentosenucleic acid—the dir between the strains reflected previously established morphological and physiological relationships between them. The single strain of Astasia studied was identical in stru: and size with the apoplastidic Euglena stnMH Hownner. it was quite unlike them in all the biochemical characteristic; examined.

Notes: Chlamydodon pedarius has peculiar and interesting cytoplasmic organelles, such as the pharyngeal basket and the cross-striped band, and exhibits plasmotomy of an uncommon type at the division stage. For comparison of the results of observations on fixed and stained material and on living material examined with phase contrast, and because of finding important differences in such a comparison, this morphological study of the cytoplasmic organelles was undertaken.The cilia, arranged in about forty rows only on the ventral surface, the anterior part of which shifts out of the dorsal body, bending to the dorsal side, are almost the same everywhere, about 5 μ in length. The cross-striped band, encircling the body surface so as to divide it into dorsal and ventral parts, has the power of movement, such as folding of the semicircular trichites and closing or opening of them. The oral apparatus, composed of a membranous system and a pharyngeal basket, is an elaborate organelle. The membranous system shows such movement as seen in a sphincter muscle, moving the triangular trichites in a manner which opens or closes the cytostome. Each of the triangular trichites is con nected with the expanded end of a long trichite; together these structures. 11–13 in number, constitute the pharyngeal basket. The ridges, the long trichites and the semicircular trichites are composed of fibrillar elements, but their twisted figures may be produced artificially by staining methods.Binary fission of Chlamydodon pedarius, under natural conditions in the season from April to October, occurs daily during the period 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each of the fissions takes about 2 hours. In the first half of this fission time: the V-area consisting of four central ciliary systems gives rise to transitions in the arrangement of the ciliary rows and ridges on both its anterior and middle portions; the pharyngeal basket falls down into the cytoplasm; and rosettes appear in the above two fields. On the other hand, plasmotomy arises in a fission furrow from the right side of the fission line. In the second half of the fission process, the oral apparatuses develop from the rosettes, while the old basket is dissolved into the cytoplasm; and, as the fission furrow extends leftward, two transverse bands and the frontal pellicle of the posterior daughter ciliate are organized on the surface of the fission furrow.

Notes: The centrioles of Trichonympha from termites do not differ, either in structure or function, from those of Trichonympha in Crypiocercus. The previous claims of a difference are erroneous. The roles of the centrioles in the reproduction of new extranuclear organelles and in nuclear duplication are described. The centrioles are autonomous organdies. They are just as essential for a cell's existence as are chromosomes.

Notes: A survey of protozoa was made from twelve varied sites in the region of the Mountain Lake atop Salt Pond Mountain, about 8 direct miles NNW of Newport, in Giles County, Virginia. Identifications for these sites and for 6 others previously sampled by other investigators which are recorded in unpublished reports are included. Species identified total 576; in 243 other instances genus is identified, but not species. Organisms seen but not identified to generic level are omitted. One hundred fifty-one mastigophoran species are listed; with 101 instances of generic, but not specific identification being made. Of these 102 are phytomastigophorean species; and generic placements 77 times are also listed. Seven orders, 7 suborders and 49 genera are represented. Forty-nine zoomastigophorean species are noted; and 24 other times a genus was identified. Five orders, two suborders, 18 families and 35 genera are included. Eighty-one species of sarcodina are noted. Seventy-four of these are rhizopods, and 7, actinopods. Genus, but not species was established for certain sarcodina in 52 instances. Three orders, 10 suborders, 13 families and 44 genera are represented. Ciliophora, including opalinids and suctorians, number 144 species in this list. Three are opalinds, and 141 (including the suctorians) are euciliates. In 88 observations, genus, but not species of ciliophorans was identified. Two classes, two subclasses, 11 orders, 8 suborders, 43 families and 97 genera are included. Two sporozoa are included, being unidentified species of the telosporidian genus Eimeri a, and the sarcosporidian genus, SarcocystisSome data are given relative to the nature of the sites of collection. The restricted distribution of certain organisms in certain habitats is discussed. The sites are geographically located by altitude, latitude and longitude, as well as on a map of the region.Many other protozoa are undoubtedly present in the area, the ubiquity of many protozoa being well-known. Little has been done to survey parasitic species, and other studies should later reveal more of the free-living ones.

Notes: Three strains of Hypotrichomonas acosta were isolated in axenic culture. Attempts to develop a defined medium directly from a defined medium suitable for Tetrahymena pyriformis were unsuccessful. Development of partly defined media by substitution for undefined materials in Diamond's medium were more successful. Horse serum was replaced by 1 mg. % TEM-4T (a diacetyl tartaric acid ester of monoglycerides from tallow) and 0.5 mg.% cholesterol. Yeast extract was replaced by a mixture of ribonucleotides. Inclusion of several additional components permitted reducing the Trypticase concentration from 2% to 0.25%.

Notes: An amoeba found on the fresh-water medusa, Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester, collected in the Southampton Quarry Pond at Richmond, Virginia, is described and found to be identical with Hydramoeba hydroxena (Entz) which occurs on various species of fresh-water hydras. Transfer of the amoeba to Hydra cauliculata Hyman, and other experiments, show it to be a facultative parasite for this species. The pathogenicity of the amoeba is decreased by fouling of the culture medium; the resistance of the hydra is decreased by starvation. Hydramoeba is also capable of destroying adult fresh-water medusae in six days. Its relation to young medusae is not known, but the amoeba apparently does not attack the polyps or other developmental stages.