A new freeze-dried living virus vaccine against sheep-pox

A sheep-pox virus strain has been adapted and multiplied in primary lamb kidney cell cultures. The main characteristics of the strain have been verified in vitro after clones were isolated, and the results confirmed its identity. The safety and the potency of the strain have been investigated in sheep. The inoculation of the strain to sheep was followed by a post-vaccinal reaction materialised by a nodule at the site of inoculation and an increase of temperature by about 1 degree C. No reactions adversely affecting pregnancy have been noted. Immunisation was demonstrated by an increase in the level of neutralising serous antibodies and protection against the pathogenic virus. The immunity tended to decrease during the second year after primovaccination and a yearly booster vaccination appeared to be necessary. Primovaccination of lambs over 2 months of age produced a better immunity, especially when the lambs were born from vaccinated ewes. This strain forms the active principle of a freeze-dried vaccine containing no adjuvant of the immunity.

The effect of bleomycin on prolyl hydroxylase and DNA chain breakage: structure-activity relationship

The activity of purified prolyl hydroxylase (proline, 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase, EC 1.14.11.2) was enhanced about 3-fold by addition of bleomycin in the assay mixture. Various members of the bleomycin family, their derivatives and degradation products were investigated for activities against prolyl hydroxylase together with their activities of DNA chain breakage to determine relationships between the structure of bleomycin and its various actions. All the bleomycins with various terminal amine parts and desamide bleomycin stimulated the enzymatic activity but did not exhibit an effect on DNA chain breakage. The stimulatory activity of bleomycin was not decreased by hydrolysis with 0.3 N H2SO4 at 80 degrees C for 6 hours, conditions which liberates the sugar moiety, but was eliminated by hydrolysis with 6 N HCl at 105 degrees C for 24 hours. In contrast both treatments decreased the DNA chain breakage activity of bleomycin. Optical spectral studies revealed that all the bleomycins and their hydrolysates which stimulated the prolyl hydroxylase activity made complexes with ferrous ion, one of the cofactors of this enyzme.

Stimulation of prolyl hydroxylase activity by bleomycin

The activity of purified prolyl hydroxylase (proline, 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase, EC 1. 14. 11. 2) was enhanced 3 approximately 8-fold at a low concentration of ferrous ion (1 X 10(-5 M) by addition of bleomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic with antineoplastic activity and a side effect of producing pulmonary fibrosis. The maximum stimulation was attained at a concentration of 15 microgram/ml bleomycin (about 1 X 10(-5) M), which was approximately equimolar with the ferrous ion, one of the cofactors of this enzyme. Addition of bleomycin to the assay mixture resulted in a change of the optimal concentration of ferrous ion from 2 X 10(-3) M to 1 X 10(-5) M. Changing the order of addition of ferrous ion, enzyme and bleomycin in assay medium before incubation at 37 degrees C, the stimulatory activity was varied. Blemycin A2Cu++(Cu++-chelated bleomycin), which scarcely complexed with Fe++, had no enhancing effects on the enzymatic activity. We discuss the possible reasons as to why the activity of prolyl hydroxylase was enhanced by addition of bleomycin in the assay mixture.

Effect of light on nonphotosynthetic microorganisms. II. Photochromogenicity in genus Streptomyces

The effect of light on the pigmentation of various strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces was investigated. It was revealed that six species of streptomycetes, S. massaporeus, S. phaeopurpureus, S. chibaensis, S. salmonicida, S. fluvissimus and S. longispororuber, were photochromogenic, i.e., these strains can be photoinduced to synthesize pigments. On the basis of these results, pigmentation in Streptomyces is discussed.