The first isolation in the UK of Balamuthia mandrillaris amoebae from a fatal case of granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis is reported. Using primary cultures of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), amoebae were isolated from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cultures showed a cytopathic effect at 20-28 days, but morphologically identifiable B. mandrillaris amoe...

Organic compounds resulting from the decomposition of organic amendments are used in the remediation of trace element (TE) contaminated soils. The mobility, phytoavailability and soil exposure intensity of molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co) and Arsenic (As) were evaluated in the phytoremediation of contaminated technosols after the addition of two organic matter...

In dealing with metal-binding proteins from nonmam-malian species, nomenclature and possible evolutionary relationships between these molecules and metallothi-oneins in mammals are ofclear scientific importance. The workshop summarized below was oriented towards a discussion of these topics based on the currently known physical and chemical characteristics of these molecules. Since metal cluste...

Abstract Background Iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) dynamics in sediments have direct indirect impacts on water quality. However, the mobility of P Fe reservoir Eucalyptus plantation region remains unclear. This study examined pollution a using novel planar optode, ZrO-Chelex DGT, DIFS model. Results Direct situ investigations showed that levels labile were smaller species-dominated (X2) compared ...

The usage of gelatin hydrogel is limited due to its instability and poor mechanical properties, especially under physiological conditions. Divalent metal ions present in gelatin such as Ca(2+) and Fe(2+) play important roles in the gelatin molecule interactions. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of divalent ion removal on the stability and mechanical properties of gelatin ...

Boiled cytosols prepared from a wide variety of sources contain a low Mr factor that inhibits glucocorticoid receptor transformation to the DNA-binding state (Leach, K.L., Grippo, J.F., Housley, P.R., Dahmer, M.K., Salive, M.E., and Pratt, W.B. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 381-388). In this work, we show that this endogenous factor, which is partially purified from rat liver, produces all of the ...

Experiments were done to define the stoichiometry of binding of Cu(I) to metallothionein (MT) and to determine its sites of binding in mixed-metal species. Spectrophotometric titrations of rabbit liver Cd7-MT 2, apoMT, and Cd4-alpha-domain with Cu(I) revealed endpoints of 3-4, 4 and 8, and 4 and 6-7 added Cu(I)/mol of MT for the three species respectively. Observed endpoints depended on conditi...

The zoopathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, like other eukaryotic aerobic microorganisms, requires iron for growth. Under conditions of low iron availability, the fungus secretes hydroxamates that function as siderophores (iron chelators). The experiments to be reported were designed to gather further information on the hydroxamate siderophores of H. capsulatum. The fungus was grown in a s...

The suitability of isotachophoresis for the analysis of metals in, e.g., environmental samples was studied. In a cationic operational system the heavy metals Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd, Co, Zn, Pb and Mn were simultaneously determined. The separation was achieved through complex formation with one of the counter ions, hydroxyisobutyric acid. The other counter ion was acetic acid, the leading ion was 0.02 M...