Phytotoxic material has been isolated from liquid cultures of Ceratocystis ulmi. One component of the material has been obtained in pure form and has proved to be a rather thermostable glycoprotein. This compound induced disease symptoms, similar to those produced by the fungus itself, in elm sprouits and trees.

Fungal secondary compounds and total extracts are known to affect growth of bacteria, fungi, and plants. This study tested the effects of purified compounds and total extracts from three lichens on the growth of two plant pathogens, Ophiostoma novo-ulmi ssp. americana and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Usnic acid showed no reduction in relative growth rates (RGR), whereas vulpinic acid reduced RGR f...

Okadaic acid (OA) is one of the most frequent and worldwide distributed marine toxins. It is easily accumulated by shellfish, mainly bivalve mollusks and fish, and, subsequently, can be consumed by humans causing alimentary intoxications. OA is the main representative diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxin and its ingestion induces gastrointestinal symptoms, although it is not considered let...

Pertussis toxin (PTX) is a typical A-B toxin. The A-protomer (S1 subunit) exhibits ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. The B-oligomer consists of four subunits (S2 to S5) and binds extracellular molecules that allow the toxin to enter the cells. The A-protomer ADP-ribosylates the α subunits of heterotrimeric G(i/o) proteins, resulting in the receptors being uncoupled from the G(i/o) proteins. The ...

The gating charge and voltage dependence of the open state to the inactivated state (O-->I) transition was measured for the voltage-dependent mammalian cardiac Na channel. Using the site 3 toxin, Anthopleurin-A (Ap-A), which selectively modifies the O-->I transition (see Hanck, D. A., and M. F. Sheets. 1995. Journal of General Physiology. 106:601-616), we studied Na channel gating currents (Ig)...

background: cigarette smoking has been linked with the suppression of immune responses and increased susceptibility to numerous infections in humans. tetanus is also a major public health problem in many countries. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in c igarette smoking and healthy non-smoking people .   materials and methods: a total...

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF) toxins, isolated from certain Escherichia coli strains known t o cause intestinal and extra intestinal infections, induce reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and generate hyperploidy in adherent cell lines. We have examined the effect of CNF toxin on one of the few cell types that naturally increase nuclear DNA content, megakaryocytes. Our studies show th...

  Background: Cigarette smoking has been linked with the suppression of immune responses and increased susceptibility to numerous infections in humans. Tetanus is also a major public health problem in many countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of anti-tetanus toxin antibodies in c igarette smoking and healthy non-smoking people .   Materials and M...