Molecular cloning, mRNA expression and biological activity of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) from the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis.

Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) is a member of the pyrokinin (FXPRLamide) insect neuropeptides. Here, we report the cloning of the gene Ostnu-PBAN from the E and Z pheromone strains of the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a major pest of maize. The Ostnu-PBAN genomic sequence is > 5 kb in length and consists of six exons. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed a 200-residue precursor protein including a signal peptide, a 24-amino acid (aa) diapause hormone, a 37-aa PBAN and three other FXPRLamide neuropeptides. Our in vivo assays suggest that the 37-aa synthetic Ostnu-PBAN is hormonally active in the pheromone gland. It restores sex pheromone production to normal levels in mated females and decapitated virgins of both E and Z cultures. The results of a real-time PCR analysis indicated that Ostnu-PBAN mRNA levels reached a plateau in the brain-suboesophageal ganglion complexes 1 day after eclosion, and mating did not affect the mRNA expression. Three size classes of Ostnu-PBAN mRNA (1.9, 2.0 and 2.1 kb) were obtained, differing only in the length of the 3' untranslated region. However, there was no correlation between sequence divergence and the pheromone composition, voltinism or geographical origin (Hungary, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey) of ECB moths.

Clinico-bacteriological examination of Betadine skin disinfectant fluid and liquid soap in hospitalized patients and hospital employees.

The effectivity of Betadine skin and mucosa disinfectant solution and Betadine hand disinfectant soap (MUNDIPHARMA A. G. and EGIS Pharmaceuticals has been examined in hospitalized patients and hospital employees. The history of the production of polyvynilpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-Iodine) the mechanism of actions and the biological effects of these products have been discussed. Bacteriological samples were collected from the skin of four regions most frequently used for injection (fossa cubitalis, right and left hands and gluteal region, right and left sides) of 10 hospitalized patients before and after washing these regions with Betadine. The average of 68 microorganisms Colony Forming Unit (CFU) recorded before disinfection decreased below 1 CFU on average in the samples taken after disinfection. From both hands of 6 hospital employees 190 CFUs could be demonstrated following washing hands with the commonly used soap. After washing hands with Betadine soap a total of 1 CFU could be demonstrated. The hands of 44 hospital employees were infected with E. coli of non-pathogenous reference strain whereafter samples were collected. After the disinfection of the hands with Betadine liquid soap samples were taken again. In the samples taken before disinfection an average of 745 CFUs, in samples taken after disinfection an average total of 11 CFUs were found. The results prove the outstanding disinfectant action of the two examined Betadine products.

[Genital chlamydia infection in andrologic patients. Direct antigen detection and serologic screening]. / Genitalis chlamydia fertözés andrológiai betegekben. Vizsgálatok direkt antigénkimutatással és szerológiai módszerrel.

Authors investigated the frequency of genital chlamydial infection. 83 couples--complaining with infertility--were examined. Twenty patients were chlamydia positive by direct IF antigen detection. All chlamydia positive patients have elevated IgG antibody levels in sera. In 33 cases (18.1%) the antibody titers were significantly high above 1:128, in 58 cases (34.9%) antibody levels were slightly elevated between 1:16-1:64. Authors are analysing the questions of the humoral immune reactions and the results of the medical treatment.

Phage pattern and antibiotic resistance pattern of coagulase-negative staphylococci obtained from immunocompromised patients.

A total of 152 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains were isolated from clinical samples of 14 patients hospitalized after bone-marrow transplantation in a specialized hospital ward in Hungary, during an 18-month period between 1987 and 1989. Two species, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, predominated (each, 45%). Using Pulverer and co-workers' phage set for typing, 68% of the isolates were typable; 16 phage patterns were observed. A characteristic long pattern with phages Ph10/Ph13/Ph15/U4/U15/U16/U20/U33 /U46 appeared only in S. epidermidis, among 5 of 11 colonized patients (8.5% of all strains). Single lysis with phage Ph13 was observed in 7 of the 14 patients (49% of all strains), in species S. capitis, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, and S. warneri. In S. haemolyticus, non-typable strains predominated (66%); this character occurred only in 2% among other species. The strains colonizing the immunocompromised patients differed from each other in phage pattern, antibiotic resistance pattern, and/or slime production. No hospital infection was suggested. On the other hand, high incidence of two well-definable phage patterns raises some relationship between phage receptors or some regulatory systems in phage multiplication and factors responsible for special colonization as common surface properties.