ABSTRACT
The emergence of resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis underscores the need for novel drugs that are effective against these microorganisms. As part of our screening programme of the flora of Puerto Rico, we tested a number of ethanol extracts of higher plants for antiplasmodial and antimycobacterial activities. A total of 40 extracts belonging to 23 plant families and 37 species were tested for antiplasmodial activity. Five extracts demonstrated activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro (50%-100% parasite suppression at 5 microg/mL). Another 63 extracts belonging to 30 plant families and 50 species were tested in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Two extracts were found to be active, Ficus citrifolia and Pisonia borinquena (85% or more inhibition of microbial growth at 100 microg/mL of extract).
Subject(s)
Antimalarials/pharmacology , Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects , Animals , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Medicine, Traditional , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Parasitic Sensitivity Tests , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Plant Structures , Puerto RicoABSTRACT
Nucleotide sequences for the variable regions of both the heavy and light chains for two human monoclonal antibodies have been determined. Both antibodies are directed against an outer membrane protein of Neisseria meningitidis, and their genes show a low resemblance to germline sequences.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/genetics , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Genes, Immunoglobulin , Immunoglobulin Variable Region/genetics , Neisseria meningitidis/immunology , Amino Acid Sequence , Base Sequence , Humans , Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/genetics , Immunoglobulin Light Chains/genetics , Molecular Sequence DataABSTRACT
Fifteen patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) were tested in order to ascertain the site of tubular dysfunction in renal tubular acidosis (RTA) associated with CAH. Renal plasma flow and GFR were reduced in the patients compared to controls (P < 0.005). Underbasal and acidification conditions, twelve patients showed normal acid-base balance and net acid excretion, while three patients had basal hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis while passing alkaline urine and showing bicarbonaturia. A sustained acidification test showed adequate urinary acidification in these three patients. Bicarbonate loading carried out in two of the three patients showed a proximal tubular acidifying defect (Type 2 RTA), Distal RTA (Type 1 RTA) complicating CAH is widely known, but these data suggest that CAH can also involve the proximal convoluted tubule in isolation.
