From owner-contents@net.bio.net Mon Mar 22 22:00:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.journals.contents Subject: Biotecnologia Aplicada, vol. 16, no. 01, 1999 Date: 23 Mar 1999 10:27:42 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 384 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <7d8meu$dq1@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net BIOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA CC Vol. 16 No. 1 (January-March, 1999) CC ISSN 0864-4551 (printed) CC ISSN 1027-2852 (electronic) CC Copyright 1999, Elfos Scientiae. CC Founded in 1983 and published as Interferon y CC Biotecnologia until 1990, Biotecnologia Aplicada is a CC peer-reviewed scientific journal. It appears four times CC per year, sponsored by the Ibero-Latin-American Society CC of Biotechnology Applied to Health. CC BIOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA is a vehicle of Iberian-Latin- CC American scientists working in different fields of modern CC biotechnology for the diffusion of their experiences and CC results. Some of the main topics that are considered for CC publication are the following: CC a) Molecular genetics and recombinant DNA technology; CC b) Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of molecules CC obtained by biotechnological methods; CC c) Immunotechnology and development of diagnostic CC methods; CC d) Chemistry, biochemistry and design of molecules with CC biological activity; CC e) Application of recombinant DNA techniques and its CC products in agriculture and animal science; CC f) Transgenesis; CC g) Fermentation, recovery and purification of biotech- CC nological products; CC h) Scaling-up, plant design and economic evaluation; CC i) Control and automation of processes. CC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be CC reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any CC means without the prior permission of the Publisher. By CC submitting a manuscript the authors agree that the CC copyright for their article is transferred to the CC Publisher if and when the article is accepted for CC publication. The points of view expressed in the Journal CC are exclusive responsibility of the authors. CC This journal is indexed by the following publications: CC Biosis, Current Biotechnology Abstracts, Derwent Biotech- CC nology Abstracts, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, CC Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, EMBASE/Excerpta CC Medica, Elsevier BIOBASE/Current Awareness in Biological CC Sciences, LilaCS, Bio-Journals (Internet). CC Correspondence and subscriptions CC Ave. 31 entre 158 y 190, CC Cubanacan, Playa CC Ciudad de La Habana, CC Apdo. 6072, Habana 6, Cuba. CC Telephones: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8466 / 21 8164 CC Fax: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8070 / 33 6008 CC E-mail: elfos@cigb.edu.cu CC Full papers are available online through BIOLINE System CC (Internet) through the WWW or by e-mail. Annual subscrip- CC tion or single document purchase are possible. Contact CC the following for further information: CC URL:http://www.bd.org.br/bioline/ CC E-mail address: bio@biostrat.demon.co.uk AU Mónica Bequet Romero, Omar López Ocejo IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. AP 6162, CP 10600, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 0553; E-mail: biocel@cib.cigb.edu.cu TI Towards the First Decade of Study of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor DE angiogenesis DE Flk-1 DE Flt-1 DE KDR DE VEGF DE VPF SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:1-10 AB The angiogenic process is related with the implantation, growth and development of tumors. One of the most important and specific angiogenic factors is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as the vascular permeability factor. This molecule was first described in the late 80's and the investigations about its role in multiple processes have increased in the last years. The present review offers an overview on current knowledge about VEGF and its receptors, including a brief description of the signals that induce VEGF transcription and those generated by VEGF-receptor binding. The use of the elements involved in the signal transduction pathways as targets for anti-cancer therapies, are also summarized CC Review article CC Language: Spanish AU Rolando García González, Danalay Somontes Sánchez, Jesús Mena Campos, Eulogio Pimentel Vázquez, Zurima Zaldúa Guerra, Alina López Quesada, Rolando Morán Valdivia, Melba García González IN División de Plantas. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Camagüey. AP 387, CP 70100. Camagüey, Cuba. Tel: (53-322) 61295; Fax: (53-322) 61587; E-mail: invest@cigbcam.cigb.edu.cu TI Plant Regeneration from Leaf and Stem Explants from Two Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) Cultivars DE growth regulators DE Ipomoea batatas DE plant regeneration DE sweet potato DE tissue culture SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:11-14 AB An efficient protocol for organogenic regeneration of two sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) elite cultivars, was developed. Several growth regulator combinations and explant sources were tested, so an efficient protocol for plant regeneration was established. Out of 151 plant growth regulator combinations, three were able to induce the highest percentage of shoot and root formation for both cultivars. The first medium was supplemented with 1.0 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 0.1 mg/L benzylaminopurine; the second, with 1.0 mg/L paclobutrazol and 0.1 mg/L NAA; and the third, with 0.5 mg/L indol-3-acetic acid CC Research Article CC Language: English AU Antonio Enríquez, Oscar Boué, Miguel Redondo, Carlos Montero, Héctor Machado, Marisdania Joglar, Alejandro Soto, Manuel Rodríguez, José de la Fuente IN Grupo de Desarrollo Tecnológico, División de Genética de Células de Mamíferos. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Ave 31 e/ 158 y 190, Cubanacán, Playa, Apartado postal 6162, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 21 8070; E-mail: gavac@cigb.edu.cu TI Development and Application on Cattle of the New Vaccine Formulation Gavacplus against the Cattle Tick Boophilus microplus DE Bm86 DE cattle DE Gavac DE formulation DE tick DE vaccine SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:15-17 AB A new formulation of the vaccine against the cattle tick Boophilus microplus, named Gavacplus, has been developed. It keeps constant the quantity of the active principle (protein Bm86) in half the volume of the traditional vaccine Gavac(R). This paper reports a field trial involving 1 062 animals vaccinated with Gavac(R) and with Gavacplus. The herds in fourteen dairy cattle farms with elite Holstein and crossbred cattle were separated into four groups, vaccinated with Gavac(R) or Gavacplus using two and three immunizations of each one. All vaccinated groups showed similar antibody response (P = 0.24) with antibody titers sufficient to confer protection to tick infestations. The application of Gavacplus, which elicits the same immunological response as Gavac(R), production cost and cattle handling are reduced, production plant productivity is increased and calves can be immunized since the first month after birth CC Research Article CC Language: Spanish AU Donna A Chow, Hongsheng Wang, Ziyuan Zhang IN Department of Immunology. University of Manitoba. 795 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E OW3. Telephone: (204)789-3316; Fax: (204)789-3921; E-mail: DonnaChow@umanitoba.ca TI Natural Antibody Surveillance of Neoplastic and Activated Cells DE activation markers DE anti-IL-2 receptor antibodies DE anti-tumor antibodies DE tumor models SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:18-19 AB Syngeneic murine tumor models have provided considerable evidence supporting the participation of polyclonal natural antibodies (NAb) in the resistance against tumors. Examination of cells selected for high binding of NAb or anti-IL-2 receptor antibodies, or through in vivo growth, now provides evidence for NAb recognition of activation-associated markers CC Research Article CC Language: English AU Raúl Tapia, Ramiro Castillo, Nadina Nieves, María A Blanco, Justo L González, Margelys Sánchez, Yania Rodríguez IN Centro de Bioplantas. Carretera a Morón Km 9, Universidad de Ciego de Ávila 69450, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 33 5040; E-mail: bioquim@bioca.edu.cu TI Induction, Maturation and Encapsulation of Somatic Embryos of Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) var CP 5243 DE conversion DE encapsulation DE maturation DE somatic embryogenesis DE sugarcane SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:20-23 AB Three formulations of MS medium enriched with plant growth regulators and sucrose were evaluated during induction and maturation of sugarcane (Saccharum sp. var CP 5243) somatic embryos. Other two formulations of this medium, one of them with naftalen-acetic acid and activated charcoal, another supplemented with giberelic acid (GA3), sucrose and amino acids, were evaluated as artificial endosperm. Sucrose was effective in inducing somatic embryos and its maturation. Also, germination and conversion of both naked and encapsulated embryos within capsules increased in the presence of GA3, arginine and glutamic acid with 100% germination of embryogenic cell clusters and pre-germinated structures. With a second MS medium (GA3, sucrose and glutamic acid), the best results were achieved in germination and conversion of both naked and encapsulated structures, showing 57.1% for embryogenic cell clusters and 71.4% for pre-germinated structures. Histology and scanning electron microscopy analysis of somatic embryogenesis in sugarcane embryogenic calli are shown CC Research Article CC Language: Spanish AU Juan C Martínez, Vivian Rodríguez, Yaima Merchán, Rolando Ochoa, Eric A Estrada, Mayte Nerey, Rosa Blanco, Tania Licea IN DACTA, Instituto Finlay. Ave. 27 No. 19805, AP 16017, CP 11600, La Lisa, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 33 6754; E-mail: inmunoquimica@finlay.edu.cu TI Preparation and Characterization of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C Oligosaccharides DE acid hydrolysis DE capsular polysaccharide DE conjugate vaccines DE ELISA DE meningococcus C SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:25-28 AB The current antimeningococcal vaccine, composed of the purified capsular polysaccharide of group C (PS-C) does not induce a good antibody response in children under two years of age. This drawback has usually been overcome by coupling immunogenic proteins to PS or oligosaccharides to convert these antigens to a T-dependent form. In this study the purified PS-C was depolymerized by acid hydrolysis to obtain oligosaccharides C (OS-C), and it was evaluated the integrity of their antigenic properties by inhibition ELISA. Twenty OS-C were obtained by this experimental procedure. The molecular size of the meningococcal OS-C was determined by gel filtration. Significant differences between the molecular size of the OS-C were obtained with different pH and temperature values. An inhibition ELISA was developed in order to evaluate the antigenic properties of the OS-C obtained. The antigenic properties were dependent on the molecular size. Oligosaccharides with the same antigenic properties as Neisseria meningitidis PS-C were obtained by acid hydrolysis at 60 °C, pH 4 for 20 min CC Article on Techniques CC Language: English AU Frank Miranda, Luis E Trujillo, Félix Dafhnis, Enrique Pérez, José E Brito IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. AP 83, Zona 2, Sancti Spíritus 62500, Cuba. 2Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Ave 31 entre 158 y 190. AP 6162, CP 10600, Cubanacán, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 33 6008; E-mail: IPMlab@cigb.edu.cu TI Detection of Deoxyribonuclease Activities Using a PCR-generated Radiolabeled DNA Substrate DE deoxyribonuclease activity DE PCR DE quality control SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:29-30 AB Here we evaluated a radioactive DNA substrate for the efficient detection of deoxyribonuclease activities in final preparations of DNA restriction and modifying enzymes and other biological reagents as acetylated BSA. The substrate was obtained by radioactive PCR and it was found to be more sensitive in the detection of deoxyribonuclease activities (more than 10-5 units of a commercial DNAse I in 20 min of reaction) than the non-radioactive substrates commonly used for these purposes. CC Article on Techniques CC Language: AU Aimé Pérez, Ernesto Guerra, Alexis Labrada IN Centro Nacional de Biopreparados (BioCen). AP 6048, Habana 6, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 81 7024; Fax: (53-7) 33 8439; E-mail: ernesto@biocen.cigb.edu.cu TI Automation of ELISA Result Analysis DE computer program DE ELISA DE IgE DE inhibition assay DE parallel line analysis SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:31-36 AB ELISA is an essential tool for the detection and quantitation of antigens and antibodies. In this paper, it is described a computer program that allows the integration of the data received (through RS-232) from microplate readers, with the calculation and statistical processing of the assay results. The program also offers the possibility to design the sample and the reference allocations in the plate, and to manage data according to the previous fixed design. The program includes two calculation and processing modes: 1) relative potency determination and 2) standard curve assay. The first is applied to quality control of allergenic extracts by the IgE ELISA inhibition assay, using the method of parallel lines. The program provides statistical methods for assessing the of assay results and to estimate the intraassay precision CC Article on Techniques CC Language: Spanish AU José de la Fuente IN Mammalian Cell Genetics Division. Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. PO Box 6162, Havana, Cuba. Phone: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 33 8008; E-mail: jose.delafuente@cigb.edu.cu TI Gene Transfer in Aquatic Organisms: From the Laboratory to the Market DE transgenesis SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:37-43 CC Report CC Language: English AU Fidel Ovidio Castro IN Mammalian Cell Genetics Division. Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. PO Box 6162, Havana, Cuba. Phone: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 21 8070; E-mail: Transg@cigb.edu.cu TI Mammary Gland Transgenesis: Today and Tomorrow DE transgenesis SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:43-49 CC Report CC Language: English AU IN TI Iberolatinoamerican Declaration on Ethics and Genetics DE ethics DEgenetics SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:51-52 CC Focus CC Language: Spanish AU Rubén Ramos IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Ave. 31 e/158 y 190, AP 6162, Playa, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 33 8008; E-mail: Ruben.Ramos@cigb.edu.cu TI A New Methodology for the Assessment of I+D Projects in Biotechnology DE biotechnology DE evaluation DE proyects SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1999;16:53-59 AB A methodology for research project evaluation was made in the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB, Havana, Cuba), which allowed to establish priorities among a high variety of projects related with different sectors and basic, applied and technologic innovation profiles. This methodology, used in the CIGB, contributed to a better organization of the research process, as well as to a better design of the already conceived projects CC Focus CC Language: Spanish From owner-contents@net.bio.net Mon Mar 22 22:00:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.journals.contents Subject: Biotecnologia Aplicada, vol. 15, no. 04, 1998 Date: 23 Mar 1999 10:22:26 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 398 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <7d8m52$d6c@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net CC BIOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA CC Vol. 15 No. 4 (October-December, 1998) CC ISSN 0864-4551 (printed) CC ISSN 1027-2852 (electronic) CC Copyright 1998, Elfos Scientiae. CC Founded in 1983 and published as Interferon y CC Biotecnologia until 1990, Biotecnologia Aplicada is a CC peer-reviewed scientific journal. It appears four times CC per year, sponsored by the Ibero-Latin-American Society CC of Biotechnology Applied to Health. CC BIOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA is a vehicle of Iberian-Latin- CC American scientists working in different fields of modern CC biotechnology for the diffusion of their experiences and CC results. Some of the main topics that are considered for CC publication are the following: CC a) Molecular genetics and recombinant DNA technology; CC b) Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of molecules CC obtained by biotechnological methods; CC c) Immunotechnology and development of diagnostic CC methods; CC d) Chemistry, biochemistry and design of molecules with CC biological activity; CC e) Application of recombinant DNA techniques and its CC products in agriculture and animal science; CC f) Transgenesis; CC g) Fermentation, recovery and purification of biotech- CC nological products; CC h) Scaling-up, plant design and economic evaluation; CC i) Control and automation of processes. CC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be CC reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any CC means without the prior permission of the Publisher. By CC submitting a manuscript the authors agree that the CC copyright for their article is transferred to the CC Publisher if and when the article is accepted for CC publication. The points of view expressed in the Journal CC are exclusive responsibility of the authors. CC This journal is indexed by the following publications: CC Biosis, Current Biotechnology Abstracts, Derwent Biotech- CC nology Abstracts, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, CC Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, EMBASE/Excerpta CC Medica, Elsevier BIOBASE/Current Awareness in Biological CC Sciences, LilaCS, Bio-Journals (Internet). CC Correspondence and subscriptions CC Ave. 31 entre 158 y 190, CC Cubanacan, Playa CC Ciudad de La Habana, CC Apdo. 6072, Habana 6, Cuba. CC Telephones: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8466 / 21 8164 CC Fax: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8070 / 33 6008 CC E-mail: elfos@cigb.edu.cu CC Full papers are available online through BIOLINE System CC (Internet) through the WWW or by e-mail. Annual subscrip- CC tion or single document purchase are possible. Contact CC the following for further information: CC URL:http://www.bd.org.br/bioline/ CC E-mail address: bio@biostrat.demon.co.uk AU José Esparza IN Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 20, avenue Appia CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. Phone: (41) 7914393; Fax: (41) 7914165; E-mail: esparzaj@who.ch TI Aids vaccines in a global perspective DE AIDS vaccines DE HIV/AIDS epidemics DE HIV prevention DE vaccine trials SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:213-217 AB The undoubtable effectiveness achieved by the multidrug therapy, should not hamper the willingness and efforts of governments, the private sector and health organizations, nor diminish the interest of researchers, in the development of effective vaccines to control the HIV pandemics. The accessibility to retroviral polychemiotherapy of large masses of infected and sick persons, as well as the long term persistence of the effectiveness of this approach, are far from being confirmed and even less, guaranteed. For these reasons many specialists are convinced that a safe, effective and accessible vaccine continues as a priority to bring the HIV/AIDS epidemics under control, specially in developing countries. Here a number of obstacles in the scientific field are analyzed which must be overcome or in some way circumvented to advance in the vaccine race. The multiple candidates and ingenious vaccine concepts explored at a laboratory, preclinical or clinical level are also reviewed, which demonstrate the motivation, imagination and creativeness of researchers facing the complex nature of this virus and the enormous challenge imposed by its global spreading. The state of the art regarding human trials at different phases is updated, including the efforts of developing countries involved in the trial and two of them in the development and trial of vaccine candidates, under strict ethical and methodological standards. The role of UNAIDS in the integration, coordination and support of these efforts is pointed out CC Review article CC Language: English AU Enrique Iglesias IN División de Vacunas, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. apartado postal 6162,Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. E-mail: sida2@serverdos.cigb.edu.cu TI Human Immunodeficence Virus Type 1 Co-receptors DE co-receptor DE CCR2b DE CCR3 DE CCR5 DE CXCR4 DE HIV SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:219-226 AB For a long time ago is known that CD4 molecule is not enough to promote viral entry. A new period in the viral studies began when the first correceptor was reported in May 1996. The 5% of the people resistant to HIV infection can be explained by the knowledge of the genetic polymorphism of one of them (CCR5). Without any doubt their inclusion in HIV-1 pathogenesis models make possible to predict in a more accurate way the chain of phenomena associated with infection. Although it is possible that new therapeutic strategies are generated based on the selective blockade of the second HIV-1 receptors. CC Review article CC Language: Spanish AU Bianca García, Manuel Raíces, Julio Delgado, Göran Pettersson IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Ave. 31 entre 158 y 190, CP 10600, La Habana, Cuba. E-mail: banco@cigb.edu.cu Department of Biochemistry, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden TI PCC2, a new transposon-like element in the white rot fungus phanerochaete chrysosporium DE cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) DE gene DE Phanerochaete chrysosporium DE transposon-like element SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:227-231 AB The gene encoding cellobiose dehydrogenase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium K3 was isolated through PCR and its 3045 bp nucleotide sequence determined. Two distinct 5' flanking sequences were identified by Southern blot hybridization, both having a common 650 bp region, but one of them interrupted by a 2657 bp transposon-like element located at 425 bp upstream from the initial ATG. This element, named Pcc2, carried 14 bp inverted terminal repeats while lacking the conserved transposase motif it is flanked by a 2 bp (GT) target duplication site and is present at a high copy number throughout the P. chrysosporium K3 genome CC Research Article CC Language: English AU Aida Díaz-Ruano, Magdalena Segura-Nieto, Berenice Cuevas, Thierry Prangè3 IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología PO Box 6162, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 21 8164, 21 8466; Fax: (53-7) 21 8070; E-mail: model@cigb.edu.cu Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional de México Unidad Irapuato, PO Box 629, 36 500, Irapuato. Gto., México. Laboratoire pour l Útilisation du Rayonnement Electromagnetique (LURE), Bâtiment 209-D, Centre Universitaire Paris Sud. 91405 Orsay Cedex. France. TI Human interferon alpha 2b behaves as a trimer at basic pH. A preliminary x-ray diffraction analysis of human alpha interferon crystals grown at basic pH DE crosslinking reagents DE gel filtration DE interferon DE protein crystals DE quaternary structure DE sedimentation equilibrium DE X-ray diffraction SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:232-236 AB Recombinant human alpha 2b interferon (hum alpha 2bIFN) was studied by sedimentation, gel filtration and crosslinking experiences. These experiences showed that the quaternary structure of hum alpha 2bIFN changes at different pH. A preliminary X-ray analysis of low resolution orthorhombic crystals of this molecule was done and the crystallographic asymmetric unit contains 12 molecules, possibly four trimers according to the previous sedimentation, gel filtration and crosslinking experiences. The role of the Zn2+ ions in the stabilization of the quaternary structure of alpha interferon is discussed CC Research Article CC Language: English AU Pedro A Prats, Lázaro O Castañeda, Viviana Falcón, Rafael Ortega, María C de la Rosa, Ivón Menéndez, Violeta Labarta, Raúl Gómez IN Departamento de Estudios Preclínicos, Departamento de Microscopía Electrónica, División de Estudios Clínicos, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. AP 6162, CP 10600, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 8070; E-mail: bioensa@cigb.edu.cu. 3Departamento de Cirugía Experimental, Centro de Investigaciones Médico- Quirúrgicas. Calle 216 y 11-B, Siboney, Playa, AP 6096, Habana 6, Cuba. TI Efecto del factor de crecimiento epidérmico sobre la regeneración del nervio ciático transectado en ratas DE EGF DE peripheral nerve injury DE sciatic nerve SO Biotecnologia Aplicada 1998;15:237-241 AB Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a well known mitogen involved in the reparation process of a variety of tissues, however, no action on peripheral nerve system has been reported so far. In this study we evaluate the effects of EGF administration on some ultrastructural indicators of sciatic nerve regeneration after transection in Sprague Dawley rats. The design included five groups (non operated control, saline control, and three EGF treated groups: 0.5; 5.0, and 10 mg/mL). The administration lasted 20 days. The animals were sacrificed and the samples were ultrastructurally evaluated at days 21, 60 and 90 post-lesion. It was demonstrated a dose-dependent effect of EGF on axonal regeneration levels, more pronounced in the group treated with EGF 10 mg/mL. This result suggests that EGF is a potential candidate for the treatment of peripheral nerve disorders CC Research Article CC Language: Spanish AU Alejandro D Fuentes, Natacha Soto, Dubiel Alfonso, Pedro Oramas IN División de Plantas, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. AP 6162, CP 10600, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 8070; E-mail: virplant@cigb.edu.cu TI Estudio de las condiciones de cultivo para la regeneración de plantas de tomate (lycopersicon esculentum mill), a partir de cotiledones y hojas de la variedad campbell 28 DE Lycopersicon esculentum DE regeneration DE tomato SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:242-245 AB The influence of different compounds of the culture media such as hormone and sucrose concentrations and the type of gelling agent on regeneration of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) plants from cotyledons and leaves of cultivar Campbell 28 was studied. It was established that, for cotyledons, the optimal concentrations of zeatine and indolacetic acid are 0.5 and 0.1 mg/L, respectively, in a culture media with 20 g/L of sucrose and 0.2% of Gel-Rite, where the average amount of shoots obtained per explant was 2.75. In the case of leaves, the optimal conditions for regeneration were achieved with 0.5 mg/L of zeatine and 0.4 mg/L of indolacetic acid in a culture media, containing 20 g/L of sucrose and 0.7% of agar, and reaching three shoots per explant CC Research Article CC Language: Spanish AU Santiago Dueñas, Rolando Pajón, Maité Delgado, Erick C Nogueiras, Alejandro Martín IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. AP 6162, CP 10600, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 218070; E-mail: ricardo.silva@cigb.edu.cu TI Electroporation of neisseria meningitidis with plasmid DNA DE electroporation DE N. meningitidis DE transformation efficiency SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:247-249 AB In this paper we describe an electroporation protocol for Neisseria meningitidis. Plasmid vectors up to 12.5 kb, containing a selection marker, flanked by genomic regions, were constructed and used to select electroporation conditions. When nonpiliated B385 cells, suspended in electroporation buffer (glycerol 15%; MgCl2 1 mM; Sucrose 272 mM; HEPES 1 mM; pH 7.2), were mixed with 200 ng of plasmid DNA and a single pulse of 11.5 kV/cm, 400 W and 25 mF was applied (in a BioRad Gene Pulser II), transformation efficiencies up to 6.5 x 104 transformants/mg and survival rates of up to 80% were reached. The generation with this method, of an lpdA neisserial knock-out mutant, is also shown. To date this is the first electroporation report in meningococci CC Article on Techniques CC Language: English AU Rolando Ochoa Azze IN DACTA, Instituto Finlay, Ave. 27 No. 19805, AP 16017, La Lisa CP 11600, La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 33 6754; E-mail: inmunoquimica@finlay.edu.cu TI A new format ELISA for the detection of HBsAG DE conjugate stability DE HBsAg DE HBsAg stability DE new format ELISA DE one step ELISA SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:250-253 AB A new ELISA has been standardised, using two monoclonal antibodies directed against HBsAg. The sheep anti- HBsAg/alkaline phosphatase conjugate and the positive control were dehydrated at 37 °C for 18 h and 35% relative humidity. Sucrose was used as stabiliser with an optimum concentration of 125 mg/mL. The one step ELISA is carried out by adding a washing solution into control wells and samples into the remainder. Sensitivity and specificity were 100%. Discrimination value was 0.22 U/mL. Stability was studied for coating antibodies, dehydrated conjugate and the dehydrated positive control. The stability during their use was over 80% at 150 days and storage stability at 2-8 °C was over 80% a year after CC Article on Techniques CC Language: English AU Tamara Menéndez, Luis M Alonso, Mairet Pérez, Rolando Pajón, Ricardo Silva IN Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Ave 31 entre 158 y 190. AP 6162, CP 10600, Cubanacán, Habana, Cuba. E-mail: Ricardo.Silva@cigb.edu.cu TI Influence of the length of the p64k protein n-terminus stabilizing peptide on the expression in Escherichia coli of the fused tbpb from neisseria meningitidis DE P64k protein DE transferrin binding proteins DE TbpB DE expression system DE fusion proteins SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:254-257 AB In order to improve the previously patented system for the expression of heterologous antigens in Escherichia coli, the possibility of reducing the length of the 45 amino acid (aa) stabilizer peptide from the P64k protein of Neisseria meningitidis, was investigated. The TbpB protein from N. meningitidis was expressed fused to the first 23 and 11 aa from the P64k protein and without the stabilizer peptide. The levels of expression of the TbpB protein were very low, only detectable by Western blotting when expressed without the stabilizer peptide or fused to the first 11 aa from the P64k protein. High levels of expression were achieved when the protein was expressed fused to the first 23 aa from the P64k protein. These results showed that it is possible to reduce the length of the stabilizer peptide derived from the P64k protein to one half without affecting the levels of expression of the fusion protein CC Article on Techniques CC Language: English AU Albert Sasson IN United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 7, place de Fontenoy-75352 Paris 07 SP-France. Fax: (33-1) 45685555 TI Biotechnologies in the medical bioindustry DE bioprocesses DE biotechnology DE development strategies DE pharmaceutical industry DE research and development SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:267-275 AB Developing countries should not arrive late to modern biotechnology considering it too sophisticated instead of appropriate and useful for their development strategies. Making biotechnological products available to the people who need them to improve their nutrition, health and welfare is a challenge and a goal to be targeted by the government agencies, research and technological development institutes in the field, as well as the concerned international organizations. The industrial and financial sectors have a role to play and their points of view must be sufficiently far-reaching as to devise specific plans to gain access to the vast, poorly explored and potentially rewarding market of the Third World. The integrated use of bioengineering techniques and suitable genetically-engineered strains will render bioprocesses more efficient and cheaper, contributing to obtain products more affordable to people. The biopharmaceutical industry provides an example where a compromise is crucial between the people's needs and industrial need of profits CC Focus CC Language: English AU Agustín Lage IN Centro de Inmunología Molecular. Calle 216 esq. A 15, Atabey, Playa, AP 16040, Habana 11600, Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 21 4335; E-mail: lage@ict.cim.sld.cu TI Cancer and autoimmunity: Building the bridge SO Biotecnología Aplicada 1998;15:259-266 CC Report CC Language: English From owner-contents@net.bio.net Mon Mar 22 22:00:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.journals.contents Subject: Biotecnologia Aplicada, vol. 16, no. 02, 1999 Date: 23 Mar 1999 10:31:41 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 415 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <7d8mmd$e8q@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net BIOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA CC Vol. 16 No. 2 (April-June, 1999) CC ISSN 0864-4551 (printed) CC ISSN 1027-2852 (electronic) CC Copyright 1999, Elfos Scientiae. CC Founded in 1983 and published as Interferon y CC Biotecnologia until 1990, Biotecnologia Aplicada is a CC peer-reviewed scientific journal. It appears four times CC per year, sponsored by the Ibero-Latin-American Society CC of Biotechnology Applied to Health. CC BIOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA is a vehicle of Iberian-Latin- CC American scientists working in different fields of modern CC biotechnology for the diffusion of their experiences and CC results. Some of the main topics that are considered for CC publication are the following: CC a) Molecular genetics and recombinant DNA technology; CC b) Therapeutic and prophylactic uses of molecules CC obtained by biotechnological methods; CC c) Immunotechnology and development of diagnostic CC methods; CC d) Chemistry, biochemistry and design of molecules with CC biological activity; CC e) Application of recombinant DNA techniques and its CC products in agriculture and animal science; CC f) Transgenesis; CC g) Fermentation, recovery and purification of biotech- CC nological products; CC h) Scaling-up, plant design and economic evaluation; CC i) Control and automation of processes. CC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be CC reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any CC means without the prior permission of the Publisher. By CC submitting a manuscript the authors agree that the CC copyright for their article is transferred to the CC Publisher if and when the article is accepted for CC publication. The points of view expressed in the Journal CC are exclusive responsibility of the authors. CC This journal is indexed by the following publications: CC Biosis, Current Biotechnology Abstracts, Derwent Biotech- CC nology Abstracts, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, CC Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, EMBASE/Excerpta CC Medica, Elsevier BIOBASE/Current Awareness in Biological CC Sciences, LilaCS, Periodica, Bio-Journals (Internet). CC Correspondence and subscriptions CC Ave. 31 entre 158 y 190, CC Cubanacan, Playa CC Ciudad de La Habana, CC Apdo. 6072, Habana 6, Cuba. CC Telephones: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8466 / 21 8164 CC Fax: (53-7) 33 1917 / 21 8070 / 33 6008 CC E-mail: elfos@cigb.edu.cu CC Full papers are available online through BIOLINE System CC (Internet) through the WWW or by e-mail. Annual subscrip- CC tion or single document purchase are possible. Contact CC the following for further information: CC URL:http://www.bd.org.br/bioline/ CC E-mail address: bio@biostrat.demon.co.uk AU Javier Men=E9ndez IN Divisi=F3n de Biotecnolog=EDa Industrial. Centro de Ingenier=EDa Gen=E9tica y Biotecnolog=EDa. AP 6162, CP 10600. Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 33 6008; E-mail: yeastlab@cigb.edu.cu TI Piruvato-carboxilasa de levadura DE pyruvate carboxilase DE promoters DE PYC1 DE PYC2 DE yeast SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:75-82 AB Pyruvate carboxylase plays an important role in intermediary metabolism, catalyzing the formation of oxaloacetate from pyruvate and HCO3-. It thus provides oxaloacetate for gluconeogenesis and for replenishing tricarboxylic acid cycle for fatty acid, amino acid and neurotransmitter synthesis. The enzyme is highly conserved and it is found in a great variety of organisms including bacteria, yeasts, fungi and plants, as well as in higher organisms. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two structural genes for pyruvate carboxylase, which are regulated in different ways. On the other hand, Pichia pastoris has only one gene. This protein is a member of a group of biotin-dependent enzymes and the disruption of their coding genes results in the incapacity of the yeast to grow on a minimal medium containing glucose as the sole carbon source. This phenotype led to the isolation of mutants from these two yeasts, which are affected in the glucose repression of a series of genes CC Review article CC Language: Spanish AU Ra=FAl G=F3mez, Joel Madrazo, Javier Gonz=E1lez, Glay Chinea, Alexis Mussachio, Armando Rodr=EDguez, Gabriel Padr=F3n IN Divisi=F3n de Qu=EDmica-F=EDsica, Divisi=F3n de Vacunas. Centro de Ingenier=EDa Gen=E9tica y Biotecnolog=EDa. AP 6162, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Telf: (53-7) 21 8164; Fax: (53-7) 33 6008; E-mail: raul.gomez@cigb.edu.cu TI Caracterizaci=F3n estructural y funcional de la prote=EDna recombinante P64k de Neisseria meningitidis DE cross-linking DE dihydrolipoamide-dehydrogenase DE flavoprotein DE Neisseria meningitidis SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:83-87 AB The recombinant protein P64k from the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis has been identified as a dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. The enzyme catalyses the stoichiometric oxidation of dihydrolipoamide by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, involving a flavin adenine dinucleotide as cofactor. Chemical modification with iodoacetamide indicated the involvement in catalysis of a reversibly reducible disulphide bond. Migration of cross-linked protein in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the protein is a functional homodimer. Gel filtration chromatography showed the P64k protein to migrate beyond the expected molecular weight. This abnormal behaviour is discussed taking into account the structure-function relationship CC Research article CC Language: Spanish AU Juan Roca, Masood Ahmad, Subrat Kumar Panda, Guillermo Padr=F3n, Shahid Jameel IN Division of Diagnostics and Immunotechnology. Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. PO Box 6162, Havana 10600, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 8008; E-mail: diag@cigb.edu.cu. Virology Group. International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. PO Box 10504, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India. Department of Pathology. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India TI Hepatitis C Virus Genotyping in Developing Countries: Results from Cuba, India and Turkey DE HCV genotypes DE hepatitis C virus DE PCR SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:88-92 AB Infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in liver disease with a high rate of associated chronicity. Significant genetic variation is seen among HCV isolates based on nucleotide sequence homologies, which has allowed grouping into a number of genotypes. However, most of the information about HCV genotypes is based on studies from developed countries with less information available from developing countries. Here we present the results of HCV genotype determinations in 128 sera from 74 patients in three countries: Cuba, India and Turkey. An established PCR-based genotyping method was optimized to accurately detect multiple genotypes in a given sample. Type II (1b) HCV, which correlates with more aggressive forms of the disease and lower response rates to interferon was most commonly found in the patients from the countries studied. While the majority of patients (58.1%) were infected with a single genotype, dual infections were also found frequently (28.4%). This report discusses the utility of a genotyping assay and the prevalence of genotypes CC Research Article CC Language: English AU Juan P Mart=EDnez-Soriano, Norma E Leyva-L=F3pez, Mar=EDa E Zavala-Soto, Marie B=E8res, Diana S Leal-Klevezas IN Centro de Investigaci=F3n y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Polit=E9cnico Nacional. Unidad de Biotecnolog=EDa e Ingenier=EDa Gen=E9tica de Plantas. AP 629, Irapuato, Gto. M=E9xico. E-mail: jpms@irapuato.ira.cinvestav.mx Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon. 16, rue Claude Bernard 75231 Paris Cedex 05, Francia. Centro de Investigaci=F3n Biom=E9dica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. San Luis Potos=ED y 2 de abril, Colonia Independencia, Monterrey, NL M=E9xico TI Detecci=F3n molecular del agente causal del s=EDndrome "bola de hilo" de la papa en semillas infectadas y asintom=E1ticas DE diagnosis DE mycoplasma-like organisms DE PCR DE phytoplasmas SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:93-96 AB Economic losses due to the potato diseases caused by phytoplasmas are of considerable value in Mexico (up to 100% in some cases). "Punta morada" and "bola de hilo" (local names meaning "purple top" and "ball of twine", respectively) are the main syndromes observed in the field. The latter is one of particular interest among potato seed producers because it affects tuber germination when infected tubers are used as seed. Because phytoplasmas cannot be cultured in vitro and their detection by visual inspection, by serological methods or by electron microscopy is inefficient and performed late during disease development, disease eradication is an impossible task. In this report, PCR was used as a new tool to detect early or latent phytoplasma infections in symptomless potato "seeds", which will eventually produce "hair sprouts" CC Research Article CC Language: Spanish AU Carmen E G=F3mez, Javier J Men=E9ndez, Bianca M Garc=EDa IN Divisi=F3n de Biotecnolog=EDa Industrial, Centro de Ingenier=EDa Gen=E9tica y Biotecnolog=EDa. AP 6162, CP 10600, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Tel=E9fonos: (53-7) 21 6022, 21 8164, Fax: (53-7) 21 8070. E-mail: dextranasa@cigb.edu.cu TI Expresi=F3n del gen dex en la levadura Kluyveromyces lactis DE dextranase DE gene expression DE Kluyveromyces lactis DE Penicillium minioluteum SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:97-102 AB In this study, the expression and secretion of dextranase enzyme from the fungus Penicillium minioluteum in the non-conventional yeast Kluyveromyces lactis, was evaluated. The cDNA encoding this protein with its own signal peptide was integrated into the genome of K. lactis strain MW105-2A under the control of the LAC4 promoter. Dextranase was detected by the hydrolysis of blue dextran added to solid growth medium and the enzymatic activity was determined colorimetrically by the DNSA method. Dextranase was efficiently expressed and secreted in this yeast. The obtention of this construction constitutes the first step in the use of dextranase-encoding gene as reporter in gene expression studies in the yeast K. lactis CC Research Article CC Language: Spanish AU Antonieta M Herrera, Dania V=E1zquez, Leonor Navea, Leonor Lobaina, Di=F3genes Quintana, Annara N=E1poles, Yenela Garc=EDa, Carlos A Duarte IN Vaccine Division, AIDS Department. Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. PO Box 6162, Havana 10600, Cuba. Phone: (53-7) 21 8008, 21 8466. Fax: (53-7) 21 8070, 33 6008 E-mail: amherrera@cigb.edu.cu Laboratorio de Investigaciones de SIDA, San Jos=E9, La Habana, Cuba TI Effect of Different Adjuvants and Immunomodulators on the Humoral Immune Response of Rabbits and Mice against HIV-1-derived Multi-epitope Polypeptides DE adjuvants DE HIV DE immunomodulators DE vaccines DE V3 loop SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:103-108 AB The third variable region (V3 loop) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) external glycoprotein gp120 contains the principal neutralizing domain of this protein. Our group has developed multi-epitope polypeptides (MEP), bearing several copies of the V3 loop from different HIV-1 isolates. These chimeric proteins have been able to elicit broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies when administered in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). For human vaccines, a less reactogenic adjuvant is required. The MEPs TAB9 and TAB13 contain the V3 region from six and eight HIV-1 isolates, respectively, fused to the amino terminus of the Neisseria meningitidis P64K protein. In this paper we describe the effect of several adjuvants and immunomodulators on the antibody response against these MEPs in rabbits and mice. Oil adjuvants proved to be more efficient in promoting the antibody response against MEPs than Alum, Quil A or combinations of Alum with IL-2 and gIFN. The subclass composition of the antibody response was very dependent on the adjuvant employed. CFA induced high levels of IgG2a and IgG2b, while for the rest of the products IgG1 was predominant. We also concluded that the novel oil adjuvant Montanide ISA720 is as efficient as CFA or Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant in stimulating the humoral response in mice and rabbits and therefore, it was selected for further studies in primates. CC Research Article CC Language: English AU Thelvia I Ramos G=F3mez, Estela Morales Peralta, Teresa Collazo Mesa, Suany Ojeda Fern=E1ndez, Aida Bertoli Avella, Luis Heredero Baute IN Centro Nacional de Gen=E9tica M=E9dica. Centro colaborador de la OMS para el desarrollo de enfoques gen=E9ticos en la promoci=F3n de la salud. Instituto Superior de Ciencias M=E9dicas de La Habana, Cuba. Ave 31 No. 3102, Playa 16, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Tel=E9fono: (53-7) 21 9511, extensiones 268 y 361 Fax: (53-7) 24 6257; E-mail: cngmed@genmed.giron.sld.cu TI Presencia de la mutaci=F3n G1138A del gen del R3FCF en un grupo de pacientes acondropl=E1sicos cubanos DE achondroplasia DE autosomal dominant DE FGFR3 DE hipoachondroplasia DE osteochondrodysplasias DE thanatophoric dysplasia SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:109-111 AB Achondroplasia, inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, is the most common human skeletal dysplasia. Prevalence at birth in Cuba was estimated in 1/25 000. Achondroplasia locus was assigned to chromosome 4p16.3 and includes the coding region for fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). Two point mutations in exon 10 of the FGFR3 gene (G1138A and G1138C) have been described. These mutations create new restriction sites for Sfc1 (the most frequent mutation) and Msp1. Genomic DNA isolated from blood samples of 40 Cuban patients (24 relatives and 16 sporadic cases) was studied. A region of 164 bp that includes the transmembrane domain of FGFR3 was amplified by PCR and the amplicons were analized with the restriction enzimes Sfc1 and Msp1. All affected individuals showed fragment sizes of 109 and 55 bp corresponding to the digestion by Sfc1; therefore, they had the same mutation G1138A CC Research Article CC Language: Spanish AU Mayte Nerey Olivares, Rolando Ochoa Azze, Juan C Mart=EDnez Rodr=EDguez, Tania Licea Verdecia, Xenia Ferriol Marchena, Ana M Garc=EDa Malberti, Rosa Blanco Gonz=E1lez, Eric Estrada Gonz=E1lez IN DACTA, Instituto "Finlay". Ave 27 No 19805. AP 16017, CP 11600, La Lisa, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 33 6754; E-mail: ochoa@finlay.edu.cu TI Validaci=F3n de un ELISA para la cuantificaci=F3n de IgG humana anti-polisacarido capsular de Neisseria meningitidis serogrupo C DE anti-polysaccharide C ELISA DE Neisseria meningitidis DE polysaccharide C SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:113-115 AB An indirect ELISA against capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C was developed to evaluate the immune response to this component of VA-MENGOC-BC(r) Cuban vaccine. Polystyrene plates coated with poly-L-lysine and polysaccharide antigen ("Finlay" Institute), are first incubated with human serum samples. Antibodies are detected by addition of anti-human IgG/alkaline phosphatase conjugate, which recognizes antibodies against polysaccharide C. The enzymatic reaction is evidenced by processing of the specific substrate p-nitrophenylphosfate. The detection limit of the assay is 367 U/mL of specific IgG in human serum. Intra- and interassay lack of precision was below 10%. Parallelism, linearity and recovery were =B1 10% of the expected values. The relation between the standard of the "Finlay" Institute and the PB2 standard from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, USA, was determined. The regression equation was CDC =3D 0.5398 Finlay +143 CC Article on Techniques CC Language: Spanish AU Javier Men=E9ndez IN Divisi=F3n de Biotecnolog=EDa Industrial, Centro de Ingenier=EDa Gen=E9tica y Biotecnolog=EDa. AP 6162, CP 10600. Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 8070. E-mail: yeastlab@cigb.edu.cu TI Conventional and Non-conventional Yeasts in Modern Biotechnology SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:117-121 CC Report CC Language: English AU Jos=E9 A Cremata IN Divisi=F3n de Biotecnolog=EDa Industrial, Centro de Ingenier=EDa Gen=E9tica y Biotecnolog=EDa. AP 6162, CP 10600. Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Fax: (53-7) 21 8070. E-mail: bioind@cigb.edu.cu TI Structural Analysis of Glycoproteins. Its Importance SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:121-125 CC Report CC Language: English AU Peter Alestr=F6m, Jos=E9 de la Fuente IN Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Nutrition, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine. PO Box 8146 DEP, N-0033 Oslo, Norway. Divisi=F3n de Gen=E9tica de C=E9lulas de Mam=EDferos, Centro de Ingenier=EDa Gen=E9tica y Biotecnolog=EDa. AP 6162, CP 10600, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Telef: (53-7) 21 8164; Fax: (53-7) 21 8070; E-mail: jose.delafuente@cigb.edu.cu TI Genetically Modified Fish in Aquaculture: Technical, Environmental and Management Considerations DE aquaculture DE fish DE safety DE transgenic SO Biotecnolog=EDa Aplicada 1999;16:127-130 AB Genetically modified (GM) fish offer new possibilities for the improvement of production in aquaculture. It allows the introduction of novel traits or the improvement of old ones, in such a way that is out of reach for classical selection breeding. Examples of genes with commercial potential are among those which control growth, disease resistance, freeze tolerance, sexual maturation, food quality and food preservation parameters. Consumption of GM fish does not represent a health risk in principle. The safety of GM food is dependent on the character of the transgene, the transgene product and the new phenotype. Ethics and animal protection concerns demand the development of healthy fish only. Environmental safety calls for efficient biological containment in order to minimize possible effects caused by released farm animals. Improvements of disease control will support both production economy and the environment, in case of escapes. Since aquaculture includes both marine and fresh water species, it can be developed as new food production strategies in most countries all over the world. To avoid large-scale technology transfer failures, it is important to adapt to the regional and local needs. This calls for international research collaboration aiming at regional and local competence development sufficient for the technology implementation CC Focus CC Language: English From owner-contents@net.bio.net Wed Mar 31 23:00:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.journals.contents Subject: Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 178, no. x, 17 Mar 1999 Date: 31 Mar 1999 16:12:49 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 162 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <7dudm1$k3a@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net CC Inter-Research Science Publisher CC Internet Service CC Marine Ecology Progress Series Volume 178 table of contents CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Abstracts from Inter-Research journals, along with a searchable CC index, are available on the Internet (http://www.int-res.com). CC Contents are also sent to a mailing list (contents@int-res.com). CC Inter-Research, Nordbuente 23, D-21385 Oldendorf/Luhe, Germany CC Tel: (+49)(0) 4132 7127 CC Fax: (+49)(0) 4132 8883 CC E-mail: ir@int-res.com CC Copyright Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 1999 CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Marine Ecology Progress Series (ISSN 0171-8630) CC Volume 178 (1999) CC March 17 CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC RESEARCH ARTICLES AU Smith-K-A. Gibbs-M-T. Middleton-J-H. Suthers-I-M. TI Short term variability in larval fish assemblages of the Sydney shelf: tracers of hydrographic variability. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 1-15. AU Lekve-K. Stenseth-N-C. Gjosaeter-J. Fromentin-J-M. Gray-J-S. TI Spatio-temporal patterns in diversity of a fish assemblage along the Norwegian Skagerrak coast. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 17-27. AU Giannoulaki-M. Machias-A. Tsimenides-N. TI Ambient luminance and vertical migration of the sardine Sardina pilchardus. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 29-38. AU Breitburg-D-L. Rose-K-A. Cowan-J-H-Jr. TI Linking water quality to larval survival: predation mortality of fish larvae in an oxygen-stratified water column. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 39-54. AU Condie-S-A. Loneragan-N-R. Die-D-J. TI Modelling the recruitment of tiger prawns Penaeus esculentus and P. semisulcatus to nursery grounds in the Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia: implications for assessing stock-recruitment relationships. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 55-68. AU Clark-M-E. Wolcott-T-G. Wolcott-D-L. Hines-A-H. TI Intraspecific interference among foraging blue crabs Callinectes sapidus: interactive effects of predator density and prey patch distribution. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 69-78. AU Bortolus-A. Iribarne-O. TI Effects of the SW Atlantic burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulata on a Spartina salt marsh. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 79-88. AU Attrill-M-J. Power-M. Thomas-R-M. TI Modelling estuarine Crustacea population fluctuations in response to physico-chemical trends. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 89-99. AU Paffenhoefer-G-A. Loyd-P-A. TI Ultrastructure of setae of the maxilliped of the marine planktonic copepod Temora stylifera. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 101-107. AU Hansen-B-W. TI Cohort growth of planktotrophic polychaete larvae-are they food limited? SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 109-119. AU Morgan-T-S. Rogers-A-D. Paterson-G-L-J. Hawkins-L-E. Sheader-M. TI Evidence for poecilogony in Pygospio elegans (Polychaeta: Spionidae). SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 121-132. AU Wong-M-W. Townsend-D-W. TI Phytoplankton and hydrography of the Kennebec estuary, Maine, USA. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 133-144. AU Willey-J-D. Paerl-H-W. Go-M. TI Impact of rainwater hydrogen peroxide on chlorophyll a content of surface Gulf Stream seawater off North Carolina, USA. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 145-150. AU Kelly-J-R. Doering-P-H. TI Seasonal deepening of the pycnocline in a shallow shelf ecosystem and its influence on near-bottom dissolved oxygen. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 151-168. AU Bussmann-I. Dando-P-R. Niven-S-J. Suess-E. TI Groundwater seepage in the marine environment: role for mass flux and bacterial activity. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 169-177. AU Meyercordt-J. Meyer-Reil-L-A. TI Primary production of benthic microalgae in two shallow coastal lagoons of different trophic status in the southern Baltic Sea. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 179-191. AU Garrabou-J. TI Life-history traits of Alcyonium acaule and Parazoanthus axinellae (Cnidaria, Anthozoa), with emphasis on growth. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 193-204. AU Mueller-W-E-G. Wiens-M. Batel-R. Steffen-R. Schroeder-H-C. Borojevic-R. Custodio-M-R. TI Establishment of a primary cell culture from a sponge: primmorphs from Suberites domuncula. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 205-219. AU Saiz-Salinas-J-I. Ramos-A. TI Biomass size-spectra of macrobenthic assemblages along water depth in Antarctica. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 221-227. AU Petersen-B. Exo-K-M. TI Predation of waders and gulls on Lanice conchilega tidal flats in the Wadden Sea. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 229-240. AU Leonard-G-H. TI Positive and negative effects of intertidal algal canopies on recruitment and survival of barnacles. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 241-249. AU Skalamera-J-P. Renaud-F. Raymond-M. de-Meeus-T. TI No evidence for genetic differentiation of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis between lagoons and the seaside. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 251-258. AU Beninger-P-G. Veniot-A. Poussart-Y. TI Principles of pseudofeces rejection on the bivalve mantle: integration in particle processing. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 259-269. AU Dubilier-N. Amann-R. Erseus-C. Muyzer-G. Park-S-Y. Giere-O. Cavanaugh-C-M. TI Phylogenetic diversity of bacterial endosymbionts in the gutless marine oligochete Olavius loisae (Annelida). SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 271-280. AU Wang-W-X. Stupakoff-I. Fisher-N-S. TI Bioavailability of dissolved and sediment-bound metals to a marine deposit-feeding polychaete. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 281-293. AU Stewart-F-M. Phillips-R-A. Bartle-J-A. Craig-J. Shooter-D. TI Influence of phylogeny, diet, moult schedule and sex on heavy metal concentrations in New Zealand Procellariiformes. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 295-305. CC COMMENT AU Beare-D-J. McKenzie-E. TI Connecting ecological and physical time-series: the potential role of changing seasonality. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Mar 17. 178. P 307-309. From owner-contents@net.bio.net Wed Mar 31 23:00:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: BIOSCI Administrator Newsgroups: bionet.journals.contents Subject: Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 177, no. x, 11 Feb 1999 Date: 31 Mar 1999 16:01:32 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 164 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: biosci-help@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: <7dud0s$a6n@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net CC Inter-Research Science Publisher CC Internet Service CC Marine Ecology Progress Series Volume 177 table of contents CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Abstracts from Inter-Research journals, along with a searchable CC index, are available on the Internet (http://www.int-res.com). CC Contents are also sent to a mailing list (contents@int-res.com). CC Inter-Research, Nordbuente 23, D-21385 Oldendorf/Luhe, Germany CC Tel: (+49)(0) 4132 7127 CC Fax: (+49)(0) 4132 8883 CC E-mail: ir@int-res.com CC Copyright Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 1999 CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Marine Ecology Progress Series (ISSN 0171-8630) CC Volume 177 (1999) CC February 11 CC ------------------------------------------------------------------- CC RESEARCH ARTICLES AU Guenther-S. Gleitz-M. Dieckmann-G-S. TI Biogeochemistry of Antarctic sea ice: a case study on platelet ice layers at Drescher Inlet, Weddell Sea. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 1-13. AU Mock-T. Gradinger-R. TI Determination of Arctic ice algal production with a new in situ incubation technique. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 15-26. AU Lamy-F. Bianchi-M. Van-Wambeke-F. Sempere-R. Talbot-V. TI Use of data assimilation techniques to analyze the significance of ectoproteolytic activity measurements performed with the model substrate MCA-Leu. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 27-35. AU Kelly-Gerreyn-B-A. Hydes-D-J. Trimmer-M. Nedwell-D-B. TI Calibration of an early diagenesis model for high nitrate, low reactive sediments in a temperate latitude estuary (Great Ouse, UK). SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 37-50. AU Shimeta-J. Sisson-J-D. TI Taxon-specific tidal resuspension of protists into the subtidal benthic boundary layer of a coastal embayment. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 51-62. AU Olafsson-E. Modig-H. van-de-Bund-W-J. TI Species specific uptake of radio-labelled phytodetritus by benthic meiofauna from the Baltic Sea. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 63-72. AU Duplisea-D-E. Drgas-A. TI Sensitivity of a benthic, metazoan, biomass size spectrum to differences in sediment granulometry. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 73-81. AU Jones-R-J. Hoegh-Guldberg-O. TI Effects of cyanide on coral photosynthesis: implications for identifying the cause of coral bleaching and for assessing the environmental effects of cyanide fishing. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 83-91. AU Hsieh-H-L. Hsu-C-F. TI Differential recruitment of annelids onto tidal elevations in an estuarine mud flat. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 93-102. AU Reid-K. Watkins-J-L. Croxall-J-P. Murphy-E-J. TI Krill population dynamics at South Georgia 1991-1997, based on data from predators and nets. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 103-114. AU Croxall-J-P. Reid-K. Prince-P-A. TI Diet, provisioning and productivity responses of marine predators to differences in availability of Antarctic krill. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 115-131. AU Hirst-A-G. Sheader-M. Williams-J-A. TI Annual pattern of calanoid copepod abundance, prosome length and minor role in pelagic carbon flux in the Solent, UK. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 133-146. AU Escribano-R. McLaren-I. TI Production of Calanus chilensis in the upwelling area of Antofagasta, northern Chile. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 147-156. AU Cieri-M-D. Stearns-D-E. TI Reduction of grazing activity of two estuarine copepods in response to the exudate of a visual predator. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 157-163. AU Dupuy-C. Le-Gall-S. Hartmann-H-J. Breret-M. TI Retention of ciliates and flagellates by the oyster Crassostrea gigas in French Atlantic coastal ponds: protists as a trophic link between bacterioplankton and benthic suspension-feeders. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 165-175. AU Overholtzer-K-L. Motta-P-J. TI Comparative resource use by juvenile parrotfishes in the Florida Keys. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 177-187. AU Durand-J-P. Carvalho-F-P. Goudard-F. Pieri-J. Fowler-S-W. Cotret-O. TI 210Po binding to metallothioneins and ferritin in the liver of teleost marine fish. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 189-196. AU Wagner-C-M. Austin-H-M. TI Correspondence between environmental gradients and summer littoral fish assemblages in low salinity reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, USA. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 197-212. AU Arnal-C. Morand-S. Kulbicki-M. TI Patterns of cleaner wrasse density among three regions of the Pacific. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 213-220. AU Munk-P. Larsson-P-O. Danielssen-D-S. Moksness-E. TI Variability in frontal zone formation and distribution of gadoid fish larvae at the shelf break in the northeastern North Sea. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 221-233. AU Nevitt-G. TI Olfactory foraging in Antarctic seabirds: a species-specific attraction to krill odors. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 235-241. AU Waugh-S-M. Weimerskirch-H. Cherel-Y. Shankar-U. Prince-P-A. Sagar-P-M. TI Exploitation of the marine environment by two sympatric albatrosses in the Pacific Southern Ocean. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 243-254. AU Westgate-A-J. Tolley-K-A. TI Geographical differences in organochlorine contaminants in harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from the western North Atlantic. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 255-268. CC REVIEW AU Pechenik-J-A. TI On the advantages and disadvantages of larval stages in benthic marine invertebrate life cycles. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 269-297. CC NOTE AU Leclercq-N. Gattuso-J-P. Jaubert-J. TI Measurement of oxygen metabolism in open-top aquatic mesocosms: application to a coral reef community. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 299-304. CC COMMENTS AU Ianora-A. Miralto-A. Poulet-S-A. TI Are diatoms good or toxic for copepods? Reply to comment by Jonasdottir et al. SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 305-308. AU Huuskonen-H. TI Is otolith microstructure affected by latitude? SO Mar-Ecol-Prog-Ser. 1999 Feb 11. 177. P 309-310.