Inhibition of RhoA prevents Cryptococcus neoformans capsule glucuronoxylomannan-stimulated brain endothelial barrier disruption

Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is an opportunistic fungus that causes severe central nervous system (CNS) disease in immunocompromised individuals. Brain parenchyma invasion requires fungal traversal of the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we describe that Cn alters the brain endothelium by activating small GTPase RhoA, causing reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and tight junction modulation to regulate endothelial barrier permeability. We confirm that the main fungal capsule polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan is responsible for these alterations. We reveal a therapeutic benefit of RhoA inhibition by CCG-1423 in vivo. RhoA inhibition prolonged survival and reduced fungal burden in a murine model of disseminated cryptococcosis, supporting the therapeutic potential targeting RhoA in the context of cryptococcal infection. We examine the complex virulence of Cn in establishing CNS disease, describing cellular components of the brain endothelium that may serve as molecular targets for future antifungal therapies to alleviate the burden of life-threatening cryptococcal CNS infection.

Circulating Brucella species in wild animals of the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis of public health and economic importance worldwide. It affects a number of domestic animals, wild animals and humans. Human brucellosis originates from either livestock or wildlife. The species of Brucella circulating in wild animals in Tanzania is largely unknown due to insufficient surveillance. This study was carried out to identify Brucella species found in selected wildlife hosts in the Serengeti ecosystem.

METHODOLOGY

The study used a total of 189 archived samples that were obtained from cross-sectional studies previously conducted between 2000 and 2017 in the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania. Whole blood, serum and amniotic fluid collected from buffalos, lions, wildebeest, impala, zebra and hyena were available for DNA extraction. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. ovis and B. suis (AMOS PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting the bcsp31 and IS711 genes for Brucella genus detection and the IS711 targets alkB for B. abortus and BMEI1162 for B. melitensis were used to detect Brucella strains.

RESULTS

Out of the 189 samples tested, 12 (6.35 %) and 22 (11.6 %) were positive to AMOS-PCR and qPCR, respectively. Most of the positive samples were from lions (52.6 %) and buffaloes (19.6 %). Other animals that were positive included: wildebeest (13.6 %), impala (13.6 %), zebra (4.5 %) and hyena (4.5 %). Out of 22 positive samples, 16 (66.7 %) were identified as B. abortus and the other six samples did not amplify for neither B. abortus nor B. melitensis.

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of Brucella DNA in archived wild animal samples shows testing potential of samples collected from this population. The zoonotic species B. abortus and B. melitensis detected in wild animals have previously been reported in livestock and humans in the region. The findings suggest that, due to the contact network, some of the identified wild animal hosts in this study could be reservoirs for infections in domestic animals and humans within the Serengeti ecosystem while others are likely dead-end hosts. One Health control strategies and continuous surveillance programs in other wildlife reserved areas should be implemented to help predicting transmission in livestock and humans in the region.

A protein-truncating R179X variant in RNF186 confers protection against ulcerative colitis

Protein-truncating variants protective against human disease provide in vivo validation of therapeutic targets. Here we used targeted sequencing to conduct a search for protein-truncating variants conferring protection against inflammatory bowel disease exploiting knowledge of common variants associated with the same disease. Through replication genotyping and imputation we found that a predicted protein-truncating variant (rs36095412, p.R179X, genotyped in 11,148 ulcerative colitis patients and 295,446 controls, MAF=up to 0.78%) in RNF186, a single-exon ring finger E3 ligase with strong colonic expression, protects against ulcerative colitis (overall P=6.89 × 10(-7), odds ratio=0.30). We further demonstrate that the truncated protein exhibits reduced expression and altered subcellular localization, suggesting the protective mechanism may reside in the loss of an interaction or function via mislocalization and/or loss of an essential transmembrane domain.

First isolation, identification, phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Brucella abortus biovar 3 from dairy cattle in Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Brucellosis is a disease of worldwide public health and economic importance. Successful control is based on knowledge of epidemiology and strains present in an area. In developing countries, most investigations are based on serological assays. This study aimed at investigating a dairy herd experiencing abortions in order to establish within-herd seroprevalence to Brucella spp., identify, characterize Brucella strains by Multiple Loci Variable Number of Tandem Repeats Analysis (MLVA-VNTR) and investigate possible spillover to other species.

RESULTS

The within-herd seroprevalence in cattle (n = 200) was 48 % (95 % CI 41-55), using an indirect ELISA, while the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) yielded lower prevalence (21.5 %; 95 % CI 16-27). Two sheep (n = 35) and one goat (n = 50) were seropositive using ELISA while none of the dogs (n = 6) was positive with the RBT. Three Brucella were isolated from an aborted fetus and associated membranes. Real time PCR (IS711), Bruce-ladder and classical biotyping classified the isolates as B. abortus biovar 3. MLVA-VNTR revealed two different but closely related genotypes. The isolates showed unique profiles, providing the first genotypic data from Tanzania. These genotypes were not related to B. abortus biovar 3 reference strain Tulya originally isolated from a human patient in Uganda in 1958, unlike the genotypes isolated and characterized recently in Kenya. High within-herd prevalence, isolation of the pathogen and abortion confirm that B. abortus is circulating in this herd with cattle as reservoir hosts. A low seroprevalence in sheep and goats suggests a spillover of B. abortus from cattle to small ruminants in the herd.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first isolation and characterization of B. abortus biovar 3 from a dairy cow with abortion in Tanzania. The origin of the Tanzanian genotypes remain elusive, although they seem to be related to genotypes found in Europe, Turkey and China but not related to B. abortus biovar 3 reference strain or genotypes from Kenya. Importantly, replacement heifers are commonly sourced from large farms like this to smallholder farmers, which poses risk of spread of bacteria to other herds. B. abortus is a significant zoonotic risk and animal health problem in this production system, therefore further studies on humans is recommended.

Evaluation of AGR2 and AGR3 as candidate genes for inflammatory bowel disease

Linkage analyses have implicated chromosome 7p21.3 as a susceptibility region for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recently, the mouse phenotype with diarrhea and goblet cell dysfunction caused by anterior gradient protein 2 dysfunction was reported (European patent WO2004056858). The genes encoding for the human homologues AGR2 and AGR3 are localized on chromosome 7p21.3. The gene structures were verified and mutation detection was performed in 47 IBD patients. A total of 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested for association to ulcerative colitis (UC, N = 317) and Crohn's disease (CD, N = 631) in a German cohort and verified in a UK cohort of 384 CD and 311 UC patients. An association signal was identified in the 5' region of the AGR2 gene (most significant SNP hcv1702494, nominal P(TDT) = 0.011, P(case/control) = 0.0007, OR = 1.34, combined cohort). The risk haplotype carried an odds ratio of 1.43 in the German population (P = 0.002). AGR2 was downregulated in UC patients as compared to normal controls (P < 0.001) and a trend toward lower expression was seen in carriers of the risk alleles. Luciferase assays of the AGR2 promoter showed regulation by the goblet cell-specific transcription factors FOXA1 and FOXA2. In summary, AGR2 represents an interesting new avenue into the etiopathophysiology of IBD and the maintenance of epithelial integrity.

Locked-in syndrome in snakebite

Two young patients are described who made complete recovery from locked-in syndrome (LIS) after snakebites. LIS was a presenting feature in a patient of presumed snake bite who showed complete response to polyvalent Anti-snake venom (ASV). This case suggests that elapid snake bite should be suspected in unresponsive patient found in early morning in endemic areas of snake bite in monsoon season. The second case was admitted in complete LIS state with history of rapidly progressive ptosis, diplopia, ophthalmoplegia, bulbar symptoms and quadriparesis, 6 hours after snake bite. Complete improvement by ASV in second patient highlights the need of differentiation of complete LIS from coma and brain death in patient of snake bite, as former have good prognosis.

Gender-stratified analysis of DLG5 R30Q in 4707 patients with Crohn disease and 4973 controls from 12 Caucasian cohorts

BACKGROUND

DLG5 p.R30Q has been reported to be associated with Crohn disease (CD), but this association has not been replicated in most studies. A recent analysis of gender-stratified data from two case-control studies and two population cohorts found an association of DLG5 30Q with increased risk of CD in men but not in women and found differences between 30Q population frequencies for males and females. Male-female differences in population allele frequencies and male-specific risk could explain the difficulty in replicating the association with CD.

METHODS

DLG5 R30Q genotype data were collected for patients with CD and controls from 11 studies that did not include gender-stratified allele counts in their published reports and tested for male-female frequency differences in controls and for case-control frequency differences in men and in women.

RESULTS

The data showed no male-female allele frequency differences in controls. An exact conditional test gave marginal evidence that 30Q is associated with decreased risk of CD in women (p = 0.049, OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.00). There was also a trend towards reduced 30Q frequencies in male patients with CD compared with male controls, but this was not significant at the 0.05 level (p = 0.058, OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.01). When data from this study were combined with previously published, gender-stratified data, the 30Q allele was found to be associated with decreased risk of CD in women (p = 0.010, OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.97), but not in men.

CONCLUSION

DLG5 30Q is associated with a small reduction in risk of CD in women.

A novel approach for the adsorption of iodine-125 on silver wire as matrix for brachytherapy source for the treatment of eye and prostate cancer

The adsorption of iodine-125 on silver wire bits coated with palladium to be sealed in titanium capsules as brachytherapy sources was studied. A method was optimized to obtain quantitative adsorption of 125I on the palladium treated silver wires. A comparative evaluation of palladium coated and uncoated (bare) silver wires on the adsorption of 125I was made. While, the adsorption of bare silver wires showed low, inconsistent uptake (approximately 60%) of 125I with high leachability (approximately 4%), the Pd coated silver wires showed quantitative and consistent uptake of 125I (approximately 90%) and exhibited low leachability (0.01%). 125I adsorbed on Pd coated silver wires could be used as a matrix for the preparation of interstitial sources in eye and prostate cancer therapy.

Large thrombus in the pulmonary arteries in a case of atrial septal defect-Eisenmenger syndrome

A 41-year-old man with atrial septal defect-Eisenmenger syndrome presented with progressively worsening breathlessness. The echocardiogram, computerized tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax showed dilated pulmonary arteries and large thrombi in the right and left pulmonary arteries. Contrast-enhanced computerized tomographic scan was better than magnetic resonance imaging in picking up the thrombus. The possibility of in situ thrombus formation was considered more likely than thromboembolism, as there were none of the acute symptoms expected with the embolization of such large thrombi.

Six unaffected livebirths following preimplantation diagnosis for spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurodegenerative autosomal recessive disorder, second only in frequency to cystic fibrosis. In its most severe form, SMA type I (Werdnig-Hoffman), death invariably ensues before age 2 years from respiratory failure or infection. Around 98% of clinical cases of SMA are caused by the homozygous absence of a region of exons 7 and 8 of the telomeric copy of the SMN gene (SMN1) on chromosome 5. We have developed a novel means of preimplantation diagnosis of SMA using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of exon 7 of SMN, followed by a HinfI restriction digest of the PCR product enabling the important SMN1 gene to be distinguished from the centromeric SMN2 gene which has no clinical phenotype. This method was designed to reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosis. Five couples were treated using this method. Four proceeded to embryo transfer which resulted in six liveborns (one singleton, one twin and one triplet), all free of SMA. Embryo transfer was not performed in one cycle because of PCR contamination.

A genome-wide family-based linkage study of coeliac disease

The susceptibility to develop coeliac disease (CD) has a strong genetic component, which is not entirely explained by HLA associations. Two previous genome wide linkage studies have been performed to identify additional loci outside this region. These studies both used a sib-pair design and produced conflicting results. Our aim is to identify non-MHC genetic loci contributing to coeliac disease using a family based linkage study. We performed a genome wide search in 16 highly informative multiply affected pedigrees using 400 microsatellite markers with an average spacing of 10 cM. Linkage analysis was performed using lod score and model free methods. We identified two new potential susceptibility loci with lod scores of 1.9, at 10q23.1, and 16q23.3. Significant, but lower lod scores were found for 6q14 (1.2), 11p11 (1.5), and 19q13.4 (0.9), areas implicated in a previous genome wide study. Lod scores of 0.9 were obtained for both D78507, which lies 1 cM from the gammaT-cell receptor gene, and for D2S364, which lies 12 cM from the CTLA4 gene.

Identification of germline missense mutations and rare allelic variants in the ATM gene in early-onset breast cancer

Epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer in obligate ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) heterozygotes. We analyzed 100 samples from young breast cancer patients for mutations in ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), the gene responsible for the autosomal recessive condition, A-T, to determine whether A-T heterozygosity predisposes such individuals to develop breast cancer. These patients were selected from families with a moderate or absent family history of breast cancer and included a subset of 16 radiosensitive patients. Forty-four germline sequence variants were detected by fluorescent chemical cleavage of mismatch of RT-PCR products. These included seven rare variants found in nine patients (three described for the first time), but no truncating mutations. Although three variants were detected in the radiosensitive subset, this was not statistically significant compared to the nonradiosensitive group. One variant, G2765S, is likely to be a missense mutation, but the other six variants probably represent rare polymorphisms. However, five of the seven rare germline variants detected showed loss of heterozygosity of the wild-type ATM allele for one or more markers close to the ATM locus in matched tumor DNA. This high rate of somatic inactivation of ATM may indicate either that these rare variants play a role in breast cancer development or alternatively that a neighboring tumor suppressor gene is important for tumorigenesis. We found germline truncating ATM mutations to be rare in these young breast cancer patients and therefore they are unlikely to play a role in the etiology of their disease. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 26:286-294, 1999.

Family linkage study of the T-cell receptor genes in coeliac disease

BACKGROUND

The susceptibility to coeliac disease is genetically determined by possession of certain HLA DQ alleles, together with a one or more non-HLA genes. The central role of the T-cell receptor in disease pathogenesis makes the T-cell receptor genes strong candidates as disease susceptibility genes, and previous studies had provided equivocal ambiguous results.

METHODS

A pedigree based genetic linkage study was used to determine if any of the T-cell receptor genes have a role in the genetic aetiology of coeliac disease. Intragenic microsatellite markers were used to study T-cell receptor alpha, beta, and delta, while gamma was studied using two flanking microsatellites D7S484 and D7S629.

RESULTS

Conventional linkage analysis was performed using the MLINK computer package. Model-free linkage analysis was performed using MFLINK. No evidence of linkage between coeliac disease and the T-cell receptor genes was found in these pedigrees.

CONCLUSIONS

Mutations in the T-cell receptor genes are not implicated in the genetic aetiology of coeliac disease.

Genetic analysis of inflammatory bowel disease in a large European cohort supports linkage to chromosomes 12 and 16

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex disorder of unknown etiology. Epidemiological investigations suggest a genetic basis for IBD. Recent genetic studies have identified several IBD linkages. The significance of these linkages will be determined by studies in large patient collections. The aim of this study was to replicate IBD linkages on chromosomes 12 and 16 in a large European cohort.

METHODS

Three hundred fifty-nine affected sibling pairs from 274 kindreds were genotyped using microsatellite markers spanning chromosomes 12 and 16. Affection status of the sibling pairs was defined as Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).

RESULTS

Nonparametric statistical analyses showed linkage for both chromosomes. Two-point results for chromosome 12 peaked at D12S303 (logarithm of odds [LOD], 2.15; P = 0.003) for CD and at D12S75 (LOD, 0.92; P = 0.03) for UC. Multipoint analyses produced a peak LOD of 1.8 for CD. Chromosome 16 showed linkage for CD at marker D16S415 (LOD, 1.52; P = 0.007). Multipoint support peaked above markers D16S409 and D16S411 (LOD, 1.7).

CONCLUSIONS

These data are consistent with linkage of IBD to chromosomes 12 and 16. The replication of genetic risk loci in a large independent family collection indicates important and common susceptibility genes in these regions and will facilitate identification of genes involved in IBD.

Identification of missense and truncating mutations in the BRCA1 gene in sporadic and familial breast and ovarian cancer

The cloning of the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1, allows direct estimation of the proportion of these cancers in the general population which can be attributed to germline mutations in this gene. We have used a combination of SSCP, heteroduplex analysis, and chemical cleavage of mismatch to screen the BRCA1 gene for mutations in the germline of 42 patients with breast or ovarian cancer who either have a moderate family history of these cancers, or have no family history of malignancy but a very early onset of the disease. A total of 30 sequence variants were observed, eight of which have not been described previously. Three sequence changes detected by chemical cleavage or heteroduplex analysis were missed by SSCP. The variants included 13 missense mutations, which were assessed for their pathogenic implications. Two of these (M18T and A1708E) are nonconservative substitutions which are located in evolutionarily conserved regions of the gene: M18T lies just upstream of the RING finger motif, and A1708E abolishes the transcriptional transactivation activity of the carboxy-terminal region of BRCA1. Mutations were observed in eight patients overall (19.0%), and protein-truncating mutations occurred in five of 27 (18.5%) families with 1-3 cases of breast or ovarian cancer. The data suggest that a significant proportion of patients with a modest or no family history of these cancers may carry germline mutations in BRCA1.

A pedigree-based linkage study of coeliac disease: failure to replicate previous positive findings

Coeliac Disease (CD) is a gluten sensitive enteropathy characterised by villous atrophy and crypt cell hyperplasia. There is a tight HLA association between CD and the HLA DQ alleles DQA1*0501, DQB1*0201 (DQ2), arranged in either cis- or trans- configuration, are found in 98.9% of cases in Northern European populations and 80% in Greeks and Ashkenazi Jews resident in Israel. We have previously shown that the HLA alleles and CD do not co-segregate in families multiply affected with CD, suggesting that the HLA association is entirely due to the necessity to have these normal DQ alleles for CD to manifest, and that the main genetic predisposition lies at a locus other than the MHC. It is therefore possible to conduct genetic linkage studies in order to isolate the non HLA genes which predispose to CD. Recently a group conducted a genome screen for the non HLA genes in an affected sib-pair analysis and identified four non HLA loci with positive lod scores. We examined these loci using a pedigree based linkage study. Our pedigree sample consisted of a cohort of 21 families with 60 affected individuals and 125 unaffected family members. We used 11 microsatellite markers at the loci implicated and analysed the genotype data using both MLINK and MFLINK to detect linkage. The MLINK and MFLINK analyses did not provide any evidence to support the earlier findings, although the difficulties involved in analysing complex diseases mean that one cannot be certain that these regions do not harbour susceptibility loci, at least in some families.

Fanconi anaemia research: current status and prospects

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease featuring diverse clinical symptoms in addition to chromosomal instability and hypersensitivity to crosslinking agents. The much increased risk of FA patients developing leukaemia and squamous cell carcinomas makes FA an important model disease for cancer predisposition. Studies documenting the characteristics of FA cells and their response to environmental toxins have failed thus far to disclose the basic cellular process that is primarily disturbed in FA cells. Complementation analysis suggests that mutations in at least four different genes can cause FA (complementation groups FA-A to FA-D). The cDNA for FA-C has been cloned and found to encode a novel protein that localises to the cytoplasmic compartment of cells. Even though the protein's function is still unknown at present, research has now reached the point from where rapid progress to a detailed understanding of this syndrome may be foreseen.

A multicenter study on genotype-phenotype correlations in the fragile X syndrome, using direct diagnosis with probe StB12.3: the first 2,253 cases

We report the results of a 14-center collaborative study of genotype-phenotype correlations in 318 fragile X families; these families comprised 2,253 individuals, 1,344 of whom carried a fragile X mutation and 693 of whom had a typical full fragile X mutation. This study demonstrates that direct DNA diagnosis establishes the genotype at the FRAXA-FMR-1 locus. There was a significantly higher prevalence of "mosaic" cases among males who carry a full mutation (12%) than among females who carry a full mutation (6%); the mosaic males had a larger expansion than did the mosaic females. Mental status of premutated individuals did not differ from that of those with a normal genotype. Both the abnormal methylation of the FMR-1-EagI site and the size of the expansion were highly correlated with cytogenetics, facial dysmorphism, macroorchidism, and mental retardation (MR). Among female carriers of a full mutation, those with MR had significantly larger expansion than did those without MR. Among 164 independent couples, 3 unrelated husbands carried a premutation that suggests that the prevalence of fragile X premutations in the general population is approximately 0.9% of the X chromosomes. Our data validate the use of direct DNA testing for fragile X diagnosis as well as for carrier identification and support and complete the established relationships among the DNA results and the cytogenetic, physical, and psychological aspects of the disease.

Development and validation of laboratory procedures for preimplantation diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

In order to develop and validate methods for the preimplantation diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), we have established and evaluated PCR assays for the analysis of four loci within the DMD gene and for two Y chromosome sequences in single cells. A model system using buccal cells picked from mouthwash samples has been used for an extensive evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of the assays, and each assay has been tested in samples containing single cells, two cells, and three cells per tube. The four DMD and two Y assays have been combined in duplex and triplex reactions to enable simultaneous diagnosis of DMD and of fetal sex. One of the DMD markers is a highly polymorphic simple tandem repeat locus which produces a basic DNA profile, and provides a control for contamination by foreign DNA. Amplification of DMD or Y sequences was observed in 78 to 92% of single male cells, rising to 96% and 97% in tubes containing two or three male cells respectively. Coamplification of both a DMD and a Y sequence together occurred with a mean success of 74% in single male cells, increasing to 93% with two, and 95% with three cells per tube. With appropriate precautions, we believe that it is now possible to proceed to clinical application of these procedures.

[The use of urea carbon 14 in breath tests as diagnostic method for Helicobacter pylori infections]

The Helicobacter Pylori has been indicated as a pathologic agent in the pathogenesis of antral gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers and probably in gastric cancer. Due to the high incidence of this infection in our place, we decided to look for a diagnostic method quick to perform, sensitive, reliable and no invasive. The breath test of 14C urea, based in the production of urea by the H. Pylori, represents this alternative. We have found, using does of 1 microCi, a high correlation with the diagnosis of H. Pylori by biopsies. We determined as negative less than 100 DPM, doubtful between 100 and 200 DPM and positive more than 200 DPM. The high pick of the curve keeps tight relation with the degree of infection. We checked this when we suppressed the H. Pylori with bismuth subsalicylate. The breath 14C Urea test showed high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (85.71%). We conclude that this breath test is an alternative way of diagnosing and follow up for H. Pylori infections. It is highly sensitive, reproducible and no invasive.

Uptake of cystic fibrosis testing in primary care: supply push or demand pull?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the acceptability and feasibility of screening for carriers of cystic fibrosis in a primary care setting.

DESIGN

Follow up study over 15 months of patients offered carrier testing by mouthwash.

SETTING

A general practice in inner London.

SUBJECTS

5529 patients aged 18-45 invited by various methods and combinations of methods (letter, booklet, personal approach) for testing.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Uptake of screening, anxiety, and knowledge of test.

RESULTS

957 (17%) invitees were screened over the 15 months. 28 carriers and no carrier couples were detected. Uptake rates were 12% (59/502 patients) among patients invited by letter and tested by appointment; 9% (47/496) among patients invited by letter, with leaflet, and tested by appointment; 4% (128/2953) among patients invited by letter six weeks before the end of the study and tested by appointment; 17% (81/471) among patients offered passive opportunistic testing; 70% (453/649) among patients offered active opportunistic testing; and 25% (22/88) among patients offered active opportunistic testing by appointment. A short term rise in anxiety among those given a positive test result had dissipated by three months. At three months about one fifth and one third of those given positive and negative results respectively did not understand their results correctly.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the strongest variable in determining uptake of screening is the active approach by a health professional offering immediate testing. It remains to be resolved whether the high uptake rates achieved by active recruitment indicate a supply push for this new test rather than a demand from the population.

Consistent linkage of dominantly inherited osteogenesis imperfecta to the type I collagen loci: COL1A1 and COL1A2

The segregation of COL1A1 and COL1A2, the two genes which encode the chains of type I collagen, was analyzed in 38 dominant osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) pedigrees by using polymorphic markers within or close to the genes. This was done in order to estimate the consistency of linkage of OI genes to these two loci. None of the 38 pedigrees showed evidence of recombination between the OI gene and both collagen loci, suggesting that the frequency of unlinked loci in the population must be low. From these results, approximate 95% confidence limits for the proportion of families linked to the type I collagen genes can be set between .91 and 1.00. This is high enough to base prenatal diagnosis of dominantly inherited OI on linkage to these genes even in families which are too small for the linkage to be independently confirmed to high levels of significance. When phenotypic features were compared with the concordant collagen locus, all eight pedigrees with Sillence OI type IV segregated with COL1A2. On the other hand, Sillence OI type I segregated with both COL1A1 (17 pedigrees) and COL1A2 (7 pedigrees). The concordant locus was uncertain in the remaining six OI type I pedigrees. Of several other features, the presence or absence of presenile hearing loss was the best predictor of the mutant locus in OI type I families, with 13 of the 17 COL1A1 segregants and none of the 7 COL1A2 segregants showing this feature.

Effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine on the rate of cerebrospinal fluid production in rabbit

Infusion of 5-hydroxytryptamine in mock cerebrospinal fluid of rabbits lowered cerebrospinal fluid production dose-dependently by nearly 30%. The effect was amplified in the presence of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, nialamide. The 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced inhibition was partly counteracted by ketanserin, and further addition of practolol completely blocked the reduction in cerebrospinal fluid formation, suggesting that both 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors and beta 1-adrenergic receptors were involved in the response mediated by both the secretory epithelium and the vascular bed of the plexus.

Genetic analysis of NF1: identification of close flanking markers on chromosome 17

The gene causing von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis, or NF1, has been more precisely localized in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 17. Narrowing of the location for the disease became possible through the identification of eight new DNA probe genetic markers in the centromeric region. Markers that closely flank the centromere also closely flank the NF1 gene. Although there was evidence against this localization in one recombinant, a review of the clinical records revealed a borderline diagnosis of NF1. Significant sex differences in recombination were observed in the pericentric region, and odds for different orders were less discriminating when sex differences were considered in multilocus analyses. The location of the NF1 gene with respect to the centromere could not be determined because recombinants between NF1 and the centromere were not detected in the set of families tested.

Inherited haemoglobin variants in a South African population

We present the findings of a survey to determine the prevalence of inherited haemoglobin disorders in the Coloured (mixed ethnic origin) population of South Africa. A variety of haemoglobins was found. Of the structural variants, Hb E and Hb S were the most common, the former probably originating from South-East Asia and the latter from East Africa and possibly Madagascar. The alpha+ (-alpha) thalassaemia haplotype is particularly common with an observed frequency of 0.023. Beta thalassaemia was rather less common, while hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin was found for the first time in this population group, occurring in two subjects.

Five adults with mild sickle cell anemia share a beta S chromosome with the same haplotype

Five adult SS patients from Qatar, Turkey, and South Africa with mild disease, had greatly elevated Hb F and specific patterns of polymorphic sites on their beta S chromosomes. One subject had an alpha-thalassemia (-alpha/-alpha). The haplotypes were the common type #19, associated with severe disease, and type #31, not seen thus far in an SS patient (numbering system of Antonarakis et al). The data suggest that modifications in the DNA of the beta S #31 chromosome promotes the synthesis of gamma chains.

South African human genes in health and disease--a molecular genetics approach

Recombinant DNA technology is playing an increasingly important role in diagnostic confirmation, carrier detection and the prenatal diagnosis of inherited disorders. This article summarizes current progress in the application of this technology to clinically important genetic conditions in South Africa and outlines its potential role in the future practice of medical genetics in this country.

Mild clinical course in two South African cases of sickle-cell anaemia

Clinical, haematological and gene mapping data are presented on two South African cases of sickle-cell anaemia. Both individuals, who are siblings, have experienced a very mild clinical course. Restriction endonuclease analysis showed that 1 sibling was homozygous for alpha+-thalassaemia (genotype alpha-/alpha-), whereas the other had a full complement of alpha-globin genes. Both showed markedly elevated levels of Hb F. The maintenance of high levels of Hb F is the most probable explanation for the moderate clinical expression of the disorder in these patients.

Production of mosaic lethals in different germ cell stages of drosophila by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

The delayed effect of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was studied in Drosophila melanogaster by the proportion of mosaic progeny produced after this treatment. Following injection of the chemical into wild type males, complete and mosaic sex-linked recessive lethals were scored by the Muller-5 method, in five successive broods representing the different stages of spermatogenesis. All broods showed significant increase over the control in the frequencies of complete lethals with gradual decrease in mutation rate from the post-meiotic stages to the pre-meiotic ones. In the case of mosaic lethals, too, the post-meiotic stages were generally more sensitive; but the increase over the control was significant only for the mature spermatozoa. The extension of the experiment to F4 generation showed that a mosaic F1 female may produce further mosaic progeny. The production of lethal mutations in successive generations after treatment with MNNG supports the view that chemically induced instabilities can be transmitted as such over several generations.

The mutagenic effect of the mercury fungicide Ceresan M in Drosophila melanogaster

After the 1972 mercury poisoning in Iraq, there was widespread concern over the use of mercury fungicides in seed dressing. The ethyl mercury fungicide Ceresan M, claimed to be responsible for the two earlier outbreaks of poisoning in 1956 and 1960 in Iraq, was tested in Drosophila to study its mutagenic potentialities. Of the two concentrations used, namely 30 and 40 mg of the chemical in 100 cc of the food medium, the latter treatment resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of sex-linked recessive lethals.