VT Type Research Articles

Genes coding for Shiga-like toxins in bovine verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) strains belonging to different O:K:H serotypes

Forty-six verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) strains isolated from diarrhoeic and healthy calves in Spain were examined for DNA sequences homologous to genes for verotoxins (VT1 and VT2) and enterotoxins (LT-I, LT-II, STaH, STaP and STb). Hybridisation showed that 26 (57%) of VTEC strains carried VT1 genes, 13 (28%) possessed VT2 genes, and 7 (15%) carried both VT1 and VT2 genes. No VTEC strains hybridised with DNA probes for enterotoxins. A correlation was found between the serotype and type of VT produced. Thus, all strains of serotypes O26:K-:H11 (13 strains), O103:K-:H2 (3 strains) and O128:K?:H- (4 strains) hybridised with the VT1 probe only, whereas all strains of serotypes O4:K-:H4 (3 strains) and O113:K-:H21 (4 strains) were positive with the VT2 probe only. By contrast, O81:K?:H28 (2 strains) and O157:K-:H- (2 strains) strains hybridised with both VT1 and VT2 probes. One strain of serotype O157:K-:H7 was VT2 positive.

Possible mechanisms for the powerful actions of neuropeptides.

In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the powerful actions of neuropeptides, the present article has emphasized the unique ability of neuropeptides to act as VT signals, which via high-affinity G-protein coupled receptors can exert long-lasting actions and control synaptic transmission via receptor-receptor interactions. Also of substantial importance is the ability of neuropeptides to act as a set of signals via the formation of different types of active fragments, which can act as negative-feedback or positive-feedback signals to modulate the response elicited by the parent peptide and to give origin to syndromic responses. Also in the actions of the fragments on the neuronal network, receptor-receptor interactions may play an important role both by modulating the parent peptide receptors and by modulating other types of VT and/or WT receptors. Future work will have to evaluate the role of neuropeptides as transcellular signals and as regulators of neuronal excitabilities after the formation of carbamates, but certainly new important developments are within the horizon of today's research.

Diluting segment in avian kidney. I. Characterization of transepithelial voltages.

Renal tubules from the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix, were perfused in vitro to characterize the transepithelial voltage (Vt). The thick limb (TL) of the mammalian-type (MT) nephron showed Vt positive in the lumen (+9.1 +/- 0.7 mV, n = 35). The Vt decreased with increases in hydrostatic perfusion pressure. Furosemide (lumen), Na cyanide (bath), and ouabain (bath) reversibly reduced Vt. Removal of Cl or Na from the perfusate and the bath decreased Vt of the TL from +10.3 +/- 3.0 to -0.3 +/- 0.3 (n = 5) and from +7.4 +/- 1.5 to +1.2 +/- 0.2 mV (n = 8), respectively. The distal tubule of the reptilian-type (RT) nephron showed two types of Vt: a lumen-negative Vt in the late segment and a lumen-positive Vt in the early segment that is in close contact with the parent glomerulus. Both voltages were reversibly reduced by ouabain and Na cyanide. These results suggest that in quail the TL of the MT nephron resembles the thick ascending limb of the mammalian kidney with both Na and Cl required for generation of luminal positivity and the distal tubule of the RT nephron appears functionally heterogeneous.

Interference between vibration-to-translation and vibration-to-vibration energy transfer modes in diatomic molecules at high collision energies

An explicit time dependent approach for simultaneous VT and VV energy transfer in diatom–diatom collisions is explored using the exponential form of ladder operators in the solution of the Schrödinger equation of motion. The collision of two hydrogen molecules is chosen to illustrate the extent of interference between VT and VV modes among various vibrational states. While vibrational energy transfer processes of nominally VT type can be treated with pure VT mode at low collision energies, the intermode coupling is found to be very important at collision energies of several ℏω. The occurrence of the coupling appears to be nearly universal in vibrational transitions at such energies. Exceptions to the coupling have been discussed.

Morphometric study of the development of Purkinje cell dendritic trees in the mouse using vertex analysis.

Vertices are the points in an arborescence which interconnect segments and comprise terminal or pendant vertices (Vp), nodal or branching points and the root point. Branching points may be dichotomous (Vd) or trichomtomous (Vt), etc., and are subdivided into distinct two-dimensional topological entities according to the number of terminal vertices they drain, i.e. Vds comprise primary vertices (Va), connecting two Vps; secondary vertices (Vb), connecting one Vp and one Vd or one Vt; and tertiary vertices (Vc), connecting either two Vds, two Vts or one Vt and one Vd. The four types of Vt (Va', Vb', Vc', Vd') similarly connect three, two, one and zero Vps respectively. Each Vt may be transformed into two Vds thus, Va' = Va + Vb; Vb' = Va/3 + 4Vb/3 + Vc/3; Vc' = Vb + Vc and Vd' = 2Vc. Analysis proceeds by transforming mixed trees containing varying proportions of Vds and Vts into entirely dichotomous branching structures. The topology is then defined by the Va/Vb ratio which has a unique value according to the mode of growth and the frequency of Vts. Vertices are ordered by a centrifugal technique. The frequency distribution of vertices of different order allow the changes in growth characteristics and in remodelling to be detected within particular regions of the tree. Metrical parameters are readily incorporated into the analysis since all vertices are interconnected by segments of finite length and are given the same order magnitude as the vertex they drain. The analytical capabilities of the method are exemplified by its application to the study of growth and plasticity in the dendritic trees of Purkinje cells in the mouse. Growth is defined in metrical and topological terms and sites of reorganization within the mature tree are identified.