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Summary Seven major histocompatibility (B) complex recombinants were evaluated for anti-Rous sarcoma response. In experiment 1, the BR5(F21-G19) recombinant haplotype both homozygous and in heterozygous combinations with B19 and B21 haplotypes were compared to B19/B19 and B21/B21 chickens to determine the relative influence of the BF versus BG chromosomal segments on regression of Rous sarcoma virus-induced tumours. In experiment 2, six recombinant haplotypes BR1(F24-G23), BR2(F2-G23), BR3(F2-G23), BR4(F2-G23), BR6(F21-G23) and BR8(F2-G2a,23) present in chickens heterozygous for normal haplotypes B19, B23 or B26 were compared for anti-sarcoma response. A total of 1328 chickens were blood typed for B alloanti-gens at 17 days of age, inoculated in the wingweb with Rous sarcoma virus at 6 weeks and monitored for anti-tumour immune response over a 10-week period. Genotypes which shared the same BF haplotype, but differed in their BG regions, had similar anti-tumour responses, implicating the BF but not the BG region in tumour regression. Chickens carrying BF2 or BF21 had a strong anti-tumour response, while BF24 conferred a weaker response, regardless of the accompanying normal haplotype.

Conditions for transformation of the solventogenic anaerobe Clostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-592 with plasmid DNA via electroporation are described. Shuttle plasmid pHR106 and two derivatives constructed in this study were transferred and were expressed in this organism. One recombinant derivative of pHR106 was constructed by separately subcloning the clostridial tetracycline (tetP) resistance genes into pHR106. The second vector conferring erythromycin resistance was obtained via in-vivo recombination. The new constructs, termed pRZL and pRZE respectively, were then transferred to C. beijerinckii in order to evaluate their potential as shuttle vectors. The recombinant plasmids were shown to transfer to C. beijerinckii and were expressed as autonomously replicating vectors. The use of these plasmids as cloning and shuttle vectors for C. beijerinckii is discussed.

Bacillus subtilis phages 41c and SPPI were compared. They were identical in their morphologies, their patterns of infectivity, and the buoyant densities of native and denatured DNA. However, differences in plaque morphologies, protein subunit molecular weights, and cleavage patterns generated by treatment of each DNA with restriction endonucleases indicated that phage 41c was not identical to SPPI. It is proposed that phage 41c be considered a separate member of the group-5B. subtilis phages, a group currently comprising only phage SPPI.

Six-week-old second generation progeny from the cross of inbred Lines 61 and 151, segregating into three major histocompatibility (B) complex groups (B2/B2, B2/B5, and B5/B5). were inoculated subcutaneously in the wingweb with one of three pseudotypes of Rous sarcoma virus. Chickens that died during a 10-week period after inoculation were necropsied and scrutinized for gross metastasis and histological sections of at least one lesion per affected organ examined for Rous sarcoma-transformed cells, By definition, a metastatic tumor was one located in an organ or tissue other than the primary inoculation site and having the histological appearance of a Rous sarcoma. Sarcomas developed in 1144 chickens, 390 of which died with tumor. For B2/B2, compared to B5/B5 hosts, mortality was 8 vs. 93%, median days to death were 45 vs. 31, and metastatic frequency was significantly lower, 32 vs. 58%. Disseminated lesions were significantly less frequent in females than males and grew preferentially in the heart and pericardial sac. Because the frequency of metastasis was significanlty lower in B2/B2 than in B5/B5 chickens, a gene(s) within, or closely linked to, the B complex sharply retards the spread of Rous sarcoma virus-induced tumors.

Protocols for protoplast formation, L-colony cultivation, and regeneration ofClostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-592, B-593 andC. acetobutylicum ATCC 10132 were developed. Two osmotically reinforced media were formulated. Protoplasts of B-592, B-593, and ATCC 10132 grew as cell wall-deficient forms (L-colonies) when plated on the first medium (BLM) and continued to do so through at least 3 passages on this medium. The second (BRM) permitted the L-colonies to regenerate cell walls after transfer to this medium. TransferredC. beijerinckii B-592 L-colonies reverted to bacillary colonies at a frequency of 25%. Likewise, L-colonies of B-593 andC. acetobutylicum ATCC 10132 could be regenerated at frequencies of 7.0 and 8.6%, respectively. Thus, these procedures are suitable for genetic engineering of these industrial microorganisms using protoplast manipulation techniques.

Regional Poultry Research Laboratory (RPRL) inbred lines 6(1), 6(3), and 7(2) and F1, F2, and reciprocal backcross progenies of these lines were used to investigate host-gene effects upon the regression of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-induced tumors. Lines 6(1) and 6(3) were susceptible to subgroup A and C lymphoid leukosis (LL) viruses and line 7(2) was resistant to subgroup A but was segregating for susceptibility to subgroup C LL virus. Viruses of RSV subgroups A and C were used. Lines 6(1), 6(3), and 7(2) were homozygous for shared blood group alleles B2, C5, L1 and r. The incidence of tumor regression was higher in line 6(3) than in 7(2), and in reciprocal F1 crosses of these lines was of the same order of magnitude as in line 6(3). Progeny from F1 generation parents mated to line 6(3) had a higher frequency of regression than offspring from F1 generation parents mated to line 7(2). The frequency of regression in F2 generation offspring was intermediate between the two backcrosses. The data suggest that either a locus (or loci) other than L and B has a role in Rous tumor regression in this species or the immune response region of the B blood group-major histocompatibility complex differs in the two lines even though the serological and/or graft vs. host regions have not been shown to differ.

When donor and recipient strains of Escherichia coli were added to columns containing Cellex-P (a cation-exchange cellulose), more than 80% of the female cells passed through the column but only 11% or less of the male cells were eluted. However, when donor strains were blended before their addition to the column, the majority of these cells were eluted. These results indicated that the filamentous appendages termed F pili (which are removed by blending) were the structures responsible for the adherence of donor cells to the cellulose.

Lymphocytes from chickens homozygous (B2B2) at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) were tested for cytotoxic against five types of target chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Lymphocytes from B2B2 chickens bearing RSV-induced tumors lysed in vitro targets of B2B2 and B5B5 RSV-infected CEF and B5B5 normal CEF, but did not lyse B2B2 and B24B24 normal CEF. Lymphocytes from normal B2B2 chickens did not lyse any of the five types of CEF targets. Alloantisera absorption studies showed that both RSV-infected and uninfected CEF shared alloantigens, in particular B-F alloantigens, with syngeneic erythrocytes. Absorption with B2B2 RSV-infected CEF significantly lowered the titer of B2B2 anti-B5B5 alloantisera. Cross-reactivity between B5 antigen(s) and tumor-associated antigen was suggested and the nature of the cross-reactivity was discussed. It is hypothesized that this cross-reactivity prevents B5B5 chickens from recognizing the RSV-induced tumors as foreign, enhances tumor growth and leads to death of the host.

An F- lac plasmid from Escherichia coli was transferred to virulent Yersinia pestis , resulting in the repression of virulence. The Y. pestis F- lac clones retained all of the known virulence traits but were avirulent and calcium independent. Every lac segregant derived from the F- lac clones was fully virulent and calcium dependent.

Chickens with B2B2 MHC genotypes were made partically tolerant to B5 MHC cell-surface antigens and the fate of their Rous-sarcoma-virus (RSV)-induced tumors was determined. B2B2 chickens partially tolerant to viable or lysed white blood cells (WBC) or viable red blood cells (RBC) from B5B5 chickens had a significantly higher incidence of tumor progression than untreated, PBS-treated, or B2B2 chickens inoculated with WBC from other B2B2 chickens. The criteria for tolerance were absence of antibody titer to the cell type inoculated and acceptance of allografts from B5B5 donors by B2B2 chickens. Graft-vs-host reactions occurred only in B2B2 chickens inoculated with viable WBC from B5B5 chickens. It appears that B2B2 chickens partially tolerant to B5 antigens failed to mount a successful immune response to RSV-induced tumors partly because of a B5 MHC antigen(s) cross-reacted with a tumor associated antigen(s) thereby severely limiting B2B2 host recognition of the tumor as foreign. Since WBC and RBC cell-surface antigens appear to contribute similarly to the effect, the B-F- region of the MHC may be involved.

Response to Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-induced tumors was studied in Regional Poultry Research Laboratory (RPRL) lines 61, 63, 72, 100, 151, and 15I5 and in Reaseheath line C, all highly inbred White Leghorn stocks. Virus inoculations were made in chickens at 6 weeks of age. Tumors were scored subjectively for size on a regular basis and in some instances a tumor profile index (TPI) was assigned which characterized tumor development over a 10 week period for each chicken (TPI 1 = complete regression in 28 days; TPI 5 = terminal tumor). The frequency of tumor regression, terminal tumors, and metastases and mean TPI was examined. The incidence of tumor regression ranged from 92% in line 61 to 0 % in lines 151 and 15I5. The frequency of terminal tumors varied from 100% in line 151 to 2% in line61, while metastasis in chickens with terminal tumors differed from 92% in line 15I5 to 0% in line 61. Mean TPI ranged from 2.0 in line 61 to 4.6 in line 15I5 and 4.7 in line C. The erythrocyte alloantigen genotype at the B blood group locus, (part of the B complex, MHC) and 11 additional blood group loci were known for each of the lines. The data indicate that genetic differences in tumor regression may be pronounced between inbred lines which share similar, if not identical, B locus erythrocyte alloantigens and that other unknown genes are also involved.

The lytic cycle of Bacillus subtilis phage 41c required the presence of at least 10 mM-calcium. In the absence of this ion, the plaquing efficiency of the virus was reduced to less than 0.1. Likewise, replacement of Ca2+ with other divalent ions (Ba2+, Sr2+, Mg2+, Mn2+) resulted in reduced efficiencies. Adsorption of 41c was Ca2+-dependent, requiring concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10mM. Although more than 90% of the phage adsorbed at 0.1 mM-Ca2+, successful infection could only be achieved at higher Ca2+ levels. Sub-optimal concentrations of the ion resulted in the loss of 90% of infected centres within 1 min after the initiation of infection, indicating an early post-adsorption ion requirement. Penetration of experiments with 32P-labelled phage DNA indicated than an irreversible inhibition of injection was occurring in the majority of the phage-bacterium complexes. A third level of cation involvement became apparent when phage-bacterium complexes in which penetration had occurred exhibited a greatly reduced burst size. The post-penetration ionic requirement occurred early in the infection process since dilution of infected complexes into Ca2+-free medium at 2.5 min p.i. resulted in reduced phage yields. The requirement was dispensable after 6 min p.i., since infected complexes diluted into Ca2+-free medium at this time exhibited a normal one-step growth curve. Analysis of messenger RNA production by molecular DNA-RNA hybridization techniques indicated that transcriptional events were similar in the presence and absence of Ca2+. At present, the identification of the third ion-dependent stage is unresolved.

A 51Cr uptake microcytotoxicity assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of lymphocytes from chickens bearing Rous sarcomas. Differences in lymphocyte cytotoxicity among individual chickens were statistically significant. Lymphocytes from chickens regressing (or having regressed) their tumors were significantly more cytotoxic than lymphocytes from hosts with progressing tumors. Lymphocytes from chickens with progressing tumors tended to enhance tumor cell growth in vitro.

The episome F-lac was transferred from Escherichia coli F-lac into virulent strains of Pasteurella pestis. The resulting strains of P. pestis F-lac were avirulent in mice but segregated clones that were fully virulent. This suppression of virulence by F-lac was correlated with a concomitant suppression of the calcium requirement, which is known to be associated with virulence in P. pestis.