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A B Champion

Publications and source records attributed to A B Champion.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1980

Evolution in Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The relationships among 93 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens were investigated by (1) a numerical taxonomic analysis on the results of 150 phenotypic tests, (2) DNA hybridization studies using 16 reference strains, (3) quantitative microcomplement fixation studies using six reference strains with antibodies directed against the protein azurin. In general, the strains fell into distinct clusters. Assignment to these clusters on the basis of azurin immunological similarity showed 98% agreement with assignment based on DNA homology, suggesting that many genes will follow the same pattern. Of the strains that clustered on the basis of genotype (DNA, azurin) 88% also clustered on the basis of phenotype. The occasional noncongruency observed between the genotypic and phenotypic data may be due to the variable rates of phenotypic evolution. These results provide a perspective on the roles of horizontal and vertical transfer of genes in the evolution of this bacterial group.

Azurin↗
PubMed1977

Ferredoxin and formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase: comparative studies with Clostridium acidiurici, Clostridium cylindrosporum, and newly isolated anaerobic uric acid-fermenting strains.

Six strains of Clostridium acidiurici and three strains of C. cylindrosporum were isolated from soil samples by enrichment culture with uric acid as the source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. The newly isolated strains were characterized by their spore morphology and the amounts of glycine and formate formed by the fermentation of uric acid. The strains were easily identified as belonging to one species or the other on the basis of spore morphology and formate production. The crystal properties and spectra of the native ferredoxins of all the strains isolated and the amino acid composition and partial carboxy-terminal sequence of all their apoferredoxins were determined. All the ferredoxins were tested for cross-reactivity with antiserum to C. acidiurici ferredoxin by microcomplement fixation. Five of the six C. acidiurici strains, which had ferredoxins with amino acid compositions identical to that from C. acidiurici, also showed immunological identity (immunological distance = 0.0). These results suggest sequence identity. The one strain with a different amino acid composition failed to show complete cross-reactivity. Two of the three C. cylindrosporum strains have ferredoxin amino acid compositions identical to that from C. cylindrosporum. The third strain had a minimum of five differences in sequence. All C. cylindrosporum strains had ferredoxins that differed considerably from C. acidiurici strains (minimum of eight to nine differences), and none of these ferredoxins cross-reacted with antisera to C. acidiurici ferredoxin. Antisera were prepared to formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase from C. acidiurici and C. cylindrosporum, and all possible comparisons were made by using immunodiffusion and microcomplement fixation. There is more intraspecies variation in the synthetases than in the ferredoxins; however, the results suggest considerable interspecies differences in both proteins. These results suggest a low degree of genomic relatedness between the two species, which contrasts sharply with their apparent high degree of phenotypic similarity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Immunological comparison of azurins of known amino acid sequence. Dependence of cross-reactivity upon sequence resemblance.

To examine further the dependence of immunological cross-reactivity on sequence resemblance among proteins, we carried out micro-complement fixation studies with rabbit antisera to bacterial azurins of known amino acid sequence. There is a strong correlation (r = 0.9) between number of amino acid substitutions and degree of antigenic difference (immunological distance) among these azurins. The antigenic effects of amino acid substitutions are thus approximately equal and approximately additive. Similar observations and inferences were made before with a series of bird lysozymes. Indeed, the same approximate relationship between immunological distance (y) and percent difference in amino acid sequence (x) holds for both azurins and lysozymes, namely y congruent to 5x. An explanation is given for the dependence of immunological cross-reactivity on sequence resemblance among proteins. This entails reviewing evidence regarding the nature and number of antigenic sites on globular protein antigens as well as evidence for the existence of evolutionary biases against substitutions that are internal or cause large conformational changes. The explanation we give may apply only to those naturally occurring, globular, monomeric, isofunctional proteins whose sequences differ substantially from that of any rabbit protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro function and in vivo viability of stored platelet concentrates. Effect of a secondary plasticizer component of PVC storage bags.

Previous studies have shown that CL-2399 (Cutter) and PL-130 (Fenwal) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic bags are unsatisfactory for storage of platelet concentrates (PC) at 22 degrees C. In an effort to explain the effects of plastic bags, the chemical make-up of CL-2399 and PL-130 PVC films was determined and compared with that of P1-146 (Fenwal) PVC, which is satisfactory for PC storage at 22 degrees C. The only significant difference between the three materials was the incorporation of tetrahydrofurfuryl oleate (THFO) as a secondary plasticizer in CL-2399 and PL-130. The response of platelets to aggregating agents, uptake of serotonin, recovery from hyptonic stress, and serotonin release during storage following storage in a modified CL-2399 plastic prepared without THFO and designated CL-3000 (Cutter) was equivalent to PL-146 and far superior to CL-2399. In vivo studies in two laboratories of platelets stored in CL-3000 bags showed satisfactory recovery (56 +/- 4.2% and 46.7 +/- 2.7%) and survival (6.4 +/- 0.4 days and 7.4 +/- 0.6 days). From these studies we conclude that the THFO secondary plasticizer component of PL-130 and CL-2399 is the cause of the poor platelet viability of platelets stored in these plastic bags. The mechanism of impairment is not known. The causative agent(s) may be degradation products of THFO (formed during manufacture of the PVC film) that are leached from the plastic into PC during storage.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of temperature and mode of agitation on the resuspension of platelets during preparation of platelet concentrates.

A problem arose in a blood bank in which about 10 percent of platelet concentrates (PC) observed at day 1 had a large number of macroscopic aggregates. The aggregates were clumps of platelets that did not go into suspension during preparation of PC. These units were set aside for observation. A maximum of 25 percent were stored on a circular rotator; the remainder were stored on either an elliptical rotator or horizontal shaker. By the end of storage, 6 percent of the units still had a large number of clumps. This percentage was reduced to 2.4 percent, when all clumped units were stored on a circular rotator. The number of clumped units observed at day 1 and at the end of storage were reduced dramatically when the temperature of the laboratory (18-19 degrees C), centrifuge (20 degrees C) and storage environmental chamber (22 degrees C) were increased to 24 degrees C. The units with clumps at day 5 were reduced from 225 (out of 8316) to 25 (out of 7137).

Blood Preservation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors affecting white cell content in platelet concentrates.

In this study, we investigated the factors affecting white cell content in platelet concentrates. White cell yields can be reduced 50 percent by stopping platelet-rich plasma expression when the interface is 1 cm from the top of the blood bag as compared to stopping expression when the interface reaches the top of the bag. Further reductions can be achieved by careful handling during transfer of units from the centrifuge cups to expressors (after the first spin) and by carefully balancing units against each other to ensure proper rotor balance during the first spin. Following these suggestions, blood banks should be able to produce platelet concentrates with white cell yields between 2 and 6 X 10(7) and with platelet yields between 7.5 and 8 X 10(10). Transfusion of this product may reduce febrile reactions and lower the incidence of alloimmunizations.

Blood Banks↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Storage of platelets on flatbed agitators in polyvinyl chloride blood bags plasticized with tri(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate.

Data are presented showing that platelets in polyvinyl chloride blood bags plasticized with tri(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate can be stored on flatbed agitators (shakers) without the pH falling below 6.0. The lowest pH seen after 7 days of storage in 46 units with platelet yields ranging from 3.6 to 13.3 X 10(10) per unit was 6.43. These bags have a O2 transmission rate of 13.3 mumol per hour per bag. Platelet bags with a O2 transmission rate of 7.9 mumol per hour per bag experience a pH fall after 5 days of storage on the shaker in units whose platelet yield on average exceeds 10 X 10(10). Platelets can be stored on first-generation shakers (70 cycles/min, stroke = 1 inch) without an attempt at manual resuspension of the platelet button. The count after 30 minutes on the shaker averaged 89 +/- 15 percent of the expected count, indicating that resuspension was nearly complete after a relatively short period. Red cells, but not platelets, settled out during storage on the shaker.

Benzoates↗