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Biomedical subjects

K A Souza

Publications and source records attributed to K A Souza.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Optomotor behaviour in Xenopus laevis tadpoles as a measure of the effect of gravity on visual and vestibular neural integration.

The ability of aquatic vertebrates to maintain their position requires integration of visual and vestibular sensory information. To understand better how aquatic animals integrate such information, we measured the optomotor behaviour of Xenopus laevis tadpoles raised in growth chambers in microgravity (< 10(-3)g), normal gravity (1 g), hypergravity (3 g) and on a slowly rotating clinostat (simulated microgravity). The goal of this research was to determine how development in an altered gravitational force field affects the visual- and vestibular-dependent behaviour of tadpoles. This research represents the first time that the optomotor behaviour of an organism raised from fertilization in microgravity has been tested. Significant differences were observed in the optomotor behaviour among the four gravity treatments. When first exposed to normal gravity, the microgravity-raised tadpoles exhibited the strongest (or most positive) optomotor behaviour, while the 3 g centrifuge tadpoles showed no optomotor response. Some abnormal behaviours (such as erratic swimming, lying motionless and abnormal swimming posture) were observed in the tadpoles raised in altered gravity on the initial day of testing. One day later, the tadpoles raised in hypergravity did not differ significantly in their optomotor behaviour from control tadpoles raised in normal gravity. However, tadpoles raised in microgravity still displayed an exaggerated optomotor response. One week after the tadpoles had been introduced to normal gravity, there was no longer a significant difference in optomotor behaviour among the different gravity treatments. This convergence of optomotor behaviour by tadpoles from the different treatment reflects the acclimation of their vestibular systems to normal gravity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Amphibian development in the virtual absence of gravity.

To test whether gravity is required for normal amphibian development, Xenopus laevis females were induced to ovulate aboard the orbiting Space Shuttle. Eggs were fertilized in vitro, and although early embryonic stages showed some abnormalities, the embryos were able to regulate and produce nearly normal larvae. These results demonstrate that a vertebrate can ovulate in the virtual absence of gravity and that the eggs can develop to a free-living stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Considerations for Life Science experimentation on the Space Shuttle.

The conduct of Life Science experiments aboard the Shuttle Spacelab presents unaccustomed challenges to scientists. Not only is one confronted with the challenge of conducting an experiment in the unique microgravity environment of a orbiting spacecraft, but there are also the challenges of conducing experiments remotely, using equipment, techniques, chemicals, and materials that may differ from those standardly used in ones own laboratory. Then there is the question of "controls." How does one study the effects of altered gravitational fields on biological systems and control for other variables like vibration, acceleration, noise, temperature, humidity, and the logistics of specimen transport? Typically, the scientist new to space research has neither considered all of these potential problems nor has the data at hand with which to tackle the problems. This paper will explore some of these issues and provide pertinent data from recent Space Shuttle flights that will assist the new as well as the experienced scientist in dealing with the challenges of conducting research under spaceflight conditions.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1991

Man in space: the use of animal models.

Animals have traditionally preceded man into space. During animal and human travels in space over the past almost 30 years, numerous anatomical, physiological, and biochemical changes have been observed. In order to safely qualify humans for extended duration space missions, scientific research needs to be performed. It may be possible to achieve many of these research goals with flight crews serving as experimental subjects; however, to do this with human subjects alone is impractical. Therefore, the use of animal surrogates as experimental subjects is essential to provide the missing information on the effects of spaceflights, to validate countermeasures, and to test medical treatment techniques which will be necessary for long duration missions. This research to assure human health, safety, and productivity in future extended duration space flights will include flights on NASA's Space Shuttle, unmanned biosatellites, and the Space Station Freedom.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1980

Effect of restrictive temperature on cell wall synthesis in a temperature-sensitive mutant of Bacillus stearothermophilus.

A temperature-sensitive mutant of Bacillus stearothermophilus, TS-13, was unable to grow above 58 degrees C, compared to 72 degrees C for the wild type. Actively growing TS-13 cells lysed within 2 h when exposed to a restrictive temperature of 65 degrees C. Peptidoglycan synthesis stopped within 10 to 15 min postshift before a shut down of other macromolecular syntheses. Composition of preexisting peptidoglycan was not altered, nor was new peptidoglycan of aberrant composition formed. No significant difference in autolysin activity was observed between the mutant and the wild type at 65 degrees C. Protoplasts of TS-13 cells were able to synthesize cell wall material at 52 degress C, but not at 65 degrees C. This wall material remained closely associated with the cell membrane at the outer surface of the protoplasts, forming small, globular, membrane-bound structures which could be visualized by electron microscopy. These structures reacted with fluorescent antibody prepared against purified cell walls. Production of this membrane-associated wall material could be blocked by bacitracin, which inhibited cell wall synthesis at the level of transport through the membrane. The data were in agreement with previous studies showing that at the restrictive temperature this mutant is unable to alter its membrane fatty acid and phospholipid composition with temperature such that it is not able to maintain a membrane lipid composition which permits normal membrane function at the restrictive temperature.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1978

Degradation of biochemical activity in soil sterilized by dry heat and gamma radiation.

The activities of three enzymes present in soil, phosphatases, urease, and decarboxylase, were monitered as indicators of the loss of biochemical information occurring when soil was sterilized by dry heat (0.08% relative humidity), gamma radiation, or a combination of both. More enzymatic activity was retained in soil sterilized by a long exposure to dry heat at relatively low temperature (8 weeks at 100.5 degrees C) than by a shorter exposure to a higher temperature (2 weeks at 124.5 degrees C). No enzymatic activity was detectable in soil sterilized by an even higher temperature (4 days at 148.5 degrees C). Soil sterilized with 7.5 Mrads of radiation retained much higher enzymatic activity than with heat sterilization. Combining sublethal doses of heat radiation effectively sterilized the soil and yielded enzymatic activities higher than those of soil sterilized by dry heat alone but lower than those of soil sterilized by radiation.

Carboxy-Lyases↗
PubMed1976

The relationship between environmental temperature, cell growth and the fluidity and physical state of the membrane lipids in Bacillus stearothermophilus.

A definite and characteristic relationship exists between growth temperature, fatty acid composition and the fluidity and physical state of the membrane lipids in wild type Bacillus stearothermophilus. As the environmental temperature is increased, the proportion of saturated fatty acids found in the membrane lipids is also markedly increased with a concomitant decrease in the proportion of unsaturated and branched chain fatty acids. The temperature range over which the gel to liquid-crystalline membrane lipid phase transition occurs is thereby shifted such that the upper boundary of this transition always lies near (and usually below) the temperature of growth. This organism thus possesses an effective and sensitive homeoviscous adaptation mechanism which maintains a relatively constant degree of membrane lipid fluidity over a wide range of environmental temperatures. A mutant of B. stearothermophilus which has lost the ability to increase the proportion of relatively high melting fatty acids in the membrane lipids, and thereby increase the phase transition temperature in response to increases in environmental temperature, is also unable to grow at higher temperatures. An effective homeoviscous regulatory mechanism thus appears to extend the growth temperature range of the wild type organism and may be an essential feature of adaptation to temperature extremes. Over most of their growth temperature ranges the membrane lipids of wild type and temperature-sensitive B. stearothermophilus cells exist entirely or nearly entirely in the liquid-crystalline state. Also, the temperature-sensitive mutant is capable of growth at temperatures well above those at which the membrane lipid gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition is completed. Therefore, although other evidence suggests the existence of an upper limit on the degree of membrane fluidity compatible with cell growth, the phase transition is completed. Therefore, although other evidence suggests the existence of an upper limit on the degree of membrane fluidity compatible with cell growth, the phase transition upper boundary itself does not directly determine the maximum growth temperature of this organism. Similarly, the lower boundary does not determine the minimum growth temperature, since cell growth ceases at a temperature at which most of the membrane lipid still exists in a fluid state. These observations do not support the suggestion made in an earlier study, which utilized electron spin resonance spectroscopy to monitor membrane lipid lateral phase separations, that the minimum and maximum growth temperatures of this organism might directly be determined by the solid-fluid membrane lipid phase transition boundaries. Evidence is presented here that the electron spin resonance techniques used previously did not in fact detect the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition of the bulk membrane lipids, which, however, can be reliably measured by differential thermal analysis.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1976

Altered phospholipid metabolism in a temperature-sensitive mutant of a thermophilic bacillus.

The phospholipid metabolism of a temperature-sensitive mutant of a thermophilic bacillus was studied after the shift from a permissive (58 degrees C) to a restrictive (65 degrees C) growth temperature. During the short period of growth of the mutant at 65 degrees C, the proportions of cardiolipin and its 3-acyl derivative (lyso-cardiolipin) increased, and the proportions of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine decreased on cell dry weight basis. In 32P incorporation and turnover experiments, phosphatidylglycerol showed the most rapid uptake and loss of the label. Turnover of cardiolipin, limited to a short period, ceased 18 min after the shift, as did the turnover of phosphatidylethanolamine. In the absence of net phospholipid synthesis, there was a quantitative conversion of phosphatidylglycerol to cardiolipin and an increase in the proportion of lyso-cardiolipin. Chloramphenicol, added to the medium at the time of the shift, reduced the rate of phospholipid synthesis, prevented the increase in the proportions of cardiolipin and lyso-cardiolipin, and slowed the decrease in the proportions of the other two phospholipids. The results indicated a defect in the regulatory mechanism(s) of phospholipid metabolism in the mutant at the restrictive temperature.

Cardiolipins↗
PubMed1975

High pH ammonia toxicity, and the search for life on the Jovian planets.

Jovian plants have enviroments apparently suitable for the evolution of life, but nevertheless, present severe challenges to organisms. One such challenge arises from the presence of ammonia. Ammonia is an efficient biocide, its effect being dependent on pH as well as on concentration. The effects of pH and ammonia concentration were studied separately, where possible, on a variety of organisms, including some isolated from natural enviornments of high pH and/or ammonia concentration. Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are both extremely sensitive to ammonia. An aerobic organism (growth up to pH 11.4) from an alkaline spring is more resistant, but exhibits a toxic response to ammonia at a pH much lower than its maximum for growth. The greatest ammonia resistance has been found in an unidentified organism growing at near neutral pH. Even in this case, however, survival at ammonia concentrations reasonably expected on the Jovian planets is measured in hours. This is, nevertheless, two to three orders of magnitude longer than for E. coli. Our data support the tentative conclusion that contamination of the Jovian planets with terrestrial organisms that can grow is unlikely. However, the range of toxic response noted, coupled with the observation that terrestrial life has not been exposed to high ammonia concentrations for millions of years, suggests that adaptation to greater ammonia tolerance may be possible.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1974

Correlation between thermal death and membrane fluidity in Bacillus stearothermophilus.

Paramagnetic resonance spectra of spin labels partitioned into spheroplast membranes of Bacillus stearothermophilus indicate lateral lipid phase separations. Cells adjust their lipid composition in response to temperature changes so that the same change of state in membrane phospholipids is achieved at the respective growth temperature. A temperature-sensitive mutant that fails to change its lipid composition above a certain temperature can survive only up to the higher temperature boundary for lateral phase separation. These data are interpreted to indicate that the maximal and minimal growth temperatures of thermophiles are regulated by the onset and conclusion of phase separations of the particular lipid composition they synthesize. It is suggested that isolated lipid domains are required for functional membrane assembly.

Bacillus↗