Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 19659) were damaged by exposure to various concentrations of glutaraldehyde, as shown by decreased germination rates. The damage caused was repaired or otherwise obviated by the presence of sodium lactate in the holding medium. When two different salts of lactic acid were compared for ability to overcome the effect of glutaraldehyde, it was found that calcium salt of lactate was more effective than the sodium salt. The damage repair system involved l-alanine, lactate and either the sodium or calcium ions. The study involved in determining the difference in efficiency of spore repair was due to an organic or an amino acii snowed that the presence of two carboxylic functional groups did not effectively alter the reactivity.

The role of Ca++ in olfactory responses was investigated with inorganic and organic calcium channel antagonists. Electrophysiological responses to odorants were recorded from frog olfactory mucosa before and after aerosol application of different agents. Electroolfactogram responses were blocked by certain inorganic ions with the order of effectiveness Zn++ >Ln+++>Cd++>Ca++>Co++>Sr++>Mg++. Ba++ potentiated olfactory responses, and is known to potentiate calcium channel-mediated responses in other tissues. Certain local anesthetics which are thought to act through calcium channel blockade were inhibitory to olfactory responses, with the order of effectiveness being dibucaine>tetracaine>procaine. These data support the idea that Ca++ is involved in olfaction, perhaps acting as a current carrier and/or a second messenger. Preliminary experiments on channel localization were performed using a silicon-labeled amine. Attempts to localize the silicon label were inconclusive, although silicon was detected in the olfactory tissue.

Dominant genera of bacteria were isolated from three river waters during anthracene and pentachlorophenol biotransformation studies. The genera Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Micrococcus, Chromobacterium, Alcaligenes, Azomonos, Bacillus, and Flavobacterium were capable of biotransforming one or both of these compounds. These isolates were subjected to further biotransformation tests, including river water and a basal salt medium with and without additional glucose. The results of these experiments were evaluated statistically. It was concluded that only a limited number of the bacteria identified were able to transform these chemicals in river water. The addition of glucose to the growth medium significantly affected the biotransformation of these chemicals. It was also determined that the size of the initial bacterial population is not a factor in determining whether biotransformation of anthracene or pentachlorophenol can occur.

Adult stonefly emergence, nymphal growth, drift and microdistribution were examined in Battle Branch, a secondorder, spring-fed stream, from November, 1982 to May, 1984. Adults of 22 species emerged successionally, with specific adults present every month. Searching emergent objects and the stream margin was best for collection of winter and early spring emerging species. Sweeping the streamside and light trapping were most efficient for late spring and summer emerging species. Nymphal growth for nine abundant species generally fit double log or semilog models. Drift was low, but did show a post-sunset pulse. Generally, leaf material was found to be significantly related (p<O.001) to density, diversity and biomass of stoneflies in Battle Branch.

Extraction and quantitation of myosin light chain two coupled with myograph recordings from Ascaris muscle perfused with calmodulin inhibitors and neurotransmitters in conjunction with their respective agonists and antagonists have been used to establish the regulation of contraction in this muscle. Densitometric tracings of isolectric focusing gels separating the regulatory light chain were used to quantitate phosphorylation in resting, contracted and flaccid muscle. These studies indicated that inhibitory neurostimulation is mediated by a true GABA receptor. Myosin-mediated contraction is responsible for maintaining the level of tension observed in resting actin-mediated muscle. Actin-mediated contraction is responsible for the rapid rise in tension following excitatory stimuli. Both systems function simultaneously and are independant.

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were recovered from eleven strains (eight serogroups) of Legionella pneumophila by sequential treatment with Tris buffer (pH 8), citrate buffer(pH 2.75) and Tris buffer (pH 8). Transmission electron microscopy revealed clearly the separation of the outer membrane from the bacteria. The development of delayed hypersensitivity was also noted by measuring the area of arythema and induration produced by intradermal injections of the MPSs from Chicago 8 strain. The adjuvants enhanced greatly both active and cell-meditated immunity (CMI). Transient lymphocytopenia with a slight rise in neutrophils was noted in each of the immunized groups. Intraperitoneal challenge, seven days after the OMP booster, of one LD (1.5 x10^6) of legionellae resulted in lymphocytopenia with elevated neutrophils. All immunized rats survived the challenge, although those in the saline-OMP group were clearly the sickest. Post-challenge, legionella antibody titers rose greatly and CMI was heightened. Passive immunization (homologous and heterologous) was found to protect the rats from a challenge of on LD. Actively-immunized rats retained their immunity for at least six months as determined by their resistance to a second challenge.