Previously we have identified the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3/Pk) as an inhibitor and resistance factor against HIV-1 infection in vitro. Here we show that a novel, soluble, completely synthetic Gb3 analogue, FSLGb3, inhibits infection of X4 strains of HIV-1 in the Jurkat T-cell line and both R5 and X4 strains in PBMCs. FSLGb3 absorbs into cellular plasma membranes and membrane adsorbed FSLGb3 was able to inhibit subsequent HIV-1 infection. We have also developed a mouse model to test in vivo the efficacy of soluble Gb3 analogs in the prevention of mucosal viral infection. Soluble Gb3 was incorporated into gel or alone and applied directly to the vaginal and rectal mucosal tissue of mice. We have not yet shown a statistically significant reduction in infection, although a trend towards inhibition is evident. Our studies show synthetic Gb3 to be an inhibitor of HIV-1 infection and further exploration of therapeutic strategies are warranted.

In the summer of 1951, an outbreak of cabbage yellows due to Fusarium oxysporum f. conglutinans (Wr.) Snyder and Hansen) was discovered generally distributed in a large field of cabbage at St-Vincent de Paul, a few miles north-east of Montreal. So far as is known this is the first and only occurence of this disease in this region. It is a very well established disease in many parts of the United States, and in a few areas in Canada where it often causes very heavy losses.

Among the theories offered to explain how pathogenic organisms induce pathic events in plants the toxin theory has gained much support especially in recent years. According to this theory the disease syndrome is not induced by the pathogen directly but by toxins formed by the pathogen itself. The host reactions which have been ascribed to the action of such toxic secretions of the pathogen include: (1) vein clearing, (2) epinasty of leaves, (3) production of adventitious roots on the stem, (4) yellowing of leaves, (5) vascular browning, (6) production of gum in vessels, (7) defoliation, (8) wilting of leaves followed by death and (9) alteration of photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is one of the most important of the true clovers. It has proved to be a very versatile species in its ability to adapt itself to a particular set of conditions, and a large number of races have been evolved within the species. Regional strains, which differ in productivity, winter hardiness, and disease resistance, have developed as a result of the selective action of local environmental conditions on this highly variable plant.

The elucidation of the nature of host pathogen relations is a problem of great theoretical and practical importance. One of the most promising lines of research for this problem seems to be in the field of physiological studies, in which the affects of infection on the metabolism of a host plant are studied. In most cases, metabolic studies which have been carried out on the nature of disease had to be performed on detached organs, detachment of which prevents the movement of materials in and/or out or the organ from taking place, i.e. prevents translocation.

Antimicrobial activity was discovered in the expressed and concentrated juices of buckwheat, and in the water soluble fractions of hot extracts using organic solvent(s). A phenolic chromogenic substance was found to be responsible for the antibiosis of the extracts. The degradatory products of the anthocyanin pigment from the plant were shown to have somewhat similar toxicities to those of the extracts. The organic acids, citric, malic and oxalic, reported present in appreciable quantities in the plant, were also assayed for antimicrobial properties, and were found to be somewhat more toxic than the phenolic substances. It was not possible to draw a definite relationship between the above antimicrobial properties, and the actual non-susceptibility of the plant to microbial attack.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2004. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-119). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-65).