A survey of the total cellular DNA from five beta-lactam antibiotic-producing Streptomyces spp. by pulsed field gel electrophoresis was conducted to investigate the presence of linear plasmids. Streptomyces clavuligerus NRRL 3585 contained two giant linear plasmids of 120 and 430 kb, in addition to the well-characterized 11.7 kb linear plasmid. Streptomyces griseus NRRL 3851 contained a single giant linear plasmid of 120 kb, and Streptomyces jumonjinensis NRRL 5741 contained two giant linear plasmids (220 and 280 kb), and two smaller linear plasmids. No plasmids were identified in Streptomyces cattleya NRRL 3841 or Streptomyces lipmannii NRRL 3584. Southern hybridization did not reveal any homology shared by these plasmids, and beta-lactam antibiotic synthesis gene clusters were located on the chromosome.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the 71V-1658 strain of western equine encephalitis virus (WEE) was determined (minus 25 nucleotides from the 5h end). A 5h RACE reaction was used to sequence the 5h terminus from WEE strain CBA87. The deduced WEE genome was 11 508 nucleotides in length, excluding the 5h cap nucleotide and 3h poly(A) tail. The nucleotide composition was 28 % A, 25 % C, 25 % G and 22 % U. Comparison with partial WEE sequences of strain 5614 (nsP2-nsP3 of the nonstructural region) and strain BFS1703 (26S structural region) revealed comparatively little variation ; a total of 149 nucleotide differences in 8624 bases (1n7% divergence), of which only 28 % (42 nucleotides) altered the encoded amino acids. Comparison of deduced nsP1 and nsP4 amino acid sequences from WEE with the corresponding proteins from eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) yielded identities of 84n9 and 83n8 %, respectively. Previously uncharacterized stem-loop structures were identified in the nontranslated terminal regions. A cDNA clone of the 26S region encoding the structural polyprotein of WEE strain 71V-1658 was placed under the control of a cytomegalovirus promoter and transfected into tissue culture cells. The viral envelope proteins were functionally expressed in tissue culture, as determined by histochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies that recognize WEE antigens, thus, forming the initial step in the investigation of subunit vaccines to WEE.

A survey of the total cellular DNA from five /3-lactam antibiotic-producing Streptomyces spp. by pulsed field gel electrophoresis was conducted to investigate the presence of linear plasmids. Streptomyces cluuuligerus NRRL 3585 contained two giant linear plasmids of 120 and 430 kb, in addition to the well-characterized 11.7 kb linear plasmid.Streptomyces griseus NRRL 3851 contained a single giant linear plasmid of 120 kb, and Streptomyces jumonjinensis NRRL 5741 contained two giant linear plasmids (220 and 280 kb), and two smaller linear plasmids. No plasmids were identified in Streptomyces cattleya NRRL 3841 or Streptomyces lipmannii NRRL 3584. Southern hybridization did not reveal any homology shared by these plasmids, and /3-lactam antibiotic synthesis gene clusters were located on the chromosome.

This article addresses the phenomenon of Organized Pseudolegal Commercial Arguments (OPCA) through a retrospective investigation of Meads v. Meads. The author begins by discussing whether Meads has met its objectives, and then proceeds with an analysis of the response to the Meads decision by various audiences, including courts, academics, the OPCA community, and the public. Then, the author examines Meads as a unique type of judgment that incorporates court knowledge as its foundation, allowing Meads, in part, to offer guidance to trial court judges. Finally, the author comments on the insight offered by Meads into the day-to-day realities faced by trial courts as they interact with self-represented individuals.

No abstract