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BackgroundFibrinogen-related proteins with lectin activity are believed to be part of the tick innate immune system. Several fibrinogen-related proteins have been described and characterised mainly on the basis of their cDNA sequences while direct biochemical evidence is missing. One of them, the haemolymph lectin Dorin M from the tick Ornithodoros moubata was isolated and characterised in more depth.ResultsSeveral fibrinogen-related proteins were detected in the haemolymph of ixodid ticks Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. pulchellus, and R. sanguineus. These proteins were recognised by sera directed against the tick lectin Dorin M and the haemagglutination activity of the ticks R. appendiculatus and D. marginatus. Cross-reactivity of the identified proteins with antibodies against the fibrinogen domain of the human ficolin was also shown. The carbohydrate-binding ability of tick haemolymph was confirmed by haemagglutination activity assays, and this activity was shown to be inhibited by neuraminic acid and sialylated glycoproteins as well as by N-acetylated hexosamines. The fibrinogen-related proteins were shown to be glycosylated and they were localised in salivary glands, midguts, and haemocytes of D. marginatus. Hemelipoglycoprotein was also recognised by sera directed against the fibrinogen-related proteins in all three Rhipicephalus species as well as in D. marginatus. However, this protein does not contain the fibrinogen domain and thus, the binding possibly results from the structure similarity between hemelipoglycoprotein and the fibrinogen domain.ConclusionsThe presence of fibrinogen-related proteins was shown in the haemolymph of four tick species in high abundance. Reactivity of antibodies directed against ficolin or fibrinogen-related proteins with proteins which do not contain the fibrinogen domain points out the importance of sequence analysis of the identified proteins in further studies. Previously observed expression of fibrinogen-related proteins in haemocytes together with the results of this study suggest involvement of fibrinogen-related proteins in tick immunity processes. Thus, they have potential as targets for anti-tick vaccines and as antimicrobial proteins in pharmacology. Research on fibrinogen-related proteins could reveal further details of tick innate immunity processes.

The relative conversion line intensities of the 35 keV transition in 125Te were measured using the 50 cm ~ ]/2 iron-yoke magnetic spectrometer. The transition was proved to be of M1 +(8.7_+1.5)x 10-4E2 multipolarity, the magnetic component being affected by the nuclear structure with ),=2.4_+ 1.4. The conversion intensity ratio, O/N 1, was determined to be 0.115-+0.005 for both Ag~25I and Cu125I sources. It is in accordance with previous measurements for the ZnlZSmTe and PblZS"Te sources and differs from those for the 12S"TeO2 and Na2HlZSmTeO6 ones. The conversion coefficients were calculated for 32 configurations of the valence shell of free tellurium atom and ions and were compared with the experimental results.

A project of SlRb production and 81Rb/SlmKr generator manufacturing is described. 81Rb nuclide is produced on U-120M cyclotron via Kr(p, 2n)Rb reaction using pressurised gaseous target. Generator of a "dry" type is based on the sorption of 81Rb on an ion-exchange paper from which the daughter Sl~Kr is eluted by air. Parameters of targetry and generator assembly are given. Generator which will be manufactured under pharmaceutical "clean" conditions is intended for lung ventilation studies in nuclear medicine.

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