Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins found in a wide variety of organisms including bacteria, fungi as well as all eukaryotic plant and animal species. MTs bind essential and nonessential heavy metals. MTs production was evaluated by a simple spectrophotometry methodology. The study elucidated that the metallothionein concentration in Bacillus cereus treated with different concentrations of lead increased with increasing lead concentration. The protein samples from B.cereus treated with different concentrations of lead were isolated and electrophoresed on SDS-PAGE and 2-D gels. The study of gels revealed that a thick protein band appeared around 14.3KD in case of B. cereus treated with lead unlike the control samples.

The endotoxin from the blue–green alga Microcystis aeruginosa NRC-1 has been isolated as its ammonium salt by a new procedure involving solvent extraction and elution from DEAE-Sephadex A-25. The intraperitoneal LD100 of this toxin preparation for mice was 0.1 mg/kg body weight. The product is a white solid which appears to be chromatographically and electrophoretically homogeneous. This toxin produces similar symptoms in mice to those described originally for the toxic material from the same algal strain. Analysis of the toxin hydrolysate indicates a more complex structure since seven more amino acids have been found, including tyrosine, proline, and arginine, in addition to the seven reported before.

Background : The increased risk of colonic malignancies in individuals with ulcerative colitis has prompted a search for early biomarkers of disease progression. Aim : To characterize Phase II detoxication enzyme expression during acute and chronic colitis. The mouse model of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)‐induced colitis represents a relevant system with which to sequentially evaluate the spectrum of biochemical changes associated with colorectal cancer risk. Methods : Acute and chronic colitis were induced in Swiss Webster mice by administering DSS in the drinking water (5%) for 1–4 cycles. Each cycle consisted of 7 days DSS and 14 days of water. The glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activity, γ‐glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ‐GCS) activity and glutathione content of the colonic tissues were determined at various time points throughout the experiment. Alterations in GST isozyme expression were confirmed by Western and Northern blot. Results : GST activity was reduced significantly in the colon by the end of Cycle 1 (84% of control values). Specific activities continued to decrease with subsequent cycles of DSS exposure. By the end of Cycle 4, glutathione levels and γ‐GCS activity had reached 29% and 56% of control, respectively. Conclusions : These data suggest that detoxication enzyme depletion is associated with both acute and chronic colitis and may be an important event in the progression of ulcerative colitis to colon cancer.

An high performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous estimation of piperacillin and tazobactam was developed using Wakosil II, C18, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm column, with mobile phase composition of methanol, phosphate buffer-pH 4 and acetonitrile in the ratio of 1:2:1 v/v/v with the flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 220 nm. The retention time for piperacillin and tazobactam was found to be 6.4 and 3.1 min respectively. Linearity was observed over the concentration range of 10-80 µg/ml for piperacillin and 2-10 µg/ml for tazobactam. Recovery was found to be 100.7-104.7% for piperacillin and 103.6-105.7% for tazobactam.

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