Evidence is presented that temperature-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants, impaired in dolichol kinase (Sec59p) or dolichyl phosphate mannose synthase (Dpm1p) activity have an aberrant cell wall composition and ultrastructure. The mutants were oversensitive to Calcofluor white, an agent interacting with the cell wall chitin. In accordance with this, chemical analysis of the cell wall alkali-insoluble fraction indicated an increased amount of chitin and changes in the quantity of β1,6-and β1,3-glucan in sec59-1 and dpm1-6 mutants. In order to unravel the link between the formation of dolichyl phosphate and dolichyl phosphate mannose and the cell wall assembly, we screened a yeast genomic library for a multicopy suppressors of the thermosensitive phenotype. The RER2 and SRT1 genes, encoding cis-prenyltransferases, were isolated. In addition, the ROT1 gene, encoding protein involved in β1,6-glucan synthesis (Machi et al., 2004) and protein folding (Takeuchi et al., 2006) acted as a multicopy suppressor of the temperature-sensitive phenotype of the sec59-1 mutant. The cell wall of the mutants and of mutants bearing the multicopy suppressors was analysed for carbohydrate and mannoprotein content. We also examined the glycosylation status of the plasma membrane protein Gas1p, a β1,3-glucan elongase, and the degree of phosphorylation of the Mpk1/Slt2 protein, involved in the cell wall integrity pathway.

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In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, dogs with chronic recurrent pyoderma were treated with antibiotics plus intravenous injections of either Propionibacterium acnes or placebo. Responses (an increase, decrease, or clearing of lesions) were measured and evaluated statistically. Eighty percent (12 of 15) of the dogs treated with antibiotics and P acnes compared with 38% (five of 13) of the dogs treated with antibiotics and placebo responded with significant improvement or complete remission of lesions at the end of the 12-week treatment schedule ( P < 0.05). CANINE PYODERMA is one of the most common diseases of the skin encountered by the veterinary practitioner.' The causative agent is usually found to be Staphylococcus ~p p . ' -~ The disease may be superficial, involving the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles, and other skin structures, or deep, characterized by cellulitis, furunculosis, fistulous tracts, and ulceration of the skin. These lesions may be found focally, regionally, or generally distributed. Pruritus may be associated with primary and secondary pyoderma~.~ This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Propionibacterium acnes as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic recurrent pyoderma of the dog. It was designed as a double-blind, randomly assigned, placebo-controlled study. Materials and Methods P acnes, Placebo, and AntibioticsNonviable P acnes was supplied* at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml suspended in a 12.5% ethanol in saline solu- tion. The carrier, a 12.5% ethanol in saline solution, was used as a placebo. Antibiotics used were commercially available products. Experimental Design Selection of PatientsOnly dogs with a history of chronic recurrent pyoderma and meeting the following criteria were eligible for enrollment in the study. Animals were required to have active lesions of canine pyoderma and hospital records confirming previous and recurring episodes of superficial or deep pyoderma or both. Each dog was skin tested for allergies with up to 60 antigens. Dogs with positive results for inhalant or food allergies were not entered in the study. The thyroid status of each dog was evaluated using T3 and T4 analysis. Those with unregulated hypothyroidism were deemed ineligible. Dogs with demodicosis confirmed by skin scraping and those with pruritus requiring corticosteroid therapy were specifically excluded. Randomization of PatientsEligible patients were preassigned randomly to P acnes or placebo treatment groups using a numbered accession order derived from a random number table. Selection and Use of AntibioticsA bacterial culture was performed from the skin lesions of each eligible dog, and an antibiotic sensitivity test was 26

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This work confirms the important role of protein N-glycosylation in the pathogenic potential of C. albicans.

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Fifty Polish Large White growing pigs were randomly divided into 5 groups (5 gilts and 5 barrows in each group) and fattened from 50 to 105 kg body weight. The experimental factors were gender and addition of vitamins C, E and β-carotene to the diets. All diets were supplemented with 0.5% CLA. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were observed to decrease in pigs receiving combined vitamins C, E and β-carotene compared with pigs receiving a single supplement of β-carotene (P<0.05). In gilts the level of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was significantly lower and the content of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and PUFA was significantly higher than in barrows (P<0.01). A high significant difference (P<0.01) was also found between gilts and barrows in the PUFA/SFA ratio. The CLA concentration was significantly higher in gilts than in barrows (P<0.05). Highly significant sex-dependent differences were found in the content of crude fat, which was significantly lower (P<0.01) in gilts than in barrows. The pH of meat 24 h post-mortem was 5.44 in gilts and 5.55 in barrows (P<0.01). Yellowness (b*) was found to decrease in all experimental groups compared with the control group (P<0.01). There was a tendency towards a lower concentration of tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) after 3-month storage of frozen meat in the group receiving supplemental vitamin E and combined vitamins C, E and β-carotene compared with the group receiving β-carotene alone (P<0.05). The vitamin supplements caused significant changes in the vitamin E content of meat *