To identify the binding motifs of peptides which bind to the celiac disease and insulin-dependent-diabetes-mellitus (IDDM)-associated DQ2 molecule, peptides were eluted from affinity-purified DQ2 molecules. The eluted peptides were separated by reverse-phase HPLC. Prominent peptide peaks and the remaining pool of peptides were sequenced by Edman degradation. Truncated variants of eight different peptides with a length of 9-19 amino acids were identified; among them class II-associated invariant chain peptides (CLIP) and peptides that stem from HLA class I alpha, HLA-DQ alpha 1*0501, Ig and CD20 molecules. Data from the pool sequencing and the biochemical binding analyses of synthetic variants of an eluted high-affinity ligand (HLA class I alpha 46-60), indicate that the side chains of amino acid residues at relative position P1 (bulky hydrophobic), P4 (negatively charged or aliphatic), P6 (Pro or negatively charged), P7 (negatively charged) and P9 (bulky hydrophobic) are important for binding of peptides to DQ2. Computer modeling of the DQ2 with variants of the high-affinity ligand in the groove suggests that peptides bind to DQ2 through the primary anchors P1, P7 and P9 and making additional advantageous interactions using the P4 and P6 positions.

Particulate matter has been associated with a number of adverse health effects. Since combustion particles from vehicle exhaust and wood smoke are common constituents of ambient air, the morphology and elemental composition of particles from these two sources were analysed and compared using single particle analysis. Ambient air particles were collected in locations dominated by vehicle exhaust or residential wood smoke. To verify the source contributions to the ambient air samples, particles were collected directly from the combustion sources. All particulate samples were analysed on carbon extraction replica by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray microanalysis (XRMA). The particles were classified into four groups based on morphology and elemental composition. Carbon aggregates were the only particles identified to originate from combustion sources and accounted for more than 88% of the particle numbers in the ambient air samples from both sources. The carbon aggregates were therefore further analysed with respect to morphology and elemental composition on germanium extraction replica. Carbon aggregates from vehicle exhaust were characterised by higher levels of Si and Ca compared to wood smoke aggregates that contained higher levels of K. The S content in aggregates from both sources was probably caused by interaction with gases in the air. Furthermore, the diameters of primary particles from vehicle exhaust were significantly smaller (27+/-7 nm) than the diameters for wood smoke (38+/-11 nm). The observed differences in elemental profiles and primary particle diameters for vehicle exhaust and wood smoke may influence the health effects caused by these particles.

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Human orf is usually considered a rare disease caused by a virus belonging to the paravaccinia subgroup of pox viruses and transmitted to man from sheep and goats. This paper presents 119 new human cases with epidemiological, clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural findings. Erythema multiforme was found to be a common complication of human orf. Other complications tended to be caused by overtreatment. Electron microscopy of negatively stained suspensions from lesions was found to be the best and most rapid diagnostic method available.

Patients with JDM had smaller lung volumes than controls; a restrictive ventilatory defect was found in 26% and HRCT abnormality in 37% of the patients, and these findings were associated. Although mostly subclinical, the relatively high frequency of pulmonary involvement highlights the systemic nature of JDM.