Optical biosensor differentiates signaling of endogenous PAR<Subscript>1</Subscript> and PAR<Subscript>2</Subscript> in A431 cells

Background  

Protease activated receptors (PARs) consist of a family of four G protein-coupled receptors. Many types of cells express several PARs, whose physiological significance is mostly unknown.     

Para‐psychobiotic Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 ameliorates stress‐related symptoms and sleep quality

Aims

To confirm the stress‐relieving effects of heat‐inactivated, enteric‐colonizing Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 (paraprobiotic CP2305) in medical students taking a cadaver dissection course.

Methods and Results

Healthy students (21 males and 11 females) took paraprobiotic CP2305 daily for 5 weeks during a cadaver dissection course. The General Health Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were employed to assess stress‐related somatic symptoms and sleep quality respectively. The aggravation of stress‐associated somatic symptoms was observed in female students (P = 0·029). Sleep quality was improved in the paraprobiotic CP2305 group (P = 0·038), particularly in men (P = 0·004). Among men, paraprobiotic CP2305 shortened sleep latency (P = 0·035) and increased sleep duration (P = 0·048). Diarrhoea‐like symptoms were also effectively controlled with CP2305 (P = 0·005) in men. Thus, we observed sex‐related differences in the effects of paraprobiotic CP2305. In addition, CP2305 affected the growth of faecal Bacteroides vulgatus and Dorea longicatena, which are involved in intestinal inflammation.

Conclusions

CP2305 is a potential paraprobiotic that regulates stress responses, and its beneficial effects may depend on specific cell component(s).

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study characterizes the effects of a stress‐relieving para‐psychobiotic in humans.     

Insecticidal genes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia</Emphasis> spp.: taxonomical distribution,contribution to toxicity towards <Emphasis Type="Italic">Manduca sexta</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria mellonella</Emphasis>, and evolution

Background  

Toxin complex (Tc) proteins termed TcaABC, TcdAB, and TccABC with insecticidal activity are present in a variety of bacteria including the yersiniae.     

An <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> assay of collagen fiber alignment by acupuncture needle rotation

Background  

During traditional acupuncture therapy, soft tissues attach to and wind around the acupuncture needle. To study this phenomenon in a controlled and quantitative setting, we performed acupuncture needling in vitro.     

Heme rescues a two-component system <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptospira biflexa</Emphasis> mutant

Background  

Heme is typically a major iron source for bacteria, but little is known about how bacteria of the Leptospira genus, composed of both saprophytic and pathogenic species, access heme.     

Association between <Emphasis Type="Italic">IL-18</Emphasis>gene polymorphisms and biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis

Introduction  

The objective was to investigate the potential implication of the IL18 gene promoter polymorphisms in the susceptibility to giant-cell arteritis (GCA).     

Herd prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae producing CTX‐M‐type and CMY‐2 β‐lactamases among Japanese dairy farms

Aims

To determine the herd prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae producing CTX‐M‐type extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases (ESBLs) among 381 dairy farms in Japan.

Methods and Results

Between 2007 and 2009, we screened 897 faecal samples using BTB lactose agar plates containing cefotaxime (2 μg ml^?1). Positive isolates were tested using ESBL confirmatory tests, PCR and sequencing for CTX‐M, AmpC, TEM and SHV. The incidence of Enterobacteriaceae producing CTX‐M‐15 (n = 7), CTX‐M‐2 (n = 12), CTX‐M‐14 (n = 3), CMY‐2 (n = 2) or CTX‐M‐15/2/14 and CMY‐2 (n = 4) in bovine faeces was 28/897 (3·1%) faecal samples. These genes had spread to Escherichia coli (n = 23) and three genera of Enterobacteriaceae (n = 5). Herd prevalence was found to be 20/381 (5·2%) dairy farms. The 23 E. coli isolates showed clonal diversity, as assessed by multilocus sequence typing and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. The pandemic E. coli strain ST131 producing CTX‐M‐15 or CTX‐M‐27 was not detected.

Conclusions

Three clusters of CTX‐M (CTX‐M‐15, CTX‐M‐2, CTX‐M‐14) had spread among Japanese dairy farms.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This is the first report on the prevalence of multidrug‐resistant CTX‐M‐15–producing E. coli among Japanese dairy farms.     

Analysis by <Emphasis Type="Italic">siRNA_profile</Emphasis> program displays novel thermodynamic characteristics of highly functional siRNA molecules

Objective  

Here we report the improved results of a new siRNA design program and analysis tool called siRNA_profile that reveals an additional criterion for bioinformatic search of highly functional siRNA sequences.     

Simultaneous extraction of carotenoids and transfructosylating enzyme from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous</Emphasis> by a bead beater

Purpose of work  

Conditions for the cell disruption of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous by using a bead beater have been optimized with respect to maximizing the recovery of carotenoids and transfructosylating enzymes in a one-step process.     

Molecular characterization of the PhoPQ-PmrD-PmrAB mediated pathway regulating polymyxin B resistance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis> CG43

Background  

The cationic peptide antibiotic polymyxin has recently been reevaluated in the treatment of severe infections caused by gram negative bacteria.     

Non‐destructive allometric estimates of above‐ground and below‐ground biomass of high‐mountain vegetation in the Andes

Aim

Studies that monitor high‐mountain vegetation, such as paramo grasslands in the Andes, lack non‐destructive biomass estimation methods. We aimed to develop and apply allometric models for above‐ground, below‐ground and total biomass of paramo plants.

Location

The paramo of southern Colombia between 1°09′N and 077°50′W, at 3,400 and 3,700 m a.s.l.

Methods

We established 61 1‐m² plots at random locations, excluding disturbed, inaccessible and peat bog areas. We measured heights and basal diameters of all vascular plants in these plots and classified them into seven growth forms. Near each plot, we sampled the biomass from plants of abundant genera, after having measured their height and basal diameter. Hence, we measured the biomass of 476 plants (allometric set). For each growth form we applied power‐law functions to develop allometric models of biomass against basal diameter, height, height x basal diameter and height × basal area. The best models were selected using AIC_c weights. Using the observed and predicted plant biomass of the allometric set we calculated absolute percentage errors using cross‐validation. The biomass of a plot was estimated by summing the predicted biomass of all plants in a plot. Confidence limits around these sums were calculated by bootstrapping.

Results

For groups of <20 plants the biomass predictions yielded large (>15%) errors. Applying groups that resembled the 1‐m² plots in density and composition, the errors for above‐ground and total biomass estimates were <15%. Across all plots, we obtained an above‐ground, below‐ground and total plot biomass of 329 ± 190, 743 ± 486 and 1011 ± 627 g/m² (mean ± SD), respectively. These values were within the range of biomass estimates obtained destructively in the tropical Andes.

Conclusions

In new applications, if target vegetation samples are similar regarding growth forms and genera to our allometric set, their biomass might be predicted applying our equations, provided they contain at least 50–100 plants. In other situations, we would recommend gathering additional biomass measurements from local plants to evaluate new regression equations.     

A link of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> to cAMP oscillations in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyostelium</Emphasis>: the calmodulin antagonist W-7 potentiates cAMP relay and transiently inhibits the acidic Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-store

Background  

During early differentiation of Dictyostelium the attractant cAMP is released periodically to induce aggregation of the cells. Here we pursue the question whether pulsatile cAMP signaling is coupled to a basic Ca²⁺-oscillation.     

Identification of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rice stripe necrosis virus</Emphasis> resistance locus and yield component QTLs using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. glaberrima</Emphasis> introgression lines

Background  

Developing new population types based on interspecific introgressions has been suggested by several authors to facilitate the discovery of novel allelic sources for traits of agronomic importance. Chromosome segment substitution lines from interspecific crosses represent a powerful and useful genetic resource for QTL detection and breeding programs.     

Crucial role of zebrafish <Emphasis Type="Italic">prox1</Emphasis>in hypothalamic catecholaminergic neurons development

Background  

Prox1, the vertebrate homolog of prospero in Drosophila melanogaster, is a divergent homeogene that regulates cell proliferation, fate determination and differentiation during vertebrate embryonic development.     

Transcriptional analysis of an immune-responsive serine protease from Indian malarial vector, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles culicifacies</Emphasis>

Background  

The main vector for transmission of malaria in India is the Anopheles culicifacies mosquito species, a naturally selected subgroup of which is completely refractory (R) to transmission of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax;     

Structural analysis of inhibition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> methionine aminopeptidase: implication of loop adaptability in selective inhibition of bacterial enzymes

Background  

Methionine aminopeptidase is a potential target of future antibacterial and anticancer drugs. Structural analysis of complexes of the enzyme with its inhibitors provides valuable information for structure-based drug design efforts.     

Structural analysis of FAD synthetase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynebacterium ammoniagenes</Emphasis>

Background  

The prokaryotic FAD synthetase family - a group of bifunctional enzymes that catalyse riboflavin phosphorylation and FMN adenylylation within a single polypeptide chain- was analysed in terms of sequence and structure.     

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>-gold-chitosan nanostructure

Background  

Fe₃O₄-gold-chitosan core-shell nanostructure can be used in biotechnological and biomedical applications such as magnetic bioseparation, water and wastewater treatment, biodetection and bioimaging, drug delivery, and cancer treatment.