Virulence genes,antibiotic resistance and plasmid profiles of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium from naturally fermented Turkish foods

Aim: To determine the virulence genes, antibiotic resistance and plasmid profiles of 16 Enterococcus faecium and 68 Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from various naturally fermented foods. Methods and Results: The presence of virulence genes (agg₂, gelE, cylM, cylB, cylA, espfs, espfm, efaAfs, efaAfm, cpd, cop, ccf, cad) and also the genes vanA and vanB were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiotic resistance of the isolates was determined by disc diffusion method. Most of the tested isolates were positive for virulence genes and resistant to some antibiotics. One of the Ent. faecalis strains isolated from a cheese sample carried the vanA gene and was intermediately resistant to vancomycin. The strains usually contained large plasmids, which might harbour acquired antibiotic resistance. Conclusion: The study showed that Ent. faecium and Ent. faecalis strains isolated from naturally fermented Turkish foods may be potential risk factors for consumer health in terms of virulence genes and acquired antibiotic resistance. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results indicate the importance of enterococcal contamination in terms of the safety of some fermented Turkish foods.     

Effect of hCG vs. GnRH at the beginning of the Ovsynch on first ovulation and conception rates in cyclic lactating dairy cows

Ovulatory response to the first GnRH of Ovsynch is a very important factor for determining the outcome of a successful synchronization. The aim of the present study was to develop a protocol to increase the percentage of cows that ovulated in response to the first administration of Ovsynch. This study was designed to compare ovulation rates in response to GnRH or hCG at the beginning of Ovsynch and to evaluate the effects of this manipulation on pregnancy. Cows (n = 371) with corpus luteum (CL) and at least one follicle greater than 10 mm diameter size on either ovary were included in the study. Cows were divided into two groups. The Ovsynch protocol began with GnRH (10 μg) in the GPG group (n = 161; GnRH-7d-PGF2α-56h-GnRH-18h-AI), whereas in the HPG group, the first GnRH of the Ovsynch was replaced with 1500 IU hCG (n = 210; hCG-7d-PGF2α-56h-GnRH-18h-AI). Ovarian ultrasonography was performed at the times of GnRH or hCG and of PGF2α administration, at the time of artificial insemination (AI) and seven days after AI, to determine ovulation. Maximal follicle size at the beginning of the Ovsynch did not affect on response to the first GnRH/hCG treatment. Conception rate (31 d) was 0.6 times more likely to be higher (P < 0.001) in cows that responded to the first hormonal administration of Ovsynch than in those that did not respond (95% CI = 0.29-0.71). Conception rate was found to be different between the HPG (37.6%, 79/210) and the GPG groups (48.4%, 78/161). Thus, beginning of the Ovsynch protocol with hCG did not increase ovulation and conception rate in lactating dairy cows, suggesting that hCG is not a suitable replacement of the first GnRH of Ovsynch. However, our results do show that increasing the ovulation rate in response to the first hormonal administration of Ovsynch can have a significant effect on conception rate.     

The anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia vermifolia</Emphasis> (Section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aethiopis</Emphasis> Bentham,Lamiaceae) from Central Anatolia,Turkey

The gross anatomical features, namely stem, blade and petiole and the micromorphological features, trichome, pollen and nutlet of Salvia vermifolia Hedge & Hub.-Mor. (Sect. Aethiopis Bentham, Lamiaceae) were examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). S. vermifolia is a perennial endemic herb growing on igneous and serpentine slopes in Sivas province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. The results obtained from anatomical studies show that the stem is made up of 4–8-layers of collenchyma cells and 1-3-layers chlorenchyma cells. The blade is amphistomatic, bifacial, with 2-3-layered palisade cells on the adaxial. The petiole has three large central bundles and six small subsidiary bundles. Peltate glandular, capitate glandular and non-glandular trichomes are present in S. vermifolia. The peltate glandular trichomes are present in abundance on the calyx and corolla, and capitate glandular trichomes are predominant on the calyx, inflorescence axis, pedicel and stem. The acicular non-glandular trichomes are mainly situated on the calyx, corolla, inflorescence axis and pedicels whereas the floccose non-glandular trichomes are common on both sides of the leaf, inflorescence axis and petiole. The pollen grains are hexacolpate to octacolpate, medium to large (P, polar axis=45.29–62.49 μm; E, equatorial axis=45.32-62.38 μm), oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal (P/E=0.91–1.02) and their exine ornamentation is bireticulate. The nutlets are 2.70–2.90 mm long and 1.90–2.13 mm wide, brown, ovoid-oblong in their outline, rounded-trigonous in transverse section, and their surface is glabrous and colliculate.     

The structural basis of Akt PH domain interaction with calmodulin

Akt plays a key role in the Ras/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In breast cancer, Akt translocation to the plasma membrane is enabled by the interaction of its pleckstrin homology domain (PHD) with calmodulin (CaM). At the membrane, the conformational change promoted by PIP₃ releases CaM and facilitates Thr308 and Ser473 phosphorylation and activation. Here, using modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, we aim to figure out how CaM interacts with Akt’s PHD at the atomic level. Our simulations show that CaM-PHD interaction is thermodynamically stable and involves a β-strand rather than an α-helix, in agreement with NMR data, and that electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are critical. The PHD interacts with CaM lobes; however, multiple modes are possible. IP₄, the polar head of PIP₃, weakens the CaM-PHD interaction, implicating the release mechanism at the plasma membrane. Recently, we unraveled the mechanism of PI3Kα activation at the atomistic level and the structural basis for Ras role in the activation. Here, our atomistic structural data clarify the mechanism of how CaM interacts, delivers, and releases Akt—the next node in the Ras/PI3K pathway—at the plasma membrane.     

Genome sequence of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae strain M1601

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae is the causative agent of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, a devastating disease of goats listed by the World Organization for Animal Health. Here we report the first complete genome sequence of this organism (strain M1601, a clinically isolated strain from China).     

Effects of Chronic Boron Exposure on Semen Profile

The possible changes in semen quality were studied in men living in a boron mining area. The subjects in the boron group had exposure to boron at an average level of 6.5 mg/day, as determined by urinary analysis. The results obtained by the boron group were compared to those obtained for the control group whose subjects were living in the same geographical area but away from the boron region; average exposure level was 1.4 mg/day for this group. The semen samples were analyzed according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Boron levels were established in the water samples obtained from various locations in the study region. In the boron mining fields where the subjects in the boron group live, water samples contained boron in the range of 1.4–6.5 mg/L, while the values were <0.01 mg/L for the water samples obtained from the region where the subjects of the control group reside. No negative effects were found in the sperm samples obtained from the subjects of the boron group.     

Impaired B cell development and function in the absence of IkappaBNS

IκBNS has been identified as a member of the IκB family of NF-κB inhibitors, which undergoes induction upon TCR signaling. Mice carrying a targeted gene disruption of IκBNS demonstrate dysregulation of cytokines in T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. IκBNS mediates both positive and negative gene regulation, depending on individual cell type and/or cytokine. In this study, we demonstrate an additional role for IκBNS in the B cell lineage. B cells from IκBNS knockout (KO) mice were impaired in proliferative responses to LPS and anti-CD40. IgM and IgG3 Igs were drastically reduced in the serum of IκBNS KO mice, although IκBNS KO B cells exhibited a higher level of surface IgM than that found in wild-type mice. Switching to IgG3 was significantly reduced in IκBNS KO B cells. The in vitro induction of plasma cell development demonstrated that progression to Ab-secreting cells was impaired in IκBNS KO B cells. In agreement with this finding, the number of Ab-secreting cells in the spleens of IκBNS KO mice was reduced and production of Ag-specific Igs was lower in IκBNS KO mice after influenza infection as compared with wild-type mice. Additionally, IκBNS KO mice lacked B1 B cells and exhibited a reduction in marginal zone B cells. Thus, IκBNS significantly impacts the development and functions of B cells and plasma cells.