Polymerase chain reaction analysis of laboratory generated bioaerosols

The common methods for analyzing bioaerosols are based on maintaining organism viability and quantifying culturability which may result in the underestimation of microbial concentrations. The present study employed a well-developed technique that only requires cellular DNA to identify organisms. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was chosen to amplify specific DNA sequence from an organism, to detect and semi-quantify organisms. Suspensions ofFrancisella tularensis were aerosolized in a chamber, and air samples were collected using impingers. Samples were analyzed using limiting dilution PCR, and the results compared with those from a traditional plate counting. Results indicated that the limiting dilution PCR provides a new way to identify and quantify bioaerosols that does not rely on viability and culturability. Therefore, the method would provide a more reliable estimate of airborne bacterial concentrations compared to traditional plate counts.     

Loss of rotational mobility of band 3 proteins in human erythrocyte membranes induced by antibodies to glycophorin A.

The effect of antibodies to glycophorin A on the rotational diffusion of band 3 in human erythrocyte membranes was investigated by transient dichrosim. Three antibodies that recognize different epitopes on the exofacial domain of glycophorin A all strongly reduce the rotational mobility of band 3. The effect is at most only weakly dependent on the distance of the epitope from the membrane surface. The degree of immobilization obtained with two of the antibodies, BRIC14 and R18, is very similar to that produced by antibodies to band 3 itself. Similar results were obtained with membranes stripped of skeletal proteins. Fab fragments and an antibody to glycophorin C had no effect on band 3 rotational mobility. These results rule out a mechanism whereby band 3 rotational immobilization results from enhanced interactions with the membrane skeleton that are mediated by a conformational change in glycophorin A. Rather, they strongly indicate that the antibodies to glycophorin A cross-link existing band 3-glycophorin A complexes that have lifetimes that are long compared with the millisecond time scale of the transient dichroism measurements.     

Membrane specializations in the peripheral retina of the housefly Musca domestica L.

Membrane specializations of the peripheral retina of the housefly (Musca domestica) are revealed in thin sections and freeze fracture/etch replicas. Septate junctions are abundant in corner areas of the pseudocone enclosure bonding: between homologous corneal pigment cells (CPC); between homologous large pigment cells (LPC); between CPC-LPC; between Semper cells (SC); between SC-CPC. Spot desmosomes are present between Semper cells. It is likely that septate junctions function as strengthening adhesions in this area. A new membrane specialization similar to a continuous junction was observed between retinular cells of the same or adjacent ommatidium. This junction has indistinct septa in the 115 A intermembrane cleft and is intermittent in character. When this junction is absent, the apposed cells gape apart. In freeze fracture studies, this junction is characterized by bridges composed of fused membrane particles and randomly arranged particles on the P face, and noncorresponding grooves on the E face. The ridges are elongate and roughly parallel and sometimes they form enclosures. Mitochondria line up along these junctions, often within 90 A of the unit membrane. This membrane specialization has characteristics of tight and continuous junctions. In line with previous findings, we suggest that this junction assists in retinular cell orientation, possibly in enforcing the ommatidial twist and in maintaining localized ionic concentration gradients between retinular cells.     

Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis in ESRD Patients: Complications and Outcomes

BackgroundSeveral studies have suggested that urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a feasible alternative to hemodialysis (HD) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but the impact of the dialysis modality on outcome, especially on short-term complications, in urgent-start dialysis has not been directly evaluated. The aim of the current study was to compare the complications and outcomes of PD and HD in urgent-start dialysis ESRD patients.MethodsIn this retrospective study, ESRD patients who initiated dialysis urgently without a pre-established functional vascular access or PD catheter at a single center from January 2013 to December 2014 were included. Patients were grouped according to their dialysis modality (PD and HD). Each patient was followed for at least 30 days after catheter insertion (until January 2016). Dialysis-related complications and patient survival were compared between the two groups.ResultsOur study enrolled 178 patients (56.2% male), of whom 96 and 82 patients were in the PD and HD groups, respectively. Compared with HD patients, PD patients had more cardiovascular disease, less heart failure, higher levels of serum potassium, hemoglobin, serum albumin, serum pre-albumin, and lower levels of brain natriuretic peptide. There were no significant differences in gender, age, use of steroids, early referral to a nephrologist, prevalence of primary renal diseases, prevalence of co-morbidities, and other laboratory characteristics between the groups. The incidence of dialysis-related complications during the first 30 days was significantly higher in HD than PD patients. HD patients had a significantly higher probability of bacteremia compared to PD patients. HD was an independent predictor of short-term (30-day) dialysis-related complications. There was no significant difference between PD and HD patients with respect to patient survival rate.ConclusionIn an experienced center, PD is a safe and feasible dialysis alternative to HD for ESRD patients with an urgent need for dialysis.     

Complex longitudinal diversification across South China and Vietnam in Stejneger's pit viper,Viridovipera stejnegeri (Schmidt, 1925) (Reptilia: Serpentes: Viperidae)

Viridovipera stejnegeri is one of the most common pit vipers in Asia, with a wide distribution in southern China and Vietnam. We investigated historical demography and explored how the environment and climatic factors have shaped genetic diversity and the evolutionary history of this venomous snake. A total of 171 samples from 47 localities were sequenced and analysed for two mitochondrial gene fragments and three nuclear genes. Gene trees reveal the existence of two well‐supported clades (Southwest China and Southeast China) with seven distinct and strongly supported, geographically structured subclades within V. stejnegeri. Estimation of divergence time and ancestral area suggests that V. stejnegeri originated at ~6.0 Ma in the late Miocene on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. The estimated date of origin and divergence of the island populations of Taiwan and Hainan closely matches the geological origin of the both islands. The mtDNA gene tree reveals the presence of west–east diversification in V. stejnegeri populations. Complex orogenesis and heterogeneous habitats, as well as climate‐mediated habitat differentiation including glacial cycles, all have influenced population structure and the distribution of this taxon. The validity of V. stejnegeri chenbihuii is questionable, and this subspecies most probably represents an invalid taxon.     

聚羟基脂肪酸酯的研究进展

微生物合成的聚羟基脂肪酸酯(PHA)近来正向着材料的多样性和生产技术的先进性发展。材料的多样性在多种单体及其分布、分子量、聚合方式等方面越来越细化,形成了PHA组学的概念。而合成生物学技术的应用与蓝水生物技术的出现,有望大幅度降低PHA的生产成本,更有经济性和竞争性。PHA已经有一些商业化的例子;同时,PHA在医药等领域的高附加值也被不断开发出来。     

美洲拟鲽抗菌肽Pleurocidin在大肠杆菌中的高效分泌表达及优化

为在大肠杆菌中分泌表达Pleurocidin,并提高融合蛋白的分泌效率,将Pleurocidin基因和Cherry DNA序列通过平末端连接融合,再将融合基因整合到p ET22b(+)载体中,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3);乳糖诱导表达。成功构建含p ET22b(+)-CP重组质粒的基因工程菌,用乳糖诱导获得高效表达。在诱导16 h时加入甘氨酸可以显著提高融合蛋白Cherry-Pleurocidin的分泌效率。用稀盐酸水解融合蛋白的酸敏感位点,再进一步分离纯化即得到r-Pleurocidin,其对大肠杆菌DH5α和枯草芽孢杆菌BS168具有明显的抑菌活性。结果表明成功构建了高效表达Pleurocidin的大肠杆菌基因工程菌,获得有活性的r-Pleurocidin。     

具有抗菌效应的聚羟基脂肪酸酯生物塑料的制备与功能表征

聚羟基脂肪酸酯(Polyhydroxyalkanoates,PHAs)作为一类新型的生物高分子材料,因其多样的材料性质与高度的生物可降解性日益受到关注。使用乳酸链球菌素(Nisin),一种被公认为安全的天然食品防腐剂,制备了具有高效、持久抗菌效应的PHA塑料。首先采用溶剂浇铸的方法将Nisin整合到正3-羟基丁酸-3羟基己酸共聚酯(PHBHHx),一种具备高度生物相容性的PHA中,从而获得了具有抗菌效应的PHBHHx薄膜。激光共聚焦显微镜观察表明Nisin在PHBHHx中呈颗粒状均匀分布。随后以条件致病菌藤黄微球菌Micrococcus luteus为测试菌株,通过琼脂扩散法,测定PHBHHx薄膜抗菌效应对Nisin含量的依赖关系;在液体培养条件下测量PHBHHx薄膜的Nisin释放效果与抗菌效应。结果表明Nisin可从PHBHHx薄膜顺利释放且Nisin的含量高于25μg/g时即表现出显著的抑菌效果且可长时间维持。该研究为工业化生产具有抗菌效应的PHA奠定了重要的技术基础,拓展了PHA在医学和食品领域的应用潜力。     

Plasmonic metasurface for light absorption enhancement in GaAs thin film

Plasmonics - Using the plasmonic metasurface, we have designed a highly efficient solar ray absorber by tailoring the thickness of the metallic arrays. The geometric-dependent local surface plasmon...