The use of co-immobilization of Trichosporon cutaneum and Bacillus licheniformis for a BOD sensor

The microorganisms Trichosporon cutaneum and Bacillus licheniformis were used to develop a microbial biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor. It was found that T. cutaneum gave a greater response to glucose, whereas B. licheniformis gave a better response to glutamic acid. Hence, co-immobilized T. cutaneum and B. licheniformis were used to construct a glucose and glutamic acid sensor with improved sensitivity and dynamic range. A membrane loading of T. cutaneum at 1.1x10(8 )cells ml(-1) cm(-2) and B. licheniformis at 2.2x10(8) cells ml(-1) cm(-2) gave the optimum result: a linear range up to 40 mg BOD l(-1) with a sensitivity of 5.84 nA mg(-1) BOD l. The optimized BOD sensor showed operation stability for 58 intermittent batch measurements, with a standard deviation of 0.0362 and a variance of 0.131 nA. The response time of the co-immobilized microbial BOD sensor was within 5-10 min by steady-state measurement and the detection limit was 0.5 mg BOD l(-1). The BOD sensor was insensitive to pH in the range of pH 6.8-7.2.     

An accessory role for ceramide in interleukin-1β induced prostaglandin synthesis

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent inducer of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) synthesis. We previously showed that ceramide accumulates in fibroblasts treated with IL-1 and that it enhances IL-1-induced PGE₂ production. The present study was undertaken to determine the mechanism(s) by which ceramide and IL-1 interact to enhance PGE₂ production by examining their respective effects on the rate-limiting enzymes in PGE₂ synthesis, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂). IL-1-induced PGE₂ synthesis required 8 h even though COX-1 was constitutively expressed (both mRNA and protein) and enzymatically active in untreated cells. Conversely, COX-2 mRNA was barely detectable in untreated cells but within 2 h, ceramide or IL-1 alone induced a 5 and 20 fold increase in COX-2 mRNA, respectively. However, IL-1 induced COX-2 protein synthesis was only detectable 6-7 h after maximal COX-2 mRNA induction; COX-2 protein accumulation was not induced by ceramide alone. Ceramide however, reduced the length of time required for IL- 1 to induce COX-2 protein accumulation and increased COX-2 protein accumulation. IL-1 induced a 15 fold increase in COX-1 mRNA including an alternatively spliced form of COX-1. IL-1, but not ceramide induced cPLA₂ mRNA and protein expression which corresponded with the initiation of PGE₂ synthesis. These observations indicate that, (1) while either ceramide or IL-1 rapidly induced COX-2 mRNA, COX-2 protein only accumulated in IL- 1 treated cells after a delay of 6-7 h, (2) IL-1-induced PGE₂ synthesis required both COX-2 and cPLA₂ protein synthesis and, (3) ceramide enhanced (temporally and quantitatively) IL-1-induced COX-2 protein accumulation resulting in enhanced PGE₂ production.     

Transcriptional regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in the Human Microvascular Endothelial Cell Line,HMEC-1: Control by the combinatorial actions of AP2, NF-IL-6 and CRE elements

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1) is a potent inducer of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin biosynthesis in many types of cells, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating IL-1 mediated prostanoid biosynthesis in the endothelium of the microvasculature. Therefore, we examined the cis- and trans-acting factors regulating IL-1-induced COX-2 expression in the human microvascular endothelial cell line, HMEC-1. IL-1 enhanced steady state levels of COX-2 protein and mRNA synthesis by approximately 2-fold which preceded a 2-fold increase in PGF(alpha) biosynthesis. Expression of a series of COX-2 promoter-luciferase constructs in IL-1 treated HMEC-1 cells revealed that the 'full length' (-1432/+59 bp) promoter was 10 times more active than the SV-40 promoter/enhancer and that it could be further activated by IL-1. Surprisingly however, all except for the shortest COX-2 promoter construct retained the ability to respond to IL-1 and luciferase activity driven by -191/+59 bp COX-2 promoter was as responsive to IL-1 as the full-length promoter. Moreover, site-directed promoter mutagenesis and electophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) indicate that the combinatorial actions of AP2, NF-IL6, and CRE elements are critical for both constitutive and IL-1-inducible COX-2 promoter activity. Understanding the mechanism(s) regulating COX-2 gene expression and prostaglandin biosynthesis in the microvasculature has important implications with regard to inflammation and angiogenesis in vivo.     

Sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay for cytotoxicity screening

The sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay is used for cell density determination, based on the measurement of cellular protein content. The method described here has been optimized for the toxicity screening of compounds to adherent cells in a 96-well format. After an incubation period, cell monolayers are fixed with 10% (wt/vol) trichloroacetic acid and stained for 30 min, after which the excess dye is removed by washing repeatedly with 1% (vol/vol) acetic acid. The protein-bound dye is dissolved in 10 mM Tris base solution for OD determination at 510 nm using a microplate reader. The results are linear over a 20-fold range of cell numbers and the sensitivity is comparable to those of fluorometric methods. The method not only allows a large number of samples to be tested within a few days, but also requires only simple equipment and inexpensive reagents. The SRB assay is therefore an efficient and highly cost-effective method for screening.     

Development of antibody array for simultaneous detection of foodborne pathogens

Pathogenic bacterial contaminations present serious problems for food industry and public health. Rapid, accurate and affordable assays are needed. In this study, antibody arrays to simultaneously detect two foodborne pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp.) have been developed using chemiluminescent detecting system. Solid supports using nitrocellulose membrane and poly-l-lysine (PLL) glass slide were compared and optimized for antibody array construction. Many parameters including optimal concentrations of antibodies, blocking reagents, assay time, storage time, sensitivity and cross-reactivity were considered during optimization. This study revealed that the PLL slide was a more suitable support due to highly accurate results and the absence of non-specific background. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.2) and 3% skim milk in PBS buffer were optimal spotting and blocking reagents, respectively. With the same sensitivity for bacterial detection as in a conventional ELISA (10(5)-10(6)CFU/ml for the E. coli O157:H7 and 10(6)-10(7)CFU/ml for Salmonella detections), this antibody array has advantages of a much shorter assay time of 1h and much lower required amounts of antibodies. Moreover, there was no cross-reactivity in the detection among bacteria tested in this study. Bacteria detection in food sample was feasible as demonstrated using bacteria-added milk.     

Metabolites from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. PSU-D15

From the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. PSU-D15, three metabolites named as phomoenamide (1), phomonitroester (2) and deacetylphomoxanthone B (3), were isolated together with three known compounds, dicerandrol A (4), (1S,2S,4S)-p-menthane-1,2,4-triol (5) and uridine. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Phomoenamide (1) exhibited moderate in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra.     

Novel biologically active bibenzyls from Bauhinia saccocalyx Pierre

Four new bibenzyls, bauhinols A-D (1-4), together with the two known bibenzyls 5 and 6, were isolated from the roots of Bauhinia saccocalyx, and their structures were elucidated by analyses of spectroscopic data. Bauhinol A (1) exhibits significant cytotoxicity towards NCI-H187 (small-cell lung cancer), BC (breast cancer), and KB (oral-cavity cancer) cell lines, with IC50 values of 2.7-4.5 microg/ml. Bauhinol B (2) is cytotoxic against NCI-H187 (IC50 = 1.1 microg/ml) and BC (IC50 = 9.7 microg/ml) cell lines, but inactive toward the KB cell line (at 20 microg/ml). Compound 2 also is mildly antifungal towards Candia albicans (IC50 = 28.9 microg/ml). Bibenzyl 6 is active against NCI-H187 (IC50 = 14.1 microg/ml) and BC (IC50 = 4.0 microg/ml) cells, but inactive (at 20 microg/ml) toward the KB cell line. Compounds 1, 2, and 6 show mild antimycobacterial activities, with MIC values of 25-50 microg/ml, but are inactive at 20 microg/ml against the K1 malarial parasite strain (Plasmodium falciparum). While bauhinol A (1) is inactive against cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), compounds 2 and 6 inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2, with IC50 values comparable to those of the standard drug, aspirin (Table 3).     

Antimalarial preracemosols A and B, possible biogenetic precursors of racemosol from Bauhinia malabarica Roxb

Racemosol and demethylracemosol, together with their possible biogenetic precursors, preracemosol A and preracemosol B, were isolated from the roots of Bauhinia malabarica Roxb. While only racemosol and demethylracemosol exhibited cytotoxicity against KB and BC cell lines, all four compounds exhibited moderate antimalarial activity.