Gold Toning Improves the Visualization of Nucleolar Organizer Regions in Paraffin Embedded Tissues

A modification of the silver colloid technique for staining nucleolar organizer regions in paraffin embedded tissues is described. This modification involves the application of a gold toning step with subsequent gold reduction, if necessary, following incubation of sections in the standard silver colloid solution. Silver stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in toned sections are more sharply delineated when compared to untoned controls. in high grade tumors the addition of the toning step results in significantly higher AgNOR counts due to the ability to discriminate more easily individual AgNORs in argyrophilic aggregates within the nucleus. It is recommended, because of enhanced visualization, that this modification of the silver colloid technique be used in studies involving quantification of AgNORs in tissue sections.     

Structures of HCMV Trimer reveal the basis for receptor recognition and cell entry

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Maturation and persistence of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 memory B cell response

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Mitochondrial dynamics: quantifying mitochondrial fusion <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Mitochondrial fusion is an essential process for preserving the integrity and stability of mitochondrial DNA; however, regulation of this process remains largely mysterious. In this issue of BMC Biology, Schauss and colleagues describe a simple, reliable, and robust novel assay that allows fusion of mammalian mitochondria to be quantified in vitro.     

Growth of Chaetomium cellulolyticum in solid-state fermentation of sugar cane bagasse treated with water and alkali at several liquid/solid ratios

Sugar cane bagasse was water- or alkali-treated at three liquid/solid (L/S) ratios and its digestibility was measured as microbial protein production of Chaetomium cellulolyticum grown on solid-state fermentation columns. The treatments significantly enhanced fungus growth compared to non-treated bagasse, which was used as a control, although the composition of bagasse did not change greatly. Alkali-treated bagasse reached an average protein content of about 7.6% and the lower the L/S ratio, the higher the protein content. L/S ratio did not have an effect in water-treated bagasse. Protein content of water-treated bagasse was also high, approximately 80% of that one of alkali-treated bagasse. Both treatments look promising to enhance sugar cane bagasse potential as an animal feed.Currently at Universidad Francisco de Miranda. Coro, Venezuela.Currently at Ciclo Básico, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Zulia. Maracaibo, Venezuela.