Citromicrobium bathyomarinum, a novel aerobic bacterium isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vent plume waters that contains photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes.

We have taxonomically and phylogenetically characterized a new aerobic bacterial strain (JF-1) that contains photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes and which was recently isolated from black smoker plume waters of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Strain JF-1 is a gram-negative, yellow-pigmented, motile bacterium that is salt-, pH-, and thermotolerant. These properties are consistent with an oligotrophic adaptation to varied environmental conditions thought to exist around deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The analysis of 16S rDNA sequences revealed that strain JF-1 forms a separate phylogenetic branch between the genus Erythromonas and the Erythromicrobium-Porphyrobacter-Erythrobacter cluster within the alpha subclass of the Proteobacteria. The taxonomic name Citromicrobium bathyomarinum (gen. nov., sp. nov.) is proposed for strain JF-1.     

Luteal phase defects: a possible relationship between short hyperthermic phase and sporadic sexual behavior in women

Sporadic (less than regular weekly) coital activity is associated with a particular type of infertility—the short hyperthermic (luteal) phase. This preliminary report is the first suggestion that a reduced frequency of human sexual activity might, itself, be associated with subfertile reproductive function.     

Ultrathin-layer microelectrophoretic determination of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in corneal and conjunctival epithelium of the cow

In order to evaluate the impact of tissue oxygenation on the distribution pattern of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, activities of the isoenzymes were measured in microdissected samples of bovine tissue. A highly sensitive ultrathin-layer electrophoretic technique was used to determine the distribution pattern of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in basal, intermediate and superficial layers of the epithelium of central and peripheral cornea and in the epithelium of the bulbar conjunctiva. Measurements revealed almost homogeneous intraepithelial distribution patterns of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in both tissues. In the cornea the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes 4 and 5, which are regarded to be specialized for anaerobic glucose metabolism, were found to predominate. In the well-oxygenated conjunctival epithelium most of the activity could be ascribed to the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 3. In contrast to the isoenzymatic activities, total activity of lactate dehydrogenase was inhomogeneously distributed; maximum activities were found in the basal layer of corneal epithelium and in the intermediate layer of conjunctival epithelium. The results indicate that oxygen supply is relevant rather for the intraepithelial distribution of total enzyme activity than for the expression of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes.Parts of this study were presented as an inaugural dissertation to the Medical Faculty of the University of Basel by K. Krieger     

Microfibril-associated Glycoprotein 2 (MAGP2) Loss of Function Has Pleiotropic Effects in Vivo

Microfibril-associated glycoprotein (MAGP) 1 and 2 are evolutionarily related but structurally divergent proteins that are components of microfibrils of the extracellular matrix. Using mice with a targeted inactivation of Mfap5, the gene for MAGP2 protein, we demonstrate that MAGPs have shared as well as unique functions in vivo. Mfap5^−/− mice appear grossly normal, are fertile, and have no reduction in life span. Cardiopulmonary development is typical. The animals are normotensive and have vascular compliance comparable with age-matched wild-type mice, which is indicative of normal, functional elastic fibers. Loss of MAGP2 alone does not significantly alter bone mass or architecture, and loss of MAGP2 in tandem with loss of MAGP1 does not exacerbate MAGP1-dependent osteopenia. MAGP2-deficient mice are neutropenic, which contrasts with monocytopenia described in MAGP1-deficient animals. This suggests that MAGP1 and MAGP2 have discrete functions in hematopoiesis. In the cardiovascular system, MAGP1;MAGP2 double knockout mice (Mfap2^−/−;Mfap5^−/−) show age-dependent aortic dilation. These findings indicate that MAGPs have shared primary functions in maintaining large vessel integrity. In solid phase binding assays, MAGP2 binds active TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and BMP2. Together, these data demonstrate that loss of MAGP2 expression in vivo has pleiotropic effects potentially related to the ability of MAGP2 to regulate growth factors or participate in cell signaling.     

Production of rhamnolipids in solid-state cultivation: Characterization,downstream processing and application in the cleaning of contaminated soils

Pseudomonas aeruginosa UFPEDA 614 produced a rhamnolipid biosurfactant when grown on sugarcane bagasse impregnated with a solution containing glycerol. Biosurfactant levels reached 40 g of rhamnolipid per kilogram of dry initial substrate after 12 days. On the basis of the volume of liquid used, the biosurfactant levels were similar to those obtained in submerged liquid culture of a medium identical to the impregnating solution. The properties of the biosurfactant were very similar to those obtained with rhamnolipids produced in submerged culture, with a critical micelle concentration of 46.8 mg/L and an emulsification index at 24 h of over 90% against gasoline. The surface properties were maintained after autoclaving of the fermented solids, meaning that it is possible to minimize safety risks by killing the producing organism with a heat treatment of the solids prior to product extraction. The biosurfactant was used in the washing of soils contaminated with gasoline. An aqueous biosurfactant solution was 3.2-fold more efficient than water in leaching organic material from the soil, demonstrating the viability of application of rhamnolipids in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with gasoline.     

Immunological memory: contribution of memory B cells expressing costimulatory molecules in the resting state.

Traditionally, emphasis has been placed on the roles of Th cells in generating and amplifying both cellular and humoral memory responses. Little is known about the potential contributions of B cell subsets to immunological memory. Resting memory B cells have generally been regarded as poor APC, attributed in part to the relative paucity of costimulatory molecules identified on their surface. We describe a novel subpopulation of human memory B cells that express CD80 in their resting state, are poised to secrete particularly large amounts of class switched Igs, and can efficiently present Ag to and activate T cells. This functionally distinct B cell subset may represent an important mechanism by which quiescent human B cells can initiate and propagate rapid and vigorous immune memory responses. Finally, these studies extend recent observations in the murine system and highlight the phenotypic and functional diversity that exists within the human B cell memory compartment.     

Rheologic behavior of deoxyhemoglobin S gels

The physical properties of deoxyhemoglobin S gels formed from solutions at concentrations and temperatures approaching those in vivo have been characterized by stress relaxation using a rotational rheometer. Gels were annealed in the rheometer and then subjected to a constant shear strain; thereafter the stress sustained was followed with time. Gels with solid-like behavior held stress indefinitely, and were characterized by yield temperature (the temperature at which stress decreased). Gels with less solid behavior were unable to hold target stress, and were characterized by yield stress (maximum stress attained) and equilibrium stress (final stress held). The samples were ultracentrifuged to calculate pellet and polymer masses. The solidity of the gels, as measured by yield temperature or yield stress, was related to the initial hemoglobin concentration, pellet and polymer masses, shear history, temperature, and the temperature and time of annealing. Solidity increased significantly with time when gels were annealed at 37 degrees C, whereas, when annealed at 25 degrees C, no or minimal increases in solidity were noted. Studies suggest that polymerization occurs rapidly and is completed early in or before the gel annealing period and that the increase in solidity with time of annealing is mainly due to factors other than polymer mass, i.e. alignment, increasing bond strength, water loss. The chemical activity of deoxyhemoglobin S did not affect the solidity of the formed gels. When the resultant polymer masses were comparable, gels formed from samples with albumin present (higher initial total protein concentration, but lower initial deoxyhemoglobin S concentration), had the same behavior as gels formed from solutions with higher initial hemoglobin S concentration. These findings demonstrate that gel annealing conditions must be standardized when comparing the rheologic behaviors of deoxyhemoglobin S gels and indicate that the gel's physical properties (influenced by polymer mass, shear history, annealing time) must be considered in understanding pathophysiology of sickling disorders.