Serum- and animal tissue-free medium for transport and growth of Helicobacter pylori

The important human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is the subject of many studies, and as a consequence it is frequently being transported between national and international laboratories. Unfortunately, common bacterial growth and transport media contain serum- and animal tissue-derived materials, which carry the risk of spreading infectious diseases. We have therefore developed a growth and transport medium for H. pylori, designated 'Serum- and Animal Tissue-Free Medium' (SATFM), which does not contain serum- or animal tissue-derived components. SATFM supported growth of H. pylori isolates to similar levels as obtained with serum-supplemented Brucella medium, and SATFM with 0.5% agar supported transport and storage of H. pylori strains, as 4/4 reference strains and 11/11 clinical isolates survived for at least 3 days at room temperature in SATFM, with some strains (2/15) even surviving for up to 7 days. In conclusion, SATFM can be used both as transport and growth medium for H. pylori. The formulation of SATFM may allow its use in international transport of H. pylori, and may also allow certified use in immunization studies requiring growth of H. pylori and other bacterial pathogens.     

Skeletal FGFR1 signaling is necessary for regulation of serum phosphate level by FGF23 and normal life span

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 produced by the bone is the principal hormone to regulate serum phosphate level. Serum FGF23 needs to be tightly regulated to maintain serum phosphate in a narrow range. Thus, we hypothesized that the bone has some phosphate-sensing mechanism to regulate the production of FGF23. Previously we showed that extracellular phosphate induces the phosphorylation of FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and FGFR1 signaling regulates the expression of Galnt3, whose product works to increase FGF23 production in vitro. In this study, we show the significance of FGFR1 in the regulated FGF23 production and serum phosphate level in vivo. We generated late-osteoblast/osteocyte-specific Fgfr1-knockout mice (Fgfr1^fl/fl; Ocn^Cre/+) by crossing the Ocn-Cre and the floxed Fgfr1 mouse lines. We evaluated serum phosphate and FGF23 levels, the expression of Galnt3 in the bone, the body weight and life span. A selective ablation of Fgfr1 aborted the increase of serum active full-length FGF23 and the enhanced expression of Galnt3 in the bone by a high phosphate diet. These mice showed more pronounced hyperphosphatemia compared with control mice. In addition, these mice fed with a control diet showed body weight loss after 23 weeks of age and shorter life span. These results reveal a novel significance of FGFR1 signaling in the phosphate metabolism and normal life span.     

The limitation of growth of Trypanosoma musculi in vitro

Trypanosoma musculi grow readily in vitro provided their growth is supported by mammalian cells. In the presence of murine spleen cells, or spleen cell-conditioned medium, the parasites increase by 100-fold, or more, in a period of 5–6 days. Growth ceases abruptly and death of the parasites soon follows. The reason for the termination of growth has been obscure and is the subject of this report. Termination of growth is not due to an immunological process; not even of ablastin affecting epimastigote reproduction. Instead it appears that other growth inhibitory substances are responsible. Culture medium, collected from spent cultures on day 8 after initiation, inhibits T. musculi growth in fresh medium in dose-dependent fashion. No inhibitory substances were present in medium collected earlier, during the phase of rapid parasite growth. These inhibitory substances appeared to be derived from the parasites rather than the cocultivated spleen cells.     

Lack of compensatory growth under phosphorus deficiency in grazing-adapted grasses from the Serengeti Plains

Summary Two shortgrass species (Sporobolus ioclados and Eustachys paspaloides) and two midgrass species (E. paspaloides and Pennisetum mezianum) from the Serengeti grasslands of Tanzania were grown under conditions of extreme phosphorus (P) deficiency. Production of each of these species is maintained or enhanced by defoliation under adequate nutrient supply (McNaughton et al. 1983). However, under the P-deficient conditions of our experiment, defoliation caused a reduction in biomass of all plant parts of each species. Green leaf biomass was reduced most strongly by defoliation, and crowns were least affected. Yield of biomass and nutrients to grazers (green leaves+clipped material) was enhanced by weekly defoliation in the shortgrass grazing-adapted species, whereas yield to producers (live biomass and nutrients retained by the plant) and yield to decomposers (litter) were strongly reduced by defoliation in all species. Phosphate absorption capacity (V _max) measured on excised roots was enhanced by defoliation in the grazing-adapted Sporobolus, but, due to low affinity (high K _m) of roots of defoliated plants for phosphate, absorption rate was not greatly altered at low solution concentrations. Phosphate absorption capacity was reduced or unaffected by defoliation in other species. We conclude that under conditions of P deficiency, plants are unable to acquire the nutrients necessary to replenish large nutrient losses to grazers. In low-nutrient environments, compensatory growth (stimulation of production by grazing) is not a viable strategy. Therefore, in these environments plants respond evolutionarily to herbivores by developing chemical or morphological defenses.     

Photoautotrophic in vitro Multiplication of the Orchid Dendrobium under CO2 Enrichment

An attempt to reduce the production cost on tissue cultured plants, photoautotrophic culture of a high value orchid Dendrobium was established under CO2-enriched conditions. The shoot length and the number of leaves were almost equal in plantlets grown on medium with 2 % sucrose or without sucrose and under normal or enhanced (40 g m-3) CO2 concentration, whereas the fresh and dry masses were higher in cultures grown in sucrose containing media or under CO2 enrichment. Development of roots was observed only on media without sucrose, but CO2 enrichment did not have significant effects on in vitro rootings. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

培养液及其浓度和pH值对草履虫种群增长的影响

采用稻草、小麦、奶粉、酵母、玉米粒、荷叶等6种培养液培养草履虫,结果表明,稻草、玉米粒和奶粉培养液为草履虫的理想培养液。另外,对上述3种理想培养液的不同浓度和稻草培养液的不同pH值影响草履虫的生长繁殖进行了实验研究,统计分析表明影响较为明显。稻草培养液的最适浓度为1%~2%;奶粉培养液的最适浓度为0.1%~0.2%;玉米粒培养液的最适浓度为1%~2%;稻草培养液最适pH值为7.0。     

Supported bilayer lipid membranes modified with a phosphate ionophore

This article reports the electrical responses of a phosphate ionophore, the cyclic polyamine 3-decyl-1,5,8-triazacyclodecane-2,4-dione (N₃-cyclic amine) incorporated into metal supported bilayer lipid membranes (s-BLM). Teflon coated silver wire was used as a support. In a potentiometric mode, the ionophore had a response that was linearly related to the logarithm of HPO₄²⁻ concentration and was also dependant on pH. Selectivity coefficients for other anions compared to HPO₄²⁻ ions, determined by the separate solution method, fell within the range 1.73 × 10⁻⁴ to 6.38 × 10⁻².     

蛹虫草菌丝生长研究

通过对 4种不同来源的蛹虫草菌种 ,在 5种不同配方培养基上菌丝生长情况进行了比较研究。结果表明 ,不同培养基配方对不同来源的蛹虫草菌种培养菌丝的长速和长势存在较大的差异。     

A simple and effective method for the removal of trace metal cations from a mammalian culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum

Direct batch addition of sterile Chelex ion-exchange resin to Dubecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum with gentle stirring removed a very wide variety of trace metal ions from the medium to varying extents dependent upon Chelex content (between 0.01 and 4% w/v), exposure time (between 5 min and 10 days) and temperature 4, 25 and 37 °C). Prolonged treatment (10 days) with 4% w/v Chelex at 4°C reduced the concentration of zinc, strontium, aluminum, copper, manganese, nickel and chromium from 100 to 2.7, 12.1, 7.7, 22.6, 13.0, 14.7 and 53.3% of their original concentrations, respectively. Re-supplementation of the metal depleted medium with a defined cocktail of metals restored the growth potential of the medium which was then capable of supporting growth over at least three subcultures without a decrease in fibroblast cell yield, demonstrating its suitability in cell culture studies on trace metal ions.     

结核分枝杆菌在自制培养基上快速生长初步观察

观察结核分枝杆菌标准株在5种自制培养基上的生长时间及最佳实验条件。将改良罗氏基的成分及传统的实验条件进行改进自制5种培养基,观察结核分枝杆菌标准株生长情况。并以第5号培养基3种成分不同浓度,做正交叉实验。结核分枝杆菌标准株在5种自制培养基上,菌落开始生长天数及典型菌落出现天数均比改良罗氏培养基短,两者差异均具有显著性(P<0.01)。第5号培养基以25%牛肉浸液,20%当归煎液,20%党参煎液的浓度最佳,结核分枝杆菌接种后第3~5 d开始生长,第7~9 d出现典型的“菜花状”菌落。结核分枝杆菌标准株在自制第5号培养基上生长快,培养时间短,为该菌培养提供了一种新的快速培养基,值得进一步研究。     

Chemically defined media for growth and sporulation of Entomophthora virulenta

Amino acids, salts, and vitamins were combined with dextrose to test their effect on growth and sporulation of Entomophthora virulenta in liquid shake culture. The addition of a vitamin solution to the tested media did not enhance growth or sporulation. MgSO₄·7H₂O was the only salt individually tested that allowed for good growth and sporulation. MgSO₄·7H₂O concentrations exceeding 250 mg/liter in media lacking other salts inhibited sporulation. A simple medium of l-arginine, l-leucine, glycine, and mineral salts allowed high growth and sporulation.     

Propagation of Chelidonium majus L. by Somatic Embryogenesis

Direct somatic embryogenesis in celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) was achieved in epicotyl explants of seedlings after prolonged cultivation on Murashige and Skoog medium with or without plant growth regulators. Somatic embryos developed into plantlets which entered additional cycles of somatic embryogenesis. Cultures consisting of plantlets with prolonged embryogenic potential were maintained for five years on plant growth regulator free medium. Embryos which developed into rooted plantlets could be acclimated in a glasshouse enabling thus a continuous propagation scheme to be established.     

Interactions between Na+-dependent uptake of d-glucose,phosphate and l-alanine in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles

d-Glucose decreases phosphate reabsorption in rat proximal tubule. It is also postulated that some amino acids interact with phosphate reabsorption. To investigate the mechanism of these interactions, phosphate, d-glucose and l-alanine transport kinetics were measured in brush border membrane vesicles isolated from superficial rat kidney cortex by the calcium precipitation technique. At pH 7.4, Na⁺-dependent phosphate transport was inhibited in the presence of either d-glucose (39 mM) or l-alanine (2.4 mM). In this model, with d-glucose or with l-alanine the $\text{V}$ value of the phosphate uptake was decreased, whereas the apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for the phosphate uptake was not affected. However, some inhibition of phosphate transport was observed in the presence of l-glucose, d-alanine or d-glucose after phlorizin preincubation. A 30% Na⁺-dependent l-alanine (0.1 mM) transport inhibition was observed in the presence of 5 mM phosphate. d-Glucose (1 mM) was also inhibited by 20% when 5 mM phosphate was added to incubation medium. According to several authors, in our model, d-glucose decreased the l-alanine transport and vice versa. Moreover, when the membrane potential was abolished, a clear inhibition of d-glucose by l-alanine persisted. These multiple interactions could be explained by the accelerated dissipation of the Na⁺ gradient insofar as the rate of the Na⁺ uptake was increased with d-glucose, l-alanine or phosphate and since the absence of variations in membrane potential did not suppress these inhibitions.     

Microbial mineralization of organic phosphate in soil

Summary Phosphate-dissolving microorganisms were isolated from non-rhizosphere and rhizosphere of plants. These isolates included bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. In broth cultures, Gram-negative short rod,Bacillus andStreptomyces species were found to be more active in solubilizing phosphate thanAspergillus, Penicillium, Proteus, Serratia, Pseudomonas andMicrococcus spp. The sterile soils mixed with isolated pure culture showed slower mineralization of organic phosphate than that of non-sterile soil samples at all incubation periods. Maximum amount of phosphate mineralization by isolated microorganisms were obtained at the 60th and the 75th day of incubation in sterile and non-sterile soils respectively. The mixed cultures were most effective in mineralizing organic phosphate and individuallyBacillus sp. could be ranked next to mixed cultures. Species ofPseudomonas andMicrococcus were almost the same as that of the control under both sterile and non-sterile conditions.     

两株解磷真菌的解磷能力及其解磷机理的初步研究

从不同处理的水稻土壤中分离筛选出两株高效解磷真菌HP2、P5,研究了不同碳源条件对溶磷效果的影响,以及解磷菌株在不同的碳源培养条件下,溶磷量与培养介质pH值之间的相关性。结果表明,HP2菌株解磷能力在不同的测定时间内均高于P5菌株;不同碳源培养基的溶磷量顺序为蔗糖〉葡萄糖〉纤维素,且彼此差异显著：测定时间内,菌株的溶磷量与介质pH值之间存在极显著相关性（P〈0．01）。     

富铬蚁巢伞（鸡 菌）液体培养

A species of mushroom, Termitomyces albuminosus, was cultured in liquid medium for production of chromium-enriched mycelium. The influence of chromium (Ⅲ) on mycelial growth of T. albuminosus was investigated. An optimum medium composed of 5.6g/L yeast extract, 51.6g/L hydrolyzed rice, 2g/L KH2PO4, and 20mg/L chromium(Ⅲ) with initial pH of 4.5 was obtained by using method of central composite design (CCD). After incubation of 84h, the maximal biomass of chromium-enriched mycelia reached 24.23g DMW(dried mycelial weight)/L with 272μg/g DMW chromium content in 500mL flasks containing 100mL medium with an inoculum of 8% on a shaker of 100r/min under an optimized cultivation condition at 28℃.     

Hormonal growth control of cells in culture

Summary Serum is the last undefined component in cell culture media. Our results indicate that the primary role of serum is to provide hormones and that serum can be replaced by a group of hormones. A rat pituitary cell line, GH₃, can grow in serum-free medium if the medium is supplemented with 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine, TSH-releasing hormone, transferrin, parathyroid hormone, insulin and three isoelectric focusing fractions of blood meal. The blood-meal components can be replaced by fibroblast growth factor and somatomedin C. The growth rate of GH₃ cells in hormone-supplemented serum-free medium is equal to that in serum-supplemented medium, and subculture in such medium is also possible. These results indicate that the replacement of the serum component is complete in the GH₃ system. The hormonal requirements of GH₃ cells and those of HeLa and mouse melanoma, M2R, were compared. Two generalizations could be made: (a) All three cell lines require insulin and transferrin. (b) There is a requirement for a hormone which localizes in the nucleus for each cell line. These generalizations seem to hold true for most of the other cell lines for which the hormonal requirements have been partially worked out. Since insulin is one of the universally required hormones, its effects on GH₃, HeLa and M2R were compared. Insulin stimulates glycogen synthesis in all three cell lines and facilitates fatty-acid synthesis in GH₃ and M2R. However, there is a difference in the effect of insulin on growth among the three cell lines. Insulin is an absolute requirement for GH₃ cells without which the cells cannot survive, whereas this is not the case for HeLa and M2R. The most stringent requirement for HeLa cells is for hydrocortisone, and for M2R, it is for transferrin. These results indicate that even though the necessity for some hormones is common, the degree of requirement may vary from one cell line to another. Whether this difference reflects the difference in the primary mode of action of the hormone on each cell type needs further investigation. Presented in the Opening Symposium on Nutritional Factors and Differentiation at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Tissue Culture Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 6–9, 1977. This work was supported by NIH Grant GM 17019. J. Larner was supported by Josiah Macy Foundation     

不同培养基中氧化亚铁硫杆菌生长及沉淀研究

为减缓氧化亚铁硫杆菌在9K培养基中培养时产生的沉淀,通过改变9K液体培养基的组成成分,研究了培养基成分的改变对细菌生长特性的影响及沉淀产生情况,并利用X射线衍射仪对沉淀进行了物相鉴定。结果表明,最佳培养基组成为(NH4)2HPO43.00g,KCl 0.10g,MgSO4.7H2O 0.50g,FeSO4.7H2O 44.3g,蒸馏水1 000ml,pH 2.0。在该培养基中,氧化亚铁硫杆菌不仅能保持其较高的氧化活性(其Fe2 氧化速率最高为0.3376 g/L.h-1),而且生长过程中沉淀出现的时间最迟,产生的沉淀量最少,且沉淀为非晶型物质。