Relative reticulo-rumen pH indicators for subacute ruminal acidosis detection in dairy cows

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is usually characterized by abnormal and intermittent drops in rumen pH. Nevertheless, high individual animal variability in rumen pH and the difference in measurement methods for pH data acquisition decrease the sensitivity and accuracy of pH indicators for detecting SARA in ruminants. The aim of this study was to refine rumen pH indicators in long-term SARA based on individual dairy cow reticulo-rumen pH kinetics. Animal performances and rumen parameters were studied weekly in order to validate SARA syndrome and rumen pH was continuously measured using reticulo-rumen sensors. In total, 11 primiparous dairy cows were consecutively fed two different diets for 12 successive weeks: a control diet as low-starch diet (LSD; 13% starch for 4 weeks in period 1), an acidotic diet as high-starch diet (HSD; 32% starch for 4 weeks in period 2), and again the LSD diet (3 weeks in period 3). There was a 1-week dietary transition between LSD and HSD. Commonly used absolute SARA pH indicators such as daily average, area under the curve (AUC) and time spent below pH<5.8 and pH<6 were processed from absolute (raw) daily kinetics. Then signal processing was applied to raw pH values in order to calculate relative pH indicators by filtering and normalizing data to remove inter-individual variability, sensor drift and sensor noise. Normalized AUC, times spent below NpH<−0.3 and NpH<−0.5, NpH range and NpH standard deviation were calculated. Those relative pH indicators were compared with commonly used pH indicators to assess their ability to detect SARA. This syndrome induced by HSD was confirmed by consistent expected changes in milk quality, dry matter intake and acetate : propionate ratio in the rumen, whereas the ruminal concentration of lipopolysaccharide was increased. Commonly used pH SARA indicators were not able to discriminate SARA syndrome due to high animal variability and sensor drift and noise, whereas relative pH indicators developed in this study appeared more relevant for SARA detection as assessed by receiver operating characteristic tests. This work shows that absolute pH kinetics should be corrected for drift, noise and animal variability to produce relative pH indicators that are more robust for SARA detection. These relative pH indicators could be more relevant for identifying affected animals in a herd and also for comparing SARA risk among studies.     

Study of a water‐soluble fluorescent sensor based on the Eu(III) pefloxacin complex

The antibiotic type organic structure pefloxacin binds well with europium (III) ions as a useful scaffold for assembling optical probes and allows energy transfer from ligand to metal ions through coordination linkages. This water‐soluble chemosensor demonstrated significant ‘off–on (red)’ changes from an alkaline to a neutral environment (pH 14–8). The emission changed from red to blue under acidic conditions (pH 7–2). The whole process was completely reversible and effective within the pH range 2 to 14. Moreover, this probe system exhibited distinct luminescence quenching upon the addition of Cu²⁺ or Fe³⁺. This general modular route will permit easy detection and the concept can be extended to a variety of quinolones for sensing purposes.     

Membrane-aerated microbioreactor for high-throughput bioprocessing

A microbioreactor with a volume of microliters is fabricated out of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and glass. Aeration of microbial cultures is through a gas-permeable PDMS membrane. Sensors are integrated for on-line measurement of optical density (OD), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH. All three parameter measurements are based on optical methods. Optical density is monitored via transmittance measurements through the well of the microbioreactor while dissolved oxygen and pH are measured using fluorescence lifetime-based sensors incorporated into the body of the microbioreactor. Bacterial fermentations carried out in the microbioreactor under well-defined conditions are compared to results obtained in a 500-mL bench-scale bioreactor. It is shown that the behavior of the bacteria in the microbioreactor is similar to that in the larger bioreactor. This similarity includes growth kinetics, dissolved oxygen profile within the vessel over time, pH profile over time, final number of cells, and cell morphology. Results from off-line analysis of the medium to examine organic acid production and substrate utilization are presented. By changing the gaseous environmental conditions, it is demonstrated that oxygen levels within the microbioreactor can be manipulated. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the sensitivity and reproducibility of the microbioreactor system are such that statistically significant differences in the time evolution of the OD, DO, and pH can be used to distinguish between different physiological states. Finally, modeling of the transient oxygen transfer within the microbioreactor based on observed and predicted growth kinetics is used to quantitatively characterize oxygen depletion in the system.     

Process adapted calibration improves fluorometric pH sensor precision in sophisticated fermentation processes

Miniaturization and automation have become increasingly popular in bioprocess development in recent years, enabling rapid high‐throughput screening and optimization of process conditions. In addition, advances in the bioprocessing industry have led to increasingly complex process designs, such as pH and temperature shifts, in microbial fed‐batch fermentations for optimal soluble protein expression in a range of hosts. However, in order to develop an accurate scale‐down model for bioprocess screening and optimization, small‐scale bioreactors must be able to accurately reproduce these complex process designs. Monitoring methods, such as fluorometric‐based pH sensors, provide elegant solutions for the miniaturization of bioreactors, however, previous research suggests that the intrinsic fluorescence of biomass alters the sigmoidal calibration curve of fluorometric pH sensors, leading to inaccurate pH control. In this article, we present results investigating the impact of biomass on the accuracy of a commercially available fluorometric pH sensor. Subsequently, we present our calibration methodology for more precise online measurement and provide recommendations for improved pH control in sophisticated fermentation processes.     

Real‐time pH monitoring of industrially relevant enzymatic reactions in a microfluidic side‐entry reactor (μSER) shows potential for pH control

Monitoring and control of pH is essential for the control of reaction conditions and reaction progress for any biocatalytic or biotechnological process. Microfluidic enzymatic reactors are increasingly proposed for process development, however typically lack instrumentation, such as pH monitoring. We present a microfluidic side‐entry reactor (μSER) and demonstrate for the first time real‐time pH monitoring of the progression of an enzymatic reaction in a microfluidic reactor as a first step towards achieving pH control. Two different types of optical pH sensors were integrated at several positions in the reactor channel which enabled pH monitoring between pH 3.5 and pH 8.5, thus a broader range than typically reported. The sensors withstood the thermal bonding temperatures typical of microfluidic device fabrication. Additionally, fluidic inputs along the reaction channel were implemented to adjust the pH of the reaction. Time‐course profiles of pH were recorded for a transketolase and a penicillin G acylase catalyzed reaction. Without pH adjustment, the former showed a pH increase of 1 pH unit and the latter a pH decrease of about 2.5 pH units. With pH adjustment, the pH drop of the penicillin G acylase catalyzed reaction was significantly attenuated, the reaction condition kept at a pH suitable for the operation of the enzyme, and the product yield increased. This contribution represents a further step towards fully instrumented and controlled microfluidic reactors for biocatalytic process development.     

Sodium 4‐mercaptophenolate capped CdSe/ZnS quantum dots as a fluorescent probe for pH detection in acidic aqueous media

Development of the fluorescent pH detection method is promising due to the sensitivity, easy operation, and low‐cost, etc. However, traditional organic fluorophores have still some disadvantages such as the tedious preparation and purification as well as low photostability and water solubility, which limits the rapid detection application. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently risen to prominence as an alternative for organic fluorophores in fluorescence analysis by virtue of their convenient synthesis and superior optical properties. In this study, we report on sodium 4‐mercaptophenolate functionalized CdSe/ZnS QDs (denoted as ^?OPhS‐QDs), which can serve as a selective “on–off” fluorescence probe for aqueous media pH. ^?OPhS‐QDs exhibit strong fluorescence in near neutral medium. As a Lewis organic base, ^?OPhS‐ moieties on QDs surface easily binds to proton under acidic conditions to yield 4‐mercaptophenol capped QDs (i.e. HOPhS‐QDs), which acts as an efficient hole trapper. As a result, the QDs photoluminescence (PL) is switched off. Under optimal conditions, the present probe exhibits a good linear relationship between fluorescence response and pH values in the pH range 3.0–5.2. Furthermore, the present probe exhibits a high selectivity for proton over other common cations and has been successfully used for pH detection in real water samples.     

Selective labeling and monitoring pH changes of lysosomes in living cells with fluorogenic pH sensors

New BODIPY-based pH probes have been designed with excitation and emission wavelengths suitable for fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. These pH probes are cell-permeable, selectively label lysosomes, and can be used for noninvasive monitoring of lysosomal pH changes during physiological and pathological processes.     

Evaluation of Antigen Retrieval Buffer Systems

The introduction of antigen retrieval (AR) techniques has dramatically improved the sensitivity of immunohistochemical detection of various antigens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. The microwave-heating and pressure-cooking procedures are the most effective AR methods reported to date. Although extensive efforts have been made to optimize AR procedures using these two methods, previous studies have not led to a standard protocol applicable to all antibodies derived from different clones. In this study we have investigated the optimal AR buffer conditions for 29 antibodies that are in common use for diagnostic purposes in hospitals worldwide. Borate (pH 8.0) and Tris buffer (pH 9.5) yielded the highest retrieved antigen immunoreactivity against most antibodies as compared to other buffers tested. In addition, the microwave pressure-cooking gave better results than microwave-heating alone. Therefore, borate (pH 8.0) or Tris (pH 9.5) buffer used in conjunction with the pressure-cooking procedure is strongly recommended for standard routine use.     

Conductivity and pH dual detection of growth profile of healthy and stressed Listeria monocytogenes

In this study, growth of Listeria monocytogenes in a low conductivity growth medium (LCGM) was simultaneously monitored by conductivity and pH measurements. Detection times obtained from the conductivity and pH growth curves were inversely related to the initial concentration of L. monocytogenes in the medium. Linear responses were found by plotting detection times obtained from both conductivity and pH growth curves as a function of initial cell concentration in the range of 10(2) to 10(7) cfu/mL. The detection time was approximately 12 and 2 h for 10(2) and 10(7) cfu/mL of viable L. monocytogenes, respectively, using the conductivity growth curves, whereas it was approximately 1 h less using the pH growth curves. This dual detection system was used for evaluating the growth of acid-, temperature-, and salt-treated L. monocytogenes in the medium. Acid stress at pH 2 and 3 for 3 h caused approximately 12 and 4 h delay in the detection time on pH growth curves, while stress at pH 5 for 3 h did not cause a significant delay in detection time. Delay in detection times was also observed for L. monocytogenes cells exposed to 45 degrees C for more than 1 h (2 and 6 h). Exposure to 10% NaCl for 3 h did not cause visible delay in the detection time. These observations on detection times for stressed L. monocytogenes had a consistent trend with the cell number decrease determined by surface plating method.     

细胞传感器与芯片的研究进展

细胞传感器（cell-based biosensor）与芯片(cell-based biochip)已成为后基因时代生物科学研究的重要工具,它们利用生活细胞作为研究对象或敏感元件,与传感器和芯片技术相结合,通过生物信号与物理、电化学等其他信号的转换,实现实时、快速、微量地检测细胞的功能信息和待测物的性质.在细胞生物学研究、环境监测和药物开发等领域有广泛的应用.综述近三年来细胞传感器与芯片技术的研究进展及应用,并提出展望.     

Existing and emerging detection technologies for DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) finger printing, sequencing, bio- and analytical chips: a multidisciplinary development unifying molecular biology, chemical and electronics engineering

The current status and research trends of detection techniques for DNA-based analysis such as DNA finger printing, sequencing, biochips and allied fields are examined. An overview of main detectors is presented vis-à-vis these DNA operations. The biochip method is explained, the role of micro- and nanoelectronic technologies in biochip realization is highlighted, various optical and electrical detection principles employed in biochips are indicated, and the operational mechanisms of these detection devices are described. Although a diversity of biochips for diagnostic and therapeutic applications has been demonstrated in research laboratories worldwide, only some of these chips have entered the clinical market, and more chips are awaiting commercialization. The necessity of tagging is eliminated in refractive-index change based devices, but the basic flaw of indirect nature of most detection methodologies can only be overcome by generic and/or reagentless DNA sensors such as the conductance-based approach and the DNA-single electron transistor (DNA-SET) structure. Devices of the electrical detection-based category are expected to pave the pathway for the next-generation DNA chips. The review provides a comprehensive coverage of the detection technologies for DNA finger printing, sequencing and related techniques, encompassing a variety of methods from the primitive art to the state-of-the-art scenario as well as promising methods for the future.     

Mechanism of Fine-tuning pH Sensors in Proprotein Convertases: IDENTIFICATION OF A pH-SENSING HISTIDINE PAIR IN THE PROPEPTIDE OF PROPROTEIN CONVERTASE 1/3*

The propeptides of proprotein convertases (PCs) regulate activation of cognate protease domains by sensing pH of their organellar compartments as they transit the secretory pathway. Earlier experimental work identified a conserved histidine-encoded pH sensor within the propeptide of the canonical PC, furin. To date, whether protonation of this conserved histidine is solely responsible for PC activation has remained unclear because of the observation that various PC paralogues are activated at different organellar pH values. To ascertain additional determinants of PC activation, we analyzed PC1/3, a paralogue of furin that is activated at a pH of ∼5.4. Using biophysical, biochemical, and cell-based methods, we mimicked the protonation status of various histidines within the propeptide of PC1/3 and examined how such alterations can modulate pH-dependent protease activation. Our results indicate that whereas the conserved histidine plays a crucial role in pH sensing and activation of this protease an additional histidine acts as a “gatekeeper” that fine-tunes the sensitivity of the PC1/3 propeptide to facilitate the release inhibition at higher proton concentrations when compared with furin. Coupled with earlier analyses that highlighted the enrichment of the amino acid histidine within propeptides of secreted eukaryotic proteases, our work elucidates how secreted proteases have evolved to exploit the pH of the secretory pathway by altering the spatial juxtaposition of titratable groups to regulate their activity in a spatiotemporal fashion.     

细胞内pH值测定方法的研究进展

很多细胞的活动都对pH的变化十分敏感。pH值的有效控制对维持正常的细胞生理活动十分重要。如何有效监测细胞内pH值是很多细胞生物学的重要研究内容之一,如在研究细胞内转运蛋白、Ca2+离子等的变化活动时均需要测定细胞内的pH值,其相关的研究已有100多年的历史。本文将介绍目前几种细胞内pH值的主要测定方法,包括:弱酸弱碱分布法、核磁共振法、微电极法、荧光探针法等;每一种方法将从相关方法、技术的原理、特点、应用、局限性和注意事项等着手,将各个方法的优缺点进行横向的比较。本文还将重点探讨免疫探针法的最新进展,将报道一种最新的基于碳纳米点技术和荧光染料结合的pH定量测定计,还将介绍SNARF的两种最新衍生染料SNARF-F和SNARF-Cl的性能及其应用。     

High-pressure liquid chromatography of sialic acids on a pellicular resin anion-exchange column with pulsed amperometric detection: a comparison with six other systems

A wide variety of different sialic acids have been reported in nature. Following their release and purification, detection and quantitation of these molecules is now possible by a number of techniques. We and others have previously reported high-pressure liquid chromatography separation of sialic acids with several different columns, elution methods, and detection techniques. We report here a new method for the separation of sialic acids at neutral pH on a Carbopac PA-1 anion-exchange column of pellicular resin, with pulsed amperometric detection following postcolumn addition of alkali. The major advantages of this system are the separation of a variety of sialic acids, sensitive detection (into the picomole range), and the relative ease of use for preparative purposes. Using a set of defined sialic acid standards, this method is compared and contrasted with six other HPLC methods previously described by us and by others. The advantages and disadvantages of each system are also addressed. In the final analysis, no single method is adequate to completely separate and quantitate all of the known sialic acids. However, used in appropriate combinations, these methods allow exploration of the biology of sialic acids in a manner heretofore not possible.     

Continuous-flow NMR culture system for mammalian cells

A continuous-flow NMR culture system for mammalian cells has been developed on which ³¹P-NMR experiments under complete and strictly physiologic conditions have been performed. Observations on the response of the cellular metabolism to stresses such as starvation, low temperature and changes in environmental pH monitored by ³¹P-NMR are reported. The response of the intracellular pH relative to the external pH of the growth medium is studied. We find that under the experimental conditions used there exists a ΔpH varying between less than 0.2 and more than 0.6 pH units. These results are compatible with those obtained using other techniques.     

Effect of pH and nitrite concentration on nitrite oxidation rate

The effect of pH and nitrite concentration on the activity of the nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in an activated sludge reactor has been determined by means of laboratory batch experiments based on respirometric techniques. The bacterial activity was measured at different pH and at different total nitrite concentrations (TNO?). The experimental results showed that the nitrite oxidation rate (NOR) depends on the TNO? concentration independently of the free nitrous acid (FNA) concentration, so FNA cannot be considered as the real substrate for NOB. NOB were strongly affected by low pH values (no activity was detected at pH 6.5) but no inhibition was observed at high pH values (activity was nearly the same for the pH range 7.5-9.95). A kinetic expression for nitrite oxidation process including switch functions to model the effect of TNO? concentration and pH inhibition is proposed. Substrate half saturation constant and pH inhibition constants have been obtained.     

Quantitative analysis of autophagic flux by confocal pH-imaging of autophagic intermediates

Although numerous techniques have been developed to monitor autophagy and to probe its cellular functions, these methods cannot evaluate in sufficient detail the autophagy process, and suffer limitations from complex experimental setups and/or systematic errors. Here we developed a method to image, contextually, the number and pH of autophagic intermediates by using the probe mRFP-GFP-LC3B as a ratiometric pH sensor. This information is expressed functionally by AIPD, the pH distribution of the number of autophagic intermediates per cell. AIPD analysis reveals how intermediates are characterized by a continuous pH distribution, in the range 4.5–6.5, and therefore can be described by a more complex set of states rather than the usual biphasic one (autophagosomes and autolysosomes). AIPD shape and amplitude are sensitive to alterations in the autophagy pathway induced by drugs or environmental states, and allow a quantitative estimation of autophagic flux by retrieving the concentrations of autophagic intermediates.     

Continuous pH monitoring in a perfused bioreactor system using an optical pH sensor

Monitoring and regulating the pH of the solution in a bioprocess is one of the key steps in the success of bioreactor operation. An in-line optical pH sensor, based on the optical absorption properties of phenol red present in the medium, was developed and tested in this work for use in NASA space bioreactors based on a rotating wall-perfused vessel system supporting a baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cell culture. The sensor was tested over three 30-day and one 124-day cell runs. The pH sensor initially was calibrated and then used during the entire cell culture interval. The pH reported by the sensor was compared to that measured by a fiber optically coupled Shimadzu spectrophotometer and a blood gas analyzer. The maximum standard error of prediction for all the four cell runs for development pH sensor against BGA was +/-0.06 pH unit and for the fiber optically coupled Shimadzu spectrophotometer against the blood gas analyzer was +/-0.05 pH unit. The pH sensor system performed well without need of recalibration for 124 days.     

粪便pH和涂片检查肠道菌群失调的研究及意义

目的探讨粪便pH和涂片检查细菌球/杆在菌群失调诊断中的价值。方法对腹泻3 d以上或疾病中并发腹泻的194例患者为研究对象。采集新鲜粪便(10 min内),观察其性状、颜色、测pH、粪便常规,涂片革兰染色查细菌总数、形态特点、革兰球菌/杆菌及细菌培养。另选同期住院的非腹泻患者、职工家属和到保健科定期体检的小儿80例作为正常对照。结果经培养确诊为菌群失调的有118例,其中男76例,女42例,年龄最小45天,最大5岁。粪便pH失调组分布在6~8,≥7者占78.8%,对照组分布在5~6.5,多集中在≤5.5,占85%,相比差异有显著性(u=12.02,P<0.01)。涂片查球菌/杆菌失调组为3/7~8/2,球菌≥40%者106例(89.8%),对照组为3/7~1/9,球菌≥40%者无1例,两者比较差异有显著性(u=11.19,P<0.01)。两种快速诊断法的灵敏度分别为94.9%和100%,特异度均为95%,诊断界值pH为6.5,球/杆为3/7。结论粪便pH和涂片检查肠道菌群失调方法简便、快捷、经济实用,能在15 min内作出诊断,尤对急重症患者可赢得治疗时机,值得推广。     

pH敏感型荧光蛋白及其在植物细胞生物学中的应用

pH敏感型荧光蛋白, 即pHluorin, 是荧光强度及光谱特征随环境pH值的变化而改变的一类荧光蛋白。人们通过对密码子使用偏好和特定剪切位点的修饰, 已使pHluorin及其衍生物成功地在动物、植物和真菌细胞中正常表达, 为测量细胞内微环境pH值的变化, 并研究活细胞内依赖或导致pH变化的生理过程提供了有力工具。该文总结了目前已报道的pH敏感型荧光蛋白的种类及特性, 并对其在细胞生物学, 特别是植物细胞生物学中的应用进行了详细介绍。随着报告基因技术及检测方法的不断改进, pHluorin将在植物科学领域发挥更大的作用。