Influence of salinity upon the phenotypic expression of antibiotic resistance in nonhalophilic and halophilic vibrios

The purpose of the present work is to demonstrate the influence of different NaCI concentrations included in the Mueller Hinton medium, upon the antibiotic susceptibility of 10 non-halophilic and 28 halophilic Vibrio strains. The highest number of resistance aspects were recorded at 1% NaCl concentration for V. cholerae O1/non O1 strains and at 3% for V. parahaemolyticus, V. algynolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. fisheri, V. anguillarum and V. metschnikovii.     

Identification of a Novel Garlic Cellulase Gene

Genes encoding cellulase enzymes have been investigated in various plants due to the importance of cellulase enzymes in industrial applications, especially in the conversion of biomass into biofuels. Although several cellulase genes have been cloned and characterized, little is known about cellulase genes from garlic or enzyme activities of their gene products. In this study, a cellulase gene from garlic was cloned and characterized in gene and protein levels for the first time. The DNA sequence of the garlic cellulase gene showed 81% identity with the sequence of the endo-beta-1,4-glucanase of Pisum sativum. The open reading frame of this gene is 1,506 bp, which corresponds to 501 deduced amino acids. We identified the novel ORF region, which was translated into a 55.2 kDa protein using the protein expression vector, pET28a, in Escherichia coli and we confirmed that this protein has cellulase activity in vitro. Our study demonstrates that garlic is very useful, not only for the culinary and pharmaceutical industries, but also as an excellent natural source of various kinds of important genes and enzymes.     

Electron-transfer rates govern product distribution in electrochemically-driven P450-catalyzed dioxygen reduction

Developing electrode-driven biocatalytic systems utilizing the P450 cytochromes for selective oxidations depends not only on achieving electron transfer (ET) but also doing so at rates that favor native-like turnover. Herein we report studies that correlate rates of heme reduction with ET pathways and resulting product distributions. We utilized single-surface cysteine mutants of the heme domain of P450 from Bacillus megaterium and modified the thiols with N-(1-pyrene)-iodoacetamide, affording proteins that could bond to basal-plane graphite. Of the proteins examined, Cys mutants at position 62, 383, and 387 were able to form electroactive monolayers with similar E_1/2 values (− 335 to − 340 mV vs AgCl/Ag). Respective ET rates (k_s^o) and heme-cysteine distances for 62, 383, and 387 are 50 s^-1 and 16 ?, 0.8 s^- 1 and 25 ?, and 650 s^- 1 and 19 ?. Experiments utilizing rotated-disk electrodes were conducted to determine the products of P450-catalyzed dioxygen reduction. We found good agreement between ET rates and product distributions for the various mutants, with larger k_s^o values correlating with more electrons transferred per dioxygen during catalysis.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of furo[2,3-f]quinolin-5-ols

Furo[2,3-f]quinolin-5-ol derivatives were synthesized and tested for in vitro antifungal activity against Candida,Aspergillus species, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Among them tested, many furo[2,3-f]quinolin-5-ols showed good antifungal activity. The results suggest that furo[2,3-f]quinolin-5-ols would be promising antifungal agents.     

Can the Neural Basis of Repression Be Studied in the MRI Scanner? New Insights from Two Free Association Paradigms

Background

The psychodynamic theory of repression suggests that experiences which are related to internal conflicts become unconscious. Previous attempts to investigate repression experimentally were based on voluntary, intentional suppression of stimulus material. Unconscious repression of conflict-related material is arguably due to different processes, but has never been studied with neuroimaging methods.

Methods

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in addition with skin conductance recordings during two free association paradigms to identify the neural mechanisms underlying forgetting of freely associated words according to repression theory.

Results

In the first experiment, free association to subsequently forgotten words was accompanied by increases in skin conductance responses (SCRs) and reaction times (RTs), indicating autonomic arousal, and by activation of the anterior cingulate cortex. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that these associations were repressed because they elicited internal conflicts. To test this idea more directly, we conducted a second experiment in which participants freely associated to conflict-related sentences. Indeed, these associations were more likely to be forgotten than associations to not conflict-related sentences and were accompanied by increases in SCRs and RTs. Furthermore, we observed enhanced activation of the anterior cingulate cortex and deactivation of hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex during association to conflict-related sentences.

Conclusions

These two experiments demonstrate that high autonomic arousal during free association predicts subsequent memory failure, accompanied by increased activation of conflict-related and deactivation of memory-related brain regions. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that during repression, explicit memory systems are down-regulated by the anterior cingulate cortex.     

Genome sequence of Leuconostoc carnosum KCTC 3525

We announce the draft genome sequence of the type strain Leuconostoc carnosum KCTC 3525 (3,234,408 bp with a G+C content of 40.9%), one of the most prevalent lactic acid bacteria present during the manufacturing process of vacuum-packaged meats, which consists of 2,407 large contigs (>500 bp in size). The genome sequence was obtained by a whole-genome shotgun strategy using Roche 454 GS (FLX Titanium) pyrosequencing, and all of the reads were assembled using Newbler Assembler 2.3.     

Genome sequence of Lactobacillus versmoldensis KCTC 3814

Lactobacillus versmoldensis KCTC 3814 was isolated from raw fermented poultry salami. The species was present in high numbers and frequently dominated the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) populations of the products. Here, we announce the draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus versmoldensis KCTC 3814, isolated from poultry salami, and describe major findings from its annotation.     

Genome Sequence of Leuconostoc gelidum KCTC 3527, Isolated from Kimchi

Leuconostoc gelidum KCTC 3527 is found mainly in vegetables and plays an important role in vegetable fermentation, including that of Korean traditional kimchi. Here we announce the draft genome sequence of Leuconostoc gelidum KCTC 3527, isolated from Korean traditional kimchi, and describe major findings from its annotation.