A synthetic strand of cardiac muscle: its passive electrical properties

The passive electrical properties of synthetic strands of cardiac muscle, grown in tissue culture, were studied using two intracellular microelectrodes: one to inject a rectangular pulse of current and the other to record the resultant displacement of membrane potential at various distances from the current source. In all preparations, the potential displacement, instead of approaching a steady value as would be expected for a cell with constant electrical properties, increased slowly with time throughout the current step. In such circumstances, the specific electrical constants for the membrane and cytoplasm must not be obtained by applying the usual methods, which are based on the analytical solution of the partial differential equation describing a one-dimensional cell with constant electrical properties. A satisfactory fit of the potential waveforms was, however, obtained with numerical solutions of a modified form of this equation in which the membrane resistance increased linearly with time. Best fits of the waveforms from 12 preparations gave the following values for the membrane resistance times unit length, membrane capacitance per unit length, and for the myoplasmic resistance: 1.22 plus or minus 0.13 x 10-5 omegacm, 0.224 plus or minus 0.023 uF with cm-minus 1, and 1.37 plus or minus 0.13 x 10-7 omegacm-minus 1, respectively. The value of membrane capacitance per unit length was close to that obtained from the time constant of the foot of the action potential and was in keeping with the generally satisfactory fit of the recorded waveforms with solutions of the cable equation in which the membrane impedance is that of a single capacitor and resistor in parallel. The area of membrane per unit length and the cross-sectional area of myoplasm at any given length of the preparation were determined from light and composite electron micrographs, and these were used to calculate the following values for the specific electrical membrane resistance, membrane capacitance, and the resistivity of the cytoplasm: 20.5 plus or minus 3.0 x 10-3 omegacm-2, l.54 plus or minus 0.24 uFWITHcm-minus 2, and 180 plus or minus 34 omegacm, respectively.     

The isolation, characterization, and expression of a novel GDF11 gene and a second myostatin form in zebrafish, Danio rerio

In the current study, the first non-mammalian growth/differentiation factor (GDF) 11-like homolog was cloned from zebrafish. At the nucleotide level, zebrafish GDF11 is most similar to human GDF11 (79%), while the peptide is most similar to mouse GDF11 (78%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the zebrafish GDF11 clusters with mammalian GDF11s. This study also cloned a second MSTN form in zebrafish most similar to Salmonid MSTN2 forms. Based on real time PCR, GDF11 is expressed in multiple adult tissues, with levels highest in whole heads and gonads, and expression is less ubiquitous when compared to MSTN expression. During embryonic development, real time PCR demonstrated increasing GDF11 mRNA levels 10 h post-fertilization (hpf), while MSTN mRNA levels remain low until 48 hpf. This is the first report of a transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily member in a non-mammalian species that is more closely related to GDF11 than MSTN, and also a second form of MSTN in zebrafish; suggesting that a more complex TGF-beta superfamily array exists in primitive vertebrates than previously thought.     

Strong immunostimulation in murine immune cells by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG DNA containing novel oligodeoxynucleotide pattern

Whole cells, cell wall components and some soluble factors from Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) are known to invoke immune responses as they interact with animal and human immune cells. In the present study, we found that chromosomal DNA from LGG is a potent inducer of splenic B cell proliferation, CD86/CD69 expression and cytokine production in mice. In the genomic DNA of LGG we discovered TTTCGTTT oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) ID35, which has a potent activity in a number of immunostimulatory assays. Phosphorothioate backbone is not required for the activity of ID35. The ODN ID35 showed levels of activity comparable with those induced by the murine prototype ODN 1826 in B cell proliferation, CD86/CD69 expression, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, IL-18, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA expression and IFN-gamma/IL-12p70 protein production assays. Additionally, ID35 appeared to be equally active in both murine and human immune cells. These stimulatory effects are due to TTTCGTTT motif located in the 5' end of ID35. In this study we demonstrate for a first time that, DNA from LGG is a factor of immunobiotic activity. Furthermore, ODN ID35 is the first ODN, with such a strong immunostimulatory activity to be found in immunobiotic bacterial DNA.     

Functional Gene Hybridization Patterns of Terrestrial Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria

Abstract The biochemical pathway and genetics of autotrophic ammonia oxidation have been studied almost exclusively in Nitrosomonas europaea. Terrestrial autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AAOs), however, comprise two distinct phylogenetic groups in the beta-Proteobacteria, the Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira groups. Hybridization patterns were used to assess the potential of functional probes in non-PCR-based molecular analysis of natural AAO populations and their activity. The objective of this study was to obtain an overview of functional gene homologies by hybridizing probes derived from N. europaea gene sequences ranging in size from 0.45 to 4.5 kb, and labeled with 32P to Southern blots containing genomic DNA from four Nitrosospira representatives. Probes were specific for genes encoding ammonia monooxygenase (amoA and amoB), hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (hao), and cytochrome c-554 (hcy). These probes produced hybridization signals, at low stringency (30 degreesC), with DNA from each of the four representatives; signals at higher stringency (42 degreesC) were greatly reduced or absent. The hybridization signals at low stringency ranged from 20 to 76% of the total signal obtained with N. europaea DNA. These results indicate that all four functional genes in the ammonia oxidation pathway have diverged between the Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira groups. The hao probe produced the most consistent hybridization intensities among the Nitrosospira representatives, suggesting that hao sequences would provide the best probes for non-PCR-based molecular analysis of terrestrial AAOs. Since N. europaea can also denitrify, an additional objective was to hybridize genomic DNA from AAOs with probes for Pseudomonas genes involved in denitrification. These probes were specific for genes encoding heme-type dissimilatory nitrite reductase (dNir), Cu-type dNir, and nitrous oxide reductase (nosz). No hybridization signals were observed from probes for the heme-type dNir or nosz, but Nitrosospira sp. NpAV and Nitrosolobus sp. 24-C hybridized, under low-stringency conditions, with the Cu-type dNir probe. These results indicate that AAOs may also differ in their mechanisms and capacities for denitrification.     

Patterns of differentiation and hybridization in North American wolflike canids, revealed by analysis of microsatellite loci

Genetic divergence and gene flow among closely related populations are difficult to measure because mutation rates of most nuclear loci are so low that new mutations have not had sufficient time to appear and become fixed. Microsatellite loci are repeat arrays of simple sequences that have high mutation rates and are abundant in the eukaryotic genome. Large population samples can be screened for variation by using the polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to separate alleles. We analyzed 10 microsatellite loci to quantify genetic differentiation and hybridization in three species of North American wolflike canids. We expected to find a pattern of genetic differentiation by distance to exist among wolflike canid populations, because of the finite dispersal distances of individuals. Moreover, we predicted that, because wolflike canids are highly mobile, hybrid zones may be more extensive and show substantial changes in allele frequency, relative to nonhybridizing populations. We demonstrate that wolves and coyotes do not show a pattern of genetic differentiation by distance. Genetic subdivision in coyotes, as measured by theta and Gst, is not significantly different from zero, reflecting persistent gene flow among newly established populations. However, gray wolves show significant subdivision that may be either due to drift in past Ice Age refugia populations or a result of other causes. Finally, in areas where gray wolves and coyotes hybridize, allele frequencies of gray wolves are affected, but those of coyotes are not. Past hybridization between the two species in the south-central United States may account for the origin of the red wolf.      

Human gut mycobiota tune immunity via CARD9-dependent induction of anti-fungal IgG antibodies

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Strong immunostimulatory activity of AT-oligodeoxynucleotide requires a six-base loop with a self-stabilized 5'-C...G-3' stem structure

Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 has recently been discovered as a probiotic that suppresses the growth of Helicobacter pylori and reduces gastric mucosal inflammation in humans. This has resulted in the development of a new type of probiotic yoghurt 'LG21' in Japan. In our previous study, we found an immunostimulatory AT5ACL oligodeoxynucleotide (AT-ODN) containing a unique core sequence (5'-ATTTTTAC-3') in L. gasseri JCM1131(T). Interestingly, although the AT-ODN does not contain any CpG sequences, it exerts mitogenic activity in B cells and augments Th-1-type immune responses via Toll-like receptor 9. These findings prompted us to identify strong immunostimulatory non-CpG AT-ODNs that contain the 5'-ATTTTTAC-3' motif in the genomic sequence of L. gasseri OLL2716. We identified 280 kinds of AT-ODNs in the L. gasseri OLL2716 genome. Mitogenicity and NF-kappaB gene reporting assays showed that 13 of the 280 AT-ODNs were strongly immunostimulatory when in the TLR9 transfectant. Of these, AT-ODNs LGAT-145 and LGAT-243 were the most potent. With respect to the induction of Th-1-type cytokines, LGAT-243 had the greatest activity and was more potent than the swine prototype, ODN D25. We further found that a six-base secondary loop structure containing a self-stabilized 5'-C...G-3' stem sequence is important for potent immunostimulatory activity. These results show for the first time that AT-ODNs with a specific loop and stem structure are important factors for immunostimulatory activity. Finally, we found that novel strong immunostimulatory non-CpG AT-ODNs exist in the genome of probiotic lactic acid bacteria.     

Self-assembly, antipolyelectrolyte effect, and nonbiofouling properties of polyzwitterions

An explanation of the unique nonbiofouling properties of polyzwitterions (PZ) is proposed [in this paper, the term "polyzwitterion" is preferred to "polybetain"]. The existence of an osmotic component of the driving force of the antipolyelectrolyte effect (APE) and the parameters governing this phenomenon are quantitatively established. The correlation between this effect, which is specific of PZ only, and the PZ nonbiofouling properties is grounded.     

Experimental pig yersiniosis to assess attenuation of Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 mutant strains

An experimental oral pig model was used to assess the pathogenic and immunogenic potential of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8 wild-type strain 8081-L2 and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mutant derivatives: a spontaneous rough mutant 8081-R2, strain 8081-DeltawzzGB expressing O-antigen with uncontrolled chain lengths, and strain 8081-wbcEGB expressing semirough LPS with only one O-unit. Microbiological and immunological parameters of the infected pigs were followed from day 7 to 60 postinfection. The wild-type and all LPS mutant strains persisted in the lymphoid tissue of tonsils and small intestines, causing asymptomatic infection without any pathological changes. Although the pig is known as a reservoir of Yersiniae, a precise analysis of pathogenic and immunogenic parameters based on different in vitro tests (hematological response, killing ability of leukocytes and blood sera, antibody response, hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages, classical and alternative pathways of complement activation), revealed significant attenuation in the pathogenicity of the LPS mutant strains but not the loss of immunogenic potential. In comparison with the other strains, strain 8081-DeltawzzGB demonstrated more continuous leucocytosis with monocytosis, higher invasive potential, significant activation of hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages and an effective immunoglobulin G immune response accompanied by relevant histological immunomorphological rearrangements.