Reading faces: differential lateral gaze bias in processing canine and human facial expressions in dogs and 4-year-old children

Sensitivity to the emotions of others provides clear biological advantages. However, in the case of heterospecific relationships, such as that existing between dogs and humans, there are additional challenges since some elements of the expression of emotions are species-specific. Given that faces provide important visual cues for communicating emotional state in both humans and dogs, and that processing of emotions is subject to brain lateralisation, we investigated lateral gaze bias in adult dogs when presented with pictures of expressive human and dog faces. Our analysis revealed clear differences in laterality of eye movements in dogs towards conspecific faces according to the emotional valence of the expressions. Differences were also found towards human faces, but to a lesser extent. For comparative purpose, a similar experiment was also run with 4-year-old children and it was observed that they showed differential processing of facial expressions compared to dogs, suggesting a species-dependent engagement of the right or left hemisphere in processing emotions.     

Herpesviruses Exploit Several Host Compartments for Envelopment

Enveloped viruses acquire their host‐derived membrane at a variety of intracellular locations. Herpesviruses are complex entities that undergo several budding and fusion events during an infection. All members of this large family are believed to share a similar life cycle. However, they seemingly differ in terms of acquisition of their mature envelope. Herpes simplex virus is often believed to bud into an existing intracellular compartment, while the related cytomegalovirus may acquire its final envelope from a novel virus‐induced assembly compartment. This review focuses on recent advances in the characterization of cellular compartment(s) potentially contributing to herpes virion final envelopment. It also examines the common points between seemingly distinct envelopment pathways and highlights the dynamic nature of intracellular compartments in the context of herpesvirus infections.      

The nuclear migration protein NUDF/LIS1 forms a complex with NUDC and BNFA at spindle pole bodies

Nuclear migration depends on microtubules, the dynein motor complex, and regulatory components like LIS1 and NUDC. We sought to identify new binding partners of the fungal LIS1 homolog NUDF to clarify its function in dynein regulation. We therefore analyzed the association between NUDF and NUDC in Aspergillus nidulans. NUDF and NUDC directly interacted in yeast two-hybrid experiments via NUDF's WD40 domain. NUDC-green fluorescent protein (NUDC-GFP) was localized to immobile dots in the cytoplasm and at the hyphal cortex, some of which were spindle pole bodies (SPBs). We showed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation microscopy that NUDC directly interacted with NUDF at SPBs at different stages of the cell cycle. Applying tandem affinity purification, we isolated the NUDF-associated protein BNFA (for binding to NUDF). BNFA was dispensable for growth and for nuclear migration. GFP-BNFA fusions localized to SPBs at different stages of the cell cycle. This localization depended on NUDF, since the loss of NUDF resulted in the cytoplasmic accumulation of BNFA. BNFA did not bind to NUDC in a yeast two-hybrid assay. These results show that the conserved NUDF and NUDC proteins play a concerted role at SPBs at different stages of the cell cycle and that NUDF recruits additional proteins specifically to the dynein complex at SPBs.     

Head of Myosin IX Binds Calmodulin and Moves Processively toward the Plus-end of Actin Filaments

Mammalian myosin IXb (Myo9b) has been shown to exhibit unique motor properties in that it is a single-headed processive motor and the rate-limiting step in its chemical cycle is ATP hydrolysis. Furthermore, it has been reported to move toward the minus- and the plus-end of actin filaments. To analyze the contribution of the light chain-binding domain to the movement, processivity, and directionality of a single-headed processive myosin, we expressed constructs of Caenorhabditis elegans myosin IX (Myo9) containing either the head (Myo9-head) or the head and the light chain-binding domain (Myo9-head-4IQ). Both constructs supported actin filament gliding and moved toward the plus-end of actin filaments. We identified in the head of class IX myosins a calmodulin-binding site at the N terminus of loop 2 that is unique among the myosin superfamily members. Ca²⁺/calmodulin negatively regulated ATPase and motility of the Myo9-head. The Myo9-head demonstrated characteristics of a processive motor in that it supported actin filament gliding and pivoting at low motor densities. Quantum dot-labeled Myo9-head moved along actin filaments with a considerable run length and frequently paused without dissociating even in the presence of obstacles. We conclude that class IX myosins are plus-end-directed motors and that even a single head exhibits characteristics of a processive motor.     

Low airborne tenacity and spread of ESBL-/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from fertilized soil by wind erosion

ESBL-/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from organic fertilizers were previously detected on soil surfaces of arable land and might be emitted by wind erosion. To investigate this potential environmental transmission path, we exposed ESBL-/AmpC-positive chicken litter, incorporated in agricultural soils, to different wind velocities in a wind tunnel and took air samples for microbiological analysis. No data exist concerning the airborne tenacity of ESBL-/AmpC-producing E. coli. Therefore, we explored the tenacity of two ESBL/AmpC E. coli strains and E. coli K12 in aerosol chamber experiments at different environmental conditions. In the wind tunnel, ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli were detected in none of the air samples (n = 66). Non-resistant E. coli were qualitatively detected in 40.7% of air samples taken at wind velocities exceeding 7.3 m s⁻¹. Significantly increased emission of total viable bacteria with increasing wind velocity was observed. In the aerosol chamber trials, recovery rates of airborne E. coli ranged from 0.003% to 2.8%, indicating a low airborne tenacity. Concluding, an emission of ESBL/AmpC E. coli by wind erosion in relevant concentrations appears unlikely because of the low concentration in chicken litter compared with non-resistant E. coli and their low airborne tenacity, proven in the aerosol chamber trials.     

Agricultural fertilization with poultry manure results in persistent environmental contamination with the pathogen Clostridioides difficile

During a field experiment applying broiler manure for fertilization of agricultural land, we detected viable Clostridioides (also known as Clostridium) difficile in broiler faeces, manure, dust and fertilized soil. A large diversity of toxigenic C. difficile isolates was recovered, including PCR ribotypes common from human disease. Genomic relatedness of C. difficile isolates from dust and from soil, recovered more than 2 years after fertilization, traced their origins to the specific chicken farm that had delivered the manure. We present evidence of long-term contamination of agricultural soil with manure-derived C. difficile and demonstrate the potential for airborne dispersal of C. difficile through dust emissions during manure application. Clostridioides genome sequences virtually identical to those from manure had been recovered from chicken meat and from human infections in previous studies, suggesting broiler-associated C. difficile are capable of zoonotic transmission.     

Transferability of miRNA-technology to bioprocessing: Influence of cultivation mode and media

The biopharmaceutical industry strives for improvement of their production processes. In recent years, miRNAs have been shown to positively impact the production capacity of recombinant CHO cells, especially with regard to difficult to express proteins. Effective and reliable gene regulation of process relevant target genes by miRNAs is a prerequisite for integrating them into the toolbox of industrial cell engineering strategies. However, most studies rely on transient transfection of miRNA mimics; there is low standardization in evaluation of miRNA function and little knowledge on transferability of effects found during transient expression to stable expression during industry relevant fed-batch cultivation. In order to provide more insight into this topic, we used the pcDNA6.2 vector for stable miRNA overexpression during batch and fed-batch cultivation in CHO DG44 cells, optimized the vector, and compared the miRNA levels and effects with those achieved by transfection of miRNA mimics. We found that miR-1 downregulated TWF1 mRNA in different recombinant CHO DG44 clones in a dose-dependent manner during transient batch cultivation. Cells stably overexpressing miR-1 also showed a TWF1 mRNA downregulation when cultivated in batch mode using in-house medium 1. However, when the cells stably overexpressing miR-1 were cultivated in fed-batch mode using in-house medium 2. Consequently, a change of cultivation mode and medium seems to have an impact on target gene regulation by miRNA. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance to standardize miRNA evaluations and test miRNAs in the final application environment.     

Burkholderia thailandensis outer membrane vesicles exert antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant and competitor microbial species

Gram-negative bacteria secrete outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that play critical roles in intraspecies, interspecies, and bacteria-environment interactions. Some OMVs, such as those produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have previously been shown to possess antimicrobial activity against competitor species. In the current study, we demonstrate that OMVs from Burkholderia thailandensis inhibit the growth of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. We show that a number of antimicrobial compounds, including peptidoglycan hydrolases, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-(2-non-enyl)-quinoline (HMNQ) and long-chain rhamnolipid are present in or tightly associate with B. thailandensis OMVs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HMNQ and rhamnolipid possess antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These findings indicate that B. thailandensis secretes antimicrobial OMVs that may impart a survival advantage by eliminating competition. In addition, bacterial OMVs may represent an untapped resource of novel therapeutics effective against bio-film-forming and multidrug-resistant organisms.     

Metaorganismusforschung trifft Schule

The Darwin Day: modern science meets school During the Darwin Day at the University of Kiel high school students are introduced to recent research fields in modern biology. In 2018 the holistic view of a metaorganism offered the students new scientific ways of thinking and working, which are important for a profound understanding of biological interrelations as well as current clinical disorders. In order to bring new insights from biological research and modern science to school, different formats of science communication can be used. One possibility is the visit of extracurricular learning opportunities such as the Darwin Day at the University of Kiel. By linking current biological research with an out-of-school learning place, the importance of science communication can be illustrated. For this purpose, the Darwin Day and an accompanying teaching unit are presented in this article. Furthermore, insights into the evaluation of this outreach format are given.