Microbiological Processes in a High-Temperature Oil Field

Thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) oxidizing lactate, butyrate, and C₁₂–C₁₆ n-alkanes of oil at a temperature of 90°C were isolated from samples of water and oil originating from oil reservoirs of the White Tiger high-temperature oil field (Vietnam). At the same time, no thermophiles were detected in the injected seawater, which contained mesophilic microorganisms and was the site of low-temperature processes of sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. Thermophilic SRB were also found in samples of liquid taken from various engineering reservoirs used for oil storage, treatment, and transportation. These samples also contained mesophilic SRB, methanogens, aerobic oil-oxidizing bacteria, and heterotrophs. Rates of bacterial production of hydrogen sulfide varied from 0.11 to 2069.63 at 30°C and from 1.18 to 173.86 at 70°C g S/(l day); and those of methane production, varied from 58.4 to 100 629.8 nl CH₄/(l day) (at 30°C). The sulfur isotopic compositions of sulfates contained in reservoir waters and of hydrogen sulfide of the accompanying gas indicate that bacterial sulfate reduction might be effective in the depth of the oil field.     

Secoiridoid constituents from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum

Two secoiridoid glucosides, lucidumosides A and B, as well as six known glucosides, oleoside dimethyl ester, ligustroside, oleuropein, nuezhenide, isonuezhenide, and neonuezhenide, were isolated from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Application of the dual-micropipet technique to the measurement of tumor cell locomotion

The objective of this work was to characterize tumor cell locomotion in response to chemotactic stimulation using a dual-micropipet assay. The assay involves two micropipets. An individual A2058 human melanoma cell was retained, without pressure gradient, in a pipet of approximately 14 micrometers i.d. A solution of type IV collagen, chosen as the chemotactic source, was placed in another pipet (approximately 10 micrometers o.d.) with zero pressure at the pipet tip. The smaller pipet was then inserted into the larger one containing the melanoma cell. The initial chemoattractant concentration (C0) and the distance between the tip of the small pipet and the cell surface (delta) provided a gradient (C0/delta) for tumor cell locomotion toward stimulation. This novel assay provides a direct measure of cell movement: cyclic pseudopod protrusion (Lp) and subsequent cell locomotion (Lc). The influences of different adhesion substrates on cell locomotion were also studied. The peak length in Lp precedes the highest locomotion velocity (dLc/dt) by an apparent lag time. C0/delta influences pseudopod protrusion frequency (fp) and dLc/dt, but not significantly on Lp. Substrate adhesions affect dLc/dt, but apparently not Lp or fp. In conclusion, pseudopod protrusion and substrate adhesion are two necessary but mutually independent factors in tumor cell locomotion. dLc/dt correlates with changes in C0/delta, which is in significant correlation with fp but not Lp.     

The murine homolog (Mph) of human herpesvirus entry protein B (HveB) mediates entry of pseudorabies virus but not herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2

A mouse member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, originally designated the murine poliovirus receptor homolog (Mph), was found to be a receptor for the porcine alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV). This mouse protein, designated here murine herpesvirus entry protein B (mHveB), is most similar to one of three related human alphaherpesvirus receptors, the one designated HveB and also known as poliovirus receptor-related protein 2. Hamster cells resistant to PRV entry became susceptible upon expression of a cDNA encoding mHveB. Anti-mHveB antibody and a soluble protein composed of the mHveB ectodomain inhibited mHveB-dependent PRV entry. Expression of mHveB mRNA was detected in a variety of mouse cell lines, but anti-mHveB antibody inhibited PRV infection in only a subset of these cell lines, indicating that mHveB is the principal mediator of PRV entry into some mouse cell types but not others. Coexpression of mHveB with PRV gD, but not herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gD, inhibited entry activity, suggesting that PRV gD may interact directly with mHveB as a ligand that can cause interference. By analogy with HSV-1, envelope-associated PRV gD probably also interacts directly with mHveB during viral entry.     

Defective Glucose Transport Across Brain Tissue Barriers: A Newly Recognized Neurological Syndrome

Impaired glucose transport across brain tissue barriers causes infantile seizures, developmental delay and acquired microcephaly. Since the first report in 1991 (De Vivo et al, NEJM, 1991) 17 patients have been identified with the glucose transporter protein syndrome (GTPS). The diagnostic feature of the syndrome is an unexplained hypoglycorrhachia in the clinical setting of an infantile epileptic encephalopathy. We review our clinical experience by highlighting one illustrative case: a 6-year old girl who presented at age 2 months with infantile seizures and hypoglycorrhachia. The CSF/blood glucose ratio was 0.33. DNA sequencing identified a missense mutation in exon 7 (C1108T). Erythrocyte GLUT1 immunoreactivity was normal. The time course of 3-0-methyl-glucose (3OMG) uptake by erythrocytes of the patient was 46% that of mother and father. The apparent K_m was similar in all cases (2–4 mmol/L), but the apparent V_max in the patient was only 28% that of the parents (500 versus 1,766 fmol/s/10⁶RBC; p < 0.004). In addition, a 3-month trial of oral thioctic acid also benefited the patient and increased the V_max to 935 fmol/s/10⁶ RBC (p < 3 × 10^–7). Uptake of dehydroascorbic acid by erythrocytes of the patient was impaired to the same degree as that of 3OMG (V_max was 38% of that of the mother's), which supports previous observations of GLUT1 being multifunctional. These studies confirm the molecular basis of the GTPS and the multifunctional role of GLUT1. The need for more effective treatment is compelling.     

pH-dependent conformational changes of ferricytochrome c induced by electrode surface microstructure

pH-dependent processes of bovine heart ferricytochrome c have been investigated by electronic absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra at functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) modified glass carbon electrode (SWNTs/GCE) using a long optical path thin layer cell. These methods enabled the pH-dependent conformational changes arising from the heme structure change to be monitored. The spectra obtained at functionalized SWNTs/GCE reflect electrode surface microstructure-dependent changes for pH-induced protein conformation, pK_a of alkaline transition and structural microenvironment of the ferricytochrome c heme. pH-dependent conformational distribution curves of ferricytochrome c obtained by analysis of in situ CD spectra using singular value decomposition least square (SVDLS) method show that the functionalized SWNTs can retain native conformational stability of ferricytochrome c during alkaline transition.     

Two-step total gene synthesis method

In the post-genomic era, the ability to synthesize any arbitrary DNA sequence is increasingly in demand. A bottleneck in current gene synthesis technologies is the associated cost, due primarily to the high cost of oligonucleotides synthesis and post-synthesis sequencing. In the present paper, an improved method for low-cost gene synthesis that combines dual asymmetrical PCR and overlap extension PCR is presented, which enables any DNA sequence to be synthesized error free. Additionally, the method is easily amenable to automation.     

Comparative study on the modulation of IgE and cytokine production by Phellinus linteus grown on germinated brown Rice, Phellinus Linteus and germinated brown rice in murine splenocytes

We compared the immunomodulating activities in mice of extracts from Phellinus linteus grown on germinated brown rice (PB), Phellinus linteus (PL) alone, and germinated brown rice (BR) alone. The PL, BR and PB-treated mice were administered with the respective extract (2 mg/head/day) by oral gavage for 4 weeks. All extracts markedly decreased the IgE production and allergic responses in serum and splenocytes. PL and PB increased the proportion of CD4(+) but not CD8(+) T cells in splenocytes. Cytokine production was significantly augmented in all treated mice; the concentration of IFN-gamma was greater in the PL, BR and PB mice than in the control group. The concentration of IL-10 was lower in the BR group than in the other groups. These results may be related to the suppression of IgE production. We conclude that PB modulated the immune responses of IgE production and Th1/Th2 cytokine secretion in murine splenocytes.