A cell array biosensor for environmental toxicity analysis

In this study, a cell-based array technology that uses recombinant bioluminescent bacteria to detect and classify environmental toxicity has been implemented to develop two biosensor arrays, i.e., a chip and a plate array. Twenty recombinant bioluminescent bacteria, having different promoters fused with the bacterial lux genes, were immobilized within LB-agar. About 2 microl of the cell-agar mixture was deposited into the wells of either a cell chip or a 384-well plate. The bioluminescence (BL) from the cell arrays was measured with the use of highly sensitive cooled CCD camera that measured the bioluminescent signal from the immobilized cells and then quantified the pixel density using image analysis software. The responses from the cell arrays were characterized using three chemicals that cause either superoxide damage (paraquat), DNA damage (mitomycin C) or protein/membrane damage (salicylic acid). The responses were found to be dependent upon the promoter fused upstream of the lux operon within each strain. Therefore, a sample's toxicity can be analyzed and classified through the changes in the BL expression from each well. Moreover, a time of only 2 h was needed for analysis, making either of these arrays a fast, portable and economical high-throughput biosensor system for detecting environmental toxicities.     

Effects of aqueous root extracts and hydrophobic root exudates of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) on nuclei DNA content and expression of cell cycle-related genes in cucumber radicles

Allelopathic interactions implicate the inhibition of cell division by allelochemicals. To examine the effects of autotoxic agents on cell cycle and plant growth, germinated cucumber seeds (Cucumis sativus L.) were incubated in solutions containing the aqueous root extracts of cucumber at 1:100, 1:50, 1:25 and 1:10 (w:v), or the hydrophobic root exudates of cucumber at 25, 50 and 100 mg·L^?1. Aqueous root extracts and hydrophobic root exudates inhibited radicle elongation by 36.47–60.18% and 38.24–62.50%, respectively. The mitosis-specific genes were down-regulated in roots exposed to aqueous root extracts and hydrophobic root exudates. Meanwhile, exposure to either aqueous root extracts or hydrophobic root exudates decreased the proportion of 2C (C-value) and increased the proportion of 8C, leading to an increased mean C-value. We conclude that autotoxic agent-induced inhibition of radicle growth was partly attributed to the down-regulation of cell cycle-related genes and endoreduplication was enhanced under our experimental condition.     

Microbial Community Analysis of Fresh and Old Microbial Biofilms on Bayon Temple Sandstone of Angkor Thom, Cambodia

The temples of Angkor monuments including Angkor Thom and Bayon in Cambodia and surrounding countries were exclusively constructed using sandstone. They are severely threatened by biodeterioration caused by active growth of different microorganisms on the sandstone surfaces, but knowledge on the microbial community and composition of the biofilms on the sandstone is not available from this region. This study investigated the microbial community diversity by examining the fresh and old biofilms of the biodeteriorated bas-relief wall surfaces of the Bayon Temple by analysis of 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequences. The results showed that the retrieved sequences were clustered in 11 bacterial, 11 eukaryotic and two archaeal divisions with disparate communities (Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria; Alveolata, Fungi, Metazoa, Viridiplantae; Crenarchaeote, and Euyarchaeota). A comparison of the microbial communities between the fresh and old biofilms revealed that the bacterial community of old biofilm was very similar to the newly formed fresh biofilm in terms of bacterial composition, but the eukaryotic communities were distinctly different between these two. This information has important implications for understanding the formation process and development of the microbial diversity on the sandstone surfaces, and furthermore to the relationship between the extent of biodeterioration and succession of microbial communities on sandstone in tropic region.     

棉花高频体细胞胚胎发生及再生体系建立

棉花的体细胞胚胎发生率低,限制了转基因棉花的发展。为了扩大可再生棉花的基因型,发展新疆优质棉花的特点,以新疆的主要栽培品种新陆早33为材料,以下胚轴为外植体,使用葡萄糖,麦芽糖作为主要碳源,用Phytagel固化,对不同激素的浓度组合和培养条件进行探索,对棉花胚性愈伤的诱导到体细胞胚胎的发生阶段进行优化,体细胞胚胎成熟以后进行萌发培养可以获得正常的植株。通过试验证明,有利于棉花的愈伤组织生长的激素浓度为KT 0.1 mg/L,2,4-D 0.1 mg/L,下胚轴的中部诱导愈伤形态最好。体细胞胚胎发生阶段以KT,IBA组合,以低盐培养基进行子叶胚的成苗,建立了再生体系。     

包囊游仆虫休眠包囊的超微结构研究

包囊游仆虫休眠包囊中,各类纤毛器的纤毛基体上方的大部分纤毛杆退化,或仅保留毛基体,有时部分额腹棘毛的毛基体也瓦解消失。残留纤毛的纤毛杆周围微管和中央微管仍具有“9 2”结构特征,也有少数纤毛杆出现2套“9 2”微管共处于一层纤毛膜内的现象。毛基体中周围三联体微管的中央形成微管形结构聚合体,基体附属结构仅存在基体间连接及纤毛器托架的残余物;非纤毛区皮层表膜下未见微管层。纤毛区皮层含纤毛器腔周围微管层(相当于表膜下微管层)、纤毛器深部及附近的微管束和分散的微管群。并且,纤毛区皮层囊泡内含有呈不同形态的纤毛杆结构;大核核孔明显变大,核孔数目减少,核孔内膜附着染色质。     

Increased chalcopyrite bioleaching capabilities of extremely thermoacidophilic Metallosphaera sedula inocula by mixotrophic propagation

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Extremely thermoacidophilic Crenarchaeota belonging to the order Sulfolobales, such as Metallosphaera sedula, are metabolically versatile...     

Synthesis and evaluation of nitric oxide-releasing DDB derivatives as potential Pgp-mediated MDR reversal agents in MCF-7/Adr cells

Novel furoxan-based nitric oxide (NO)-releasing DDB derivatives (7a-j) were synthesized. Compounds 7i and 7j significantly reversed the resistance of MCF-7/Adr cells to doxorubicin in the combination treatment, and markedly increased the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin probably via inhibiting Pgp-mediated intracellular drug efflux as well as down-regulating doxorubicin-induced Pgp expression. It was demonstrated that NO released by 7i and 7j played an important role in increasing intracellular doxorubicin accumulation and chemo-sensitizing MCF-7/Adr cells to doxorubicin, and the synergic effects of DDB and NO-donor moieties in 7i and 7j may contribute to reversing Pgp-mediated MDR in MCF-7/Adr cells to doxorubicin.     

Antisense therapeutics in oncology: points to consider in their clinical evaluation

Novel therapeutics in oncology stem from a rational design of drugs targeting selective pathways that stimulate and maintain tumor cell growth. Many of these agents are cytostatic in action and also have a limited toxicity profile. However, some can be cytotoxic if they successfully modulate molecular pathways of apoptosis, such as bcl-2. This article discusses points to consider in the design of one class of cytostatic agents, antisense therapy. Our purpose is to stimulate designs that answer the question specifically with regard to proof-of-concept, and the concepts proposed should be viewed as ideas in development rather than firm recommendations.