Bacillus cereus adhesion: Real time investigation of the effect on the chemistry of industrial stainless steel

The initial microorganism adhesion on substrate is an important step for the biofilm formation. The surface properties of the stainless steel and B. cereus were characterized by the sessile drop technique. Moreover, the physicochemical properties of surface adhesion and the impact of bio adhesion to the stainless steel were determined at different time of contact (2, 4, 7, 9 and 24 h). The results showed that the strain was hydrophilic (Giwi = 3.37 mJ/m²), whereas the substratum has hydrophobic character (Giwi = ?57.6 mJ/m²). Stainless steel surface presents a weak electron-donor character (γ^? = 4.1 mJ/m²) conversely to B. cereus that presents an important parameter (γ^? = 31.6 mJ/m²). The bio adhesion was investigated at different time of contact. The data analysis after 2 h, confirmed the adhesion of B. cereus with an amount of 10 cfu/cm² which increased to 1.210⁴ cfu/cm² after 24 h. Interestingly, despite the difference of hydropohbicity, the interaction between B. cereus and substratum was favored by the thermodynamic aspect of adhesion (ΔG_adhesion < 0). Interestingly, the study of the effect of B. cereus adhesion on the stainless steel has revealed that, the substratum becomes hydrophilic (θ° = 41.3, ΔGiwi = 39.6 mJ/m²) and highly electron donor (Γ^? = 52.9 mJ/m²) after 2 h of bio adhesion.     

Functional analyses of recombinant mouse hepcidin-1 in cell culture and animal model

Hepcidin is a peptide hormone that plays an important role in iron metabolism. We have produced a recombinant mouse hepcidin-1 by using baculovirus expression system. Its expression yield was 25 μg/ml when cell culture media were supplemented with a protease inhibitor cocktail. The recombinant mouse hepcidin-1 and synthetic human hepcidin-25 had similar effects on reducing ferroportin expression in J774A cell line and in peritoneal macrophages. However, synthetic human hepcidin-25 was more efficient than recombinant mouse hepcidin-1 in reducing iron concentration in blood circulation (p < 0.01).     

Carbon Nanotube-Encapsulated Drug Penetration Through the Cell Membrane: An Investigation Based on Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Understanding the penetration mechanisms of carbon nanotube (CNTs)-encapsulated drugs through the phospholipid bilayer cell membrane is an important issue for the development of intracellular drug delivery systems. In the present work, steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulation was used to explore the possibility of penetration of a polar drug, paclitaxel (PTX), encapsulated inside the CNT, through a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membrane. The interactions between PTX and CNT and between PTX and the confined water molecules inside the CNT had a significant effect on the penetration process of PTX. The results reveal that the presence of a PTX molecule increases the magnitude of the pulling force. The effect of pulling velocity on the penetration mechanism was also investigated by a series of SMD simulations, and it is shown that the pulling velocity had a significant effect on pulling force and the interaction between lipid bilayer and drug molecule.     

Dating the “red beds” of the Eastern Moroccan High Plateaus: Evidence from late Late Cretaceous charophytes and dinosaur eggshells

A new locality in the poorly known “red beds” of Tendrara (High Plateaus, Morocco) has yielded four charophytes species (Feistiella anluensis, Lamprothamnium stipitatum, Peckisphaera portezueloensis, Platychara caudata) and dinosaur eggshells (Pseudomegaloolithus atlasi). These red beds, which overly the Cenomanian-Turonian marine deposits, generally assigned to “Senonian” based on geometric position, are directly dated by these fossils: the charophytes species and dinosaur oospecies association indicates a Campano-Maastrichtian or Maastrichtian age for these calm floodplain deposits.     

Involvement of the glutamate receptor AtGLR3.3 in plant defense signaling and resistance to Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis

Like their animal counterparts, plant glutamate receptor‐like (GLR) homologs are intimately associated with Ca²⁺ influx through plasma membrane and participate in various physiological processes. In pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMP)‐/elicitor‐mediated resistance, Ca²⁺ fluxes are necessary for activating downstream signaling events related to plant defense. In this study, oligogalacturonides (OGs), which are endogenous elicitors derived from cell wall degradation, were used to investigate the role of Arabidopsis GLRs in defense signaling. Pharmacological investigations indicated that GLRs are partly involved in free cytosolic [Ca²⁺] ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) variations, nitric oxide (NO) production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and expression of defense‐related genes by OGs. In addition, wild‐type Col‐0 plants treated with the glutamate‐receptor antagonist 6,7‐dinitriquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (DNQX) had a compromised resistance to Botrytis cinerea and Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. Moreover, we provide genetic evidence that AtGLR3.3 is a key component of resistance against H. arabidopsidis. In addition, some OGs‐triggered immune events such as defense gene expression, NO and ROS production are also to different extents dependent on AtGLR3.3. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the involvement of GLRs in elicitor/pathogen‐mediated plant defense signaling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana.     

Mesenchymal stem cell transfusion for desensitization of positive lymphocyte cross‐match before kidney transplantation: outcome of 3 cases

Objectives

Donor specific antibodies (DSA) and a positive cross‐match are contraindications for kidney transplantation. Trials of allograft transplantation across the HLA barrier have employed desensitization strategies, including the use of plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulins, anti‐B‐cell monoclonal antibodies and splenectomy, associated with high‐intensity immunosuppressive regimens. Our case 1 report suffered from repeatedly positive lymphocyte cross match after 1st renal transplantation. Graft nephrectomy could not correct the state of sensitization. Splenectomy was done in a trial to get rid of the antibody producing clone. Furthermore plasmapheresis with low dose IVIG could not as well revert the state of sensitization for the patient.

Material and methods

About 50 millions donor specific MSCs were injected to the patient.

Results

MSCs transfusion proved to be the only procedure which could achieve successful desensitization before performing the second transplantation owing to their immunosuppressive properties.

Conclusion

This case indicates that DS‐MSCs is a potential option for anti‐HLA desensitization. In cases 2 and 3 IV DS‐MSCs transfusion was selected from the start as a successful line of treatment for pre renal transplantation desensitization to save other unnecessary lines of treatment that were tried in case 1.

     

Effect of sulfonamides as carbonic anhydrase VA and VB inhibitors on mitochondrial metabolic energy conversion

Obesity is quickly becoming an increasing problem in the developed world. One of the major fundamental causes of obesity and diabetes is mitochondria dysfunction due to faulty metabolic pathways which alter the metabolic substrate flux resulting in the development of these diseases. This paper examines the role of mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes in the metabolism of pyruvate, acetate, and succinate when specific isozyme inhibitors are present. Using a sensitive electrochemical approach of wired mitochondria to analytically measure metabolic energy conversion, we determine the resulting metabolic difference after addition of an inhibitory compound. We found that certain sulfonamide analogues displayed broad spectrum inhibition of metabolism, where others only had significant effect on some metabolic pathways. Pyruvate metabolism always displayed the most dramatically affected metabolism by the sulfonamides followed by fatty acid metabolism, and then finally succinate metabolism. This allows for the possibility of using designed sulfonamide analogues to target specific mitochondrial CA isozymes in order to subtly shift metabolism and glucogenesis flux to treat obesity and diabetes.