Fed-batch fermentation of glucose to acetate by an improved strain ofClostridium thermoaceticum

The fed-batch approach to the production of acetate from glucose by an improved strain ofClostridium thermoaceticum resulted in better performance than the batch fermentation, especially in media containing an excess (3X) of nutrients and trace salts. At pH 6.6, 46 g/l acetic acid was produced in 192 hours with 93% substrate utilization. In contrast, batch fermentation under similar conditions resulted in a maximum of 35 g/l acetic acid with less than 82% substrate utilization.     

Loading history determines the velocity of actin-network growth

Directional polymerization of actin filaments in branched networks is one of the most powerful force-generating systems in eukaryotic cells. Growth of densely cross-linked actin networks drives cell crawling, intracellular transport of vesicles and organelles, and movement of intracellular pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. Using a modified atomic force microscope (AFM), we obtained force-velocity (Fv) measurements of growing actin networks in vitro until network elongation ceased at the stall force. We found that the growth velocity of a branched actin network against increasing forces is load-independent over a wide range of forces before a convex decline to stall. Surprisingly, when force was decreased on a growing network, the velocity increased to a value greater than the previous velocity, such that two or more stable growth velocities can exist at a single load. These results demonstrate that a single Fv relationship does not capture the complete behaviour of this system, unlike other molecular motors in cells, because the growth velocity depends on loading history rather than solely on the instantaneous load.     

Close functional coupling between Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels, arachidonic acid release, and leukotriene C4 secretion

In non-excitable cells, one major route for Ca2+ influx is through store-operated Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane. These channels are activated by the emptying of intracellular Ca2+ stores, and in some cell types, particularly of hemopoietic origin, store-operated influx occurs through Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels. However, little is known about the downstream consequences of CRAC channel activation. Here, we report that Ca2+ entry through CRAC channels stimulates arachidonic acid production, whereas Ca2+ release from the stores is ineffective even though the latter evokes a robust intracellular Ca2+ signal. We find that arachidonic acid released by Ca2+ entering through CRAC channels is used to synthesize the potent paracrine proinflammatory signal leukotriene C4 (LTC4). Both pharmacological inhibitors of CRAC channels and mitochondrial depolarization, which impairs CRAC channel activity, suppress arachidonic acid release and LTC4 secretion. Thus, arachidonic acid release is preferentially stimulated by elevated subplasmalemmal Ca2+ levels due to open CRAC channels, suggesting that the enzyme is located close to the CRAC channels. Our results also identify a novel role for CRAC channels, namely the activation of a downstream signal transduction pathway resulting in the secretion of LTC4. Finally, mitochondria are key determinants of the generation of both intracellular (arachidonic acid) and paracrine (LTC4) signals through their effects on CRAC channel activity.     

Occupational workload of fisherwomen in India

A group of 60 fisherwomen, aged 20 to 50 yrs., were studied to evaluate their occupational workloads. Of the eight activities involved in fish handling, only four, viz., sorting, washing, drying, and selling, which are most frequently carried out by the fisherwomen, were selected. The heart rate responses and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were used as measures of occupational workload. Based on the findings, the occupational workload could be classified as "moderately heavy". A significant influence of age and body weight on the physiological workload was observed, being negatively correlated with age and positively with weight.     

Physiological and genetic factors for process development of cyclosporine fermentations

Summary The new immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine (Cyclosporin A, Cy) is the most prominent member of a group of cyclic peptide fungal metabolites (cyclosporins) produced byTolypocladium inflatum in submerged fermentations. In the present study, kinetics and physiology of mycelial growth and Cy production byT. inflatum were examined. A new semi-synthetic medium was formulated, consisting of a single carbon/energy source, Bacto-peptone, potassium phosphate and potassium chloride. A wide variety of carbon sources supported growth and Cy production. 3% (w/v) sorbose gave the highest final Cy titer (105.5 mg/l), based on 10-day fermentations. The best specific Cy production was observed with 2% sorbose (14.3 mg Cy/g biomass) followed by 5%myo-inositol (13.4 mg Cy/g biomass). A feeding strategy consisting of sequential addition of two carbon sources such as sorbose and maltose was developed in order to reach higher volumetric production. Genetic studies were also conducted, focussing on the development of mutants for increased Cy production and for the synthesis of novel cyclosporins. In the course of these studies, viable protoplasts ofT. inflatum have been isolated and regenerated.     

High solids fermentation of hydrolysates of wheat starch B in a continuous dynamic immobilized biocatalyst bioreactor

Summary A simple and efficient method of conversion of wheat starch B to ethanol was investigated. Employing a two-stage enzymatic saccharification process, 95% of the wheat starch was converted to fermentable sugars in 40 h. From 140 g/l total sugars in the feed solution, 63.6 g/l ethanol was produced continuously with a residence time of 3.3 h in a continuous dynamic immobilized biocatalyst bioreactor by immobilized cells ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The advantages and the application of this bioreactor to continuous alcoholic fermentation of industrial substrates are presented.     

Prenatal mortality and its effects on subsequent fertility in purebred and crossbred Gir cows

A study was conducted on 851 cows (Gir cows and their crossbreeds) between 1971 and 1984 at the Livestock Farm of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Cattle in Jabalpur, India. The cows were impregnated with frozen or fresh semen from 90 bulls and a total of 2699 pregnancies resulted. An overall incidence of prenatal mortality was recorded at 4.89%. A significantly higher (P / 0.01) incidence of prenatal mortality was encountered in three breed crosses in comparison with Gir cows and their first generation crossbreeds. Parity of dam had no effect on prenatal mortality. However, effects of season and individual sires on prenatal mortality were documented. It was observed that reproductive performance was improved significantly after prenatal mortality.     

Disentangling genetic and epigenetic determinants of ultrafast adaptation

A major rationale for the advocacy of epigenetically mediated adaptive responses is that they facilitate faster adaptation to environmental challenges. This motivated us to develop a theoretical–experimental framework for disclosing the presence of such adaptation‐speeding mechanisms in an experimental evolution setting circumventing the need for pursuing costly mutation–accumulation experiments. To this end, we exposed clonal populations of budding yeast to a whole range of stressors. By growth phenotyping, we found that almost complete adaptation to arsenic emerged after a few mitotic cell divisions without involving any phenotypic plasticity. Causative mutations were identified by deep sequencing of the arsenic‐adapted populations and reconstructed for validation. Mutation effects on growth phenotypes, and the associated mutational target sizes were quantified and embedded in data‐driven individual‐based evolutionary population models. We found that the experimentally observed homogeneity of adaptation speed and heterogeneity of molecular solutions could only be accounted for if the mutation rate had been near estimates of the basal mutation rate. The ultrafast adaptation could be fully explained by extensive positive pleiotropy such that all beneficial mutations dramatically enhanced multiple fitness components in concert. As our approach can be exploited across a range of model organisms exposed to a variety of environmental challenges, it may be used for determining the importance of epigenetic adaptation‐speeding mechanisms in general.     

Phase 1/2a Trial of Plasmodium vivax Malaria Vaccine Candidate VMP001/AS01B in Malaria-Naive Adults: Safety,Immunogenicity, and Efficacy

Background

A vaccine to prevent infection and disease caused by Plasmodium vivax is needed both to reduce the morbidity caused by this parasite and as a key component in efforts to eradicate malaria worldwide. Vivax malaria protein 1 (VMP001), a novel chimeric protein that incorporates the amino- and carboxy- terminal regions of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and a truncated repeat region that contains repeat sequences from both the VK210 (type 1) and the VK247 (type 2) parasites, was developed as a vaccine candidate for global use.

Methods

We conducted a first-in-human Phase 1 dose escalation vaccine study with controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) of VMP001 formulated in the GSK Adjuvant System AS01_B. A total of 30 volunteers divided into 3 groups (10 per group) were given 3 intramuscular injections of 15μg, 30μg, or 60μg respectively of VMP001, all formulated in 500μL of AS01_B at each immunization. All vaccinated volunteers participated in a P. vivax CHMI 14 days following the third immunization. Six non-vaccinated subjects served as infectivity controls.

Results

The vaccine was shown to be well tolerated and immunogenic. All volunteers generated robust humoral and cellular immune responses to the vaccine antigen. Vaccination did not induce sterile protection; however, a small but significant delay in time to parasitemia was seen in 59% of vaccinated subjects compared to the control group. An association was identified between levels of anti-type 1 repeat antibodies and prepatent period.

Significance

This trial was the first to assess the efficacy of a P. vivax CSP vaccine candidate by CHMI. The association of type 1 repeat-specific antibody responses with delay in the prepatency period suggests that augmenting the immune responses to this domain may improve strain-specific vaccine efficacy. The availability of a P. vivax CHMI model will accelerate the process of P. vivax vaccine development, allowing better selection of candidate vaccines for advancement to field trials.