Anisotropic nutrient transport in three-dimensional single species bacterial biofilms

The ability for a biofilm to grow and function is critically dependent on the nutrient availability, and this in turn is dependent on the structure of the biofilm. This relationship is therefore an important factor influencing biofilm maturation. Nutrient transport in bacterial biofilms is complex; however, mathematical models that describe the transport of particles within biofilms have made three simplifying assumptions: the effective diffusion coefficient (EDC) is constant, the EDC is that of water, and/or the EDC is isotropic. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, we determined the EDC, both parallel to and perpendicular to the substratum, within 131 real, single species, three-dimensional biofilms that were constructed from confocal laser scanning microscopy images. Our study showed that diffusion within bacterial biofilms was anisotropic and depth dependent. The heterogeneous distribution of bacteria varied between and within species, reducing the rate of diffusion of particles via steric hindrance. In biofilms with low porosity, the EDCs for nutrient transport perpendicular to the substratum were significantly lower than the EDCs for nutrient transport parallel to the substratum. Here, we propose a reaction-diffusion model to describe the nutrient concentration within a bacterial biofilm that accounts for the depth dependence of the EDC.     

Sulfidopeptide leukotrienes mediate acrolein-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness

The sulfidopeptide leukotrienes are bronchoconstrictive lipid mediators thought to have an important role in the pathophysiology of asthma. The objective of this study was to determine if treatment with a leukotriene receptor antagonist and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors could diminish acrolein-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness and to determine whether leukotriene (LT) C4 generation is augmented by acrolein exposure. Guinea pigs (groups of 6-7) were exposed to 1.3 ppm acrolein for 2 h and bronchial responsiveness to intravenous acetylcholine determined twice before, and once 1, 2, 6, and 24 h after exposure. Immediately after acrolein exposure (5 min) specific total airway resistance (sRt) increased from 0.86 +/- 0.01 to 1.29 +/- 0.07 ml.cmH2O.ml-1.s. Within 1 h after exposure, the effective dose of acetylcholine sufficient to double sRt (ED200) decreased from 114.0 +/- 6.6 to 58.5 +/- 6.5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness became maximal at 2 h with ED200 = 44.7 +/- 4.2 and persisted for up to 24 h after exposure (24 h ED200 = 60.2 +/- 11.6 micrograms.kg-1.min). A LTC4/LTD4 receptor antagonist, L-649,923 (10 mg/kg iv), and two putative inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase, L-651,392 (10 mg/kg po) and U-60,257 (5 mg/kg i.v.), diminished the immediate bronchoconstriction and markedly inhibited bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from guinea pigs after acrolein exposure revealed a significant increase in immunoreactive LTC4 concentrations (control LTC4 = 8.8 +/- 0.3, n = 7; exposed LTC4 = 15.9 +/- 2.4 pg/ml, n = 6). Treatment with L-651,392 inhibited this response (acrolein exposed = 9.4 +/- 2.4 pg/ml, n = 5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

S-Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase Activity Is Decreased in the Rat Cortex After Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract: S -Adenosyl- l -methionine decarboxylase (SAMdc) and l -ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) are major enzymes regulating polyamine synthesis. Following ischemia, putrescine content increases as a result of post-traumatic activation of ODC and inhibition of SAMdc. These alterations are thought to mediate edema and cell death. The purpose of this study was to quantify SAMdc activity and edema in the brain following controlled cortical impact injury. Anesthetized adult male rats underwent a right parietal craniectomy and were subjected to cortical impact injury. Tissues were obtained from three bilateral regions: parietal cortex, motor area (CPm); parietal cortex, somatosensory area (CPs); and the pyriform cortex (CPF). SAMdc activity was determined in the postmitochondrial fraction from homogenates of fresh, unfrozen tissues by measuring the decarboxylation of S -adenosyl- l -[ carboxyl -¹⁴C]methionine. Basal SAMdc activity was determined in unoperated rats, and regional differences were noted: Activity was lower in the CPF than in the CPm and CPs. SAMdc activity decreased to the greatest extent in the ipsilateral CPm (impact site) from 1 to 72 h following traumatic brain injury. Significant edema was found in the ipsilateral CPm 1, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h after injury. Decreased SAMdc activity impairs the conversion of putrescine to polyamines and may contribute to delayed pathological changes in the brain after traumatic injury.     

DNA vaccination using the fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin type A provided protective immunity in mice

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most toxic substances known to produce severe neuromuscular paralysis. The currently used vaccine is prepared mainly from biohazardous toxins. Thus, we studied an alternative method and demonstrated that DNA immunization provided sufficient protection against botulism in a murine model. A plasmid of pBoNT/A-Hc, which encodes the fragment C gene of type A botulinum neurotoxin, was constructed and fused with an Igkappa leader sequence under the control of a human cytomegalovirus promoter. After 10 cycles of DNA inoculation with this plasmid, mice survived lethal doses of type A botulinum neurotoxin challenges. Immunized mice also elicited cross-protection to the challenges of type E botulinum neurotoxin. This is the first study demonstrating the potential use of DNA vaccination for botulinum neurotoxins.     

Seasonal and successional influences on bacterial community composition exceed that of protozoan grazing in river biofilms

The effects of protozoa (heterotrophic flagellates and ciliates) on the morphology and community composition of bacterial biofilms were tested under natural background conditions by applying size fractionation in a river bypass system. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to monitor the morphological structure of the biofilm, and fingerprinting methods (single-stranded conformation polymorphism [SSCP] and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [DGGE]) were utilized to assess changes in bacterial community composition. Season and internal population dynamics had a greater influence on the bacterial biofilm than the presence of protozoa. Within this general framework, bacterial area coverage and microcolony abundance were nevertheless enhanced by the presence of ciliates (but not by the presence of flagellates). We also found that the richness of bacterial operational taxonomic units was much higher in planktonic founder communities than in the ones establishing the biofilm. Within the first 2 h of colonization of an empty substrate by bacteria, the presence of flagellates additionally altered their biofilm community composition. As the biofilms matured, the number of bacterial operational taxonomic units increased when flagellates were present in high abundances. The additional presence of ciliates tended to at first reduce (days 2 to 7) and later increase (days 14 to 29) bacterial operational taxonomic unit richness. Altogether, the response of the bacterial community to protozoan grazing pressure was small compared to that reported in planktonic studies, but our findings contradict the assumption of a general grazing resistance of bacterial biofilms toward protozoa.     

A General Synthetic Method of 5-Carboranyluracil Nucleosides with Potential Antiviral Activity and use in Neutron Capture Therapy

Abstract

Previous biochemical and pharmacological studies indicated that 5-o-carboranyl-2′-deoxyuridine is a lead candidate for boron neutron capture therapy. This prompted the development of a rapid and stereoselective N ¹-glycosylation reaction of silylated 5-o-carboranyluracil with a variety of protected sugars. The key intermediate, 5-o-carboranyluracil (6), was prepared from 5-iodouracil in six steps. A novel coupling procedure of the 2,4-dimethoxy-5-ethynylpyrimidine (4) with decaborane without activator was used. Silylated 6 was coupled with a variety of carbohydrates under mild conditions to produce several carborane containing nucleosides. In each case, the stereochemistry and stereoselectivity of the glycosylation reaction was not affected by the presence of the carborane at the 5-position of the uracil and produced exclusively closo [closo-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₂ cage] nucleosides. This was confirmed by X-ray structure determination of racemic 5-carboranyl-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiauridine. This compound demonstrated an anti-conformation with the oxathiolane ring in a pseudo C-2′-endo conformation. The toxicity profile of the new compounds and their precursors was determined in three cell culture systems, two of human origin (PBM and CEM cells) and one of monkey origin (Vero cells). The compounds were also evaluated for their potential antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus and herpes simplex virus in vitro. 5-o-Carboranyl-xylofuranosyluracil (12) demonstrated low toxicity in culture and in mice.     

Incorporation and redistribution of arachidonic acid in diacyl and ether phospholipids of bovine aortic endothelial cells

The present experiments characterized the incorporation and redistribution of arachidonic acid in diacyl and ether phospholipids of bovine aortic endothelial cells. Confluent cultures were either continuously labeled or pulse labeled with [14C]arachidonic acid. Major lipid classes and ether-linked subclasses of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. During continuous labeling, total incorporation of arachidonic acid reached a peak at 8 h and was essentially constant up to 24 h. After 8 h, net label in total PC declined, whereas that in total PE continued to rise. In pulse labeling experiments radioactivity in diacyl PC continuously declined with concomitant increases in both diacyl- and alkenylacyl PE. The data demonstrate that transfer of arachidonic acid from diacyl PC to both diacyl- and alkenylacyl PE occurs in endothelial cells. In contrast to previous observations in platelets, transfer of arachidonic acid to alkenylacyl PE did not require agonist stimulation. This pathway may contribute to the enrichment of endothelial cell PE with arachidonic acid with the potential for subsequent metabolism to prostacyclin.