Pea,Chickpea and Lentil Protein Isolates: Physicochemical Characterization and Emulsifying Properties

This work is focused on physicochemical and emulsifying properties of pea (PP), chickpea (CP) and lentil (LP) proteins. We evaluated the molecular weight distributions, surface net charge, free sulfhydryl group (SH) and disulfide bond (SS) contents, protein solubility and thermal stability of the protein isolates. Their emulsifying properties (droplet size distribution, flocculation, coalescence and creaming) were also determined as function of pH values. The three protein isolates exhibit similar physicochemical properties, including good solubility and high thermal stability despite a high degree of denaturation. In addition, we analysed the influence of pH on stability of oil-in-water (O/W; 10 wt%/90 wt%) emulsions stabilized by the legume protein isolates. Concerning emulsifying ability and stability, the most unfavourable results for all three protein isolates relate to their isoelectric point (pI?=?4.5). A significant improvement in emulsion stability takes place as the pH value departs from the pI. Overall, this study indicates that pea, chickpea and lentil proteins have great potential as food emulsifiers.     

Characterization of the human plasma binding protein for vitamin D and its metabolites synthesized by the human hepatoma-derived cell line, Hep 3B

Screening of three human hepatoma-derived cell lines revealed the presence of an immunologically similar plasma binding protein for vitamin D and its metabolites in media from Hep 3B cells. Approximately 3% of protein synthesized and secreted by these cells was immunoprecipitated by specific antiserum to the D-binding protein. Medium content of the protein increased over 11 days following cell seeding, and negligible amounts of 125I-labeled binding protein added to cultures were degraded over 48 h. The hepatoma-derived binding protein was indistinguishable from plasma binding protein or reference pure protein in gel filtration, sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis systems. The Hep 3B cell product was found to bind mole/mol with monomeric actin, and bind vitamin D sterols with an affinity and specificity characteristic of the human plasma binding protein. The findings argue strongly for the identity of the Hep 3B cell product and the human plasma protein. The continuous availability of the Hep 3B cell line provides a reasonable model for investigations of biosynthesis and release of this important plasma protein.     

Can MLVA Differentiate among Endemic-Like MRSA Isolates with Identical Spa-Type in a Low-Prevalence Region?

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Norway is low, but an endemic-like MRSA clone with Staphylococcal protein A (spa)-type t304 has been established especially in nursing homes in the Oslo region causing several large outbreaks. The challenge was that spa-typing and the gold standard Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) were inadequate in discriminating isolates in outbreak investigations. Additional higher resolution genotyping methods were needed. The aims of this study were a) to evaluate whether Multiple-Locus Variable number of tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA) could differentiate within the PFGE clusters between epidemiologically related and unrelated endemic-like ST8-MRSA-IV-t304-PVL-neg (MRSA-t304) isolates and b) investigate the evolution of the endemic-like MRSA-t304 clone over a 15-year time period. All MRSA-t304 isolates detected in the region from 1998 through April 2013 were included. In total, 194 of 197 isolates were available for PFGE and MLVA analyses. PFGE results on isolates from 1998–2010 have been published previously. Two PFGE clusters subdivided into eight MLVA types were detected. One major outbreak clone (PFGE cluster C2/ MLVA type MT5045) appeared from 2004 to 2011 causing long-lasting and large outbreaks in seven nursing homes and one hospital. Five new MLVA types (N = 9 isolates) differing in only one VNTR compared to the outbreak clone C2/MT5045 were detected, but only one (C2/MT5044) was seen after 2011. We suggest that MLVA can replace PFGE analysis, but MLVA may not be the optimal method in this setting as it did not discriminate between all epidemiologically unrelated isolates. The results may indicate that all eight outbreaks in different locations within the PFGE C2 cluster may be branches of one large regional outbreak. The major outbreak strain C2/MT5045 may now, however, be under control, extinguished or has moved geographically.     

An economic comparison of different fermentation configurations to convert corn stover to ethanol using Z. mobilis and Saccharomyces

Numerous routes are being explored to lower the cost of cellulosic ethanol production and enable large‐scale production. One critical area is the development of robust cofermentative organisms to convert the multiple, mixed sugars found in biomass feedstocks to ethanol at high yields and titers without the need for processing to remove inhibitors. Until such microorganisms are commercialized, the challenge is to design processes that exploit the current microorganisms' strengths. This study explored various process configurations tailored to take advantage of the specific capabilities of three microorganisms, Z. mobilis 8b, S. cerevisiae, and S. pastorianus. A technoeconomic study, based on bench‐scale experimental data generated by integrated process testing, was completed to understand the resulting costs of the different process configurations. The configurations included whole slurry fermentation with a coculture, and separate cellulose simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) and xylose fermentations with none, some or all of the water to the SSF replaced with the fermented liquor from the xylose fermentation. The difference between the highest and lowest ethanol cost for the different experimental process configurations studied was $0.27 per gallon ethanol. Separate fermentation of solid and liquor streams with recycle of fermented liquor to dilute the solids gave the lowest ethanol cost, primarily because this option achieved the highest concentrations of ethanol after fermentation. Further studies, using methods similar to ones employed here, can help understand and improve the performance and hence the economics of integrated processes involving enzymes and fermentative microorganisms. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010     

Intrastriatal administration of human immunodeficiency virus-1 glycoprotein 120 reduces glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor levels and causes apoptosis in the substantia nigra

Uninfected neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) degenerate in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients through an unknown etiology. The HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120) causes apoptotic neuronal cell death in the rodent striatum, but its primary neurotoxic mechanism is still under investigation. Previous studies have shown that gp120 causes neurotoxicity in the rat striatum by reducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Because glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and BDNF are neurotrophic factors crucial for the survival of dopaminergic neurons of the SN, we investigated whether gp120 reduces GDNF and BDNF levels concomitantly to induce apoptosis. Rats received a microinjection of gp120 or vehicle into the striatum and were sacrificed at various time intervals. GDNF but not BDNF immunoreactivity was decreased in the SN by 4 days in gp120-treated rats. In these animals, a significant increase in the number of caspase-3- positive neurons, both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive and -negative, was observed. Analysis of TH immunoreactivity revealed fewer TH-positive neurons and fibers in a medial and lateral portion of cell group A9 of the SN, an area that projects to the striatum, suggesting that gp120 induces retrograde degeneration of nigrostriatal neurons. We propose that dysfunction of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system associated with HIV may be caused by a reduction of neurotrophic factor expression by gp120.     

Predictability of baroreflex sensitivity induced by phenylephrine injection via frequency domain indices computed from heart rate and systolic blood pressure signals during deep breathing

Diminished baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is related to increased risk of sudden cardiac death in myocardial infarction patients and can be used as an indicator for risk level. The BRS is traditionally estimated invasively using vasoactive drugs, such as phenylephrine injection. This method has been widely accepted as a standard in clinical research. Due to its clinical importance, alternative BRS assessment methods have been investigated over the years to eliminate the use of drugs. In this study, the BRS obtained by drug-based (pharmacological) assessment was predicted from a subset of non-pharmacological indices computed from heart rate and systolic pressure signals. In the first phase of a two-phase experimental paradigm, 16 subjects were asked to perform two deep breathings with a 2-min delay in between. In the second phase, the BRS was measured by phenylephrine injection. Indices computed from the first phase describing the spectral and time domain properties of the heart rate and systolic pressure signals were used as predictors to estimate the pharmacological BRS of each subject. In addition to individual spectrum of beat-to-beat interval and systolic blood pressure, indices from cross-spectrum were also computed and evaluated as predictors. A leave one out method was employed to estimate the generalization capacity of the system and explore subset of indices, which gives the highest correlation between pharmacological and predicted BRS. Two predictors provided the highest correlation (r = 0.87, p = 1.16 × 10⁻⁵) with pharmacological BRS. The algorithm selected consistently normalized cross-power about the Mayer frequency and average magnitude square coherence in the high frequency band as predictors. These results indicate that the pharmacological BRS can be estimated from the combination of non-pharmacological spectral indices computed from beat-to-beat interval and systolic blood pressure signals obtained during deep breathing and therefore may eliminate the use of drugs.