Influence of tyrosine-kinase Wzc activity on colanic acid production in Escherichia coli K12 cells

Bacterial tyrosine-kinases have been demonstrated to participate in the regulation of capsule polysaccharides (CPS) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) production and export. However, discrepant data have been reported on the molecular mechanism responsible for this regulation depending on the bacterial species analyzed. Special attention was previously paid to the tyrosine-kinase Wzc_ca of Escherichia coli K-12, which is involved in the production of the exopolysaccharide, colanic acid, and autophosphorylates by using a cooperative two-step process. In this work, we took advantage of these observations to investigate in further detail the effect of Wzc_ca phosphorylation on the colanic acid production. First, it is shown that expression of the phosphorylated form of Wzc prevents production of colanic acid whereas expression of the non-phosphorylated form allows biosynthesis of this exopolysaccharide. However, we provide evidence that, in the latter case, the size distribution of the colanic acid polymer is less scattered than in the case of the wild-type strain expressing both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of Wzc. It is then demonstrated that colanic acid production is not merely regulated by an on/off mechanism and that, instead, both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of Wzc are required to promote colanic acid synthesis. Moreover, a series of data suggests that besides the involvement of phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of Wzc in the production of colanic acid, two particular regions of this kinase play as such an important role in the synthesis of this exopolysaccharide: a proline-rich domain located in the N-terminal part of Wzc_ca, and a tyrosine cluster present in the C-terminal portion of the enzyme. Furthermore, considering that polysaccharides are known to facilitate bacterial resistance to certain environmental stresses, it is shown that the resistance of E. coli to desiccation is directly connected with the phosphorylation state of Wzc_ca.     

双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童功能性消化不良的Meta分析

系统评价双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊对儿童功能性消化不良（FD）的治疗作用。

检索中国知网、万方、维普、PubMed、Embase、Web of Science数据库中关于双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童FD的随机对照试验或前瞻性非随机对照试验,检索时间为建库至2022年6月。由两个评价者依据纳入和排除标准分别单独筛选并获得文献和临床资料,采用RevMan 5.3软件进行Meta分析。

纳入9篇文献,共944例患者。Meta分析结果显示,双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊（试验组）治疗儿童功能性消化不良的总有效率显著高于常规治疗（对照组）[OR=4.89,95%CI（3.15～7.59）,P＜0.00001]。试验组患儿治疗后的症状评分、腹痛、腹胀、恶心的消退时间均明显低于对照组（P＜0.05）,而血清胃动素水平显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。

双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童功能性消化不良效果显著。

     

Selection of capsule deficient strains of Methylobacterium rhodesianum producing polyhydroxybutyrate

Methylobacterium rhodesianum was cultivated using an extended fed-batch regime. After treatments with N-nitroso-methyl-urea or X-rays, colonies showing an irregular morphology or increased heavy-metal sensitivity were selected. Electron micrographs of cells of isolated strains demonstrated the loss of the glycocalyx. Selectants and the parental strain yielded identical PHB amounts.     

香苓胶囊中多糖的含量测定

为建立香苓胶囊的含量测定方法,采用苯酚硫酸法,以葡萄糖作为标准品,分光光度法于490砌波长处测定吸光度。实验显示多糖的线性范围为2—10μg,／mL,r=0．9997,加样回收率为99．81％（n=5）,RSD=1．95％,样品中多糖的质量分数为89．22％,表明该方法可用于本品的质量控制。     

Distribution of actin bundles in Bowman's capsule of rat kidney

In this study we define the distribution of actin bundle arrangement in Bowman's capsule of rat renal corpuscles. Parietal cells of Bowman's capsule were examined by conventional light microscopy, electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Within each parietal cell individual actin bundles are arranged in a parallel fashion running the length of the cell. Computer reconstructions obtained using confocal microscopy clearly show the lengths of actin bundles to be arranged, on a capsule level, end-to-end, at angles and perpendicular to bundles in adjacent cells. The bundles stain positively for non-muscle myosin and vinculin. The presence and arrangement of actin bundles in parietal cells is consistent with a role in reinforcing capsule structure.     

Synthesis and biological properties of polysaccharide-peptide conjugates as potential antigens for a vaccine against meningococci of serogroups A and B

A new approach to the development of a vaccine against meningococci of serogroups A and B was proposed. It involves the synthesis of conjugates of high-molecular capsule polysaccharides of the serogroup A meningococcus (PsA) with earlier synthesized protective fragments of membrane proteins from serogroup B meningococci. The conjugates were synthesized using a method that consists of the generation of aldehyde groups by oxidizing free vicinal hydroxyl groups of PsA and subsequent reaction of these groups with amino groups of the peptide. The reaction proceeds with the intermediate formation of the Schiff base, which is reduced to the stable secondary amine. The main parameters of the reaction were optimized in the synthesis of a PsA conjugate with a model peptide and methods of their characterization were developed. The reproducibility and efficiency of the synthetic procedure were demonstrated by the example of synthesis of PsA conjugates with fragments of protein PorA from the outer membrane of the serogroup B meningococcus. It was shown that, when administered without adjuvant, a conjugate of PsA with a protective peptide, which represents an exposed conserved fragment 306–332 of protein PorA, stimulates the formation of antibodies to the peptide and polysaccharide moieties of the molecule and is also capable of decreasing the degree of bacteremia in animals infected with serogroup A and serogroup B meningococci. The approach can be applied to the development of a complex vaccine for serogroup A and serogroup B meningococci.     

Rodlet cells in epidermal explant cultures of Lepomis Macrochirus

Sunfish rodlet cells were examined in vitro using a novel tissue explant system. Outgrowth of epidermal cell layers from explanted fish scales enabled both live cell videomicroscopy and immunocytochemical analysis of rodlet cells within the cell layer. Cells stained with fluorescent phallotoxin and antibody to tubulin showed that F‐actin is a component of the fibrous capsule that envelopes the cell and a microtubule network extends from the basal to apical ends of the cell interior. The fibrous capsule is also enriched for phosphotyrosine suggesting a potential signal‐transducing capability is present in this structure. Videomicroscopy analysis of live explant cultures demonstrated that rodlet cells are immobile and that interior structures are highly dynamic. Rodlet sacs can undergo extension and retraction, while intracellular particles can move rapidly within these cells. Fish scale tissue explants provide a useful system for analyzing the molecular composition and dynamic behavior of rodlet cells.