Erythropoietin activates caspase-3 and downregulates CAD during erythroid differentiation in TF-1 cells - a protection mechanism against DNA fragmentation

The involvement of caspase-3 and its failure in the induction of DNA fragmentation during erythropoiesis were investigated with TF-1 cells. During erythroid differentiation, caspase-3 activation and cleavage of caspase-3 substrates such as ICAD (inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase) were detected without concomitant phosphatidyl-serine (PS) externalization and DNA fragmentation. These observations are in contrast to our understanding that DNA is degraded by CAD (caspase-activated DNase) when ICAD is cleaved by caspase-3. Our study demonstrates that CAD is downregulated at the mRNA and protein level during the erythroid differentiation in TF-1 cells. This provides a mechanism for the first time how cells avoid DNA fragmentation with activated caspase-3.     

人粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子研究进展

hGM-CSF是一种重要的具有免疫调节功能的糖蛋白,在造血调控和免疫调节方面发挥重要作用,具有重要的临床应用价值。总结近些年来各国对hGM-CSF的研究情况,首先对hGM-CSF的基因结构、蛋白分子结构、生物学活性等方面做了详细的介绍;接下来,又从基因转录水平和转录后水平两个方面对hGM-CSF的表达调控做了介绍;最后,对比了利用基因工程技术将hGM-CSF基因在不同生物中的表达情况,详细讲解了优缺点。     

DIATOM COLONY FORMATION: A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY PREDICTS A SINGLE MECHANISM CAN PRODUCE BOTH LINKAGE AND SEPARATION VALVES DUE TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL SWITCH1

The morphological plasticity and adaptive behavior exhibited during diatom colony formation in Aulacoseira is explored through computer simulation to study how the interplay of mechanisms such as cytoskeletal‐driven membrane protrusions, silica deposition, and environmental factors may contribute to the generation of two distinct spine morphologies on linkage and separation valves. A multiscale agent‐based computational model was developed, which showed that a single cytoskeleton‐driven, competitive growth mechanism could generate either of the two characteristic phenotypes, given only a single switch in the environment (as might be experienced by a change in light regime). Hypotheses are formulated from the model, and predictions made for potential follow‐up experiments.     

Comparative study with two different enrichments in the culture media used in the disinfectant efficacy assay

Recent changes in Brazilian legislation for commercial disinfectants have been published due to the recent epidemic of nosocomial infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) in many states of Brazil over the last 8 years. One of these documents requires that all the manufacturers provide evidence of efficacy of sterilizing and disinfectant products, used for semi critical medical devices, against the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau and Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii INCQS 00594 strains by using the Confirmative in vitro Test for Determining Tuberculocidal Activity of Disinfectants recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. These changes have caused additional costs and increased problems for importation of enrichment products at national laboratories where disinfectant efficacy assay service is performed. Middlebrook ADC Enrichment (ADC) is provided by a unique manufacturer and used in the official protocol. The aim of the present study was to evaluate an alternative in house low-cost enrichment composed of fetal bovine serum and glucose (FBSG) with ADC for performance of disinfectant efficacy assay against mycobacteria. After obtaining the growth curves for M. abscessus ATCC 19977, M. abscessus subsp. bolletii INCQS 00594, Mycobacterium chelonae ATCC 35752, and Mycobacterium fortuitum ATCC 6841 by using ADC enrichment and FBSG in Kirchners and 7H9 culture media. Through statistical analysis via the Kruskal-Wallis test on the evaluation of microorganism growth rate, it was observed that there was no inhibition of RGM growth by any of the enrichments used. These results suggest that low-cost enrichment FBSG may be used as a potential substitute of ADC for composition of media for mycobacterial growth, including in disinfectant tests.     

The significant increase of FcγRIIIA (CD16), a sensitive marker, in patients with coronary heart disease

Our previous studies suggest that Fc receptor III A of immunoglobulin G (FcγRIIIA, also named CD16) is closely correlated to coronary heart disease (CHD). However, whether or not deregulated FcγRIIIA expression is involved in the development of CHD remains largely unclear. Herein, we investigated the FcγRIIIA mRNA expression in the leukocytes, the serum protein level of soluble CD16 (sCD16) and membrane CD16 on monocytes from 100 diagnosed CHD patients and 40 healthy individuals. Our results demonstrated that there was a significant increase of FcγRIIIA at the mRNA level in leukocytes, and at the protein level for both sCD16 in sera and membrane CD16 on monocytes from CHD patients compared to the healthy control. Similarly to the soluble CD14 (sCD14), the level of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) in sera was also higher in CHD patients than that in the control individuals. Furthermore, the levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), in sera and the mean fluorescent intensity of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1, CD54) on CD14(+) CD16(+) monocytes were increased in CHD patients. Overall, these data demonstrated that FcγRIIIA (CD16) is involved in the pathogenesis of CHD by activating monocytes and stimulating inflammation. The significant increase of CD14(+) CD16(+) monocytes in CHD patients therefore suggested that the increase of the FcγRIIIA level might be a sensitive marker for the CHD diagnosis.     

COLONY SIZE OF PHAEOCYSTIS ANTARCTICA (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) AS INFLUENCED BY ZOOPLANKTON GRAZERS1

The haptophyte Phaeocystis antarctica G. Karst. is a dominant phytoplankton species in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, and exists as solitary cells and mucilaginous colonies that differ by several orders of magnitude in size. Recent studies with Phaeocystis globosa suggest that colony formation and enlargement are defense mechanisms against small grazers. To test if a similar grazer‐induced morphological response exists in P. antarctica, we conducted incubation experiments during the austral summer using natural P. antarctica and zooplankton assemblages. Dialysis bags that allowed exchange of dissolved chemicals were used to separate P. antarctica and zooplankton during incubations. Geometric mean colony size decreased by 35% in the control, but increased by 30% in the presence of grazers (even without physical contact) over the 15 d incubation. The estimated colonial‐to‐solitary cell carbon ratio was significantly higher in the grazing treatment. These results suggest that P. antarctica colonies would grow larger in the presence of indigenous zooplankton and skew the carbon partitioning significantly toward the colonial phase. While these observations show that the colony size of P. antarctica was affected by a chemical signal related to grazers, the detailed nature and ecological significance of this signal remain unknown.     

Microsatellite markers for the driver ant Dorylus (Anomma) molestus

We report primer sequences for five novel polymorphic microsatellite loci that were developed for the African driver ant Dorylus (Anomma) molestus. The number of alleles in the studied population ranged from three to 10 with observed heterozygosities between 0.458 and 0.806. These microsatellite markers will be useful for the study of mating system evolution and the genetic structure of colonies and populations of army ants.     

我国部分地区自然发酵豆酱中的曲霉菌及其有性型

Twenty species of Aspergillus and their teleomorphs were isolated from naturally fermented soybean pastes collected in 42 regions of China. Of which A. tubingensis, A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, A. candidus and A. fumigatus were predominant. The high frequency of A. flavus from the samples indicates that the traditional making method of soybean paste might possibly be harmful to food safety. Some Aspergillus species or strains isolated from the traditional food samples may be hopeful of using in pure leaven making and industrial production of soybean paste with special flavor.     

Prelaying exodus of Cory's Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea borealis) on Selvagem Grande

Summary We stayed on the Portugese island of Selvagem Grande, 30° N 16° W, 300 km south of Madeira and 200 km north of Tenerife, from 9 May to 3 June 1991 in order to study the prelaying exodus in Cory's Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea borealis) and its connection with the colony attendance cycles described earlier. Laying took place on 1.5 June ±3.4 days. During the preceding weeks males and females of Cory's Shearwater show very different attendance patterns. Females are absent for 19±4.8 days at minimum. Absences of males are much shorter and also much more variable. They last 7.9±6.0 days (coefficient of variation 76 %, as against 12 % in females). The first incubation stint of the males is badly synchronised with the laying: the delay between laying and the start of the males' first stint may amount up to one week, without compromising the breeding success. Two well marked attendance peaks have been observed, separated by an interval of 18 days, twice the length of that observed in June 1988. We suggest that this anomaly in the daily attendance graph is correlated with the prelaying exodus. The function of the prelaying exodus and its relation with the energy cost of producing the egg and the necessity of storing lipid reserves are discussed.

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Vorbrutzeitliches Verlassen der Kolonie beim Gelbschnabelsturmtaucher (Calonectris diomedea borealis) auf Selvagem Grande

Zusammenfassung Zwischen 9. Mai und 3. Juni 1991 untersuchten wir auf der portugisischen Insel Selvagem Grande, 30° N 16° W, 300 km südlich von Madeira und 200 km nördlich von Teneriffa gelegen, das Verlassen der Kolonie vor der Eiablage des Gelbschnabelsturmtauchers (Calonectris diomedea borealis) und die Beziehung zur Anwesenheit in der Kolonie. Gelegt wurde am 1,5 Juni ±3,4 Tage. In den Monaten vor der Eiablage zeigten Männchen und Weibchen sehr unterschiedliche Muster der Anwesenheit in der Kolonie. Während die Weibchen im Minimum durchschnittlich 19±4,8 Tage abwesend waren, war diese Abwesenheit bei den Männchen mit 7,9±6,0 Tagen wesentlich kürzer und variabler (Variationskoeffizient 76 % gegenüber 12 % bei den Weibchen). Die erste Brutbeteiligung des Männchens war kaum mit der Eiablage synchronisiert, doch war dadurch der Bruterfolg nicht beeinträchtigt. Die Anwesenheit in der Kolonie zeigte zwei Gipfel, die 18 Tage auseinander lagen. In 1988 betrug dieser zeitliche Abstand nur etwa die Hälfte. Es wird vermutet, dass dieser Unterschied mit dem Ausmaß des vorbrutzeitlichen Verlassens der Kolonie korreliert. Die Funktion dieses vorbrutzeitlichen Exodus und seine Beziehung zu den energetischen Kosten der Eiproduktion und der Bildung von Lipidreserven werden diskutiert.

     

Colony Structure of a Consortium of Nitrifying Bacteria

Colonies produced by a consortium of nitrifying bacteria were studied using light and electron microscopy. The colonies were obtained by direct plating of inoculum from a two-stage nonsterile chemostat fermentor and by repeatedly passing the microbial community of the fermentor through selective media containing ammonium or nitrite. The colonies studied can be characterized by a specific combination of six types of cells differing in their ultrastructure and spatial location within the colony. The types of cells occurring within a given colony were found to depend on the nitrogen compound present in the medium. As a result of our study, morphological features of colonial bacterial communities were identified. The proposed approach can be viewed as a method to describe microbial associations and communities.