Ruminococcus bromii is a keystone species for the degradation of resistant starch in the human colon

The release of energy from particulate substrates such as dietary fiber and resistant starch (RS) in the human colon may depend on the presence of specialist primary degraders (or ‘keystone species'') within the microbial community. We have explored the roles of four dominant amylolytic bacteria found in the human colon in the degradation and utilization of resistant starches. Eubacterium rectale and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron showed limited ability to utilize RS2- and RS3-resistant starches by comparison with Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Ruminococcus bromii. In co-culture, however, R. bromii proved unique in stimulating RS2 and RS3 utilization by the other three bacterial species, even in a medium that does not permit growth of R. bromii itself. Having previously demonstrated low RS3 fermentation in vivo in two individuals with undetectable populations of R. bromii-related bacteria, we show here that supplementation of mixed fecal bacteria from one of these volunteers with R. bromii, but not with the other three species, greatly enhanced the extent of RS3 fermentation in vitro. This argues strongly that R. bromii has a pivotal role in fermentation of RS3 in the human large intestine, and that variation in the occurrence of this species and its close relatives may be a primary cause of variable energy recovery from this important component of the diet. This work also indicates that R. bromii possesses an exceptional ability to colonize and degrade starch particles when compared with previously studied amylolytic bacteria from the human colon.     

Evaluation of on-farm veal calves’ responses to unfamiliar humans and potential influencing factors

The human–animal relationship is an important component of the welfare of farm animals and for this reason animal responsiveness tests to humans are included in on-farm welfare assessment schemes that provide indicators for this. However, apart from the behaviour of stockpersons towards their animals, other factors may also influence animals’ reactivity to humans as observed through behavioural tests, which can add a further layer of complexity to the interpretation of test results. Knowledge of these factors may help a better interpretation of differences from one farm to another in the outcome of human–animal relationship tests, and may provide clues for improving the relationship between animals and humans. The main objective of this study was to identify whether management or environmental factors could influence the outcome of human–animal relationship tests in veal calves. Two tests were performed when calves were aged 14.9 ± 1.6 (SD) weeks in 148 veal farms: the voluntary approach of an unfamiliar human standing at the feeding fence and the reaction towards an unfamiliar human who entered the home pen and tried to touch each calf in a standardised way (Calf Escape Test (CET) – score 0 to 4). Questionnaires were filled in and interviews with the stockpersons were performed in order to obtain information on stockpersons, management, animal and building characteristics. The latency to touch an unfamiliar human at the feeding fence was significantly correlated with the CET scores. Total number of calves on the farm, space allowance, breed, environmental enrichment, stockperson's experience and season of observation influenced the percentage of calves that scored 0 in CET (i.e. calves that could not be approached). Type of milk distribution, type of breed and number of calves per stockperson influenced the percentage of calves that scored 4 in CET (i.e. calves could be touched). For both CET0 and CET4, the level of self-reported contacts by the stockperson (analysed only on the French subset of 36 farms) did not influence the results. This paper concludes that according to the tests conducted on veal calves on commercial farms, factors such as milk distribution method, breed of the calves or the level of experience of stockpersons with veal farming can have an impact on the results of tests focusing on human–animal relationships.     

REV3基因对结肠癌细胞遗传信息表达的影响

利用RNA干扰技术降低REV3基因在人类结肠癌细胞(SW480)中的表达, 以荧光实时定量PCR检测REV3表达量的降低情况, 选择低表达效率具有统计学意义的细胞作为实验组细胞。运用细胞生长曲线、MTT、微核和姐妹染色单体交换等方法, 对实验组和对照组细胞进行细胞生长周期、增殖变化情况和遗传信息表达等指标的检测。结果显示: REV3低表达的结肠癌实验组细胞在细胞增殖以及细胞的微核和姐妹染色单体交换等遗传信息表达均明显低于结肠癌对照组细胞, 实验结果具有统计学意义(P＜0.05); 结肠癌的两对照组间(阴性和空白)的结果虽然有一定的差异, 但没有统计学意义。研究结果提示, REV3低表达时, 可能对结肠癌细胞(SW480)的生长与增殖产生影响, 并对微核和姐妹染色单体交换等遗传不稳定现象的产生有一定的抑制作用。     

Platelets do not express the oxidized or reduced forms of tissue factor

Background

Expression of tissue factor (TF) antigen and activity in platelets is controversial and dependent upon the laboratory and reagents used. Two forms of TF were described: an oxidized functional form and a reduced nonfunctional form that is converted to the active form through the formation of an allosteric disulfide. This study tests the hypothesis that the discrepancies regarding platelet TF expression are due to differential expression of the two forms.

Methods

Specific reagents that recognize both oxidized and reduced TF were used in flow cytometry of unactivated and activated platelets and western blotting of whole platelet lysates. TF-dependent activity measurements were used to confirm the results.

Results

Western blotting analyses of placental TF demonstrated that, in contrast to anti-TF#5, which is directed against the oxidized form of TF, a sheep anti-human TF polyclonal antibody recognizes both the reduced and oxidized forms. Flow cytometric analyses demonstrated that the sheep antibody did not react with the surface of unactivated platelets or platelets activated with thrombin receptor agonist peptide, PAR-1. This observation was confirmed using biotinylated active site-blocked factor (F)VIIa: no binding was observed. Likewise, neither form of TF was detected by western blotting of whole platelet lysates with sheep anti-hTF. Consistent with these observations, no FXa or FIXa generation by FVIIa was detected at the surface of these platelets. Similarly, no TF-related activity was observed in whole blood using thromboelastography.

Conclusion and significance

Platelets from healthy donors do not express either oxidized (functional) or reduced (nonfunctional) forms of TF.     

The human episome HALF1: Structure of its genomic counterpart

A human episomal sequence (HALF1) has been identified by its ability to restore expression of hepatic functions when used to transfect a rat dedifferentiated cell line. The genomic equivalent of this human episome (gHALF1) and its flanking sequences were analyzed. HALF1 itself does not present the characteristics of a transposable element but half of its sequence corresponds to retroposons, including Alu and L1 repeats and a processed pseudogene, known to transposevia RNA intermediates. The structural characteristics of these different kinds of retroposons and their origin and evolution were analyzed.     

Influences of sea level changes and volcanic eruptions on Holocene vegetation in Tonga

Here, we investigate Mid- to Late-Holocene vegetation changes in low-lying coastal areas in Tonga and how changing sea levels and recurrent volcanic eruptions have influenced vegetation dynamics on four islands of the Tongan archipelago (South Pacific). To investigate past vegetation and environmental change at Ngofe Marsh (‘Uta Vava’u), we examined palynomorphs (pollen and spores), charcoal (fire), and sediment characteristics (volcanic activity) from a 6.7-m-long sediment core. Radiocarbon dating indicated the sediments were deposited over the last 7700 years. We integrated the Ngofe Marsh data with similar previously published data from Avai’o’vuna Swamp on Pangaimotu Island, Lotofoa Swamp on Foa Island, and Finemui Swamp on Ha’afeva Island. Plant taxa were categorized as littoral, mangrove, rainforest, successional/ disturbance, and wetland groups, and linear models were used to examine relationships between vegetation, relative sea level change, and volcanic eruptions (tephra). We found that relative sea level change has impacted vegetation on three of the four islands investigated. Volcanic eruptions were not identified as a driver of vegetation change. Rainforest decline does not appear to be driven by sea level changes or volcanic eruptions. From all sites analyzed, vegetation at Finemui Swamp was most sensitive to changes in relative sea level. While vegetation on low-lying Pacific islands is sensitive to changing sea levels, island characteristics, such as area and elevation, are also likely to be important factors that mediate specific island responses to drivers of change.     

Differential beta-arrestin binding of AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors

Agonist stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors causes receptor activation, phosphorylation, beta-arrestin binding and receptor internalization. Angiotensin II (AngII) causes rapid internalization of the AT1 receptors, whereas AngII-bound AT2 receptors do not internalize. Although the activation of the rat AT1A receptor with AngII causes translocation of beta-arrestin2 to the receptor, no association of this molecule with the AT2 receptor can be detected after AngII treatment with confocal microscopy or bioluminescence resonance energy transfer. These data demonstrate that the two subtypes of angiotensin receptors have different mechanisms of regulation.     

Origin of human chromosome 2 revisited

Similarities in chromosome banding patterns and hornologies in DNA sequence between chromosomes of the great apes and humans have suggested that human chromosome 2 originated through the fusion of two ancestral ape chromosomes. A lot of work has been directed at understanding the nature and mechanism of this fusion. The recent availability of the human chrornosome-2-specific alpha satellite DNA probe D2Z and the human chromosome-2p-specific subtelomeric DNA probe D2S445 prompted us to attempt cross-hybridization with chromosomes of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) to search for equivalent locations in the great apes and to comment on the origin of human chromosome 2. The probes gave different results. No hybridization to the chromosome-2-specific alpha satellite DNA probe was observed on the presumed homologous great ape chromosomes using both high-stringency and low-stringency post-hybridization washes, whereas the subtelomeric-DNA probe specific for chromosome 2p hybridized to telomeric sites of the short arm of chromosome 12 of all three great apes. These observations suggest an evolutionary difference in the number of alpha satellite DNA repeat units in the equivalent ape chromosomes presumably involved in the chromosome fusion. Nevertheless, complete conservation of DNA sequence of the subtelomeric repeat sequence D2S445 in the ape chromosomes is demonstrated.