The role of sphingosine 1-phosphate in migration of osteoclast precursors; an application of intravital two-photon microscopy

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a biologically active lysophospholipid that is enriched in blood, controls the trafficking of osteoclast precursors between the circulation and bone marrow cavities via G protein-coupled receptors, S1PRs. While S1PR1 mediates chemoattraction toward S1P in bone marrow, where S1P concentration is low, S1PR2 mediates chemorepulsion in blood, where the S1P concentration is high. The regulation of precursor recruitment may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling osteoclast-dependent bone remodeling. Through intravital multiphoton imaging of bone tissues, we reveal that the bidirectional function of S1P temporospatially regulates the migration of osteoclast precursors within intact bone tissues. Imaging technologies have enabled in situ visualization of the behaviors of several players in intact tissues. In addition, intravital microscopy has the potential to be more widely applied to functional analysis and intervention.     

The effects of time and temperature on flow cytometry enumerated live Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts

AIMS: Recoveries of spiked standard suspensions are used to evaluate method performance. For many applications, gamma-irradiated Cryptosporidium oocysts are appropriate. In contrast, methods that determine viability, such as Cryptosporidium cell culture, require the use of live oocysts. Oocyst standards are usually prepared at a flow cytometry laboratory for use at another laboratory, and thus the samples are shipped. The goal of this study was to evaluate the shipping and storage stability of flow cytometry enumerated live oocysts over time at three temperatures: 4 degrees C, room temperature and 37 degrees C. METHODS AND RESULTS: Replicate samples containing 100 live C. parvum oocysts were prepared by flow cytometry and stored at 4 degrees C, room temperature and 37 degrees C. These samples were counted at various time points. Significant oocyst losses were observed after storage for 1 day at 37 degrees C, 7 days at room temperature and 21 days at 4 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Live C. parvum oocysts internal standards should be used within 10 days of preparation, and stored and shipped at 4 degrees C. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: When evaluating method performance with live oocysts, both the storage temperature and time are critical factors for obtaining reliable and accurate results.     

Evaluation of candidate probiotic strains for gilthead sea bream larvae (Sparus aurata) using an in vivo approach

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of six bacterial strains on gilthead sea bream larvae (Sparus aurata). METHODS AND RESULTS: Six bacterial strains isolated from well-performing live food cultures were identified by sequencing fragments of their 16s rDNA genome to the genus level as Cytophaga sp., Roseobacter sp., Ruergeria sp., Paracoccus sp., Aeromonas sp. and Shewanella sp. Survival rates of gilthead sea bream larvae transferred to seawater added these bacterial strains at concentrations of 6 +/- 0.3 x 10(5) bacteria ml(-1) were similar to those of larvae transferred to sterilized seawater and showed an average of 86% at 9 days after hatching, whereas, survival rates of larvae transferred to filtered seawater were lower (P < 0.05), and showed an average of 39%, 9 days after hatching. CONCLUSION: Several bacterial strains isolated from well-performing live food cultures showed a positive effect for sea bream larvae when compared with filtered seawater. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The approach used in this study could be applied as an in vivo evaluation method of candidate probiotic strains used in the rearing of marine fish larvae.     

NSF independent fusion of Salmonella-containing late phagosomes with early endosomes

Initial characterizations of live-Salmonella-containing early (LSEP) and late phagosomes (LSLP) in macrophages show that both phagosomes retain Rab5 and EEA1. In addition, LSEP specifically contain transferrin receptor whereas LSLP possess relatively more rabaptin-5. In contrast to LSLP, late-Salmonella-containing vacuoles in epithelial cells show significantly reduced levels of Rab5 and EEA1. Subsequent results demonstrate that both phagosomes efficiently fuse with early endosomes (EE). In contrast to LSEP, fusion between LSLP and EE is insensitive to ATPγS treatment. Furthermore, LSLP fuses with EE in absence of NEM-sensitive fusion factor (NSF) as well as in the presence of NSF:D1EQ mutant demonstrating that LSLP fusion with EE is NSF independent.     

The Use of Primary Human Fibroblasts for Monitoring Mitochondrial Phenotypes in the Field of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson''s disease (PD) is the second most common movement disorder and affects 1% of people over the age of 60 ¹. Because ageing is the most important risk factor, cases of PD will increase during the next decades ². Next to pathological protein folding and impaired protein degradation pathways, alterations of mitochondrial function and morphology were pointed out as further hallmark of neurodegeneration in PD ^3-11.After years of research in murine and human cancer cells as in vitro models to dissect molecular pathways of Parkinsonism, the use of human fibroblasts from patients and appropriate controls as ex vivo models has become a valuable research tool, if potential caveats are considered. Other than immortalized, rather artificial cell models, primary fibroblasts from patients carrying disease-associated mutations apparently reflect important pathological features of the human disease.Here we delineate the procedure of taking skin biopsies, culturing human fibroblasts and using detailed protocols for essential microscopic techniques to define mitochondrial phenotypes. These were used to investigate different features associated with PD that are relevant to mitochondrial function and dynamics. Ex vivo, mitochondria can be analyzed in terms of their function, morphology, colocalization with lysosomes (the organelles degrading dysfunctional mitochondria) and degradation via the lysosomal pathway. These phenotypes are highly relevant for the identification of early signs of PD and may precede clinical motor symptoms in human disease-gene carriers. Hence, the assays presented here can be utilized as valuable tools to identify pathological features of neurodegeneration and help to define new therapeutic strategies in PD.     

昆明地区15种常见木本植物活枝的燃烧性

为分析比较不同植物活枝的燃烧性,在森林防火戒严期内,对昆明地区15种常见木本植物中小径级的活枝进行了热辐射引燃试验,对小径级的活枝进行了氧指数试验。在测定样品直径、含水率、引燃时间、有焰燃烧时间、试验过程中烟气温度和质量损失变化过程等基础上,提出并计算了表征活枝燃烧性能的综合燃烧特性参数S,根据该参数对15种植物中小径级活枝的燃烧性能进行了排序。结果表明,15种植物小径级的活枝均具有较强的阻燃性,燃烧性能顺序为:云南松<野八角<华山松<滇青冈<地盘松<云南樟<厚皮香<大白花杜鹃<炮状花杜鹃<云南含笑<小白花杜鹃<南烛<光叶石栎<元江栲<云南野山茶。根据氧指数及试验现象将15种植物的小径级活枝分为3类,其中难燃类4种(大白花杜鹃、野八角、厚皮香、南烛)、可燃类7种(云南含笑、云南松、地盘松、华山松、滇青冈、云南樟、云南野山茶)、较易燃类4种(小白花杜鹃、炮状花杜鹃、光叶石栎、元江栲)。分析了造成2种试验结果差异的主要原因。     

麻腮风水痘联合减毒活疫苗病毒滴定方法研究

目的建立并验证MMRV联合减毒活疫苗病毒滴定方法。方法滴定MMRV疫苗中的每种病毒时,首先用特异性抗血清有选择地中和其他病毒成分,再根据每种抗血清与相应病毒的完全中和能力,确定各抗病毒血清的使用浓度。分别用CCID50法(麻、腮、风病毒)和蚀斑法(水痘病毒)检测MMRV疫苗中各病毒的滴度。结果使用该方法对MMRV联合减毒活疫苗进行滴定的实测值与理论值无显著差异,经验证其准确性和可重复性均显示良好。结论建立的MMRV联合减毒活疫苗病毒滴定方法可行。