Effects of degranulation of mast cells on proliferation of mesenchymal cells in the mesentery of mice

Summary A mast-cell activator, compound 48/80, causes proliferation of mesenchymal cells in the mesentery of rats. Its effect on W/W ^vmice deficient in mast cells was tested to determine whether the proliferation is mediated in the degranulation of mast cells. Incorporation of [³H]thymidine into mesenchymal cells in the mesentery of these mice with or without compound 48/80 was very small compared to their normal litter mates. However, bone marrow transplantation markedly enhanced the effect of compound 48/80, and resulted in an incorporation of [³H]thymidine almost comparable to that observed in normal mice. Our results provide evidence that mesenchymal cell proliferation is caused by a product secreted by mast cells when stimulated by compound 48/80.Supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, No. 366, from the Japanese Ministry of Health and WelfareThe authors are indebted to Drs. Motomu Minamiyama and Yukio Hirata for valuable advices, and to Miss Mitsuko Inoue for technical assistance     

生防菌株HG18基因组信息分析与抗菌功能基因挖掘

贝莱斯芽胞杆菌（Bacillus velezensis）HG18是1株低温生防菌株,能够分泌抗菌物质。为挖掘和利用其抗菌功能基因,服务农业生产,采用二、三代相结合测序技术,对其进行全基因组测序,获得菌株完整基因组序列。基因组全长4 461 844 bp,包含一个染色体和一个质粒,GC含量44.06%,编码4 643个基因,编码基因总长度3 893 994 bp,占基因组87.27%。发现6个几丁质降解相关基因,2个葡聚糖酶基因和1个壳聚糖酶基因,2个脂肽类抗菌物质芬芥素与表面活性素合成基因簇,2个细菌素subtilin和bacillolysin合成基因。研究为提高抗菌物质产量的菌株定向遗传改造以及植物抗病育种提供基因资源。     

In vitro effects of bisphenol A on the quality parameters,oxidative stress,DNA integrity and adenosine triphosphate content in sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa

Among endocrine disruptors, the xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) deserves particular attention due to widespread human exposure. Besides hormonal effects, BPA has been suspected to be responsible for adverse effect on reproductive ability of various species. In the present study the effect of BPA on the quality parameters, oxidative stress, the DNA integrity and intracellular ATP content of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa were investigated in vitro. Fish spermatozoa were exposed to concentrations of BPA possibly occurring in nature (0.5, 1.75, 2.5, 5 and 10 μg/L) for 2 h. Results revealed that BPA significantly decreased spermatozoa motility and velocity of spermatozoa at concentration of BPA 2.5–10 μg/L. Significant positive correlation (r = 0.713, P < 0.05) was found between percent motile spermatozoa and ATP content. Oxidative stress was observed at concentrations 1.75–10 μg/L, as reflected by significantly higher levels of protein and lipid oxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. Intracellular ATP content of spermatozoa decreased with increasing concentrations of BPA. A dramatic increase in DNA fragmentation expressed as percent tail DNA (2.2% ± 0.46) and Olive tail moment (0.37 ± 0.09 arbitrary units) was recorded at concentrations of 1.75 μg/L and above. The present study confirms that concentrations of BPA that can be encountered in nature are capable to induce oxidative stress, leading to impaired sperm quality, DNA fragmentation and intracellular ATP content.     

Characterization and removal of biofouling from reverse osmosis membranes (ROMs) from a desalination plant in Northern Chile,using Alteromonas sp. Ni1-LEM supernatant

Abstract

Biofouling control in reverse osmosis membranes (ROMs) is challenging due to the high cost of treatments, and reduction in the life of ROMs. This study characterizes the biofouling in the ROMs from a desalination plant and reports its effective removal using the supernatant obtained from Alteromonas sp. strain Ni1-LEM. The characterization of the bacterial community revealed that the most abundant taxa in ROMs were the genera Fulvivirga and Pseudoalteromonas, and unclassified species of the families Flavobacteriaceae and Sphingomonadaceae. This bacterial community significantly decreased upon treatment with the supernatant from Alteromonas sp. Ni1-LEM, resulting in the prevalence of the genus Pseudoalteromonas. Furthermore, this bacterial supernatant significantly inhibited cell adhesion of seven benthic microalgae isolated from ROMs as well as promoting cell detachment of the existing microbial biofilms. The study showed that the extracellular supernatant modified the conformation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the biofouling of ROMs without any biocidal effects.     

水稻Rop基因OsRac5表达特性

Rop在植物生长、发育、免疫及环境信号应答等多种生物学过程中具有重要作用。已有研究显示水稻Rop基因OsRac5可能与育性控制有关,但是该基因的表达特性,以及非生物胁迫和植物生长物质对其表达的影响尚不清楚。本文采用qRT-PCR技术检测了OsRac5在水稻生长发育过程中、非生物胁迫以及植物生长物质处理条件下的表达特性,结果显示OsRac5在水稻生长发育过程中在多种组织广泛表达,尤其在根和雌雄蕊形成期的幼穗中高表达;干旱、高盐和低温等非生物胁迫均能诱导OsRac5表达;ABA、GAs、6-BA等植物生长物质能上调OsRac5基因表达,提示该基因与水稻幼穗发育、抗逆性及细胞生长等过程相关。     

Impact of cranberry juice on initial adhesion of the EPS producing bacterium Burkholderia cepacia

The impact of cranberry juice was investigated with respect to the initial adhesion of three isogenic strains of the bacterium Burkholderia cepacia with different extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) producing capacities, viz. a wild-type cepacian EPS producer PC184 and its mutant strains PC184rml with reduced EPS production and PC184bceK with a deficiency in EPS production. Adhesion experiments conducted in a parallel-plate flow chamber demonstrated that, in the absence of cranberry juice, strain PC184 had a significantly higher adhesive capacity compared to the mutant strains. In the presence of cranberry juice, the adhesive capacity of the EPS-producing strain PC184 was largely reduced, while cranberry juice had little impact on the adhesion behavior of either mutant strain. Thermodynamic modeling supported the results from adhesion experiments. Surface force apparatus (SFA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies demonstrated a strong association between cranberry juice components and bacterial EPS. It was concluded that cranberry juice components could impact bacterial initial adhesion by adhering to the EPS and impairing the adhesive capacity of the cells, which provides an insight into the development of novel treatment strategies to block the biofilm formation associated with bacterial infection.     

Using enzymes to remove biofilms of bacterial isolates sampled in the food-industry

The aim of this study was to analyze the cleaning efficiency of polysaccharidases and proteolytic enzymes against biofilms of bacterial species found in food industry processing lines and to study enzyme effects on the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and biofilm removal in a Clean-in-Place (CIP) procedure. The screening of 7 proteases and polysaccharidases for removal of biofilms of 16 bacterial species was first evaluated using a microtiter plate assay. The alkaline pH buffer removed more biofilm biomass as well as affecting a larger range of bacterial species. The two serine proteases and α-amylase were the most efficient enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes promoted biofilm removal of a larger range of bacterial species than polysaccharidases. Using three isolates derived from two bacterial species widely found in food processing lines (Pseudomonas fluorescens and the Bacillus cereus group), biofilms were developed on stainless steel slides and enzymatic solutions were used to remove the biofilms using CIP procedure. Serine proteases were more efficient in removing cells of Bacillus biofilms than polysaccharidases. However, polysaccharidases were more efficient in removing P. fluorescens biofilms than serine proteases. Solubilization of enzymes with a buffer containing surfactants, and dispersing and chelating agents enhanced the efficiency of polysaccharidases and proteases respectively in removing biofilms of Bacillus and P. fluorescens. A combination of enzymes targeting several components of EPS, surfactants, dispersing and chelating agents would be an efficient alternative to chemical cleaning agents.     

Metabolic profile and antioxidant responses during drought stress recovery in sugarcane treated with humic acids and endophytic diazotrophic bacteria

Water deficit is the major yield‐limiting factor for sugarcane crop production that can be enhanced by inoculating with plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) combined with humic substances. The aim of this work was to examine changes to the metabolic profile and antioxidant enzyme activity of sugarcane treated with PGPB and humic acid (HA) after drought and then rehydration. The drought was imposed by withholding irrigation for 21 days thereby measuring enzyme activity, metabolic profile and photosynthetic rate 1 week after rehydratation. Growth of plants treated with HA, PGPB and with both treatments combined (PGPB + HA) was higher than control plants. The antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities remained higher after rehydration only in plants treated with HA. Plants treated with HA and PGPB + HA exhibited increased transpiration, stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis than plants treated with PGPB. The PGPB‐treated plants exhibited drought resistance that resembled ‘delayed stress onset’, which is a new term for preserving water in the plants tissues. Water preservation in plants treated with PGPB was corroborated by higher relative water content (RWC) than control plants at the end of the drought period. Plants treated with HA + PGPB exhibited the highest water potential after rehydration and high RWC. Osmotic adjustment in the other treatments (control, HA and PGPB) was indicated by a new pattern of metabolic response after rehydration, including generally enhanced carbohydrates and proteins and specific changes induced by HA‐enhancing aromatic compounds, whereas PGPB exhibited enhanced fatty acids and other aliphatic H species. Humic acids assist with drought stress recovery by inducing antioxidant enzyme activity whereas PGPB induced preservation of leaf water potential and RWC by closing stomata efficiently, resulting in plant water preservation.     

Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing: fidelity in bioremediation technology

Increased contamination of the environment with toxic pollutants has paved the way for efficient strategies which can be implemented for environmental restoration. The major problem with conventional methods used for cleaning of pollutants is inefficiency and high economic costs. Bioremediation is a growing technology having advanced potential of cleaning pollutants. Biofilm formed by various micro-organisms potentially provide a suitable microenvironment for efficient bioremediation processes. High cell density and stress resistance properties of the biofilm environment provide opportunities for efficient metabolism of number of hydrophobic and toxic compounds. Bacterial biofilm formation is often regulated by quorum sensing (QS) which is a population density-based cell–cell communication process via signaling molecules. Numerous signaling molecules such as acyl homoserine lactones, peptides, autoinducer-2, diffusion signaling factors, and α-hydroxyketones have been studied in bacteria. Genetic alteration of QS machinery can be useful to modulate vital characters valuable for environmental applications such as biofilm formation, biosurfactant production, exopolysaccharide synthesis, horizontal gene transfer, catabolic gene expression, motility, and chemotaxis. These qualities are imperative for bacteria during degradation or detoxification of any pollutant. QS signals can be used for the fabrication of engineered biofilms with enhanced degradation kinetics. This review discusses the connection between QS and biofilm formation by bacteria in relation to bioremediation technology.     

外源激素对马尾松花芽分化及内源物质的影响

为探讨马尾松球花形成与植物激素水平的关系,该研究对贵州省都匀无性系种子园11年生马尾松进行不同浓度的 IAA、IBA、GA3、BAP等植物激素处理,采用考马斯亮蓝G-250染色法、蒽酮法分别对不同浓度不同激素处理后的枝条上针叶中的可溶性蛋白质和可溶性糖含量变化进行测定,并在第二年开花时对试验枝条的开花情况进行了调查。结果表明：在8－11月份,进行500 mg·L-1的BAP 处理有利于马尾松雌球花和雄球花的形成,100 mg·L-1的GA3处理有利于马尾松雌球花的形成;而GA3250 mg·L-1和GA3500 mg·L-1处理有利于马尾松雄球花的形成,IAA 250 mg·L-1对马尾松雌雄球花同枝的数量有提高作用。在10－11月份,对马尾松进行500 mg·L-1的BAP、IAA、GA3处理后,马尾松针叶内蛋白质含量变化有显著影响;在10月份时,进行BAP 100 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性糖含量及可溶性蛋白含量均可达到极显著水平。而在8月份与10月份时,分别进行IBA 100 mg·L-1与IBA 250 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性蛋白含量与其对照差异处于极显著水平;在11月份时,进行GA3100 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性蛋白含量与其对照差异处于极显著水平;而在11月份时,进行IBA 500 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性蛋白含量与对照差异处于显著水平。