Iodine concentration by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum inhabiting soils of the nonchernozem zone

The iodine accumulation by strains of microscopic fungi Penecillium chrysogenum isolated from soddy-middle podzolic soils of Kirov region has been studied. It has been shown that fungi are able to accumulate from 5,0 X 10(-5) to 10,2% of iodine depending upon the medium iodine content and the degree of the organisms' tolerance to its high concentrations.     

Dependence of root biomass accumulation on the content and metabolism of cytokinins in ethylene-insensitive plants

Diverse functions of ethylene in plants may depend on its ability to interact with other hormones. We studied the participation of ethylene in the regulation of accumulation and metabolism of cytokinins comparing ethylene-insensitive mutant plants of arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana [L.] Heynh., etr1-1) with the plants of original ecotype Columbia (Col-0). Because cytokinins can regulate growth of both leaves and roots, we determined the weights of these organs and the ratio between them. The content of zeatin and its riboside in the roots of etr1-1 plants was two times greater than in Col-0 plants, which could be accounted for by inhibition of conversion of these forms of cytokinins into 9-N-glucosides. In the leaves of mutant plants, expression of IPT3 gene responsible for the synthesis of cytokinins was more intense than in Col-0 plants, which could also contribute to a rise in the content of cytokinins. In this case, the weight of roots in etr1-1 mutants was lower than in the plants of original ecotype. Because high concentrations of cytokinins can inhibit root growth, suppression of accumulation of their biomass in mutant plants may be related to a greater content of cytokinins therein. The obtained results suggest that ethylene can suppress accumulation of cytokinins and, thereby, maintain redistribution of biomass in favor of the roots, which is important for plant adaptation to a shortage of water and ions.     

PCR with subsequent sequencing of the 16S gene rRNA in species identification of mycobacteria of the non-tuberculosis complex

One hundred of mycobacterium cultures were assayed by the method of PCR with subsequent sequencing of the 16S rRNA region. The below mycobacterium species were identified: M. tuberculosis complex (n = 55), M. avium (n = 17), M. intracellulare (n = 4), M. scrofaleceum (n = 2), M. kansasii - M. gastri (n = 3), M. gordonae (n = 3), M. ulcerans - M. marinum (n = 1), M. smegmatis (m = 2), M. fortuitum (n = 11), M. peregrinum (n = 1) and M. chelonae - M. abscessus (n = 1). The method enabled the differentiation of species M. avium from M. intracellulare and M. peregrinum from M. fortuitum, which could not be differentiated by using the classic biochemical and bacteriological methods. Genetic heterogeneity of the mycobacterium strains of M. avium, M. fortuitum and M. gordonae was also established by PCR plus sequencing of the 16S rRNA region.     

Genetic typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by spoligotyping and genome fingerprinting techniques

A total of 122 M. tuberculosis clinical drug-resistant strains isolated in Central Russia were studied by spoligotyping and genome fingerprinting techniques. According to spoligotyping results 77% of M. tuberculosis strains were distributed to 13 oligotypes, while 23% of these strains were found to form unique patterns. Most of them belonged to the families Beijing and Haarlem (43.4% and 13.9% respectively). The patterns of the strains of oligotype 12 (7F-7F-7E-0E-78-3E) were identical to those of the strains isolated in Brazil, France and the Netherlands. The strains of the spoligotype 22 (7F-1E-7F-7F-07-3E) had the patterns identical to those of the strains of group S13, also isolated in Brazil. According to genome fingerprinting 31.4% of the strains were found to belong to clusters with the similarity coefficient equal to 1. The strains belonging to genotypes W and A1 were found to prevail in the analyzed group.     

Genetic determinants of antibacterial resistance among nosocomial Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Enterobacter spp. isolates collected in Russia within 2003-2007

Nosocomial bacterial isolates collected within 2003-2004 (n=411) and 2005-2007 (n=422) were highly resistant to cephalosporins III-IV and antibacterials of other groups (aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolons, chloramphenicol, and co-trimoxazole). Genes encoding TEM, SHV, CTX-M, OXA-2, and AmpC types of beta-lactamases (BLs) in the E. coli, Klebsiella spp., and Enterobacter spp. isolates were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Prevalent CTX-M-type BLs were detected in 85% of the E. coli, 87% of the Klebsiella spp., and 38% of the Enterobacter spp. isolates of the first strain collection and in 94% of the E. coli, 91% of the Klebsiella spp., and 38% of the Enterobacter spp. isolates of the second one. Genes belonging to three subtypes of blacTx-M genes were identified: bla(CTX-M-1) (228 bla(CTX-M-15) and six bla(CTX-M-3) of the first strain collection; 275 bla(CTX-M-15), three bla(CTX-M-3), and one bla(CTX-M-22) of the second one), bla(CTX-M-2) (one bla(CTX-M-5) of the first strain collection and one bla(CTX-M-2) of the second one), bla(CTX-M-9) (17 bla(CTX-M-14) and one bla(CTX-M-9) of the first strain collection; seven bla(CTX-M-14) and one bla(CTX-M-9) of the second one). Three isolates of the first strain collection and one isolate of the second one carried two genes belonging to two different subtypes, i.e., bla(CTX-M-15) and bla(CTX-M-14) simultaneously. The bacterial isolates had high levels of associative resistance to ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, gentamicin, amikacin, and chloramphenicol associated with the resistance gene cassettes aadA1, aadA2, aadA5, aadB, aacA4, aac(6')Ib; dfrA1, dfrA5, dfrA12, dfrA17, cmlA1, ereA2, and catB8 in the class 1 integrons and the resistance gene cassettes dfrA1, sat1, and aadA1 in the class 2 integrons.     

Abscisic acid accumulation in the roots of nutrient-limited plants: its impact on the differential growth of roots and shoots

We describe the involvement of abscisic acid (ABA) in the control of differential growth of roots and shoots of nutrient limited durum wheat plants. A ten-fold dilution of the optimal concentration of nutrient solution inhibited shoot growth, while root growth remained unchanged, resulting in a decreased shoot/root ratio. Addition of fluridone (inhibitor of ABA synthesis) prevented growth allocation in favour of the roots. This suggests the involvement of ABA in the redirecting of growth in favour of roots under limited nutrient supply. The ABA content was greater in shoots and growing apical root parts of starved plants than in nutrient sufficient plants. Accumulation of ABA in shoots of nutrient deficient plants was linked to a decrease in leaf turgor. Increased flow of ABA in the phloem apparently contributed to the accumulation of ABA in the apical part of the roots. Thus, partitioning of growth between roots and shoots of wheat plants limited in mineral nutrients appears to be modulated by accumulation of ABA in roots. This ABA may originate in the shoots, where its synthesis is stimulated by the loss of leaf turgor.     

Arp2/3 complex is important for filopodia formation, growth cone motility, and neuritogenesis in neuronal cells

A role of Arp2/3 complex in lamellipodia is well established, whereas its roles in filopodia formation remain obscure. We addressed this question in neuronal cells, in which motility is heavily based on filopodia, and we found that Arp2/3 complex is involved in generation of both lamellipodia and filopodia in growth cones, and in neuritogenesis, the processes thought to occur largely in Arp2/3 complex-independent manner. Depletion of Arp2/3 complex in primary neurons and neuroblastoma cells by small interfering RNA significantly decreased the F-actin contents and inhibited lamellipodial protrusion and retrograde flow in growth cones, but also initiation and dynamics of filopodia. Using electron microscopy, immunochemistry, and gene expression, we demonstrated the presence of the Arp2/3 complex-dependent dendritic network of actin filaments in growth cones, and we showed that individual actin filaments in filopodia originated at Arp2/3 complex-dependent branch points in lamellipodia, thus providing a mechanistic explanation of Arp2/3 complex functions during filopodia formation. Additionally, Arp2/3 complex depletion led to formation of multiple neurites, erratic pattern of neurite extension, and excessive formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions. Consistent with this phenotype, RhoA activity was increased in Arp2/3 complex-depleted cells, indicating that besides nucleating actin filaments, Arp2/3 complex may influence cell motility by altering Rho GTPase signaling.     

Efficacy of enterocin S760 in treatment of mice with anthrax infection due to Bacillus anthracis M-71

The therapeutic efficacy of enterocin S760, a broad spectrum antimicrobial peptide produced by Enterococcus faecium LWP760 was tested on mice infected with Bacillus anthracis M-71 to induce anthrax (second Tsenkovsky's vaccine). Intraperitoneal four-, two- or one-fold administration of the peptide in a dose of 25 mg/kg for 10 days for prophylactic (1 hour after the contamination) and therapeutic (24 hours after the contamination) purposes prevented or cured the infection in 90-100% of the mice versus the 100-percent lethality in the control (untreated animals). The antimicrobial activity of enterocin S760 against B. anthracis M-71 in vivo correlated with activity in vitro. Enterocin S760 is considered a novel promising antimicrobial for the treatment of grampositive and gramnegative infections.     

cDNA Cloning and Characterization ofNpap60:A Novel Rat Nuclear Pore-Associated Protein with an Unusual Subcellular Localization during Male Germ Cell Differentiation

We have cloned and characterized a cDNA,Npap60,encoding a rat nuclear pore-associated protein. The 3-kb cDNA was obtained by antibody screening of a rat testis expression library. The predicted NPAP60 contains 381 amino acids with a composition of 25.6% charged residues and is highly hydrophilic. TheNpap60gene appears to be conserved in mouse, rat, and human. Immunofluorescence studies with anti-NPAP60 fusion protein antibody show that the NPAP60 protein colocalizes with nuclear pore complexes in RAT1A cells. The expression ofNpap60is about 10–20 times higher in rat testis than in somatic tissues. The subcellular localization of NPAP60 protein changes dramatically during male germ cell differentiation, from nuclear pore complex-like staining in spermatocytes to whole nucleus staining in spermatids and finally to a nuclear surface staining in mature spermatozoa. These changes are temporally and spatially related to nuclear reorganization during male germ cell differentiation.