Prevention of Vascular Graft Infection by Sisomicin Incorporated into Fibrin Glue

To examine the efficacy of sisomicin (SISO) incorporated into fibrin glue (FG) for the prevention of graft infection in animal models, the susceptibility to infection of Dacron grafts (control) and SISO-FG Dacron grafts following the inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus or S. epidermidis was compared. The results showed that SISO-FG Dacron grafts displayed resistance to graft infection.     

Recent advances in induced proximity modalities

Challenging disease targets necessitate new approaches for therapeutic intervention. Rewiring protein-biomolecule interactions with proximity-inducing agents extends intervention opportunities beyond target agonism or inhibition. Spanning varied molecular phenotypes and diverse target classes, proximity-inducing agents demonstrate immense potential across target degradation, cleavage, and post-translational editing. Here, we review a selection of exciting developments in the concepts and mechanisms of induced proximity-driven strategies from the last two years. Key technological advances that enable these discoveries and expand the scope of targets and machinery for induced-proximity modalities are highlighted.     

Selenium and zinc levels in volatile substance abusers

Plasma and erythrocyte levels of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) have not been investigated in volatile (inhalant) substance abusers previously, although changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes resulting from oxidative damage caused by various constituents of volatile substances have been shown in a few animal and human studies. Concentrations of these two elements in erythrocytes and plasma of 37 adolescents with inhalant abuse were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and compared with those of 37 age-matched healthy controls. Erythrocyte and plasma levels of Se and plasma level of Zn were significantly lower in the study group when compared to the control group. Chronic inhalation of volatile substances can decrease the plasma levels of Se and Zn and, thus, may lead to a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzyme systems in adolescent abusers. The role of Se and Zn supplementation in children with inhalant abuse remains to be determined considering the reduced antioxidant activity resulting from deficiency of these trace elements.     

An organic coating keeps orb‐weaving spiders (Araneae,Araneoidea, Araneidae) from sticking to their own capture threads

More than 95% of orb‐weaving spider species ensure prey capture success by producing viscous threads equipped with gluey droplets. However, this trap may bear serious risks for the web‐inhabiting spider as well. The obvious question, how a spider avoids getting stuck in its own capture spiral, has gained little scientific attention up till now. In 1905, the French naturalist Jean‐Henry Fabre concluded from anecdotal observation that orb‐weaving spiders protect themselves by a fatty surface coating. Here, we test this hypothesis by indirectly measuring the force necessary to detach an autotomized spider’s leg from the capture spiral of its own web (here called ‘index of adhesion’, IOA). Three groups of legs, each of the species Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757 and Larinioides sclopetarius (Clerck, 1757), were tested. One was left untreated, one was washed with distilled water (H₂O), and one was washed with the organic solvent carbon disulphide (CS₂). In both species, we found a weak IOA between the spider leg and the gluey capture spiral in untreated and water‐washed legs without significant differences between the two. The IOA approximately doubled, when spider legs had been washed with carbon disulphide prior to measurement, that is, the CS₂‐washed legs stuck significantly more strongly than the untreated and water‐washed legs. These results provide indirect evidence for a protective anti‐adhesive organic coating on the spider’s body surface and so support Fabre’s hypothesis.     

Flow‐mediated plasticity in the expression of stickleback nesting glue genes

Nest construction is an essential component of the reproductive behavior of many species, and attributes of nests – including their location and structure – have implications for both their functional capacity as incubators for developing offspring, and their attractiveness to potential mates. To maximize reproductive success, nests must therefore be suited to local environmental conditions. Male three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) build nests from collected materials and use an endogenous, glue‐like multimeric protein – “spiggin” – as an adhesive. Spiggin is encoded by a multigene family, and differential expression of spiggin genes potentially allows plasticity in nest construction in response to variable environments. Here, we show that the expression of spiggin genes is affected significantly by both the flow regime experienced by a fish and its nesting status. Further, we show the effects of flow on expression patterns are gene‐specific. Nest‐building fish exhibited consistently higher expression levels of the three genes under investigation (Spg‐a, Spg‐1, and Spg‐2) than non‐nesting controls, irrespective of rearing flow treatment. Fish reared under flowing‐water conditions showed significantly increased levels of spiggin gene expression compared to those reared in still water, but this effect was far stronger for Spg‐a than for Spg‐1 or Spg‐2. The strong effect of flowing water on Spg‐a expression, even among non‐nesters, suggests that the increased production of spiggin – or of spiggin rich in the component contributed by Spg‐a – may allow more rapid and/or effective nest construction under challenging high flow conditions.     

丛枝菌根真菌产球囊霉素研究进展

球囊霉素（Glomalin）是由丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）产生的一种含金属离子的糖蛋白,由于丛枝菌根真菌在自然和人工陆生生态系统中广泛分布,丛枝菌根真菌在生态系统中的生态学功能一直是菌根生物学研究中诱人的问题。自1996年球囊霉素被发现以来,球囊霉素在土壤生态系统中的生态学功能、生态学地位日益受到重视。本文对球囊霉素作为土壤主要有机源和超级胶的功能作了简介,综述了球囊霉素的研究现状,并对其研究前景作了展望。     

纤维蛋白胶-抗肿瘤药物缓释系统的临床应用进展

纤维蛋白胶作为药物缓释载体的研究已经引起各国研究人员的注意,其中纤维蛋白胶—抗肿瘤药物缓释系统的研究取得了较好的效果,倍受瞩目。本文对纤维蛋白胶—抗肿瘤药物缓释系统的临床应用进展进行了总结。     

Potential microbiological hazards in the production of refined paper products for food applications

This study sought to investigate the significance of raw materials (starch-based glues, raw material papers) at different microbiologically critical stages in the manufacturing process of refined paper products. The study examined the occurrence of microorganisms in the process and in end-product samples. Microbiological surveys verified that the production and use of pasteurized starch-based glue was the most important factor threatening the process hygiene and product safety. Subsequently, the production and use of starch-based glue was changed, and a follow-up programme targeting the microbiological quality of glue was developed as part of a hygiene and safety management system. A total of 33 spore-forming bacterial and 15 enterobacterial isolates were ribotyped, and 22 and 10 different ribogroups (ribotypes), respectively, were generated. These isolates from starch-based glue, raw material paper and end products were atypical and, thus, in many cases physiological, chemotaxonomic (FAME) and molecular (partial 16S rDNA) results did not correspond. The most common spore-forming bacteria (55% of the isolates) were Paenibacillus sp. and within this genus several new species were also proposed. The most common enterobacteria (87%) were Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii belonging to bacteria in hazard group 2, or species closely related to them. It was demonstrated that the same spore-forming bacteria (ribotypes) were present in both the glue samples and the end products (45% of isolates). All RiboPrint patterns were saved at the VTT identification library for future use.     

Lead discovery and chemical biology approaches targeting the ubiquitin proteasome system

Protein degradation is critical for proteostasis, and the addition of polyubiquitin chains to a substrate is necessary for its recognition by the 26S proteasome. Therapeutic intervention in the ubiquitin proteasome system has implications ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration. Novel screening methods and chemical biology tools for targeting E1-activating, E2-conjugating and deubiquitinating enzymes will be discussed in this review. Approaches for targeting E3 ligase-substrate interactions as well as the proteasome will also be covered, with a focus on recently described approaches.     

Optimizing Radio Retention and Minimizing Radio Impacts in a Field Study of Upland Sandpipers

Abstract: Two challenges in wildlife telemetry are optimizing the duration of transmitter attachment and minimizing the impacts of radios on the behavior and demography of the study animal. We tested 4 methods of radio attachment for a breeding population of upland sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda) under natural conditions at a tallgrass prairie site in Kansas, USA. To estimate radio retention and weekly survival rates, we used the nest survival model of Program MARK. Radio retention was lowest at the start and the end of the breeding period. The expected duration of radio retention was 1.8 years for a leg-loop harness, 40 days for radios glued to clipped feathers, 26 days for radios glued directly to feathers, and 7 days for radios glued to bare skin. Few radiomarked birds died during our study, but 4 of 8 mortality events were discovered within one week of radiomarking. Both glue and harnesses increased predation risk immediately after radio attachment. The weekly probability of survival was high after a 1-week acclimation period, and the expected survival for a 10-week breeding period was similar in males and females. Attachment of radios with glue had no effect on annual return rates. However, attachment of radios with leg harnesses resulted in lower return rates among radiomarked birds than birds without radios. Radios attached with glue were shed in <1 year but radios attached with harnesses were retained for up to 1-2 years. Our results indicate a tradeoff between optimizing radio retention and minimizing impacts on demography. Glue techniques had retention rates that were suitable for only short-term studies, but attachment with glue had no long-term effect on annual return rates. Leg harnesses provided effective radio retention that had little effect on survival rates during the stationary breeding period, but resulted in lower annual return rates. Robust estimates of radio retention and survival will assist researchers in selecting attachment techniques that best meet the study goals of future telemetry projects.