Ratiometric imaging of extracellular pH in Streptococcus mutans biofilms exposed to different flow velocities and saliva film thicknesses

ABSTRACTGenetic competence inStreptococcus mutansis a transient state that is regulated in response to multiple environmental inputs. These include extracellular pH and the concentrations of two secreted peptides, designated CSP (competence-stimulating peptide) and XIP (comX-inducing peptide). The role of environmental cues in regulating competence can be difficult to disentangle from the effects of the organism's physiological state and its chemical modification of its environment. We used microfluidics to control the extracellular environment and study the activation of the key competence genecomX. We find that thecomXpromoter (PcomX) responds to XIP or CSP only when the extracellular pH lies within a narrow window, about 1 pH unit wide, near pH 7. Within this pH range, CSP elicits a strong PcomXresponse from a subpopulation of cells, whereas outside this range the proportion of cells expressingcomXdeclines sharply. Likewise, PcomXis most sensitive to XIP only within a narrow pH window. While previous work suggested thatcomXmay become refractory to CSP or XIP stimulus as cells exit early exponential phase, our microfluidic data show that extracellular pH dominates in determining sensitivity to XIP and CSP. The data are most consistent with an effect of pH on the ComR/ComS system, which has direct control over transcription ofcomXinS. mutans.

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Cell Wall Ultrastructure in Three Strains of a Cariogenic Streptococcus

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100065730 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 338-339

Author(s):

M. J. Kramer ◽

Alan L. Coykendall

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Streptococcus Mutans ◽

Microscopic Study ◽

Electron Microscopic Study ◽

Genetic Heterogeneity ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Dna Reassociation ◽

Wall Ultrastructure

During the almost 50 years since Streptococcus mutans was first suggested as a factor in the etiology of dental caries, a multitude of studies have confirmed the cariogenic potential of this organism. Streptococci have been isolated from human and animal caries on numerous occasions and, with few exceptions, they are not typable by the Lancefield technique but are relatively homogeneous in their biochemical reactions. An analysis of the guanine-cytosine (G-C) composition of the DNA from strains K-1-R, NCTC 10449, and FA-1 by one of us (ALC) revealed significant differences and DNA-DNA reassociation experiments indicated that genetic heterogeneity existed among the three strains. The present electron microscopic study had as its objective the elucidation of any distinguishing morphological characteristics which might further characterize the respective strains.

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Patterns of Cerebral Blood Flow and Systemic Hemodynamics During Arithmetic Processing

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803.22.2.81 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 81-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Natalie Werner ◽

Neval Kapan ◽

Gustavo A. Reyes del Paso

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Time Course ◽

Doppler Sonography ◽

Transcranial Doppler Sonography ◽

Systemic Hemodynamics ◽

Heart Period ◽

Blood Flow Velocities ◽

Flow Velocities

The present study explored modulations in cerebral blood flow and systemic hemodynamics during the execution of a mental calculation task in 41 healthy subjects. Time course and lateralization of blood flow velocities in the medial cerebral arteries of both hemispheres were assessed using functional transcranial Doppler sonography. Indices of systemic hemodynamics were obtained using continuous blood pressure recordings. Doppler sonography revealed a biphasic left dominant rise in cerebral blood flow velocities during task execution. Systemic blood pressure increased, whereas heart period, heart period variability, and baroreflex sensitivity declined. Blood pressure and heart period proved predictive of the magnitude of the cerebral blood flow response, particularly of its initial component. Various physiological mechanisms may be assumed to be involved in cardiovascular adjustment to cognitive demands. While specific contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems may account for the observed pattern of systemic hemodynamics, flow metabolism coupling, fast neurogenic vasodilation, and cerebral autoregulation may be involved in mediating cerebral blood flow modulations. Furthermore, during conditions of high cardiovascular reactivity, systemic hemodynamic changes exert a marked influence on cerebral blood perfusion.

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The role of intracanal medicaments in inhibition of bacteria isolated from root canals of infected primary molars

Mustansiria Dental Journal ◽

10.32828/mdj.v14i1.766 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 92

Author(s):

Dr. Maha Abdul- Kareem Mahmood ◽

Dr. Huda Elias Ali ◽

Dr. Haraa Khairi Abdul-Kadher

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Streptococcus Mutans ◽

Normal Saline ◽

Root Canal ◽

Primary Teeth ◽

Primary Molars ◽

Root Canals ◽

Etiologic Agents ◽

Micro Organisms

Microbes are considered as the primary etiologic agents in endodontic diseases.Disinfection of the root canal is obtained by the combined effect of biomechanicalpreparation, irrigation and intra canal medicament. The aim of the present study wasto assess the antimicrobial activity of intracanal medicaments (formocresol andEndosepton) against two micro organisms (Streptococcus mutans and staphylococcusaureus) isolated from 15 necrotic pulps of primary molars indicated for pulpectomyprocedure. The samples were cultured, and purified using microbiological evaluation.Broth dilution test was performed in our study by preparing test tubes containing10 ml of BHI broth (pH. 7) which then inoculated with strains of the tested bacteriaand incubated at 37 C° for 24 h. After over night incubaction, ten fold dilution weremade in test tubes containing 9 ml of normal saline by adding 1 ml of the inoculum tothe first tube . Then from dilution 10-1 , 0.1 ml of cell suspension was added to 9.9 mlof formocresol and endosepton, then 0.1 ml was taken and spread on duplicates ofBHI agar plates at different intervals and incubated aerobically for 24 h. at 37 C°.Colonies on the plates were counted after incubation and CFU/mL (colony formingunit) was calculated. Our results indicating that there were no significant differencesbetween the intracanal medicaments, but there were high significant differencesbetween the intervals time of the study. We concluded that both materials had greatantibacterial effect against the pathogens commonly isolated from necrotic pulpaltissue of primary teeth.

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Investigation of the natural ventilation of wind catchers with different geometries in arid region houses

JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND SCIENCES ◽

10.15282/jmes.14.3.2020.12.0557 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 7109-7124

Author(s):

Nasreddine Sakhri ◽

Younes Menni ◽

Houari Ameur ◽

Ali J. Chamkha ◽

Noureddine Kaid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Natural Ventilation ◽

Reduction Rate ◽

Internal Flow ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Maximum Pressure ◽

Ventilation Technique ◽

Window Position ◽

The One ◽

Flow Velocities

The wind catcher or wind tower is a natural ventilation technique that has been employed in the Middle East region and still until nowadays. The present paper aims to study the effect of the one-sided position of a wind catcher device against the ventilated space or building geometry and its natural ventilation performance. Four models based on the traditional design of a one-sided wind catcher are studied and compared. The study is achieved under the climatic conditions of the South-west of Algeria (arid region). The obtained results showed that the front and Takhtabush’s models were able to create the maximum pressure difference (ΔP) between the windward and leeward of the tower-house system. Internal airflow velocities increased with the increase of wind speed in all studied models. For example, at Vwind = 2 m/s, the internal flow velocities were 1.7, 1.8, 1.3, and 2.5 m/s for model 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. However, at Vwind = 6 m/s, the internal flow velocities were 5.6, 5.5, 2.5, and 7 m/s for model 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The higher internal airflow velocities are given by Takhtabush, traditional, front and middle tower models, respectively, with a reduction rate between the tower outlet and occupied space by 72, 42, 36, and 33% for the middle tower, Takhtabush, traditional tower, and the front model tower, respectively. This reduction is due to the due to internal flow resistance. The third part of the study investigates the effect of window (exist opening) position on the opposite wall. The upper, middle and lower window positions are studied and compared. The air stagnation or recirculation zone inside the ventilated space reduced from 55% with the lower window to 46% for the middle window and reached 35% for the upper window position. The Front and Takhtabush models for the one-sided wind catcher with an upper window position are highly recommended for the wind-driven natural ventilation in residential houses that are located in arid regions.

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