Chemerin-Derived Peptide Val66-Pro85 Is Effective in Limiting Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus Skin Infection

Chemerin-derived peptide Val66-Pro85 (p4) restricts the growth of a variety of skin-associated bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To better understand the antimicrobial potential of chemerin peptide, we compared p4 activity against MRSA in vitro to cathelicidin LL-37, one of the key endogenous peptides implicated in controlling the growth of S. aureus. The efficacy of p4 was also validated in relevant experimental models of skin pathology, such as topical skin infection with community-acquired MRSA, and in the context of skin inflammatory diseases commonly associated with colonization with S. aureus, such as atopic dermatitis (AD). We showed that p4 collaborates additively with LL-37 in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus, including MRSA, and that p4 was effective in vivo in reducing MRSA burden. p4 was also effective in reducing levels of skin-infiltrating leukocytes in S. aureus-infected AD-like skin. Taken together, our data suggest that p4 is effective in limiting S. aureus and, in particular, MRSA skin infection.

Latilactobacillus curvatus: A Candidate Probiotic with Excellent Fermentation Properties and Health Benefits

Latilactobacillus curvatus is a candidate probiotic that has been included in the list of recommended biological agents for certification by the European Food Safety Authority. According to the published genomic information, L. curvatus has several genes that encode metabolic pathways of carbohydrate utilization. In addition, there are some differences in cell surface complex related genes of L. curvatus from different sources. L. curvatus also has several genes that encode bacteriocin production, which can produce Curvacin A and Sakacin P. Due to its ability to produce bacteriocin, it is often used as a bioprotective agent in fermented meat products, to inhibit the growth of a variety of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. L. curvatus exerts some probiotic effects, such as mediating the production of IL-10 by dendritic cells through NF-κB and extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signals to relieve colitis in mice. This review is the first summary of the genomic and biological characteristics of L. curvatus. Our knowledge on its role in the food industry and human health is also discussed, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the development of applications of L. curvatus.

PENGEMBANGAN GERAKAN GO GREEN DI SEKOLAH DALAM MENINGKATKAN NASIONALISME (Studi Di SMP Negeri 2 Dawuan Kabupaten Subang)

Environmental problem sarieas a result of human activity itself, from time to time a threat to Increasing environmental damage. Society has not shown aware nessin maintaining and managing the real environment.Many various illegal logging, exploitation of natural resources, littering, waste management out of control, are the kinds of actions that pollute and damage the environment. Looking at this, it is important and urgent agenda to do is build a culture of Go Green in every spheres of life. Forthat purpose, the schoolas an educational institution, can bein seminated and rooting media values- based culture of clean living environment that is useful for individuasl and public life learners. Schools must develop order and social-pedagogical culture that is conducive to the growth of a variety of personal qualities loving environment. The findings of this study are: (1) the behavior of learners in the development of the Go Green movement can boost nationalism, (2) the existence of barriers and obstacles in the development and implementation of the Go Green at the school, (3) Go Green movement prospects to the school, community and environment. The study recommends to stakeholders SMPN 2 Dawuan Subang to reinforce the perception of the Go Green movement, and the creation of school cultures that manifest Go Green environmentally friendly school with discipline frame so that learner sincreased nationalism.

Monitoring of Pesticides Level in Agricultural Soils using Validated Method

Agricultural soil serves as a natural medium for the growth of a variety of edible crops and vegetables. Likewise, systematic assessment of agricultural soil becomes mandatory as it reflects direct linkage with the food chain and health of living beings. In the past few decades, it has been detected with the presence of various environmental contaminants being heavy metals and pesticides. The current research focuses on the investigation of different pesticides viz., organophosphorous (OPPs) and organochlorine (OCs) in agricultural soils of Amritsar (India) using gas chromatograph. All soil samples (except south zone) were found to be contaminated with one or the other pesticide. The linearity was observed over the range from 0.1 to 1.0 mg L-1 for all pesticides. The coefficient of determination (r2) was observed in the range of 0.916 to 0.999. The LODs, based on signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3, ranged from 0.003 to 0.009 mg L-1. The precision of the proposed method was presented and accepted with an RSD greater than 20%. This report pertains to the presence of alarming concentrations of pesticides in soils of Amritsar (India).

Nematode infections

In addition to the conditions discussed in other chapters in this section, renal involvement has been described in patients with other infections. These infections are usually encountered in the developing countries, especially of the tropical zone. The tropical environment is conducive to growth of a variety of life forms including infection-causing microorganisms and vectors responsible for disease transmission. Some renal pathology is related to immune responses to the organisms, and false-positive results in some tests of immunity/ autoimmunity may also be seen.Varieties include lymphatic filariasis, subcutaneous filariasis (including onchocerciasis), and serous filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis can cause milky urine with high levels of (non-glomerular) proteinuria. Four of the 8 nematode pathogenic species have been associated with glomerular disease.

Ethnobotany of Bamboo in Sangirese, North Celebes

<p>Advances in technology have encouraged the growth of a variety of biodiversity processing methods. These conditions encourage efforts to use natural resources more broadly. Ethnobotany can be used to document the local knowledge of the plants and their utilization. This study is aimed to describe the various forms of bamboo utilization by Sangirese. The method used was survey with purposive sampling. The data were analyzed descriptively based on exploration results and interviews with the people. The results showed there were 11 species of bamboo that are directly related to the life of local community in Sangirese, consisting of seven species of <em>Bambusa</em>, three species of <em>Schizostachyum</em>, and each one species of <em>Dendrocalamus </em>and <em>Gigantochloa</em>. Local community use bamboo for a variety of daily necessities; as building materials, handicraft, furniture, ceremonies, musical instruments, transportation, medicine, ornamental plants, as well as food. These exploration results are expected to complement the data of bamboo ethnobotany in Indonesia. Applicatively, this research is expected to be a reference in the national strategy of bamboo germplasm resource conservation.</p>

Transnational Culture in East Asia and the Logic of Assemblage

This essay examines the growth of transnational culture in East Asia, drawing heavily on the example of Chinese cinema. It notes the growth of a variety of transborder-based Chinese cinema cultures, ranging from blockbuster productions to independent documentary culture, and argues that similar phenomena can be found in other parts of East Asia and with other arts and media. Until now, the tendency has been to tag such phenomena as “transnational” without further elaboration. This essay argues that the time has come for a more rigorous interrogation of the transnational. It argues that the transnational order should be distinguished from both the earlier international order of nation-states and from the ideology of globalisation. Further, it argues that the cultural formations that grow under the logic of transnational and flexible production operate not as part of a stable national system but according to the contingent and fluid logic of assemblage.

Ten-year variations in population structure of pink-shrimp in a southwestern Atlantic Bay affected by highway construction

OBJECTIVES: Population structures of Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and F. paulensis, consisting mainly of juveniles, were evaluated during the construction of an expressway along a mangrove area. Estuarine regions in southern Brazil function as sites for reproduction, nursery and growth of a variety of organisms, including two of the most important species of shrimp for fisheries in the southwestern Atlantic. Shrimps were collected in Saco dos Limões creek, Baía-Sul, Florianópolis, State of Santa Catarina, four times a year, by day and night, between 1997 and 2006. Fluctuations in the abundances of shrimp appear to be related to their life cycles, with largest abundances in Summer and Spring, rather than to impacts promoted by dredging activities during the expressway construction.

Larvicidal toxins fromBacillusthuringiensissubspp.kurstaki,morrisoni(straintenebrionis), andisraelensishave no microbicidal or microbiostatic activity against selected bacteria, fungi, and algae in vitro

The insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis subspp. kurstaki (antilepidopteran), morrisoni strain tenebrionis (anticoleopteran), and israelensis (antidipteran) did not affect the growth of a variety of bacteria (8 gram-negative, 5 gram-positive, and a cyanobacterium), fungi (2 Zygomycetes, 1 Ascomycete, 2 Deuteromycetes, and 2 yeasts), and algae (primarily green and diatoms) in pure and mixed culture, as determined by dilution, disk-diffusion, and sporulation assays with purified free and clay-bound toxins. The insecticidal crystal proteins from B. thuringiensis subspp. kurstaki and israelensis had no antibiotic effect on various gram-positive bacteria.Key words: insecticidal toxins, Bacillus thuringiensis, microbiostatic, microbicidal.