Staphylococcus aureus Responds to Physiologically Relevant Temperature Changes by Altering Its Global Transcript and Protein Profile

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that colonizes the anterior nares of 30 to 50% of the population. Colonization is most often asymptomatic; however, self-inoculation can give rise to potentially fatal infections of the deeper tissues and blood. Like all bacteria, S. aureus can sense and respond to environmental cues and modify gene expression to adapt to specific environmental conditions. The transition of S. aureus from the nares to the deeper tissues and blood is accompanied by changes in environmental conditions, such as nutrient availability, pH, and temperature. In this study, we perform transcriptomics and proteomics on S. aureus cultures growing at three physiologically relevant temperatures, 34°C (nares), 37°C (body), and 40°C (pyrexia), to determine if small scale, biologically meaningful alterations in temperature impact S. aureus gene expression. Results show that small but definite temperature changes elicit a large-scale restructuring of the S. aureus transcriptome and proteome in a manner that, most often, inversely correlates with increasing temperature. We also provide evidence that a large majority of these changes are modulated at the posttranscriptional level, possibly by sRNA regulatory elements. Phenotypic analyses were also performed to demonstrate that these changes have physiological relevance. Finally, we investigate the impact of temperature-dependent alterations in gene expression on S. aureus pathogenesis and demonstrate decreased intracellular invasion of S. aureus grown at 34°C. Collectively, our results demonstrate that small but biologically meaningful alterations in temperature influence S. aureus gene expression, a process that is likely a major contributor to the transition from a commensal to pathogen. IMPORTANCE Enteric bacterial pathogens, like Escherichia coli, are known to experience large temperature differences as they are transmitted through the fecal oral route. This change in temperature has been demonstrated to influence bacterial gene expression and facilitate infection. Staphylococcus aureus is a human-associated pathogen that can live as a commensal on the skin and nares or cause invasive infections of the deeper tissues and blood. Factors influencing S. aureus nasal colonization are not fully understood; however, individuals colonized with S. aureus are at increased risk of invasive infections through self-inoculation. The transition of S. aureus from the nose (colonization) to the body (infection) is accompanied by a modest but definite temperature increase, from 34°C to 37°C. In this study, we investigate whether these host-associated small temperature changes can influence S. aureus gene expression. Results show widespread changes in the bacterial transcriptome and proteome at three physiologically relevant temperatures (34°C, 37°C, and 40°C).

Change of the cadmium, lead and uranium content in the soil pore water depending on the temperature in conditions of low soil moisture

Effect of the soil temperature on concentration and total reserve of cadmium, lead and uranium in the interstitial (pore) water of (0–20)-cm samples of sod-podzolic soil with moisture content of 60 % of the water capacity (WC) after their keeping at the definite temperature (in the range of 14–40 °С) was established. It was found that character and extent to which temperature effects on concentration and total reserve of every heavy metal (Cd, Pb, U) in the soil pore solution depended on the chemical nature of heavy metal and peculiarities of soil. In the temperature range of 14–40 °С and moisture content in the soil samples 60 % of the WC, portions of the cadmium, lead and uranium in the soil pore solution decreased in the following way: aCd (0.2–0.4 %) > aPb (0.06–0.07 %) > aU (0.03–0.04 %). The concentrations and total reserves of cadmium, lead and uranium in the soil pore solution increased with lowering the temperature and it was especially true in regard to cadmium. The 5 °С temperature decrease in the range of 14–40 °С caused the content of cadmium in the soil pore solution to increase an average of 25 %, lead – 5.2 and U – 4.6 %. The iron content in the soil solution also increased with decreasing temperature, which indicated a decrease in the sorption capacity of iron hydroxides present in the soil, which probably played a prominent role in fixing cadmium, lead and uranium in the soil studied.

The Contribution of Degenerate Electron Pressure to The Stability of The Outer Region of Thin Keplerian Accretion Disks Around a Neutron Star

The stability analysis of a geometrically thin, gas-pressure dominated accretion disk around a neutron star is presented. In purely radial perturbation case, thin disk is stable to thermal modes. The stability is analyzed at a small temperature, that is temperature approaching zero and at definite temperature. The contribution of both fully and partially degenerate electrons pressure for the stability of the disk in its outer region is investigated. We find that the disk is stable in this region, where the gas pressure is more dominant than radiation pressure.

MHD Device for Transportation, Dosing and Heating Molten Metals

In the process of aluminum alloys production liquid melts are often required to load from one mould to another or to heat them to the definite temperature. For these purpose MHD-molds or MHD-pumps are commonly used. During the operation of such pumps the inside channels are often clogged with oxides. The paper presents the MHD-device consisting of MHD pressure pump with MHD stirrer used for transportation, dosage and heating aluminum alloys.

Research on Quartz Flat Mirror’s Thermal Deformation under the Condition of Non Uniform Heating

The optical system used in aerospace works under a very difficult aerospace condition. The temperature difference between the sides which one is facing the sun and the other one is opposite the sun can reach about 200°C. These temperature grids can bring thermal deformation to the optical components and then influence the whole system’s image or detect results. To measure and analysis the deformation, we first use finite element method to establish a heat exchange model with definite temperature boundary condition to simulate the thermal distribution situation of an optical mirror, and then we establish a laboratory experimental environment and use the thermal imager to measure the temperature distribution on the surface of the mirror and use Zygo GPI XP-D/1000 interferometer to measure the thermal deformation, from the experimental results, we can see that the definite temperature boundary condition is good enough. And the definite flow boundary condition is not necessary under this non uniform heating situation. Key Words: thermal deformation, finite element model, non uniform heating

Influence of Doping on the Antibacterial Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles

TiO2 nanoparticles doped with V, Mn or Zn, respectively, were synthesized from pure TiO2 and dopants calcinating at definite temperature. The physical properties of prepared TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, XRD and UV-vis spectrum. The TEM images showed that the diameters of the particles were 20~50 nm. There was no peak of doping elements in the XRD spectrum of nano-sized TiO2 doped, but the peak of a little amount of rutile was observed, which demonstrated that V, Mn and Zn might locate in the TiO2 octahedral lattice, or might be highly dispersed within crystalline of TiO2. In the meanwhile, doping of the TiO2 decreased the temperature for TiO2 transforming from anatase into rutile, and promoted the transforming. It was found that a little amount of V5+ may take the place of Ti4+ in the lattice of TiO2. The red-shift was clearly observed in the UV-vis spectrum of TiO2 nanopowders doped with V. As a result, the band gap was changed and the TiO2 nanopowders doped with V enable to absorb visible light. The red-shift could be assigned to the charge transfer transition between the 3d orbital of V5+ and the TiO2 conduction or valance band. The red-shift was not observed in the UV-vis spectrum of TiO2 nanopowders doped with Mn and with Zn, the shape of which was similar to that of pure TiO2. The results of the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus showed that vanadium ions doping intensely improved the antibacterial efficiency of nanocrystallites. This was attributed to the change of surface properties of metal ions doped semiconductor, such as O vacancies, Ti interstitial ions and vanadium ions which took the place of titanium.

Gametogenesis and spawning in the subtidal white clam Spisula solida, in relation to temperature

Seasonal variations in reproductive cycle of Spisula solida were studied between June 1995 and June 1996 at a site off Vilamoura, southern Portugal. Sex ratio was found to be in favour of males. Both males and females showed a synchronism in gonadal development and spawning. Gametogenic activity started with decreasing temperature at the beginning of autumn. The onset of spawning took place in February when the seawater temperature began to increase. Spawning ended in May. It is possible that the white clam does not spawn at a definite temperature, rather responding to the increase in seawater temperature. Between June and September, the specimens were found to be in the resting stage and the condition index increased, probably due to the accumulation of reserves. Spisula solida reached maturity during the first year of life.

Positive definite temperature functions and a correspondence to positive temperature functions

SynopsisPositive definite temperature functionsu(x, t) in ℝn+1= {(x, t)|x∈ ℝn,t> 0} are characterised bywhere μ is a positive measure satisfying that for every ℰ > 0,is finite. A transformis introduced to give an isomorphism between the class ofall positive definite temperature functions and the class of all possible temperature functions inThen correspondence given bygeneralises the Bochner–Schwartz Theorem for the Schwartz distributions and extends Widder's correspondence characterising some subclass of the positive temperature functions by the Fourier-Stieltjes transform.

The biology of false wireworms and their adults (soil-inhabiting Tenebrionidae) (Coleoptera): a review

Soil-dwelling tenebrionid larvae have developed in three evolutionary lines and are pests in all faunal regions. Description of and keys to most of the important species are available. However, revisional studies, on both adult and larval characters, are needed in many groups. The basic number of non-sex chromosomes appears to be 18, but the number and type of sex chromosomes are variable. Host ranges of both larvae and adults are usually extensive but usually only include plants. Development rates are related mainly to temperature, with life-cycles of one, two or three years. Larval development periods are rather long, and adults are long-lived. The number of instars is high, often above ten and frequently variable within a species. Sampling is best carried out by direct counts and pitfall trapping. In the species studied, mating follows a regular pattern and pheromones are involved. Species show definite temperature, moisture and soil-type preferences and these influence both spatial and temporal distribution. Recorded parasitoids include Diptera (mainly tachinids), Hymenoptera, mites, bacteria and fungi. Birds, carabids and a variety of other vertebrates are the main predators, but abdominal secretions and postural mechanisms provide some defence. Cultural control was formerly widely practised but has given way to chemical control.