In Vitro Anti-Biofilm Activity of Hydrogen-Peroxide Generating Electrochemical Bandage Against Yeast Biofilms

Wound infections are caused by bacteria and/or fungi. The presence of fungal biofilms in wound beds presents a unique challenge, as fungal biofilms may be difficult to eradicate. The goal of this work was to assess the in vitro anti-biofilm activity of a H 2 O 2 -producing electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) against 15 yeast isolates representing commonly-encountered species. Time-dependent decreases in viable biofilm CFU counts of all isolates tested were observed, resulting in no visible colonies with 48 hours of exposure by plate culture. Fluorescence microscopic analysis showed extensive cell membrane damage of biofilm cells after e-bandage treatment. Reductions in intracellular ATP levels of yeast biofilm cells were recorded post e-bandage treatment. Our results suggest that exposure to H 2 O 2 -producing e-bandages reduce in vitro viable cell counts of yeast biofilms, making this a potential new topical treatment approach for fungal wound infections.

Perturbing the Normal Level of SIDT1 Suppresses the Naked ASO Effect

Although antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics can be taken up by living cells without carrier molecules, a large part of incorporated ASOs are trapped in the endosomes and do not exert therapeutic effects. To improve their therapeutic effects, it would be important to elucidate the mechanism of cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of ASOs. In this study, we investigated how SIDT1 affects cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of ASOs. Fluorescence microscopic analysis suggested that most of naked ASOs are trafficked to the lysosomes via the endosomes. The data obtained from flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy together showed that although the SIDT1 level barely affects the total cellular uptake of ASOs, it appears to affect the intracellular trafficking of ASOs. We also showed that SIDT1 exists mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum and that perturbing the normal level of SIDT1 suppresses the antisense effect of the naked ASO targeting miR-16.

Selenite-induced Expression of a Caenorhabditis elegans Pro-aging Factor and Ortholog of Human Selenium-binding Protein 1

Background: The essential trace element and micronutrient selenium exerts most of its biological actions through incorporation into selenoproteins as selenocysteine. Two further types of Se-containing proteins exist, including those that have selenomethionine incorporated instead of methionine, and the group of selenium-binding proteins. We previously described an ortholog of selenium-binding protein 1 (SELENBP1) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, Y37A1B.5, and demonstrated that it confers resistance to toxic selenite concentrations while impairing general stress resistance and life expectancy of C. elegans. Objective: We tested for the effect of selenite on Y37A1B.5 expression, and we analyzed whether Y37A1B.5 also shows a lifespan-modulating effect when the nematodes are deficient in the selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase-1 (TRXR-1). Methods: C. elegans expressing a translational reporter construct encoding GFP-tagged Y37A1B.5 under the control of the Y37A1B.5 promoter were exposed to selenite, followed by fluorescence microscopic analysis of GFP levels. Lifespan analyses and RNA interference experiments were performed in trxr-1-deficient worms. Results: We here demonstrate that selenite at toxic concentrations stimulates the expression of the translational Y37A1B.5 reporter. The lifespan-extending effect of Y37A1B.5 deficiency was preserved upon the deletion of the only selenoprotein in C. elegans, TRXR-1. Conclusion: These data suggest that (1) Y37A1B.5 may serve as a selenite-responsive buffer against high environmental selenium concentrations and that (2) lifespan extension elicited by Y37A1B.5 knockdown does not require functional TRXR-1.

Improved methane yield from wastewater grown algal biomass

Methane production from the algal biomass cultivated in a laboratory scale continuous photobioreactor (PBR) using sewage was evaluated in the present work. During the preliminary experiments, algal biomass reached up to 1.69 ± 0.35 g L–1 in 12 days' growth period. Besides, 65 to 100% removal in concentrations of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), nitrate nitrogen (NO3–N), total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) was also recorded. The sCOD removal in the reactor was 100%, whereas removal of TDP, NO3–N and TAN were up to 75, 40 and 92%, respectively. Upon anaerobic digestion, the fresh algal biomass showed methane yield of 180 mL g–1 VSfed. Further, algal biomass was stored under natural conditions in open containers (aerobic conditions) in darkness at room temperature (27–30 °C) for 72 h. Interestingly, >48% COD solubilization from algal biomass was observed during storage. Pretreatment through natural storage was further confirmed with qualitative observations including scanning electron and fluorescence microscopic analysis. Moreover, higher methane yield (284.38 mL g–1 VSfed) was observed from the samples stored for 60 h. Thus, natural storage for a designated period may be recommended as a prerequisite stage in the process of methane production from wastewater-grown algal biomass.

The Current Using Situation of SBS Modified Asphalt in China and a New Method of Monitoring SBS Modifier Dosage

The relationship between the SBS modifier types and asphalt components on the effect of modified asphalt properties was discussed in this paper. Higher block ratio, higher molecular weight and star-like structure of SBS can improve modified asphalt high temperature properties. Colloid content decrease leading the processing easier, result stability decline. Our research group invented a chemical titration combined with fluorescence microscopic analysis detection method monitoring SBS modifier dosage. This method applied in highway construction site, the effect is significant.

Mcp4, a Meiotic Coiled-Coil Protein, Plays a Role in F-Actin Positioning during Schizosaccharomyces pombe Meiosis

ABSTRACT Some meiosis-specific proteins of Schizosaccharomyces pombe harbor coiled-coil motifs and play essential roles in meiotic progression. Here we describe Mcp4, a novel meiosis-specific protein whose expression is abruptly induced at the horsetail phase and which remains expressed until sporulation is finished. Fluorescence microscopic analysis revealed that Mcp4 alters its subcellular localization during meiosis in a manner that partially resembles the movement of F-actin during meiosis. Mcp4 and F-actin never colocalize; rather, they are located in a side-by-side manner. When forespore membrane formation begins at metaphase II, the Mcp4 signals assemble at the lagging face of the dividing nuclei. At this stage, they are sandwiched between F-actin and the nucleus. Mcp4, in turn, appears to sandwich F-actin with Meu14. In mcp4Δ cells at anaphase II, the F-actin, which is normally dumbbell-shaped, adopts an abnormal balloon shape. Spores of mcp4Δ cells were sensitive to NaCl, although their shape and viability were normal. Taken together, we conclude that Mcp4 plays a role in the accurate positioning of F-actin during S. pombe meiosis.