bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transforming growth factor‐β1 elicits Nrf2‐mediated antioxidant responses in aortic smooth muscle cells
Authors: Churchman Adrian T. , Anwar Anila A. , Li Francois Y.L. , Sato Hideyo , Ishii Tetsuro , Mann Giovanni E. , Siow Richard C.M. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe anti‐inflammatory properties of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) account for its protection against atherosclerotic plaque rupture. This study investigates whether activation of the Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2 [NF‐E2]‐related factor 2) transcription pathway is involved in TGF‐β1 mediated induction of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) in smooth muscle cells (SMC). Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMC) or wild‐type and Nrf2‐deficient mouse (MAoSMC) aortic SMC were treated with TGF‐β1 (2.5–10 ng/ml, 0–24 hrs). We report the first evidence that TGF‐β1 induces Nrf2 mediated HO‐1 expression and antioxidant response element activity, which was paralleled by enhanced superoxide production and expression of the NAD(P)H oxidase subunit p22phox. TGF‐β1 failed to induce HO‐1 expression in MAoSMC derived from Nrf2‐deficient mice, and HO‐1 induction by TGF‐β1 in HAoSMC was attenuated by inhibition of extracellular signal regulated kinase or c‐jun‐N‐terminal kinase but not p38 mitogen activated protein kinase. Inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase or scavenging of superoxide diminished HO‐1 induction in response to TGF‐β1. The oxidative stress agents glucose oxidase (GOx) and diethylmaleate enhanced TGF‐β1 generation and HO‐1 expression in HAoSMC, while antagonism of TGF‐β1 signalling by adenoviral Smad7 overexpression attenuated their induction of HO‐1. Pre‐treatment of HAoSMC with TGF‐β1 reduced nuclear translocation of the pro‐apoptotic mediator p53 elicited by GOx. Our findings demonstrate that Nrf2 is a new target of TGF‐β1 signalling in the vasculature which may contribute to the atheroprotective properties attributed to this growth factor.
Surviving hypoxia by modulation of mRNA translation rate
Authors: Fähling Michael 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Oxygen in eukaryotic metabolism
Oxygen consumption of tissues and processes
Metabolic rate depression
mRNA translation in hypoxia: the down and up and down
Regulation of global mRNA translation in hypoxia
Regulation of specific mRNA translation in hypoxia
Can an alteration of the translational machinery cause a specific change in gene expression?

Cells can survive hypoxia/anoxia by metabolic rate depression, which involves lowering of mRNA translation rates in an ATP‐dependent manner. By activating anaerobic ATP production (glycolysis), the inhibitory influence on mRNA translation in hypoxia can be abolished. In severe hypoxia, glycolysis cannot fully restore the ATP demand, thus causing a long‐lasting inhibition of global protein synthesis. During moderate hypoxia, fermentative ATP production may maintain normal ATP levels. However, an activation of hypoxia tolerance mechanisms, including specific mRNA translation, also takes place. The latter may be attributed to oxygen‐dependent (but not ATP dependent) processes such as the activation of the hypoxia‐inducible factor cascade. In summary, hypoxia‐induced decline in cellular ATP level can be counteracted by suppression of global mRNA translation rate. Sustained protein synthesis seems to be attributed to the activation of specific mRNA translation under long‐term hypoxic conditions.
Development of HIF‐1 inhibitors for cancer therapy
Authors: Onnis Barbara , Rapisarda Annamaria , Melillo Giovanni 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Introduction
Mechanisms of action of action of HIF‐1 inhibitors
Conclusions

Intratumour hypoxia has long been considered a driving force of tumour progression and a negative prognostic factor in human cancers. The discovery of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), which mediate transcriptional responses to changes in oxygen levels, has renewed enthusiasm for the discovery and development of targeted therapies exploiting the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. In spite of an ever increasing number of putative small molecule inhibitors of HIF, only few progress through pre‐clinical and early clinical development. In this review, we will focus primarily on: (1) HIF inhibitors that have been more recently described and (2) small molecules targeting HIF that are being tested in early clinical trials or that are already approved for use in patients. A rigorous ‘validation’ of HIF targeted therapies in relevant pre‐clinical models and eventually in pharmacodynamic‐based early clinical trials is essential for ‘credentialing’ HIF‐1 as a legitimate target that can be pharmacologically modulated in cancer patients.
The influence of a probiotic milk drink on the development of gingivitis: a pilot study
Authors: Staab Benedict , Eick Sigrun , Knöfler Gerhild , Jentsch Holger 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a probiotic milk drink on gingival health and the development of experimental gingivitis.Material and Methods: Fifty volunteer students took part in a parallel‐designed non‐blinded study. The test group drank a probiotic drink once a day; the control group did not receive any product to drink. After 8 weeks, individual mechanical plaque control was interrupted for 96 h. Papilla bleeding index, interproximal plaque and Turesky plaque index (PI) were recorded at baseline, after 8 weeks and again 96 h later. At the same time points, gingival crevicular fluid had been collected for analysis of polymorphonuclear elastase, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and matrix metalloproteinase‐3 (MMP‐3).Results: Interproximal PI and papillary bleeding were not different between the groups. In the test group, elastase activity and MMP‐3 amount were significantly lower after the intake of the probiotic milk drink (p<0.001 and 0.016). There was a significant increase of MPO activity in the control group; both groups were different at the end of the study (p=0.014).Conclusions: The data suggest a beneficial effect of the probiotic milk drink on gingival inflammation.
n‐3 Fatty acid supplementation in burned paediatric patients
Authors: Marín MC , Osimani NE , Rey GE , De Alaniz MJT 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAim:  To determine the effect of dietary supplementation with n‐3 fatty acids (FA) in paediatric burned patients who had less than 20% of total body surface affected.Methods:  Burned patients were randomly assigned into two groups, one of them received a supplement of n‐3 FA during 5 weeks; the other group was considered as not n‐3 supplemented burned group. A third group of no burned patients was selected as control. Blood samples were collected at admission and in burned groups at the final of the study. Plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid FA composition and some biochemical parameters related to the clinical evolution: total plasma proteins and C3 and C4 complement proteins were determined.Results:  In the early post‐burn patients, there is an increase in saturated and monounsaturated FAs in plasma phospholipids, and a decrease in polyunsaturated FAs compared with control. These alterations are in favour of proinflammatory response to burn injury. In n‐3 FA supplemented group, these changes were further reverted, and a favourable response in the amount of total plasma proteins and in C3 and C4 proteins of the complement system was demonstrated.Conclusion:  Dietary n‐3 FA supplementation might be beneficial for patients suffering thermal injury.
Sharing the mind of Christ: preliminary thoughts on dementia and the Cross
Authors: Kevern Peter 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe increasing prevalence of forms of dementia poses some profound challenges, not least to our Christology and soteriology. In particular, it exposes the degree to which faith, grace and salvation are all still linked to the concept of the self-conscious individual, and how this approach limits the range of possible theological responses to dementia. In this paper, the author argues that a theological response in depth requires us to consider the possibility of saying that Christ ‘demented’ on the Cross. Some implications of making such an assertion are explored, both for Christology in general and for the ways Christ may be spoken of as ‘present to’ those with dementia.
Debt investment as a tool for value transfer in biodiversity conservation
Authors: Mandel James T. , Donlan C. Josh , Wilcox Chris , Cudney‐Bueno Richard , Pascoe Sean , Tulchin Drew 
Published: August 2009

AbstractA central challenge in conservation is to create value effectively around local resources that will lead to better environmental stewardship. Historically, conservationists have either used indirect approaches, such as the promotion of alternate industries like eco‐tourism, or more recently direct approaches, such as land purchases and cash payments. While direct payment programs, through conservation incentive agreements and regular payments for ecosystem preservation, are being trialed in low‐income nations, the lack of enforceable property rights and contractual laws can present challenges when trying to influence conservation outcomes in local communities. We suggest an alternative approach—debt‐based investment—that capitalizes environmental assets locally and makes that capital available to local communities through collateralized lending, microfinance approaches, and access to affordable financial services. Tying the value of capital in a conservation lending trust to the global value for intact environmental resources will create incentives for local environmental stewardship while providing economic access to what is often a poor community's most valuable asset—intact natural resources.
Response of methanogenic archaeal community to nitrate addition in rice field soil
Authors: Yuan Quan , Lu Yahai 
Published: August 2009

SummaryAddition of nitrate strongly inhibits CH4 production from anoxic soil. The main mechanisms were considered to be the substrate competition and the toxic effect of denitrification intermediates on the methanogenesis. However, it is unclear whether these inhibitory effects are reflected in the structure and dynamics of methanogenic community in the soil. In the present study, the response of methanogenic archaeal community to nitrate addition was determined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms in combination with cloning and sequencing of archaeal 16S rRNA genes. When nitrate was added at the beginning of an anoxic incubation of rice field soil, denitrification occurred rapidly and the denitrification intermediates were detected only for a short time. Total production of CH4 was reduced, but no obvious effect on the structure of methanogenic community was observed. In contrast, when nitrate was added 20 days after the anoxic incubation, the denitrification intermediates obviously accumulated. CH4 production was completely suppressed for 7 and 16 days from treatments of 5 and 10 mM nitrate respectively. The dynamics of methanogenic community also diverged greatly from the control. While the hydrogenotrophic methanogens increased and the acetoclastic methanogens decreased with the incubation in the control soil, the structure and abundance of the methanogenic community remained unchanged after the addition of nitrate. Methanogenesis resumed when the denitrification intermediates were depleted in soil. The analysis of carbon isotopic signals revealed that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis recovered faster than acetoclastic methanogenesis. Our study suggests that the accumulation of denitrification intermediates has a strong inhibitory effect on the activity but not the structure of methanogenic community.
Conjugative Plasmid fromLactobacillus gasseriLA39 That Carries Genes for Production of and Immunity to the Circular Bacteriocin Gassericin A
Authors: Ito Yoshiyuki , Kawai Yasushi , Arakawa Kensuke , Honme Yoshiko , Sasaki Takashi , Saito Tadao 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTGassericin A is a circular bacteriocin produced byLactobacillus gasseristrain LA39. We found a 33,333-bp plasmid, designated pLgLA39, in this strain. pLgLA39 contained 44 open reading frames, including seven genes related to gassericin A production/immunity (gaa), as well as genes for replication, plasmid maintenance, and conjugative transfer. pLgLA39 was transferred from LA39 to the type strain ofL. gasseri(JCM 1131) by filter mating. The transconjugant exhibited >30-fold-higher more resistance to gassericin A and produced antibacterial activity.Lactobacillus reuteriLA6, the producer of reutericin 6, was proved to harbor a plasmid indistinguishable from pLgLA39 and carrying seven genes 100% identical togaa. This suggests that pLgLA39 might have been transferred naturally betweenL. gasseriLA39 andL. reuteriLA6. The sevengaagenes of pLgLA39 were cloned into a plasmid vector to construct pGAA. JCM 1131Ttransformed with pGAA expressed antibacterial activity and resistance to gassericin A. pGAA was segregationally more stable than a pGAA derivative plasmid from whichgaaAwas deleted and even was more stable than the vector. This suggests the occurrence of postsegregational host killing by thegaagenes. pLgLA39 carried apemIKhomolog, and segregational stabilization of a plasmid by the pLgLA39-typepemIKgenes was also confirmed. Thus, pLgLA39 was proved to carry the genes for at least two plasmid maintenance mechanisms, i.e.,gaaandpemIK. Plasmids containing arepAgene similar to pLgLA39repAwere distributed in severalL. gasseristrains.
Transcriptional and Functional Studies of
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
Genes Related to Survival in the Presence of Copper
Authors: Navarro Claudio A. , Orellana Luis H. , Mauriaca Cecilia , Jerez Carlos A. 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACT

The acidophilic
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
can resist exceptionally high copper (Cu) concentrations. This property is important for its use in biomining processes, where Cu and other metal levels range usually between 15 and 100 mM. To learn about the mechanisms that allow
A. ferrooxidans
cells to survive in this environment, a bioinformatic search of its genome showed the presence of at least 10 genes that are possibly related to Cu homeostasis. Among them are three genes coding for putative ATPases related to the transport of Cu (
A. ferrooxidans copA1
[

copA1
Af

],

copA2
Af

, and

copB
Af

), three genes related to a system of the resistance nodulation cell division family involved in the extraction of Cu from the cell (

cusA
Af

,

cusB
Af

, and

cusC
Af

), and two genes coding for periplasmic chaperones for this metal (

cusF
Af

and

copC
Af

). The expression of most of these open reading frames was studied by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR using
A. ferrooxidans
cells adapted for growth in the presence of high concentrations of Cu. The putative
A. ferrooxidans
Cu resistance determinants were found to be upregulated when this bacterium was exposed to Cu in the range of 5 to 25 mM. These
A. ferrooxidans
genes conferred to
Escherichia coli
a greater Cu resistance than wild-type cells, supporting their functionality. The results reported here and previously published data strongly suggest that the high resistance of the extremophilic
A. ferrooxidans
to Cu may be due to part or all of the following key elements: (i) a wide repertoire of Cu resistance determinants, (ii) the duplication of some of these Cu resistance determinants, (iii) the existence of novel Cu chaperones, and (iv) a polyP-based Cu resistance system.
Intra- and Interspecies Conjugal Transfer of Tn
916
-Like Elements from
Lactococcus lactis
In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Boguslawska Joanna , Zycka-Krzesinska Joanna , Wilcks Andrea , Bardowski Jacek 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACT

Tetracycline-resistant
Lactococcus lactis
strains originally isolated from Polish raw milk were analyzed for the ability to transfer their antibiotic resistance genes in vitro, using filter mating experiments, and in vivo, using germfree rats. Four of six analyzed
L. lactis
isolates were able to transfer tetracycline resistance determinants in vitro to
L. lactis
Bu2-60, at frequencies ranging from 10
−5
to 10
−7
transconjugants per recipient. Three of these four strains could also transfer resistance in vitro to
Enterococcus faecalis
JH2-2, whereas no transfer to
Bacillus subtilis
YBE01,
Pseudomonas putida
KT2442,
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
UBAPF2, or
Escherichia coli
JE2571 was observed. Rats were initially inoculated with the recipient
E. faecalis
strain JH2-2, and after a week, the
L. lactis
IBB477 and IBB487 donor strains were introduced. The first transconjugants were detected in fecal samples 3 days after introduction of the donors. A subtherapeutic concentration of tetracycline did not have any significant effect on the number of transconjugants, but transconjugants were observed earlier in animals dosed with this antibiotic. Molecular analysis of in vivo transconjugants containing the
tet
(M) gene showed that this gene was identical to
tet
(M) localized on the conjugative transposon Tn
916
. Primer-specific PCR confirmed that the Tn
916
transposon was complete in all analyzed transconjugants and donors. This is the first study showing in vivo transfer of a Tn
916
-like antibiotic resistance transposon from
L. lactis
to
E. faecalis
. These data suggest that in certain cases food lactococci might be involved in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to other lactic acid bacteria.
Community Structure and Dynamics of Small Eukaryotes Targeted by New Oligonucleotide Probes: New Insight into the Lacustrine Microbial Food Web
Authors: Mangot Jean-François , Lepère Cécile , Bouvier Christophe , Debroas Didier , Domaizon Isabelle 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACT

The seasonal dynamics of the small eukaryotic fraction (cell diameter, 0.2 to 5 μm) was investigated in a mesotrophic lake by tyramide signal amplification-fluorescence in situ hybridization targeting seven different phylogenetic groups: Chlorophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Cercozoa, LKM11, Perkinsozoa (two clades), and Fungi. The abundance of small eukaryotes ranged from 1,692 to 10,782 cells ml
−1
. The dominant groups were the Chrysophyceae and the Chlorophyceae, which represented 19.6% and 17.9% of small eukaryotes, respectively. The results also confirmed the quantitative importance of putative parasites, Fungi and Perkinsozoa, in the small heterotrophic eukaryotic assemblage. The relative abundances recorded for the Perkinsozoa group reached as much as 31.6% of total targeted eukaryotes during the summer. The dynamics of Perkinsozoa clade 1 coincided with abundance variations in
Peridinium
and
Ceratium
spp. (Dinoflagellates), while the dynamics of Perkinsozoa clade 2 was linked to the presence of
Dinobryon
spp. (Chrysophyceae). Fungi, represented by chytrids, reached maximal abundance in December (569 cells ml
−1
) and were mainly correlated with the dynamics of diatoms, especially
Melosira varians
. A further new finding of this study is the recurrent presence of Cercozoa (6.2%) and LKM11 (4.5%) cells. This quantitative approach based on newly designed probes offers a promising means of in-depth analysis of microbial food webs in lakes, especially by revealing the phylogenetic composition of the small heterotrophic flagellate assemblage, for which an important fraction of cells are generally unidentified by classical microscopy (on average, 96.8% of the small heterotrophic flagellates were identified by the specific probes we used in this study).
Evolved β-Galactosidases from
Geobacillus stearothermophilus
with Improved Transgalactosylation Yield for Galacto-Oligosaccharide Production
Authors: Placier Gaël , Watzlawick Hildegard , Rabiller Claude , Mattes Ralf 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACT

A mutagenesis approach was applied to the β-galactosidase BgaB from
Geobacillus stearothermophilus
KVE39 in order to improve its enzymatic transglycosylation of lactose into oligosaccharides. A simple screening strategy, which was based on the reduction of the hydrolysis of a potential transglycosylation product (lactosucrose), provided mutant enzymes possessing improved synthetic properties for the autocondensation product from nitrophenyl-galactoside and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) from lactose. The effects of the mutations on enzyme activity and kinetics were determined. An change of one arginine to lysine (R109K) increased the oligosaccharide yield compared to that for the wild-type BgaB. Subsequently, saturation mutagenesis at this position demonstrated that valine and tryptophan further increased the transglycosylation performance of BgaB. During the transglycosylation reaction with lactose of the evolved β-galactosidases, a major trisaccharide was formed. Its structure was characterized as β-
d
-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-
d
-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-
d
-glucopyranoside (3′-galactosyl-lactose). At the lactose concentration of 18% (wt/vol), this trisaccharide was obtained in yields of 11.5% (wt/wt) with GP21 (BgaB R109K), 21% with GP637.2 (BgaB R109V), and only 2% with the wild-type BgaB enzyme. GP643.3 (BgaB R109W) was shown to be the most efficient mutant, with a 3′-galactosyl-lactose production of 23%.
New Plasmid Tools for Genetic Analysis of
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
and Other
Pasteurellaceae
Authors: Bossé Janine T. , Durham Andrew L. , Rycroft Andrew N. , Kroll J. Simon , Langford Paul R. 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACT

We have generated a set of plasmids, based on the mobilizable shuttle vector pMIDG100, which can be used as tools for genetic manipulation of
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
and other members of the
Pasteurellaceae
. A tandem reporter plasmid, pMC-Tandem, carrying promoterless
xylE
and
gfpmut3
genes downstream of a multiple-cloning site (MCS), can be used for identification of transcriptional regulators and conditions which favor gene expression from different cloned promoters. The ability to detect transcriptional regulators using the tandem reporter system was validated in
A. pleuropneumoniae
using the cloned
rpoE
(σ
E
) promoter (P). The resulting plasmid, pMCrpoEP, was used to identify a mutant defective in production of RseA, the negative regulator of σ
E
, among a bank of random transposon mutants, as well as to detect induction of σ
E
following exposure of
A. pleuropneumoniae
to ethanol or heat shock. pMCsodCP, carrying the cloned
sodC
promoter of
A. pleuropneumoniae
, was functional in
A. pleuropneumoniae
,
Haemophilus influenzae
,
Haemophilus parasuis
,
Mannheimia haemolytica
, and
Pasteurella multocida
. Two general expression vectors, pMK-Express and pMC-Express, which differ in their antibiotic resistance markers (kanamycin and chloramphenicol, respectively), were constructed for the
Pasteurellaceae
. Both plasmids have the
A. pleuropneumoniae sodC
promoter upstream of the
gfpmut3
gene and an extended MCS. Replacement of
gfpmut3
with a gene of interest allows complementation and heterologous gene expression, as evidenced by expression of the
Haemophilus ducreyi nadV
gene in
A. pleuropneumoniae
, rendering the latter NAD independent.