Imaging of Bubonic Plague Dynamics by In Vivo Tracking of Bioluminescent Yersinia pestis

Yersinia pestis dissemination in a host is usually studied by enumerating bacteria in the tissues of animals sacrificed at different times. This laborious methodology gives only snapshots of the infection, as the infectious process is not synchronized. In this work we used in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) to follow Y. pestis dissemination during bubonic plague. We first demonstrated that Y. pestis CO92 transformed with pGEN-luxCDABE stably emitted bioluminescence in vitro and in vivo, while retaining full virulence. The light produced from live animals allowed to delineate the infected organs and correlated with bacterial loads, thus validating the BLI tool. We then showed that the first step of the infectious process is a bacterial multiplication at the injection site (linea alba), followed by a colonization of the draining inguinal lymph node(s), and subsequently of the ipsilateral axillary lymph node through a direct connection between the two nodes. A mild bacteremia and an effective filtering of the blood stream by the liver and spleen probably accounted for the early bacterial blood clearance and the simultaneous development of bacterial foci within these organs. The saturation of the filtering capacity of the spleen and liver subsequently led to terminal septicemia. Our results also indicate that secondary lymphoid tissues are the main targets of Y. pestis multiplication and that colonization of other organs occurs essentially at the terminal phase of the disease. Finally, our analysis reveals that the high variability in the kinetics of infection is attributable to the time the bacteria remain confined at the injection site. However, once Y. pestis has reached the draining lymph nodes, the disease progresses extremely rapidly, leading to the invasion of the entire body within two days and to death of the animals. This highlights the extraordinary capacity of Y. pestis to annihilate the host innate immune response

Evidence-Based Clinical Use of Nanoscale Extracellular Vesicles in Nanomedicine

Recent research has demonstrated that all body fluids assessed contain substantial amounts of vesicles that range in size from 30 to 1000 nm and that are surrounded by phospholipid membranes containing different membrane microdomains such as lipid rafts and caveolae. The most prominent representatives of these so-called extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized exosomes (70-150 nm), which are derivatives of the endosomal system, and microvesicles (100-1000 nm), which are produced by outward budding of the plasma membrane. Nanosized EVs are released by almost all cell types and mediate targeted intercellular communication under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Containing cell-type-specific signatures, EVs have been proposed as biomarkers in a variety of diseases. Furthermore, according to their physical functions, EVs of selected cell types have been used as therapeutic agents in immune therapy, vaccination trials, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. Undoubtedly, the rapidly emerging field of basic and applied EV research will significantly influence the biomedicinal landscape in the future. In this Perspective, we, a network of European scientists from clinical, academic, and industry settings collaborating through the H2020 European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) program European Network on Microvesicles and Exosomes in Health and Disease (ME-HAD), demonstrate the high potential of nanosized EVs for both diagnostic and therapeutic (i.e., theranostic) areas of nanomedicine. © 2016 American Chemical Society

Flow and solute transport monitoring in the karst aquifer in SW Slovenia

The role of the unsaturated zone in the karst aquifer hydraulic behaviour was brought into focus in these studies of the catchment of the Hubelj spring (SW Slovenia). The variations of natural tracers in precipitation and in groundwater during a summer storm event made it possible to trace local flow and solute transport in the observed aquifer. The results produced data on the aquifer recharge, storage and discharge processes, as well as on mechanisms that affected them, which reflects a karst groundwater dynamics also at a regional scale. They point out the significance of effects of the fast preferential flow—epiflow that is the main factor controlling solute/contaminant transport towards the aquifer saturated zone. Numerous arguments indicate that the karst aquifer flow and solute transport mechanisms depend on the hydraulic behaviour of the epikarst zone

Draft genome sequence of Chryseobacterium limigenitum SUR2T (LMG 28734T) isolated from dehydrated sludge.

The type strain SUR2 of the novel species Chryseobacterium limigenitum was isolated from a dehydrated sludge of the municipal sewage treatment plant in Dogoše near Maribor in Slovenia. The draft genome, with 60 contigs, 4,697,725bp, 34.4% of G+C content, was obtained using the Illumina HiSeq 2500-1 platform. Joint Genome Institute Microbial Genome Annotation Pipeline (MGAP v.4) has identified 4322 protein-coding sequences including resistance genes against arsenic and other heavy metals. In addition, a subclass B3 metallo-β-lactamase, which confers resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems, was also present in the genome. The genome sequence provides important information regarding bioremediation potential and pathogenic properties of this newly identified species

Twist-grain boundary phase induced by Au nanoparticles in a chiral liquid crystal host

We report on the stabilisation of the liquid-crystalline, twist-grain boundary A (TGBA) phase in mixtures of a chiral liquid crystal and surface-functionalised spherical Au nanoparticles (NPs) of 10 nm diameter. The results, obtained by calorimetric, optical, small-angle X-ray and plasmon resonance measurements, demonstrate that a TGBA phase, which is metastable for the pure liquid crystal host, can be effectively stabilised for a 3 K range in the presence of NPs. Moreover, the role of NPs size on the TGBA stabilisation is briefly discussed. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Paenibacillus aquistagni sp. nov., isolated from an artificial lake accumulating industrial wastewater

Strain 11(T) was isolated from water of an artificial lake accumulating industrial wastewater on the outskirts of Celje, Slovenia. Phenotypic characterisation showed strain 11(T) to be a Gram-stain positive, spore forming bacterium. The 16S rRNA gene sequence identified strain 11(T) as a member of the genus Paenibacillus, closely related to Paenibacillus alvei (96.2%). Genomic similarity with P. alvei 29(T) was 73.1% (gANI), 70.2% (ANIb), 86.7% (ANIm) and 21.7 +/- 2.3% (GGDC). The DNA G+C content of strain 11(T) was determined to be 47.5%. The predominant menaquinone of strain 11(T) was identified as MK-7 and the major fatty acid as anteiso-C-15:0. The peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid. In contrast to its close relatives P. alvei DSM 29(T), Paenibacillus apiarius DSM 5581(T) and Paenibacillus profundus NRIC 0885(T), strain 11(T) was found to be able to ferment d-fructose, d-mannose and d-xylose. A draft genome of strain 11(T) contains a cluster of genes associated with type IV pilin synthesis usually found in clostridia, and only sporadically in other Gram-positive bacteria. Genotypic, chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical characteristics of strain 11(T) presented in this study support the creation of a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus aquistagni sp. nov. is proposed, with strain 11(T) (=ZIM B1027(T)aEuroS=LMG 29561(T)aEuroS=CCM 8679(T)aEuroS) as the type strain

Draft genome sequence of Chryseobacterium limigenitum SUR2 T (LMG 28734 T ) isolated from dehydrated sludge

The type strain SUR2 of the novel species Chryseobacterium limigenitum was isolated from a dehydrated sludge of the municipal sewage treatment plant in Dogoše near Maribor in Slovenia. The draft genome, with 60 contigs, 4,697,725bp, 34.4% of G+C content, was obtained using the Illumina HiSeq 2500-1 platform. Joint Genome Institute Microbial Genome Annotation Pipeline (MGAP v.4) has identified 4322 protein-coding sequences including resistance genes against arsenic and other heavy metals. In addition, a subclass B3 metallo-β-lactamase, which confers resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems, was also present in the genome. The genome sequence provides important information regarding bioremediation potential and pathogenic properties of this newly identified species