Msb2 Shedding Protects Candida albicans against Antimicrobial Peptides

Msb2 is a sensor protein in the plasma membrane of fungi. In the human fungal pathogen C. albicans Msb2 signals via the Cek1 MAP kinase pathway to maintain cell wall integrity and allow filamentous growth. Msb2 doubly epitope-tagged in its large extracellular and small cytoplasmic domain was efficiently cleaved during liquid and surface growth and the extracellular domain was almost quantitatively released into the growth medium. Msb2 cleavage was independent of proteases Sap9, Sap10 and Kex2. Secreted Msb2 was highly O-glycosylated by protein mannosyltransferases including Pmt1 resulting in an apparent molecular mass of >400 kDa. Deletion analyses revealed that the transmembrane region is required for Msb2 function, while the large N-terminal and the small cytoplasmic region function to downregulate Msb2 signaling or, respectively, allow its induction by tunicamycin. Purified extracellular Msb2 domain protected fungal and bacterial cells effectively from antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) histatin-5 and LL-37. AMP inactivation was not due to degradation but depended on the quantity and length of the Msb2 glycofragment. C. albicans msb2 mutants were supersensitive to LL-37 but not histatin-5, suggesting that secreted rather than cell-associated Msb2 determines AMP protection. Thus, in addition to its sensor function Msb2 has a second activity because shedding of its glycofragment generates AMP quorum resistance

Quadrotor system for gathering discomfort index and amount of air pollutants

One can feel some form of discomfort when going outdoors either from the heat or from the pollutants present in the air such as humidity, temperature, and the presence of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and particulate matter. In the national setting, there has not been much awareness of the factors of discomfort yet these still prevail. The proposed solution for this problem is a system that is able to measure different parameters of discomfort. To provide safety for the measurer and the mobility of the system, the group has implemented the system on an unmanned aerial vehicle, specifically, a quadrotor. Here the controller can manipulate the quadrotor system to go up at a desired altitude for measurements. This has been tested quarterly during the daytime and is able to maintain 85% accuracy but during testing, this may not be the case since there are other external factors that can affect the measurements such as the input power and wind. An android application has been developed for the purpose of updating and viewing the data recorded

A practical guide to the lab, second edition

A book on laboratory practices at the Laboratory of Microbiolog