Proteome profiling by label‐free mass spectrometry reveals differentiated response of Campylobacter jejuni 81–176 to sublethal concentrations of bile acids.

Purpose Bile acids are crucial components of the intestinal antimicrobial defense and represent a significant stress factor for enteric pathogens. Adaptation processes of Campylobacter jejuni to this hostile environment are analyzed in this study by a proteomic approach. Experimental design Proteome profiling by label-free mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS) has been used to characterize the adaptation of C. jejuni to sublethal concentrations of seven bile acids. Results The bile acids with the lowest inhibitory concentration (IC50), deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acid, induce the most significant proteome changes. Overall a downregulation of all basic biosynthetic pathways and a general decrease in the transcription machinery are found. Concurrently, an induction of factors involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species, protein folding, and bile acid exporting efflux pumps is detected. Exposure to deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acid results in an increased expression of components of the more energy-efficient aerobic respiration pathway, while the anaerobic branches of the electron transport chain are down-expressed. Conclusions and clinical relevance The results show that C. jejuni has a differentiated system of adaptation to bile acid stresses. The findings enhance the understanding of the pathogenesis of campylobacteriosis, especially for survival of C. jejuni in the human intestine, and may provide clues to future medical treatment

Heating of Calcium Phosphate Crystals: Morphological Consequences and Biological Implications

Sintering hydroxyapatite (HA) and ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) affects the chemical composition, the crystallinity, and the morphological features as demonstrated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) , infrared spectroscopy (IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When heated to 1230°C, 16.7% of HA had decomposed to ß-TCP. SEM investigations showed homogeneous, sharp angular polyhedric blocks of 30 to 50 µm with rare surface pores. On heating at 1230°C, ß-TCP had entirely transformed to a-TCP. During sintering, the size of the powder grains increased and progressive bridging between the grains was observed. At 1230°C, a network within round-shaped polyhedric blocks of 50 to 90 µm was formed. In both, HA and IJ-TCP, surfaces were smooth. The chemical composition and the crystallinity of calcium phosphate ceramics determine their dissolution behavior and osteogenic properties. Nevertheless, their temperature dependent morphological features, such as, particle shape and size, surface texture, and porosity, as demonstrated in the present study, also influence the resorption rates , tissue responses, and wound healing duration. This should be emphasized more by clinicians in choosing an appropriate material for bone substitution

Etude structurale, ultrastructurale et microanalyse de perles d’émail multiples

Numerous enamel drops and compound enamel pearls were found on the radicular proximal faces of maxillary molars and mandibular third molars of a young woman. Enamel and dentin of compound pearls as well as cementum next to drops and pearls presented the same structure and ultrastructure as enamel, dentin and cementum of the corresponding teeth. Microanalysis did not reveal differences between enamel of the mother tooth and enamel of drops and pearls. The enamel drops had no incremental growth lines.Cementum next to enamel drops and compound enamel pearls was acellular and covered occasionally with a thick layer of cellular cementum. Only enamel drops were partially covered by acellular cementum.Close to the enamel drops and at their surface, numerous fusing globular calcifications were observed.Formation of enamel drops and compound enamel pearls on dental root surfaces is rare. The simultaneous presence of numerous enamel drops and some compound enamel pearls on several roots of molars in the same denture seems to be an exceptionnal phenomenon. The involved factors inducing enamel formation remain still unknown. The multitude of both enamel drops and compound enamel pearl might be due to constitutionnal prédisposition.De nombreuses perles d’émail simples et composées, localisées sur les faces proximales des racines des molaires maxillaires et des dents de sagesse mandibulaires d’une même personne ont été étudiées en microscopie classique, microscopie électronique à balayage et microanalyse. L’émail et la dentine des perles composées ainsi que le cément jouxtant les perles ont la même structure et ultrastructure que l’émail, la dentine et le cément des dents porteuses, la microanalyse ne montre pas de différences entre l’émail des perles et l’émail des dents. Les perles d’émail simples ne possèdent pas de lignes de croissance. Le cément, à proximité des perles d’émail simples et composées, est de type acellulaire, doublé d’une couche, parfois épaisse, de cément cellulaire. Seules, les perles d’émail simples sont recouvertes partiellement par du cément acellulaire. On observe de nombreux calcoglobules à la surface et à proximité des perles d’émail simples.La sécrétion d’émail radiculaire sous la forme de perles simples ou composées est un phénomène rare. L’observation simultanée, dans une même denture, de nombreuses perles simples et composées constitue un fait nouveau et semble exceptionnel.Le ou les facteurs déclenchant un tel processus n’ont pu être déterminés jusqu’à présent. Une prédisposition constitutionnelle, dont la preuve reste à apporter, pourrait en être responsable

Analysis of Toth Surface Elements by Ion beam Analysis

To examine the applicability of elastic recoil detection analysis ERDA in studying element constituents of dental hard tissues. The concentration of all elements using high energy heavy ions was detected in extracted teeth of both dentitions. The main elements present in enamel calcium, phosphorus, oxygen, hydrogen , along with nitrogen, carbon, fluorine, sodium, magnesium and zinc, were measured. Concentrations and depth profiles were calculated and compared with simulation data generated using two programs, KONZERD and SIMNRA. Enamel calcium, phosphorus, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, fluorine, sodium, magnesium and, occasionally, zinc were detected. One third of samples showed a constant concentration of the constituents over the analyzed depth, whereas the remaining samples had pronounced surface contaminations of carbon and nitrogen. Although calculation of concentrations with KONZERD gave expected values, simulation with SIMNRA was not possible since no agreement could be obtained between simulated and measured results for the element

Nanogranular MgB2 thin films on SiC buffered Si substrates prepared by in-situ method

MgB2 thin films were deposited on SiC buffered Si substrates by sequential electron beam evaporation of B-Mg bilayer followed by in-situ annealing. The application of a SiC buffer layer enables the maximum annealing temperature of 830 C. The Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis confirms the growth of a nanogranular MgB2 film and the presence of a Mg2Si compound at the surface of the film. The 150-200 nm thick films show a maximum zero resistance critical temperature TC0 above 37 K and a critical current density JC ~ 106 A/cm2 at 11K.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Germination of phagocytosed E. cuniculi spores does not significantly contribute to parasitophorous vacuole formation in J774 cells

The obligate intracellular microsporidia have developed a unique invasion mechanism to infect their host cells. Spores explosively evert a tube-like structure and extrude the infectious spore content through this organelle into the host cell. Spores from species of the genus Encephalitozoon were also shown to be efficiently internalized by phagocytosis, which led to the hypothesis that spore germination from inside a phagosome might contribute to the infection process. Here, we challenge this hypothesis by quantifying Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection rates of J774 cells that were incubated with the phagocytosis inhibitor cytochalasin D. We demonstrate that the invasion rate in cytochalasin D-treated cells is identical to untreated controls, although phagocytic uptake of E. cuniculi spores was less than 10% of control samples. This study suggests that germination of phagocytosed spores is not a significant infection mode for E. cuniculi

HIGH EXCITATION ENERGY STRUCTURES IN HEAVY ION COLLISIONS ON A208Pb TARGET

Energy spectra of fragments from the 36Ar +208Pb reaction at 11 MeV/n and 20Ne + 208Pb reaction at 30 MeV/n were measured using a time of flight spectrometer. Structures ranging up to 130 MeV excitation energy are observed in the inelastic spectra. These structures are shown to be due to an excitation of the208Pb target nucleus

GlycomeDB—a unified database for carbohydrate structures

GlycomeDB integrates the structural and taxonomic data of all major public carbohydrate databases, as well as carbohydrates contained in the Protein Data Bank, which renders the database currently the most comprehensive and unified resource for carbohydrate structures worldwide. GlycomeDB retains the links to the original databases and is updated at weekly intervals with the newest structures available from the source databases. The complete database can be downloaded freely or accessed through a Web-interface (www.glycome-db.org) that provides flexible and powerful search functionalities