Nitric Oxide Regulates Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus following Seizures

Hippocampal neurogenesis is changed by brain injury. When neuroinflammation accompanies injury, activation of resident microglial cells promotes the release of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species like nitric oxide (NO). In these conditions, NO promotes proliferation of neural stem cells (NSC) in the hippocampus. However, little is known about the role of NO in the survival and differentiation of newborn cells in the injured dentate gyrus. Here we investigated the role of NO following seizures in the regulation of proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival of NSC in the hippocampus using the kainic acid (KA) induced seizuremouse model. We show that NO increased the proliferation of NSC and the number of neuroblasts following seizures but was detrimental to the survival of newborn neurons. NO was also required for the maintenance of long-term neuroinflammation. Taken together, our data show that NO positively contributes to the initial stages of neurogenesis following seizures but compromises survival of newborn neurons.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal); COMPETE; FEDER [PTDC/SAU-NEU/102612/2008, PTDC/NEU-OSD/0473/2012, PEst-C/SAU/LA0001/2013-2014, PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013-2014]; FCT, Portugal [SFRH/BPD/78901/2011, SFRH/BD/77903/2011

Micoteca da Universidade do Minho: 9 years operation

The Micoteca da Universidade do Minho culture collection (MUM) was established in 1996, at the Biological Engineering Department of Minho University, in Portugal, aiming to maintain and supply fungal strains for research in biotechnology and teaching, and to become a centre of knowledge, information and training in mycology. The original collection, containing 38 strains with specific degradatory capabilities, mainly cellulolytic, was typically a private research collection, and accompanied the researchers throughout various laboratories. Pressing solicitations from the local agro-food industry, from which several cooperative research projects had been developed, and the fact that University of Minho was developing an institutional policy for the establishment of horizontal services to support research, made possible, among other factors, the creation of a culture collection capable of addressing the issues of availability of strains and related information, of research and selection of appropriate technologies, and of training and building of expertise. MUM now harbours 138 species and 59 genera, totalling 396 strains. Among its holdings the collection includes fungi producing extracellular enzymes, mycotoxins, fungi from tap and bottled water, and airborne fungi, isolated during research activities on biodegradation and biodeterioration, mycotoxins in food products and studies of air quality in industrial environments. Penicillium and Aspergillus are the main genera represented in the culture collection in termos of species diversity and number of preserved strains. Standard procedures have been set up for strain reception within established admission criteria and for strain preservation, storage and supply. A computerised data base was built in-house, having in mind the storage and retrieval of strain data and also the stock management of preserved strains. External access to information on available strains is possible through the electronic catalogue at http://www.micoteca.deb.uminho.pt. MUM was built on well established criteria taking into account relevant international quality standards. Membership in international organizations such as ECCO and WFCC was accomplished and MUM is also registered in the WDCM, BioCise, and BioCase information services. In the last three years MUM has been involved in the OECD initiatives related to guidance for the operation of Biological Resource Centres (BRC’s). It is foreseen that in the near future new facilities will be available at the Health of Sciences research building with better working and storage areas, in the vicinity of PCL3 laboratories. MUM is therefore in position to plan ahead in relation to the widening of the scope of its holdings, and to propose the strengthening of ties with other specialised sectors in life sciences within the University in order to achieve a certified BRC for the University of Minho (BRC-UMinho)

Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM)

PRAXIS XXI

Remoção de metais pesados por biofilmes suportados em carvão activado

Instituto de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (IBQF)

Remoção de metais pesados por biofilmes suportados em carvão activado

Instituto de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (IBQF)

Utilization of mycelial growth to study the tolerance of some white rot fungi to phenolic compounds

Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Aureobasidium pu/lulans, Coriolus versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus and Dichomitus sqoo/ens were some white-rot fungi selected to study the effect of increasing concentrations of phenol, catechol and resorcinol on the mycelial growth on solid media. The increasing concentrations of the phenolic compounds added to a mineral Czapec-Dox agar medium were progressively inhibitory up to a certain maximum value beyond which growth became impossible. P. ostreatu.s was the most affected fungus by the high concentrations used, following by C. versicolor, while P. chrysosporium, A. pul/ulans, and D. squalens tolerated better the presence of the phenolic compounds. It was observed that the toxicity of these compounds towards the microorganisms progressed in accordance to the following order: resorcinol< phenol<cathecol. Furthermore, the capability of growing at the expense of agar, agarose and gelatine as sole carbon and energy source was demonstrated by all the fungi

Adaptation to β-myrcene catabolism in Pseudomonas sp. M1: An expression proteomics analysis

β-Myrcene, a monoterpene widely used as a fragrance and flavoring additive, also possesses analgesic, anti-mutagenic, and tyrosinase inhibitory properties. In order to get insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of Pseudomonas sp. M1 to catabolize β-myrcene, an expression proteomics approach was used in this study. Results indicate that the catabolic enzyme machinery for β-myrcene utilization (MyrB, MyrC, and MyrD and other uncharacterized proteins) is strongly induced when β-myrcene is present in the growth medium. Since an M1 mutant, lacking a functional 2-methylisocitrate dehydratase, is not able to grow in mineral medium with β-myrcene or propionic acid as the sole C-source, and also based on the expression proteomic analysis carried out in this study, it is suggested that the β-myrcene catabolic intermediate propionyl-CoA is channeled into the central metabolism via the 2-methylcitrate cycle. Results also suggest that the major alteration occurring in the central carbon metabolism of cells growing in β-myrcene-containing media is related with the redistribution of the metabolic fluxes leading to increased oxaloacetate production. Other upregulated proteins are believed to prevent protein misfolding and aggregation or to play important structural roles, contributing to the adaptive alteration of cell wall and membrane organization and integrity, which are essential features to allow the bacterium to cope with the highly lipophilic β-myrcene as C-source.- (undefined

Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM): a portuguese culture collection

[Excerpt] Micoteca da Universidade do Minho - MUM is a mycological culture collection that exists since 1996 and is hosted by the Biological Engineering Research Centre (www.deb.uminho.pt), a centre of excellence integrated in the Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (IBB - www.ibb.pt). The mission of MUM is to provide the highest quality services to its customers, collecting, maintaining and supplying fungal strains and their associated information for teaching and research in biotechnology and life sciences, and to be a centre of knowledge, information and training in mycology, operating at a global level and under national and international regulations [1,2]. (...