15 research outputs found
Qualitative and Quantitative Comparison of Liquid–Liquid Phase Extraction Using Ethyl Acetate and Liquid–Solid Phase Extraction Using Poly-Benzyl-Resin for Natural Products
A key step in the process of isolating microbial natural products is the preparation of an
extract from a culture. This step determines which molecules will be available for detection in the
subsequent chemical and biological analysis of a biodiscovery pipeline. In the present study we
wanted to document potential differences in performance between liquid–liquid extraction using
ethyl acetate and liquid–solid extraction using a poly‐benzyl‐resin. For the comparison of the two
extraction protocols, we spiked a culture of Flavobacterium sp. with a diverse selection of natural
products of microbial and plant origin to investigate whether the methods were comparable with
respect to selectivity. We also investigated the efficiency of the two extraction methods quantita‐
tively, using water spiked with a selection of natural products, and studied the quantitative effect
of different pH levels of the aqueous solutions on the extraction yields of the two methods. The
same compounds were extracted by the two methods, but the solid‐phase extract contained more
media components compared with the liquid‐phase extract. Quantitatively, the two extraction
methods varied in their recovery rates. We conclude that practical aspects could be more important
when selecting one of the extraction protocols, as their efficiencies in extracting specific compounds
were quite similar
SUSTAIN drilling at Surtsey volcano, Iceland, tracks hydrothermal and microbiological interactions in basalt 50 years after eruption
The 2017 Surtsey Underwater volcanic System for Thermophiles, Alteration processes and INnovative concretes (SUSTAIN) drilling project at Surtsey volcano, sponsored in part by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), provides precise observations of the hydrothermal, geochemical, geomagnetic, and microbiological changes that have occurred in basaltic tephra and minor intrusions since explosive and effusive eruptions produced the oceanic island in 1963–1967. Two vertically cored boreholes, to 152 and 192 m below the surface, were drilled using filtered, UV-sterilized seawater circulating fluid to minimize microbial contamination. These cores parallel a 181 m core drilled in 1979. Introductory investigations indicate changes in material properties and whole-rock compositions over the past 38 years. A Surtsey subsurface observatory installed to 181 m in one vertical borehole holds incubation experiments that monitor in situ mineralogical and microbial alteration processes at 25–124 ∘C. A third cored borehole, inclined 55∘ in a 264∘ azimuthal direction to 354 m measured depth, provides further insights into eruption processes, including the presence of a diatreme that extends at least 100 m into the seafloor beneath the Surtur crater. The SUSTAIN project provides the first time-lapse drilling record into a very young oceanic basaltic volcano over a range of temperatures, 25–141 ∘C from 1979 to 2017, and subaerial and submarine hydrothermal fluid compositions. Rigorous procedures undertaken during the drilling operation protected the sensitive environment of the Surtsey Natural Preserve
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is associated with a variant in low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality and has a significant heritability. We carried out a genome-wide association discovery study of 1866 patients with AAA and 5435 controls and replication of promising signals (lead SNP with a p value < 1 × 10-5) in 2871 additional cases and 32,687 controls and performed further follow-up in 1491 AAA and 11,060 controls. In the discovery study, nine loci demonstrated association with AAA (p < 1 × 10-5). In the replication sample, the lead SNP at one of these loci, rs1466535, located within intron 1 of low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) demonstrated significant association (p = 0.0042). We confirmed the association of rs1466535 and AAA in our follow-up study (p = 0.035). In a combined analysis (6228 AAA and 49182 controls), rs1466535 had a consistent effect size and direction in all sample sets (combined p = 4.52 × 10-10, odds ratio 1.15 [1.10-1.21]). No associations were seen for either rs1466535 or the 12q13.3 locus in independent association studies of coronary artery disease, blood pressure, diabetes, or hyperlipidaemia, suggesting that this locus is specific to AAA. Gene-expression studies demonstrated a trend toward increased LRP1 expression for the rs1466535 CC genotype in arterial tissues; there was a significant (p = 0.029) 1.19-fold (1.04-1.36) increase in LRP1 expression in CC homozygotes compared to TT homozygotes in aortic adventitia. Functional studies demonstrated that rs1466535 might alter a SREBP-1 binding site and influence enhancer activity at the locus. In conclusion, this study has identified a biologically plausible genetic variant associated specifically with AAA, and we suggest that this variant has a possible functional role in LRP1 expression
Genome-wide association identifies nine common variants associated with fasting proinsulin levels and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE: Proinsulin is a precursor of mature insulin and C-peptide. Higher circulating proinsulin levels are associated with impaired β-cell function, raised glucose levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Studies of the insulin processing pathway could provide new insights about T2D pathophysiology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association tests of ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting proinsulin levels in 10,701 nondiabetic adults of European ancestry, with follow-up of 23 loci in up to 16,378 individuals, using additive genetic models adjusted for age, sex, fasting insulin, and study-specific covariates. RESULTS: Nine SNPs at eight loci were associated with proinsulin levels (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Two loci (LARP6 and SGSM2) have not been previously related to metabolic traits, one (MADD) has been associated with fasting glucose, one (PCSK1) has been implicated in obesity, and four (TCF7L2, SLC30A8, VPS13C/C2CD4A/B, and ARAP1, formerly CENTD2) increase T2D risk. The proinsulin-raising allele of ARAP1 was associated with a lower fasting glucose (P = 1.7 × 10(-4)), improved β-cell function (P = 1.1 × 10(-5)), and lower risk of T2D (odds ratio 0.88; P = 7.8 × 10(-6)). Notably, PCSK1 encodes the protein prohormone convertase 1/3, the first enzyme in the insulin processing pathway. A genotype score composed of the nine proinsulin-raising alleles was not associated with coronary disease in two large case-control datasets. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified nine genetic variants associated with fasting proinsulin. Our findings illuminate the biology underlying glucose homeostasis and T2D development in humans and argue against a direct role of proinsulin in coronary artery disease pathogenesis
Clinical insight among persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders treated with amisulpride, aripiprazole or olanzapine: a semi-randomised trial
Background
Antipsychotic treatment may improve clinical insight. However, previous studies have reported inconclusive findings on whether antipsychotics improve insight over and above the reduction in symptoms of psychosis. These studies assessed homogeneous samples in terms of stage of illness. Randomised studies investigating a mixed population of first- and multiepisode schizophrenia spectrum disorders might clarify this disagreement.
Methods
Our data were derived from a pragmatic, rater-blinded, semi-randomised trial that compared the effectiveness of amisulpride, aripiprazole and olanzapine. A sample of 144 patients with first- or multiepisode schizophrenia spectrum disorders underwent eight assessments during a 1-year follow-up. Clinical insight was assessed by item General 12 from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). We analysed latent growth curve models to test if the medications had a direct effect on insight that was over and above the reduction in total psychosis symptoms. Furthermore, we investigated whether there were differences between the study drugs in terms of insight.
Results
Based on allocation analysis, all three drugs were associated with a reduction in total psychosis symptoms in the initial phase (weeks 0–6). Amisulpride and olanzapine were associated with improved insight over and above what was related to the reduction in total psychosis symptoms in the long-term phase (weeks 6–52). However, these differential effects were lost when only including the participants that chose the first drug in the randomisation sequence. We found no differential effect on insight among those who were antipsychotic-naïve and those who were previously medicated with antipsychotics.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that antipsychotic treatment improves insight, but whether the effect on insight surpasses the effect of reduced total psychosis symptoms is more uncertain.publishedVersio
Arktisk storfekjøttproduksjon
Produksjonen av storfekjøtt i Norge kjennetegnes bl.a. av stor variasjon med hensyn til fjøsbygg,
driftssystemer, driftsrutiner og beiteforhold. Vi har besøkt 30 gårdsbruk og spurt produsentene
selv om hva som er de viktigste suksessfaktorene for god produksjon og dyrevelferd i storfekjøttproduksjonen.
I en serie på tre NIBIO-POPer publiseres resultater fra prosjektene «Arktisk storfekjøttproduksjon
» (Hansen & Jørgensen 2016) og «Storfekjøttproduksjon i fjellregionen» (Berge
m.fl. 2017). Dette er den andre, hvor vi deler bøndenes anbefalinger for god dyrevelferd og trygg
produksjon. Målgruppa er storfekjøttprodusenter, spesielt de som er i etableringsfasen
2. Anbefalinger for god dyrevelferd og trygg produksjon
Produksjonen av storfekjøtt i Norge kjennetegnes bl.a. av stor variasjon med hensyn til fjøsbygg,
driftssystemer, driftsrutiner og beiteforhold. Vi har besøkt 30 gårdsbruk og spurt produsentene
selv om hva som er de viktigste suksessfaktorene for god produksjon og dyrevelferd i storfekjøttproduksjonen.
I en serie på tre NIBIO-POPer publiseres resultater fra prosjektene «Arktisk storfekjøttproduksjon
» (Hansen & Jørgensen 2016) og «Storfekjøttproduksjon i fjellregionen» (Berge
m.fl. 2017). Dette er den andre, hvor vi deler bøndenes anbefalinger for god dyrevelferd og trygg
produksjon. Målgruppa er storfekjøttprodusenter, spesielt de som er i etableringsfasen
1. Anbefalinger for driftsløsninger og bygninger
Produksjonen av storfekjøtt i Norge kjennetegnes bl.a. av stor variasjon med hensyn til fjøsbygg,
driftssystemer, driftsrutiner og beiteforhold. Vi har besøkt 30 gårdsbruk og spurt produsentene
selv om hva de mener er de viktigste suksessfaktorene for god produksjon og dyrevelferd i storfekjøttproduksjonen.
I en serie på tre NIBIO-POPer publiseres resultater fra prosjektene «Arktisk
storfekjøttproduksjon» (Hansen & Jørgensen 2016) og «Storfekjøttproduksjon i fjellregionen»
(Berge m.fl. 2017). Dette er den første, hvor vi deler bøndenes anbefalinger for gode driftsløsninger
og bygninger som de selv har erfart fungerer. Målgruppa er storfekjøttprodusenter, spesielt
de som er i etableringsfasen
Arktisk storfekjøttproduksjon
Produksjonen av storfekjøtt i Norge kjennetegnes bl.a. av stor variasjon med hensyn til fjøsbygg,
driftssystemer, driftsrutiner og beiteforhold. Vi har besøkt 30 gårdsbruk og spurt produsentene
selv om hva de mener er de viktigste suksessfaktorene for god produksjon og dyrevelferd i storfekjøttproduksjonen.
I en serie på tre NIBIO-POPer publiseres resultater fra prosjektene «Arktisk
storfekjøttproduksjon» (Hansen & Jørgensen 2016) og «Storfekjøttproduksjon i fjellregionen»
(Berge m.fl. 2017). Dette er den første, hvor vi deler bøndenes anbefalinger for gode driftsløsninger
og bygninger som de selv har erfart fungerer. Målgruppa er storfekjøttprodusenter, spesielt
de som er i etableringsfasen
Macrofaunal control of microbial community structure in continental margin sediments
Through a process called “bioturbation,” burrowing macrofauna have altered the seafloor habitat and modified global carbon cycling since the Cambrian. However, the impact of macrofauna on the community structure of microorganisms is poorly understood. Here, we show that microbial communities across bioturbated, but geochemically and sedimentologically divergent, continental margin sites are highly similar but differ clearly from those in nonbioturbated surface and underlying subsurface sediments. Solid- and solute-phase geochemical analyses combined with modeled bioturbation activities reveal that dissolved O2 introduction by burrow ventilation is the major driver of archaeal community structure. By contrast, solid-phase reworking, which regulates the distribution of fresh, algal organic matter, is the main control of bacterial community structure. In nonbioturbated surface sediments and in subsurface sediments, bacterial and archaeal communities are more divergent between locations and appear mainly driven by site-specific differences in organic carbon sources.ISSN:0027-8424ISSN:1091-649