Isolation of Desulfovibrio intestinalis sp. nov. from the hindgut of the lower termite Mastotermes darwiniensis

A Gram-negative, anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacterium was isolated from hindgut contents of the lower termite Mastotermes darwiniensis Froggatt (strain KMS2). Strain KMS2 is motile by a single polar flagellum. The isolate possesses desulfoviridin and catalase activity. The G+C content of its DNA is in the range of 54.5-55.5 mol% (strain KMS2). It respires hydrogen and different low molecular weight organic compounds in the presence of sulfate, thiosulfate, and sulfite, and also oxygen. The isolated strain ferments pyruvate. Fastest growth with a doubling time of 12.5 h was obtained at 37°C and not at 28°C, the temperature at which the termites were grown. The isolate showed a 16S rDNA sequence homology of 95.9% to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774 and a DNA-DNA homology of 44.6% to D. desulfuricans Essex 6 (type strain). Based on its biochemical properties and 16S rDNA sequence, the isolate was assigned to a new species named Desulfovibrio intestinalis

Occurrence of rhizobia in the gut of the higher termite Nasutitermes nigriceps

Wood-eating termites feed on a diet highly deficient in nitrogen. They must complement their diet with the aid of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen fixation in the gut has been demonstrated, but information about nitrogen-fixing bacteria in pure culture is scarce. From the higher termite Nasutitermes nigriceps the symbiotic bacterial strain M3A was isolated, which thrives in the hindgut contents. The Gram-negative strain exhibited similarities to the species of the genus Ensifer (including Sinorhizobium) on the basis of morphological and physiological/biochemical features. The 16S rRNA gene analysis showed the highest sequence similarity of the isolate M3A to Ensifer adhaerens (>99%; ATCC 33499). The DNA-DNA hybridization revealed a similarity of 66% with E. adhaerens (NCIMB12342T). In contrast to the type strain the isolate M3A possesses the capacity to nodulate plant roots. This is the first report on the detailed identification of a rhizobia-related strain from the intestinal tract of animals. Strain M3A has been deposited with two culture collections (DSM10169; ATCC BAA-396). © 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ko 785). Research of R. R. was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology with the grant BOS-2003-05198-C02-01Peer Reviewe

Die induzierbare laryngeale Obstruktion (ILO)

Wiederholt episodenhaft auftretende Atemnot ist im Kindes- und Jugendalter ein häufiges Symptom. Neben anstrengungsinduzierter Bronchialobstruktion im Rahmen eines Asthma bronchiale ist eine funktionelle Genese eine sehr häufige Differenzialdiagnose. Dennoch wird diese Diagnose häufig nicht oder mit langer Latenz gestellt. Unter dem Oberbegriff "ILO" ("inducible laryngeal obstruction") werden sowohl funktionelle supraglottische Obstruktionen durch Kollaps der Knorpelstrukturen als auch Dysfunktionen auf Glottisebene wie "vocal cord dysfunction" (VCD) subsumiert. Körperliche Anstrengung ist ein häufiger Auslöser; es werden jedoch auch Beschwerdebilder ohne Anstrengungsbezug beobachtet. Es wird der Erkenntnisstand zur Pathophysiologie referiert und die klinische Präsentation beschrieben. Ein wesentlicher Fokus des Artikels liegt im Folgenden auf der Darstellung eines sinnvollen und Ressourcen-orientierten diagnostischen Vorgehens. Der CLE-Test ("continuous laryngoscopy exercise test") als Provokationsmethode unter Wach-Videolaryngoskopie ist der Goldstandard, jedoch wird diese Diagnostik im deutschsprachigen Raum nicht flächendeckend vorgehalten. Dieses Positionspapier stellt daher die diagnostische Wertigkeit verschiedener anderer Diagnostik-Algorithmen und anamnestischer Informationen heraus. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt des Papiers besteht in der detaillierten Vorstellung geeigneter atemphysiotherapeutischer Interventionen.Episodically occurring dyspnea has a high prevalence in childhood and adolescence. Besides exercise-induced bronchial obstruction in a child with asthma, functional respiratory problems are also frequently encountered; however, in cases of functional disorders the correct diagnosis is often not made or made after a long latent period. The term inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO) comprises functional supraglottic obstruction due to cartilage collapse as well as glottic disorders, such as vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Physical exertion is a common trigger but there are also other entities which occur without relation to exercise. One main goal of the article is to delineate a reasonable diagnostic pathway taking the limited access to a continuous laryngoscopy exercise (CLE) test in Germany into account: The CLE test is presently done by a treadmill provocation test while visualizing the larynx with a direct laryngoscopy; however, this procedure is not widely available in Germany. Hence the authors of this paper discuss the diagnostic power of other procedures and suggest a reasonable diagnostic algorithm. A second focus of the paper is on a detailed presentation and discussion of suitable physiotherapeutic interventions

Experiences of Using Prezi in Psychiatry Teaching

Objective: Prezi is a presentation software allowing lecturers to develop ideas and produce mind maps as they might do on an old-style blackboard. This study examines students’ experience of lectures presented using Prezi to identify the strengths and weaknesses of this new teaching medium. Methods: Prezi was used to present mental health lectures to final-year medical and physiotherapy students. These lectures were also available online. This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire to assess students’ experience of the software. Results: Of students approached, 75.5 % (74/98) took part in the study. A majority, 98.6 % (73/74), found Prezi to be a more engaging experience than other styles of lecture delivery. The overview or 'mind map' provided by Prezi was found to be helpful by 89.2 % (66/74). Problems arose when students used Prezi in their personal study, with 31.1 % (23/74) reporting some difficulties, mostly of a technical nature. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of Prezi for providing students with an engaging and stimulating educational experience. For Prezi to be effective, however, the lecturer has to understand and be familiar with the software and its appropriate use

IgG Fc sialylation is regulated during the germinal center reaction following immunization with different adjuvants

Background: Effector functions of IgG Abs are regulated by their Fc N-glycosylation pattern. IgG Fc glycans that lack galactose and terminal sialic acid residues correlate with the severity of inflammatory (auto)immune disorders and have also been linked to protection against viral infection and discussed in the context of vaccine-induced protection. In contrast, sialylated IgG Abs have shown immunosuppressive effects. Objective: We sought to investigate IgG glycosylation programming during the germinal center (GC) reaction following immunization of mice with a foreign protein antigen and different adjuvants. Methods: Mice were analyzed for GC T-cell, B-cell, and plasma cell responses, as well as for antigen-specific serum IgG subclass titers and Fc glycosylation patterns. Results: Different adjuvants induce distinct IgG(+) GC B-cell responses with specific transcriptomes and expression levels of the alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase responsible for IgG sialylation that correspond to distinct serum IgG Fc glycosylation patterns. Low IgG Fc sialylation programming in GC B cells was overall highly dependent on the Foxp3(-) follicular helper T (TFH) cell-inducing cytokine IL-6, here in particular induced by water-inoil adjuvants and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Furthermore, low IgG Fc sialylation programming was dependent on adjuvants that induced IL-27 receptor-dependent IFN-gamma(+) TFH1 cells, IL-6/IL-23-dependent IL-17A(+) T-FH17 cells, and high ratios of TFH cells to Foxp31 follicular regulatory T cells. Here, the 2 latter were dependent on M tuberculosis and its cord factor. Conclusion: This study's findings regarding adjuvant-dependent GC responses and IgG glycosylation programming may aid in the development of novel vaccination strategies to induce IgG Abs with both high affinity and defined Fc glycosylation patterns in the GC