From DNA sequence to application: possibilities and complications

The development of sophisticated genetic tools during the past 15 years have facilitated a tremendous increase of fundamental and application-oriented knowledge of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their bacteriophages. This knowledge relates both to the assignments of open reading frames (ORF’s) and the function of non-coding DNA sequences. Comparison of the complete nucleotide sequences of several LAB bacteriophages has revealed that their chromosomes have a fixed, modular structure, each module having a set of genes involved in a specific phase of the bacteriophage life cycle. LAB bacteriophage genes and DNA sequences have been used for the construction of temperature-inducible gene expression systems, gene-integration systems, and bacteriophage defence systems. The function of several LAB open reading frames and transcriptional units have been identified and characterized in detail. Many of these could find practical applications, such as induced lysis of LAB to enhance cheese ripening and re-routing of carbon fluxes for the production of a specific amino acid enantiomer. More knowledge has also become available concerning the function and structure of non-coding DNA positioned at or in the vicinity of promoters. In several cases the mRNA produced from this DNA contains a transcriptional terminator-antiterminator pair, in which the antiterminator can be stabilized either by uncharged tRNA or by interaction with a regulatory protein, thus preventing formation of the terminator so that mRNA elongation can proceed. Evidence has accumulated showing that also in LAB carbon catabolite repression in LAB is mediated by specific DNA elements in the vicinity of promoters governing the transcription of catabolic operons. Although some biological barriers have yet to be solved, the vast body of scientific information presently available allows the construction of tailor-made genetically modified LAB. Today, it appears that societal constraints rather than biological hurdles impede the use of genetically modified LAB.

Selected Schizosaccharomyces pombe Strains Have Characteristics That Are Beneficial for Winemaking

At present, wine is generally produced using Saccharomyces yeast followed by Oenococus bacteria to complete malolactic fermentation. This method has some unsolved problems, such as the management of highly acidic musts and the production of potentially toxic products including biogenic amines and ethyl carbamate. Here we explore the potential of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to solve these problems. We characterise an extensive worldwide collection of S. pombe strains according to classic biochemical parameters of oenological interest. We identify three genetically different S. pombe strains that appear suitable for winemaking. These strains compare favourably to standard Saccharomyces cerevisiae winemaking strains, in that they perform effective malic acid deacidification and significantly reduce levels of biogenic amines and ethyl carbamate precursors without the need for any secondary bacterial malolactic fermentation. These findings indicate that the use of certain S. pombe strains could be advantageous for winemaking in regions where malic acid is problematic, and these strains also show superior performance with respect to food safety

Urinary retention: implications of low-fidelity simulation training on the self-confidence of nurses

OBJETIVO Avaliar o nível de autoconfiança de enfermeiros na assistência de enfermagem na retenção urinária antes e após atividade simulada de baixa fidelidade. MÉTODO Estudo quase-experimental realizado junto aos enfermeiros lotados nas unidades de atendimento de município do interior do estado de São Paulo. Os dados foram coletados durante a realização de uma oficina pedagógica que contou com atividade simulada de baixa fidelidade. RESULTADOS Participaram do estudo 42 enfermeiros, a maioria do sexo feminino e com mais de 15 anos de atuação. Após o treino simulado de baixa fidelidade os enfermeiros demonstraram aumento significativo (p < 0,05) na autoconfiança relacionada à assistência de enfermagem na retenção urinária. Os menores escores autoatribuídos durante a atividade foram relacionados à avaliação objetiva da retenção urinária. CONCLUSÃO A simulação de baixa fidelidade é um recurso efetivo no aprimoramento de enfermeiros no que diz respeito à assistência de enfermagem na retenção urinária.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the confidence level of nurses in nursing care in urinary retention before and after low-fidelity simulation training. METHOD This was a quasi-experimental study carried out among nurses stationed in municipal care units in the interior of São Paulo State. Data were collected during the course of a pedagogical workshop that used low-fidelity simulation training. RESULTS The study included 42 nurses, mostly female with over 15 years of experience. After low-fidelity simulation training, nurses showed a significant increase (pOBJETIVO Evaluar el nivel de autoconfianza de enfermeros en la asistencia de enfermería en la retención urinaria antes y después de actividad simulada de baja fidelidad. MÉTODO Estudio cuasi-experimental realizado junto a los enfermeros ubicados en las unidades de atención de municipio del interior del Estado de São Paulo. Los datos fueron recolectados durante la realización de un taller pedagógico que contó con actividad simulada de baja fidelidad. RESULTADOS Participaron en el estudio 42 enfermeros, la mayoría del sexo femenino y con más de 15 años de actuación. Después del entrenamiento simulado de baja fidelidad, los enfermeros demostraron aumento significativo (p < 0,05) en la autoconfianza relacionada con la asistencia de enfermería en la retención urinaria. Los menores puntajes autoatribuidos durante la actividad estuvieron relacionados con la evaluación objetiva de la retención urinaria. CONCLUSIÓN La simulación de baja fidelidad es un recurso efectivo en el perfeccionamiento de enfermeros en lo que se refiere a la asistencia de enfermería en la retención urinaria