Peculiarities of regional marking of copper tubes in the EU and the EEA

В статье представлены результаты сравнения маркировки медных труб, выполняемой в соответствии с EN 12735–1:2010 и ГОСТ 617–2006. Маркировка в соответствии с ГОСТ 617–2006 содержит более подробную информацию о медных трубах, чем маркировка ЕСThe article presents the results of comparing the marking of copper tubes, performed in accordance with EN 12735–1:2010 and GOST 617–2006. The marking performed in accordance with GOST 617–2006 contains more detailed information about copper pipes tube, then the marking of E

Mechanism of effector capture and delivery by the type IV secretion system from Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is a bacterial pathogen that utilises a Type IV secretion (T4S) system to inject effector proteins into human macrophages. Essential to the recruitment and delivery of effectors to the T4S machinery is the membrane-embedded T4 coupling complex (T4CC). Here, we purify an intact T4CC from the Legionella membrane. It contains the DotL ATPase, the DotM and DotN proteins, the chaperone module IcmSW, and two previously uncharacterised proteins, DotY and DotZ. The atomic resolution structure reveals a DotLMNYZ hetero-pentameric core from which the flexible IcmSW module protrudes. Six of these hetero-pentameric complexes may assemble into a 1.6-MDa hexameric nanomachine, forming an inner membrane channel for effectors to pass through. Analysis of multiple cryo EM maps, further modelling and mutagenesis provide working models for the mechanism for binding and delivery of two essential classes of Legionella effectors, depending on IcmSW or DotM, respectively

The proteins DotY and DotZ modulate the dynamics and localization of the type IVB coupling complex of Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen infecting alveolar macrophages and protozoa species. Legionella utilizes a Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) to translocate over 300 effector proteins into its host cell. In a recent study, we isolated and solved the cryo-EM structure of the Type IV Coupling Complex (T4CC), a large cytoplasmic determinant associated with the inner membrane that recruits effector proteins for delivery to the T4SS for translocation. The T4CC is composed of a DotLMNYZ hetero-pentameric core from which the flexible IcmSW module flexibly protrudes. The DotY and DotZ proteins were newly reported members of this complex and their role remained elusive. In this study, we observed the effect of deleting DotY and DotZ on T4CC stability and localization. Furthermore, we found these two proteins are co-dependent, whereby the deletion of DotY resulted in DotZ absence from the coupling complex, and vice versa. Additional cryo-EM data analysis revealed the dynamic movement of the IcmSW module is modified by the DotY/Z proteins. We therefore determined the likely function of DotY and DotZ and revealed their importance on T4CC function

Structural basis of substrate progression through the bacterial chaperonin cycle

The bacterial chaperonin GroEL-GroES promotes protein folding through ATP-regulated cycles of substrate protein binding, encapsulation, and release. Here, we have used cryoEM to determine structures of GroEL, GroEL-ADP·BeF3, and GroEL-ADP·AlF3-GroES all complexed with the model substrate Rubisco. Our structures provide a series of snapshots that show how the conformation and interactions of non-native Rubisco change as it proceeds through the GroEL-GroES reaction cycle. We observe specific charged and hydrophobic GroEL residues forming strong initial contacts with non-native Rubisco. Binding of ATP or ADP·BeF3 to GroEL-Rubisco results in the formation of an intermediate GroEL complex displaying striking asymmetry in the ATP/ADP·BeF3-bound ring. In this ring, four GroEL subunits bind Rubisco and the other three are in the GroES-accepting conformation, suggesting how GroEL can recruit GroES without releasing bound substrate. Our cryoEM structures of stalled GroEL-ADP·AlF3-Rubisco-GroES complexes show Rubisco folding intermediates interacting with GroEL-GroES via different sets of residues

Plastic rearrangement of basal forebrain parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the kainite model of epilepsy

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most prevalent form of epilepsy, through the neuronal mechanisms of this syndrome remain elusive. In addition to the temporal lobe structures, it was found that the basal forebrain cholinergic cells are also involved in epileptogenesis. However, little is known about the involvement of the basal forebrain GABAergic neurons in epilepsy; despite this, they largely project to the temporal lobe and are crucial for the regulation of the hippocampal circuitry. In this study, we assessed epilepsy-induced changes in parvalbumin (PARV) immunoreactive neurons of the medial septum (MS) and of the magnocellular preoptic nucleus (MCPO) using the kainic acid (KA) model in rats. In addition, we estimated the respective changes in the cholinergic varicosities in the MS, where we observed a significant reduction in the PARV cell number (12849 ± 2715 vs. 9372 ± 1336, p = .029) and density (16.2 ± 2.62 vs. 10.5 ± 1.00 per .001 mm3, p =.001), and an increase in the density of cholinergic varicosities (47.9 ± 11.1 vs. 69.4 ± 17.8 per 30,000 µm2, p =.036) in KA-treated animals. In the MCPO, these animals showed a significant increase in somatic volume (827.9 ± 235.2 µm3 vs. 469.9 ± 79.6 µm3, p = .012) and total cell number (2268.6 ± 707.1 vs. 1362.4 ± 262.0, p =.028). These results show that the basal forebrain GABAergic cell populations undergo numerical and morphological changes in epileptic animals, which may contribute to an increased vulnerability of brain circuits to epilepsy and epilepsy-related functional impairments

LACTOFERIN IN THE PROBLEM OF ANTI-INFECTIOUS PROTECTION OF BABIES IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF LIVING

The author  summarizes  the  results  of research  of the  antibacterial,  antiviral  and  antifungal  properties  of multifunctional  human protein  — lactoferrin,  in order  to determine  the prospects  for its use in the prevention  and  treatment  of infectious  diseases  of children in their first year of life. The mechanisms of anti-infectious effect of this protein with breastfed children have been described. Basic differences between human lactoferrin and cattle lactoferrin have been shown. Biotechnology of obtaining recombinant human lactoferrin from the milk of genetically engineered dairy animals (goat-producers) has been described. According to the studies, both by physical and chemical parameters and biological activity, human lactoferrin, obtained from milk-producing  goats, corresponds to its natural counterpart

Structural journey of an insecticidal protein against western corn rootworm

The broad adoption of transgenic crops has revolutionized agriculture. However, resistance to insecticidal proteins by agricultural pests poses a continuous challenge to maintaining crop productivity and new proteins are urgently needed to replace those utilized for existing transgenic traits. We identified an insecticidal membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) protein, Mpf2Ba1, with strong activity against the devastating coleopteran pest western corn rootworm (WCR) and a novel site of action. Using an integrative structural biology approach, we determined monomeric, pre-pore and pore structures, revealing changes between structural states at high resolution. We discovered an assembly inhibition mechanism, a molecular switch that activates pre-pore oligomerization upon gut fluid incubation and solved the highest resolution MACPF pore structure to-date. Our findings demonstrate not only the utility of Mpf2Ba1 in the development of biotechnology solutions for protecting maize from WCR to promote food security, but also uncover previously unknown mechanistic principles of bacterial MACPF assembly

Оценка физического развития и питания детей в возрасте 1–3 лет, проживающих в г. Москве

Irrational feeding can lead to a child’s physical and intellectual development disorders, a decrease in the body’s ability to resist aggressive environmental factors.Aim: to evaluate the physical development and nutrition of children aged 1–3 years living in Moscow.Methods: 106 children aged 1–3 years were examined: group 1 (n = 59) was comprised of children aged 1–2 years, group 2 — children aged 2–3 years (n = 47). Anthropometric data was evaluated using AntroPlus (WHO software). The following Z-score figures were calculated: WAZ (body mass for age), HAZ (height for age) and BAZ (body mass index for age). Nutrition was evaluated by reproducing a 3-day food allowance (actual nutrition) using the Dietplan 6 software. Figures analyzed: the volume of consumed food, daily caloricity, the amount of consumed proteins, fats and carbohydrates.Results: for the majority (76.4%) of examined children BAZ was between -2 and +1. 20% of children had an excessive body mass and obesity (BAZ > 1). Children with an excessive body mass demonstrated exceeding volumes of food consumption (by about 200–300g. per day, p < 0.001), protein consumption by 47.5%, fat consumption — 36.7% and caloricity by 21.3% (p < 0.001) as compared with the recommended consumption norms.Conclusion: the revealed nutrition disorders in children aged 1–3 years (overeating and unbalanced diet) lead to an increased body mass and obesity. Children with high body mass indexes at birth and Z-score and BAZ at the time of the study can be attributed to the obesity risk group. The BAZ index is the most informative one in terms of evaluating the child’s nutritive status.Нерациональное питание может привести к нарушениям физического и интеллектуального развития ребенка, снижению сопротивляемости организма к агрессивным факторам внешней среды.Цель исследования: оценить физическое развитие и питание детей в возрасте 1–3 лет, проживающих в г. Москве.Методы: обследовано 106 детей в возрасте от 1 до 3 лет: I группу (n = 59) составили дети 1–2 лет, II группу — дети 2–3 лет (n = 47). Антропометрические данные оценивались с использованием программы WHO AnthroPlus: расчитывались показатели Z-score — массы тела для возраста (WAZ), длины тела для возраста (HAZ), а также индекс массы тела/возраст (BAZ). Оценка питания проводилась методом воспроизведения 3-дневного рациона (фактического питания) с использованием программы Dietplan 6. Анализировались объем съеденной пищи, суточная калорийность питания, количество потребляемых белков, жиров, углеводов.Результаты: для большинства (76,4%) обследованных детей были характерны средневозрастные показатели физического развития и нутритивного статуса (BAZ от -2 до +1). У 1/5 детей были выявлены избыточная масса тела и ожирение (BAZ > 1). При избыточной массе тела, особенно у детей 1–2 лет, было установлено превышение потребляемых объемов пищи на 200–300 г/сут, белка — на 47,5%, жира — на 36,7% и энергетической ценности — на 21,3% (p < 0,001) по сравнению с рекомендуемыми нормами потребления.Заключение: выявленные нарушения питания у детей в возрасте 1–3 лет (переедание и разбалансированный рацион) приводят к развитию у них избыточной массы тела вплоть до ожирения. Детей с высокими показателями веса при рождении и Z-score BAZ на момент исследования можно отнести к группе риска по развитию ожирения. Наиболее информативным для оценки нутритивного статуса ребенка является показатель BAZ

Best practices for managing large CryoEM facilities

Microscopic imaging and technolog