The antimicrobial effects of the alginate oligomer OligoG CF-5/20 are independent of direct bacterial cell membrane disruption

Concerns about acquisition of antibiotic resistance have led to increasing demand for new antimicrobial therapies. OligoG CF-5/20 is an alginate oligosaccharide previously shown to have antimicrobial and antibiotic potentiating activity. We investigated the structural modification of the bacterial cell wall by OligoG CF-5/20 and its effect on membrane permeability. Binding of OligoG CF-5/20 to the bacterial cell surface was demonstrated in Gram-negative bacteria. Permeability assays revealed that OligoG CF-5/20 had virtually no membrane-perturbing effects. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) surface charge and aggregation were unaltered in the presence of OligoG CF-5/20. Small angle neutron scattering and circular dichroism spectroscopy showed no substantial change to the structure of LPS in the presence of OligoG CF-5/20, however, isothermal titration calorimetry demonstrated a weak calcium-mediated interaction. Metabolomic analysis confirmed no change in cellular metabolic response to a range of osmolytes when treated with OligoG CF-5/20. This data shows that, although weak interactions occur between LPS and OligoG CF-5/20 in the presence of calcium, the antimicrobial effects of OligoG CF-5/20 are not related to the induction of structural alterations in the LPS or cell permeability. These results suggest a novel mechanism of action that may avoid the common route in acquisition of resistance via LPS structural modification

Nature meets nurture: molecular genetics of gastric cancer

The immensity of genes and molecules implicated in gastric carcinogenesis is overwhelming and the relevant importance of some of these molecules is too often unclear. This review serves to bring us up-to-date with the latest findings as well as to look at the larger picture in terms of how to tackle the problem of solving this multi-piece puzzle. In this review, the environmental nurturing of intestinal cancer is discussed, beginning with epidemiology (known causative factors for inducing molecular change), an update of H. pylori research, including the role of inflammation and stem cells in premalignant lesions. The role of E-cadherin in the nature (genotype) of diffuse gastric cancer is highlighted, and finally the ever growing discipline of SNP analysis (including IL1B) is discussed

Nicotinamide's Ups and Downs:Consequences for Fertility, Development, Longevity and Diseases of Poverty and Affluence

Aims and Scope: To further explore the role of dietary nicotinamide in both brain development and diseases, particularly those of ageing. Articles cover neurodegenerative disease and cancer. Also discussed are the effects of nicotinamide, contained in meat and supplements and derived from symbionts, on the major transitions of disease and fertility from ancient times up to the present day. A key role for the tryptophan – NAD ‘de novo’ and immune tolerance pathway are discussed at length in the context of fertility and longevity and the transitions from immune paresis to Treg-mediated immune tolerance and then finally to intolerance and their associated diseases. Abstract: Nicotinamide in human evolution increased cognitive power in a positive feedback loop originally involving hunting. As the precursor to metabolic master molecule NAD it is, as vitamin B3, vital for health. Paradoxically, a lower dose on a diverse plant then cereal-based diet fuelled population booms from the Mesolithic onwards, by upping immune tolerance of the foetus. Increased tolerance of risky symbionts, whether in the gut or TB, that excrete nicotinamide co-evolved as buffers for when diet was inadequate. High biological fertility, despite disease trade-offs, avoided the extinction of Homo sapiens and heralded the dawn of a conscious, creative, and pro-fertility culture. Nicotinamide equity now would stabilise populations and prevent NAD-based diseases of poverty and affluence

Material-oriented product development by QFD4Mat material selection strategy approach

Beyond the already published SpringerBrief of the author on Material Selection strategy titled “Material Selections by a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Approach”, US Springer, 2015, the QFD4Mat method is presented as it has been teaching to engineering students as material selection strategy learning tool, as well as it has been adopting in big automotive sector industry that employs training and knowledge transfer. Structured on the classic quality function deployment approach, one key of success of QFD4Mat method is its open-source customizable platform by which any multidisciplinary teamwork with varying specialties and languages can actively participate to specific product development decision-making process, together with material specialists. The QFD4Mat method goes beyond usual Quality Function Deployment (shortly, QFD) technique by creation of two useful graphic analysis tools: (a) the material value curves for product and the Performance–Cost–Receptiveness (PCR) bubble maps, namely, two immediate infographic snapshots of the best product value material solution for the specific challenge

The effects of educational intervention on nutritional behaviour in alcohol dependent patients

To evaluate the nutritional status and the impact of an educational intervention on nutritional behaviour in alcohol-dependent patients. Methods: A pre-and post-intervention questionnaire and a follow-up interview were administered to 58 patients of a residential alcohol treatment service. Results: Females were at lower risk of being overweight than males, even after adjusting for amount and preferred type of alcohol beverage. Before intervention, 19% consumed 3 meals/day. Following the educational intervention, 22.2% of participants improved their knowledge. After 6 months, when 45 patients agreed to a telephone interview of whom 80% reported continued abstinence, 70.7% reported eating more than 3 meals/day. Conclusions: Nutritional behaviour of alcohol patients after residential treatments improved during follow-up, and it is possible that an educational intervention to increase knowledge on healthy nutrition style may have contributed

Could molecular effects of Caulerpa racemosa metabolites modulate the impact on fish populations of Diplodus sargus?

The green alga Caulerpa racemosa is a non-native, invasive species in the Mediterranean, and an important stressor for several native organisms. The algal capacity to produce secondary metabolites has been suggested to modulate success of the C. racemosa invasion, although many of potentially involved biological pathways still remain unexplored. In this respect, the aim of the present study was to investigate some molecular and cellular effects in the white seabream Diplodus sargus, an ecologically key species, which included the alien C. racemosa in its diet. Organisms were sampled in 2 seasonal periods from 3 locations of Southern Italy, each characterized by different levels of algal abundance. The level of caulerpin, one of the main secondary algal metabolites, in fish tissues has been used as an indicator of the trophic exposure to the seaweed and related with molecular and cellular responses. Chemical analyses indicated that fish from invaded sites can accumulate caulerpin, with liver concentrations ranging from a few up to hundreds of mg/g. Biomarkers analyses revealed only limited alterations of the main antioxidant defences, such as glutathione reductase and levels of glutathione; on the other hand, increased enzymatic activities of cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferases and acyl CoA oxidase, as well as enhanced gene transcription for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, cytochrome P4501A and vitellogenin 1 were observed in fish more exposed to C. racemosa as indicated by liver concentrations of caulerpin higher than 50 mg/g. Despite a direct molecular relationship with this algal metabolite could not be established, our results suggest that a C. racemosa enriched diet can modulate biotransformation and fatty acids metabolism of D. sargus. Assessing whether similar effects represent short- or long-term effects will be of crucial importance to understand consequences on the general health status and reproductive performance of exposed key fish species in the Mediterranean region

Microplastiche come sorgente di Contaminazione e di rischio Ecotossicologico per gli organismi marini

La presenza sempre più cospicua di rifiuti plastici in mare sta costituendo un problema ambientale emergente. Negli ultimi 10 anniparticolare attenzione è stata rivolta alle microplastiche (particelle<5mm) che, acausa dell’elevato rapporto superficie volume, possono adsorbire differenti classi di contaminanti, rappresentando quindi una rischiosa fonte di esposizione per gli organismi marini. Tale ipotesi tuttavia non è ancora stata supportata da evidenze sperimentali dirette. In questo studio è stata valutata l'efficienza di microparticelle di polietilene (PE) e di polistirolo (PS) di adsorbire pirene, scelto come molecola rappresentativa della classe degli idrocarburi policiclici aromatici; i risultati ottenuti in laboratorio sono stati comparati con quelli relativi alla caratterizazione chimica di microplastiche campionate lungo le coste marchigiane. Esperimenti di esposizione di mitili Mytilus galloprovincialisa plastiche vergini e contaminate hanno permesso di valutare il potenziale trasferimento trofico degli IPA veicolati dalle plastiche e gli effetti cellulari e biochimici indotti. I risultati mostrano una elevata capacità delle microplastiche di adsorbire pirene; lo studio sulla localizzazione tissutale delle microparticelle nei mitili esposti rivela la loro presenza nell’emolinfa, nelle branchie ed in particolare nel tessuto digestivo, dove è stato anche osservato un elevato accumulo di pirene. Le alterazioni cellulari causate dall’esposizione ai polimeri sono state valutate attraverso l’analisi di una ampia batteria di biomarkers, tra cui quelli di proliferazione perossisomiale, stress ossidativo, perossidazione lipidica, alterazione lisosomiale e di danno genotossico. Attraverso un approccio innovativo di DNA-microarray, è stato analizzato anche il profilo di espressione genica nella ghiandola. Questo studio ha dimostrato che le microplastiche possono adsorbire efficacemente i contaminanti come gli idrocarburi policiclici aromatici, evidenziando per la prima volta la loro biodisponibiltà per gli organismi marini che mostrano anche un'ampia gamma di effetti molecolari e cellulari in risposta a polimeri sia vergini che contaminati