659 research outputs found
Bacterial-epithelial contact is a key determinant of host innate immune responses to enteropathogenic and enteroaggregative escherichia coli
Background: Enteropathogenic (EPEC) and Enteroaggregative (EAEC) E. coli have similar, but distinct clinical symptoms and modes of pathogenesis. Nevertheless when they infect the gastrointestinal tract, it is thought that their flagellin causes IL-8 release leading to neutrophil recruitment and gastroenteritis. However, this may not be the whole story as the effect of bacterial adherence to IEC innate response(s) remains unclear. Therefore, we have characterized which bacterial motifs contribute to the innate epithelial response to EPEC and EAEC, using a range of EPEC and EAEC isogenic mutant strains.
Methodology: Caco-2 and HEp-2 cell lines were exposed to prototypical EPEC strain E2348/69 or EAEC strain O42, in addition to a range of isogenic mutant strains. E69 [LPS, non-motile, non-adherent, type three secretion system (TTSS) negative, signalling negative] or O42 [non-motile, non-adherent]. IL-8 and CCL20 protein secretion was measured. Bacterial surface structures were assessed by negative staining Transmission Electron Microscopy. The Fluorescent-actin staining test was carried out to determine bacterial adherence.
Results: Previous studies have reported a balance between the host pro-inflammatory response and microbial suppression of this response. In our system an overall balance towards the host pro-inflammatory response is seen with the E69 WT and to a greater extent O42 WT, which is in fit with clinical symptoms. On removal of the external EPEC structures flagella, LPS, BFP, EspA and EspC; and EAEC flagella and AAF, the host inflammatory response is reduced. However, removal of E69 lymphostatin increases the host inflammatory response suggesting involvement in the bacterial mediated anti-inflammatory response.
Conclusion: Epithelial responses were due to combinations of bacterial agonists, with host-bacterial contact a key determinant of these innate responses. Host epithelial recognition was offset by the microbe's ability to down-regulate the inflammatory response. Understanding the complexity of this host-microbial balance will contribute to improved vaccine design for infectious gastroenteritis
Dispersion management using betatron resonances in an ultracold-atom storage ring
Specific velocities of particles circulating in a storage ring can lead to
betatron resonances at which static perturbations of the particles' orbit yield
large transverse (betatron) oscillations. We have observed betatron resonances
in an ultracold-atom storage ring by direct observation of betatron motion.
These resonances caused a near-elimination of the longitudinal dispersion of
atomic beams propagating at resonant velocities, an effect which can improve
the performance of atom interferometric devices. Both the resonant velocities
and the strength of the resonances were varied by deliberate modifications to
the storage ring.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Also available at
http://physics.berkeley.edu/research/ultracol
Cavity-assisted quantum bath engineering
We demonstrate quantum bath engineering for a superconducting artificial atom
coupled to a microwave cavity. By tailoring the spectrum of microwave photon
shot noise in the cavity, we create a dissipative environment that autonomously
relaxes the atom to an arbitrarily specified coherent superposition of the
ground and excited states. In the presence of background thermal excitations,
this mechanism increases the state purity and effectively cools the dressed
atom state to a low temperature
Bose-Einstein condensation in a circular waveguide
We have produced Bose-Einstein condensates in a ring-shaped magnetic
waveguide. The few-millimeter diameter non-zero bias ring is formed from a
time-averaged quadrupole ring. Condensates which propagate around the ring make
several revolutions within the time it takes for them to expand to fill the
ring. The ring shape is ideally suited for studies of vorticity in a
multiply-connected geometry and is promising as a rotation sensor.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
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