INFLUENCE OF PROBIOTICS ON CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN THE IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SYSTEMS

Modulatory effects of three probiotic bacterial strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus K32 (L), Bifidobacterium longum GT15 (B, Enterococcus faecium L-3 (E) on expression level and contents of key cytokines were studied using PCR techniques with reverse transcription, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both cell cultures and an experimental model of intestinal dysbiosis were used in this study.The genes encoding bacteriocins, surface membrane component, pili and exopolysaccharides involved in host immune system modulation were previously identified in the B and Ebacterial strains.Investigation of probiotic strains and effects of their supernatants expression of cytokines in cell cultures of promonocyte origin (HTP-1) showed increased expression of TNFα, due to E and L supernatants. Moreover, the Bl culture induced IL-8 and IL-10 expression.In a model of Wistar rats with ampicillinand metronidazole-induced intestinal dysbiosis corrected with probiotics we have shown that the dysbiosis was accompanied by sufficient alterations in microbiota composition (Klebsiella spp. overgrowth and low contents of Faecalobacterium prausnitzii) that were observed only in the animals untreated with probiotics (control), or after administration of L.In contrast to these results, the animals treated with E and B, the following changes were revealed: 1) low expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-8, TNFα, MCP-1 inmesenteric lymph nodes and appropriate changes of their serum contents, 2) increased serum content of the anti-inflammatory TGFβ cytokine. Hence, the present study, having used two complementary models, has detected some individual features of immune modulation produced by the probiotictic strains of L. rhamnosus K32, B. longum GT15 и E. faecium L-3 which exert differential effects upon the intestinal microbiota

Изучение ассоциации однонуклеотидных полиморфных замен в генах ферментов антиоксидантной системы с риском развития рака предстательной железы в Сибирском регионе России

The influence of polymorphic substitutions in antioxidant system genes (SNPsrs1050450 in the GPX1 gene, rs1695 and rs1138272 in the GSTP1gene and rs4880 in the MnSOD gene) on the risk of prostate cancer development in men living in the Siberian region of Russia was studied. The relationship between the studied genotypes and clinical parameters (disease stage and PSA level) was analyzed. For this purpose, the incidence of the studied allelic variants was compared between 399 with prostate cancer patients and 344 men with no history of prostate cancer. Genotyping was performed using real-time PCR. No statistically significant association with the risk of developing prostate cancer was found in the studied SNPs (p>0,05). For the GSTP1SNPrs1695, the correlation with disease stage was obtained: The GG genotype occurred more frequently in patients with stage III-IV prostate cancer (OR [C.I.]=2,66 [1,15–6,18], p=0,02). Both studied SNPs of the GSTP1 gene were associated with the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in blood: the GG rs1695 genotype and TT rs1138272 genotype were associated with higher PSA levels (p=1,5×10-3)Изучено влияние ряда полиморфных замен в генах антиоксидантной системы (SNPsrs1050450 гена GPX1, rs1695 и rs1138272 гена GSTP1 и rs4880 гена MnSOD) на риск развития рака предстательной железы у мужчин, проживающих в Сибирском регионе России. Проведен анализ взаимосвязи исследуемых генотипов с клиническими параметрами (стадией заболевания и уровнем ПСА). С этой целью сравнили частоту встречаемости исследуемых аллельных вариантов у 392 пациентов с раком простаты и у 344 мужчин без онкологических заболеваний в анамнезе. Генотипирование выполнялось при помощи ПЦР в режиме реального времени. Ни для одного из исследуемых SNPs не было получено статистически значимой ассоциации с риском развития рака пред- стательной железы (p>0,05). Для SNPrs1695 гена GSTP1 получена корреляция со стадией заболевания: генотип GG статистически значимо чаще встречается у больных раком простаты III–IV стадий (OR[C.I.]=2,66 [1,15–6,18], p=0,02). Оба исследуемых SNPs гена GSTP1 ассоциированы с уровнем простат-специфического антигена (ПСА) в крови: генотип GG rs1695 и генотип TT rs1138272 ассоциированы с более высокими показателями ПСА (p=1,5×10-3)

The Cryo-EM Structure of a Complete 30S Translation Initiation Complex from Escherichia coli

Formation of the 30S initiation complex (30S IC) is an important checkpoint in regulation of gene expression. The selection of mRNA, correct start codon, and the initiator fMet-tRNAfMet requires the presence of three initiation factors (IF1, IF2, IF3) of which IF3 and IF1 control the fidelity of the process, while IF2 recruits fMet-tRNAfMet. Here we present a cryo-EM reconstruction of the complete 30S IC, containing mRNA, fMet-tRNAfMet, IF1, IF2, and IF3. In the 30S IC, IF2 contacts IF1, the 30S subunit shoulder, and the CCA end of fMet-tRNAfMet, which occupies a novel P/I position (P/I1). The N-terminal domain of IF3 contacts the tRNA, whereas the C-terminal domain is bound to the platform of the 30S subunit. Binding of initiation factors and fMet-tRNAfMet induces a rotation of the head relative to the body of the 30S subunit, which is likely to prevail through 50S subunit joining until GTP hydrolysis and dissociation of IF2 take place. The structure provides insights into the mechanism of mRNA selection during translation initiation

Micromechanical Properties of Injection-Molded Starch–Wood Particle Composites

The micromechanical properties of injection molded starch–wood particle composites were investigated as a function of particle content and humidity conditions. The composite materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The microhardness of the composites was shown to increase notably with the concentration of the wood particles. In addition,creep behavior under the indenter and temperature dependence were evaluated in terms of the independent contribution of the starch matrix and the wood microparticles to the hardness value. The influence of drying time on the density and weight uptake of the injection-molded composites was highlighted. The results revealed the role of the mechanism of water evaporation, showing that the dependence of water uptake and temperature was greater for the starch–wood composites than for the pure starch sample. Experiments performed during the drying process at 70°C indicated that the wood in the starch composites did not prevent water loss from the samples.Peer reviewe

Elongation factor G stabilizes the hybrid-state conformation of the 70S ribosome

Following peptide bond formation, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and messenger RNA (mRNA) are translocated through the ribosome, a process catalyzed by elongation factor EF-G. Here, we have used a combination of chemical footprinting, peptidyl transferase activity assays, and mRNA toeprinting to monitor the effects of EF-G on the positions of tRNA and mRNA relative to the A, P, and E sites of the ribosome in the presence of GTP, GDP, GDPNP, and fusidic acid. Chemical footprinting experiments show that binding of EF-G in the presence of the non-hydrolyzable GTP analog GDPNP or GDP·fusidic acid induces movement of a deacylated tRNA from the classical P/P state to the hybrid P/E state. Furthermore, stabilization of the hybrid P/E state by EF-G compromises P-site codon–anticodon interaction, causing frame-shifting. A deacylated tRNA bound to the P site and a peptidyl-tRNA in the A site are completely translocated to the E and P sites, respectively, in the presence of EF-G with GTP or GDPNP but not with EF-G·GDP. Unexpectedly, translocation with EF-G·GTP leads to dissociation of deacylated tRNA from the E site, while tRNA remains bound in the presence of EF-G·GDPNP, suggesting that dissociation of tRNA from the E site is promoted by GTP hydrolysis and/or EF-G release. Our results show that binding of EF-G in the presence of GDPNP or GDP·fusidic acid stabilizes the ribosomal intermediate hybrid state, but that complete translocation is supported only by EF-G·GTP or EF-G·GDPNP

Monitoring of the productivity and quality of the winter rye grain of the new yield in the Bryansk region throughout 2012–2016

Implementing the provisions of the State Program for the Development of Agriculture and the regulation of agricultural products, raw materials and food markets, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation annually monitors the gross collection and evaluation of commodity and consumer quality of grain harvested in the current year. In the current paper there has been carried out an estimation of the gross yield and productivity of winter rye; there has been characterized a ratio of the volumes of the produced food grain and non-food (feed) grain. There has been given an information on grain according to their classes and quality indicators, which allows quickly generating batches of grain balances, in order to make a balanced decision on the volume of grain export or import, on introducing grain into the state intervention fund, on a rational use of grain resources, both inside Bryansk region, and the country as a whole. It is possible to build a reliable grain balance on the basis of the monitoring results of the grain quality of the new yield in the scope of studies of composite samples taken from at least 50% of the gross yield