Optimization of protein extraction from Aspergillus nidulans for gel electrophoresis

Efficient extraction of proteins from filamentous fungi is difficult both as a result of high endogenous protease activity, the existence of a hard cell wall, and the tendency of hyphae to clump. We have had difficulty using published protocols in extracting high molecular weight proteins (\u3e150 kDa), and in extraction from germlings grown on minimal media with a poor carbon source such as glycerol. In order to address these problems, we have compared several different extraction protocols and found the protocol utilizing 9M Urea-sample buffer to be the fastest and most efficient with sample variation being kept to a minimum

Dynamics of a many-particle Landau-Zener model: inverse sweep

We consider dynamics of a slowly time-dependent Dicke model, which represents a many-body generalization of the Landau-Zener model. In particular, the model describes narrow Feshbach resonance passage in an ultracold gas of Fermi atoms. Adiabaticity is destroyed when a parameter crosses a critical value, even at very slow sweeping rates of a parameter. The dynamics crucially depends on direction of the sweep. We apply our recent analysis [A.P. Itin, P. Torma, arXiv:0901.4778v1] to the "inverse" sweep through the resonance, corresponding (in a context of Feshbach resonance passage) to dissociation of molecules. On a level of the mean-field approximation, the dynamics is equivalent to a molecular condensate formation from Bose atoms within a two-mode model. Mapping the system to a Painlev\'e equation allows us to calculate deviation from adiabaticity at very slow sweeps analytically.Comment: 3 pages. Submitted to CEWQO 2009 on 14th Februar

Non-adiabacity and large flucutations in a many particle Landau Zener problem

We consider the behavior of an interacting many particle system under slow external driving -- a many body generalization of the Landau-Zener paradigm. We find that a conspiracy of interactions and driving leads to physics profoundly different from that of the single particle limit: for practically all values of the driving rate the particle distributions in Hilbert space are very broad, a phenomenon caused by a strong amplification of quantum fluctuations in the driving process. These fluctuations are 'non-adiabatic' in that even at very slow driving it is exceedingly difficult to push the center of the distribution towards the limit of full ground state occupancy. We obtain these results by a number of complementary theoretical approaches, including diagrammatic perturbation theory, semiclassical analysis, and exact diagonalization.Comment: 25 pages, 16 figure

COMPLEX OF TREATMENT, REHABILITATIVE AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES AT THE GROUP ACUTE POISONING WITH ANHYDROUS HYDROGEN FLUORIDE AND NITROGEN DIOxIDE IN INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS

The article presents the experience of medicosanitary department of the factory of titanium alloys production. on the organization of stage medical aid for employees at the acute occupational poisoning with hydrogen fluoride and nitrogen dioxide. The article also presents data of clinical examination of people suffered in different terms of post-intoxicational period and the effectiveness of the complex of measures

Aspergillus strain typing in the genomics era

Multiple reasons may justify a need for strain typing purposes, but the most common reason is to delineate the epidemiological relationships between isolates. The availability of whole genome sequences has greatly influenced our ability to develop highly targeted and efficient strain typing methods fur these purposes. Some strain typing methods may serve dual goals: not only can they be used to discriminate between multiple isolates of a certain species, they can also aid in the recognition, identification, description and validation process of a fungal species

Lattice strain causes non-radiative losses in halide perovskites

Halide perovskites are found to exhibit strain patterns over large areas, which influences the lifetimes of charge carriers.EPSR

Aspergillus fumigatus and aspergillosis: From basics to clinics

The airborne fungus Aspergillus fumigatus poses a serious health threat to humans by causing numerous invasive infections and a notable mortality in humans, especially in immunocompromised patients. Mould-active azoles are the frontline therapeutics employed to treat aspergillosis. The global emergence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates in clinic and environment, however, notoriously limits the therapeutic options of mould-active antifungals and potentially can be attributed to a mortality rate reaching up to 100 %. Although specific mutations in CYP51A are the main cause of azole resistance, there is a new wave of azole-resistant isolates with wild-type CYP51A genotype challenging the efficacy of the current diagnostic tools. Therefore, applications of whole-genome sequencing are increasingly gaining popularity to overcome such challenges. Prominent echinocandin tolerance, as well as liver and kidney toxicity posed by amphotericin B, necessitate a continuous quest for novel antifungal drugs to combat emerging azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates. Animal models and the tools used for genetic engineering require further refinement to facilitate a better understanding about the resistance mechanisms, virulence, and immune reactions orchestrated against A. fumigatus. This review paper comprehensively discusses the current clinical challenges caused by A. fumigatus and provides insights on how to address them.AA, RGR, and DSP were supported by NIH AI 109025. MH was supported by NIH UL1TR001442. AC was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (CEECIND/03628/2017 and PTDC/MED GEN/28778/2017). Additional support was provided by FCT (UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020), the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013 and NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023), the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no. 847507, and the “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434) and FCT under the agreement LCF/PR/HP17/52190003. DJA was supported by CF Trust Strategic Research Centre TrIFIC (SRC015), Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award 219551/Z/19/Z and the NIHR Centre for Antimicrobial Optimisation.S

Local Strain Heterogeneity Influences the Optoelectronic Properties of Halide Perovskites

Halide perovskites are promising semiconductors for optoelectronics, yet thin films show substantial microscale heterogeneity. Understanding the origins of these variations is essential for mitigating parasitic losses such as non-radiative decay. Here, we probe the structural and chemical origins of the heterogeneity by utilizing scanning X-ray diffraction beamlines at two different synchrotrons combined with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to spatially characterize the crystallographic properties of individual micrometer-sized perovskite grains in high-quality films. We reveal new levels of heterogeneity on the ten-micrometer scale (super-grains) and even ten-nanometer scale (sub-grain domains). By directly correlating these properties with their corresponding local time-resolved photoluminescence properties, we find that regions showing the greatest luminescence losses correspond to strained regions, which arise from enhanced defect concentrations. Our work reveals remarkably complex heterogeneity across multiple length scales, shedding new light on the defect tolerance of perovskites

Organization multistage system for preventive measures to reduce occupational risk

Innovative approach in the recovery of workers tor the production of titanium alloys provides for targeted multistage rehabilitation activities in groups at multi-increased occupational risk.Инновационный подход в оздоровлении работников по производству титановых сплавов предусматривает проведение адресных многоэтапных реабилитационных мероприятий в группах повышенного профессионального риска

Transcriptional and Proteomic Analysis of the Aspergillus fumigatus ΔprtT Protease-Deficient Mutant

Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common opportunistic mold pathogen of humans, infecting immunocompromised patients. The fungus invades the lungs and other organs, causing severe damage. Penetration of the pulmonary epithelium is a key step in the infectious process. A. fumigatus produces extracellular proteases to degrade the host structural barriers. The A. fumigatus transcription factor PrtT controls the expression of multiple secreted proteases. PrtT shows similarity to the fungal Gal4-type Zn(2)-Cys(6) DNA-binding domain of several transcription factors. In this work, we further investigate the function of this transcription factor by performing a transcriptional and a proteomic analysis of the ΔprtT mutant. Unexpectedly, microarray analysis revealed that in addition to the expected decrease in protease expression, expression of genes involved in iron uptake and ergosterol synthesis was dramatically decreased in the ΔprtT mutant. A second finding of interest is that deletion of prtT resulted in the upregulation of four secondary metabolite clusters, including genes for the biosynthesis of toxic pseurotin A. Proteomic analysis identified reduced levels of three secreted proteases (ALP1 protease, TppA, AFUA_2G01250) and increased levels of three secreted polysaccharide-degrading enzymes in the ΔprtT mutant possibly in response to its inability to derive sufficient nourishment from protein breakdown. This report highlights the complexity of gene regulation by PrtT, and suggests a potential novel link between the regulation of protease secretion and the control of iron uptake, ergosterol biosynthesis and secondary metabolite production in A. fumigatus