Immunchemische und massenspektrometrische Charakterisierung der Shiga Toxin-Rezeptoren in porzinen Geweben und Organen

Shiga Toxin 2e-produzierende Escherichia coli (STEC) sind bei Schweinen für die Ödemkrankheit verantwortlich. Der Stx-Subtyp bindet an Glykosphingolipide (GSL) der Globo-Serie. Es wurde ein umfassender Rezeptorstatus von 26 Organen und Geweben eines männlichen und eines weiblichen Absetzferkels immunchemisch und massenspektrometrisch mittels ESI-Q-TOF MS erstellt. Die Stx-Rezeptoren Globotriaosylceramid (Gb3Cer) und Globotetraosylceramid (Gb4Cer) mit den Lipidvariationen Cer (d18:1, C16:0), Cer (d18:1, C22:0) und Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0) wurden in allen untersuchten Geweben und Organen der Ferkel beiderlei Geschlechts nachgewiesen. Neben Gb3Cer und Gb4Cer bindet Stx2e als einziger bisher bekannter Stx-Subtyp auch an das Forssman-GSL, das vom Menschen nicht exprimiert wird und beim Schwein nur in Muskelgewebe und im Jejunum des männlichen Tieres detektiert wurde.<br

Atom Interferometers

Interference with atomic and molecular matter waves is a rich branch of atomic physics and quantum optics. It started with atom diffraction from crystal surfaces and the separated oscillatory fields technique used in atomic clocks. Atom interferometry is now reaching maturity as a powerful art with many applications in modern science. In this review we first describe the basic tools for coherent atom optics including diffraction by nanostructures and laser light, three-grating interferometers, and double wells on AtomChips. Then we review scientific advances in a broad range of fields that have resulted from the application of atom interferometers. These are grouped in three categories: (1) fundamental quantum science, (2) precision metrology and (3) atomic and molecular physics. Although some experiments with Bose Einstein condensates are included, the focus of the review is on linear matter wave optics, i.e. phenomena where each single atom interferes with itself.Comment: submitted to Reviews of Modern Physic

A Topographical Atlas of Shiga Toxin 2e Receptor Distribution in the Tissues of Weaned Piglets

Shiga toxin (Stx) 2e of Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the primary virulence factor in the development of pig edema disease shortly after weaning. Stx2e binds to the globo-series glycosphingolipids (GSLs) globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer, Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer) and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer, GalNAcβ1-3Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer), the latter acting as the preferential Stx2e receptor. We determined Stx receptor profiles of 25 different tissues of a male and a female weaned piglet using immunochemical solid phase binding assays combined with mass spectrometry. All probed tissues harbored GSL receptors, ranging from high (category I) over moderate (category II) to low content (category III). Examples of Gb4Cer expression in category I tissues are small intestinal ileum, kidney pelvis and whole blood, followed by colon, small intestinal duodenum and jejunum belonging to category II, and kidney cortex, cerebrum and cerebellum as members of category III organs holding true for both genders. Dominant Gb3Cer and Gb4Cer lipoforms were those with ceramides carrying constant sphingosine (d18:1) and a variable C16:0, C22:0 or C24:1/C24:0 fatty acid. From the mapping data, we created a topographical atlas for Stx2e receptors in piglet tissues and organs, which might be helpful to further investigations on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie infections of Stx2e-producing STEC in pigs and their zoonotic potential for humans

The Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph for the VLT

The Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph (ERIS) is an instrument that both extends and enhances the fundamental diffraction limited imaging and spectroscopy capability for the VLT. It replaces two instruments that were being maintained beyond their operational lifetimes, combines their functionality on a single focus, provides a new wavefront sensing module for natural and laser guide stars that makes use of the Adaptive Optics Facility, and considerably improves on their performance. The observational modes ERIS provides are integral field spectroscopy at 1a 2.5 μm, imaging at 1a 5 μm with several options for high-contrast imaging, and long-slit spectroscopy at 3â 4 μm. The instrument is installed at the Cassegrain focus of UT4 at the VLT and, following its commissioning during 2022, has been made available to the community.ISSN:0004-6361ISSN:1432-074

First on-sky results of ERIS at VLT

editorial reviewedERIS (Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph) is a new adaptive optics instrument installed at the Cassegrain focus of the VLT-UT4 telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. ERIS consists of two near infrared instruments: SPIFFIER, an integral field unit (IFU) spectrograph covering J to K bands, and NIX, an imager covering J to M bands. ERIS has an adaptive optics system able to work with both LGS and NGS. The Assembly Integration Verification (AIV) phase of ERIS at the Paranal Observatory was carried out starting in December 2021, followed by several commissioning runs in 2022. This contribution will describe the first preliminary results of the on-sky performance of ERIS during its commissioning and the future perspectives based on the preliminary scientific results