High-quality draft genome sequence of pseudomonas wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T

Pseudomonas wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T was isolated in 2014 from forest soil. The organism belongs taxonomically to the Pseudomonas putida group, members of which have been well studied for their potential in biotechnological applications. We present here the draft genome sequence of P. wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T

Comparative genomic analysis of the biotechnological potential of the novel species Pseudomonas wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T and Pseudomonas reidholzensis CCOS 865T

In recent years, the use of whole-cell biocatalysts and biocatalytic enzymes in biotechnological applications originating from the genus Pseudomonas has greatly increased. In 2014, two new species within the Pseudomonas putida group were isolated from Swiss forest soil. In this study, the high quality draft genome sequences of Pseudomonas wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T and Pseudomonas reidholzensis CCOS 865T were used in a comparative genomics approach to identify genomic features that either di ered between these two new species or to selected members of the P. putida group. The genomes of P. wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T and P. reidholzensis CCOS 865T were found to share genomic features for the degradation of aromatic compounds or the synthesis of secondary metabolites. In particular, genes encoding for biocatalytic relevant enzymes belonging to the class of oxidoreductases, proteases and isomerases were found, that could yield potential applications in biotechnology. Ecologically relevant features revealed that both species are probably playing an important role in the degradation of soil organic material, the accumulation of phosphate and biocontrol against plant pathogens

High-quality draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas reidholzensis strain CCOS 865T

We have sequenced and assembled the genome of Pseudomonas reidholzensis CCOS 865T, which was isolated in 2014 from forest soil. Members of the genus Pseudomonas play important roles in environmental systems and are utilized in many biotechnological processes. The genome of this species may provide an important resource for the discovery of novel enzyme activities

Purifying selection in corvids is less efficient on islands

Funding was provided by the European Research Council (ERCStG-336536 FuncSpecGen to J.B.W.W.), the Swedish Research Council Vetenskapsrådet (621-2013-4510 to J.B.W.W.), the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (to J.B.W.W.), the Lawski foundation (to V.E.K. and J.B.W.W.), the German Research Foundation (KU 3402/1-1 to V.E.K.), the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/G023913/2 to C.R.), and the New Zealand Marsden Fund (to G.R.H.).Theory predicts that deleterious mutations accumulate more readily in small populations. As a consequence, mutation load is expected to be elevated in species where life-history strategies and geographic or historical contingencies reduce the number of reproducing individuals. Yet, few studies have empirically tested this prediction using genome-wide data in a comparative framework. We collected whole-genome sequencing data for 147 individuals across seven crow species (Corvus spp.). For each species, we estimated the distribution of fitness effects of deleterious mutations and compared it with proxies of the effective population size Ne. Island species with comparatively smaller geographic range sizes had a significantly increased mutation load. These results support the view that small populations have an elevated risk of mutational meltdown, which may contribute to the higher extinction rates observed in island species.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mechanisms behind temsirolimus resistance causing reactivated growth and invasive behavior of bladder cancer cells in vitro

Background: Although mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, such as temsirolimus, show promise in treating bladder cancer, acquired resistance often hampers efficacy. This study evaluates mechanisms leading to resistance. Methods: Cell growth, proliferation, cell cycle phases, and cell cycle regulating proteins were compared in temsirolimus resistant (res) and sensitive (parental—par) RT112 and UMUC3 bladder cancer cells. To evaluate invasive behavior, adhesion to vascular endothelium or to immobilized extracellular matrix proteins and chemotactic activity were examined. Integrin α and β subtypes were analyzed and blocking was done to evaluate physiologic integrin relevance. Results: Growth of RT112res could no longer be restrained by temsirolimus and was even enhanced in UMUC3res, accompanied by accumulation in the S- and G2/M-phase. Proteins of the cdk-cyclin and Akt-mTOR axis increased, whereas p19, p27, p53, and p73 decreased in resistant cells treated with low-dosed temsirolimus. Chemotactic activity of RT112res/UMUC3res was elevated following temsirolimus re-exposure, along with significant integrin α2, α3, and β1 alterations. Blocking revealed a functional switch of the integrins, driving the resistant cells from being adhesive to being highly motile. Conclusion: Temsirolimus resistance is associated with reactivation of bladder cancer growth and invasive behavior. The α2, α3, and β1 integrins could be attractive treatment targets to hinder temsirolimus resistance

A genome-wide investigation of adaptive signatures in protein-coding genes related to tool behaviour in New Caledonian and Hawaiian crows

Funding: A David Phillips Fellowship to C.R. from the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC; grant BB/G023913/2). Further funding for personnel and data generation of the remaining species was provided by the European Research Council (ERCStG-336536 FuncSpecGen to J.B.W.W.), the Swedish Research Council Vetenskapsrådet (621-2013-4510 to J.B.W.W.), the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (to J.B.W.W.), the Lawski foundation (to V.E.K. and J.B.W.W.) and the German Research Foundation (KU 3402/1-1 to V.E.K.). A Marsden Fund Grant to G.R.H., R.D.G. and N.J.G. from the Royal Society of New Zealand (UOA1208), a Japanese Society for Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (H.A.), together with funding from University of Auckland (G.R.H. and R.D.G.), the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, and University of Otago (N.J.G.). N.D. acknowledges funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (P2SKP3_165031 and P300PA_177845) and the Carl Tryggers Foundation.Very few animals habitually manufacture and use tools. It has been suggested that advanced tool behaviour co-evolves with a suite of behavioural, morphological and life-history traits. In fact, there are indications for such an adaptive complex in tool-using crows (genus Corvus species). Here, we sequenced the genomes of two habitually tool-using and ten non-tool-using crow species to search for genomic signatures associated with a tool-using lifestyle. Using comparative genomic and population genetic approaches, we screened for signals of selection in protein-coding genes in the tool-using New Caledonian and Hawaiian crows. While we detected signals of recent selection in New Caledonian crows near genes associated with bill morphology, our data indicate that genetic changes in these two lineages are surprisingly subtle, with little evidence at present for convergence. We explore the biological explanations for these findings, such as the relative roles of gene regulation and protein-coding changes, as well as the possibility that statistical power to detect selection in recently diverged lineages may have been insufficient. Our study contributes to a growing body of literature aiming to decipher the genetic basis of recently evolved complex behaviour.PostprintPeer reviewe

Blocking integrin ?1 decreases adhesion in chemoresistant urothelial cancer cell lines

Treatment failure in metastatic bladder cancer is commonly caused by acquisition of resistance to chemotherapy in association with tumor progression. Since alterations of integrins can influence the adhesive and invasive behaviors of urothelial bladder cancer cell lines, the present study aimed to evaluate the role of integrins in bladder cancer cells with acquired resistance to standard first-line chemotherapy with gemcitabine, and cisplatin. Therefore, four gemcitabine- and four cisplatin-resistant sublines out of a panel of four parental urothelial bladder cancer cell lines (TCC-SUP, HT1376, T24, and 5637) were used. Expression of integrin subunits ?3, ?5, ?6, ?1, ?3, and ?4 was detected using flow cytometry. Adhesion and chemotaxis were analyzed. For functional assays, integrin ?1 was attenuated with a blocking antibody. In untreated cells, chemotaxis was upregulated in 3/4 gemcitabine-resistant sublines. In cisplatin-resistant cells, chemotaxis was enhanced in 2/4 cell lines. Acquired chemoresistance induced the upregulation of integrin ?1 in all four tested gemcitabine-resistant sublines, as well as an upregulation in 3/4 cisplatin-resistant sublines compared with parental cell lines. Following the inhibition of integrin ?1, adhesion to extracellular matrix components was downregulated in 3/4 gemcitabine-resistant sublines and in all four tested cisplatin-resistant sublines. Since integrin ?1 is frequently upregulated in chemoresistant urothelial cancer cell lines and inhibition of integrin ?1 may influence adhesion, further studies are warranted to evaluate integrin ?1 as a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer

Current state of research on the clinical benefits of herbal medicines for non-life-threatening ailments

Herbal medicines are becoming increasingly popular among patients because they are well tolerated and do not exert severe side effects. Nevertheless, they receive little consideration in therapeutic settings. The present article reviews the current state of research on the clinical benefits of herbal medicines on five indication groups, psychosomatic disorders, gynecological complaints, gastrointestinal disorders, urinary and upper respiratory tract infections. The study search was based on the database PubMed and concentrated on herbal medicines legally approved in Europe. After applying defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 141 articles were selected: 59 for psychosomatic disorders (100% randomized controlled trials; RCTs), 20 for gynecological complaints (56% RCTs), 19 for gastrointestinal disorders (68% RCTs), 16 for urinary tract infections (UTI, 63% RCTs) and 24 for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) (79% RCTs). For the majority of the studies, therapeutic benefits were evaluated by patient reported outcome measures (PROs). For psychosomatic disorders, gynecological complaints and URTI more than 80% of the study outcomes were positive, whereas the clinical benefit of herbal medicines for the treatment of UTI and gastrointestinal disorders was lower with 55%. The critical appraisal of the articles shows that there is a lack of high-quality studies and, with regard to gastrointestinal disorders, the clinical benefits of herbal medicines as a stand-alone form of therapy are unclear. According to the current state of knowledge, scientific evidence has still to be improved to allow integration of herbal medicines into guidelines and standard treatment regimens for the indications reviewed here. In addition to clinical data, real world data and outcome measures can add significant value to pave the way for herbal medicines into future therapeutic applications

Sulforaphane impact on reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bladder carcinoma

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a natural glucosinolate found in cruciferous vegetables that acts as a chemopreventive agent, but its mechanism of action is not clear. Due to antioxidative mechanisms being thought central in preventing cancer progression, SFN could play a role in oxidative processes. Since redox imbalance with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in the initiation and progression of bladder cancer, this mechanism might be involved when chemoresistance occurs. This review summarizes current understanding regarding the influence of SFN on ROS and ROS-related pathways and appraises a possible role of SFN in bladder cancer treatment