The levels of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae binding to porcine colonic mucins differ between individuals, and binding is increased to mucins from infected pigs with de novo MUC5AC synthesis

Brachyspira hyodysenteriae colonizes the pig colon, resulting in mucohemorrhagic diarrhea and growth retardation. Fecal mucus is a characteristic feature of swine dysentery; therefore, we investigated how the mucin environment changes in the colon during infection with B. hyodysenteriae and how these changes affect this bacterium's interaction with mucins. We isolated and characterized mucins, the main component of mucus, from the colon of experimentally inoculated and control pigs and investigated B. hyodysenteriae binding to these mucins. Fluorescence microscopy revealed a massive mucus induction and disorganized mucus structure in the colon of pigs with swine dysentery. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and antibody detection demonstrated that the mucus composition of pigs with swine dysentery was characterized by de novo expression of MUC5AC and increased expression of MUC2 in the colon. Mucins from the colon of inoculated and control pigs were isolated by two steps of isopycnic density gradient centrifugation. The mucin densities of control and inoculated pigs were similar, whereas the mucin quantity was 5-fold higher during infection. The level of B. hyodysenteriae binding to mucins differed between pigs, and there was increased binding to soluble mucins isolated from pigs with swine dysentery. The ability of B. hyodysenteriae to bind, measured in relation to the total mucin contents of mucus in sick versus healthy pigs, increased 7-fold during infection. Together, the results indicate that B. hyodysenteriae binds to carbohydrate structures on the mucins as these differ between individuals. Furthermore, B. hyodysenteriae infection induces changes to the mucus niche which substantially increase the amount of B. hyodysenteriae binding sites in the mucus

The production of Roman glass with western Mediterranean sand raw materials: preliminary results

Pliny the Elder’s ‘Natural History’ is often cited in studies of ancient natron glass production. Pliny describes the production of glass using sand from the Belus River in Israel and the Volturno River in Italy. He also mentions that glass was similarly made in France and Spain. However, no direct archaeological evidence has ever been found to support glass production in these regions. In this study we investigate the possible existence of a Roman primary glass industry in the western Mediterranean, based on the occurrence of suitable sand raw materials. 178 beach sands from Spain, France and Italy are evaluated for their suitability for glass production by calculating the composition of hypothetical glasses made from these sands and comparing them to Roman natron glass. The results show that good glassmaking sands are far from common. Only six limited areas could be defined where suitable sand raw materials would have been available to the Roman glassmaker. The rest of the sands are unsuitable for glass production in their present form. The suitability of the suggested sands was checked by performing a series of melting experiments, which provide further insights in the way Roman glass makers would have had to prepare their raw materials and the used batch recipes.status: publishe

Mediterranean sand deposits as a raw material for glass production in Antiquity

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Roman glass across the Empire: an elemental and isotopic characterization

This study focuses on natron glass, dated from the 1st to 5th century AD, excavated in different areas of the Roman Empire. The eastern side of the Roman Empire is accounted for by three archaeological sites, Petra and Barsinia, both in Jordan, and Gonio, in Georgia. The Italian peninsula is represented by the Iulia Felix and Embiez shipwrecks, and by samples from Augusta Praetoria. Samples from Barcino in Spain are examples of the western side of the Empire, and the sites of Tienen and Oudenburg represent the northern provinces. No clear distinctions in glass composition and origin between the different regions of the Roman Empire can be made based on the major elemental compositions. However, the western, central and eastern Roman Empire samples can be divided into two groups, coloured and colourless, which also are reflected in the K2O contents. Sr-Nd isotopes, used for provenancing geological raw materials in primary glass production, indicate an eastern Mediterranean origin (epsilon Nd between 2.5 and 6.0) for most of the samples. Conversely, samples with more negative epsilon Nd, between - 7.02 and - 10.8, indicate a western Mediterranean origin. By applying this technique on samples from well known archaeological contexts, this study demonstrates that several primary glass factories were located throughout the Roman Empire. This is in contrast with current interpretations of late Roman to early Byzantine data.status: publishe

In situ analysis of ancient glass: 17th century painted glass from Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and Roman glass vessels

Handheld x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (HH-XRF) was successfully used to distinguish panes of 17th century, high lime, low alkali (HLLA) glass from later restoration pieces within an in situ window in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. In addition the non-destructive analysis was able to differentiate between the work of two 17th century artists within the same window. The varying compositions of glass present in the window represent the turbulent history of the cathedral glass, and the changing attitudes towards painted glass windows. Following the success of this work, a second study was undertaken to attempt to calibrate the HH-XRF for the analysis of Roman glass from museum and private collections. The results of the second study were disappointing; while the HH-XRF results of the standards compared well with the chemistry, the results of Roman glasses did not. This paper compares the two studies and addresses some of the reasons why the analyses of 17th century HLLA glass was so successful, yet the analyses of Roman glass was unsuccessful. There is much potential for the use of HH-XRF within the correct research framework, but more work needs to be completed before this non-destructive technique can reliably replace destructive analyses.status: publishe

Strontium isotopic analysis as an experimental auxiliary technique in forensic identification of human remains

Strontium isotopic analysis has been used in the last three decades to trace the (geological) source of both archaeological and modern organic and inorganic materials. This paper reports on the application of Sr isotopic analysis via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry to present-day forensic investigations. By determining the 87Sr/86Sr ratio, the geological origin of Sr in human remains such as bone and tooth enamel can be revealed. In this way, an attempt at unravelling the geographical–geological area of residence of the person in question is made, from birth until the last years of his/her life. Although the technique is neither detailed nor exclusive in determining the residence of a person during life, it can provide essential clues in reconstructing the origin or provenance of human remains and in this way, help in the identification of unidentified individuals in a forensic context.status: publishe

Strontium isotopic analysis as an experimental auxiliary technique in forensic identification of human remains

Strontium isotopic analysis has been used in the last three decades to trace the (geological) source of both archaeological and modern organic and inorganic materials. This paper reports on the application of Sr isotopic analysis via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry to present-day forensic investigations. By determining the Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio, the geological origin of Sr in human remains such as bone and tooth enamel can be revealed. In this way, an attempt at unravelling the geographical-geological area of residence of the person in question is made, from birth until the last years of his/her life. Although the technique is neither detailed nor exclusive in determining the residence of a person during life, it can provide essential clues in reconstructing the origin or provenance of human remains and in this way, help in the identification of unidentified individuals in a forensic context