Community-level response of coastal microbial biofilms to ocean acidification in a natural carbon dioxide vent ecosystem.

The version on PEARL: Corrected proofs are Articles in Press that contain the authors' corrections. Final citation details, e.g., volume/issue number, publication year and page numbers, still need to be added and the text might change before final publication. Although corrected proofs do not have all bibliographic details available yet, they can already be cited using the year of online publication and the DOI , as follows: author(s), article title, journal (year), DOIThe impacts of ocean acidification on coastal biofilms are poorly understood. Carbon dioxide vent areas provide an opportunity to make predictions about the impacts of ocean acidification. We compared biofilms that colonised glass slides in areas exposed to ambient and elevated levels of pCO(2) along a coastal pH gradient, with biofilms grown at ambient and reduced light levels. Biofilm production was highest under ambient light levels, but under both light regimes biofilm production was enhanced in seawater with high pCO(2). Uronic acids are a component of biofilms and increased significantly with high pCO(2). Bacteria and Eukarya denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profile analysis showed clear differences in the structures of ambient and reduced light biofilm communities, and biofilms grown at high pCO(2) compared with ambient conditions. This study characterises biofilm response to natural seabed CO(2) seeps and provides a baseline understanding of how coastal ecosystems may respond to increased pCO(2) levels

Bioimprint Mediated Label-Free Isolation of Pancreatic Tumor Cells from a Healthy Peripheral Blood Cell Population

New techniques are required for earlier diagnosis and response to treatment of pancreatic cancer. Here, a label-free approach is reported in which circulating pancreatic tumor cells are isolated from healthy peripheral blood cells via cell bioimprinting technology. The method involves pre-fabrication of pancreatic cell layers and sequential casting of cell surfaces with a series of custom-made resins to produce negative cell imprints. The imprint is functionalized with a combination of polymers to engineer weak attraction to the cells which is further amplified by the increased area of contact with the matching cells. A flow-through bioimprint chip is designed and tested for selectivity toward two pancreatic tumor cell lines, ASPC-1 and Mia-PaCa-2. Healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are spiked with pancreatic tumor cells at various concentrations. Bioimprints are designed for preferential retention of the matching pancreatic tumor cells and with respect to PBMCs. Tumor bioimprints are capable of capturing and concentrating pancreatic tumor cells from a mixed cell population with increased retention observed with the number of seedings. ASPC-1 bioimprints preferentially retain both types of pancreatic tumor cells. This technology could be relevant for the collection and interrogation of liquid biopsies, early detection, and relapse monitoring of pancreatic cancer patients

Algal polysaccharide utilisation by saprotrophic planktonic marine fungi

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd and British Mycological Society. The functional roles that marine mycoplankton fulfil are poorly understood, resulting in a lack of knowledge of their ecology. Here we show, using DNA Stable Isotope Probing with 13 C-labelled diatom polysaccharide microgels, that mycoplankton assimilate algal-derived particulate organic carbon (POC), identifying two genera, Malassezia and Cladosporium, which are active saprotrophs in coastal waters. We subsequently isolated polysaccharide-utilising Cladosporium strains from the same ecosystem and that are well-represented in marine mycoplankton assemblages. At the study site, Cladosporium occurs across multiple years and is associated with diatoms. During growth with the polysaccharide laminarin, Cladosporium spp. secrete the extracellular carbohydrate-active enzyme glucan 1,3-β-glucosidase. These results show that some marine mycoplankton have a saprotrophic functional role in processing algal polysaccharides. Mycoplankton may, therefore, be involved in the trophic transfer of phytoplankton produced POC in marine food webs, and because bacterioplankton occupy the same niche, potential interactions maybe taking place that are yet to be characterised

Responsible management: Engaging moral reflexive practice through threshold concepts

YesIn this conceptual paper we argue that, to date, principles of responsible management have not impacted practice as anticipated because of a disconnect between knowledge and practice. This disconnect means that an awareness of ethical concerns, by itself, does not help students take personal responsibility for their actions. We suggest that an abstract knowledge of principles has to be supplemented by an engaged understanding of the responsibility of managers and leaders to actively challenge irresponsible practices. We argue that a form of moral reflexive practice drawing on an understanding of threshold concepts is central to responsible management, and provides a gateway to transformative learning. Our conceptual argument leads to implications for management and professional education

The epigenetic regulator Histone Deacetylase 1 promotes transcription of a core neurogenic programme in zebrafish embryos

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The epigenetic regulator Histone Deacetylase 1 (Hdac1) is required for specification and patterning of neurones and myelinating glia during development of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). This co-ordinating function for Hdac1 is evolutionarily conserved in zebrafish and mouse, but the mechanism of action of Hdac1 in the developing CNS is not well-understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A genome-wide comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of Hdac1-deficient and wild-type zebrafish embryos was performed, which identified an extensive programme of gene expression that is regulated by Hdac1 in the developing embryo. Using time-resolved expression profiling of embryos, we then identified a small subset of 54 genes within the Hdac1-regulated transcriptome that specifically exhibit robust and sustained Hdac1-dependent expression from early neurogenesis onwards. 18 of these 54 stringently Hdac1-regulated genes encode DNA-binding transcription factors that are implicated in promoting neuronal specification and CNS patterning, including the proneural bHLH proteins Ascl1a and Ascl1b, as well as Neurod4 and Neurod. Relatively few genes are strongly repressed by Hdac1 but expression of the Notch target gene <it>her6 </it>is attenuated by Hdac1 in specific sub-regions of the developing CNS, from early stages of neurogenesis onwards. Selected members of the stringently Hdac1-regulated group of genes were tested for Hdac1 binding to their promoter-proximal <it>cis</it>-regulatory elements. Surprisingly, we found that Hdac1 is specifically and stably associated with DNA sequences within the promoter region of <it>ascl1b </it>during neurogenesis, and that this Hdac1-<it>ascl1b </it>interaction is abolished in <it>hdac1 </it>mutant embryos.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We conclude that Hdac1 regulates histone acetylation and methylation in the developing zebrafish embryo and promotes the sustained, co-ordinate transcription of a small set of transcription factor genes that control expansion and diversification of cell fates within the developing CNS. Our <it>in vivo </it>chromatin immunoprecipitation results also suggest a specific function for Hdac1 in directly regulating transcription of a key member of this group of genes, <it>ascl1b</it>, from the beginning of neurogenesis onwards. Taken together, our observations indicate a novel role for Hdac1 as a positive regulator of gene transcription during development of the vertebrate CNS, in addition to its more well-established function in transcriptional repression.</p

Formulation, inflammation, and RNA sensing impact the immunogenicity of self-amplifying RNA vaccines

To be effective, RNA vaccines require both in situ translation and the induction of an immune response to recruit cells to the site of immunization. These factors can pull in opposite directions with the inflammation reducing expression of the vaccine antigen. We investigated how formulation affects the acute systemic cytokine response to a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine. We compared a cationic polymer (pABOL), a lipid emulsion (nanostructured lipid carrier, NLC), and three lipid nanoparticles (LNP). After immunization, we measured serum cytokines and compared the response to induced antibodies against influenza virus. Formulations that induced a greater cytokine response induced a greater antibody response, with a significant correlation between IP-10, MCP-1, KC, and antigen-specific antibody titers. We then investigated how innate immune sensing and signaling impacted the adaptive immune response to vaccination with LNP-formulated saRNA. Mice that lacked MAVS and are unable to signal through RIG-I-like receptors had an altered cytokine response to saRNA vaccination and had significantly greater antibody responses than wild-type mice. This indicates that the inflammation induced by formulated saRNA vaccines is not solely deleterious in the induction of antibody responses and that targeting specific aspects of RNA vaccine sensing might improve the quality of the response

Measurement of eta_c(1S), eta_c(2S) and non-resonant eta' pi+ pi- production via two-photon collisions

We report the measurement of gamma gamma to eta_c(1S), eta_c(2S) to eta' pi+ pi- with eta' decays to gamma rho and eta pi+ pi- using 941 fb^{-1} of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. The eta_c(1S) mass and width are measured to be M = [2984.6\pm0.7 (stat.)\pm2.2 (syst.)] MeV/c^{2} and \Gamma = [30.8^{+2.3}_{-2.2}~(stat.) \pm 2.5~(syst.)] MeV, respectively. First observation of eta_c(2S) to eta' pi+ pi- with a significance of 5.5sigma including systematic error is obtained, and the eta_c(2S) mass is measured to be M = [3635.1\pm3.7~(stat.)\pm2.9~(syst.)] MeV/c^{2}. The products of the two-photon decay width and branching fraction (B) of decays to eta'pi+ pi- are determined to be \Gamma_{gamma gamma}B = [65.4\pm2.6~(stat.)\pm6.9~(syst.)] eV for eta_c(1S) and [5.6^{+1.2}_{-1.1}~(stat.)\pm1.1~(syst.)] eV for eta_c(2S). A new decay mode for the eta_c(1S) to eta'f_0(2080) with f_0(2080) to pi+ pi- is observed with a statistical significance of 20sigma. The f_0(2080) mass and width are determined to be M = [2083^{+63}_{-66}~(stat.)\pm 32~(syst.)] MeV/c^{2} and \Gamma = [178^{+60}_{-178}~(stat.) \pm 55~(syst.)] MeV. The cross sections for gamma gamma to eta' pi+ pi- and eta'f_{2}(1270) are measured for the first time.Comment: 19 pages, 14 figure

Inclusive study of bottomonium production in association with an η\eta meson in e+e−e^+e^- annihilations near Υ(5S)\Upsilon(5S)

We study bottomonium production in association with an $\eta$ meson in $e^+e^-$ annihilations near the $\Upsilon(5S)$, at a center of mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=10.866\,$GeV. The results are based on the $121.4\,$fb$^{-1}$ data sample collected by the Belle experiment at the asymmetric energy KEKB collider. Only the $\eta$ meson is reconstructed and the missing-mass spectrum of $\eta$ candidates is investigated. We observe the $e^+e^-\to\eta\Upsilon_J(1D)$ process and find evidence for the $e^+e^-\to\eta\Upsilon(2S)$ process, while no significant signals of $\Upsilon(1S)$, $h_b(1P)$, nor $h_b(2P)$ are found. Cross sections for the studied processes are reported.Comment: Submitted to EPJ-

Prevalence of enteropathogenic viruses and molecular characterization of group A rotavirus among children with diarrhea in Dar es Salaam Tanzania

Different groups of viruses have been shown to be responsible for acute diarrhea among children during their first few years of life. Epidemiological knowledge of viral agents is critical for the development of effective preventive measures, including vaccines. In this study we determined the prevalence of the four major enteropathogenic viruses - rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and astrovirus - was determined in 270 stool samples collected from children aged 0 - 60 months who were admitted with diarrhea in four hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using commercially available ELISA kits. In addition, the molecular epidemiology of group A rotavirus was investigated using reverse transcriptase multiplex polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At least one viral agent was detected in 87/270 (32.2%) of the children. The prevalence of rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and astrovirus was 18.1%, 13.7%, 2.6% and 0.4%, respectively. In most cases (62.1%) of viruses were detected in children aged 7-12 months. The G and P types (VP7 and VP4 genotypes respectively) were further investigated in 49 rotavirus ELISA positive samples. G9 was the predominant G type (81.6%), followed by G1 (10.2%) and G3 (0.2%). P[8] was the predominant P type (83.7%), followed by P[6] (0.4%) and P[4] (0.2%). The following G and P types were not detected in this study population; G2, G4, G8 G10, P[9], P[10] and P[11]. The dominating G/P combination was G9P[8], accounting for 39 (90.7%) of the 43 fully characterized strains. Three (6.1%) of the 49 rotavirus strains could not be typed. Nearly one third of children with diarrhea admitted to hospitals in Dar es Salaam had one of the four viral agents. The predominance of rotavirus serotype G9 may have implication for rotavirus vaccination in Tanzania