Salmonella enterica biofilm-mediated dispersal by nitric oxide donors in association with cellulose nanocrystal hydrogels

Protected by extracellular polymers, microbes within biofilms are significantly more resistant to disinfectants. Current research has been instrumental in identifying nitric oxide donors and hydrogels as potential disinfectant additives. Nitric oxide (NO) donors are considered a very promising molecule as biofilm dispersal agents and hydrogels have recently attracted a lot of interest due to their biocompatible properties and ability to form stable thin films. When the NO donor MAHMA NONOate was dissolved in phosphate saline buffer, it was able to reduce the biomass of well-established biofilms up to 15% for at least 24 h of contact time. Encapsulation of MAHMA NONOate and molsidomine within a hydrogel composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) has shown a synergistic effect in dispersing well-established biofilms: after 2 h of exposure, moderate but significant dispersion was measured. After 6 h of exposure, the number of cells transitioning from the biofilm to the planktonic state was up to 0.6 log higher when compared with non-treated biofilms. To further explore the transport processes of NO donors within hydrogels, we measured the nitric oxide flux from gels, at 25°C for a composite of 0.1 µM MAHMA NONOate–CNC. Nitric oxide diffuses up to 500 µm from the hydrogel surface, with flux decreasing according to Fick’s law. 60% of NO was released from the hydrogel composite during the first 23 min. These data suggest that the combined treatments with nitric oxide donor and hydrogels may allow for new sustainable cleaning strategies

Thiol-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles: New Ways To Displace Thiol Layers Using Yttrium or Lanthanide Chlorides

We use the aurophilic interactions shown by lanthanides to overcome the sulfur–gold interaction. UV–vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm that yttrium or lanthanide chlorides easily displace sulfur ligands from the surface of thiol-stabilized gold nanoparticles

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0679c protein sequences involved in host-cell infection: Potential TB vaccine candidate antigen

Hasta la fecha, la función de muchas proteínas de membrana hipotéticas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis aún se desconoce y su participación en las interacciones patógeno-huésped aún no se ha definido claramente. En este estudio, se evaluó la actividad biológica de los péptidos derivados de la proteína de membrana hipotética Rv0679c de M. tuberculosis y su participación en las interacciones patógeno-huésped. La transcripción del gen Rv0679c se estudió en 26 Mycobacteriumspp. Son. Los anticuerpos generados contra los supuestos epítopos de células B de Rv0679c se usaron en ensayos de inmunotransferencia y microscopía inmunoelectrónica. Los péptidos sintéticos que abarcan toda la longitud de la proteína fueron probados por su capacidad para unirse a las células A549 y U937. Los péptidos de unión de alta actividad (HABP) identificados en Rv0679c se probaron para determinar su capacidad para inhibir la invasión de micobacterias en las células.To date, the function of many hypothetical membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still unknown and their involvement in pathogen-host interactions has not been yet clearly defined. In this study, the biological activity of peptides derived from the hypothetical membrane protein Rv0679c of M. tuberculosis and their involvement in pathogen-host interactions was assessed. Transcription of the Rv0679c gene was studied in 26 Mycobacterium spp. Strains. Antibodies raised against putative B-cell epitopes of Rv0679c were used in Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy assays. Synthetic peptides spanning the entire length of the protein were tested for their ability to bind to A549 and U937 cells. High-activity binding peptides (HABPs) identified in Rv0679c were tested for their ability to inhibit mycobacterial invasion into cells

Altered dynamics of visual contextual interactions in Parkinson\u27s disease.

Over the last decades, psychophysical and electrophysiological studies in patients and animal models of Parkinson\u27s disease (PD), have consistently revealed a number of visual abnormalities. In particular, specific alterations of contrast sensitivity curves, electroretinogram (ERG), and visual-evoked potentials (VEP), have been attributed to dopaminergic retinal depletion. However, fundamental mechanisms of cortical visual processing, such as normalization or gain control computations, have not yet been examined in PD patients. Here, we measured electrophysiological indices of gain control in both space (surround suppression) and time (sensory adaptation) in PD patients based on steady-state VEP (ssVEP). Compared with controls, patients exhibited a significantly higher initial ssVEP amplitude that quickly decayed over time, and greater relative suppression of ssVEP amplitude as a function of surrounding stimulus contrast. Meanwhile, EEG frequency spectra were broadly elevated in patients relative to controls. Thus, contrary to what might be expected given the reduced contrast sensitivity often reported in PD, visual neural responses are not weaker; rather, they are initially larger but undergo an exaggerated degree of spatial and temporal gain control and are embedded within a greater background noise level. These differences may reflect cortical mechanisms that compensate for dysfunctional center-surround interactions at the retinal level

Biofilm-inhibiting effect and anti-infective activity of N,C-linked aryl isoquinolines and the use thereof

Anti-infective and biofilm-inhibiting activities of aryl isoquinoline-derivatives of the general formulae 1 to 3 Figure US08173673-20120508-C00001 are described

Caracterización de los sistemas de producción agropecuarios en los municipios de Granada y Cumaral - Meta.

Informe técnico elaborado con la participación directa de productores, gremios y entidades, en el que se presenta un conocimiento detallado de las condiciones biofísicas y aspectos socioeconómicos de dos municipios del departamento del Meta. A partir de información general del área de estudio, se analizan los componentes: socioeconómico, físico y biótico, se establecen las jerarquías de caracterización de los sistemas de producción agropecuarios, de determinan los resultados en términos de las unidades biofísicas de tierra, de los arreglos agropecuarios y de los sistemas tipo o modales, se analizan las circunstancias y aspectos de comercialización de las actividades agrícola y pecuaria, se detalla la capacidad de uso de los suelos, se describen los conflictos de usos y se definen los limitantes edáficos a la producción agropecuaria. Finalmente se consignan las recomendaciones pertinente

Caracterización de mujeres que cometieron homicidio contra su pareja o expareja

16 p.Esta investigación se enmarca en el eje correspondiente a la Psicología Criminológica, en la línea de perfilación y caracterización de hombres y mujeres que cometen homicidio contra sus parejas. El propósito de este estudio fue identificar las características de los casos de mujeres que cometen homicidio o tentativa de homicidio hacia sus parejas heterosexuales. Para lograr el objetivo, se tomaron los modelos propuestos por Garrido y Sobral (2008) y Morales (2003) para recoger y analizar la información a partir de la revisión de los expedientes judiciales de dicha población.Introducción Metodología Resultados Discusión Referencia

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0679c protein sequences involved in host-cell infection: Potential TB vaccine candidate antigen

BACKGROUND: To date, the function of many hypothetical membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still unknown and their involvement in pathogen-host interactions has not been yet clearly defined. In this study, the biological activity of peptides derived from the hypothetical membrane protein Rv0679c of M. tuberculosis and their involvement in pathogen-host interactions was assessed. Transcription of the Rv0679c gene was studied in 26 Mycobacterium spp. Strains. Antibodies raised against putative B-cell epitopes of Rv0679c were used in Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy assays. Synthetic peptides spanning the entire length of the protein were tested for their ability to bind to A549 and U937 cells. High-activity binding peptides (HABPs) identified in Rv0679c were tested for their ability to inhibit mycobacterial invasion into cells. RESULTS: The gene encoding Rv0679c was detected in all strains of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC), but was only transcribed in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, M. tuberculosis H37Ra and M. africanum. Anti-Rv0679c antibodies specifically recognized the protein in M. tuberculosis H37Rv sonicate and showed its localization on mycobacterial surface. Four HABPs inhibited invasion of M. tuberculosis to target cells by up to 75%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that Rv0679c HABPs and in particular HABP 30979 could be playing an important role during M. tuberculosis invasion of host cells, and therefore could be interesting research targets for studies aimed at developing strategies to control tuberculosis