Characterization of Salmonella Type III Secretion Hyper-Activity Which Results in Biofilm-Like Cell Aggregation

We have previously reported the cloning of the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SPI-1 secretion system and the use of this clone to functionally complement a ΔSPI-1 strain for type III secretion activity. In the current study, we discovered that S. Typhimurium cultures containing cloned SPI-1 display an adherent biofilm and cell clumps in the media. This phenotype was associated with hyper-expression of SPI-1 type III secretion functions. The biofilm and cell clumps were associated with copious amounts of secreted SPI-1 protein substrates SipA, SipB, SipC, SopB, SopE, and SptP. We used a C-terminally FLAG-tagged SipA protein to further demonstrate SPI-1 substrate association with the cell aggregates using fluorescence microscopy and immunogold electron microscopy. Different S. Typhimurium backgrounds and both flagellated and nonflagellated strains displayed the biofilm phenotype. Mutations in genes essential for known bacterial biofilm pathways (bcsA, csgBA, bapA) did not affect the biofilms formed here indicating that this phenomenon is independent of established biofilm mechanisms. The SPI-1-mediated biofilm was able to massively recruit heterologous non-biofilm forming bacteria into the adherent cell community. The results indicate a bacterial aggregation phenotype mediated by elevated SPI-1 type III secretion activity with applications for engineered biofilm formation, protein purification strategies, and antigen display

Handbook of Research on the Relationship Between Autobiographical Memory and Photography

Over the past year colleagues from LCC and UAL's Experimental Pedagogies Research Group (EPRG), Dr Nela Milic (EPRG), Dr Paul Lowe, Dr Mark Ingham (EPRG), along with two UAL PhD alumni, Dr Vasileios Kantas and Dr Sara Andersdotter (EPRG) have editied the Handbook of Research on the Relationship Between Autobiographical Memory and Photography. This key volume of research has 27 chapters by leading practitioners in the fields of memory, photography, and autobiography. It includes chapters from Dr Jennifer Good and Sophy Rickett from LCC, with contributions from two LCC doctoral students, Elin Karlsson (EPRG and Mireia Ludevid Llop (EPRG). Other UAL colleagues who successfully submitted chapters were Natalie Payne from LCF and Tim Stephens (EPRG) from the Exchange. Description: Autobiographical memory and photography have been inextricably linked since the first photographs appeared during the 19th century. These links have often been described from each other's discipline in ways that often have led to misunderstandings about the complex relationships between them. The Handbook of Research on the Relationship Between Autobiographical Memory and Photography covers many aspects of the multiple relationships between autobiographical memory and photography such as the idea that memory and photography can be seen as forms of mental time travel and the effect photography has on autobiographical memory. Covering key topics such as identity, trauma, and remembrance, this major reference work is ideal for industry professionals, sociologists, psychologists, artists, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, educators, and students

Staging Sermon: performing autobiographical memory through “The Waste Land”

This chapter provides a self-reflexive evaluation of the Sermon photographs from Waste Land (2005-2010), that was produced by the author for her practice-based PhD. T.S. Eliot's poem “The Waste Land” (1922) was used to examine her adaptation methodologies and self-representational strategies. Waterman visually translates her own experience of parental divorce through a close analysis of the text and literary criticism (Brooker and Bentley, Ellman, Miller, Parsons), acknowledging her biographical connections to Eliot's marriage to Vivienne Haigh Wood, to produce cathartic re-enactments, informed by phototherapy (Martin, Spence), memory and trauma studies (Barthes, Freud, Kaplan), feminine metaphors (Gilbert and Gubar, Horner and Zlosnik), and photographic self-portraiture (Chadwick, Lingwood). By interweaving these cross-disciplinary strands and reflecting on the actual process of making each photograph through a unique auto-criticism, Waterman demonstrates how her autobiographical literary interpretations offer a means of restaging memory through the creation of photographic narratives

Role of N-, P- and Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels in transmitter release from sympathetic neurones in the mouse isolated vas deferens

1. N-type voltage-gated calcium channels are known to play an important role in transmitter release from autonomic neurones, and recent studies have demonstrated that non-N-type calcium channels are also involved. The calcium channels coupled to transmitter release from sympathetic neurones in the mouse isolated vas deferens were investigated in the present study. 2. Contractions of the mouse vas deferens were evoked by electrical stimulation at 1–50 Hz. The contractions were entirely nerve-mediated, since they were abolished by tetrodotoxin, and were used as an indirect measure of transmitter release. 3. The N-type calcium channel blocker, ω-conotoxin GVIA, inhibited contractions in a concentration-dependent manner, with a maximal effect at 30 nM. Contractions evoked by stimulation frequencies less than 10 Hz were abolished, and those evoked by 20 and by 50 Hz stimulation were decreased in amplitude by 51.3±13.9% and 9.3±2.6%, respectively. 4. The N-, P- and Q-type channel blocker, ω-conotoxin MVIIC, inhibited contractions in a concentration-dependent manner and caused greater maximum inhibition than ω-conotoxin GVIA, suggesting an action on P- and/or Q-type channels, in addition to N-type. 5. The P-type channel blocker, ω-agatoxin IVA, alone did not have a significant effect at concentrations up to 300 nM, but inhibited contractions in the presence of ω-conotoxin GVIA. Subsequent addition of ω-conotoxin MVIIC abolished the remaining contractions. Identical results were obtained when the three toxins were tested cumulatively on the purinergic and noradrenergic components of the contraction in the presence of 0.3 μM prazosin and following desensitization to 10 μM α,β-methylene adenosine 5′-triphosphate (α,β-MeATP), respectively. 6. The results suggest that N-, P- and Q-type channels are involved in the release of noradrenaline and ATP from sympathetic neurones in the mouse vas deferens

Disruption of intestinal motility by a calcium channel-stimulating autoantibody in type 1 diabetes

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Spirituality and religiosity of non-directed (altruistic) living kidney donors.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:To describe the spirituality and religiosity of 30 non-directed (altruistic) living kidney donors in the USA and explore how they may have affected their motivations to donate and donation process experiences. BACKGROUND:The rise in non-directed donors and their ability to initiate kidney chains offer a novel approach to help alleviate the overextended kidney transplant wait list in the USA. However, little is known about the non-directed donors' motivations, characteristics and experiences. DESIGN:We conducted a qualitative-dominant study and used a grounded theory approach to analyse data. METHODS:Thirty participants completed in-depth interviews between April 2013-April 2015. Three analysts independently read and coded interview transcripts. Grounded theory techniques were used to develop descriptive categories and identify topics related to the non-directed donors donation experience. RESULTS:Sixteen of the 30 non-directed donorss discussed the topic of spirituality and religiosity when describing their donation experiences, regardless of whether they were actively practising a religion at the time of donation. Specifically, three themes were identified within spirituality and religiosity: motivation to donate, support in the process, and justification of their donation decisions postdonation. CONCLUSIONS:Findings from this study are the first to describe how spirituality and religiosity influenced the experiences of U.S. non-directed donorss and may help improve non-directed donors educational resources for future spiritual or religious non-directed donors, and the overall non-directed donors donation experience in efforts to increase the living donor pool. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE:Spirituality and religiosity are often overlooked yet potentially influential factors in Western medicine, as demonstrated through the experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses and their religious restrictions while undergoing surgery and the beliefs of Christian Scientists against taking medications and receiving medical procedures. Understanding needs of non-directed donors specifically with spirituality and religiosity can better position kidney transplant centres and teams to improve predonation screening of non-directed donor candidates and provide support services during the donation process

Neural mechanisms underlying migrating motor complex formation in mouse isolated colon

1. Little is known about the intrinsic enteric reflex pathways associated with migrating motor complex (MMC) formation. Acetylcholine (ACh) mediates the rapid component of the MMC, however a non-cholinergic component also exists. The present study investigated the possible role of endogenous tachykinins (TKs) in the formation of colonic MMCs and the relative roles of excitatory and inhibitory pathways. 2. MMCs were recorded from the circular muscle at four sites (proximal, proximal-mid, mid-distal and distal) along the mouse colon using force transducers. 3. The tachykinin (NK(1) and NK(2)) receptor antagonists SR-140 333 (250 nM) and SR-48 968 (250 nM) reduced the amplitude of MMCs at all recording sites, preferentially abolishing the long duration contraction. Residual MMCs were abolished by the subsequent addition of atropine (1 μM). 4. The neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(ω)nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG, 100 μM), increased MMC amplitude in the distal region, whilst reducing the amplitude in the proximal region. In preparations where MMCs did not migrate to the distal colon, addition of L-NOARG resulted in the formation of MMCs. Subsequent addition of apamin (250 nM) or suramin (100 μM) further increased MMC amplitude in the distal region, whilst suramin increased MMC amplitude in the mid-distal region. Apamin but not suramin reduced MMC amplitude in the proximal region. Subsequent addition of SR-140 333 and SR-48 968 reduced MMC amplitude at all sites. Residual MMCs were abolished by atropine (1 μM). 5. In conclusion, TKs, ACh, nitric oxide (NO) and ATP are involved in the neural mechanisms underlying the formation of MMCs in the mouse colon. Tachykinins mediate the long duration component of the MMC via NK(1) and NK(2) receptors. Inhibitory pathways may be involved in determining whether MMCs are formed