Gene Clusters Located on Two Large Plasmids Determine Spore Crystal Association (SCA) in Bacillus thuringiensis Subsp. finitimus Strain YBT-020

Crystals in Bacillus thuringiensis are usually formed in the mother cell compartment during sporulation and are separated from the spores after mother cell lysis. In a few strains, crystals are produced inside the exosporium and are associated with the spores after sporulation. This special phenotype, named ‘spore crystal association’ (SCA), typically occurs in B. thuringiensis subsp. finitimus. Our aim was to identify genes determining the SCA phenotype in B. thuringiensis subsp. finitimus strain YBT-020. Plasmid conjugation experiments indicated that the SCA phenotype in this strain was tightly linked with two large plasmids (pBMB26 and pBMB28). A shuttle bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of strain YBT-020 was constructed. Six fragments from BAC clones were screened from this library and discovered to cover the full length of pBMB26; four others were found to cover pBMB28. Using fragment complementation testing, two fragments, each of approximately 35 kb and located on pBMB26 and pBMB28, were observed to recover the SCA phenotype in an acrystalliferous mutant, B. thuringiensis strain BMB171. Furthermore, deletion analysis indicated that the crystal protein gene cry26Aa from pBMB26, along with five genes from pBMB28, were indispensable to the SCA phenotype. Gene disruption and frame-shift mutation analyses revealed that two of the five genes from pBMB28, which showed low similarity to crystal proteins, determined the location of crystals inside the exosporium. Gene disruption revealed that the three remaining genes, similar to spore germination genes, contributed to the stability of the SCA phenotype in strain YBT-020. Our results thus identified the genes determining the SCA phenotype in B. thuringiensis subsp. finitimus

LUNG CANCER RISK REDUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH RRNC: A STUDY OF MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, PA

Background: Radon is a known human carcinogen and the second leading cause of lung cancer. A database with radon test records collected from Manheim Township, Pennsylvania extracted from test results reported to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was evaluated to determine the lung cancer risk reduction effectiveness of Radon-Resistant New Construction (RRNC). Objective: Our aims were 1) to evaluate the effectiveness of Ordinances that requires RRNC in all new dwellings in Manheim Township, PA, in terms of lung cancer risk reduction, 2) to review the potential impacts of other local jurisdictions in the U.S. adopting similar radon control ordinances; and 3) to explore the unique indoor radon challenges in China and provide corresponding recommendations based on the analysis of Manheim Township data. Methods: The average reduction of lung cancer risk was extrapolated from the average reduction of indoor radon concentration by adopting the model developed by Darby et al (Darby et al. 2005, 2006). Results: On average, RRNC reduced the indoor radon concentration by 16.87 pCi/L and lowered the relative lung cancer risk associated with radon exposure by 99.97%, regardless of smoking status. Conclusions: The study demonstrates how legislative actions reduce cancer risk. The success of radon control ordinances in Manheim Township provided a solid evidence base for federal, state, and local administrations to consider adopting similar regulations. The unique indoor radon status suggested that China needs customized radon control policies

Le système prévisionnel et l’élaboration du budget au sein d’un site de production : Mémoire de stage après 6 mois passés chez Sanofi-site d’Ambarès

Contrôle de gestio

Controlled Functionalization Of Poly(4-Methyl-1-Pentene) Films For High Energy Storage Applications

A new family of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) ionomer [PMP-(NH3)xA-y] (x = 1, 2, 3 and A = Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, y = NH3 content) modified (NH3+)xAx- ionic groups has been synthesized. The ionomers were synthesised using either a traditional Ziegler-Natta or a metallocene catalyst for the copolymerisation of 4-methyl-1-pentene and bis(trimethylsilyl)amino-1-hexene. A systematic study was conducted on the effect of the subsequent work-up procedures that can prevent undesirable side reactions during the synthesis of the [PMP-(NH3)xA-y] ionomers. The resulting PMP-based copolymers were carefully monitored by a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and electric displacement-electric field (D-E) hysteresis loop measurements. Our results reveal that the [PMP-(NH3)xA-y] ionomer films show a significantly enhanced dielectric constant (∼5) and higher breakdown field (∼612 MV m-1) as compared with pure PMP films. Additionally, these PMP-based films show good frequency and temperature stabilities (up to 160 °C). A reliable energy storage capacity above 7 J cm-3 can be obtained, and is twice the energy storage capacity of state-of-the-art biaxially oriented polypropylene films, which can be attractive for technological applications for energy storage devices

Inhalable oridonin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid large porous microparticles for in situ treatment of primary non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. Traditional chemotherapy for this disease leads to serious side effects. Here we prepared an inhalable oridonin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid (PLGA) large porous microparticle (LPMP) for in situ treatment of NSCLC with the emulsion/solvent evaporation/freeze-drying method. The LPMPs were smooth spheres with many internal pores. Despite a geometric diameter of ~10 µm, the aerodynamic diameter of the spheres was only 2.72 µm, leading to highly efficient lung deposition. In vitro studies showed that most of oridonin was released after 1 h, whereas the alveolar macrophage uptake of LPMPs occurred after 8 h, so that most of oridonin would enter the surroundings without undergoing phagocytosis. Rat primary NSCLC models were built and administered with saline, oridonin powder, gemcitabine, and oridonin-loaded LPMPs via airway, respectively. The LPMPs showed strong anticancer effects. Oridonin showed strong angiogenesis inhibition and apoptosis. Relevant mechanisms are thought to include oridonin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction accompanied by low mitochondrial membrane potentials, downregulation of BCL-2 expressions, upregulation of expressions of BAX, caspase-3 and caspase-9. The oridonin-loaded PLGA LPMPs showed high anti-NSCLC effects after pulmonary delivery. In conclusion, LPMPs are promising dry powder inhalations for in situ treatment of lung cancer

OfSPL11 Gene from Osmanthus fragrans Promotes Plant Growth and Oxidative Damage Reduction to Enhance Salt Tolerance in Arabidopsis

Osmanthus fragrans Lour. is a popular and traditional Chinese decorative plant. Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting the growth and development of O. fragrans. However, the involvement of the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-like (SPL) gene in salt stress response is little understood. To elucidate the role of the OfSPL genes in salt stress resistance, we isolated a candidate gene, OfSPL11, from the O. fragrans genotype ‘Yanhong Gui’. OfSPL11 is a transcriptional activator that is located in the nucleus. OfSPL11 is a salt-inducible gene that is highly expressed in young leaves and shoots, according to tissue-specific expression and external treatment. The promoter activity of OfSPL11 is activated by salt treatments in the leaves of tobacco and callus of O. fragrans. The OfSPL11 transgenic lines exhibited better growth and physiological performance; under salt stress, transgenic lines have a faster germination rate, longer roots, and less leaf withering than the wild type (WT). In addition, OfSPL11 overexpression protected the leaves from oxidative damage by suppressing the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROSs) in Arabidopsis. OfSPL11 overexpression can promote the expression of some genes in response to abiotic stresses, including AtCBL1, AtCOR15A, AtCOR6.6, AtRD29A, AtSOS2 and AtSOS3. Yeast one-hybrid assays and transient expression assays showed that OfZAT12 (homologous to Arabidopsis AtRHL41 gene) specifically binds to the OfSPL11 promoter and positively regulates its expression. This study sheds fresh light on the role of OfSPL11 in enhancing salt tolerance in O. fragrans by promoting growth and reducing oxidative damage

Marine Bacterial Aromatic Polyketides From Host-Dependent Heterologous Expression and Fungal Mode of Cyclization

The structure diversity of type II polyketide synthases-derived bacterial aromatic polyketides is often enhanced by enzyme controlled or spontaneous cyclizations. Here we report the discovery of bacterial aromatic polyketides generated from 5 different cyclization modes and pathway crosstalk between the host and the heterologous fluostatin biosynthetic gene cluster derived from a marine bacterium. The discovery of new compound SEK43F (2) represents an unusual carbon skeleton resulting from a pathway crosstalk, in which a pyrrole-like moiety derived from the host Streptomyces albus J1074 is fused to an aromatic polyketide SEK43 generated from the heterologous fluostatin type II PKSs. The occurrence of a new congener, fluoquinone (3), highlights a bacterial aromatic polyketide that is exceptionally derived from a characteristic fungal F-mode first-ring cyclization. This study expands our knowledge on the power of bacterial type II PKSs in diversifying aromatic polyketides

<i>OfSPL11</i> Gene from <i>Osmanthus fragrans</i> Promotes Plant Growth and Oxidative Damage Reduction to Enhance Salt Tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>

Osmanthus fragrans Lour. is a popular and traditional Chinese decorative plant. Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting the growth and development of O. fragrans. However, the involvement of the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-like (SPL) gene in salt stress response is little understood. To elucidate the role of the OfSPL genes in salt stress resistance, we isolated a candidate gene, OfSPL11, from the O. fragrans genotype ‘Yanhong Gui’. OfSPL11 is a transcriptional activator that is located in the nucleus. OfSPL11 is a salt-inducible gene that is highly expressed in young leaves and shoots, according to tissue-specific expression and external treatment. The promoter activity of OfSPL11 is activated by salt treatments in the leaves of tobacco and callus of O. fragrans. The OfSPL11 transgenic lines exhibited better growth and physiological performance; under salt stress, transgenic lines have a faster germination rate, longer roots, and less leaf withering than the wild type (WT). In addition, OfSPL11 overexpression protected the leaves from oxidative damage by suppressing the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROSs) in Arabidopsis. OfSPL11 overexpression can promote the expression of some genes in response to abiotic stresses, including AtCBL1, AtCOR15A, AtCOR6.6, AtRD29A, AtSOS2 and AtSOS3. Yeast one-hybrid assays and transient expression assays showed that OfZAT12 (homologous to Arabidopsis AtRHL41 gene) specifically binds to the OfSPL11 promoter and positively regulates its expression. This study sheds fresh light on the role of OfSPL11 in enhancing salt tolerance in O. fragrans by promoting growth and reducing oxidative damage