Genomic fingerprinting of bacteriocin-producer strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Among 363 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 21 were shown to produce bacteriocins (Bac), antimicrobial peptides with potential biotechnological applications. This collection includes strains which are either isolated from food, patients and healthy cattle, or are involved in subclinical bovine mastitis. From these 21 strains, 17 were shown to carry closely-related 8.0-kb Bac plasmids encoding bacteriocins either identical to or similar to aureocin A70, a bacteriocin able to inhibit strains of Listeria monocytogenes, a food-borne pathogen. Such findings prompted us to investigate the genetic relationships among these Bac+ strains. To obtain more discriminatory results, a combined analysis of AP-PCR, rep-PCR, and a modified PCR technique that we designated SD-PCR was employed. The 17 Bac+ strains harboring 8.0-kb Bac plasmids exhibited seven fingerprint patterns. One such genotype was composed of 8 out of the 11 strains associated with bovine mastitis, which suggests the prevalence of a clone of Bac+ strains involved in this animal infection carrying 8.0-kb Bac plasmids. Our data support the assumption that Bac+ strains of S. aureus carrying genetically related 8.0-kb Bac plasmids do not belong to a single clone. It seems, therefore, that 8.0-kb Bac plasmids have spread horizontally among different S. aureus strains. There also seems to be genetic diversity among the remaining Bac+ strains analyzed.     

Corticosterone influences on Mammalian neonatal sensitive-period learning

Infant rats exhibit sensitive-period odor learning characterized by olfactory bulb neural changes and odor preference acquisitions critical for survival. This sensitive period is coincident with low endogenous corticosterone (CORT) levels and stress hyporesponsivity. The authors hypothesized that low corticosterone levels modulate sensitive-period learning. They assessed the effects of manipulating CORT levels by increasing and removing CORT during (Postnatal Day 8) and after (Postnatal Day 12) the sensitive period. Results show that (a) exogenous CORT prematurely ends sensitive-period odor-shock-induced preferences; (b) adrenalectomy developmentally extends the sensitive period as indicated by odor-shock-induced odor-preference learning in older pups, whereas CORT replacement can reinstate fear learning; and (c) CORT manipulation modulates olfactory bulb correlates of sensitive-period odor learning in a manner consistent with behavior.     

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide fraction associated with photobiomodulation protects from epithelium thickness and collagen fragmentation in a model of cutaneous photodamage

Lasers in Medical Science - Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the major etiologic agent of cutaneous photoaging, and different strategies are used to prevent and treat this condition. The...     

Interaction with 14-3-3 proteins promotes functional expression of the potassium channels TASK-1 and TASK-3

The two-pore-domain potassium channels TASK-1, TASK-3 and TASK-5 possess a conserved C-terminal motif of five amino acids. Truncation of the C-terminus of TASK-1 strongly reduced the currents measured after heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes or HEK293 cells and decreased surface membrane expression of GFP-tagged channel proteins. Two-hybrid analysis showed that the C-terminal domain of TASK-1, TASK-3 and TASK-5, but not TASK-4, interacts with isoforms of the adapter protein 14-3-3. A pentapeptide motif at the extreme C-terminus of TASK-1, RRx(S/T)x, was found to be sufficient for weak but significant interaction with 14-3-3, whereas the last 40 amino acids of TASK-1 were required for strong binding. Deletion of a single amino acid at the C-terminal end of TASK-1 or TASK-3 abolished binding of 14-3-3 and strongly reduced the macroscopic currents observed in Xenopus oocytes. TASK-1 mutants that failed to interact with 14-3-3 isoforms (V411*, S410A, S410D) also produced only very weak macroscopic currents. In contrast, the mutant TASK-1 S409A, which interacts with 14-3-3-like wild-type channels, displayed normal macroscopic currents. Co-injection of 14-3-3ζ cRNA increased TASK-1 current in Xenopus oocytes by about 70 %. After co-transfection in HEK293 cells, TASK-1 and 14-3-3ζ (but not TASK-1ΔC5 and 14-3-3ζ) could be co-immunoprecipitated. Furthermore, TASK-1 and 14-3-3 could be co-immunoprecipitated in synaptic membrane extracts and postsynaptic density membranes. Our findings suggest that interaction of 14-3-3 with TASK-1 or TASK-3 may promote the trafficking of the channels to the surface membrane.     

Einfluβ bildgebender diagnostischer verfahren auf therapiewahl und prognose traumatischer pankreas- und duodenalverletzungen

27 patients with pancreatic and 8 with duodenal injuries were studied, 66% of whom had associated abdominal injuries. Peritoneal lavage was performed in 10 cases, and ultrasonography in 15. Laparotomy was considered to be indicated on the basis of the results in 9 cases of peritoneal lavage and in 12 cases of ultrasound examination, but in only 1 case and 2 cases, respectively, did the findings constitute the only reason for performing a laparotomy. Pancreatic and duodenal injuries were directly confirmed by ultrasonography and computer tomography only in a minority of cases. The morbiditiy of pancreatic and duodenal injuries was 66% and 25%, respectively, and lethality, 19% and 25%. Despite modern imaging techniques, clinical examination is of paramount importance for the decision as to whether operative therapy is indicated; delay leads to increased morbidity and lethality.     

Liesegang's rings resembling helminthiasis

So called Liesegang's rings are lamellar corpuscles which develop after periodical precipitation of oversaturated solutions in gel medium. They can occur in cysts, closed cavities, inflammatory exudates and necroses. They resemble parasitic eggs, larvae or adult forms. A case of 28-year-old woman is presented with many Liesegang's rings in a stuff from dilated renal calyx. Their preliminary evaluation considered helminths, especially Dioctophyma renale.     

The functional restoration approach for chronic spinal disability

The functional restoration approach to treating chronic spinal disability consists of a medically directed, interdisciplinary team approach to physical reconditioning and a cognitive-behavioral crisis intervention procedure for dealing with related psychosocial problems. One- and two-year follow-up studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of this approach. The present article describes this approach and summarizes the research documenting its success in treating patients with chronic spinal disability. This article also highlights the pitfalls in misunderstanding and misrepresenting the components of the functional restoration approach when evaluating treatment efficacy.     

Über Melanin und Melanosomen im ZNS im Vergleich zu extracerebralen Erscheinungsformen und synthetischem Melanin aus Dopamin und Serotonin

Summary Melanosomes and isolated melanosomal fragments (melanin particles) originating from gangliocytes (substantia nigra), astroglia (melanosis cerebelli), and melanocytes (melanotic meningeoma; metastases of melanoblastoma; melanosis thalami of the goat) were compared with synthetic melanins prepared from dopamine and serotonin, respectively. Samples were examined by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis according to Debye-Scherrer and by infrared spectrophotometry, and the results were evaluated with regard to characteristic features as they may relate to specific cell types or chemical structures.On electron microscopy all three types of melanosomes could be differentiated unequivocally as could the two synthetic melanins. Thus, there were similarities between synthetic melanin from dopamine and the gliogenic melanins of the cerebellum; the synthetic melanin from serotonin resembled melanin of melanocytes.X-ray diffraction analysis yielded 2-4 Debye diffraction rings with all human and synthetic samples, suggesting short range orders between 3.8 to 5 Å the sample obtained from a goat with thalamic melanosis showed a specific reflex pattern. While diffraction patterns of some melanins were partially identical, in particular that of melanin from dopamine and melanin of substantia nigra and dentate nucleus, respectively, they were different for the various melanocytic melanins. Further investigations are required to determine whether these differences are due to disparities in basic chemical structures or conformations or else, to particular compositional features of the various types of melanocytes as they arise from benign or malignant tumors or a specific species.Infrared spectrophotometry at higher wave numbers revealed the well known patterns of melanins, which are not, however, very suitable, for their further differentiation. At lower wave numbers (fingerprinting) melanin of substantia nigra and the glial melanin in melanosis cerebelli yielded additional absorption bands of identical configuration. In contrast to melanin from dopamine, melanin from serotonin exhibited a closely similar absorption pattern in this spectral range, suggesting that the neuroectodermal melanins may contain a component possibly arising from serotonin.

Herrn Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Doerr zum 25. 8. 1979     

LHRH-Agonist-Behandlung von kleinwüchsigen Jugendlichen

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