Fine focus最新文献_第3页

Anti-proliferation of Melanoma Cells and Immune Stimulation by the Cyanobacterial Indole-alkaloid Scytonemin 蓝藻吲哚-生物碱催乳素的抗黑色素瘤细胞增殖和免疫刺激作用

Fine focus Pub Date : 2021-12-03 DOI: 10.33043/ff.7.1.54-63

A. Jones

引用次数: 4

Real-time Screening of Foods Using Repetitive Element PCR Reveals a DNA Marker Characteristic for Enterotoxigenic Bacillus Species 利用重复元件PCR实时筛选食品揭示产肠毒素芽孢杆菌的DNA标记特征

Fine focus Pub Date : 2021-12-03 DOI: 10.33043/ff.7.1.36-53

Breanna Brenneman, K. Adamson, M. Beer, Yen-Ning Ho, Kiev S. Gracias, Chelsea M. Priest, Erika N. Biernbaum, J. McKillip

{"title":"Real-time Screening of Foods Using Repetitive Element PCR Reveals a DNA Marker Characteristic for Enterotoxigenic Bacillus Species","authors":"Breanna Brenneman, K. Adamson, M. Beer, Yen-Ning Ho, Kiev S. Gracias, Chelsea M. Priest, Erika N. Biernbaum, J. McKillip","doi":"10.33043/ff.7.1.36-53","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33043/ff.7.1.36-53","url":null,"abstract":"Bacillus cereus is traditionally thought to be the only member of its genus accepted as a pathogen in foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk due to the presence of the nonhemolytic (Nhe) operon. However, many other Bacillus spp. may also harbor the Nhe operon and be pathogenic, including not just food-associated gastrointestinal toxicoinfections, but human endophthalmitis as well. Real-time PCR targeted the nheA gene in 37 samples obtained from food, soil, and reference cultures by analyzing the standard deviations of melt peaks. Repetitive element PCR was used to compare the banding patterns of each sample against B. cereus ATCC 14579 and three B. thuringiensis strains to “fingerprint” each isolate. Of the original 43 isolated tested, 37 were Gram-positive rods. The remaining six samples were Gram-positive cocci. Twenty-five of the 37 Gram-positive Bacillus spp. were nheA positive, while twelve were negative. Many of the nheA positive strains were species not previously known to contain Nhe and were capable of causing gastroenteritis in consumers.","PeriodicalId":87255,"journal":{"name":"Fine focus","volume":"147 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86115316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Biogenesis of Lipoproteins in Gram-Negative Bacteria: 50 Years of Progress 革兰氏阴性菌中脂蛋白的生物发生:50年的进展

Fine focus Pub Date : 2021-12-03 DOI: 10.33043/ff.7.1.9-24

James C. Kuldell, Harshani Luknauth, Anthony E. Ricigliano, Nathan W. Rigel

{"title":"Biogenesis of Lipoproteins in Gram-Negative Bacteria: 50 Years of Progress","authors":"James C. Kuldell, Harshani Luknauth, Anthony E. Ricigliano, Nathan W. Rigel","doi":"10.33043/ff.7.1.9-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33043/ff.7.1.9-24","url":null,"abstract":"The outer membrane is the defining characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria and is crucial for the maintenance of cellular integrity. Lipoproteins are an essential component of this outer membrane and regulate broad cellular functions ranging from efflux, cellular physiology, antibiotic resistance, and pathogenicity. In the canonical model of lipoprotein biogenesis, lipoprotein precursors are first synthesized in the cytoplasm prior to extensive modifications by the consecutive action of three key enzymes: diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt), lipoprotein signal peptidase A (LspA), and apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase (Lnt). This enzymatic process modifies lipoprotein precursors for subsequent trafficking by the Lol pathway. The function of these three enzymes were originally thought to be essential, however, in some Gram-negative bacteria, namely Acinetobacter baylyi, the third enzyme Lnt is dispensable. Here we review the function and significance of Lgt, LspA, and Lnt in outer membrane biogenesis and how non-canonical models of lipoprotein processing in Acinetobacter spp. can enhance our understanding of lipoprotein modifications and trafficking.","PeriodicalId":87255,"journal":{"name":"Fine focus","volume":"46 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88277804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Isolation and Identification of Dermatophytes from Collegiate Runners 大学生跑步者皮肤真菌的分离与鉴定

Fine focus Pub Date : 2021-12-03 DOI: 10.33043/ff.7.1.64-73

L. Kalnina, Stephanie Guzelak, Maryann Herman

{"title":"Isolation and Identification of Dermatophytes from Collegiate Runners","authors":"L. Kalnina, Stephanie Guzelak, Maryann Herman","doi":"10.33043/ff.7.1.64-73","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33043/ff.7.1.64-73","url":null,"abstract":"Competitive runners experience various risk factors that render them more susceptible to superficial cutaneous fungal infections, including the use of occlusive footwear, shared locker rooms, submission of feet to constant maceration, trauma, sweating, and having depressed immune function. The goal of this work was to assess the prevalence of athlete’s foot fungi in cross country runners at St. John Fisher College. Toe webs of 16 collegiate runners were sampled and volunteers surveyed about their shoe habits, foot hygiene, and average miles run per week. Lack of tinea pedis-causing fungi in asymptomatic cross- country runners shifted the study to investigate the identities of fungi morphologically similar to athlete’s foot and look for correlations with volunteers’ running habits and hygiene. Thirty-five distinct fungal cultures were isolated and compared to a known Trichophyton rubrum strain both microscopically and macroscopically. Four samples were preliminarily identified as tinea pedis-causing fungi and sequenced to confirm molecular identification. Fungal DNA was isolated, purified, and PCR amplified using primers for the internal transcribed spacer region, D1/D2 region of the 28S subunit, and β-Tubulin gene. Three of the four isolates were identified as Fusarium equiseti, a soil-borne plant pathogen with rare human pathogenicity reported. The fourth isolate was Beauveria bassiana, a common soil-borne pathogen that can infect immunocompromised individuals. Correct dermatophytic identification and understanding of the interplay between species is important to provide correct treatment, prevent spread among athletes and within facilities, and determine how opportunistic pathogens might play a role in people with immune suppressed function, which includes runners.","PeriodicalId":87255,"journal":{"name":"Fine focus","volume":"79 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86447118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Loss of protein quality control gene UBR1 sensitizes Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the aminoglycoside hygromycin B. 蛋白质量控制基因UBR1的缺失使酿酒酵母菌对氨基糖苷水霉素B敏感。

Fine focus Pub Date : 2020-10-26 DOI: 10.33043/FF.6.1.76-83

Avery M Runnebohm, Melissa D Evans, Adam E Richardson, Samantha M Turk, James B Olesen, Philip J Smaldino, Eric M Rubenstein

引用次数: 5

The benefits of mentoring undergraduate research students 指导本科生研究生的好处

Fine focus Pub Date : 2020-10-23 DOI: 10.33043/FF.6.1.9-11

Douglas H. Roossien

引用次数: 0

Mixtures of Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Growth of Lactuca Sativa and Reduce Levels of Zinc in Contaminated Soil 菌根真菌混合施用可促进油菜生长，降低污染土壤中锌含量

Fine focus Pub Date : 2019-10-16 DOI: 10.33043/ff.5.1.65-74

John A. Haradean, Tyler Ralph-Epps, Zach Whiteacre, S. Neumann, D. Becker

{"title":"Mixtures of Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Growth of Lactuca Sativa and Reduce Levels of Zinc in Contaminated Soil","authors":"John A. Haradean, Tyler Ralph-Epps, Zach Whiteacre, S. Neumann, D. Becker","doi":"10.33043/ff.5.1.65-74","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33043/ff.5.1.65-74","url":null,"abstract":"Bioremediation is currently under investigation as a viable way to remove many environmental pollutants and most commonly involves the use of microorganisms to extract organic pollutants or heavy metals from water or soil. One of the most abundant heavy metals found in industrially polluted sites is zinc (Zn); it is often found alongside metals like lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). This experiment investigated the potential bioremediation of pasteurized soil contaminated with zinc using different vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM) species and lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa). Soil was amended with 0.4 g of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) per kg of soil. Amended and unamended soils were inoculated with two different mixes of VAM, BioAg VAM-Endo™ and MycoBloom. For each treatment, L. sativa plants (15 pots per treatment) were grown in a greenhouse setting. Plant diameter was measured weekly. Plants were harvested after 55-days and the wet weight of leaf tissue was measured before the tissue was sent for analysis of zinc levels. Roots were assessed for mycorrhizae using a trypan blue staining procedure. The BioAg VAM-Endo™ mix was the most successful at removing ZnCl2 from the soil. L. sativa inoculated with VAM mixes formed mycorrhizae, grew healthier and removed more zinc from the soil than the non-inoculated group. We propose further investigation into the use of mycorrhizal fungi paired with other plant species to remove zinc from contaminated sites with harmful levels of zinc.","PeriodicalId":87255,"journal":{"name":"Fine focus","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81313366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 1

The Persistence of Staphylococcus aureus on Hospital Privacy Curtains 金黄色葡萄球菌在医院隐私窗帘上的持久性

Fine focus Pub Date : 2019-10-16 DOI: 10.33043/ff.5.1.53-62

Sarah E. Cole, Brittany J. Gasper

{"title":"The Persistence of Staphylococcus aureus on Hospital Privacy Curtains","authors":"Sarah E. Cole, Brittany J. Gasper","doi":"10.33043/ff.5.1.53-62","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33043/ff.5.1.53-62","url":null,"abstract":"While healthcare professionals are working in hospitals, they will often manipulate the privacy curtains during the care of their patients. Studies have shown that the transfer of bacteria from hands to the curtains and vice versa is possible. Despite the possibility of hospital curtains being a mode of infection transmission, studies have shown that 53% of hospitals surveyed did not have a policy for cleaning or changing their curtains. The question that this study focused on was whether curtain material affects the persistence of Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, five different curtain types were inoculated with overnight, diluted, and finger imprint cultures of S. aureus. They were incubated at room temperature and were sampled for growth regularly onto Mannitol Salt Agar plates. The colonies were counted, and one-way ANOVA statistical analysis was completed on the data. The statistical analysis showed that the length of persistence of liquid cultures of S. aureus on the curtains was not dependent upon initial concentration. Finger imprint inoculations of four curtain varieties had statistically significant longer persistence times than the liquid cultures. Only the curtain type composed of 100% antimicrobial polyester with water repellant had significantly lower persistence times for the finger imprint culture than the other four curtains. The results suggest that the 100% inherently flame resistant antimicrobial polyester curtain material reduces S. aureus persistence times and that it may benefit hospitals to use this type of curtain.","PeriodicalId":87255,"journal":{"name":"Fine focus","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76993975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

TatC2 is Important for Growth of Acinetobacter baylyi Under Stress Conditions TatC2对贝氏不动杆菌在胁迫条件下的生长有重要作用

Fine focus Pub Date : 2019-10-16 DOI: 10.33043/ff.5.1.37-50

Justin Langro, Megan M. Chamberland, Celena M. Gwin, N. Prakash, D. Velez, Nathan W. Rigel

{"title":"TatC2 is Important for Growth of Acinetobacter baylyi Under Stress Conditions","authors":"Justin Langro, Megan M. Chamberland, Celena M. Gwin, N. Prakash, D. Velez, Nathan W. Rigel","doi":"10.33043/ff.5.1.37-50","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33043/ff.5.1.37-50","url":null,"abstract":"Protein export pathways are important for bacterial physiology among pathogens and non-pathogens alike. This includes the Twin-Arginine Translocation (Tat) pathway, which transports fully folded proteins across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. Some Tat substrates are virulence factors, while others are important for cellular processes like peptidoglycan remodeling. Some bacteria encode more than one copy of each Tat component, including the Gram-negative soil isolate Acinetobacter baylyi. One of these Tat pathways is essential for growth, while the other is not. We constructed a loss-of-function mutation to disrupt the non-essential tatC2 gene and assessed its contribution to cell growth under different environmental conditions. While the tatC2 mutant grew well under standard laboratory conditions, it displayed a growth defect and an aberrant cellular morphology when subjected to high temperature stress including an aberrant cellular morphology. Furthermore, increased sensitivities to detergent suggested a compromised cell envelope. Lastly, using an in vitro co-culture system, we demonstrate that the non-essential Tat pathway provides a growth advantage. The findings of this study establish the importance of the non-essential Tat pathway for optimal growth of A. baylyi in stressful environmental conditions.","PeriodicalId":87255,"journal":{"name":"Fine focus","volume":"158 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75479068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

How CRISPR-Mediated Genome Editing is Affecting Undergraduate Biology Education crispr介导的基因组编辑如何影响本科生物学教育

Fine focus Pub Date : 2019-10-16 DOI: 10.33043/ff.5.1.23-34

Ethan S. Pickerill, Caleb Embree, Ben A. Evans, E. North, G. M. Mager, D. Bernstein

引用次数: 0