Standardization of hemoglobin A and hemoglobin F: Achievements and perspectives.

The establishment of reference systems for the standardization of hemoglobin A (HbA) and fetal hemoglobin (HbF), both critical for improving diagnostic accuracy in conditions such as β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, are described. Efforts were led by the IFCC and other groups to address and reduce the variability in laboratory measurements of these hemoglobins. This document outlines the production of certified reference materials (CRMs) for HbA and the development of a reference measurement procedure using isotope dilution mass spectrometry.

Metaproteomic analysis decodes trophic interactions of microorganisms in the dark ocean.

Proteins in the open ocean represent a significant source of organic matter, and their profiles reflect the metabolic activities of marine microorganisms. Here, by analyzing metaproteomic samples collected from the Pacific, Atlantic and Southern Ocean, we reveal size-fractionated patterns of the structure and function of the marine microbiota protein pool in the water column, particularly in the dark ocean (>200 m). Zooplankton proteins contributed three times more than algal proteins to the deep-sea community metaproteome.

Substrate uptake patterns shape niche separation in marine prokaryotic microbiome.

Marine heterotrophic prokaryotes primarily take up ambient substrates using transporters. The patterns of transporters targeting particular substrates shape the ecological role of heterotrophic prokaryotes in marine organic matter cycles. Here, we report a size-fractionated pattern in the expression of prokaryotic transporters throughout the oceanic water column due to taxonomic variations, revealed by a multi-"omics" approach targeting ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs).

Bacterial degradation of ctenophore organic matter.

Blooms of gelatinous zooplankton, an important source of protein-rich biomass in coastal waters, often collapse rapidly, releasing large amounts of labile detrital organic matter (OM) into the surrounding water. Although these blooms have the potential to cause major perturbations in the marine ecosystem, their effects on the microbial community and hence on the biogeochemical cycles have yet to be elucidated. We conducted microcosm experiments simulating the scenario experienced by coastal bacterial communities after the decay of a ctenophore () bloom in the northern Adriatic Sea.

A ubiquitous gammaproteobacterial clade dominates expression of sulfur oxidation genes across the mesopelagic ocean.

The deep ocean (>200 m depth) is the largest habitat on Earth. Recent evidence suggests sulfur oxidation could be a major energy source for deep ocean microbes. However, the global relevance and the identity of the major players in sulfur oxidation in the oxygenated deep-water column remain elusive.

A device for assessing microbial activity under ambient hydrostatic pressure: The in situ microbial incubator (ISMI).

Microbes in the dark ocean are exposed to hydrostatic pressure increasing with depth. Activity rate measurements and biomass production of dark ocean microbes are, however, almost exclusively performed under atmospheric pressure conditions due to technical constraints of sampling equipment maintaining in situ pressure conditions. To evaluate the microbial activity under in situ hydrostatic pressure, we designed and thoroughly tested an in situ microbial incubator (ISMI).

Dynamics of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial community during a cyanobacterial bloom.

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms frequently develop in eutrophic freshwater bodies worldwide. Microcystis species produce microcystins (MCs) as a cyanotoxin. Certain bacteria that harbor the mlr gene cluster, especially mlrA, are capable of degrading MCs.

Autofluorescence Is a Common Trait in Different Oceanic Fungi.

Natural autofluorescence is a widespread phenomenon observed in different types of tissues and organisms. Depending on the origin of the autofluorescence, its intensity can provide insights on the physiological state of an organism. Fungal autofluorescence has been reported in terrestrial and human-derived fungal samples.

Mesozooplankton taurine production and prokaryotic uptake in the northern Adriatic Sea.

Dissolved free taurine, an important osmolyte in phytoplankton and metazoans, has been shown to be a significant carbon and energy source for prokaryotes in the North Atlantic throughout the water column. However, the extent of the coupling between taurine production and consumption over a seasonal cycle has not been examined yet. We determined taurine production by abundant crustacean zooplankton and its role as a carbon and energy source for several prokaryotic taxa in the northern Adriatic Sea over a seasonal cycle.

Microbial Processing of Jellyfish Detritus in the Ocean.

When jellyfish blooms decay, sinking jellyfish detrital organic matter (jelly-OM), rich in proteins and characterized by a low C:N ratio, becomes a significant source of OM for marine microorganisms. Yet, the key players and the process of microbial jelly-OM degradation and the consequences for marine ecosystems remain unclear. We simulated the scenario potentially experienced by the coastal pelagic microbiome after the decay of a bloom of the cosmopolitan s.

Response of microcystin biosynthesis and its biosynthesis gene cluster transcription in on electrochemical oxidation.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), which is one of the most commonly found microcystins (MCs) in fresh water, has been proved to be a potential tumour promoter and classified as 2B by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. MC-LR decomposition and inhibition of MC-LR production in were investigated under electrolysis condition using an electrolysis cell consisting of Ti/Pt electrodes and Nafion membrane. The relationship between the decrease in MC-LR concentration and transcription of MC-LR synthesis gene clusters was determined by performing real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to monitor changes in the levels of transcription encoding and (cDNA to DNA) in NIES 1086 under electrolysis condition and three different conditions (i.

Nanoparticles Containing Curcumin Useful for Suppressing Macrophages In Vivo in Mice.

To explore a novel method using liposomes to suppress macrophages, we screened food constituents through cell culture assays. Curcumin was one of the strongest compounds exhibiting suppressive effects on macrophages. We subsequently tried various methods to prepare liposomal curcumin, and eventually succeeded in preparing liposomes with sufficient amounts of curcumin to suppress macrophages by incorporating a complex of curcumin and bovine serum albumin.

Polyamidoamine dendron-bearing lipid assemblies: their morphologies and gene transfection ability.

Assembly morphology made from lipids is controlled by the balance between the polar headgroup and the hydrophobic tails. In this study, we showed the various generations of polyamidoamine dendron-bearing lipids could form various assembly morphologies. Furthermore, the effect of the assembly morphologies made from dendron-bearing lipids for transfection abilities were examined.

The specific delivery of proteins to human liver cells by engineered bio-nanocapsules.

A bio-nanocapsule (BNC), composed of the surface antigen (sAg) of the hepatitis B virus, is an efficient nanomachine with which to accomplish the liver-specific delivery of genes and drugs. Approximately 110 molecules of sAg are associated to form a BNC particle with an average diameter of 130 nm. The L protein is an sAg peptide composed mainly of preS and S regions.

The D-glucosaminate dehydratase alpha-subunit from Pseudomonas fluorescens exhibits thioredoxin reductase activity.

The complete amino acid sequence of the D-glucosaminate dehydratase (GADH) alpha-subunit from Pseudomonas fluorescens was determined by PCR using genomic DNA from P. fluorescens as a template. The alpha-subunit comprises 320 amino acids and has a molecular mass of about 33.