Individual- versus group-optimality in the production of secreted bacterial compounds.

How unicellular organisms optimize the production of compounds is a fundamental biological question. While it is typically thought that production is optimized at the individual-cell level, secreted compounds could also allow for optimization at the group level, leading to a division of labor where a subset of cells produces and shares the compound with everyone. Using mathematical modeling, we show that the evolution of such division of labor depends on the cost function of compound production.

Evidence for Escherichia coli Diguanylate Cyclase DgcZ Interlinking Surface Sensing and Adhesion via Multiple Regulatory Routes.

Unlabelled: DgcZ is the main cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP)-producing diguanylate cyclase (DGC) controlling biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharide poly-β-1,6-N-acetylglucosamine (poly-GlcNAc or PGA), which is essential for surface attachment of Escherichia coli Although the complex regulation of DgcZ has previously been investigated, its primary role and the physiological conditions under which the protein is active are not fully understood. Transcription of dgcZ is regulated by the two-component system CpxAR activated by the lipoprotein NlpE in response to surface sensing. Here, we show that the negative effect of a cpxR mutation and the positive effect of nlpE overexpression on biofilm formation both depend on DgcZ.

Genetic Manipulation of Glycogen Allocation Affects Replicative Lifespan in E. coli.

In bacteria, replicative aging manifests as a difference in growth or survival between the two cells emerging from division. One cell can be regarded as an aging mother with a decreased potential for future survival and division, the other as a rejuvenated daughter. Here, we aimed at investigating some of the processes involved in aging in the bacterium Escherichia coli, where the two types of cells can be distinguished by the age of their cell poles.

Proteomic surfaceome analysis of mesothelioma.

Identification of new markers for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a challenging clinical need. Here, we propose a quantitative proteomics primary screen of the cell surface exposed MPM N-glycoproteins, which provides the basis for the development of new protein-based diagnostic assays. Using the antibody-independent mass-spectrometry based cell surface capturing (CSC) technology, we specifically investigated the N-glycosylated surfaceome of MPM towards the identification of protein-marker candidates discriminatory between MPM and lung adenocarcinoma (ADCA).

Low prevalence of SV40 in Swiss mesothelioma patients after elimination of false-positive PCR results.

The association of simian virus 40 (SV40) with malignant pleural mesothelioma is currently under debate. In some malignancies of viral aetiology, viral DNA can be detected in the patients' serum or plasma. To characterize the prevalence of SV40 in Swiss mesothelioma patients, we optimized a real-time PCR for quantitative detection of SV40 DNA in plasma, and used a monoclonal antibody for immunohistochemical detection of SV40 in mesothelioma tissue microarrays.

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) A870G gene polymorphism modulates smoking-induced lung cancer risk and response to platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Purpose: The cyclin D1 (CCND1) A870G gene polymorphism is linked to the outcome in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we investigated the impact of this polymorphism on smoking-induced cancer risk and clinical outcome in patients with NSCLC stages I-IV.

Methods: CCND1 A870G genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of DNA extracted from blood.

Circulating deoxyribonucleic Acid as prognostic marker in non-small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Purpose: Circulating cell-free DNA is present in increased amounts in the blood of cancer patients, but the clinical relevance of this phenomenon remains unclear. We conducted a clinical study to assess the value of circulating DNA as a prognostic marker in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: A standard protocol for the quantification of circulating DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction was set up and validated at two oncology units.