Unveiling the regulatory network controlling natural transformation in lactococci.

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium of major importance for food fermentation and biotechnological applications. The ability to manipulate its genome quickly and easily through competence for DNA transformation would accelerate its general use as a platform for a variety of applications. Natural transformation in this species requires the activation of the master regulator ComX.

Effects of ventro-oral thalamic deep brain stimulation in a patient with musician's dystonia: illustrative case.

Background: Musician's dystonia is a task-specific focal hand dystonia characterized by involuntary contraction of muscles while playing a musical instrument. Current treatment options are often insufficient.

Observations: We present the effects of ventro-oral thalamic deep brain stimulation in a patient with musician's dystonia.

Upper-extremity spasticity and functionality after selective dorsal rhizotomy for cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

Objective: Lumbosacral selective dorsal rhizotomy is a neurosurgical treatment option to reduce spasticity in the lower extremities in children with cerebral palsy. Surprisingly, concomitant improvement of spasticity in the upper extremities and functionality of the hands has been sporadically reported postoperatively. In this systematic review, the authors aimed to quantify the postoperative improvement in upper-extremity spasticity and functionality, identify predictors, and discuss underlying mechanisms.

Cloning and expression of a Clostridium acetobutylicum alpha-amylase gene in Escherichia coli.

A gene library of Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC824 was constructed in the plasmid vector pEcoR251. The library was tested for the presence of starch hydrolyzing clones. One clone in which the recombinant plasmid, pVP101, conferred alpha-amylase activity to the Escherichia coli host cell, was detected.