A systematic exploration of the interactions between bacterial effector proteins and host cell membranes.

Membrane-bound organelles serve as platforms for the assembly of multi-protein complexes that function as hubs of signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. Microbial pathogens have evolved virulence factors that reprogram these host signaling responses, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we test the ability of ~200 type III and type IV effector proteins from six Gram-negative bacterial species to interact with the eukaryotic plasma membrane and intracellular organelles.

Lipid order, saturation and surface property relationships: a study of human meibum saturation.

Tear film stability decreases with age however the cause(s) of the instability are speculative. Perhaps the more saturated meibum from infants may contribute to tear film stability. The meibum lipid phase transition temperature and lipid hydrocarbon chain order at physiological temperature (33 °C) decrease with increasing age.

13C and 1H NMR ester region resonance assignments and the composition of human infant and child meibum.

Recent NMR studies suggest that unsaturation may contribute to tear film instability in adults and loss of cholesteryl esters and squalene could reduce tear film stability in adults with meibomian gland dysfunction. The proton resonances were tentatively assigned in those studies. In this current investigation, meibum from seven infants and children, one adult and a pool of adult meibum have been analyzed using an NMR spectrometer with greater sensitivity and spectral resolution.