Impaired Mucosal Homeostasis in Short-Term Fiber Deprivation Is Due to Reduced Mucus Production Rather Than Overgrowth of Mucus-Degrading Bacteria.

The gut mucosal environment is key in host health; protecting against pathogens and providing a niche for beneficial bacteria, thereby facilitating a mutualistic balance between host and microbiome. Lack of dietary fiber results in erosion of the mucosal layer, suggested to be a result of increased mucus-degrading gut bacteria. This study aimed to use quantitative analyses to investigate the diet-induced imbalance of mucosal homeostasis.

An Economical and Flexible Dual Barcoding, Two-Step PCR Approach for Highly Multiplexed Amplicon Sequencing.

In microbiome research, phylogenetic and functional marker gene amplicon sequencing is the most commonly-used community profiling approach. Consequently, a plethora of protocols for the preparation and multiplexing of samples for amplicon sequencing have been developed. Here, we present two economical high-throughput gene amplification and sequencing workflows that are implemented as standard operating procedures at the Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna.

Combined hormonal contraceptives are associated with minor changes in composition and diversity in gut microbiota of healthy women.

Recent human and animal studies have found associations between gut microbiota composition and serum levels of sex hormones, indicating that they could be an important factor in shaping the microbiota. However, little is known about the effect of regular hormonal fluctuations over the menstrual cycle or CHC-related changes of hormone levels on gut microbiota structure, diversity and dynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CHCs on human gut microbiota composition.

Genetic variation in an ephemeral mudflat species: The role of the soil seed bank and dispersal in river and secondary anthropogenic habitats.

Many ephemeral mudflat species, which rely on a soil seed bank to build up the next generation, are endangered in their natural habitat due to the widespread regulation of rivers. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of the soil seed bank and dispersal for the maintenance of genetic diversity in populations of near-natural river habitats and anthropogenic habitats created by traditional fish farming practices using as a model. Using microsatellite markers, we found no difference in genetic diversity levels between soil seed bank and above-ground population and only moderate differentiation between the two fractions.

Proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptors as regulators of cell proliferation and migration during tumor growth and wound healing.

Dysregulation of pH is a feature of both tumor growth and tissue repair. In tumors, microenvironmental changes, like in lactate metabolism, lead to altered intra- and extracellular pH (pH , pH ) and vice versa. In wounds, barrier disruption results in extensive variations in pH on the wound surface.

IRAK-M Expression in Tumor Cells Supports Colorectal Cancer Progression through Reduction of Antimicrobial Defense and Stabilization of STAT3.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with loss of epithelial barrier integrity, which facilitates the interaction of the immunological microenvironment with the luminal microbiome, eliciting tumor-supportive inflammation. An important regulator of intestinal inflammatory responses is IRAK-M, a negative regulator of TLR signaling. Here we investigate the compartment-specific impact of IRAK-M on colorectal carcinogenesis using a mouse model.

Progressive migration and anagenesis in Drimys confertifolia of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile.

A common mode of speciation in oceanic islands is by anagenesis, wherein an immigrant arrives and through time transforms by mutation, recombination, and drift into a morphologically and genetically distinct species, with the new species accumulating a high level of genetic diversity. We investigate speciation in Drimys confertifolia, endemic to the two major islands of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile, to determine genetic consequences of anagenesis, to examine relationships among populations of D. confertifolia and the continental species D.

Relationships and genetic consequences of contrasting modes of speciation among endemic species of Robinsonia (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile, based on AFLPs and SSRs.

This study analyses and compares the genetic signatures of anagenetic and cladogenetic speciation in six species of the genus Robinsonia (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile. Population genetic structure was analyzed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) markers from 286 and 320 individuals, respectively, in 28 populations. Each species is genetically distinct.

Genetic variation (AFLPs and nuclear microsatellites) in two anagenetically derived endemic species of Myrceugenia (Myrtaceae) on the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile.

Premise Of The Study: Anagenesis (or phyletic evolution) is one mode of speciation that occurs in the evolution of plants on oceanic islands. Of two endemic species on the Juan Fernández Islands (Chile), Myrceugenia fernandeziana and M. schulzei (Myrtaceae), believed to have originated anagenetically from different continental progenitors, the first is endemic to Robinson Crusoe Island and has no clear tie to continental relatives; the last is endemic to the younger island, Alejandro Selkirk Island, and has close affinity to M.

Development of microsatellite markers in (Asteraceae) an endemic genus of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile.

Ten microsatellite markers were developed for (Asteraceae), a genus endemic to the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. Polymorphisms of these markers were tested using one population each of , , and . The number of alleles for these markers ranged from 2 to 17 per locus, and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.

Development of microsatellite markers in species of Erigeron (Asteraceae) endemic to the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile.

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed in Erigeron rupicola and tested by amplification in six Erigeron species endemic to the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile, to investigate genetic diversity and population structure. •

Methods And Results: Using 454 pyrosequencing, 24 primer pairs were developed in E. rupicola, 12 of which amplified and presented polymorphism among endemic species of Erigeron in the Archipelago.

Progenitor-derivative speciation in Pozoa (Apiaceae, Azorelloideae) of the southern Andes.

Background And Aims: Studies examining patterns and processes of speciation in South America are fewer than in North America and Europe. One of the least well documented processes has been progenitor-derivative speciation. A particularly instructive example occurs in the southern Andes in the genus Pozoa (Apiaceae, Azorelloideae), which consists of only two diploid outcrossing species, the widespread P.

Evidence for progenitor-derivative speciation in sexually deceptive orchids.

Background And Aims: Sexually deceptive orchids of the genus Ophrys use mimicry of pollinator females to attract specific pollinators. Pollinator shifts may drive speciation in Ophrys, since novel pollinators may in principle act as isolating factors immediately. It is thus possible that evolution of novel species occurs rapidly and with a progenitor-derivative pattern.

Phylogenetic relationships in the genus Leontopodium (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) based on AFLP data.

The genus Leontopodium comprises 30-41 species. The centre of diversity is the Sino-Himalayan region in south-western China, where about 15 species occur. The two species native to Europe, L.

Antiproliferative effects of rapamycin and celecoxib in angiosarcoma cell lines.

Background/aim: Beyond their primary field of application some well-established drugs exhibit antitumour effects in a variety of cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the COX2 inhibitor celecoxib and the mTOR antagonist rapamycin on angiosarcoma cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Cell proliferation was measured in ASM, ISOS 1 and ISO HAS angiosarcoma cell lines with the BrdU assay.

Pleistocene refugia and polytopic replacement of diploids by tetraploids in the Patagonian and Subantarctic plant Hypochaeris incana (Asteraceae, Cichorieae).

We report the phylogeographic pattern of the Patagonian and Subantarctic plant Hypochaeris incana endemic to southeastern South America. We applied amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) analysis to 28 and 32 populations, respectively, throughout its distributional range and assessed ploidy levels using flow cytometry. While cpDNA data suggest repeated or simultaneous parallel colonization of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego by several haplotypes and/or hybridization, AFLPs reveal three clusters corresponding to geographic regions.

Effective gene transfer to melanoma cells using bacterial ghosts.

Bacterial ghosts (BG) are cell envelopes preparations of Gram-negative bacteria devoid of cytoplasmic content produced by controlled expression of PhiX174 plasmid-encoded lysis gene E. Eight melanoma cell lines were investigated for their capacity to bind and phagocyte BG derived from Escherichia coli NM522 and Mannheimia haemolytica A23. High capability to bind BG was observed in almost all of the analyzed cell lines, furthermore cells were able to take up BG independently of the used bacterial species.

Antiangiogenic and antitumor activity of a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZD6474 in a metastatic human pancreatic tumor model.

ZD6474 is a novel, orally available inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor kinase insert domain receptor/flk-1 tyrosine kinase activity with additional activity against the epidermal growth factor receptor-1 tyrosine kinase. The aim of this study was to evaluate ZD6474, alone and in combination with gemcitabine, in an orthotopic model of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Nude mice (nine to 10/group) were injected orthotopically with 1x10(6) L3.

Vascular targeting in pancreatic cancer: the novel tubulin-binding agent ZD6126 reveals antitumor activity in primary and metastatic tumor models.

ZD6126 is a novel vascular-targeting agent that acts by disrupting the tubulin cytoskeleton of an immature tumor endothelium, leading to an occlusion of tumor blood vessels and a subsequent tumor necrosis. We wanted to evaluate ZD6126 in primary and metastatic tumor models of human pancreatic cancer. Nude mice were injected orthotopically with L3.

DNA-loaded bacterial ghosts efficiently mediate reporter gene transfer and expression in macrophages.

There is a demand for efficient and safe DNA delivery vehicles mediating gene transfer and expression. We present bacterial ghosts as a novel platform technology for DNA delivery and targeting of macrophages. Bacterial ghosts are cell envelopes of gram-negative bacteria that are devoid of the cytoplasmic content.

Bacterial ghosts as novel advanced drug delivery systems: antiproliferative activity of loaded doxorubicin in human Caco-2 cells.

Systemic application of anticancer drugs often causes severe toxic side effects. To reduce the undesired effects, advanced drug delivery systems are needed which are based on specific cell targeting vehicles. In this study, bacterial ghosts from Mannheimia haemolytica were used for site-specific delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) to human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2).

Sealed bacterial ghosts--novel targeting vehicles for advanced drug delivery of water-soluble substances.

The purpose of the present study was to develop a drug delivery model for water soluble drug substances using the bacterial ghost platform technology. Bacterial ghosts are non-denatured bacterial cell envelopes that are produced by the plasmid encoded gene E mediated lysis. We present a novel method to fill and seal bacterial ghosts for the application as a drug delivery system for fluid, non-anchored substances.

GFP-transfected tumor cells are useful in examining early metastasis in vivo, but immune reaction precludes long-term tumor development studies in immunocompetent mice.

To develop effective therapeutic strategies aimed at treating tumor metastasis, critical steps in this process must be better understood. For this purpose we have established a new model to visualize and quantify early metastasis. Murine CT-26 colon adenocarcinoma cells were stably transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP).