The "comfort timing" strategy: a potential pathway for the cultivation of uncultured microorganisms and a possible adaptation for environmental colonisation.

Efforts to isolate uncultured microorganisms over the last century and a half, as well as the advanced 'omics' technologies developed over the last three decades, have greatly increased the knowledge and resources of microbiology. However, many cellular functions such as growth remain unknown in most of the microbial diversity identified through genomic sequences from environmental samples, as evidenced by the increasingly precise observations of the phenomenon known as the 'great plate count anomaly'. Faced with the many microbial cells recalcitrant to cultivation present in environmental samples, Epstein proposed the 'scout' model, characterised by a dominance of dormant cells whose awakening would be strictly stochastic.

Baclofen Combined With Psychosocial Care is Useful and Safe in Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis Patients: A Real-Life Multicenter Study.

Background: Alcohol-related cirrhosis is a frequent and difficult-to-treat disease. Despite the low hepatic metabolism of baclofen, data on its use in this subgroup are scarce. The French multicenter Observatory of patients treated with Baclofen for Alcohol DEpendence real-life cohort assessed: (a) prescription modalities of baclofen in liver units; (b) safety profile of baclofen; and (c) declared alcohol intake, biological markers of excessive alcohol intake and hepatic function at 12 months.

Altered microRNA Transcriptome in Cultured Human Liver Cells upon Infection with Ebola Virus.

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a virulent pathogen, notorious for inducing life-threatening hemorrhagic fever, that has been responsible for several outbreaks in Africa and remains a public health threat. Yet, its pathogenesis is still not completely understood. Although there have been numerous studies on host transcriptional response to EBOV, with an emphasis on the clinical features, the impact of EBOV infection on post-transcriptional regulatory elements, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), remains largely unexplored.

Platelet Pathogen Reduction Technologies Alter the MicroRNA Profile of Platelet-Derived Microparticles.

Despite improvements in donor screening and increasing efforts to avoid contamination and the spread of pathogens in clinical platelet concentrates (PCs), the risks of transfusion-transmitted infections remain important. Relying on an ultraviolet photo activation system, pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs), such as Intercept and Mirasol, utilize amotosalen, and riboflavin (vitamin B2), respectively, to mediate inactivation of pathogen nucleic acids. Although they are expected to increase the safety and prolong the shelf life of clinical PCs, these PRTs might affect the quality and function of platelets, as recently reported.

Complexity of the microRNA transcriptome of cow milk and milk-derived extracellular vesicles isolated via differential ultracentrifugation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small gene-regulatory noncoding RNA that are highly enriched in cow milk. They are encapsulated in different extracellular vesicle (EV) subsets that protect them from the extracellular milieu and the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract during digestion. Here, we isolated pellets enriched in 4 different EV subsets, via differential ultracentrifugation of commercial cow milk: 12,000 × g (P12K), 35,000 × g (P35K), 70,000 × g (P70K), and 100,000 × g (P100K).

A subset of extracellular vesicles carries the bulk of microRNAs in commercial dairy cow's milk.

MicroRNAs are small gene-regulatory RNAs that are found in various biological fluids, including milk, where they are often contained inside extracellular vesicles (EVs), like exosomes. In a previous study, we reported that commercial dairy cow's milk microRNAs resisted simulated digestion and were not exclusively associated with canonical exosomes. Here, we report the characterization of a milk EV subset that sediments at lower ultracentrifugation speeds and that contains the bulk of microRNAs.

A new HPF specimen carrier adapter for the use of high-pressure freezing with cryoscanning electron microscope: two applications: stearic acid organization in a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose matrix and mice myocardium.

Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy of high-pressure freezing (HPF) samples is a well-established technique for the analysis of liquid containing specimens. This technique enables observation without removing water or other volatile components. The HPF technique is less used in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) due to the lack of a suitable HPF specimen carrier adapter.

MiR-483-5p and miR-139-5p promote aggressiveness by targeting N-myc downstream-regulated gene family members in adrenocortical cancer.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a tumor with poor prognosis in which overexpression of a panel of microRNAs has been associated with malignancy but a very limited number of investigations on their role in ACC pathogenesis have been conducted. We examined the involvement of miR-483-5p and miR-139-5p in adrenocortical cancer aggressiveness. Using bioinformatics predictions and mRNA/miRNA expression profiles, we performed an integrated analysis to identify inversely correlated miRNA-mRNA pairs in ACC.

Bifunctionalized Monomers for Surfaces with Controlled Hydrophobicity.

The control of surface wettability is a key parameter for many application fields (materials, biomedical engineering, etc.). In this work, a new and efficient strategy to synthesize monomers suitable for hydrophobic surface elaboration is reported.

Pathogen reduction technologies: The pros and cons for platelet transfusion.

The transfusion of platelets is essential for diverse pathological conditions associated with thrombocytopenia or platelet disorders. To maintain optimal platelet quality and functions, platelets are stored as platelet concentrates (PCs) at room temperature under continuous agitation-conditions that are permissive for microbial proliferation. In order to reduce these contaminants, pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs) were developed by the pharmaceutical industry and subsequently implemented by blood banks.

Bioinspired Rose-Petal-Like Substrates Generated by Electropolymerization on Micropatterned Gold Substrates.

Invited for this month's cover are the collaborating groups of Dr. Thierry Darmanin at Université Côte d'Azur, France and Dr. François Rossi at JRC European Commission, Italy.

Bioinspired Rose-Petal-Like Substrates Generated by Electropolymerization on Micropatterned Gold Substrates.

Surfaces with high water-adhesion properties are promising materials for different applications in the field of water treatment and management, such as for water-harvesting systems or oil/water separation membranes. Herein, we developed rose-petal-like substrates that demonstrate interesting parahydrophobic character. This bioinspired material mimics the natural substrate thanks to a combination of two fabrication steps: (1) micropatterning to create a microstructured gold-coated substrate consisting of square pillars and (2) an electropolymerization process generating nanostructures over the micropillars.

Gallium enhances reconstructive properties of a calcium phosphate bone biomaterial.

Calcium phosphate (CaP)-based biomaterials are commonly used in bone reconstructive surgery to replace the damaged tissue, and can also serve as vectors for local drug delivery. Due to its inhibitory action on osteoclasts, the semi-metallic element gallium (Ga) is used for the systemic treatment of disorders associated with accelerated bone resorption. As it was demonstrated that Ga could be incorporated in the structure of CaP biomaterials, we investigated the biological properties of Ga-loaded CaP biomaterials.

Commercial Dairy Cow Milk microRNAs Resist Digestion under Simulated Gastrointestinal Tract Conditions.

Background: MicroRNAs are small, gene-regulatory noncoding RNA species present in large amounts in milk, where they seem to be protected against degradative conditions, presumably because of their association with exosomes.

Objective: We monitored the relative stability of commercial dairy cow milk microRNAs during digestion and examined their associations with extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Methods: We used a computer-controlled, in vitro, gastrointestinal model TNO intestinal model-1 (TIM-1) and analyzed, by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the concentration of 2 microRNAs within gastrointestinal tract compartments at different points in time.

Influence of the monomer structure and electrochemical parameters on the formation of nanotubes with parahydrophobic properties (high water adhesion) by a templateless electropolymerization process.

Controlling the formation of surface nanostructures and nanotubes in particular is extremely important for various applications in electronic devices for energy systems, biosensing but also for the control of water adhesion. Here, we use a direct (without template) electropolymerization process to produce vertically aligned nanotubes. Different monomers are tested as well as different solvents, electrolytes and electrodeposition methods.

High endothelial venules as traffic control points maintaining lymphocyte population homeostasis in lymph nodes.

Millions of lymphocytes enter and exit mammal lymph nodes (LNs) each day, accessing the parenchyma via high endothelial venules (HEVs) and egressing via lymphatics. Despite this high rate of cellular flux and the many entry and exit sites within a given LN, the number of lymphocytes present in a resting LN is extraordinary stable over time, raising the question of how this steady-state is maintained. Here we have examined the anatomic details of lymphocyte movement in HEVs, finding that HEVs create pockets within which lymphocytes reside for several minutes before entering the LN proper.

Osteoclastic differentiation of mouse and human monocytes in a plasma clot/biphasic calcium phosphate microparticles composite.

We recently demonstrated that blood clotted around biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) microparticles constituted a composite biomaterial that could be used for bone defect filling. In addition, we showed that mononuclear cells, i.e.

Scanning electron microscopy analysis of experimental bone hacking trauma of the mandible.

The authors report on a macroscopic and microscopic study of human mandible bone lesions achieved by a single-blade knife and a hatchet. The aim of this work was to complete the previous data (scanning electron microscopy analysis of bone lesions made by a single-blade knife and a hatchet, on human femurs) and to compare the lesions of the femur with those of the mandible. The results indicate that the mandible is a more fragile bone, but the features observed on the mandible are quite similar to those previously observed on the femur.

Biphasic calcium phosphate microparticles for bone formation: benefits of combination with blood clot.

Particulate forms of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) biomaterials below 500  μm are promising bone substitutes that provide with interconnected open porosity allowing free circulation of fluids and cells. Dispersion of the particles in the surrounding tissues at the time of implantation is a major drawback preventing from an easy use. We have asked whether blood clot could be a convenient natural hydrogel for handling BCP microparticles, and we hypothesized that blood clot might also confer osteoinductive properties to these particles.

Night and day morphologies in a planktonic dinoflagellate.

We describe remarkable diurnal changes in the morphology of the planktonic dinoflagellate Ceratium ranipes. The species is distinguished by the unusual appendages, known as toes or fingers, protruding from its horns. Varieties have been described based on the characteristics of the fingers.

Differentiation and activity of human preosteoclasts on chitosan enriched calcium phosphate cement.

Chitosan associated to various scaffolds has been shown to promote growth and mineral rich matrix deposition by osteoblasts in vitro, whereas its influence on osteoclast differentiation, which plays also a central role in bone remodeling, has never been described. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differentiation and activity of human preosteoclastic cells on calcium phosphate cement containing 2% chitosan (Cementek/chitosan) compared to the Cementek alone. Human primary osteoclast precursors were cultured directly on both biomaterials in the presence of rhM-CSF and rhRANK-L for 7 days.

Stromal cell networks regulate lymphocyte entry, migration, and territoriality in lymph nodes.

After entry into lymph nodes (LNs), B cells migrate to follicles, whereas T cells remain in the paracortex, with each lymphocyte type showing apparently random migration within these distinct areas. Other than chemokines, the factors contributing to this spatial segregation and to the observed patterns of lymphocyte movement are poorly characterized. By combining confocal, electron, and intravital microscopy, we showed that the fibroblastic reticular cell network regulated naive T cell access to the paracortex and also supported and defined the limits of T cell movement within this domain, whereas a distinct follicular dendritic cell network similarly served as the substratum for movement of follicular B cells.

Scanning electron microscopy analysis of experimental bone hacking trauma.

The authors report on their macro- and microscopy study of bone lesions made by a sharp force instrument (a single blade knife), and a sharp-blunt instrument classified as a chopping weapon (a hatchet). The aim of this work was to attempt to identify the instrument by analyzing the general class characteristics of the cuts. Each weapon was used on human bones.

Spread of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia colonization in a pediatric intensive care unit detected by monitoring tracheal bacterial carriage and molecular typing.

In our pediatric intensive care unit in Tours (France), intubated and ventilated inpatients are systematically monitored for tracheal bacterial colonization twice a week. This led us to detect five patients colonized with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia over a 4-month period. Molecular typing of the isolates using random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) confirmed that four of the five isolates were genetically related.

Comparison of fecal flora following administration of two antibiotic protocols for suspected maternofetal infection.

Two protocols are used by French neonatologists for the treatment of suspected maternofetal infection (SMFI). Three groups of premature and term neonates were included to study the impact of antibiotics on fecal flora: 10 infants with SMFI treated with amoxicillin and netilmicin (group BI), 10 infants with SMFI treated with amoxicillin, cefotoxime and netilmicin (group TRI) and 10 infants without antibiotic therapy as controls (group C). Group BI samples were colonized with Klebsiella oxytoca and Escherichia coli resistant to amoxicillin and by Eneterococcus faecium and coagulase-negative staphylococci.