Comparison of Fecal MicroRNA Isolation Using Various Total RNA Isolation Kits.

Fecal specimens have long been regarded as promising sources for gastrointestinal cancer screening and have, thus, been extensively investigated in biomarker research. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules involved in regulating various biological processes. They are commonly dysregulated during tumor development and exhibit differential expression in feces.

Analysis of nitrifying bacteria growth on two new types of biomass carrier using respirometry and molecular genetic methods.

This work addresses the testing of two newly produced biomass carriers (micro- and nanofibers) and one commercially available AnoxKaldnes™ K3 carrier in a laboratory post-nitrification reactor. The carriers were prepared under parameters suitable for high-quality biomass adhesion to their surface, and each was characterized by its specific structures. As part of the evaluation of the biofilms using respirometry and molecular genetic methods, the carriers were assessed in terms of their effectiveness and comparability.

Lipocalin 2 modulates dendritic cell activity and shapes immunity to influenza in a microbiome dependent manner.

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein with roles in multiple biological processes. It contributes to host defense by interference with bacterial iron uptake and exerts immunomodulatory functions in various diseases. Here, we aimed to characterize the function of LCN2 in lung macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) using Lcn2-/- mice.

Advanced characterization of natural biofilm on nanofiber scaffold.

Nanofiber scaffolds provide numerous advantages over common carriers engineered for microorganisms. The most important advantage is an increased speed of primary surface colonization (up to four times faster), which shortens the time required for the areal biofilm formation and optimum performance of attached microorganisms (higher efficiency of biological activity of up to twice as fast). Image analysis predicts early formation of biofilm even in beginning stages; analysis of biofilm reveals the different structures of bacterial colonies on both scaffolds (higher porosity, size, and number of bacterial colonies on nanofiber's surface).

Myeloid Cells Restrict MCMV and Drive Stress-Induced Extramedullary Hematopoiesis through STAT1.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has a high prevalence worldwide, is often fatal for immunocompromised patients, and causes bone marrow suppression. Deficiency of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) results in severely impaired antiviral immunity. We have used cell-type restricted deletion of Stat1 to determine the importance of myeloid cell activity for the defense against murine CMV (MCMV).

The C-Terminal Transactivation Domain of STAT1 Has a Gene-Specific Role in Transactivation and Cofactor Recruitment.

STAT1 has a key role in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity by inducing transcriptional changes in response to cytokines, such as all types of interferons (IFN). STAT1 exist as two splice isoforms, which differ in regard to the C-terminal transactivation domain (TAD). STAT1β lacks the C-terminal TAD and has been previously reported to be a weaker transcriptional activator than STAT1α, although this was strongly dependent on the target gene.

Stratification of chlorinated ethenes natural attenuation in an alluvial aquifer assessed by hydrochemical and biomolecular tools.

Biomolecular and hydrochemical tools were used to evaluate natural attenuation of chlorinated ethenes in a Quaternary alluvial aquifer located close to a historical source of large-scale tetrachloroethylene (PCE) contamination. Distinct stratification of redox zones was observed, despite the aquifer's small thickness (2.8 m).

Recovery of salts from ion-exchange regeneration streams by a coupled nanofiltration-membrane distillation process.

Ion-exchange tap water demineralization for process water preparation results in a saline regeneration wastewater (20-100 mS cm(-1)) that is increasingly problematic in view of discharge. A coupled nanofiltration-membrane distillation (NF-MD) process is evaluated for the recovery of water and sodium chloride from this wastewater. NF-MD treatment of mixed regeneration wastewater is compared to NF-MD treatment of separate anion- and cation-regenerate fractions.

Effects of a static magnetic field on phenol degradation effectiveness and Rhodococcus erythropolis growth and respiration in a fed-batch reactor.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of short-term repeated exposure to a static magnetic field (induction 370 mT) on the Rhodococcus erythropolis cells. Specifically, it was ascertained the magnetic field's potential to influence degradation of a phenol substrate, cell growth and respiration activity (oxygen consumption) during substrate biodegradation. The experiment took place over 3 days, with R.

Utilizing a high fundamental frequency quartz crystal resonator as a biosensor in a digital microfluidic platform.

We demonstrate the operation of a digital microfluidic lab-on-a-chip system utilizing Electro Wetting on Dielectrics (EWOD) as the actuation principle and a High Fundamental Frequency (HFF; 50 MHz) quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) resonator as a mass-sensitive sensor. In a first experiment we have tested the reversible formation of a phosphor-lipid monolayer of phospholipid vesicles out of an aqueous buffer suspension onto a bio-functionalized integrated QCM sensor. A binding of bio-molecules results in an altered mass load of the resonant sensor and a shift of the resonance frequency can be measured.

Specific binding of divalent metal ions to tetracycline and to the Tet repressor/tetracycline complex.

Tetracyclines coordinate metal(II) ions under physiological conditions forming chelate complexes with their ketoenolate moiety at rings B and C. These metal(II) complexes are the biologically relevant molecules conferring the antibiotic character of the drug by inhibiting ribosomal protein biosynthesis in prokaryotes. The Tet repressor, TetR, is the molecular switch for tetracycline resistance determinants in gram-negative bacteria.

Characterization of two unusual allele variants at the STR locus ACTBP2 (SE33).

Two uncommon allelic variants have been observed at the locus ACTBP2 (SE33) and both were located far outside the ladder range of commercially available typing kits. The short variant showed a 60-bp deletion upstream of the 5'-flanking region with a typical type I repeat structure, which actually would have to be assigned as allele 16. The long allele revealed a typical type III sequence structure that has to be designated as allele 41.

High-fidelity transmission of polarization encoded qubits from an entangled source over 100 km of fiber.

We demonstrate non-degenerate down-conversion at 810 and 1550 nm for long-distance fiber based quantum communication using polarization entangled photon pairs. Measurements of the two-photon visibility, without dark count subtraction, have shown that the quantum correlations (raw visibility 89%) allow secure quantum cryptography after 100 km of non-zero dispersion shifted fiber using commercially available single photon detectors. In addition, quantum state tomography has revealed little degradation of state negativity, decreasing from 0.

Dynamics of an oligotrophic bacterial aquifer community during contact with a groundwater plume contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes: an in situ mesocosm study.

An in situ mesocosm system was designed to monitor the in situ dynamics of the microbial community in polluted aquifers. The mesocosm system consists of a permeable membrane pocket filled with aquifer material and placed within a polypropylene holder, which is inserted below groundwater level in a monitoring well. After a specific time period, the microcosm is recovered from the well and its bacterial community is analyzed.

Contact-free isolation of sperm and epithelial cells by laser microdissection and pressure catapulting.

With the PALM MicroBeam system, precise laser microdissection of single cells from cell smears or tissue preparations is possible. Furthermore, this system uses a contact-free and therefore contamination-free laser pressure catapulting technique in which high energy generated by a focused laser pulse catapults single dissected cells into a collecting vessel. In this study, this technique was tested for forensic purposes with smear preparations from postcoital vaginal swabs, sperm swabs, and buccal cell swabs on different types of microscopic slides.

Joint analysis of the NACP-REP1 marker within the alpha synuclein gene concludes association with alcohol dependence.

Various studies have linked alcohol dependence phenotypes to chromosome 4. One candidate gene is NACP (non-amyloid component of plaques), coding for alpha synuclein. Recently, it has been shown that alpha synuclein mRNA is increased in alcohol-dependent patients within withdrawal state.

Development of a 13-locus PCR multiplex system for paternity testing.

In this study the development of a 13-locus multiplex-PCR system fitting the updated demands for paternity testing in Germany is described. For this purpose an existing multiplex PCR system that allows the simultaneous amplification of eight different STR loci together with the sex-specific locus amelogenin ( genRESMPX-2, Serac, Germany) was extended. Whereas some of the primers were taken from the underlying multiplex system, suitable primer sequences were chosen for the STR loci D19S433, TPOX, TH01, D16S539, D5S818, D2S1338 and FGA.

Validation of the multiplex kit genRESMPX-2 for forensic casework analysis.

Validation studies were carried out using the commercially available PCR multiplex system genRESMPX-2. In addition to amelogenin, this system comprises the complete set of eight STR systems which are components of the German DNA database established in 1998 by the Federal Criminal Office of Germany (BKA). The minimum amount of template DNA which gave a complete DNA pattern ranged between 100 pg and 200 pg.

Purification of STR-multiplex-amplified microsamples can enhance signal intensity in capillary electrophoresis.

In this study, the effect of sample purification on total signal intensities of samples amplified with genRES MPX-2 (nine-locus multiplex) prior to capillary electrophoretic analysis has been investigated. Sample purification with the Qiaquick PCR purification kit led to an increase of the relative fluorescent signal intensity by a factor of 3.8 +/- 0.

DNA analysis of fingernail debris using different multiplex systems: a case report.

A 55-year-old male nurse was accused of having introduced his fingers by force into the anus of a 20-year-old female patient. Debris from the fingernails of the suspect recovered 2 days after the incident was analysed with the VNTR locus D1S80, the triplex PCR system AmpFlSTR Blue kit, the AmpFlSTR Profiler kit and the pentaplex system genRES MPX. The D1S80 singleplex reaction revealed indications of DNA from the victim in the fingernail debris of the left hand.

Biodegradability of ethylenediamine-based complexing agents.

Biological degradability of ethylenediamine derivatives depends on the type and number of substituents. The susceptibility to biodegradation decreases in the sequence of substituents -COCH3, -CH3, -C2H5, -CH2CH2OH, -CH2COOH and with polysubstitution. The biodegradability depends also on the kind and number of nitrogen atoms.

A new pentaplex PCR system for forensic casework analysis.

In 1998 the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (BKA) established a central genetic database of offenders and suspects to facilitate comparisons with biological samples from future criminal offences. The five obligatory short tandem repeat (STR) loci in this database (TH01, SE33, vWA, FGA and D21S11) were co-amplified in a new PCR pentaplex analysing system together with the sex-specific locus amelogenin. Due to overlapping fragment sizes, amplification products were fluorescent dye-labelled with different colours, separated by electrophoresis and detected directly using the ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer.

Population genetics of nine short tandem repeat (STR) loci - DNA typing using the AmpFlSTR profiler PCR amplification kit.

Frequency data for nine short tandem repeat (STR) loci were collected from 130 unrelated Caucasians from North Bavaria using the AmpFlSTR Profiler multiplex system. The loci D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820 and the sex test amelogenin were investigated. Allele frequencies, rates of heterozygosity and the discrimination power of the combined systems were calculated by statistical analysis.