Effect of cetrimonium carrier micelles on bacterial membranes and extracellular DNA, an in silico study.

Microorganisms do not live as dispersed single cells but rather they form aggregates with extracellular polymeric substances at interfaces. Biofilms are considered efficient life forms because they shield bacteria from biocides and collect dilute nutrients. This is a big concern in industry since the microorganisms can colonize a wide range of surfaces, accelerating material deterioration, colonizing medical devices, contaminating ultrapure drinking water, increasing energy costs and creating focus of infection.

EMT Molecular Signatures of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are relatively rare neoplasms occurring predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Their heterogeneity poses challenges for diagnosis and treatment. There is a paucity of markers for characterisation of NEN tumours.

Review of the structures and functions of algal photoreceptors to optimize bioproduct production with novel bioreactor designs for strain improvement.

Microalgae are important renewable feedstock to produce biodiesel and high-value chemicals. Different wavelengths of light influence the growth and metabolic activities of algae. Recent research has identified the light-sensing proteins called photoreceptors that respond to blue or red light.

Genome Sequence of sp. Strain WAP21, Isolated from Soil in Canola Fields in Victoria, Australia.

Here, we describe the genome of sp. strain WAP21, which was isolated from the soil of canola fields in Australia. The genome has a size of 4.

Modelling cetrimonium micelles as 4-OH cinnamate carriers targeting a hydrated iron oxide surface.

Hypothesis: Molecular interactions between 4-OH-cinnamate and cetrimonium in solution result in improved adsorption of the cinnamate on mild steel, developing a protective mechanism against the diffusion of corrosive chloride to the oxide surface. Fundamental understanding of this mechanism should allow new design routes for the development of eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors.

Experiments: Via classic molecular dynamics, simulations were carried out for cetrimonium and 4-OH-cinnamate in aqueous solutions at different ionic strengths and the results were validated with experimental SAXS data.

mRNA profiling of a well-differentiated G1 pancreatic NET correlates with immunohistochemistry profile: a case report.

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a complex group of tumours that occur in many organs. Routinely used IHC markers for NEN diagnosis include CgA, synaptophysin, Ki67 and CD56. These have limitations including lack of correlation to clinical outcomes and their presence in non-tumour tissue.

Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel by Cetrimonium -4-Hydroxy Cinnamate: Entrapment and Delivery of the Anion Inhibitor through Speciation and Micellar Formation.

Chemical inhibitors are widely used to protect metallic alloys from corrosion in aqueous environments. This Letter investigates the possible synergistic behavior of a quaternary ammonium carboxylate compound toward the development of a new system taking advantage of the surface activity of a known antimicrobial surfactant molecule, hexadecyl trimethylammonium cation, combined with a known organic corrosion inhibitor, the -4-hydroxy-cinnamate anion. Short-term potentiodynamic polarization (PP) studies combined with immersion in aqueous chloride solutions demonstrated the high inhibition efficiency of the combination of ions, and NMR pfg-diffusion measurements revealed micellar formation that was concentration- and pH-dependent.

Chromium tolerance and accumulation in Aspergillus flavus isolated from tannery effluent.

Cr(VI) tolerance in Aspergillus flavus, strain SFL, isolated from tannery effluent was measured and compared with a reference strain of A. flavus, A1120. On solid medium, SFL had a high level of Cr(VI) tolerance (1,600 mg/L), which was 16 times that of A1120 and greater than most previously analyzed fungal strains.

Transient epigenomic changes during pregnancy and early postpartum in women with and without type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To investigate epigenomic changes in pregnancy and early postpartum in women with and without type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Dimethylation of histones H3K4, H3K9, H3K27, H3K36 and H3K79 was measured in white blood cells of women at 30 weeks pregnancy, at 8-10 and 20 weeks postpartum and in never-pregnant women.

Results: Dimethylation levels of all five histones were different between women in pregnancy and early postpartum compared with never-pregnant women and were different between women with and without type 2 diabetes.

Critical effects of polar fluorescent probes on the interaction of DHA with POPC supported lipid bilayers.

The understanding of lipid bilayer structure and function has been advanced by the application of molecular fluorophores. However, the effects of these probe molecules on the physicochemical properties of membranes being studied are poorly understood. A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring instrument was used in this work to investigate the impact of two commonly used fluorescent probes, 1‑palmitoyl‑2‑{12‑[(7‑nitro‑2‑1,3‑benzoxadiazol‑4‑yl)amino]dodecanoyl}‑sn‑glycero‑3‑phosphocholine (NBD-PC) and 1,2‑dipalmitoyl‑sn‑glycero‑3‑phosphoethanolamine‑n‑(lissamine rhodamine‑B‑sulfonyl) (Lis-Rhod PE), on the formation and physicochemical properties of a 1‑palmitoyl‑2‑oleoyl‑sn‑glycero‑3‑phosphocholine supported lipid bilayer (POPC-SLB).

Identifying Epithelial Endocytotic Mechanisms of the Peanut Allergens Ara h 1 and Ara h 2.

Background: Peanuts are still one of the highest contributors to anaphylactic deaths after ingestion of a food allergen. At the molecular level, interactions between peanut allergens and the intestinal epithelium are largely unexplored. Previous findings by our research group demonstrated that the major peanut allergens, i.

Microbial nanowires: an electrifying tale.

Electromicrobiology has gained momentum in the last 10 years with advances in microbial fuel cells and the discovery of microbial nanowires (MNWs). The list of MNW-producing micro-organisms is growing and providing intriguing insights into the presence of such micro-organisms in diverse environments and the potential roles MNWs can perform. This review discusses the MNWs produced by different micro-organisms, including their structure, composition and mechanism of electron transfer through MNWs.

Real-Time Quartz Crystal Microbalance Monitoring of Free Docosahexaenoic Acid Interactions with Supported Lipid Bilayers.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most abundant polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found in mammalian neuronal cell membranes. Although DHA is known to be important for neuronal cell survival, little is know about how DHA interacts with phospholipid bilayers. This study presents a detailed quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) analysis of free DHA interactions with individual and mixed phospholipid supported lipid bilayers (SLB).

Ceruloplasmin is regulated by copper and lactational hormones in PMC42-LA mammary epithelial cell culture models.

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is a multicopper ferroxidase that is considered to be an important source of copper in milk for normal neonatal development. We investigated the expression, subcellular localization and secretion of Cp in PMC42-LA cell culture models representative of resting, lactating and suckled human mammary epithelia. Both secreted Cp (sCp) and plasma membrane associated glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked Cp (GPI-Cp) were expressed in PMC42-LA cells.

Zinc and infant nutrition.

Zinc is essential for a wide variety of cellular processes in all cells. It is a critical dietary nutrient, particularly in the early stages of life. In the early neonatal period, adequate sources of zinc can be obtained from breast milk.

Epigenetic Markers to Predict Conversion From Gestational Diabetes to Type 2 Diabetes.

Context: Lifestyle factors mediate epigenetic changes that can cause chronic diseases. Although animal and laboratory studies link epigenetic changes to diabetes, epigenetic information in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and type 2 diabetes is lacking.

Objective: This study sought to measure epigenetic markers across pregnancy and early postpartum and identify markers that could be used as predictors for conversion from GDM to type 2 diabetes.

Identification and topographical characterisation of microbial nanowires in Nostoc punctiforme.

Extracellular pili-like structures (PLS) produced by cyanobacteria have been poorly explored. We have done detailed topographical and electrical characterisation of PLS in Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73120 using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM). TEM analysis showed that N.

Inquisition of Microcystis aeruginosa and Synechocystis nanowires: characterization and modelling.

Identification of extracellular conductive pilus-like structures (PLS) i.e. microbial nanowires has spurred great interest among scientists due to their potential applications in the fields of biogeochemistry, bioelectronics, bioremediation etc.

Altered expression of two zinc transporters, SLC30A5 and SLC30A6, underlies a mammary gland disorder of reduced zinc secretion into milk.

Two cases of zinc deficiency in breastfed neonates were investigated where zinc levels in the mothers' milk were reduced by more than 75 % compared to normal. The objective of this study was to find the molecular basis of the maternal zinc deficiency condition. Significant reductions in mRNA expression and protein levels of the zinc transporters SLC30A5 and SLC30A6 were found in maternal tissue, suggesting a causal link to the zinc-deficient milk.

Lubricin: a versatile, biological anti-adhesive with properties comparable to polyethylene glycol.

Lubricin is a glycoprotein found in articular joints which has been recognized as being an important biological boundary lubricant molecule. Besides providing lubrication, we demonstrate, using a quartz crystal microbalance, that lubricin also exhibits anti-adhesive properties and is highly effective at preventing the non-specific adsorption of representative globular proteins and constituents of blood plasma. This impressive anti-adhesive property, combined with lubricin's ability to readily self-assemble to form dense, highly stable telechelic polymer brush layers on virtually any substrates, and its innate biocompatibility, makes it an attractive candidate for anti-adhesive and anti-fouling coatings.

Peanut allergens alter intestinal barrier permeability and tight junction localisation in Caco-2 cell cultures.

Background/aims: Allergen absorption by epithelia may play an important role in downstream immune responses. Transport mechanisms that can bypass Peyer's patches include transcellular and paracellular transport. The capacity of an allergen to cross via these means can modulate downstream processing of the allergen by the immune system.

Copper and lactational hormones influence the CTR1 copper transporter in PMC42-LA mammary epithelial cell culture models.

Adequate amounts of copper in milk are critical for normal neonatal development, however the mechanisms regulating copper supply to milk have not been clearly defined. PMC42-LA cell cultures representative of resting, lactating and suckled mammary epithelia were used to investigate the regulation of the copper uptake protein, CTR1. Both the degree of mammary epithelial differentiation (functionality) and extracellular copper concentration greatly impacted upon CTR1 expression and its plasma membrane association.

Nuts 'n' guts: transport of food allergens across the intestinal epithelium.

The increase in the incidence of food allergy is a growing problem for the western world. This review will focus on the findings from several macromolecular epithelial transport experiments and drug permeability studies to provide a recent comprehension of food allergen intestinal epithelial cell transport and the allergen-epithelial relationship. Specifically, this review will aim to answer whether allergens can permeate the intestinal barrier directly via intestinal epithelial cells, and whether this mode of transport affects downstream immune reactions.

Molecular and cellular characterisation of the zinc uptake (Znu) system of Nostoc punctiforme.

Metal homoeostasis in cyanobacteria is based on uptake and export systems that are controlled by their own regulators. This study characterises the zinc uptake (Znu) system in Nostoc punctiforme. The system was found to comprise of three subunits in an ACB operon: a Zn(2+)-binding protein (ZnuA18), a transmembrane domain (ZnuB) and an ATPase (ZnuC).