A Synbiotic Formulation Comprising DSM 32315 and L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine Improves Intestinal Butyrate Levels and Lipid Metabolism in Healthy Humans.

The gut microbiota is a crucial modulator of health effects elicited by food components, with SCFA (short chain fatty acids), especially butyrate, acting as important mediators thereof. We therefore developed a nutritional synbiotic composition targeted at shifting microbiome composition and activity towards butyrate production. An intestinal screening model was applied to identify probiotic strains plus various amino acids and peptides with suitable effects on microbial butyrate producers and levels.

Colonization and movement of GFP-labeled Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis during tomato infection.

The vascular pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is responsible for bacterial wilt and canker of tomato. Pathogenicity of this bacterium is dependent on plasmid-borne virulence factors and serine proteases located on the chromosomal chp/tomA pathogenicity island (PAI).

Drosophila NPC1b promotes an early step in sterol absorption from the midgut epithelium.

The NPC1 family of proteins plays crucial roles in the intestinal absorption and intracellular trafficking of sterols. The Drosophila genome encodes two NPC1 homologs, one of which, NPC1a, is required for intracellular sterol trafficking in many tissues. Here we show that the other Drosophila NPC1 family member, NPC1b, is expressed in the midgut epithelium and that NPC1b is essential for growth during the early larval stages of development.

Mutations of a Drosophila NPC1 gene confer sterol and ecdysone metabolic defects.

The molecular mechanisms by which dietary cholesterol is trafficked within cells are poorly understood. Previous work indicates that the NPC1 family of proteins plays an important role in this process, although the precise functions performed by this protein family remain elusive. We have taken a genetic approach to further explore the NPC1 family in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Mechanisms of passive potassium influx in corn mitochondria.

Corn mitochondria in 100 millimolar KCl show accelerated passive swelling upon addition of uncoupler. This unusual response has been compared with swelling produced by valinomycin, tripropyltin, and nigericin. It is concluded that the driving force for swelling lies with the chloride gradient and a high P(Cl):P(K) ratio, the chloride influx creating a negative membrane potential.