Production and analysis of a Bacillus subtilis biofilm comprised of vegetative cells and spores using a modified colony biofilm model.

Bacillus subtilis is a spore-forming soil bacterium that is capable of producing robust biofilms. Sporulation can occur in B. subtilis biofilms and it is possible that the spores embedded in the protective matrix could present a significant challenge to disinfecting agents or processes.

Hemostatic Comparison of a Polysaccharide Powder and a Gelatin Powder.

Powdered hemostats have been widely adopted for their ease-of-use; however, their efficacy has been limited resulting in applications restricted to low-level bleeds. This study investigates the use of bovine-derived gelatin particles (BGP) as a standalone hemostatic powder and compare BGP to commercially available microporous polysaccharide hemospheres (MPH). The powders were investigated for their hemostatic efficacy in a heparinized pre-clinical bleeding model limited to grade 1 and 2 bleeds on a validated intraoperative bleeding scale, which represents the accepted, clinical use of hemostatic powders.

BCL-2 family proteins as 5-Azacytidine-sensitizing targets and determinants of response in myeloid malignancies.

Synergistic molecular vulnerabilities enhancing hypomethylating agents in myeloid malignancies have remained elusive. RNA-interference drug modifier screens identified antiapoptotic BCL-2 family members as potent 5-Azacytidine-sensitizing targets. In further dissecting BCL-XL, BCL-2 and MCL-1 contribution to 5-Azacytidine activity, siRNA silencing of BCL-XL and MCL-1, but not BCL-2, exhibited variable synergy with 5-Azacytidine in vitro.

A self-assembly pathway to aligned monodomain gels.

Aggregates of charged amphiphilic molecules have been found to access a structure at elevated temperature that templates alignment of supramolecular fibrils over macroscopic scales. The thermal pathway leads to a lamellar plaque structure with fibrous texture that breaks on cooling into large arrays of aligned nanoscale fibres and forms a strongly birefringent liquid. By manually dragging this liquid crystal from a pipette onto salty media, it is possible to extend this alignment over centimetres in noodle-shaped viscoelastic strings.

Analysis of YfgL and YaeT interactions through bioinformatics, mutagenesis, and biochemistry.

In Escherichia coli, YaeT, together with four lipoproteins, YfgL, YfiO, NlpB, and SmpA, forms a complex that is essential for beta-barrel outer membrane protein biogenesis. Data suggest that YfgL and YfiO make direct but independent physical contacts with YaeT. Whereas the YaeT-YfiO interaction needs NlpB and SmpA for complex stabilization, the YaeT-YfgL interaction does not.