Cathepsin B Is Required for NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Macrophages, Through NLRP3 Interaction.

The mechanisms leading to NOD-leucine rich repeat and pyrin containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation are still debated. It is well established that oligomerized NLRP3 interacts with apoptosis associated Speck-like protein containing a CARD domain (ASC) which polymerizes into filaments recruiting procaspase-1, leading to its activation. However, pathways triggering NLRP3 activation, such as potassium efflux, ROS production or lysosomal permeabilization, can be required or not, depending on the activators used.

Understanding the Effects of High Pressure on Bacterial Spores Using Synchrotron Infrared Spectroscopy.

Bacterial spores are extremely resistant life-forms that play an important role in food spoilage and foodborne disease. The return of spores to a vegetative cell state is a three-step process, these being activation, germination, and emergence. High-pressure (HP) processing is known to induce germination in part of the spore population and even to inactivate a high number of spores when combined with other mild treatments such as the addition of nisin.

Metronomic cyclophosphamide induces regulatory T cells depletion and PSA-specific T cells reactivation in patients with biochemical recurrent prostate cancer.

Biochemical recurrence (BCR) occurs in up to 40% of prostate cancer patients after prostatectomy. In our study, we performed an immune monitoring study in 20 prostate cancer patients with BCR previously treated with metronomic cyclophosphamide (mCTX). We observed a decrease of regulatory T cells (Tregs) from 2 months and this was more pronounced after 6 months of mCTX treatment.

Time-resolved Fluorescence and Generalized Polarization: Innovative tools to assess bull sperm membrane dynamics during slow freezing.

During slow freezing, spermatozoa undergo membrane alterations that compromise their ability of fertilizing. These alterations are cause either by cold shock or by the use of cryoprotectants known to be cytotoxic. However, little is known about the membrane changes that occurred during freezing.

High pressure sensitization of heat-resistant and pathogenic foodborne spores to nisin.

Today, there is no effective non-thermal method to inactivate unwanted bacterial spores in foods. High-Pressure (HP) process has been shown to act synergistically with moderate heating and the bacteriocin nisin to inactivate spores but the mechanisms have not been elucidated. The purpose of the present work was to investigate in depth the synergy of HP and nisin on various foodborne spore species and to bring new elements of understandings.

Multi-criteria framework as an innovative tradeoff approach to determine the shelf-life of high pressure-treated poultry.

A multi-criteria framework combining safety, hygiene and sensorial quality was developed to investigate the possibility of extending the shelf-life and/or removing lactate by applying High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) in a ready-to-cook (RTC) poultry product. For this purpose, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes were considered as safety indicators and Escherichia coli as hygienic indicator. Predictive modeling was used to determine the influence of HHP and lactate concentration on microbial growth and survival of these indicators.

Cryopreservation of Escherichia coli K12TG1: protection from the damaging effects of supercooling by freezing.

Injuries in living cells caused by water freezing during a freeze-thaw process have been extensively reported. In particular, intracellular water freezing has long been incriminated in cell death caused by a high cooling rate, but this supposition could not always be demonstrated. This work aims to discriminate the role of water freezing, dehydration and cold-induced injuries in cellular damage occuring during cryopreservation.

Focused ultrasound development and clinical adoption: 2013 update on the growth of the field.

The field of therapeutic focused ultrasound, which first emerged in the 1940s, has seen significant growth, particularly over the past decade. The eventual widespread clinical adoption of this non-invasive therapeutic modality require continued progress, in a multitude of activities including technical, pre-clinical, and clinical research, regulatory approval and reimbursement, manufacturer growth, and other commercial and public sector investments into the field, all within a multi-stakeholder environment. We present here a snapshot of the field of focused ultrasound and describe how it has progressed over the past several decades.

Assessment of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes level in ready-to-cook poultry meat: effect of various high pressure treatments and potassium lactate concentrations.

The objective of this study was to develop a probabilistic model in order to determine the contamination level of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-cook poultry meat, after a high pressure (HP) treatment. The model included four steps: i) Reception of raw meat materials, mincing and mixing meat, ii) Partitioning and packaging into 200-g modified atmosphere packs, iii) High pressure treatment of the meat, and iv) Storage in chilled conditions until the end of the shelf-life. The model excluded the cooking step and consumption at consumer's home as cooking practices and heating times are highly variable.

Optimization of nutrient-induced germination of Bacillus sporothermodurans spores using response surface methodology.

Spores of Bacillus sporothermodurans are known to be contaminant of dairy products and to be extremely heat-resistant. The induction of endospore germination before a heat treatment could be an efficient method to inactivate these bacteria and ensure milk stability. In this study, the nutrient-induced germination of B.

The combined effect of nisin, moderate heating and high hydrostatic pressure on the inactivation of Bacillus sporothermodurans spores.

Aims: To investigate the combined effect of hydrostatic pressure (HP), moderate temperature and nisin on the inactivation of Bacillus sporothermodurans spores which are known to be contaminant of dairy products and to be extremely heat-resistant.

Methods And Results: A central composite experimental design with three factors, using response surface methodology, was used. By analysing the response surfaces and their corresponding contour plots, an interesting interaction with the three factors was observed.

Effect of high pressure and salt on pork meat quality and microstructure.

The interaction of salt (0%, 1.5%, and 3% in the final product) and a high-pressure treatment (500 MPa, 20 °C, 6 min) was investigated using pork biceps femoris muscle. The Warner-Bratzler shear force and the water holding capacity (WHC) were assessed and linked to the microstructure evaluation by environmental scanning electronic microscopy (ESEM).

Starch filler and osmoprotectants improve the survival of rhizobacteria in dried alginate beads.

This work deals with optimising the cell survival of rhizobacteria encapsulated in alginate beads filled with starch. Immobilisation of rhizobacteria was done by dripping alginate-starch solution mixed with rhizobacteria into a calcium solution. Beads were analysed based on matrix formulation, bacteria growth phase, osmoprotectants and nature of calcium solution.

Optimization of pressure-induced germination of Bacillus sporothermodurans spores in water and milk.

Bacillus sporothermodurans produces highly resistant endospores that can survive ultra-high-temperature treatment in milk. The induction of endospore germination before a heat treatment could be an efficient method to inactivate these bacteria and ensure milk sterility. In this work, the rate of spore germination of B.

Changes in the chemistry of acidified Adirondack streams from the early 1980s to 2008.

Lakes in the Adirondack region of New York have partially recovered in response to declining deposition, but information on stream recovery is limited. Here we report results of Adirondack stream monitoring from the early 1980s to 2008. Despite a 50% reduction in atmospheric deposition of sulfur, overall increases in pH of only 0.

The relationship between Adirondack lake pH and levels of mercury in yellow perch.

Levels of total mercury in yellow perch Perca flavescens from Adirondack lakes were studied in relation to characteristics of the lakes to determine why some lakes had fish with higher concentrations of mercury. Almost all mercury in fish is in the form of methylmercury, which can pose significant health hazards to humans who consume such fish. Fish mercury concentrations and water chemistry data were analyzed from eight Adirondack lakes.

Trends in mercury concentrations in New York State fish.

Atmospheric emissions of mercury in the US are being reduced, but worldwide mercury emissions remain high. Mercury is also being removed from many consumer items. Changes over time in mercury concentrations in fish remain important to resource managers and the general public.

Chronic and episodic acidification of Adirondack streams from acid rain in 2003-2005.

Limited information is available on streams in the Adirondack region of New York, although streams are more prone to acidification than the more studied Adirondack lakes. A stream assessment was therefore undertaken in the Oswegatchie and Black River drainages; an area of 4585 km(2) in the western part of the Adirondack region. Acidification was evaluated with the newly developed base-cation surplus (BCS) and the conventional acid-neutralizing capacity by Gran titration (ANC(G)).

Lake variability: key factors controlling mercury concentrations in New York State fish.

A 4year study surveyed 131 lakes across New York State beginning in 2003 to improve our understanding of mercury and gather information from previously untested waters. Our study focused on largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch, common piscivorous fish shown to accumulate high mercury concentrations and species important to local fisheries. Fish from Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve lakes generally had higher mercury concentrations than those from lakes in other areas of the state.

Controlling the membrane fluidity of yeasts during coupled thermal and osmotic treatments.

Yeasts are often exposed to variations in osmotic pressure in their natural environments or in their substrates when used in fermentation industries. Such changes may lead to cell death or activity loss. Previous work by our team has allowed us to relate the mortality of cells exposed to a combination of thermal and osmotic treatments to leakage of cellular components through an unstable membrane when lipid phase transition occurs.

Toxicity of fatty acid hydroperoxides towards Yarrowia lipolytica: implication of their membrane fluidizing action.

Linoleic acid hydroperoxide (HPOD), substrate of hydroperoxide lyase, an enzyme of the lipoxygenase pathway, can be transformed into many aromatic compounds, the so-called "green notes". The presence of linoleic acid hydroperoxide in the culture medium of Yarrowia lipolytica, the yeast expressing the cloned hydroperoxide lyase of green bell pepper, undoubtedly exerted an inhibition on the growth and a toxic effect with 90% of yeast cells died after 120 min of exposition in 100 mM HPOD solution. The increase in cell membrane fluidity evaluated by measuring fluorescence generalized polarization with the increasing concentration of HPOD in the medium confirmed the fluidizing action of HPOD on yeast membrane.

Cell death induced by mild physical perturbations could be related to transient plasma membrane modifications.

An understanding of membrane destabilization induced by osmotic treatments is important to better control cell survival during biotechnological processes. The effects on the membranes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae of perturbations similar in intensity (same amount of energy) but differing in the source type (heat, compression and osmotic gradient) were investigated. The anisotropy of the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was measured before and after each treatment to assess the reversibility of the membrane changes related to each treatment.

Sequence of occurring damages in yeast plasma membrane during dehydration and rehydration: mechanisms of cell death.

Yeasts are often exposed to variations in osmotic pressure in their natural environments or in their substrates when used in fermentation industries. Such changes may lead to cell death or activity loss. Although the involvement of the plasma membrane is strongly suspected, the mechanism remains unclear.

Acid rain effects on aluminum mobilization clarified by inclusion of strong organic acids.

Assessments of acidic deposition effects on aquatic ecosystems have often been hindered by complications from naturally occurring organic acidity. Measurements of pH and ANCG, the most commonly used indicators of chemical effects, can be substantially influenced by the presence of organic acids. Relationships between pH and inorganic Al, which is toxic to many forms of aquatic biota, are also altered by organic acids.

Membrane physical state as key parameter for the resistance of the gram-negative Bradyrhizobium japonicum to hyperosmotic treatments.

The survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum under hyperosmotic treatments achieved at various temperatures was investigated. The bacterial viability was measured at a combination of different levels of osmotic pressure (1.4-49.