The alphaproteobacterium Hyphomonas neptunium proliferates by a unique budding mechanism in which daughter cells emerge from the end of a stalk-like extension emanating from the mother cell body. Studies of this species so far have been hampered by the lack of a genetic system and of molecular tools allowing the regulated expression of target genes. Based on microarray analyses, this work identifies two H.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe peptidoglycan cell wall of bacteria is a complex macromolecule composed of glycan strands that are cross-linked by short peptide bridges. Its biosynthesis involves a conserved group of enzymes, the bifunctional penicillin-binding proteins (bPBPs), which contain both a transglycosylase and a transpeptidase domain, thus being able to elongate the glycan strands and, at the same time, generate the peptide cross-links. The stalked model bacterium Caulobacter crescentus possesses five bPBP paralogs, named Pbp1A, PbpC, PbpX, PbpY, and PbpZ, whose function is still incompletely understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater
April 2004
The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate dentin bond strength and marginal adaptation of direct resin composite fillings after different storage times. Three hundred sixty cavities were prepared in discs of freshly extracted human third molars and filled with resin composites. Multistep self-etching adhesives (Syntac Classic, A.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater
November 2003
The clinical performance of directly bonded resin composites is fundamentally dependent on durable adhesion to prevent gap formation over time. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of various dentin adhesives by means of quasistatic and dynamic dentin bond strengths, and also to determine marginal and internal gap formation after loading in an artificial oral environment. Three hundred thirty human third molars were used within four weeks of extraction.
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