The biomolecules of Euglena gracilis: Harnessing biology for natural solutions to future problems.

Over the past decade, the autotrophic and heterotrophic protist Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) has gained popularity across the studies of environmental science, biosynthesis experiments, and nutritional substitutes. The unique physiology and versatile metabolism of E.

The molecular diversity of dissolved organic matter in forest streams across central Canadian boreal watersheds.

Small headwater streams can mobilize large amounts of terrestrially derived dissolved organic matter (DOM). While the molecular composition of DOM has important controls on biogeochemical cycles and carbon cycling, how stationary landscape metrics affect DOM composition is poorly understood, particularly in relation to non-stationary effects from hydrological changes across seasons. Here, we apply a combination of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and absorbance spectroscopy to characterize stream DOM from 13 diverse watersheds across the central Canadian boreal forests and statistically relate DOM compositional characteristics to landscape topography and hydrological metrics.

Fitness facility staff demonstrate high fidelity when implementing an evidence-based diabetes prevention program.

Translating evidence-based diabetes prevention programs into the community is needed to make promising interventions accessible to individuals at-risk of type 2 diabetes. To increase the likelihood of successful translation, implementation evaluations should be conducted to understand program outcomes and provide feedback for future scale-up sites. The purpose of this research was to examine the delivery of, and engagement with, an evidence-based diet and exercise diabetes prevention program when delivered by fitness facility staff within a community organization.

Azo synthesis meets molecular iodine catalysis.

A metal-free synthetic protocol for azo compound formation by the direct oxidation of hydrazine HN-NH bonds to azo group functionality catalyzed by molecular iodine is disclosed. The strengths of this reactivity include rapid reaction times, low catalyst loadings, use of ambient dioxygen as a stoichiometric oxidant, and ease of experimental set-up and azo product isolation. Mechanistic studies and density functional theory computations offering insight into this reactivity, as well as the events leading to azo group formation are presented.

2'-Fluoro-c-di-GMP as an oral vaccine adjuvant.

Bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanosine monophosphate (2'-F-c-di-GMP) was synthesized through the modified H-phosphonate chemistry. Oral immunization of C57BL/6 mice with cell-free sonicate extract adjuvanted with 2'-F-c-di-GMP led to the production of antigen-specific antibodies in feces and sera, and lowered bacterial counts in the stomach upon post-vaccination infections in immunized mice. Similarly, oral vaccination of BALB/c mice with flagillin proteins from and adjuvanted with 2'-F-c-di-GMP led to production of antigen-specific antibodies both systemically and mucosally.

Abrasive treatment of microtiter plates improves the reproducibility of bacterial biofilm assays.

Microtiter plate-based bacterial biofilm assay is frequently used to study bacterial biofilm development and growth. While this assay is simple and relatively high-throughput, it frequently shows difficulty in establishing robust biofilm attachment in the wells. We report that the consistency of bacterial biofilm assays carried out in microtiter plates subjected to abrasive treatment, by sandblasting or drill press grinding, is significantly improved in a Pf0-1 model.

Microwave-assisted delivery of an anticancer drug to cancer cells.

Exposure of MCF-7 breast and PC-3 prostate cancer cells to 10 W microwaves at 2.45 GHz increased their uptake of the cancer drug doxorubicin from media by almost 100%, concomitantly increasing cell death, while microwave exposure alone had no cellular toxicity. Addition of inhibitors of endocytosis during the treatment of MCF-7 cells with doxorubicin and microwaves showed no impact on the uptake of the anticancer drug.