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Interaction of Lactobacillus fermentum BGHI14 with Rat Colonic Mucosa: Implications for Colitis Induction
No full textThe present study was carried out to test the colonic mucosal response of rats to oral supplementation with Lactobacillus fermentum BGHI14 and to correlate the tissue reaction to trinitrobenzenesulfonate (TNBS)-induced colitis with mucosal barrier alterations caused by bacterial ingestion. An immune cell-mediated reaction of healthy colonic tissue was noticed after bacterial feeding. After prolonged bacterial treatment, the observed reaction had retreated to normality, but the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) remained elevated. These data point to the chronic low-grade inflammation that could be caused by long-term probiotic consumption. Although no detrimental effects of bacterial pretreatment were noticed in colitic rats, at least in the acute state of disease, the results obtained in our study point to the necessity of reassessment of existing data on the safety of probiotic preparations. Additionally, probiotic effects in experimental colitis models might depend on time coordination of disease induction with treatment duration
Immunoglobulins G from patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affects cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis in cultured rat astrocytes
No full textAstrocytes are considered essential in the etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We have demonstrated previously that immunoglobulins G (IgG) isolated from patients with ALS enhance the mobility of acidic vesicles in cultured astrocytes in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Here we directly examined the impact of purified sporadic ALS IgG on cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+](i)) in astrocytes. Confocal time-lapse images were acquired and fluorescence of a non-ratiometric Ca2+ indicator was recorded before and after the application of IgG. ALS IgG (0.1 mg/ml) from 7 patients evoked transient increases in [Ca2+](i) in similar to 50% of tested astrocytes. The probability of observing a response was independent of extracellular Ca2+. The peak increase in [Ca2+](i) developed similar to 3 times faster and the time integral of evoked transients was similar to 2-fold larger; the peak amplitude itself was not affected by extracellular Ca2+. Application of pharmacological inhibitors revealed that activation of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptors is necessary and sufficient to initiate transients in [Ca2+](i) the Ca2+ influx through store-operated calcium entry prolongs the transient increase in [Ca2+](i). Thus, ALS IgG acutely affect [Ca2+](i) by mobilizing both, intra- and extracellular Ca2+ into the cytosol of cultured astrocytes. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Technological and probiotic potential of BGRA43 a natural isolate of Lactobacillus helveticus
Get PDFLactobacillus helveticus BGRA43 is a human intestinal isolate showing antimicrobial activity, amongst others, against Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. BGRA43 produces PrtH proteinase with proteolytic activity on both casein and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG). BGRA43 is able to reduce the allergenicity of BLG. Bioactive peptides released in BGRA43 fermented milk are potent modulators of innate immunity by modulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha. BGRA43 is able to survive in simulated gastric and intestinal conditions. The growth of BGRA43 in milk results in a fast acidification lowering the milk pH to 4.53 generating mild, homogeneous, and viscous yogurt-like product. The strain BGRA43 grows suitably in pure cow or goat's milk as well as in milk containing inulin or nutrim even when they are used as the sole carbon source. It is suggested that strain BGRA43 could be used as a single-strain culture for the preparation of yogurt-like products from bovine or caprine milk. Overall, L. helveticus BGRA43 could be considered as a potential probiotic candidate with appropriate technological properties attractive for the dairy industry
Outbreak of West Nile virus infection among humans in Serbia, August to October 2012
Get PDFWe describe the first reported outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans in Serbia in August to October 2012 and examine the association of various variables with encephalitis and fatal outcome. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for detection of WNV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies in sera and cerebrospinal fluid. A total of 58 patients (mean age: 61 years; standard deviation: 15) were analysed: 44 were from Belgrade and its suburbs; 52 had neuroinvasive disease, of whom 8 had meningitis, while 44 had encephalitis. Acute flaccid paralysis developed in 13 of the patients with encephalitis. Age over 60 years and immunosuppression (including diabetes) were independently associated with the development of encephalitis in a multivariate analysis: odds ratio (OR): 44.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.93-408.59); p=0.001 (age over 60 years); OR: 10.76 (95% CI: 1.06-109.65); p=0.045 (immunosuppression including diabetes). Respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation developed in 13 patients with encephalitis. A total of 35 patients had completely recovered by the time they were discharged; nine patients died. The presence of acute flaccid paralysis, consciousness impairment, respiratory failure and immunosuppression (without diabetes) were found to be associated with death in hospital in a univariate analysis (p lt 0.001, p=0.007, p lt 0.001 and p=0.010, respectively)
New data on genome size in 128 Asteraceae species and subspecies, with first assessments for 40 genera, 3 tribes and 2 subfamilies
No full textThe Asteraceae family has been broadly studied, but the values of genome size of only 3.5% of their species are known. To expand these data, we carried out a flow cytometric study of nuclear DNA content in a wide range of taxa of this family, filling gaps in some less studied groups. In addition, some chromosome counts have been performed (46 taxa, including the first one in two species and one subspecies). We provide genome size data for 167 taxa (184 accessions). Of these, data are new for 128 species and subspecies (141 accessions), 40 genera, three tribes (Barnadesieae, Gochnatieae and Nassauvieae) and two subfamilies (Barnadesioideae and Gochnatioideae). Most values (about 75%) are small or very small (1C ≤ 3.5 pg). The second reports on 17 species previously studied with other methods (i.e. first flow cytometric assessments) are also given. Finally, we contribute results for 22 species for which a first flow cytometric assessment has been published during the preparation of this article. The current data-set moves the percentage of coverage approximately from 3% to 4.7% at the specific level, from 6% to 11.6% at the generic level, from 34.9% to 41.9% at the tribal level and from 33% to 50% at the subfamily level.This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Garcia, S.; Hidalgo, O.; Jakovljević, I.; Siljak-Yakovlev, S.; Vigo, J.; Garnatje, T.; Vallès, J. New Data on Genome Size in 128 Asteraceae Species and Subspecies, with First Assessments for 40 Genera, 3 Tribes and 2 Subfamilies. Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology 2013, 147 (4), 1219–1227. [https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2013.863811]
Structure and antioxidant activity of beta-lactoglobulin-glycoconjugates obtained by high-intensity-ultrasound-induced Maillard reaction in aqueous model systems under neutral conditions
No full textSonication is a new processing technology in the dairy industry. The aim of this study was to test glycation of beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) in Maillard reaction (MR) induced by high-intensity ultrasound in aqueous solution under neutral conditions at 10-15 degrees C, which is not favourable for the MR. BLG was sonicated in the presence of glucose, galactose, lactose, fructose, ribose and arabinose. Formation of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) was monitored by mass spectrometry, spectrophotometry and fluorimetry. Ultrasound treatment resulted in formation of MRPs with all tested carbohydrates. Ribose induced the highest degree of modification resulting in 76% of BLG modified and an average of three anhydroribose units attached. Circular dichroism spectra analyses indicated only minor alterations in secondary and tertiary structures. MRP obtained by ultrasound exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and possessed increased iron-chelating activity and reducing power. High-intensity ultrasound efficiently promotes BLG-glycoconjugates formation by MR in aqueous solutions under non-denaturing conditions.Peer reviewed version: [http://intor.torlakinstitut.com/handle/123456789/762
A Zn-Dependent Metallopeptidase Is Responsible for Sensitivity to LsbB, a Class II Leaderless Bacteriocin of Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis BGMN1-5
Get PDFLactococcus lactis subsp. lactis BGMN1-5 produces a leaderless class II bacteriocin called LsbB. To identify the receptor for LsbB, a cosmid library of the LsbB-sensitive strain BGMN1-596 was constructed. About 150 cosmid clones were individually isolated and transferred to LsbB-resistant mutants of BGMN1-596. Cosmid pAZILcos/MN2, carrying a 40-kb insert, was found to restore LsbB sensitivity in LsbB-resistant mutants. Further subcloning revealed that a 1.9-kb fragment, containing only one open reading frame, was sufficient to restore sensitivity. The fragment contains the gene yvjB coding for a Zn-dependent membrane-bound metallopeptidase, suggesting that this gene may serve as the receptor for LsbB. Further support for this notion derives from several independent experiments: (i) whole-genome sequencing confirmed that all LsbB-resistant mutants contain mutations in yvjB; (ii) disruption of yvjB by direct gene knockout rendered sensitive strains BGMN1-596 and IL1403 resistant to LsbB; and (iii) most compellingly, heterologous expression of yvjB in naturally resistant strains of other species, such as Lactobacillus paracasei and Enterococcus faecalis, also rendered them sensitive to the bacteriocin. To our knowledge, this is the first time a membrane-bound peptidase gene has been shown to be involved in bacteriocin sensitivity in target cells. We also demonstrated a novel successful approach for identifying bacteriocin receptors
The cmbT gene encodes a novel major facilitator multidrug resistance transporter in Lactococcus lactis
No full textFunctional characterization of the multidrug resistance CmbT transporter was performed in Lactococcus lactis. The cmbT gene is predicted to encode an efflux protein homologous to the multidrug resistance major facilitator superfamily. The cmbT gene (1377 bp) was cloned and overexpressed in L. lactis NZ9000. Results from cell growth studies revealed that the CmbT protein has an effect on host cell resistance to lincomycin, cholate, sulbactam, ethidium bromide, Hoechst 33342, sulfadiazine, streptomycin, rifampicin, puromycin and sulfametoxazole. Moreover, in vivo transport assays showed that overexpressed CmbT-mediated extrusion of ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33342 was higher than in the control L. lactis NZ9000 strain. CmbT-mediated extrusion of Hoechst 33342 was inhibited by the ionophores nigericin and valinomycin known to dissipate proton motive force. This indicates that CmbT-mediated extrusion is based on a drug-proton antiport mechanism. Taking together results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that CmbT is a novel major facilitator multidrug resistance transporter candidate in L. lactis, with a possible signaling role in sulfur metabolism
The Clinical Isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa MMA83 Carries Two Copies of the bla(NDM-1) Gene in a Novel Genetic Context
No full textThe genetic context of the bla(NDM-1) gene in the genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MMA83 was investigated. Sequencing of the cosmid selected for the bla(NDM-1) gene revealed the presence of two bla(NDM-1) copies in the genome of P. aeruginosa MMA83 in a unique genetic environment. Additionally, mating assays, DNA-DNA hybridization, and an S1 nuclease assay strongly suggest that the blaNDM-1 gene in P. aeruginosa MMA83 is chromosome borne
Molecular analysis of enterolysin A and entL gene cluster from natural isolate Enterococcus faecalis BGPT1-10P
Get PDFSoj Enterococcus faecalis BGPT1-10P je izolovan iz domaćeg polutvrdog sira, poreklom sa Stare Planine. Rezultati pokazuju da soj BGPT1-10P sintetiše termolabilan bakteriocin, enterolizin A, sa širokim spektrom delovanja, uključujući patogene bakterije roda Listeria i Candida. EntL gen, odgovoran za sintezu ovog bakteriocina, je hromozomalno lokalizovan. Analiza nukleotidne sekvence entL gena kod prirodnog izolata En. faecalis BGPT1-10P je identična sa entL genom soja En. faecalis LMG 2333, koji je prethodno okarakterisan. Pokazana je jedinstvena sekvenca entL gena i njegove okoline, koju čine orf1, orf2 i orf3 geni, kao i scpE gen. Prvi put je kod prirodnog izolata okarakterisan scpE gen, koji kodira virulentni faktor stafopain peptidazu. Funkcionalna analiza entL gena je pokazala da je kompletna genetička informacija, neophodna za sintezu i aktivnost enterolizina A, sadržana u entL genu. Soj BGPT1-10P osim enterolizina, sintetiše i želatinazu i citolizin i sadrži set različitih virulentnih faktora. Pored toga, BGPT1-10P nosi ermB i tetM gene, odgovorne za rezistenciju na eritromicin i tetraciklin.Strain Enterococcus faecalis BGPT1-10P was isolated from artisanal semi-hard homemade cheese from Stara Planina, Serbia. Results showed that BGPT1-10P synthesized a heat labile bacteriocin with a broad spectrum of activity, including Listeria and Candida species. Further analysis revealed that synthesized bacteriocin is enterolysin A. Moreover, the entL gene encoding enterolysin A was found to be located on the chromosome. The entL gene was cloned and sequenced. Analysis of nucleotide sequence showed that the entL gene in natural isolate En. faecalis BGPT1-10P is identical to that of the entL gene described previously in En. faecalis LMG 2333. Within the cloned DNA fragment containing the entL gene, four ORFs were detected. One of them was identified as the scpE gene, which encodes a virulent factor staphopain peptidase. Functional analysis of the entL gene showed that the complete genetic information necessary for the synthesis of enterolysin A were directly linked solely to it. Strain BGPT1-10P also synthesized gelatinase and citolysin, and contained a set of virulent factors. In addition, BGPT1-10P carries the ermB and tetM genes conferring the resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline, respectively