Impact of biofilm matrix components on interaction of commensal Escherichia coli with the gastrointestinal cell line HT-29

Commensal Escherichia coli form biofilms at body temperature by expressing the extracellular matrix components curli fimbriae and cellulose. The role of curli fimbriae and cellulose in the interaction of commensal E. coli with the intestinal epithelial cell line HT-29 was investigated. Expression of curli fimbriae by the typical commensal isolate E. coli TOB1 caused adherence and internalization of the bacteria and triggered IL-8 production in HT-29 cells. In particular, induction of IL-8 production was complex and involved curli-bound flagellin. While cellulose alone had no effect on the interaction of TOB1 with HT-29 cells, co-expression of cellulose with curli fimbriae decreased adherence to, internalization and IL-8 induction of HT-29 cells. Investigation of a panel of commensal isolates showed a partial correlation between expression of curli fimbriae and enhanced internalization and IL-8 production. In addition, a high immunostimulatory flagellin was identified. Thus, the consequences of expression of extracellular matrix components on commensal bacterial-host interactions are complex.     

In vivo matrix-guided human mesenchymal stem cells

Microfracture of subchondral bone results in intrinsic repair of cartilage defects. Stem or progenitor cells from bone marrow have been proposed to be involved in this regenerative process. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that mesenchymal stem (MS) cells can in fact be recovered from matrix material saturated with cells from bone marrow after microfracture. This also introduces a new technique for MS cell isolation during arthroscopic treatment. MS cells were phenotyped using specific cell surface antibodies. Differentiation of the MS cells into the adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic lineage could be demonstrated by cultivation of MS cells as a monolayer, as micromass bodies or mesenchymal microspheres. This study demonstrates that MS cells can be attracted to a cartilage defect by guidance of a collagenous matrix after perforating subchondral bone. Protocols for application of MS cells in restoration of cartilage tissue include an initial invasive biopsy to obtain the MS cells and time-wasting in vitro proliferation and possibly differentiation of the cells before implantation. The new technique already includes attraction of MS cells to sites of cartilage defects and therefore may overcome the necessity of in vitro proliferation and differentiation of MS cells prior to transplantation. Received 3 November 2005; received after revision 15 December 2005; accepted 4 January 2006     

Antizyme inhibitor: mysterious modulator of cell proliferation

In contrast to the considerable interest in the oncogene ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and in the family of antizymes with regard to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, the endogenous antizyme inhibitor (AZI) has been less well studied. AZI is highly homologous to the enzyme ODC but does not possess any decarboxylase activity. Elevated ODC activity is associated with most forms of human malignancies. Antizymes bind ODC, inhibit ODC activity and promote the ubiquitin-independent degradation of ODC. Consequently they are proposed as tumor suppressors. In particular, the most studied member of the antizyme family, antizyme 1, has been demonstrated to play a role in tumor suppression. AZI inactivates all members of the antizyme family, reactivates ODC and prevents the proteolytic degradation of ODC, which may suggest a role for AZI in tumor progression. Received 9 December 2005; received after revision 13 April 2006; accepted 1 June 2006     

Phyllosilicates on Mars and implications for early martian climate

The recent identification of large deposits of sulphates by remote sensing and in situ observations has been considered evidence of the past presence of liquid water on Mars. Here we report the unambiguous detection of diverse phyllosilicates, a family of aqueous alteration products, on the basis of observations by the OMEGA imaging spectrometer on board the Mars Express spacecraft. These minerals are mainly associated with Noachian outcrops, which is consistent with an early active hydrological system, sustaining the long-term contact of igneous minerals with liquid water. We infer that the two main families of hydrated alteration products detected-phyllosilicates and sulphates--result from different formation processes. These occurred during two distinct climatic episodes: an early Noachian Mars, resulting in the formation of hydrated silicates, followed by a more acidic environment, in which sulphates formed.     

Seasonal transition and its boundary layer characteristics in Anduo area of Tibetan Plateau

Using the data, especially the GPS rawinsode data, observed in Anduo area of the Tibetan Plateau during the intensive observation period of GAME/Tibet in 1998, the transition from the dry to the rainy season along with their boundary layer characteristics is analyzed comprehensively. The result shows that the formation of the rainy season in Anduo area is related closely to the general atmospheric circulation. The westerly belt moving north and the southeast damp current are basic conditions for development of the rainy season in Anduo area. In the dry season, the air is drier, air temperature higher, and the atmospheric boundary layer is strongly developed to cause its maximum height to reach about 3550 m. Moreover the sensible heat flux is dominant, and the latent heat flux is small in the interaction of land-atmosphere energy exchange, and a reverse humidity phenomenon occurs frequently. In the rainy season, the air is damper, air temperature lower, and the ABL height, with maximum of only about 2300 m, is lower. And the sensible heat flux becomes much smaller, the latent heat flux much larger in the interaction of land-atmosphere energy exchange. The reverse humidity phenomenon disappears.     

交叉指漂移管型直线加速器束载效应补偿用铁氧体可变阻抗适配器的研究

系统地阐述了铁氧体可变特征阻抗传输线的设计理论，结合德国重离子物理研究所交叉指强流直线加速器的束载对高频功率馈送的输入阻抗的影响，设计了一个可以在强的加速柬载下实现高频功率源和加速腔高频输入阻抗良好匹配的铁氧体可变阻抗适配器。     

水色遥感理论模型探讨

由于目前技术条件的限制 ,黑箱模型在水体组份反演的研究中占据了主导地位 ,但其理论基础不足 ,针对具体成像条件推得的黑箱模型难以推广 ,故需从水色遥感成像机理出发来研究理论模型的识别和求解。意识到辐射传输方程难以实用 ,提出基于辐射传输方程求解结论的水色遥感理论模型架构。并讨论了模型的若干影响因素。特别指出 ,应该使用传感器灵敏度积分的方法来关联传感器接收到的辐射率和灰度值数据 ,而不是简单地使用传感器在波段中心波长处接收的辐射率。     

Tat-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes select for SIV escape variants during resolution of primary viraemia

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections are characterized by early peaks of viraemia that decline as strong cellular immune responses develop. Although it has been shown that virus-specific CD8-positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) exert selective pressure during HIV and SIV infection, the data have been controversial. Here we show that Tat-specific CD8-positive T-lymphocyte responses select for new viral escape variants during the acute phase of infection. We sequenced the entire virus immediately after the acute phase, and found that amino-acid replacements accumulated primarily in Tat CTL epitopes. This implies that Tat-specific CTLs may be significantly involved in controlling wild-type virus replication, and suggests that responses against viral proteins that are expressed early during the viral life cycle might be attractive targets for HIV vaccine development.     

The role of the thermohaline circulation in abrupt climate change

The possibility of a reduced Atlantic thermohaline circulation in response to increases in greenhouse-gas concentrations has been demonstrated in a number of simulations with general circulation models of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system. But it remains difficult to assess the likelihood of future changes in the thermohaline circulation, mainly owing to poorly constrained model parameterizations and uncertainties in the response of the climate system to greenhouse warming. Analyses of past abrupt climate changes help to solve these problems. Data and models both suggest that abrupt climate change during the last glaciation originated through changes in the Atlantic thermohaline circulation in response to small changes in the hydrological cycle. Atmospheric and oceanic responses to these changes were then transmitted globally through a number of feedbacks. The palaeoclimate data and the model results also indicate that the stability of the thermohaline circulation depends on the mean climate state.