Bacterial resistance mechanisms against host defense peptides

Host defense peptides and proteins are important components of the innate host defense against pathogenic microorganisms. They target negatively charged bacterial surfaces and disrupt microbial cytoplasmic membranes, which ultimately leads to bacterial destruction. Throughout evolution, pathogens devised several mechanisms to protect themselves from deleterious damage of host defense peptides. These strategies include (a) inactivation and cleavage of host defense peptides by production of host defense binding proteins and proteases, (b) repulsion of the peptides by alteration of pathogen’s surface charge employing modifications by amino acids or amino sugars of anionic molecules (e.g., teichoic acids, lipid A and phospholipids), (c) alteration of bacterial membrane fluidity, and (d) expulsion of the peptides using multi drug pumps. Together with bacterial regulatory network(s) that regulate expression and activity of these mechanisms, they represent attractive targets for development of novel antibacterials.     

Faithful chaperones

This review describes the properties of some rare eukaryotic chaperones that each assist in the folding of only one target protein. In particular, we describe (1) the tubulin cofactors, (2) p47, which assists in the folding of collagen, (3) α-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP), (4) the adenovirus L4-100 K protein, which is a chaperone of the major structural viral protein, hexon, and (5) HYPK, the huntingtin-interacting protein. These various-sized proteins (102–1,190 amino acids long) are all involved in the folding of oligomeric polypeptides but are otherwise functionally unique, as they each assist only one particular client. This raises a question regarding the biosynthetic cost of the high-level production of such chaperones. As the clients of faithful chaperones are all abundant proteins that are essential cellular or viral components, it is conceivable that this necessary metabolic expenditure withstood evolutionary pressure to minimize biosynthetic costs. Nevertheless, the complexity of the folding pathways in which these chaperones are involved results in error-prone processes. Several human disorders associated with these chaperones are discussed.     

Immune biology of Ag-specific γδ T cells in infections

Accumulating evidence suggests that human γδ T cells act as non-classical T cells and contribute to both innate and adaptive immune responses in infections. Vγ2 Vδ2 T (also termed Vγ9 Vδ2 T) cells exist only in primates, and in humans represent a dominant circulating γδ T-cell subset. Primate Vγ2 Vδ2 T cells are the only γδ T cell subset capable of recognizing microbial phosphoantigen. Since nonhuman primate Vγ2 Vδ2 T cells resemble their human counterparts, in-depth studies have been undertaken in macaques to understand the biology and function of human Vγ2 Vδ2 T cells. This article reviews the recent progress for immune biology of Vγ2 Vδ2 T cells in infections.     

X射线荧光光谱法测定海底钴结壳的方法研究

采用粉末压片制样,X-射线荧光光谱法直接测定钴结壳中Fe、Mn、Co、Ni、Si、Al、Ca、K、Na、Ti、P、Mg、Cu、Pb、Mo、Sr、V、Zn、Zr、Y、Ba等元素。重点讨论用熔融法定值部分样品,然后用加以定值的钴结壳标准及样品、国家岩石、土壤、水系沉积物系列标准用粉末压片制样,做工作曲线,一次测量钴结壳中二十余种元素,并用定值样品做精密度与准确度试验,各元素统计结果为RSD％（n=12）除V的RSD〈4％外,其余元素的RSD均小于2％,测定结果与标准值和ICP-MS测量值相符。     

Connecting informal networks to management of tacit knowledge

The relationship between tacit knowledge and informal networks has not been fully explored.Tacit knowledge cannot be well managed directly,because it is deeply embedded in individual actions and experiences.This study proposes an approach to managing informal networks as a new middle way to facilitate the sharing and transferring of tacit knowledge,owing to the fact that tacit knowledge is mostly shared and transferred through informal networks.To support the idea of the approach,an empirical case study of applying the approach to management of a large scientific project is also included.Our findings suggest that informal networks play essential roles for management of tacit knowledge,and thus good management of informal networks can lead to efficient sharing and transferring of tacit knowledge.     

Optimal control of multisolution ordinary differential equations in the absence of convexity

<正> In this paper,the authors study an optimal control problem governed by a class of multistateordinary differential equations in the absence of convexity.To overcome the difficulty that thecorresponding approximate optimal control problem may have no solution,relaxed controls are introduced.With the help of relaxation theory,Pontryagin's maximum principle for the optimal pairs ofthe original control problem is obtained.In the end of this paper,the authors discuss the applicationof the maximum principle by an example.     

Solving the perspective-three-point problem using comprehensive Gröbner systems

A complete solution classification of the perspective-three-point (P3P) problem is given by using the Gröbner basis method. The structure of the solution space of the polynomial system deduced by the P3P problem can be obtained by computing a comprehensive Gröbner system. Combining with properties of the generalized discriminant sequences, the authors give the explicit conditions to determine the number of distinct real positive solutions of the P3P problem. Several examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed conditions.     

Effect of Ni addition on the glass-forming ability and soft-magnetic properties of FeNiBPNb metallic glasses

The effect of Ni addition on the glass-forming ability (GFA) and soft-magnetic properties of an (Fe1-xNix)75.5B14.5P7Nb3 (x=0-0.6) alloy system were investigated. We found that the addition of Ni was effective in allowing the alloy to approach a eutectic point as well as increasing the thermal stability of the supercooled liquid. By increasing the amount of Ni,the supercooled liquid region (ΔTx),the reduced glass transition temperature Trg (Tg/Tl) and the Y parameter [Tx/(Tg+Tl)] increased from 49 to 75 K,0...     

Rapid reductive degradation of azo dyes by a unique structure of amorphous alloys

An Fe-based amorphous alloy was found to significantly enhance the reductive degradation of an azo dye in aqueous solution. The surface-area normalized rate constant was up to 2.0 L m-2 min-1 at room temperature,an order of magnitude larger than any previously reported value. The activation energy of the degradation process was calculated according to the Arrhenius equation,and a much lower value than those previously reported was obtained. Valence band measurement indicated that a depressed valence band maximum and a widened empty band were established in the amorphous ribbon. The unique structure of the amorphous alloy is important-it may reduce the activation energy of the degradation process and enhance the activity of the electrons,thus accelerating the degradation process.     

Lipids of sulfate-reducing bacteria and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria found in the Dongsheng uranium deposit

U-bearing sandstones from the Dongsheng deposit in Ordos Basin contain abundant C15-C18 fatty acids. The fatty acids may have been derived from modern and ancient organisms including organisms from the intervals of U mineralization. A certain amount of i15:0, a15:0, a17:0 fatty acids coexist with small amounts of i17:1ω7c and 10me16:0, characteristic biomarkers of Desulfovibrio and Desulfobacter sp., respectively. This indicates the existence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the sandstones. The presence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), such as Beggiatoa and Thioploca, is indicated by significant amounts of 16:1ω7c and 18:1ω7c fatty acids. The existence of the SRB in the deposit, as inferred from the fatty acids, is consistent with results from fossilized microorganisms and isotopic compositions of ore-stage pyrite. This suggests that the environment may have been favorable for the SRB to grow since ore formation (9.8-22 Ma). The bacteria may have degraded hydrocarbons directly, or indirectly utilized hydrocarbons degraded by oxic microbes in the deposits. This process may have produced 12C-rich calcite and prominent baseline humps of unresolved complex mixtures (UCM), and 25-demethylated hopanes and tricyclic terpanes. The existence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria in the deposit may have resulted in bacterial sulfate reduction to sulfide, re-oxidization of the sulfide to sulfate and subsequent reduction of the sulfate to sulfide. This assertion is supported by ore-stage pyrite with δ34S values as low as-39.2‰, and the lightest sulfate (about 11‰) measured during the Phanerozoic, a difference of more than 46‰.