Disruption of Bacterial Cells by Photocatalysis of Montmorillonite Supported Titanium Dioxide

The photo-induced antibacterial capacity of montmorillonite supported titanium dioxide （TiO2/Mmt for short） was evaluated by using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as modal organims. The bactericidal activity of TiO2/Mmt was examined by cell viability assay under different illumination modes. Atomic force microscopy （AFM） and total organic carbon/Total nitrogen （TOC/TN） analyses were employed to investigate the mechanism of the photocatalytic bactericidal process qualitatively and quantitatively. The kinetic data show that TiO2/Mmt has excellent antibacterial performance, and about 99% of both bacteria cells are inactivated within 75 rain illumination. The AFM images demonstrate that the bacterial cells are irreversibly decomposed and some cell components are dissolved. Therefore, the content and phase of carbon and nitrogen in the solution are changed after photocatalytic reaction.

Effects of bisphenol compounds on the growth and epithelial mesenchymal transition of MCF-7 CV human breast cancer cells

Bisphenol-A（BPA） has been considered as an endocrine disrupting chemical（EDC） because it can exert estrogenic properties.For bisphenol-S（BPS） and bisphenol-F（BPF） that are BPA analogs and substitutes,their risk to estrogendependent cancer has been reported rarely compared with the numerous cases of BPA.In this study,we examined whether BPA,BPS,and BPF can lead to the proliferation,migration,and epithelial mesenchymal transition（EMT） of MCF-7 clonal variant（MCF-7 CV） breast cancer cells expressing estrogen receptors（ERs）.In a cell viability assay,BPA,BPS,and BPF significantly increased proliferation of MCF-7 CV cells compared to control（DMSO） as did17β-estradiol（E2）.In Western blotting assay,BPA,BPS,and BPF enhanced the protein expression of cell cycle progression genes such as cyclin D1 and E1.In addition,MCF-7 CV cells lost cell to cell contacts and acquired fibroblast-like morphology by the treatment of BPA,BPS,or BPF for 24 hours.In cell migration assay,BPA,BPS,and BPF accelerated the migration capability of MCF-7 CV cells as did E2.In relation with the EMT process,BPA,BPS,and BPF increased the protein expression of N-cadherin,while they decreased the protein expression of Ecadherin.When BPA,BPS,and BPF were co-treated with ICI 182,780,an ER antagonist,proliferation effects were reversed,the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 was downregulated,and the altered cell migration and expression of N-cadherin and E-cadherin by BPA,BPS,and BPF were restored to the control level.Thus,these results imply that BPS and BPF also have the risk of breast cancer progression as much as BPA in the induction of proliferation and migration of MCF-7 CV cells by regulating the protein expression of cell cycle-related genes and EMT markers via the ER-dependent pathway.

Characterization of wet microalgal cells pretreated with steam for lipid extraction

Steam pretreatment was employed to disrupt Microalgal cells for lipids extraction.Effects of steam pretreatment on microstructure of microalgal cells were investigated through scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Effect of treatment on lipid extraction was also studied.Microalgal cell walls were distorted after steam pretreatment due to the hydrolysis of organic macromolecules contained in cell wall.Maximum curvature was increased from 1.88×10^(-6) m^(-1) to 1.43×10^(-7) m^(-1) after treatment with the steam at 130℃.The fractal dimension of microalgal cells increased from 1.25 to 1.30 after pretreatment for 15 min,and further increased to 1.47 when the pretreatment time was increased to 60 min.Increased steam pretreatment temperature and time enhanced the hydrolysis of organic macromolecules,and finally destroyed microalgal cell walls at pretreatment temperature of 130℃and pretreatment time of 60 min.Lipid extracted from wet microalgal was significantly increased(2.1-fold)after pretreatment.

Evaluation of Various Extraction Techniques for Efficient Lipid Recovery from Thermo-Resistant Microalgae, Hindakia, Scenedesmus and Micractinium Species—Comparison of Lipid Extraction Methods from Microalgae

In recent years, photosynthetic microalgae regained attention for biodiesel production. For efficient utilization of microalgae, a number of criteria including a strain with high biomass and lipid productivities and employment of effective and reliable methods for oil extraction from the obtained biomass should be met. Recently, we have isolated and identified three thermo-resistant green microalgae strains, namely;Scenedesmus sp. ME02, Hindakia tetrachotoma ME03 and Mic-ractinium sp. ME05. In this study, we compared percent lipid content of thermos-tolerant mic-roalgal strains using the following solvent extraction methods: Soxhlet, Bligh and Dyer and Folch methods with or without assisted cell disruption techniques including lyophilization, homogenization, ultrasonication, bead and microwave-assisted. The highest increase in lipid yield was obtained with a combination of lyophilization and ultrasonication techniques together with Soxhlet method: 27% of total dry weight for Micractinium sp. ME05. We conclude that lyophilization and ultrasonication are effective assistance methods for lipid extraction from thermo-resistant microalgae.

Polycations. 23. Antimicrobial Surfaces for Prevention of Pathogen Transmission

The continued evolution of bacterial and fungal species poses a significant difficulty for the treatment of disease of microbial origin. Given this situation, the prevention of transmission of such microbial diseases becomes of increasing importance. Efforts of this laboratory have been directed toward the destruction of microbial species on environmental surfaces as a prophylaxis toward infection, and we herein report on the efficacy of a system that demonstrates activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi. We report specifically herein on the use of fabric materials so activated for the destruction of these microbial species, useful for a variety of surfaces within hospital and related settings wherein transmission of microbial disease is a major problem, while these approaches are also applicable for a variety of other types of surfaces.

Enhanced production of β-glucuronidase from Penicillium purpurogenum Li-3 by optimizing fermentation and downstream processes

β-Glucuronidase from Penicillium purpuro- genum Li-3 （PGUS） can efficiently hydrolyze glycyrrhizin into the more valuable glycyrrhetic acid monoglucuronide. However, a low productivity of PGUS and the lack of an effective separation strategy have significantly limited its industrial applications. Therefore, the production of PGUS has been improved by optimizing both the fermentation and purification strategies. A two-stage fermentation strategy was developed where PGUS was first grown with glucose and then PGUS was produced in the presence of glycyrrhizin as an inducer. By using this strategy, the biomass was increased 1.5 times and the PGUS activity increased 5.4 times compared to that when glycyrrhizin was used as the sole carbon source. The amount of PGUS produced was increased another 16.6% when the fermentation was expanded to a 15-L fermenter. An effective protocol was also established to purify the PGUS using a sequential combination of hydrophobic, strong anionexchange and gel filtration chromatography. This protocol had a recovery yield of 6% and gave PGUS that was 39 times purer than the crude PGUS. The purified PGUS had a specific activity of 350 U. mg-1.

Overexpressions of Lambda Phage Lysis Genes and Biosynthetic Genes of Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate in Recombinant E.coli

A plasmid (pTU9) containing the lambda (λ) phage lysis genes S( )RRz and the biosynthetic genes phb CAB of poly β hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was constructed and transformed into E.coli JM109. Cultured in Luria Bertani (LB) medium with 20 g/L glucose, E.coli JM109 (pTU9) could accumulate PHB in cells up to 40% (g PHB per g dry cells). A chelating agent EDTA was applied to induce a complete cell lysis and PHB granules were released. This method has a potential application in PHB separation.

Non-invasive focused ultrasound for abdominal circumference reduction:does it really work?

Aim:Non-invasive body contouring is a promising modality.However,due to a lack of good evidence-based data,the mechanism by which contouring occurs remains unclear.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with the Contour I™ultrasound system(Ultrashape®,Syneron®,Israel)on abdominal circumference and to compare 2 power levels for efficacy and safety.Methods:A prospective,self-controlled double-blind design was used.Thirty-six women,aged 30-45 years,were randomized to receive treatment with the Contour I at high or low acoustic outputs in 3 successive sessions,1 month apart.Safety was evaluated by adverse events,local skin reaction,and pain.Efficacy was evaluated by the change in abdominal circumference relative to baseline and to the untreated thigh area(internal control).Patients were followed for 28 days after the last treatment session.Results:At 1 month after the first session,the mean reductions in abdominal circumference measured 1.65 cm(P<0.001)and 0.87 cm(P<0.019)in the high and low-power groups,respectively.At 1 month after the last session,the cumulative reductions in circumference were 2.56 cm(P<0.001)and 1.49 cm(P<0.012),respectively.There was no change in the internal-control circumference throughout treatment.There were no treatment-induced severe adverse events.Conclusion:Multiple successive treatments of the abdominal area with the Contour I lead to a significant progressive reduction in circumference.The magnitude of the reduction is directly correlated to the acoustic power output which suggests that the technology itself is the main cause for the contouring effect.

Investigation of nuclear enzyme topoisomerase as a putative molecular target of monohaloacetonitrile disinfection by-products

Disinfection by-products occur widely as the unintended effect of water disinfection and are associated with toxicity and adverse human health effects. Yet the molecular mechanisms of their toxicity are not well understood. To investigate the molecular basis of hyperploidy induction by monohaloacetonitriles, the interaction of monohaloacetonitriles with topoisomerase Ⅱ in Chinese hamster ovary cells was examined. We showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of DNA decatenation activity of topoisomerase under acellular conditions while in vitro monohaloacetonitrile treatment expressed mixed results. The working hypothesis, that topoisomerase Ⅱ is a molecular target of monohaloacetonitriles, was only partially supported.Nevertheless, this research serves as a starting point toward molecular mechanisms of toxic action of monohaloacetonitriles.