非靶向代谢组学分析阿拉伯半乳聚糖对嗜黏蛋白阿克曼菌代谢物的影响

众多植物多糖中,阿拉伯半乳聚糖对嗜黏蛋白阿克曼菌(Akkermansia muciniphila,Akk)模式菌株(DSM 22959)的促生长效果最佳.为进一步探究阿拉伯半乳聚糖对Akk代谢物的影响,本研究将阿拉伯半乳聚糖作为部分碳源对Akk进行体外发酵培养,确定了阿拉伯半乳聚糖的补充量以便于Akk发酵液样本的后续分...     

Hybrid Nanoparticles and Composite Hydrogel Systems for Delivery of Peptide Antibiotics

The growing number of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria poses a global threat to human health. For this reason, the search for ways to enhance the antibacterial activity of existing antibiotics is now an urgent medical task. The aim of this study was to develop novel delivery systems for polymyxins to improve their antimicrobial properties against various infections. For this, hybrid core–shell nanoparticles, consisting of silver core and a poly(glutamic acid) shell capable of polymyxin binding, were developed and carefully investigated. Characterization of the hybrid nanoparticles revealed a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 100 nm and a negative electrokinetic potential. The nanoparticles demonstrated a lack of cytotoxicity, a low uptake by macrophages, and their own antimicrobial activity. Drug loading and loading efficacy were determined for both polymyxin B and E, and the maximal loaded value with an appropriate size of the delivery systems was 450 µg/mg of nanoparticles. Composite materials based on agarose hydrogel were prepared, containing both the loaded hybrid systems and free antibiotics. The features of polymyxin release from the hybrid nanoparticles and the composite materials were studied, and the mechanisms of release were analyzed using different theoretical models. The antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated for both the polymyxin hybrid and the composite delivery systems. All tested samples inhibited bacterial growth. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the polymyxin B hybrid delivery system demonstrated a synergistic effect when compared with either the antibiotic or the silver nanoparticles alone.     

Plasma Parameters in the Reactor with Simultaneous Magnetron Discharge and Inductive Radio-Frequency Discharge in the Presence of External Magnetic Field

A plasma reactor that contains vacuum–arc and magnetron sputtering sources and radio-frequency discharge that generates high-density plasma in the presence of external magnetic field is developed, constructed, and optimized. The reactor can be used for deposition of various functional coatings with ion stimulation. The parameters of the inductive radio-frequency discharge generated in the presence of external magnetic field that serves as a source of assisting ions are optimized. It is shown that the working interval of the induction of external magnetic field corresponds to the resonant excitation of the coupled helicon and Trivelpiece–Gold waves. The effect of magnitude and configuration of magnetic field on the parameters of gas-discharge plasma and ion current in the substrate region is studied in the presence of separately and simultaneously initiated magnetron and inductive discharges. The effect of ion flux that is incident on the films in the course of growth on the structure of functional coatings is analyzed.     

Chemical Modification of Synthetic Fibres with Complex Metal Salts with Organic Ligands

The possibility of deliberately altering the biocidal and capillary properties of a fabric by combined treatment with solutions of metal salts and low-molecular-weight organic substances with special properties — dyeing, biocidal, etc., is demonstrated.     

Author Index

Authors Index

Author Index     

Hippocampal Over-Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Is Associated with Susceptibility to Stress-Induced Anhedonia in Mice

The phenomenon of individual variability in susceptibility/resilience to stress and depression, in which the hippocampus plays a pivotal role, is attracting increasing attention. We investigated the potential role of hippocampal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which regulates plasticity, neuroimmune function, and stress responses that are all linked to this risk dichotomy. We used a four-week-long chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm, in which mice could be stratified according to their susceptibility/resilience to anhedonia, a key feature of depression, to investigate hippocampal expression of COX-2, a marker of microglial activation Iba-1, and the proliferation marker Ki67. Rat exposure, social defeat, restraints, and tail suspension were used as stressors. We compared the effects of treatment with either the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (30 mg/kg/day) or citalopram (15 mg/kg/day). For the celecoxib and vehicle-treated mice, the Porsolt test was used. Anhedonic (susceptible) but not non-anhedonic (resilient) animals exhibited elevated COX-2 mRNA levels, increased numbers of COX-2 and Iba-1-positive cells in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 area, and decreased numbers of Ki67-positive cells in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus. Drug treatment decreased the percentage of anhedonic mice, normalized swimming activity, reduced behavioral despair, and improved conditioned fear memory. Hippocampal over-expression of COX-2 is associated with susceptibility to stress-induced anhedonia, and its pharmacological inhibition with celecoxib has antidepressant effects that are similar in size to those of citalopram.     

New Red-Shade Ceramic Pigments Based on Y2Sn2−xCrxO7−δ Pyrochlore Solid Solutions

New high-stability red-shade ceramic pigments based on pyrochlore solid solutions Y₂Sn_{2− x} Cr _x O_7−δ ( x = 0–1, 0 < δ= 0–1/2 x ) were developed employing conventional solid-state reaction synthesis. The relationship between their optical properties and microstructure was analyzed by X-ray diffractometry and ultraviolet–visible-light spectroscopy. Decomposition of the structure with formation of the perovskite YCrO₃ observed for chromium substitutions x ≥ 5 was attributed mainly to high concentration of defects. The structural and optical parameters of the materials were found to correlate with the concentration of a species with higher oxidation state than Cr(III), such as Cr(IV) or Cr(V).     

Impact of A134 and E218 Amino Acid Residues of Tropomyosin on Its Flexibility and Function

Tropomyosin (Tpm) is one of the major actin-binding proteins that play a crucial role in the regulation of muscle contraction. The flexibility of the Tpm molecule is believed to be vital for its functioning, although its role and significance are under discussion. We choose two sites of the Tpm molecule that presumably have high flexibility and stabilized them with the A134L or E218L substitutions. Applying differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), molecular dynamics (MD), co-sedimentation, trypsin digestion, and in vitro motility assay, we characterized the properties of Tpm molecules with these substitutions. The A134L mutation prevented proteolysis of Tpm molecule by trypsin, and both substitutions increased the thermal stability of Tpm and its bending stiffness estimated from MD simulation. None of these mutations affected the primary binding of Tpm to F-actin; still, both of them increased the thermal stability of the actin-Tpm complex and maximal sliding velocity of regulated thin filaments in vitro at a saturating Ca²⁺ concentration. However, the mutations differently affected the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of the sliding velocity and pulling force produced by myosin heads. The data suggest that both regions of instability are essential for correct regulation and fine-tuning of Ca²⁺-dependent interaction of myosin heads with F-actin.