Label-free detection of bacteria by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy: comparison to surface plasmon resonance

The low but known risk of bacterial contamination has emerged as the greatest residual threat of transfusion-transmitted diseases. Label-free detection of a bacterial model, Escherichia coli, is performed using nonfaradic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Biotinylated polyclonal anti-E. coli is linked to a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold electrode through a strong biotin-neutravidin interaction. The binding of one antibody molecule for 3.6 neutravidin molecules is determined using the surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The detection limit of E. coli found by SPR is 10(7) cfu/mL. After modeling the impedance Nyquist plot of E. coli/anti-E. coli/mixed SAM/gold electrode for increasing concentrations of E. coli (whole bacteria or lysed bacteria), the main parameter that is modified is the polarization resistance RP. A sigmoid variation of RP is observed when the log concentration of bacteria (whole or lysed) increases. A concentration of 10 cfu/mL whole bacteria is detected by EIS measurements while 103 cfu/mL is detected for lysed E. coli.     

Acousto-optically driven lensless single-shot ultrafast optical imaging

Driven by many applications in a wide span of scientific fields,a myriad of advanced ultrafast imaging techniques have emerged in the last decade,featuring reco...     

Validity of the swelling method for the determination of the interaction parameter

By selecting solvents with a very weakly concentration-dependent interaction parameter χ with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and using experimental values of the elastic modulus of dry, end-linked PDMS networks, the Flory-Rehner theory and the phantom network assumption we obtained good agreement between the values of χ from equilibrium swelling and those obtained from intrinsic viscosity measurements on solutions of linear chains. The solvents used were 2,3-dimethylpentane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane at 25°C.     

NO Formation by Neuronal NO‐Synthase can be Controlled by Ultrafast Electron Injection from a Nanotrigger

Synchronized catalysis in native enzyme : We used a photoactive nanotrigger (NT) to study the initial electron transfer to FAD in native neuronal NOS catalysis. Modeling and fluorescence spectroscopy showed that selective NT binding to NADPH sites is able to override Phe1395 regulation, thus permitting ultrafast injection of electrons into the protein electron pathway. That NT initiation of flavoenzyme catalysis led to the formation of NO is promising for time‐resolved X‐ray and other cellular applications.

     

An immunoproteomic approach for identification of clinical biomarkers of Whipple's disease

Whipple's disease (WD) is a chronic multisystemic infection, caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. The main clinical presentations are classic WD (CWD) with histologic lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, endocarditis, and isolated neurologic infection. The current strategy for diagnosis remains invasive.The present study aimed to select the protein candidates for serological diagnosis of WD. The first step was to identify candidate proteins by an immunoproteomic approach combining 2‐DE using a total extract of a T. whipplei, immunoblotting, and MS. The second step was to validate the discovered biomarkers using a recombinant protein‐based ELISA. Serum samples from 18 patients with WD and from 54 control individuals were tested. A sugar ABC transporter, TWT328 (sensitivity (Se) 61%, specificity (Sp) 87%, positive predictive value (PPV) 61%, negative predictive value (NPV) 87%, and positive likelihood ratio (PLR) 4.69) was the best marker for development of serodiagnosis for CWD. We also obtained a reproducible immunoreactive protein pattern for patients with isolated neurological infection due to T. whipplei (Se 100%, Sp 93%, PPV 55.5%, NPV 100%, and PLR 13.51) as an encouraging step towards noninvasive diagnosis of this particular manifestation. Nine recombinant candidates have been successfully screened with serum samples. Results from these ELISA assays skewed with those obtained with immunoblots.     

Poly(N-glycidyl carbazole): A new crosslinkable conjugated polymer

A poly(N-glycidyl carbazole) was synthesized by electropolymerization of 3,6-dibromo-N-glycidyl carbazole. Characterization of both products by different chemical and electrochemical techniques is then discussed. The polymer that showed electronic conductive properties when doped was crosslinked by cis-cyclohexane 1,2 dicarboxylic anhydride. The crosslinking reaction was followed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). An optimization of the crosslinking conditions was first performed on the monomer and subsequently applied to the polymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 1483–1492, 1999