Mitochondrial ROS and HIF-1α signaling mediate synaptic plasticity in the critical period.

As developing networks transition from spontaneous irregular to patterned activity, they undergo plastic tuning phases, termed "critical periods"; "critical" because disturbances during these phases can lead to lasting changes in network development and output. Critical periods are common to developing nervous systems, with analogous features shared from insects to mammals, yet the core signaling mechanisms that underlie cellular critical period plasticity have remained elusive. To identify these, we exploited the Drosophila larval locomotor network as an advantageous model system.

Endoplasmic reticulum morphology regulation by RTN4 modulates neuronal regeneration by curbing luminal transport.

Cell functions rely on intracellular transport systems distributing bioactive molecules with high spatiotemporal accuracy. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tubular network constitutes a system for delivering luminal solutes, including Ca, across the cell periphery. How the ER structure enables this nanofluidic transport system is unclear.

Luminal transport through intact endoplasmic reticulum limits the magnitude of localized Ca signals.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms an interconnected network of tubules stretching throughout the cell. Understanding how ER functionality relies on its structural organization is crucial for elucidating cellular vulnerability to ER perturbations, which have been implicated in several neuronal pathologies. One of the key functions of the ER is enabling Ca[Formula: see text] signaling by storing large quantities of this ion and releasing it into the cytoplasm in a spatiotemporally controlled manner.

Prophylactic immunization to Helicobacter pylori infection using spore vectored vaccines.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection remains a major public health threat leading to gastrointestinal illness and increased risk of gastric cancer. Mostly affecting populations in developing countries no vaccines are yet available and the disease is controlled by antimicrobials which, in turn, are driving the emergence of AMR.

Materials And Methods: We have engineered spores of Bacillus subtilis to display putative H.

Activity-regulated growth of motoneurons at the neuromuscular junction is mediated by NADPH oxidases.

Neurons respond to changes in the levels of activity they experience in a variety of ways, including structural changes at pre- and postsynaptic terminals. An essential plasticity signal required for such activity-regulated structural adjustments are reactive oxygen species (ROS). To identify sources of activity-regulated ROS required for structural plasticity we used the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction as a highly tractable experimental model system.

Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Activity-Regulated Dendritic Plasticity Through NADPH Oxidase and Aquaporin Regulation.

Neurons utilize plasticity of dendritic arbors as part of a larger suite of adaptive plasticity mechanisms. This explicitly manifests with motoneurons in the embryo and larva, where dendritic arbors are exclusively postsynaptic and are used as homeostatic devices, compensating for changes in synaptic input through adapting their growth and connectivity. We recently identified reactive oxygen species (ROS) as novel plasticity signals instrumental in this form of dendritic adjustment.

Structure-function analysis of the Bacillus megaterium GerUD spore germinant receptor protein.

Germination of Bacillus spores is triggered by the interaction of germinant molecules with specialized receptor proteins localized to the spore inner membrane. Germinant receptors (GRs) are comprised typically of three interacting protein subunits, each of which is essential for receptor function. At least some GRs appear to have a fourth component, referred to as a D-subunit protein.

Investigating the functional hierarchy of Bacillus megaterium PV361 spore germinant receptors.

Spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 germinate rapidly when exposed to a number of single-trigger germinant compounds, including glucose, proline, leucine, and certain inorganic salts. However, spores of strain PV361, a plasmidless QM B1551 derivative that lacks the GerU germinant receptor (GR) responsible for mediating germination in response to single-trigger compounds, can germinate efficiently when incubated in nutritionally rich media, presumably via activation of additional germinant receptors. In this work, we have identified five chromosomally encoded GRs and attempted to characterize, by mutational analysis, germinant recognition profiles associated with the respective receptors in strain PV361.

Characterization of the human serum depletome by label-free shotgun proteomics.

While it is known that immunoaffinity depletion of abundant proteins in serum removes additional proteins beyond those targeted, there has been little characterization of the co-depleted proteins in the high abundant fraction, which we refer to here as the "depletome". We present evidence of co-depletion of non-targeted proteins in human serum using a top-20 immunodepletion column, as shown by label-free liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS(E)) profiling. This led to identification of 147 proteins which were specific for this fraction and comprised proteins with functions predominantly in binding and transport of nucleotides, metal ions, carbohydrates and lipids.

Accurate whole human genome sequencing using reversible terminator chemistry.

DNA sequence information underpins genetic research, enabling discoveries of important biological or medical benefit. Sequencing projects have traditionally used long (400-800 base pair) reads, but the existence of reference sequences for the human and many other genomes makes it possible to develop new, fast approaches to re-sequencing, whereby shorter reads are compared to a reference to identify intraspecies genetic variation. Here we report an approach that generates several billion bases of accurate nucleotide sequence per experiment at low cost.