Exercise training may reduce fragmented mitochondria in the ischemic-reperfused heart through DRP1.

Mitochondrial fission is a key trigger of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injuries (IR). Exercise training is an efficient cardioprotective strategy, but its impact on mitochondrial fragmentation during IR remains unknown. Using isolated rat hearts, we found that exercise training limited the activation of dynamin-like protein 1 and limited mitochondrial fragmentation during IR.

Hyperglycemia triggers RyR2-dependent alterations of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis in response to cardiac ischemia-reperfusion: Key role of DRP1 activation.

Hyperglycemia increases the heart sensitivity to ischemia-reperfusion (IR), but the underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Mitochondrial dynamics (the processes that govern mitochondrial morphology and their interactions with other organelles, such as the reticulum), has emerged as a key factor in the heart vulnerability to IR. However, it is unknown whether mitochondrial dynamics contributes to hyperglycemia deleterious effect during IR.

A new fluorescence-based approach for direct visualization of coat formation during sporulation in Bacillus cereus.

The human pathogenic bacteria Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis and the entomopathogenic Bacillus thuringiensis form spores encased in a protein coat surrounded by a balloon-like exosporium. These structures mediate spore interactions with its environment, including the host immune system, control the transit of molecules that trigger germination and thus are essential for the spore life cycle. Formation of the coat and exosporium has been traditionally visualized by transmission electronic microscopy on fixed cells.

Insights into the Structure and Protein Composition of Spores Formed at Different Temperatures.

The bacterium produces the most heat-resistant spores of any spoilage-causing microorganism known in the food industry. Previous work by our group revealed that the resistance of these spores to wet heat and biocides was lower when spores were produced at a lower temperature than the optimal temperature. Here, we used electron microcopy to characterize the ultrastructure of the coat of the spores formed at different sporulation temperatures; we found that spores produced at 55 °C mainly exhibited a lamellar inner coat tightly associated with a diffuse outer coat, while spores produced at 45 °C showed an inner and an outer coat separated by a less electron-dense zone.

The Morphogenetic Protein CotE Positions Exosporium Proteins CotY and ExsY during Sporulation of Bacillus cereus.

The exosporium is the outermost spore layer of some and species and related organisms. It mediates the interactions of spores with their environment, modulates spore adhesion and germination, and has been implicated in pathogenesis. In , the exosporium consists of a crystalline basal layer, formed mainly by the two cysteine-rich proteins CotY and ExsY, surrounded by a hairy nap composed of glycoproteins.

High genomic diversity of novel phages infecting the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, isolated in Mauritius and Reunion islands.

Bacterial wilt caused by the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) is among the most important plant diseases worldwide, severely affecting a high number of crops and ornamental plants in tropical regions. Only a limited number of phages infecting R. solanacearum have been isolated over the years, despite the importance of this bacterium and the associated plant disease.

Multiscale Localization of Procyanidins in Ripe and Overripe Perry Pears by Light and Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Histochemical staining with 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA), light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to characterize procyanidin localization at ripe and overripe stages in perry pear flesh (cv. 'De Cloche'). Pear flesh contained stone cell clusters surrounded by very large parenchyma cells.

The spore coat is essential for Bacillus subtilis spore resistance to pulsed light, and pulsed light treatment eliminates some spore coat proteins.

Microbial surface contamination of equipment or of food contact material is a recurring problem in the food industry. Spore-forming bacteria are far more resistant to a wide variety of treatments than their vegetative forms. Understanding the mechanisms underlying decontamination processes is needed to improve surface decontamination strategies against endospores potentially at the source of foodborne diseases or food-spoilage.

Exercise training restores eNOS activation in the perivascular adipose tissue of obese rats: Impact on vascular function.

Objective: This study evaluated in obese rats the effect of exercise training on eNOS expressed in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and its consequences on vascular function.

Methods: Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups: control (standard diet), obese (high fat/high sucrose diet, HFS for 15 weeks), and exercised obese (HFS diet and exercise from week 6 to week 15, HFS-Ex) rats. The eNOS-adiponectin pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated.

Brown Rot Strikes Prunus Fruit: An Ancient Fight Almost Always Lost.

Brown rot (BR) caused by Monilinia spp., has been an economic problem for the stone fruit market due to dramatic losses, mainly during the postharvest period. There is much literature about basic aspects of Monilinia spp.

Sporulation Temperature Reveals a Requirement for CotE in the Assembly of both the Coat and Exosporium Layers of Bacillus cereus Spores.

The Bacillus cereus spore surface layers consist of a coat surrounded by an exosporium. We investigated the interplay between the sporulation temperature and the CotE morphogenetic protein in the assembly of the surface layers of B. cereus ATCC 14579 spores and on the resulting spore properties.

The CasKR two-component system is required for the growth of mesophilic and psychrotolerant Bacillus cereus strains at low temperatures.

The different strains of Bacillus cereus can grow at temperatures covering a very diverse range. Some B. cereus strains can grow in chilled food and consequently cause food poisoning.

Low temperatures and fermentative metabolism limit peptidoglycan digestion of Bacillus cereus. Impact on colony forming unit counts.

The impact of fermentative metabolism at low temperature on cell division of Bacillus cereus was studied. Fermentation at 37 °C had no influence on the division of bacteria. Aerobic cultures at 15 °C produced larger cells than at 37 °C, but cell division was normal.

Deposition of Bacillus subtilis spores using an airbrush-spray or spots to study surface decontamination by pulsed light.

Microbial contamination on surfaces of food processing equipment is a major concern in industries. A new method to inoculate a single-cell layer (monolayer) of microorganisms onto polystyrene was developed, using a deposition with an airbrush. A homogeneous dispersion of Bacillus subtilis DSM 402 spores sprayed on the surface was observed using both plate count and scanning electron microscopy.

Differential involvement of the five RNA helicases in adaptation of Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 to low growth temperatures.

Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 possesses five RNA helicase-encoding genes overexpressed under cold growth conditions. Out of the five corresponding mutants, only the ΔcshA, ΔcshB, and ΔcshC strains were cold sensitive. Growth of the ΔcshA strain was also reduced at 30°C but not at 37°C.

Improved microwave steam distillation apparatus for isolation of essential oils. Comparison with conventional steam distillation.

Steam distillation (SD) is routinely used by analysts for the isolation of essential oils from herbs, flowers and spices prior to gas chromatographic analysis. In this work, a new process design and operation for an improved microwave steam distillation (MSD) of essential oils from aromatic natural products was developed. To demonstrate its feasibility, MSD was compared with the conventional technique, SD, for the analysis of volatile compounds from dry lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.