Analysis of the human breast milk microbiome and bacterial extracellular vesicles in healthy mothers

The microbiota of human breast milk (HBM) contribute to infant gut colonization; however, whether bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are present in HBM or might contribute to this process remains unknown. In this study, we characterized the HBM microbiota of healthy Korean mothers and measured the key bacteria likely affecting infant gut colonization by analyzing both the microbiota and bacterial EVs. A total of 22 HBM samples were collected from lactating mothers. The DNA of bacteria and bacteria-derived EVs was extracted from each sample. In alpha-diversity analyses, bacterial samples showed higher richness and evenness than bacterial EV samples, and beta-diversity analyses showed significant differences between bacteria and bacterial EVs within identical individual samples. Firmicutes accounted for the largest proportion among the phyla, followed by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, in both bacteria and bacterial EV samples. At the genus level, Streptococcus (25.1%) and Staphylococcus (10.7%) were predominant in bacterial samples, whereas Bacteroides (9.1%), Acinetobacter (6.9%), and Lactobacillaceae(f) (5.5%) were prevalent in bacterial EV samples. Several genera, including Bifidobacterium, were significantly positively correlated between the two samples. This study revealed the diverse bacterial communities in the HBM of healthy lactating mothers, and found that gut-associated genera accounted for a high proportion in bacterial EV samples. Our findings suggest the existence of key bacteria with metabolic activity that are independent of the major bacterial populations that inhabit HBM, and the possibility that EVs derived from these bacteria are involved in the vertical transfer of gut microbiota.Subject terms: Immunogenetics, Immunization     

Environmental Impacts on Spiking Properties in Hodgkin-Huxley Neuron with Direct Current Stimulus

Based on the well accepted Hodgkin-Huxley neuron model, the neuronal intrinsic excitability is studied when the neuron is subject to varying environmental temperatures, the typical impact for its regulating ways. With computer simulation, it is found that altering environmental temperature can improve or inhibit the neuronal intrinsic excitability so as to influence the neuronal spiking properties. The impacts from environmental factors can be understood that,the neuronal spiking threshold is essentially influenced by the fluctuations in the environment. With the environmental temperature varying, burst spiking is realized for the neuronal membrane voltage because of the environment-dependent spiking threshold. This burst induced by changes in spiking threshold is different from that excited by input currents or other stimulus.     

Rejoinder for Gaining effciency via weighted estimators for multivariate failure time data

We thank all the discussants for their interesting and stimulating contributions. They have touched various aspects that have not been considered by the original articles.     

One-Pot Synthesis and Fungicidal Activities of Derivatives of Imidazo [2,1-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-5(6H)-one

The isothiocyanates 2, obtained from aza-Wittig reactions of vinyliminophosphoranes 1 with CS ₂ , reacted with hydrazine to give 3-amino-2-thioxo-4-imidazolidinones 4. One-pot reactions of 4, aromatic isocyanates, Ph ₃ P, C ₂ Cl ₆ , and Et ₃ N generated imidazo[2,1-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-5(6H)-ones 7. Compound 7 exhibited good fungicidal activities, especially against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum de Bary and Botrytis Cinerea Pers.     

The Synthesis and 31P NMR Spectral Studies of Cyclophosphazenes

A modified method for preparing large-scale quantities of pure hexachlorocyclophosphazene (N₃P₃Cl₆) and octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene (N₄P₄Cl₈), phosphorus pentachloride with ammonium chloride, in the presence of zinc chloride, has been developed. The time of the reaction and the quantities of the catalyst are also studied. It is found that the optimum reaction time is 1.5 h and by-products are remarkably reduced by addition of 10% zinc chloride. As indicated by the ³¹ P NMR spectra, the synthesis and separation of cyclophosphazenes can be accomplished in moderate yield of tetramer (39%) and good yield of trimer (83%).     

Highly improved crystallization behavior of poly(L‐lactide) induced by a novel nucleating agent: substituted‐aryl phosphate salts

In this work, a novel nucleating agent (NA) based on substituted‐aryl phosphate salts was introduced into poly(L‐Lactide) (PLLA). The nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization behaviors of nucleated PLLA samples were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X‐ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscope (POM). Furthermore, the effect of annealing treatment on the cold crystallization behaviors of nucleated samples was also investigated. The results show that the crystallization of PLLA, whether for the melt crystallization (including nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization process) or for the cold crystallization (including the cold crystallization occurring during the DSC heating process and during the annealing process), is greatly dependent upon the content of NA. At relatively lower NA content (≤0.1 wt%), the nucleation effect of NA is inconspicuous, however, at higher NA content (≥0.2 wt%), it exhibits great nucleation effect for the crystallization of PLLA. Further results show that the double endothermic peak of PLLA depends on the temperature applied for the crystallization. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection of Chemical Warfare Nerve Agents via a Beckmann Fragmentation of Aldoxime

Abstract

A new (E)-pyrene-1-carbaldehyde O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl oxime 3 was synthesized for the detection of chemical warfare nerve agents, O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GB) and O-pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GD). ¹H NMR spectrum showed that the tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) group was deprotected using TBAF and the oximate supernucleophile was made. Upon addition of chemical warfare agents (GB and GD) (50 mol%), the reaction was completely finished within 5 min and also the color change of reaction mixture was observed under a hand-held UV lamp with the naked eye.     

Quantitative microfluidic biomolecular analysis for systems biology and medicine

In the postgenome era, biology and medicine are rapidly evolving towards quantitative and systems studies of complex biological systems. Emerging breakthroughs in microfluidic technologies and innovative applications are transforming systems biology by offering new capabilities to address the challenges in many areas, such as single-cell genomics, gene regulation networks, and pathology. In this review, we focus on recent progress in microfluidic technology from the perspective of its applications to promoting quantitative and systems biomolecular analysis in biology and medicine.