Marine adhesives. IV: Hexosamine content of Balanus eburneus adhesive

The adhesive secreted by the barnacle, Balanus eburneus, has been demonstrated to contain two hexosamines, glucosamine and galactosamine. Degradation of the hexosamines during hydrolysis of the adhesive appears to be the reason why previous studies of the adhesive have indicated the absence of hexosamines, or the presence of only one hexosamine.     

A mass spectrometric analysis of CF4/O2 plasmas: Effect of oxygen concentration and plasma power

A quadrupole mass analyzer was used to detect the neutral products extracted downstream from a CF₄/O₂ RF discharge at 80 mtorr. mtorr. Stable discharge products were investigated as a junction of plasma power, residence time, oxygen concentration, and plasma voltage standing-wave ratio. In general, as plasma power increased from 10 to 200 W, production of CO increased while the measured mole fractions of CO₂ and COF₂ stabilized. The ratio of' CO to CO, decreases! at low plasma powers as the oxygen concentration increased. ,4n increase in the relative conversion of CF₄ to oxygenated products occurred at both low plasma powers and low oxygen concentrations. Chemical mechanisms are suggested to account for these results.     

Single-shot extreme ultraviolet laser imaging of nanostructures with wavelength resolution

We have demonstrated near-wavelength resolution microscopy in the extreme ultraviolet. Images of 50 nm diameter nanotubes were obtained with a single ~1 ns duration pulse from a desktop-size 46.9 nm laser. We measured the modulation transfer function of the microscope for three different numerical aperture zone plate objectives, demonstrating that 54 nm half-period structures can be resolved. The combination of near-wavelength spatial resolution and high temporal resolution opens myriad opportunities in imaging, such as the ability to directly investigate dynamics of nanoscale structures.     

Hexosamine content of marine biological adhesives

Mytilus edulis byssal threads have been shown to contain both glucosamine and galactosamine. Inadvertent degradation of the material probably is the reason for the reported absence of these hexosamines from the Mytilus adhesive; evidence for this explanation has been found.     

Disruption of urogenital biofilms by lactobacilli

The process that changes a relatively sparse vaginal microbiota of healthy women into a dense biofilm of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria is poorly understood. Likewise, the reverse step whereby an aberrant biofilm is displaced and returns to a healthy lactobacilli dominated microbiota is unclear. In order to study these phenomena, in vitro experiments were performed to examine the structure of biofilms associated with aerobic vaginosis, urinary tract infections, and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Uropathogenic Escherichia coli were able to form relatively thin biofilms within five days (6 μm height), while Atopobium vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis formed thicker biofilms 12 μm in height within two days. Challenge of E. coli biofilms with lactobacilli did not result in pathogen displacement. However, the resulting thicker lactobacilli infused biofilms, caused significant E. coli killing. E. coli biofilms challenged with secreted products of L. rhamnosus GR-1 caused a marked decrease in cell density, and increased cell death. Similarly challenge of BV biofilms with lactobacilli infiltrated BV biofilms and caused bacterial cell death. Metronidazole produced holes in the biofilm but did not eradicate the organisms. The findings provide some evidence of how lactobacilli probiotics might interfere with an aberrant vaginal microbiota, and strengthen the position that combining probiotics with antimicrobials could better eradicate pathogenic biofilms.