Search results for " Organism"

Boat traffic in Lampedusa waters (Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea) and its relation to the coastal distribution of common bottlenose dolphin (Tur…

2010

The volume of boat traffic and its potential connection to the coastal distribution of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was evaluated off Lampedusa Island (Strait of Sicily). From July to September 2006 daily surveys were carried out at eight sites along the coast, three times a day, to assess the number, type, and size of boats moving, fishing, or stationed in Lampedusa waters. The study area was divided into four geographic areas: northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. Data were analyzed to determine the difference in the number of boats among the areas, sampling months, and times of day. The presence of dolphins was monitored by standardized land-based observat…

Detection and prevention of enhanced biological phosphorus removal deterioration caused by Zoogloea overabundance.

2008

A sequencing batch reactor was operated in the conventional anaerobic-aerobic mode for enhanced biological phosphorus removal using acetate as the sole substrate. Despite the nutrients concentrations in the influent being high enough to satisfy the biological requirements, Zoogloea ramigera managed to grow in the system until it had negative effects on the process performance. The excess of exocellular polymeric material produced by this microorganism contributed to a viscous bulking phenomenon and caused important settling problems. The examination of the sludge under the microscope was a valuable tool to diagnose the cause of the imbalance in the process. The strategy adopted to avoid the…

Paratransgenic manipulation of tsetsemiR275alters the physiological homeostasis of the fly’s midgut environment

2021

AbstractTsetse flies are vectors of parasitic African trypanosomes (Trypanosomaspp.). Current disease control methods include fly-repelling pesticides, trapping flies, and chemotherapeutic treatment of infected people. Inhibiting tsetse’s ability to transmit trypanosomes by strengthening the fly’s natural barriers can serve as an alternative approach to reduce disease. The peritrophic matrix (PM) is a chitinous and proteinaceous barrier that lines tsetse’s midgut. It protects the epithelial cells from the gut lumen content such as food and invading trypanosomes, which have to overcome this physical barrier to establish an infection. Bloodstream form trypanosomes shed variant surface glycopr…

Controlling of geosmin and 2‐methylisoborneol induced off‐flavours in recirculating aquaculture system farmed fish—A review

2018

Interactions between proteins and poly(ethylene-glycol) investigated using molecular dynamics simulations

2017

Poly(ethylene-glycol) (PEG) is a polymer used to coat therapeutic preparations, like drugs or drug nanocarriers, and improve their efficacy. This effect is probably due to a reduction of the interactions of the coated species with the host organism. Nevertheless, experiments show that PEGylated materials do interact with the surrounding biological milieu, and in particular with blood proteins. Here, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the interactions between the polymer and several blood proteins. In these simulations, the proteins are immersed in a mixture of PEG and water molecules. We observe how PEG distributes around the protein surface and measure PEG-prot…

[1] Neoglycoproteins from synthetic glycopeptides

1994

Publisher Summary Saccharide side chains of glycoproteins influence the physicochemical properties of the biomacromolecules and their stability against proteolytic degradation. Saccharide side chains of glycoproteins also play important roles as ligands in biological recognition and in the organized distribution of these compounds within multicellular organisms. Carbohydrate-lectin interactions are important, for example, in viral infections and for the recruitment and invasion of leukocytes into injured tissues. Although in a number of processes carbohydrates were revealed to be decisive recognition labels, in other biological selections peptide sequences proved to be the recognized areas.…

Role of peat organic matter on isotopic composition of most abundant benthic organisms in intertidal habitats of SW Iceland

2008

The transfer of peat organic matter (OM) from tidal pools of upper littoral to downstream rocky shores and its potential incorporation into marine biota were investigated using the stable isotope approach. Samplings were carried out in September 2004 in two SW Icelandic sites (Osar and Hvassahraun), where we selected (1) areas with shores where grass gently declined towards rocks and, on reaching the sea line, formed small tidal peat pools and (2) areas where grass and rocky shores were not contiguous, rather the grass lower limits were several hundreds of meters back from the shore. In both grass and no grass areas, in the intertidal zone, all benthic organisms and all potential OM sources…

Sources of organic matter for inter-tidal consumers in Ascophyllum-shores (Sw Iceland): a multi stable isotope approach.

2007

Stable isotopes were used to examine the origin of organic matter in Icelandic Ascophyllum-based habitats, the role of different organic matters in filling intertidal food webs and the food preferences of the most abundant suspension feeders, grazers and predators. We selected three intertidal sites on the SW coast of Iceland where we sampled in early September 2004, organic matter sources (POM, SOM and most abundant primary producers, A. nodosum and F. vesciculosus) and the most abundant macrofauna species (barnacles, mussels, gastropods, sponge and crabs). Even though the primary production (Ascophyllum-based) was the same at the three study sites, the isotopic composition of common-among…

Metabolism of stilbene phytoalexins by Botrytis cinerea: 1. Characterization of a resveratrol dehydrodimer

1998

Abstract Resveratrol, a grapevine phytoalexin, is metabolized by a laccase-like stilbene-oxidase of Botrytis cinerea, the causal organism for grey mould. Characterization of one major metabolite formed during this degradation process as a resveratrol dehydrodimer allowed us to precize the reaction mechanism of this enzyme on stilbenes.

Biosilica

2012

Biomineralization, biosilicification in particular (i.e. the formation of biogenic silica, SiO(2)), has become an exciting source of inspiration for the development of novel bionic approaches following 'nature as model'. Siliceous sponges are unique among silica-forming organisms in their ability to catalyze silica formation using a specific enzyme termed silicatein. In this study, we review the present state of knowledge on silicatein-mediated 'biosilica' formation in marine demosponges, the involvement of further molecules in silica metabolism and their potential applications in nano-biotechnology and bio-medicine. While most forms of multicellular life have developed a calcium-based skel…