Academic literature on the topic 'Degree Discipline: Molecular Microbiology'

Background: Repetitive eccentric contractions can lead to higher degree of damage compared to repetitive concentric contractions. However, this type of exercise does not reproduce the real situations during the season in competitive sport disciplines. Methods: We analyzed the pattern of muscle damage blood markers in male professionals from three disciplines: cycling (n = 18), mainly concentric, vs. basketball (n = 12) and volleyball (n = 14), both mainly eccentric. Circulating muscle markers were analyzed in two moments of the regular season: after a 20-day training (no competition) period (T1) and after a 20-day period of high demanding competition (T2). Results: Blood levels of creatine kinase and myoglobin (muscle markers) increased in all groups at T2 compared to T1 as a result of competition intensity. The lower increases were noticed in cyclists at the end of both periods. Testosterone levels decreased at T2 compared to T1 in all disciplines, with lower levels found in cyclists. However, cortisol plasma levels decreased in basketball and volleyball players at T2, but increased significantly in cyclists, suggesting a limited adaptation to the effort. Conclusions: The pattern of circulating muscle markers is different depending of the demanding efforts (training vs. competition) of each particular discipline.

With the continuous development of the concept of diagnosis and treatment, the current industry’s treatment model has developed into a multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment. That is, in view of the pathological characteristics and clinical stages of breast cancer, corresponding methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, radiotherapy, and biological targeted therapy are adopted to provide comprehensive treatment of patients with multiple disciplines. This paper combines experimental research to research and analyze the degree of pathological remission of breast cancer by adjuvant chemotherapy and combines investigation and analysis and group trials to study and explore the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, this paper fully considers the patient’s response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and compares the changes in tumor cell abundance before and after chemotherapy to observe the response of the patient’s primary tumor to chemotherapy at a microscopic level. Therefore, this study has made a relatively objective and accurate evaluation of the chemotherapy efficacy of tumor tissues, which can provide a reference for subsequent related research.

To date, the performance in triathlon has been measured through time or position. Although this is what defines the medals and the goal of the competition, it can have some limitations. As an alternative, the purpose of this study is to assess the degree of concordance of performance between each of the triathlon disciplines with overall performance through the triathlon performance indicator for the Olympic distance event. The official results from the World Triathlon Series for Olympic distance events from 2000 to 2019 were examined. A total of 11,263 entries were analysed, 6273 corresponding to elite men and 4990 to elite women. Moderate agreement was found between the running performance and overall performance in both elite men ICCa = 0.538 and elite women ICCa = 0.581. Moreover, moderate agreement was found between swimming performance and overall performance in both elite men ICCa = 0.640 and elite women ICCa = 0.613. Finally, good agreement was found between cycling performance and overall performance also in both elite men ICCa = 0.777 and elite women ICCa = 0.816. The main results of the present study show that the cycling performance indicator could be an alternative to anticipate the overall performance in the competition for the Olympic distance event.

Background. Several studies found that physicians develop a negative attitude toward biochemistry and genetics disciplines. Many medical schools adopt an integrated system-based curriculum supplemented with clinical correlations. Medical schools in Jordan switched to the integrated curriculum; however, studies that evaluate the attitude of physicians toward biochemistry and genetics are lacking. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the attitude of physicians toward biochemistry and genetics including the correlation of their curricula with clinical practice. Materials and Methods. A structured questionnaire consisting of 40 statements was distributed to a random sample of 616 physicians practicing in private and governmental hospitals in Jordan. Participants earned their MD or MBBS degree from Jordan or other countries and were interns, residents, or specialists. Results. More than half of the participants admitted that biochemistry and genetics are intellectually challenging and were among their least favourite subjects (59.1%); however, many of them were familiar with some of the contemporary advances in biochemistry and genetics and their translational potential (64.0%). Most of the participants felt that modifying the medical school curriculum by integrating biochemical and genetic concepts with clinical teaching will motivate the medical students (74%). In univariate analysis, residents showed the most positive attitudes and were the most knowledgeable about the biochemical changes associated with diseases and about the contemporary advances in biochemistry or genetics (P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, physicians practicing in the private sector or those with more than five years of experience generally had a more positive attitude toward biochemistry and genetics (P<0.05). Conclusion. Physicians in Jordan showed an overall positive attitude toward biochemistry and genetics. This was more evident among residents, physicians with more than five years of experience, or those practicing in the private sector.

July 7, 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of the renowned scientist in the field of plant physiology and microbiology, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Higher School of Ukraine, Head of the Department of Botany and Zoology of the Ternopil National Pedagogical University and University Svitlana Vasylivna was born in the village of Ishkiv, Koziv district, Ternopil region, to a family of teachers. She started schooling at the Ishkiv eight-year school and later Ternopil Secondary School #8, which she graduated with honours in 1976. In August 1977, she entered Ternopil Pedagogical Institute, Natural Sciences faculty. She graduated with honors in 1982 and got qualification of a teacher of chemistry and biology Since July 1982, Svitlana Vasylivna's work has been associated with the Department of Botany (now the Department of Botany and Zoology of Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University), where she became an assistant at the laboratory of plant physiology and biology. As a laboratory assistant, S.V. Pyda commenced her first scientific studies concerned with nitrogen nutrition of legumes supervised by Professor, Head of the Symbiotic Nitrogenation Department of the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics of NAS of Ukraine Yukhym Polikarpovych Starchenko, candidates of biological sciences, professor of the Department of Botany of Ternopil Pedagogical Institute Vekirchyk Kuzma Mykolaiovych and associate professor Butnytskyi Ivan Mykolaiovych. From 1989 to 1993 S.V. Pyda carried out scientific research at National Botanical Garden M.M. Hrishko NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv) supervised by professor, head of allelopathy department Holovko Erast Anatoliiovych. May 26, 1994 as a result of scientific research S.V. Pyda became a successful defense of a Ph.D. thesis for the degree of Candidate of Biological Sciences in the specialty 03.00.12 – plant physiology in the specialized scientific council of the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics of NAS of Ukraine entitled: «Allelopathic and symbiotic features of lupine at different levels of nitrogen nutrition». During her postgraduate studies, in 1990 S. V. Pyda was transitioned to the position of Assistant Professor of the Department of Botany of Ternopil Pedagogical Institute, and after the defense of her Ph.D. thesis in January 1995 – to the post of Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor of Botany – on December 25, 1997. Pyda S.V. was given the academic title of Associate Professor of Botany. Pyda S.V. managed to combine her teaching career with scientific research concerned with a wide range of questions of plant physiology, biochemistry and ecology, microbiology, agriculture. Her major research focuses on the biological fixation of molecular nitrogen by legumes, allelopathic and biochemical features of species of the genus Lupine and some floral-ornamental plants, problems of chemical interaction between plants in natural and artificial phytocenoses, microorganisms and agriculture. Her 13-year-long scientific work found its expression in the manuscript of the doctoral dissertation, successfully defended on June 14, 2007 for the degree of Doctor of Agricultural Sciences in the specialized academic council of the Uman Agrarian University (now Uman National University of Horticulture) entitled: “Physiology of symbiosis of Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) – Lupinus L.: allelopathic analysis” specialty 03.00.12 – plant physiology. On April 1, 2008, after a significant achievement in the scientific and pedagogical field, the decision of the Scientific Council of the Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University Pyda S.V. was appointed the professor of the Department of Botany. On January 20, 2011, by the decision of the Attestation Board of the Ministry of Education and Science, Pyda S.V. was awarded the academic title of Professor of Botany. Since November 26, 2014 prof. Pyda S.V. has been the head of the Department of Botany and Zoology after the merging of the departments of Botany and Zoology. Svitlana Vasylivna Pyda’s legacy comprises 342 works, including 4 monographs, 7 utility model patents, over 30 scientific articles, 2 textbooks, 7 methodological tutorials, 1 bibliographic index, 2 e-courses etc. Professor S.V. Pyda has been teaching at the University for many years the disciplines "Plant Physiology", "Microbiology with the Fundamentals of Virology", "Research Methods", "Nutrition and Productivity of Plants", "Mechanisms of Plant Productivity". She is also a teacher of Ternopil Oblast Territory -Municipal Branch of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, a member of the jury and head at the numerous competitions of city and all-Ukrainian importance, the head of the Ternopil branch of the Ukrainian Society of Plant Physiologists and Ternopil branch of the Society of microbiologists of Ukraine. For a significant contribution to the teacher training courses, the introduction of modern technologies of education and upbringing of student youth and the support of gifted students, Svitlana Vasylivna Pyda was elected Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Higher School of Ukraine, awarded by Ternopil state administration, Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil Oblast Ecological and Naturalistic Center student youth, Ternopil Regional Communal Territorial Branch of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, NAS of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science, etc. Svitlana Vasylivna considers herself a happy person because she had the best teachers – Yavonenko A.F., Vekirchyk K.M., Shusta I.V., Barna M.M., Butnytskyi I.M., Shymanska V.A., Kuzmovych L.G., Orchuk K.I., Talposha V.S., Grushka S.I., Yakovleva V.O., Yakovenko B.V., Kuratova T.S., colleagues and scholars such as Y. P. Starchenko, E.A. Golovko, V.P.Patyk, I.P. Grygoryuk, friends, and sincere and friendly people. She is a role model and we all appreciate her dignity, integrity, high spirits and loyalty to Ukraine and science.

Background: The archaeological and ethnographic heritages of Mongolia reflect a multi-millennial continuity of typically mobile-pastoral occupations across sparsely populated, environmentally diverse landscapes, but the threats of modernisation and industrialisation to those heritages are nevertheless present and substantial. The construction of the Erdeneburen Hydroelectric Dam on the Khovd River in western Mongolia is planned to submerge hundreds of archaeological features and jeopardise at least another thousand. Methods: The Mongolian Archaeology Project: Surveying the Steppes, in collaboration with the Mongolian Institute of Archaeology, integrates a variety of digital techniques including GIS (geographic information systems), Machine Learning automated site detection, drone mapping, and Structure-from-Motion LiDAR scanning to document the endangered archaeology. This paper presents the resulting dataset of archaeological features across three different impact zones associated with the dam construction and evaluates the degree of efficacy of the initial data integration strategy through informal partner feedback and self-assessment. Results: While only approximately 20% of the documented sites fall within the planned flood zone, the remaining sites will be subjected to collateral threats such as industrial and infrastructural development that will necessitate extended monitoring, both temporally and spatially. In consideration of these results, this paper argues that a ‘responsive’ mode of heritage disaster intervention can bridge the gap between ‘reactive’ and ‘proactive’ modes, but requires development of an integrated (digital) methodology. Conclusions: The paper concludes by offering a new, more interconnected ‘transmethodology’ that addresses spatiality, sub-sampling, data reuse, and community input across multiple disciplines such as cultural heritage preservation, salvage archaeology, computer vision, and community archaeology. The authors developed this ‘transmethodology’ and the resulting workflows out of a theoretical framework that considers principles of Symmetrical Archaeology, Resilience Humanitarianism, and the CARE standard for inclusive data management (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics).

Phylosymbiosis was recently formulated to support a hypothesis-driven framework for the characterization of a new, cross-system trend in host-associated microbiomes. Defining phylosymbiosis as ‘microbial community relationships that recapitulate the phylogeny of their host’, we review the relevant literature and data in the last decade, emphasizing frequently used methods and regular patterns observed in analyses. Quantitative support for phylosymbiosis is provided by statistical methods evaluating higher microbiome variation between host species than within host species, topological similarities between the host phylogeny and microbiome dendrogram, and a positive association between host genetic relationships and microbiome beta diversity. Significant degrees of phylosymbiosis are prevalent, but not universal, in microbiomes of plants and animals from terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Consistent with natural selection shaping phylosymbiosis, microbiome transplant experiments demonstrate reduced host performance and/or fitness upon host–microbiome mismatches. Hybridization can also disrupt phylosymbiotic microbiomes and cause hybrid pathologies. The pervasiveness of phylosymbiosis carries several important implications for advancing knowledge of eco-evolutionary processes that impact host–microbiome interactions and future applications of precision microbiology. Important future steps will be to examine phylosymbiosis beyond bacterial communities, apply evolutionary modelling for an increasingly sophisticated understanding of phylosymbiosis, and unravel the host and microbial mechanisms that contribute to the pattern. This review serves as a gateway to experimental, conceptual and quantitative themes of phylosymbiosis and outlines opportunities ripe for investigation from a diversity of disciplines.

Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 is a gram-negative soil bacterium capable of growing on histidine as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Expression of histidine utilization (hut) genes is controlled by the HutC repressor with urocanate, the first intermediate of the histidine degradation pathway, as the direct inducer. Recent genome sequencing of P. fluorescens SBW25 revealed the presence of hutD in the hut locus, which encodes a highly conserved hypothetical protein. Previous genetic analysis showed that hutD is involved in hut regulation, in such a way that it prevents overproduction of the hut enzymes. Deletion of hutD resulted in a slow growth phenotype in minimal medium with histidine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. While the genetic evidence supporting a role of hutD in hut regulation is strong, nothing is known of the mechanism of HutD action. Here I have cloned and expressed the P. fluorescens SBW25 hutD in E. coli. Purified HutD was subjected to chemical and structural analysis. Analytic size-exclusion chromatography indicated that HutD forms a dimer in the elution buffer. The crystal structure of HutD was solved at 1.80 Å (R = 19.3% and Rfree = 22.3%) by using molecular replacement based on HutD from P. aeruginosa PAO1. P. fluorescens SBW25 HutD has two molecules in an asymmetric unit and each monomer consists of one subdomain and two ß-barrel domains. Comparative structural analysis revealed a conserved binding pocket. The interaction of formate with a highly conserved residue Arg61 via salt-bridges in the pocket suggests HutD binds to small molecules with carboxylic group(s) such as histidine, urocanate or formyl-glutamate. The hypothesis that HutD functions via binding to urocanate, the hut inducer, was tested. Experiments using a thermal shift assay and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analysis suggested that HutD binds to urocanate but not to histidine. However, the signal of HutD-urocanate binding was very weak and detected only at high urocanate concentration (53.23 mM), which is not physiologically relevant. The current data thus does not support the hypothesis of HutD-urocanate binding in vivo. Although the HutD-urocanate binding was not confirmed, this work has laid a solid foundation for further testing of the many alternative hypotheses regarding HutD function.

The intestinal microbiota is a massive and complex community, essential to the human host for good health and well-being. However, this population has been associated with gastrointestinal disease, and remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop and validate DNA-based assays for the intestinal microbiota and to apply these methodologies to faecal samples collected from healthy volunteers and patients with gastrointestinal disease. Over 250 faecal samples were analysed using temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) and real time PCR. Validated assays had high sensitivity and reproducibility. Healthy individuals displayed a high level of temporal stability during short term studies (≤ 6 weeks) and long term studies (1-4years). Analysis of faecal samples provided by identical and fraternal twins demonstrated an influence of host genetics over the composition of the predominant bacteria in children. Two intervention studies, bowel lavage and the Atkins' diet, were carried out to monitor the impact of environmental change on the population's stability in healthy volunteers. Following bowel lavage, microbial populations rapidly recovered to control densities, however the stability of the population was disturbed. Introduction of the Atkins' diet, led to a significant change in the composition of the microbial population. A preliminary study of the intestinal microbiota in disease groups was undertaken. Significant differences were detected between inflammatory bowel disease groups and controls. Cluster analysis in these patients indicated a potential association between the composition of the predominant bacterial population and disease localisation. The studies reported here demonstrate that the faecal microbiota in healthy individuals is a highly stable population under the influence of both host genetics and environmental variables, however the population present in patients with inflammatory bowel disease exhibits differences compared to healthy controls.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters composed of (R)-3-hydroxy-fatty acids. A variety of gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria and some archaea are able to produce these biopolymers as energy and carbon storage materials. In times of unbalanced growth, when carbon is available in excess but other nutrients are limited, PHA inclusions are formed. These granules are water-insoluble, stored intracellularly and can be maintained outside the cell as beads. The key enzyme for the formation of PHA inclusions is the PHA synthase PhaC, which catalyses the polymerization of (R)- 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA to PHA with the concomitant release of CoA. The PHA synthase from Ralstonia eutropha (currently Cupriavidus necator), which is covalently bound to the PHA granule surface, tolerates fusions to its N terminus without loss of activity. In this study it was investigated if it would also tolerate translational fusions to its C terminus. A specially designed linker was employed, aiming at maintaining the hydrophobic surroundings of the R. eutropha synthase C terminus to allow proper folding and activity. Two reporter proteins were tested as fusion partners, the maltose binding protein MalE and the green fluorescent protein GFP. As GFP is a hydrophobic protein itself, no additional linker between the PHA synthase and the reporter protein was necessary to produce PHA granules displaying the functional fusion protein on the surface. Principally, the PHA synthase PhaC tolerates translational fusions to its C terminus but the nature of the fusion partner influences the functionality. Recently, PHA granules have often been acknowledged as bio-beads. A one-step production allows the formation of functionalised beads without the need for further cross-linking to impart desired surface properties. PHA beads displaying a gold- or silica-binding peptide at the N terminus of PhaC were constructed and tested for their applicability. Additionally, these beads were able to bind IgG due to the ZZ domain of the IgG binding protein A, which was employed as a linker sequence. These functionalised beads can be used as molecular tools in bioimaging and biomedicine, combining organic core with inorganic-binding shell structures. In a different biomimetic approach, the display of ten lysine residues at the granule surface was achieved using the phasin protein PhaP as the anchoring matrix. Extensive work was performed in an attempt to also employ the synthase protein, but was unsuccessful. These positively charged bio-beads can be used for dispersion or crosslinking experiments as well as silica binding.

Environmental Microbiology: Advanced Research and Multidisciplinary Applications focus on the current research on microorganisms in the environment. Contributions in the volume cover several aspects of applied microbial research, basic research on microbial ecology and molecular genetics. The reader will find a collection of topics with theoretical and practical value, allowing them to connect environmental microbiology to a variety of subjects in life sciences, ecology, and environmental science topics. Advanced topics including biogeochemical cycling, microbial biosensors, bioremediation, application of microbial biofilms in bioremediation, application of microbial surfactants, microbes for mining and metallurgical operations, valorization of waste, and biodegradation of aromatic waste, microbial communication, nutrient cycling and biotransformation are also covered. The content is designed for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and environmental professionals, with a comprehensive and up-to-date discussion of environmental microbiology as a discipline that has greatly expanded in scope and interest over the past several decades.