SUMMARY

Activation of Sir2-orthologs is proposed to increase lifespan downstream of dietary restriction (DR). Here we describe an examination of the effect of 32 different lifespan-extending mutations and four methods of dietary restriction on replicative lifespan (RLS) in the short-lived sir2Δ yeast strain. In every case, deletion of SIR2 prevented RLS extension; however, RLS extension was restored when both SIR2 and FOB1 were deleted in several cases, demonstrating that SIR2 is not directly required for RLS extension. These findings indicate that suppression of the sir2Δ lifespan defect is a rare phenotype among longevity interventions and suggest that sir2Δ cells senesce rapidly by a mechanism distinct from that of wild-type cells. They also demonstrate that failure to observe life span extension in a short-lived background, such as cells or animals lacking sirtuins, should be interpreted with caution.

Aims/hypothesis

Rapamycin impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Our previous study demonstrated that rapamycin significantly increases the expression of gastric ghrelin, which is critical in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Here, we investigated whether ghrelin contributes to derangements of glucose metabolism induced by rapamycin.

Methods

The effects of rapamycin on glucose metabolism were examined in mice receiving ghrelin receptor antagonist or with ghrelin receptor gene deletion. Changes in Glut4, JNK, and pS6 were investigated by immnuofluorescent staining or Western. Related hormones were detected by radioimmuno-assay kits.

Results

Rapamycin impaired glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity not only in normal C57BL/6J mice but also in both obese mice induced by high fat diet and db/db mice. This was accompanied by elevation of plasma acylated ghrelin. Rapamycin significantly increased the levels of plasma acylated ghrelin in normal C57BL/6J mice, high fat diet induced obese mice, and db/db mice. Elevation in plasma acylated ghrelin and derangements of glucose metabolism upon administration of rapamycin was significantly correlated. The deterioration in glucose homeostasis induced by rapamycin was blocked by D-Lys3-GHRP-6, a ghrelin receptor antagonist, or by deletion of ghrelin receptor gene. Ghrelin receptor antagonism and ghrelin receptor gene deletion blocked the up-regulation of JNK activity, and GLUT4 expression and translocation in the gastrocnemius muscle induced by rapamycin.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrates that ghrelin contributes to derangements of glucose metabolism induced by rapamycin via altering the expression and translocation of GLUT4 in muscles.

Titanium implants are widely used in dentistry and orthopaedic surgery. Nevertheless, bone regeneration around the implant is a relatively slow process, after placement. This study assessed whether SATB2 can enhance osseointegration of a titanium implant. To determine the effect of SATB2 in implant integration, two different viruses encoding SATB2 (PBABE-Satb2 virus or RCAS-Satb2 virus) were locally administered to the bone defect prior to titanium implant placement in our established transgenic TVA mice. Seven and 21 days post implantation, the femurs were isolated for quantitative real-time RT-PCR, H&E staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and microcomputed tomography (microCT) analysis. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR results demonstrated that the in vivo overexpression of SATB2 enhanced expression levels of potent osteogenic transcription factors and bone matrix proteins. We also found that 21 days after implantation, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of SATB2, Osx, Runx2, COLI, OC, and BSP between the RCAS-Satb2 group and the RCAS group. Histological analysis showed that SATB2 overexpression significantly enhanced new bone formation and bone-to-implant contact after implantation. IHC staining analysis revealed that forced expression of SATB2 increased the number of BSP-positive cells surrounding the implant. MicroCT analysis demonstrated that in vivo overexpression of SATB2 significantly increased the density of the newly formed bone surrounding the implant. These results conclude that in vivo overexpression of SATB2 significantly accelerates osseointegration of titanium implants and SATB2 can serve as a potent molecule in promoting tissue regeneration.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) is a heritable form of cardiac hypertrophy caused by single-point mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins including ventricular myosin regulatory light chain (RLC). FHC often leads to malignant outcomes and sudden cardiac death. The FHC mutations are believed to alter the kinetics of the interaction between actin and myosin resulting in inefficient energy utilization and compromised function of the heart. We studied the effect of the FHC-linked R58Q-RLC mutation on the kinetics of transgenic (Tg)-R58Q cardiac myofibrils. Kinetics was determined from the rate of change of orientation of actin monomers during muscle contraction. Actin monomers change orientation because myosin cross-bridges deliver to it periodic force impulses. An individual impulse (but not time average of impulses) carries the information about the kinetics of actomyosin interaction. To observe individual impulses it was necessary to scale down the experiments to the level of a few molecules. A small population (~4 molecules) was selected by using (deliberately) inefficient fluorescence labeling and observing fluorescent molecules by a confocal microscope. We show that the kinetic rates are significantly smaller in the contracting cardiac myofibrils from Tg-R58Q mice then in control Tg-wild type (WT). We also demonstrate a lower force per cross-section of muscle fiber in Tg-R58Q versus Tg-WT mice. We conclude that the R58Q mutation-induced decrease in cross-bridge kinetics underlines the mechanism by which Tg-R58Q fibers develop low force and thus compromise the ability of the mutated heart to efficiently pump blood.

Falcarindiol (FAD) is a natural polyyne with various beneficial biological activities. We show here that FAD preferentially kills colon cancer cells but not normal colon epithelial cells. Furthermore, FAD inhibits tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model and exhibits strong synergistic killing of cancer cells with 5-fluorouracil, an approved cancer chemotherapeutic drug. We demonstrate that FAD-induced cell death is mediated by induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Decreasing the level of ER stress, either by overexpressing the ER chaperone protein glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) or by knockout of components of the UPR pathway, reduces FAD-induced apoptosis. In contrast, increasing the level of ER stress by knocking down GRP78 potentiates FAD-induced apoptosis. Finally, FAD-induced ER stress and apoptosis is correlated with the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, suggesting that FAD functions at least in part by interfering with proteasome function, leading to the accumulation of unfolded protein and induction of ER stress. Consistent with this, inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide significantly decreases the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and blocks FAD-induced ER stress and cell death. Taken together, our study shows that FAD is a potential new anticancer agent that exerts its activity through inducing ER stress and apoptosis.

A sample-independent method is presented to calibrate an X-ray energy scale of a high-energy-resolution monochromator with sub-meV relative accuracy by using the detailed-balance principle.

A new method is presented to calibrate an X-ray energy scale with sub-meV relative accuracy by using the detailed-balance principle of the phonon creation and annihilation. This method is conveniently used to define or verify the energy scale of high-energy-resolution monochromators that are used in inelastic X-ray scattering and nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering instruments at synchrotron radiation facilities. This method does not rely on sample properties and its precision only depends on the statistical data quality. Well calibrated instruments are essential for reliable comparison of data sets obtained at different synchrotron radiation beamlines, of data with theoretical predictions, and of data from other techniques such as neutron or light scattering. The principle of the detailed-balance method is described in this paper and demonstrated experimentally.

SUMMARY

T-SPOT®.TB and tuberculosis skin test (TST) were used to screen latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among 899 Chinese college students. The positive rates of T-SPOT®.TB and TST were 13.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], [10.4 – 15.9%]) and 24.9% (95% CI, [21.5 – 28.6%]) respectively among students with a BCG scar (agreement of both tests, 72.3%; 95% CI, [68.6 – 75.8%]; kappa = 0.118), and 17.3% (95% CI, [11.7 – 24.2%]) and 23.7% (95% CI, [17.3 – 31.2%]) respectively among students without a BCG scar (agreement, 73.1%; 95% CI (65.4 – 79.9%); kappa = 0.179). These results demonstrate low agreement between TST and T-SPOT®.TB in the studied Chinese population.

Summary

Background

Endothelial dysfunction assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a marker for early atherosclerotic vascular disease and future cardiovascular events.

Objective

To estimate the heritability of brachial artery FMD using a twin design.

Methods

We estimated the heritability of FMD using 94 middle-aged male twin pairs. FMD was measured by ultrasound, and traditional coronary heart disease risk factors were measured. Genetic modeling techniques were used to determine the relative contributions of genes and environment to the variation in FMD.

Results

The mean age of the twin participants was 54.9 ± 2.8 years. The mean FMD was 0.047 ± 0.030. The intraclass correlation coefficient was higher in MZ twins [0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32–0.43] than in DZ twins (0.19, 95% CI 0.11–0.26), suggesting a role of genetic influence in FMD variation. Structural equation modeling showed that both genetic and unique environmental factors contributed significantly to the variation in FMD. The crude FMD heritability was 0.37 (95% CI 0.15–0.54). After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including age, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index, the heritability of FMD was 39% (95% CI 0.18–0.56). The remaining variation in FMD could be explained by individual-specific environment.

Conclusion

This is the first study using twins to estimate the relative contributions of genetics and environment to the variation in FMD in a US population. Our results demonstrate a moderate genetic effect on brachial artery FMD, independent of traditional coronary risk factors. Our data also highlight the importance of unique environment on the variability in FMD.

Background: Maternal obesity is linked with offspring obesity and type 2 diabetes. Skeletal muscle (SM) insulin resistance is central to the development of diabetes. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is inhibited in SM of fetuses born to obese mothers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal metformin administration on AMPK activity and reversion of adverse changes in offspring SM of obese mice.

Design: Female weanling C57BL/6J mice received either control diet (CON, 6 mice) or high-fat diet (HFD; OB, 12 mice) for 8 weeks before mating. After mating, mice continued receiving their respective CON or OB diets. In addition, 6 of those 12 mice fed with fat diet also received metformin administration (2 mg per ml in drinking water) throughout gestation and lactation (MET). After weaning at postnatal 21 days, offspring were fed a HFD to mimic a postnatal obesogenic environment until necropsy.

Results: Mothers receiving the fat diet developed obesity. OB offspring showed higher adiposity than CON and MET offspring. AMPK phosphorylation was lower in SM of OB offspring. β-Catenin and myogenic regulatory factors, MyoD and myogenin, were downregulated in OB muscle, whereas the adipogenic marker, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, was upregulated compared with CON muscle. Metformin administration prevented these changes in OB offspring SM. OB but not MET offspring demonstrated glucose intolerance. Mitochondrial content decreased, and activities of citrate synthase and β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase also decreased in OB offspring SM, whereas they were recovered in MET offspring SM.

Conclusion: Maternal metformin administration improves SM development in OB offspring.

B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) and PR domain containing 1 (PRDM1) are considered as master regulators for germinal center (GC) formation and terminal B-cell differentiation. Dysregulation of BCL6 and PRDM1 has been associated with lymphomagenesis. Here, we show for the first time that direct cell–cell contact between follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and B-lymphocytes, by influencing the expression of a set of microRNAs (miRNAs), regulates the expression of BCL6 and PRDM1. We identify that, on cell adhesion to FDC, FDC induces upregulation of PRDM1 expression through downregulation of miR-9 and let-7 families and induces downregulation of BCL-6 through upregulation of miR-30 family in B-lymphocytes and lymphoma cells. We further demonstrate that the miR-30 family directly controls BCL-6 expression and miR-9-1 and let-7a directly control PRDM-1 expression through targeting their 3′UTR, mediating the FDC effect. Our studies define a novel regulatory mechanism in which the FDC, through induction of miRNAs in B-lymphocytes, orchestrates the regulation of transcription factors, promotes germinal center B-cell survival and differentiation. Dysregulation of miRNAs may interfere with B-cell survival and maturation, thus representing a novel molecular mechanism, as well as a potential therapeutic target in B-cell lymphomas.

Aims/hypothesis

Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Recent genome-wide association (GWA) studies have identified multiple loci robustly associated with BMI and risk of obesity. However, information on their associations with type 2 diabetes is limited. Such information could help increase our understanding of the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. We examined the associations of 12 obesity susceptibility loci, individually and in combination, with risk of type 2 diabetes in the population-based European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk cohort.

Methods

We genotyped 12 SNPs, identified by GWA studies of BMI, in 20,428 individuals (aged 39–79 years at baseline) with an average follow-up of 12.9 years, during which 729 individuals developed type 2 diabetes. A genetic predisposition score was calculated by adding the BMI-increasing alleles across the 12 SNPs. Associations with incidence of type 2 diabetes were examined by logistic regression models.

Results

Of the 12 SNPs, eight showed a trend with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, consistent with their BMI-increasing effects. Each additional BMI-increasing allele in the genetic predisposition score was associated with a 4% increased odds of developing type 2 diabetes (OR 1.041, 95% CI 1.005–1.078; p = 0.02). Adjustment for BMI completely abolished the association with incident type 2 diabetes (OR 1.003, 95% CI 0.967–1.039; p = 0.89).

Conclusions/interpretation

The genetic predisposition to obesity leads to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is completely mediated by its obesity-predisposing effect.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-011-2044-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In this article we present the myocardial deformation imaging (MDI) studies of three daughters of a man with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who died suddenly. The daughters had been referred for genetic counselling several months earlier. We demonstrate that, despite the absence of conventional two-dimensional echo characteristics of HCM, MDI accurately and easily demonstrated the presence of the disease in the two daughters with the genetic disorder. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:552–4.)

CF-13

The Cornell University Life Sciences Core Laboratories Center (CLC) provides an array of genomics, proteomics, imaging and informatics shared research resources and services to the university community and to outside investigators. The CLC includes fee-for-service research, technology testing and development, and educational components. The Center has nine core facilities, including DNA sequencing and genotyping, microarrays, epigenomics, proteomics and mass spectrometry, high throughput screening, microscopy and imaging, mouse transgenics, bioinformatics, and bio-IT. The CLC is part of a New York State designated Center for Advanced Technology in Life Science Enterprise. The mission of the CLC is to promote research in the life sciences with advanced technologies in a shared resource environment. Use of the CLC resources and services is steadily increasing due to the growth in the number and types of cores in the center, to the expansion of exiting services and the implementation of new core technologies, and to the coordinated integration and synergy of services between the CLC cores. Multidisciplinary support for multi-functional instrument platforms is implemented by coordinated operations of the CLC core facilities. CLC core users are offered coordinated project consultations with the directors and staff of all relevant cores during the design, data production and analysis phases of their projects. The CLC is also involved in establishing and supporting multidisciplinary research projects that involve both intercampus initiatives and multi-institutional collaborations. With a concentration of advanced instrumentation and expertise in their applications, the CLC is a key resource for life sciences basic research and medical research for investigators at Cornell University and at other academic institutions and commercial enterprises.

CF-38

The Microarray Facility of the Cornell University Life Sciences Core Laboratories Center (CLC) offers a broad range of microarray services and shared research resources to the university research community and to outside investigators. The goal of the facility is to provide life science investigators with services that use advanced microarray instrumentation and extensive expertise in microarray based applications. The facility helps researchers with all aspects of microarray experiments, including project design, sample processing, and data analysis. Services include support for gene expression, microRNA, SNP genotyping and epigenomics projects using microarrays, including the Affymetrix, Illumina, NimbleGen, and Agilent microarray platforms, and support for RNA-Seq profiling projects (digital gene expression and microRNA) and protein-nucleic acid association studies (ChIP-Seq) using the Roche 454 GS FLX and the Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx sequencing insturments.

Summary

This study was conducted to test whether there exists an association between vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) gene and compression strength index (CSI) phenotype. Candidate gene association analyses were conducted in total sample, male subgroup, and female subgroup, respectively. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with significant association results were found in males, suggesting the importance of DBP gene polymorphisms on the variation in CSI especially in Caucasian males.

Introduction

CSI of the femoral neck (FN) is a newly developed phenotype integrating information about bone size, body size, and bone mineral density. It is considered to have the potential to improve the performance of risk assessment for hip fractures because it is based on a combination of phenotypic traits influencing hip fractures rather than a single trait. CSI is under moderate genetic determination (with a heritability of ~44% found in this study), but the relevant genetic study is still rather scarce.

Methods

Based on the known physiological role of DBP in bone biology and the relatively high heritability of CSI, we tested 12 SNPs of the DBP gene for association with CSI variation in 405 Caucasian nuclear families comprising 1,873 subjects from the Midwestern US. Association analyses were performed in the total sample, male and female subgroups, respectively.

Results

Significant associations with CSI were found with two SNPs (rs222029, P=0.0019; rs222020, P=0.0042) for the male subgroup. Haplotype-based association tests corroborated the single-SNP results.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the DBP gene might be one of the genetic factors influencing CSI phenotype in Caucasians, especially in males.

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a potent inducer of tumor cell apoptosis, but concerns of considerable liver toxicity limit its uses in human cancer therapy. Here, we show that i.v. injected Escherichia coli DH5α (E. coli DH5α) specifically replicates in solid tumors and metastases in live animals. E. coli DH5α does not enter tumor cells and suits for being the vector for soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL), which induces apoptosis by activating cell-surface death receptors. With the high ‘tumor-targeting' nature, we demonstrate that intratumoral (i.t.) and intravenous injection of sTRAIL-expressing E. coli DH5α results in the tumor-targeted release of biologically active molecules, which leads to a dramatic reduction in the tumor growth rate and the prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice. TRAIL delivery by E. coli DH5α did not cause any detectable toxicity to any organs, suggesting that E. coli DH5α-delivered sTRAIL protein therapy may provide a feasible and effective form of treatment for solid tumors.

Objective

To compare the effects of an aspirin–clopidogrel combination with those of the specific glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor tirofiban on myocardial no‐reflow, nitric oxide concentration and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in a mini‐swine model of acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion.

Methods

Area of no‐reflow was determined by both myocardial contrast echocardiography and pathological means in 40 mini‐swine randomly assigned to five study groups: eight controls, eight pretreated with aspirin–clopidogrel combination for three days, eight given an intravenous infusion of tirofiban, eight treated with ischaemic preconditioning and eight sham operated. The acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion model was created with 3 h occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 1 h reperfusion.

Results

Compared with the control group, tirofiban significantly decreased the area of no‐reflow assessed echocardiographically and pathologically, from 78.5% to 22.8% and 82.3% to 23.2%, respectively (both p < 0.01), and increased blood nitric oxide concentration (p < 0.05), enhanced constitutive NOS activity from 0.51 to 0.81 U/mg protein and mRNA expression from 0.47% to 0.66%, but decreased inducible NOS activity from 0.76 to 0.41 U/mg protein and mRNA expression from 0.54% to 0.39% in reflow myocardium (all p < 0.05–0.01). In contrast, the aspirin–clopidogrel combination did not significantly modify the above parameters (all p > 0.05) except for decreasing inducible NOS activity from 0.76 to 0.39 U/mg protein (p < 0.01) and mRNA expression from 0.54% to 0.40% (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Tirofiban is very effective in attenuating myocardial no‐reflow; in contrast, aspirin–clopidogrel combination is totally ineffective. These findings also support the concept that endothelial protection, apart from platelet inhibition, contributes to the beneficial effect of tirofiban on myocardial no‐reflow.

Alterations in the serotonin and norepinephrine neuronal functions have been observed in patients with major depression. Several antidepressants bind to both serotonin transporters (SERT) and norepinephrine transporters (NET). The ability to image NET in the human brain would be a useful step toward understanding how alterations in NET relate to disease. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of a new series of derivatives of iodo-nisoxetine (INXT), a known radioiodinated probe. The most promising, (R)-N-methyl-3-(3-iodopyridin-2-yloxy)-3-phenylpropylamine (PYINXT) 9, displayed a high and saturable binding to NET with a Kd value of 0.53 ± 0.03 nM. Biodistribution studies of [125I]PYINXT in rats showed moderate initial brain uptake (0.54 %dose/organ at 2 min) with a relatively fast washout from the brain (0.16 %dose/organ at 2 hr) as compared to [125I]INXT, 7. The hypothalamus (a NET rich region) to striatum (a region devoid of NET) ratio was found to be 2.14 at 4 hr post i.v. injection. The preliminary results suggest that this improved iodinated ligand, when labeled with 123I, may be useful for mapping NET binding sites with SPECT in the living human brain.

Background and aims:

The major risk factors for acute hepatitis B (AHB) in China and the viral factors determining the progression from acute to chronic hepatitis B remain largely unknown.

Methods:

Epidemiological studies within a population-based surveillance for AHB in adults were performed in Shanghai, China, including 294 patients, 588 matched controls and 572 family members of the patients.

Results:

Invasive medical procedures, household contact with hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, body care and beauty treatments, and lack of HBV vaccination were independently associated with AHB. Among those risks, pedicure in bath centres emerged. Sixty-eight of 128 patients with AHB were genotyped including 33 with HBV B2 and 35 with HBV C2. Twenty-five (8.50%) of the 294 patients, including 20 with HBV C2 and 5 with HBV B2 (p = 0.013), progressed to chronic infection. Multivariate analysis showed that HBV C2 was independently associated with chronicification of AHB. Patients with HBV B2 were younger and there was a higher proportion of women than those with HBV C2. The prevalence of HBV B2 was higher in the patients than in neighbourhood chronic carriers. The chronic carriers with HBV B2 showed higher viral loads, higher hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seropositivity, and with higher proportion in men than those with HBV C2, implying that sexual contact plays a role in the transmission of HBV B2. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HBV C2 was frequently involved in transmissions within households.

Conclusions:

Despite lower viral load and HBeAg status in the chronic carriers, HBV C2 was more prone to causing chronic infection than was HBV B2.

Purpose

Dstncorn1 mice lack normal destrin expression and develop corneal abnormality shortly after birth such as epithelial hyperplasia and total vascularization. Thus, the mice serve as a model for ocular surface disorders. To determine the nature of epithelial defects, we examined whether epithelial homeostasis is altered in these corneas.

Methods

Dstncorn1 mice were crossed with ubiquitous GFP mice to generate a double homozygous line, GFP-Dstncorn1, and cell movements were determined by whole-mount histology and in vivo time-lapse microscopy, tracking the change of epithelial GFP patterns. Rates of cell division and the presence of label-retaining cells (LRCs) were determined by systemic bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Epithelial expression of keratins 8, 12, and 15, and MUC5AC were determined by whole-mount immunofluorescence.

Results

Epithelial cells in an adult GFP-Dstncorn1 cornea were generally immobile with no sign of directed movement for the entire life of the animal. These cells were not senescent because more than 70% of basal epithelial cells incorporated BrdU over a 24 h period. LRCs were widely distributed throughout a GFP-Dstncorn1 cornea. The epithelium of a GFP-Dstncorn1 cornea contained a mixed population of cells with a corneal and a conjunctival phenotype as judged by the expression of keratins and MUC5AC.

Conclusions

Epithelial cells of an adult GFP-Dstncorn1 cornea are generally stationary, mitotically active, and contain LRCs, indicating that the epithelium is self-sustained, which in turn suggests that epithelial stem cells are present within the cornea. Epithelial homeostasis of adult GFP-Dstncorn1 corneas is abnormal, mimicking that of a normal conjunctiva or a pathological, conjunctivalized cornea.

The present study focuses on potential agents of chromoblastomycosis and other endemic diseases in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil. Using a highly selective protocol for chaetothyrialean black yeasts and relatives, environmental samples from the living area of symptomatic patients were analysed. Additional strains were isolated from creosote-treated wood and hydrocarbon-polluted environments, as such polluted sites have been supposed to enhance black yeast prevalence. Isolates showed morphologies compatible with the traditional etiological agents of chromoblastomycosis, e.g. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa, and of agents of subcutaneous or systemic infections like Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala jeanselmei. Some agents of mild disease were indeed encountered. However, molecular analysis proved that most environmental strains differed from known etiologic agents of pronounced disease syndromes: they belonged to the same order, but mostly were undescribed species. Agents of chromoblastomycosis and systemic disease thus far are prevalent on the human host. The hydrocarbon-polluted environments yielded yet another spectrum of chaetothyrialean fungi. These observations are of great relevance because they allow us to distinguish between categories of opportunists, indicating possible differences in pathogenicity and virulence.

Living systems are dynamic, each developing, surviving, and proliferating in a different way. A very important element in understanding system dynamics is to quantify change. Quantitative measurement of proteins is therefore increasingly requested by life science researchers as a means of characterizing complex biological systems, including human cells, tissues, and body fluids. Mass spectrometry has became a major tool for proteomics applications, and allowed the quantitative measurement of protein expression in many biological systems when combined with stable isotope coding. This presentation shows an approach to quantification and identification in proteomics applications, for the first time using a hybrid ion trap and TOF mass spectrometer combined with stable isotope coding. The mass spectrometer is equipped with LC MALDI to meet separation needs, in-source decay (ISD), and collision-induced dissociation (CID) to generate MSn spectra. The quantification is achieved in two ways. Peptide mass shift resulting from the stable isotope coding can be measured directly in MS mode, and relative abundance of coded and non-coded peptides is read out from the MS spectra. The samples coded with the tandem mass tags (TMTs)1 strategy are analyzed with ISD or MSn mode, and then the relative abundance of the reporter ions from TMTs are measured for the quantification. Metabolic incorporation of stable isotope (15N) labeled nutrients in growth media into cultured cells is used for global coding of proteomes. Labeled and non-labeled proteins were separated and purified from cell lysates, tryptically digested, and then mixed in different ratios for MS-mode measurement. Standard proteins labeled with TMTs were used for ISD and MSn-mode measurement. The results demonstrate that high signal-to-noise ratio is achieved and both the identity and relative abundances are obtained simultaneously with MSn-based detection; PTM information could be obtained as well.