TY  - JOUR
A1  - Taha, Muhamed-Kheir
A1  - Claus, Heike
A1  - Lappann, Martin
A1  - Veyrier, Frédéric J.
A1  - Otto, Andreas
A1  - Becher, Dörte
A1  - Deghmane, Ala-Eddine
A1  - Frosch, Matthias
A1  - Hellenbrand, Wiebke
A1  - Hong, Eva
A1  - du Châtelet, Isabelle Parent
A1  - Prior, Karola
A1  - Harmsen, Dag
A1  - Vogel, Ulrich
T1  - Evolutionary Events Associated with an Outbreak of Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex with Men
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Meningococci spread via respiratory droplets, whereas the closely related gonococci are transmitted sexually. Several outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease have been reported in Europe and the United States among men who have sex with men (MSM). We recently identified an outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease among MSM in Germany and France. In this study, genomic and proteomic techniques were used to analyze the outbreak isolates. In addition, genetically identical urethritis isolates were recovered from France and Germany and included in the analysis. Genome sequencing revealed that the isolates from the outbreak among MSM and from urethritis cases belonged to a clade within clonal complex 11. Proteome analysis showed they expressed nitrite reductase, enabling anaerobic growth as previously described for gonococci. Invasive isolates from MSM, but not urethritis isolates, further expressed functional human factor H binding protein associated with enhanced survival in a newly developed transgenic mouse model expressing human factor H, a complement regulatory protein. In conclusion, our data suggest that urethritis and outbreak isolates followed a joint adaptation route including adaption to the urogenital tract.
KW  - nitrites
KW  - genome sequencing
KW  - men who have sex with men
KW  - meningococcal disease
KW  - Neisseria meningitidis
KW  - Neisseria gonorrhoeae
KW  - mammalian genomics
KW  - mouse models
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179870
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mayer, Matthias
A1  - Rabindranath, Raman
A1  - Börner, Juliane
A1  - Hörner, Eva
A1  - Bentz, Alexander
A1  - Salgado, Josefina
A1  - Han, Hong
A1  - Böse, Holger
A1  - Probst, Jörn
A1  - Shamonin, Mikhail
A1  - Monkman, Gereth J.
A1  - Schlunck, Günther
T1  - Ultra-Soft PDMS-Based Magnetoactive Elastomers as Dynamic Cell Culture Substrata
JF  - PLOS ONE
N2  - Mechanical cues such as extracellular matrix stiffness and movement have a major impact on cell differentiation and function. To replicate these biological features in vitro, soft substrata with tunable elasticity and the possibility for controlled surface translocation are desirable. Here we report on the use of ultra-soft (Young's modulus <100 kPa) PDMS-based magnetoactive elastomers (MAE) as suitable cell culture substrata. Soft non-viscous PDMS (<18 kPa) is produced using a modified extended crosslinker. MAEs are generated by embedding magnetic microparticles into a soft PDMS matrix. Both substrata yield an elasticity-dependent (14 vs. 100 kPa) modulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in primary human fibroblasts. To allow for static or dynamic control of MAE material properties, we devise low magnetic field (approximate to 40 mT) stimulation systems compatible with cell-culture environments. Magnetic field-instigated stiffening (14 to 200 kPa) of soft MAE enhances the spreading of primary human fibroblasts and decreases PAX-7 transcription in human mesenchymal stem cells. Pulsatile MAE movements are generated using oscillating magnetic fields and are well tolerated by adherent human fibroblasts. This MAE system provides spatial and temporal control of substratum material characteristics and permits novel designs when used as dynamic cell culture substrata or cell culture-coated actuator in tissue engineering applications or biomedical devices.
KW  - elastic magnetic-materials
KW  - smooth muscle actin
KW  - magnetorheological elastomers
KW  - adhesion
KW  - mechanotransduction
KW  - stiffness
KW  - tension
KW  - mechanics
KW  - hydrogels
KW  - behavior
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128246
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 8
IS  - 10
ER  -