111 posts · 76,258 views
Blog of Promega Corporation designed to engage scientists in conversations about scientific research and issues that affect scientists.
Promega Corporation
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Kelly Grooms
12 posts
Terri Sundquist
13 posts
Caroline Sober
8 posts
Sara Klink
23 posts
Isobel Maciver
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10 posts
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- May 16, 2012
- 11:09 AM
- 55 views
Autophagy: The Intersection of Vitamin D, HIV and Tuberculosis
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
With the warmer season in full swing in Wisconsin, the grass needs mowing and the weeds need pulling. As a consequence, I am outside in the sun, synthesizing Vitamin D (and watching my freckles multiply). The benefits of this vitamin have been discussed in the news (e.g., may help prevent cancer, maintains a healthy working [...]... Read more »
Campbell, G., & Spector, S. (2012) Vitamin D Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Macrophages through the Induction of Autophagy. PLoS Pathogens, 8(5). DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002689
- April 18, 2012
- 10:53 AM
- 94 views
Tracking the Progression of Plague Using Bioluminescence
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
Sequencing Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that caused the Black Plague in Europe during 1348–50, is an amazing accomplishment. Y. pestis infection still occurs sporatically and causes fatalities despite the Age of Antibiotics. Even with animal models, there are questions remaining about the progression of infection. Nham et al. used in vivo imaging to examine the [...]... Read more »
Nham T, Filali S, Danne C, Derbise A, & Carniel E. (2012) Imaging of Bubonic Plague Dynamics by In Vivo Tracking of Bioluminescent Yersinia pestis. PLoS ONE, 7(4). PMID: 22496846
- March 26, 2012
- 10:15 AM
- 186 views
Making Antibiotics More Effective Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
The Age of Antibiotics may prove to be our downfall as more and more microbes find a way around the compounds we use to treat bacterial infections. A potential antibiotic is no more tested, synthesized, clinically tested and approved than a bacterial strain finds a way to circumvent its action and shares this solution with [...]... Read more »
Worthington, R.,, Bunders, C.,, Reed, C., & Melander, C. (2012) Small Molecule Suppression of Carbapenem Resistance in NDM-1 Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae . ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2147483647. DOI: 10.1021/ml200290p
- March 9, 2012
- 12:29 PM
- 215 views
A Food for Happiness? Go Fish
by Kari Kenefick in Promega Connections
We’ve heard that omega-3 fatty acids, such as those from various fish sources, have important anti-inflammatory, as well as cardiac health benefits. In fact, WebMD has an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Fact Sheet with so much positive health information that you may add “Buy wild-caught salmon” to your list of things to do on the way home [...]... Read more »
Lafourcade M, Larrieu T, Mato S, Duffaud A, Sepers M, Matias I, De Smedt-Peyrusse V, Labrousse VF, Bretillon L, Matute C.... (2011) Nutritional omega-3 deficiency abolishes endocannabinoid-mediated neuronal functions. Nature neuroscience, 14(3), 345-50. PMID: 21278728
- March 7, 2012
- 09:11 AM
- 119 views
The Daughters of King Tutankhamun
by Terri Sundquist in Promega Connections
The pharaoh Tutankhamun ruled ancient Egypt during the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom (circa 1550–1295 BC), one of the most powerful royal houses in ancient Egypt. Although he sat on the throne for only 9 years and died at the young age of 19, he is one of the most well known pharaohs, due [...]... Read more »
Hawass, Z. and Saleem, S.N. (2011) Mummified daughters of King Tutankhamun: Archaeologic and CT studies. . Am. J. Roentgenol. . info:/22021529
- March 2, 2012
- 10:21 AM
- 252 views
Could the Next Chemotherapy be Derived from a Weed?
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
As much as I may complain about weeds, one that I enjoy (in moderation and not among my vegetables) is dandelions. The bright yellow flowers herald spring, and the seed puffballs, while not as visually interesting, offer entertainment as I watch birds landing on the shaft, bending it and eating the seeds. When I am [...]... Read more »
Ovadje, P., Hamm, C., & Pandey, S. (2012) Efficient Induction of Extrinsic Cell Death by Dandelion Root Extract in Human Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) Cells. PLoS ONE, 7(2). PMID: 22363452
- February 24, 2012
- 12:32 PM
- 235 views
“Baby, you have the dreamiest antibodies…”
by Caroline Sober in Promega Connections
There’s likely a percentage of the readers of this blog who, if presented with a photo montage of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Daniel Craig, Denzel Washington, Ryan Gosling and other celebrity heartthrobs, might have to take a moment (or several) just to sit back, breathe deeply and appreciate the view. And who could [...]... Read more »
Rantala, M., Moore, F., Skrinda, I., Krama, T., Kivleniece, I., Kecko, S., & Krams, I. (2012) Evidence for the stress-linked immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in humans. Nature Communications, 694. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1696
- February 21, 2012
- 08:19 AM
- 197 views
Of Lysosomes, Glucocorticoids and Inflammation
by Promega Corporation in Promega Connections
Review of peer-reviewed paper on glucocorticoid signaling published in Science Signaling... Read more »
He Y, Xu Y, Zhang C, Gao X, Dykema KJ, Martin KR, Ke J, Hudson EA, Khoo SK, Resau JH.... (2011) Identification of a lysosomal pathway that modulates glucocorticoid signaling and the inflammatory response. Science signaling, 4(180). PMID: 21730326
- February 10, 2012
- 09:17 AM
- 194 views
Another Reason to Dislike the Vuvuzela
by Terri Sundquist in Promega Connections
During the 2010 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, it seemed to me that as much of the commentary was devoted to the vuvuzela as it was to football (known as soccer here in the US). Most fans seemed to either embrace or despise this ~60cm elongated plastic horn, which is popular in [...]... Read more »
Lai KM, Bottomley C, & McNerney R. (2011) Propagation of respiratory aerosols by the vuvuzela. PloS one, 6(5). PMID: 21629778
- February 1, 2012
- 09:04 AM
- 279 views
The Benefits of Sand Bedding for Cattle (and Humans)
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
For many people, cows are a clean, docile animal viewed at state or local fairs or seen wandering around pastures on a drive through the countryside. However, managing a herd of dairy animals is no small task. Farmers desire healthy animals that consistently give milk every day. For cows in housed primarily in barns, the quality of the bedding used in the stall is important. Not only should bedding be comfortable but also clean, a task made difficult by cows that have no concern about where they are when they are eliminating waste. This creates the possibility a cow could be lying on top of manure for several hours a day and possibly infecting their udders with bacteria like Escherichia coli strain O157:H7, causing mastitis and negatively affecting milk production and cow health.... Read more »
Westphal, A., Williams, M.L., Baysal-Gurel, F., LeJeune, J.T., & McSpadden Gardener, B.B. (2011) General suppression of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in sand-based dairy livestock bedding. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 77(6), 2113-21. PMID: 21257815
- January 6, 2012
- 09:07 AM
- 392 views
Fungi, a Tool for Weed Control?
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
While I enjoy growing a variety of produce from tomatoes, basil and garlic to blueberries, one thing remains the bane of my existence: weeds. My least favorite: quackgrass. I even dug up an entire garden bed to rid myself of the weed and its long rhizomes. How well do you think that worked? I found that the quackgrass happily grew around the popcorn I planted in that same location. What is a gardener to do? Well, recent research by Veiga et al. demonstrates that fungus can lend a helping hand and suppress growth of some weed species.... Read more »
Veiga, R.S., Jansa, J., Frossard, E., & van der Heijden, M.G. (2011) Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce the growth of agricultural weeds?. PLoS ONE, 6(12). PMID: 22164216
- November 29, 2011
- 08:50 AM
- 393 views
Finding Life on Mars May Be Complicated by Microbes Hitching a Ride from Earth
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
“The Andromeda Strain”, a novel written by Michael Crichton, remains one of my favorite science fiction novels for two reasons (spoiler alert for the plot): The US government deliberately sent objects into space to scoop up extraterrestrial microorganisms and examine their potential to be used as a weapon (with the expected consequences of contaminated space probes falling near human habitats and causing trouble), and the deadly organism infecting humans is stopped in its tracks by the inescapable bounds of its pH requirements exemplified by two survivors in an afflicted town: a crying baby and a Sterno-drinking man. Reality may be a bit different from the novel but the principle is the same: We are launching probes from our planet and sending them to other planetary bodies, sometimes to stay on another planet, sometimes to return to Earth. In both cases, worries about terrestrial organisms contaminating other planets and extraterrestrial organisms contaminating Earth are valid. Because we are sending more and more probes to examine the possibility of life on other planetary bodies, Curiosity being the most recent example, the question remains: How do you adequately test for organisms that may be hitching a ride from Earth into space?... Read more »
Kwan K, Cooper M, La Duc MT, Vaishampayan P, Stam C, Benardini JN, Scalzi G, Moissl-Eichinger C, & Venkateswaran K. (2011) Evaluation of procedures for the collection, processing, and analysis of biomolecules from low-biomass surfaces. Applied and environmental microbiology, 77(9), 2943-53. PMID: 21398492
- November 9, 2011
- 08:56 AM
- 503 views
Black Raspberry Extract May Lead to Tomorrow’s Cancer Preventative
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
When deciding which varieties of fruit to cultivate, I chose to plant black raspberries on my small suburban lot. They grow wild in Wisconsin, but fighting through swarms of mosquitos, brush and thorns to pick berries was not my idea of fun. For the last two years, I have received a large crop of juicy black berries that I enjoy eating fresh or process into black raspberry jam to spread on toast. Therefore, I was interested to learn that black raspberries have demonstrated cancer preventative properties in animal models of chemically induced oral and colon cancers as well as cultured oral cancer cells. Due to similarities between oral and cervical cancers, researchers recently tested if the beneficial effects of this berry could extend to human cervical cancer cells.... Read more »
Zhang Z, Knobloch TJ, Seamon LG, Stoner GD, Cohn DE, Paskett ED, Fowler JM, & Weghorst CM. (2011) A black raspberry extract inhibits proliferation and regulates apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Gynecologic oncology, 123(2), 401-6. PMID: 21831414
- October 21, 2011
- 10:47 AM
- 569 views
Sequencing the Black Death is a Window to the Past
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
After writing my review of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA article “Targeted enrichment of ancient pathogens yielding the pPCP1 plasmid of Yersinia pestis from victims of the Black Death”, I vaguely wondered if the authors could have sequenced more than a single 10kb plasmid. If the single-copy chromosomal DNA was too scarce, maybe one of the other Yersina pestis plasmids that may exist at a higher copy number (e.g., pMT1) might be sequenced. Well, that question was answered on Wednesday, October 12, when Nature posted a Letter online titled “A draft genome of Yersinia pestis from victims of the Black Death”. It turns out the Nature Letter, published six weeks after the PNAS article, was authored by the same researchers, and they had sequenced the entire genome of the ancient strain of Y. pestis that caused the Black Death in Europe during 1347–1351. In addition to the 10kb Y. pestis plasmid pPCP1 sequenced in the PNAS article, two other plasmids and the chromosomal DNA were fished out of the soup of ancient human DNA, cloned, sequenced and assembled to reconstruct the genetic details of the Y. pestis strain that so devastated the population in Europe. ... Read more »
Bos KI, Schuenemann VJ, Golding GB, Burbano HA, Waglechner N, Coombes BK, McPhee JB, Dewitte SN, Meyer M, Schmedes S.... (2011) A draft genome of Yersinia pestis from victims of the Black Death. Nature. PMID: 21993626
- September 30, 2011
- 09:24 AM
- 411 views
Dance Macabre: Will 14th Century Remains Reveal the Pandemic Secrets of the Black Death?
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
Last year, I reviewed a PLoS Pathogens paper that found European Black Plague victims from the mid 14th century were infected with more than one clone of Yersinia pestis. While the Y. pestis-specific sequences amplified from several skeletal samples from various countries were evidence of the bacterium as the etiological agent, questions still remained about the virulence of the outbreak. What allowed that ancient strain of Y. pestis to cause such widespread death? Another group of researchers decided to further analyze the causative agent of the Black Plague by enriching for and sequencing one of the extrachromasomal plasmids present in the bacterial genome: the 9.6kb virulence-associated pPCP1 plasmid.... Read more »
Schuenemann VJ, Bos K, Dewitte S, Schmedes S, Jamieson J, Mittnik A, Forrest S, Coombes BK, Wood JW, Earn DJ.... (2011) From the Cover: Targeted enrichment of ancient pathogens yielding the pPCP1 plasmid of Yersinia pestis from victims of the Black Death. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108(38). PMID: 21876176
- September 29, 2011
- 02:36 PM
- 436 views
Avoid Multiple Freeze/Thaw Cycles: Wooly Bear Caterpillars
by Promega Corporation in Promega Connections
I decided to see what I could discover about my friend, the wooly bear.
The “wooly bear” is actually the freeze-tolerant final instar caterpillar of the common tiger moth Pyrrharctia isabella. These nondestructive caterpillars feed on corn, asters, birches, and sunflowers among other things. They leave their plants as third instar larvae then look for a cool, dark place, usually underneath leaf detritus to overwinter. They survive the freezing winter by producing “antifreeze” in the form of glycerol. Their super cooling point (lowest temperature they can reach without freezing) is –6° to –8°C. In the spring the hibernating caterpillars become active, eat for a few days and then each one will spin a silk cocoon from which an adult moth will emerge in about one month. From spring to fall there are usually three generations produced, and they are incredibly common in North America.... Read more »
Marshall, K., & Sinclair, B. (2011) The sub-lethal effects of repeated freezing in the woolly bear caterpillar Pyrrharctia isabella. Journal of Experimental Biology, 214(7), 1205-1212. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.054569
- August 1, 2011
- 09:00 AM
- 826 views
Milk (Fat) Does a Body Good
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
One Milk Marketing Board campaign uses celebrities to promote its product by photographing them with milk moustaches. Glamour aside, selling cow’s milk is the livelihood of many farmers worldwide and generates a variety of well-appreciated products. What would pizza be without cheese? Summer without ice cream? Lunches without yogurt? Mashed potatoes without butter? Flammkuchen without crème fraiche? You can see where I am going with this. I live in America’s Dairyland where people commonly drink milk with meals. I think there is nothing better than a cold glass of milk with a rich chocolate cake. However, the Milk Marketing Board has missed a significant finding: milk fats can attenuate metastasis and some of the systemic effects of cancer and chemotherapy—at least in mice.... Read more »
Sun X, Zhang J, Gupta R, Macgibbon AK, Kuhn-Sherlock B, & Krissansen GW. (2011) Dairy milk fat augments paclitaxel therapy to suppress tumour metastasis in mice, and protects against the side-effects of chemotherapy. Clinical . PMID: 21739249
- June 27, 2011
- 08:49 AM
- 819 views
How does the butterfly get its spots?
by Michele in Promega Connections
This summer, my daughter and I have gone on several “bug-hunting expeditions”. These expeditions always begin with the same elaborate routine: donning the explorer vest, collecting the magnifying glass, bug house and butterfly net, and consulting the “bug map”. The goal is to find a caterpillar that we can capture, feed and watch as it [...]... Read more »
Saenko SV, Marialva MS, & Beldade P. (2011) Involvement of the conserved Hox gene Antennapedia in the development and evolution of a novel trait. EvoDevo, 9. PMID: 21504568
- June 17, 2011
- 09:04 AM
- 543 views
The Ants Came Marching: Did Periods of Arctic Warming Help Giant Ants Migrate?
by Kelly Grooms in Promega Connections
I guess you could say that I have been programmed to notice giant creepy crawly things. Starting when my son brought home a book about “Real Life Monsters”, my family has not been able to stop talking about one of the book’s featured monsters, the Goliath Bird Eater spider. While the book’s other stars, the [...]... Read more »
Archibald SB, Johnson KR, Mathewes RW, & Greenwood DR. (2011) Intercontinental dispersal of giant thermophilic ants across the Arctic during early Eocene hyperthermals. Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society. PMID: 21543354
- June 2, 2011
- 02:35 PM
- 746 views
Minding the As and P: Can Arsenic Substitute for Phosphorus or Not?
by Sara Klink in Promega Connections
Back in December 2010, there was a press conference held by NASA to announce the discovery of a bacterium found in a high salt, high pH lake with high concentrations of arsenic that seemed to have substituted arsenic for phosphorus in the bacterium’s biomolecules. This set off a wave of response in the blogosphere regarding what Felisa Wolfe-Simon and her team did nor did not do to confirm arsenic was incorporated into DNA molecules. Controversy ranged from the ability of arsenic to form a...... Read more »
Wolfe-Simon, F., Blum, J., Kulp, T., Gordon, G., Hoeft, S., Pett-Ridge, J., Stolz, J., Webb, S., Weber, P., Davies, P.... (2011) Response to Comments on "A Bacterium That Can Grow Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus". Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.1202098
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