http://hdl.handle.net/10033/6873 Sat, 25 May 2013 13:59:18 GMT 2013-05-25T13:59:18Z http://hdl.handle.net/10033/278874 Title: Minimal increase in genetic diversity enhances predation resistance. Authors: Koh, Kai S; Matz, Carsten; Tan, Chuan H; LE, Hoang L; Rice, Scott A; Marshall, Dustin J; Steinberg, Peter D; Kjelleberg, Staffan Abstract: The importance of species diversity to emergent, ecological properties of communities is increasingly appreciated, but the importance of within-species genetic diversity for analogous emergent properties of populations is only just becoming apparent. Here, the properties and effects of genetic variation on predation resistance in populations were assessed and the molecular mechanism underlying these emergent effects was investigated. Using biofilms of the ubiquitous bacterium Serratia marcescens, we tested the importance of genetic diversity in defending biofilms against protozoan grazing, a main source of mortality for bacteria in all natural ecosystems. S. marcescens biofilms established from wild-type cells produce heritable, stable variants, which when experimentally combined, persist as a diverse assemblage and are significantly more resistant to grazing than either wild type or variant biofilms grown in monoculture. This diversity effect is biofilm-specific, a result of either facilitation or resource partitioning among variants, with equivalent experiments using planktonic cultures and grazers resulting in dominance by a single resistant strain. The variants studied are all the result of single nucleotide polymorphisms in one regulatory gene suggesting that the benefits of genetic diversity in clonal biofilms can occur through remarkably minimal genetic change. The findings presented here provide a new insight on the integration of genetics and population ecology, in which diversity arising through minimal changes in genotype can have major ecological implications for natural populations. Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10033/278874 2012-04-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10033/203912 Title: Generation of human antigen-specific monoclonal IgM antibodies using vaccinated "human immune system" mice. Authors: Becker, Pablo D; Legrand, Nicolas; van Geelen, Caroline M M; Noerder, Miriam; Huntington, Nicholas D; Lim, Annick; Yasuda, Etsuko; Diehl, Sean A; Scheeren, Ferenc A; Ott, Michael; Weijer, Kees; Wedemeyer, Heiner; Di Santo, James P; Beaumont, Tim; Guzman, Carlos A; Spits, Hergen Abstract: Passive transfer of antibodies not only provides immediate short-term protection against disease, but also can be exploited as a therapeutic tool. However, the 'humanization' of murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is a time-consuming and expensive process that has the inherent drawback of potentially altering antigenic specificity and/or affinity. The immortalization of human B cells represents an alternative for obtaining human mAbs, but relies on the availability of biological samples from vaccinated individuals or convalescent patients. In this work we describe a novel approach to generate fully human mAbs by combining a humanized mouse model with a new B cell immortalization technique. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10033/203912 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10033/133572 Title: In vitro field exposition of skin cells between 100 GHz and 2.52 THz Authors: KLeine-Ostmann, Thomas; Jastrow, Christian; Salhi, Mohamed Amine; Schrader, Thorsten; Hintzsche, Henning; Stopper, Helga; Kärst, Uwe; Heinen, B.; Baaske, Kai; Koch, M. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10033/133572 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10033/129760 Title: Urinary collagen fragments are significantly altered in diabetes: a link to pathophysiology. Authors: Maahs, David M; Siwy, Justyna; Argilés, Angel; Cerna, Marie; Delles, Christian; Dominiczak, Anna F; Gayrard, Nathalie; Iphöfer, Alexander; Jänsch, Lothar; Jerums, George; Medek, Karel; Mischak, Harald; Navis, Gerjan J; Roob, Johannes M; Rossing, Kasper; Rossing, Peter; Rychlík, Ivan; Schiffer, Eric; Schmieder, Roland E; Wascher, Thomas C; Winklhofer-Roob, Brigitte M; Zimmerli, Lukas U; Zürbig, Petra; Snell-Bergeon, Janet K Abstract: The pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) is variable, comprising different inflammatory and immune responses. Proteome analysis holds the promise of delivering insight into the pathophysiological changes associated with diabetes. Recently, we identified and validated urinary proteomics biomarkers for diabetes. Based on these initial findings, we aimed to further validate urinary proteomics biomarkers specific for diabetes in general, and particularity associated with either type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10033/129760 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z