Follicular and luteal morphology and steroidogenic function were investigated by immunohistochemistry for cytochrome P450 17 alpha-hydroxylase (P450c17) and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) during the estrous cycle in pigs, sheep, and cows. The theca interna of all species expressed P450c17 during follicular development. In the pig, this constituted a continuous layer of cells around the follicle, but a sheath of cells lining the basement membrane appeared not to express P450c17. Neither was expression of P450c17 in ovine and bovine follicles uniform throughout the theca interna. In these two species, a beaded appearance was given by P450c17, since it was expressed in some regions but not in others. Therefore, staining for P450c17 defined functional sub-populations of cells within the theca interna of pigs, sheep, and cows. Ovulation was associated with a decrease in P450c17 in all species, but some expression persisted in theca-derived cells of developing and mature porcine CL. Expression of 3 beta-HSD in the preovulatory follicle was confined to the theca of the pig and sheep; in contrast, in the cow, it was highest in the granulosa. In general, 3 beta-HSD expression appeared to be greater in porcine than ovine or bovine follicles, the physiological relevance of which is discussed. Porcine and ovine theca continued to express 3 beta-HSD after ovulation, and granulosa-derived cells increased their 3 beta-HSD expression markedly as they luteinized in all three species. During early luteal development in pigs and sheep, theca-derived cells with high 3 beta-HSD encircled luteal lobules, but these cells appeared throughout the parenchyma of the mature CL. Luteal regression in sheep and cows was typified by the loss of many cells expressing 3 beta-HSD, whereas others, adjacent to them, appeared to be intact without loss of enzyme expression. These data further define differences in steroidogenesis during follicular and luteal development among the pig, sheep, and cow.

Current treatment regimens for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and tuberculosis (TB) generally require long duration of therapy with multiple drugs, some of which are broad spectrum antibiotics. Despite some advances in antimicrobial compounds, there remains a need in therapy for antibiotics with specific mycobacterial targets. It has been shown that MmpL3 is an essential transporter required for the translocation of mycolic acids to the mycobacterial cell envelope. Here, we synthesized a series of indole-2-carboxamides that inhibit MmpL3 and have potent pan-activity against mycobacterial species. The compounds were tested against several fast and slow-growing Mycobacterium species, including M. abscessus, M. massiliense, M. bolletii, M. chelonae, M. tuberculosis, M. avium, M. xenopi and M. smegmatis. The target of these indole compounds makes them selective for mycobacteria, while showing no clinically relevant bactericidal activity against S. aureus or P. aeruginosa. These compounds were tested against THP-1, a human-cell line, and showed minimal in vitro cytotoxicity and good selectivity indices. The data shown and discussed suggest that lead indole-2-carboxamides are strong contenders for further preclinical testing as NTM therapeutics.

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Cenozoic (predominantly Paleogene) "flysch-type" agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages and their modern analogs in the North Atlantic and adjacent areas have been studied to provide an overview of their spatial and temporal distribution and utility for paleoenvironmental analysis. Over 200 species of agglutinated foraminifera have been recognized in Paleogene sediments from North Atlantic and Tethyan basins. This unified taxonomic data base enables the first general synthesis of biostratigraphic, paleobiogeographic and paleobathymetric patterns in flysch-type agglutinated assemblages from upper Cretaceous to Neogene sediments in the North Atlantic. The majority of taxa are cosmopolitan, but latitudinal, temporal and depth-related trends in diversity and species composition are observed among flysch-type assemblages.Modern deep-sea agglutinated foraminiferal faunas provide an analog to fossil flysch-type assemblages and serve as models for paleoecologic studies. Core-top samples from the Panama Basin, Gulf of Mexico and Nova Scotian continental rise were examined in order to determine the habitats of modern species of agglutinated foraminifera. The ecology of modern taxa provides constraints on the paleoenvironmental significance of fossil agglutinated assemblages in the North Atlantic, and their utility for paleoceanography.Towards this end, spade core samples from a 3912 m deep station in the Panama Basin were studied to determine abundance and microhabitat partitioning among living agglutinated foraminiferal populations and the preservation of dead assemblages. The genera Dendrophrya, Cribrostomoides and Ammodiscus have epifaunal habitats and the genus Reophax is predominantly infaunal. Species of Reophax are probably responsible for fine reticulate burrows observed in xradiographs. An experiment using recolonization trays in the Panama Basin was designed to identify opportunistic species of benthic foraminifera, and to assess the rate at which a population can colonize an abiotic substrate. The most successful colonizer at this site is Reophax, while Dendrophrya displays the lowest capability for dispersal. After nine months the abundance of living individuals in sediment trays was one-tenth to one-third that of background abundance, but the faunal diversity did not differ greatly from control samples. Recolonization by benthic foraminifera is more rapid than among macrofaunal invertebrates.Modern agglutinated assemblages from the Louisiana continental slope were examined to determine changes in species composition associated with hydrocarbon seeps. Organic-rich substrates are characterized by a decrease in astror--iihizids and an increase in trochamminids and textulariids. Highly organicenriched substrates with chemosynthetic macrofauna are dominated by Trochammina glabra and Glomospira charoides.The biostratigraphy of fossil agglutinated foraminifera in the North Atlantic is based on detailed analysis of 670 samples from 14 wells and one outcrop section, and examination of additional picked faunal...

Amine oxide showed high potential for controlling early biofilms caused by periodontal bacteria. Further investigations should be carried out, particularly on the potential toxicity of amine oxide and its efficacy in complex formulations for oral care products.