Bacteria can rapidly evolve resistance to antibiotics via the SOS response, a state of high-activity DNA repair and mutagenesis. We explore here the first steps of this evolution in the bacterium Escherichia coli. Induction of the SOS response by the genotoxic antibiotic ciprofloxacin changes the E. coli rod shape into multichromosome-containing filaments. We show that at subminimal inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin the bacterial filament divides asymmetrically repeatedly at the tip. Chromosome-containing buds are made that, if resistant, propagate nonfilamenting progeny with enhanced resistance to ciprofloxacin as the parent filament dies. We propose that the multinucleated filament creates an environmental niche where evolution can proceed via generation of improved mutant chromosomes due to the mutagenic SOS response and possible recombination of the new alleles between chromosomes. Our data provide a better understanding of the processes underlying the origin of resistance at the single-cell level and suggest an analogous role to the eukaryotic aneuploidy condition in cancer.antibiotic resistance | SOS response | filamentation | mutation | evolution

We obtained very bright light emission from CdSe quantum dots (QDs) by using the surface-plasmon (SP) coupling technique. 23-fold enhanced photoluminescence (PL) intensities and two-fold increased PL decay rates are observed when the QDs are located on evaporated gold films. This enhancement is not effective for CdSe cores with ZnS shells ͑ZnS / CdSe͒. The reason for this difference can be explained by using the SP dispersion diagram and by considering the SP coupling mechanism. We discuss the inherent merits and demerits of this technique to increase the emission efficiency. This technique will enable high-speed and efficient light emission for optically as well as electrically pumped light emitters.

Microfluidic systems are an attractive solution for the miniaturization of biological and chemical assays. The typical sample volume can be reduced up to 1 million-fold, and a superb level of spatiotemporal control is possible, facilitating highly parallelized assays with drastically increased throughput and reduced cost. In this review, we focus on systems in which multiple reactions are spatially separated by immobilization of reagents on two-dimensional arrays, or by compartmentalization in microfabricated reaction chambers or droplets. These systems have manifold applications, and some, such as next-generation sequencing are already starting to transform biology. This is likely the first step in a biotechnological transformation comparable to that already brought about by the microprocessor in electronics. We discuss both current applications and likely future impacts in areas such as the study of single cells/single organisms and high-throughput screening.

The telecommunications revolution has created a strong motivation to build photonic devices of ever smaller size and higher density. Using photosynthetic structures found in nature as an inspiration, we synthesized artificial structures that act like diffusive waveguides. These waveguides use FRET to transport energy, and we demonstrated the idea with 3- and 5-fluorophore structures which utilize DNA as a scaffold. A quantitative model that explains the results and provides the mechanism behind the energy transfer is also presented.