A broad tuneable birdcage coil for mouse 1H/19F MR applications.

In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a 1H/19F volume coil for mouse body magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy using a high magnetic field (4.7 T). By changing the geometry of the coil rungs to include both nuclei for MR experiments, this innovative coil can be tuned over an extremely wide range of frequency. The coil, 45 mm in diameter and 55 mm in length, consists of a 12-rung birdcage-like structure. Using two types of tuning, the coil can generate a sufficiently homogeneous B1+ electromagnetic field within a working volume optimized for laboratory mouse. The first tuning involves changing the resonance frequency over a large frequency range. The electrical capacitance between the wires can be adjusted to reflect changes in the length of the coil. The second tuning comprises a habitual tuning transformer for precise detection in a narrow band. In contrast to widely used multinuclear coils, the coil presented here features only one resonance peak and can be manipulated according to the Larmor frequencies given for 1H and 19F. The coil was successfully tested using full-wave simulations of magnetic and electric field distributions under in vivo MR conditions.

Cry1Ac toxicity enhancement towards lepidopteran pest Ephestia kuehniella through its protection against excessive proteolysis.

Bacillus thuringiensis has been extensively used in agroecosystems for four decades due to its high specific toxicity. Strategies based on B. thuringiensis proteins combinations for the improvement of its activity present an important focus for biopesticides development. However, the widespread use of B. thuringiensis δ-endotoxins has often been challenged by a lack of understanding of the target insect physiology as well as its midgut biochemistry. In the present investigation, we have evidenced and explained the toxicity improvement of Cry1Ac δ-endotoxins against Ephestia kuehniella larvae through in vivo combination with P20 helper protein. Tracking the fate of Cry1Ac in tested midgut larvae showed considerable differences between δ-endotoxins produced in the presence of P20 and those produced in its absence which could explain the obtained larvicidal activity enhancement. The P20 presence slightly increased Cry1Ac inclusions solubility in E. kuehniella midgut conditions. However, a protection against excessive degradation of protoxin and toxin forms of Cry1Ac was strongly decreased in the case of δ-endotoxins produced in the presence of P20 as compared to those from P20 lacking control. Thus, the P20 protective effect on Cry1Ac after larvae ingestion has been proven. This finding could be helpful to further understand the roles of P20 helper protein in toxicity enhancement of B. thuringiensis toxins.

Toxin stability improvement and toxicity increase against dipteran and lepidopteran larvae of Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein Cry2Aa.

BACKGROUND: Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins are the most widely used biopesticides for controlling economically important crop pests and disease vectors. Improving their efficacy is of great benefit. Here, an improvement in Cry2Aa δ-endotoxin toxicity was attempted via a cry gene over expression system using P20 from B. thuringiensis israelensis. RESULTS: The coexpression of Cry2Aa with P20 resulted in a seven fold increase in its production yield in B. thuringiensis. Generated crystals proved to be significantly more toxic (505.207 µg g-1 , 1.99 mg L-1 and 1.49 mg L-1 ) than the P20-lacking control (720.78 µg g-1 , 705.69 mg L-1 and 508.51 mg L-1 ) against Ephestia kuehniella, Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens larvae respectively. In vitro, processing experiments revealed a P20-mediated protection of Cry2Aa against degradation under larval gut conditions. Thus, P20 could promote the maintenance of a tightly packaged conformation of Cry2Aa toxins in the larval midgut upon correct activation and binding to its membrane receptors. CONCLUSION: Based on their resistance against excessive proteolysis, Cry2Aa δ-endotoxins, produced in the presence of P20, could be considered as a successful control agent for E. kuehniella and an effective alternative for mosquito control, implying its possible exploitation in pest management programmes. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.