Petroleum refineries around the world have generated the solid wastes during the refining process and stocking of crude oil. Oily sludge leads to critical effects in the environment. The ecology of hydrocarbon degradation by microbial populations in the natural environment is reviewed, emphasizing the physical, chemical, and biological factors that contribute to the biodegradation of petroleum ...

The phage SP6 RNA and T7 RNA polymerases, which are closely related to each other, intrinsically stop at two signals in the Escherichia coli rrnB terminator t1 through different mechanisms. The downstream signal functioned without an RNA secondary structure formation, in which the signal was still active when separated from the upstream, hairpin-forming signal, and IMP incorporation enhanced it...

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a major pathogen that causes avian colibacillosis and is associated with severe economic losses in the chicken-farming industry. Here, bacteriophage KBNP1315, infecting APEC strain KBP1315, was genomically and functionally characterized. The evolutionary relationships of KBNP1315 were analyzed at the genomic level using gene (protein)-sharing networks...

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogens, causing various diseases in humans and animals. As methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has become increasingly prevalent, controlling this pathogen with standard antibiotic treatment has become challenging. Bacteriophages (phages) have attracted interest as alternative antibacterial agents to control MRSA. In this study, we isolat...

BACKGROUND This study sought to determine if acupuncture in LI4 and SP6, or in sacral points could harm the pregnancy outcome in Wistar rats as is believed according to traditional knowledge. METHODS 48 pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: total control where the rats were left in cages without manipulation; anesthetized control where the rats were manipulated and anesthe...

Optic cups are a structural feature of diverse eyes, from simple pit eyes to camera eyes of vertebrates and cephalopods. We used the planarian prototypic eye as a model to study the genetic control of optic cup formation and regeneration. We identified two genes encoding transcription factors, sp6-9 and dlx, that were expressed in the eye specifically in the optic cup and not the photoreceptor ...

Abasic sites are thought to be the most frequently occurring cellular DNA damage and are generated spontaneously or as the result of chemical or radiation damage to DNA. In contrast to the wealth of information that exists on the effects of abasic sites on DNA polymerases, very little is known about how these lesions interact with RNA polymerases. An in vitro transcription system was used to de...

AIM This study is the second report from a single experiment planned to determine if acupuncture at LI4 and SP6, or at the sacral points, could produce any harm in the pregnancy outcome of Wistar rats, as has been hypothesised in traditional knowledge. Here, we observe if these points can be harmful to the health of pregnant Wistar rats. METHODS A total of 48 pregnant Wistar rats were randoml...

Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative stress plays a critical role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Our previous work has shown that 100 Hz electro-acupuncture (EA) stimulation at ZUSANLI (ST36) and SANYINJIAO (SP6) protects neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta from 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity in male C57BL/6 mice, a model of PD. In the present stu...