Mutants of Escherichia coli K12 defective in the nirB gene lack NADH-dependent nitrite reductase activity and reduce nitrite slowly during anaerobic growth. With one exception these mutants require cysteine for growth. Cytochrome C552 synthesis and the assimilation of ammonia are unaffected by the nirB mutation. The defective gene is located between the crp and aroB genes at minute 73 on the E...

We examined the diurnal expression of five genes encoding nitrogen-assimilating enzymes in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hust.) Hasle et Heimdal following a transition from NH4 (+) - to NO3 (-) -supplemented media. The accumulation of nia transcripts (encoding nitrate reductase, NR) following the transition to NO3 (-) -supplemented media was similar to previously reported changes ...

Population III stars are now believed to contribute to the observed Near Infrared Background (NIRB) and heavy element pollution of the intergalactic medium. Here we show that a Pop III contribution to the primordial He abundance consistent with NIRB constraints, might mask a lower value for the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) He abundance.

Escherichia coli possesses two distinct nitrite reductase enzymes encoded by the nrfA and nirB operons. The expression of each operon is induced during anaerobic cell growth conditions and is further modulated by the presence of either nitrite or nitrate in the cells' environment. To examine how each operon is expressed at low, intermediate, and high levels of either nitrate or nitrite, anaerob...

The Near Infrared Background (NIRB) is one of a few methods that can be used to observe the redshifted light from early stars at a redshift of six and above, and thus it is imperative to understand the significance of any detection or nondetection of the NIRB. Fluctuations of the NIRB can provide information on the first structures, such as halos and their surrounding ionized regions in the Int...

BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis japonica is a zoonotic parasitic disease and oral vaccine delivery system would be benefit for prevention of this disease. Although attenuated salmonella has been used as an antigen expression vector for oral vaccine development, the membrane-bound vacuoles in which bacteria reside hinders the presentation of expressed heterologous antigens to the major histocompatibi...

Attenuated Salmonella strains are currently being evaluated as live vectors for the delivery of heterologous antigens to the mammalian mucosal and systemic immune systems. An approach to improving the stability of heterologous antigen expression during vaccination is to drive expression of the foreign protein from promoters, e.g. nirB, that become activated when Salmonella enter the host. Salmo...

There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that attenuated strains of Salmonella can be used as live multivalent vaccine delivery systems for guest antigens from other pathogens. However, the constitutive expression of guest antigens, particularly from eukaryotic pathogens, can result in segregation and loss of the recombinant expression plasmid. To maintain expression of these guest an...

BACKGROUND Anaerobic-inducible promoters are alternatives of chemical-inducible promoters for expression of recombinant proteins especially in conditions where chemical induction is not possible or anaerobic conditions are preferable. The nirB promoter is the promoter of the first gene of nir operon in Escherichia coli, which encodes NADH-dependent nitrite reductase. This promoter is naturally ...

Nitrogen fertilizer results in the release of nitrous oxide (N2O), a concern because N2O is an ozone-depleting substance and greenhouse gas. Although reduction to nitrogen gas can control emissions, factors impacting enzymes involved have not been fully explored. The current study investigated abundance diversity genes cycling (primarily denitrification) under four agricultural management pract...