Natural Transformation, Protein Expression, and Cryoconservation of the Filamentous Cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna.

Cyanobacteria are the focus of basic research and biotechnological projects in which solar energy is utilized for biomass production. Phormidium lacuna is a newly isolated filamentous cyanobacterium. This paper describes how new filamentous cyanobacteria can be isolated from marine rockpools. It also describes how DNA can be extracted from filaments and how the genomes can be sequenced. Although transformation is established for many single-celled species, it is less frequently reported for filamentous cyanobacteria. A simplified method for the natural transformation of P. lacuna is described here. P. lacuna is the only member of the order Oscillatoriales for which natural transformation is established. This paper also shows how natural transformation is used to express superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP). An endogenous cpcB promoter induced approximately 5 times stronger expression than cpc560, A2813, or psbA2 promoters from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Further, a method for the cryopreservation of P. lacuna and Synechocystis sp. CPP 6803 was established, and methods for assessing motility in a liquid medium and on agar and plastic surfaces are described.

Determination of the mesio-distal tooth width via 3D imaging techniques with and without ionizing radiation: CBCT, MSCT, and µCT versus MRI.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the feasibility and accuracy of mesio-distal width measurements with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison to conventional 3D imaging techniques [multi-slice CT (MSCT), cone-beam CT (CBCT), and µCT]. The measured values of the tooth widths were compared to each other to estimate the amount of radiation necessary to enable orthodontic diagnostics. Material and Methods: Two pig skulls were measured with MSCT, CBCT, µCT, and MRI. Three different judges were asked to determine the mesio-distal tooth width of 14 teeth in 2D tomographic images and in 3D segmented images via a virtual ruler in every imaging dataset. Results: Approximately 19% (27/140) of all test points in 2D tomographic slice images and 12% (17/140) of the test points in 3D segmented images showed a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05). The largest significant difference was 1.6mm (P < 0.001). There were fewer significant differences in the measurement of the tooth germs than in erupted teeth. Conclusions: Measurement of tooth width by MRI seems to be clinically equivalent to the conventional techniques (CBCT and MSCT). Tooth germs are better illustrated than erupted teeth on MRI. Three-dimensional segmented images offer only a slight advantage over 2D tomographic slice images. MRI, which avoids radiation, is particularly appealing in adolescents if these data can be corroborated in further studies.

MRI vs. CT for orthodontic applications: comparison of two MRI protocols and three CT (multislice, cone-beam, industrial) technologies.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relative usefulness and suitability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in daily clinical practice as compared to various technologies of computed tomography (CT) in addressing questions of orthodontic interest. METHODS: Three blinded raters evaluated 2D slices and 3D reconstructions created from scans of two pig heads. Five imaging modalities were used, including three CT technologies-multislice (MSCT), cone-beam CT (CBCT), and industrial (µCT)-and two MRI protocols with different scan durations. Defined orthodontic parameters were rated one by one on the 2D slices and the 3D reconstructions, followed by final overall ratings for each modality. A mixed linear model was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Based on the 2D slices, the parameter of visualizing tooth-germ topography did not yield any significantly different ratings for MRI versus any of the CT scans. While some ratings for the other parameters did involve significant differences, how these should be interpreted depends greatly on the relevance of each parameter. Based on the 3D reconstructions, the only significant difference between technologies was noted for the parameter of visualizing root-surface morphology. Based on the final overall ratings, the imaging performance of the standard MRI protocol was noninferior to the performance of the three CT technologies. CONCLUSIONS: On comparing the imaging performance of MRI and CT scans, it becomes clear that MRI has a huge potential for applications in daily clinical practice. Given its additional benefits of a good contrast ratio and complete absence of ionizing radiation, further studies are needed to explore this clinical potential in greater detail.