University of Würzburg

About: University of Würzburg is a education organization based out in Wurzburg, Bayern, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 31437 authors who have published 62203 publications receiving 2337033 citations. The organization is also known as: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg & Würzburg University.

Identification of a novel, multifunctional beta-defensin (human beta-defensin 3) with specific antimicrobial activity. Its interaction with plasma membranes of Xenopus oocytes and the induction of macrophage chemoattraction.

Abstract: Previous studies have shown the implication of β-defensins in host defense of the human body. The human β-defensins 1 and 2 (hBD-1, hBD-2) have been isolated by biochemical methods. Here we report the identification of a third human β-defensin, called human β-defensin 3 (hBD-3; cDNA sequence, Genbank accession no. AF295370), based on bioinformatics and functional genomic analysis. Expression of hBD-3 is detected throughout epithelia of many organs and in non-epithelial tissues. In contrast to hBD-2, which is upregulated by microorganisms or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hBD-3 expression is increased particularly after stimulation by interferon-γ. Synthetic hBD-3 exhibits a strong antimicrobial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and fungi, including Burkholderia cepacia. In addition, hBD-3 activates monocytes and elicits ion channel activity in biomembranes, specifically in oocytes of Xenopus laevis. This paper also shows that screening of genomic sequences is a valuable tool with which to identify novel regulatory peptides. Human β-defensins represent a family of antimicrobial peptides differentially expressed in most tissues, regulated by specific mechanisms, and exerting physiological functions not only related to direct host defense.

Reconstruction of sea level pressure fields over the Eastern North Atlantic and Europe back to 1500

Abstract: Spatially and temporally high-resolution estimates of past natural climate variability are important to assess recent significant climate trends. The mid-latitude atmospheric circulation is the dominant factor for regional changes in temperature, rainfall, and other climatic variables. Here we present reconstructions of gridded monthly sea level pressure (SLP) fields back to 1659 and seasonal reconstructions from 1500-1658 for the eastern North Atlantic-European region (30°W to 40°E; 30°N to 70°N). These were developed using principal component regression analysis based on the combination of early instrumental station series (pressure, temperature and precipitation) and documentary proxy data from Eurasian sites. The relationships were derived over the 1901-1960 calibration period and verified over 1961-1990. Under the assumption of stationarity in the statistical relationships, a transfer function derived over the 1901-1990 period was used to reconstruct the 500-year large-scale SLP fields. Systematic quality testing indicated reliable winter reconstructions throughout the entire period. Lower skill was obtained for the other seasons, although meaningful monthly reconstructions were available from around 1700 onwards, when station pressure series became available. The quality and the reconstructed SLP fields for two exceptionally cold years (1573, 1740) are discussed and climatologically interpreted. An EOF analysis of the 1500-1999 winter SLP revealed, firstly, a zonal flow pattern with pronounced decadal to centenial time scale variations, secondly, a monopole pattern over northwest Europe and thirdly, a pattern modulating the meridional flow component over Europe. These 500-year SLP reconstructions should be useful for modelling studies, particulary for analyses of low-frequency atmospheric variability and for circulation dynamics.

Zur serotonin-hypothese der depression

Abstract: Current theoretical and experimental developments in serotonin research extend from the differentiated description of central cytoarchitectonic structures over the identification and characterization of multiple receptor subtypes by pharmacological and molecular biological methods to the elucidation of neurobiochemical and physiological mechanisms of interneuronal communication and postreceptor signal transduction. These advances parallel the modification and optimization of various strategies for researching the relevance of central serotonergic neurotransmission in the aetiopathogenesis of affective disorders. Strategies such as the paradigm of selective pharmacological provocation contribute significantly to the formulation of complex hypotheses on the physiological regulation of receptor sensitivity, on receptor function in depression and on the processes of therapeutically induced neuroadaptation. In addition it appears that the generation of hypotheses receives further input from fundamental advances at the level of molecular pharmacology and biology. Reviewing and integrating our current knowledge to define the present state of the art facilitates the assessment of the position of serotoninergic function in the pathophysiology of affective disorder and in the mechanisms of action of various therapeutic measures.

Photoselective adaptive femtosecond quantum control in the liquid phase

Abstract: Coherent light sources can be used to manipulate the outcome of light–matter interactions by exploiting interference phenomena in the time and frequency domain. A powerful tool in this emerging field of ‘quantum control’1,2,3,4,5,6 is the adaptive shaping of femtosecond laser pulses7,8,9,10, resulting, for instance, in selective molecular excitation. The basis of this method is that the quantum system under investigation itself guides an automated search, via iteration loops, for coherent light fields best suited for achieving a control task designed by the experimenter11. The method is therefore ideal for the control of complex experiments7,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20. To date, all demonstrations of this technique on molecular systems have focused on controlling the outcome of photo-induced reactions in identical molecules, and little attention has been paid to selectively controlling mixtures of different molecules. Here we report simultaneous but selective multi-photon excitation of two distinct electronically and structurally complex dye molecules in solution. Despite the failure of single parameter variations (wavelength, intensity, or linear chirp control), adaptive femtosecond pulse shaping can reveal complex laser fields to achieve chemically selective molecular excitation. Furthermore, our results prove that phase coherences of the solute molecule persist for more than 100 fs in the solvent environment.