Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection,distribution of viral types and risk factors in cervical samples from human immunodeficiency virus-positive women attending three human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immune deficiency syndrome reference centres in northeastern Brazil

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients have a greater prevalence of coinfection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is of high oncogenic risk. Indeed, the presence of the virus favours intraepithelial squamous cell lesion progression and may induce cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection, distribution of HPV types and risk factors among HIV-positive patients. Cervical samples from 450 HIV-positive patients were analysed with regard to oncotic cytology, colposcopy and HPV presence and type by means of polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. The results were analysed by comparing demographic data and data relating to HPV and HIV infection. The prevalence of HPV was 47.5%. Among the HPV-positive samples, 59% included viral types of high oncogenic risk. Multivariate analysis showed an association between HPV infection and the presence of cytological alterations (p = 0.003), age greater than or equal to 35 years (p = 0.002), number of partners greater than three (p = 0.002), CD4⁺ lymphocyte count < 200/mm³ (p = 0.041) and alcohol abuse (p = 0.004). Although high-risk HPV was present in the majority of the lesions studied, the low frequency of HPV 16 (3.3%), low occurrence of cervical lesions and preserved immunological state in most of the HIV-positive patients were factors that may explain the low occurrence of precancerous cervical lesions in this population.     

Interaction of amino acyl-tRNA-synthetases from the rabbit liver with RNA and polyanions

The interaction of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase with RNA and polyanions was studied. The inhibition of the enzymes by polyU, polyI and heparin was demonstrated. It was found that this interaction is of limited specificity and is typical of single-stranded RNAs which possess no orderly secondary structure as well as of other polyanions possessing similar polyelectrolytic properties. Data from kinetic analysis and lysyl-tRNA synthetase modification by pyridoxal phosphate are suggestive of participation of the tRNA binding site in the enzyme interaction with polyanions.     

Combined biological hydrogen-producing systems: A review

Possible ways for combining various biological processes of biohydrogen production are described. Some of these processes are being intensively studied now, whereas others are theoretically feasible, but have not been studied. A special focus is on the factors that influence the efficiency of coupled systems.     

Modeling three-dimensional structure of two closely related Ni–Fe hydrogenases

Photosynthesis Research - The results of homology modeling of HydSL, a NiFe-hydrogenase from purple sulfur bacterium Thiocapsa roseopersicina BBS, and deep-water bacterium Alteromonas macleodii...     

The effect of R-plasmids on the reproduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage SM

The inheritance of plasmids Rms163 and R74 by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO hs been shown to effect the reproduction of a temperature bacteriophage SM. The decrease in plating efficiency of bacteriophage on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO (rms163) lawn is explained by the high degree of cell lysogenization by bacteriophage. Plasmid R74 inhibits bacteriophage SM propagation ultimately, evidently due to interruption of definite stages in vegetative development of bacteriophage by the products of plasmid specific genes.     

Features of Anabaena PCC 7120ΔHUP Mutants with Amino Acid Substitutions in Nitrogenase

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Mutant strains of the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena strain PCC 7120 ΔHup (dc-Q193S and dc-R284H) with amino acid substitutions located in the...     

Kinetics of uranous iron and ferrous iron oxidation by thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Archives of Microbiology -     

The Involvement of Hydrogenases 1 and 2 in the Hydrogen-Dependent Nitrate Respiration of Escherichia coli

The study of Escherichia coli mutants synthesizing either hydrogenase 1 (HDK203) or hydrogenase 2 (HDK103) showed that the nitrate-dependent uptake of hydrogen by E. coli cells can be accomplished through the action of either of these hydrogenases. The capability of the cells for hydrogen-dependent nitrate respiration was found to depend on the growth conditions. E. coli cells grown anaerobically without nitrate in the presence of glucose were potentially capable of nitrate-dependent hydrogen consumption. The cells grown anaerobically in the presence of nitrate exhibited a much lower capability for nitrate-dependent hydrogen consumption. The inhibitory effect of nitrate on this capability of bacterial cells was either weak (the mutant HDK203) or almost absent (the mutant HDK103) when the cells were grown in the presence of peptone and hydrogen. Hydrogen stimulated the growth of the wild-type strain and the mutant HDK103 (but not the mutant HDK203) cultivated in the medium with nitrate and peptone. These data suggest that hydrogenase 2 is much more active in catalyzing nitrate-dependent hydrogen consumption than hydrogenase 1.     

Immobilization of the purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides on glass surfaces

Summary A method for improving the adsorption of bacteria on glass surfaces was developed. The modification of a glass surface by LS-2480 greatly increased the number of bacteria that were immobilized. The conditions for bacteria immobilization on the modified glass surface were optimized.     

The dynamics of the microorganism count of active sludge during the aerobic treatment of sewage

Dynamics of the active sludge microorganism quantity is studied under different cultivation regimes. It is shown that quantity of microorganisms in different physiological groups depends on the specific growth rate, micro, determined by the dilution rate and biomass recirculation level. The results may be used for selecting optimal regime of the sewage treatment system functioning.