BAG-1 inhibits p53-induced but not apoptin-induced apoptosis

BAG-1 has been identified as a Bcl-2-binding protein that inhibits apoptosis, either alone or in co-operation with Bcl-2. Here we show that BAG-1 inhibits p53- induced apoptosis in the human tumour cell line Saos-2. In contrast, BAG-1 was unable to inhibit the p53-independent pathway induced by apoptin, an apoptosis-inducing protein derived from chicken anaemia virus. Whereas BAG-1 seemed to co-operate with Bcl-2 to repress p53-induced apoptosis, co-expression of these proteins had no inhibitory effect on apoptin-induced apoptosis. Moreover, Bcl-2, and to some extent also BAG-1, paradoxically enhanced the apoptotic activity of apoptin. These results demonstrate that p53 and apoptin induce apoptosis through independent pathways, which are differentially regulated by BAG-1 and Bcl-2.     

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.     

Periaxonal and nodal plasticities modulate action potential conduction in the adult mouse brain

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Kinetics of uranous iron and ferrous iron oxidation by thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Archives of Microbiology -     

No association between the ovine leucocyte antigen (OLA) system in the Australian merino and susceptibility to Haemonchus contortus infection

A genetic analysis has been made of the Ovine Leucocyte Antigenic (OLA) system in Australian merinos. The animals consisted of sires, dams and their progeny. The typing data were consistent with previous findings of a high degree of polymorphism. At least two closely linked loci with several alleles at each are necessary to explain the data. No evidence was found for an association between OLA types and three measures of susceptibility to infection by the blood-sucking parasite Haemonchus contortus. Attention is drawn to the utility of half-sib data for analysis of the genetic control of resistance to parasites in sheep and other animals with a similar breeding structure.     

Severely reduced recombination in females of the South American marsupial Monodelphis domestica.

The gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, is a model species for studying the underlying mechanisms that govern recombination. We have identified a new marker, PI (protease inhibitor), in M. domestica and demonstrate its linkage to AK1 (adenylate kinase 1). The rate of recombination in females of this species is approximately one fifth the rate in males, as might be predicted from the difference in chiasma frequency between the two sexes.