Trans-translation and protein synthesis inhibitors

Trans-translation is a process found in all bacteria, which contributes to the release of ribosomes that are stalled through a variety of causes, for example when the 3' end of a truncated mRNA lacking a stop codon is reached or at internal clusters of rare codons. Trans-translation requires tmRNA. Trans-translation is not essential for cell viability under laboratory conditions, but recently it has been shown that it can contribute to cell viability in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors. In this minireview, we consider the connection between trans-translation and antibiotics and the potential of using trans-translation as a therapeutic target.     

alpha-cardiac actin (ACTC) binds to the band 3 (AE1) cardiac isoform

The band 3 protein is the major integral protein present in the erythrocyte membrane. Two tissue-specific isoforms are also expressed in kidney alpha intercalated cells and in cardiomyocytes. It has been suggested that the cardiac isoform predominantly mediates the anion exchange in cardiomyocytes, but the role of the cytoplasmic domain of the band 3 (CDB3) protein in the cardiac tissue is unknown. In order to characterize novel associations of the CDB3 in the cardiac tissue, we performed the two-hybrid assay, using a bait comprising the region from leu 258 to leu 311 of the erythrocyte band 3, which must also be present in the cardiac isoform. The assay revealed two clones containing the C-terminal region of the alpha-cardiac actin. Immunoprecipitation of whole rat heart using an anti-actin antibody, immunoblotted with anti-human band 3, showed that actin binds to band 3 which was confirmed in the reverse assay. The confocal microscopy showed band 3 in the intercalated discs. Thus, besides the in vivo physical interaction in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell, we demonstrated using immunopreciptation that there is a physical association of band 3 with alpha-cardiac actin in cardiomyocyte, and we suggest that the binding occur "in situ," in the intercalated disc, a site of cell-cell contact and attachment of the sarcomere to the plasma membrane.     

The type specimens of chewing lice (Insecta,Mallophaga) deposited in the entomological collection of Instituto Oswaldo Cruz,Rio de Janeiro,RJ, Brazil

This paper presents a list of 131 Mallophaga type specimens deposited in the Werneck Collection of Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. It includes 69 holotypes, 62 allotypes, 683 paratypes, 1 syntype and 2 neoparatypes, distributed among 6 families and 35 genera. The types are listed with their respective data and literature.     

Coexistence of antibodies to tick-borne agents of babesiosis and Lyme borreliosis in patients from Cotia county,State of São Paulo,Brazil

This paper reports a case of coinfection caused by pathogens of Lyme disease and babesiosis in brothers. This was the first case of borreliosis in Brazil, acquired in Cotia County, State of S o Paulo, Brazil. Both children had tick bite history, presented erythema migrans, fever, arthralgia, mialgia, and developed positive serology (ELISA and Western-blotting) directed to Borrelia burgdorferi G 39/40 and Babesia bovis antigens, mainly of IgM class antibodies, suggestive of acute disease. Also, high frequencies of antibodies to B. bovis was observed in a group of 59 Brazilian patients with Lyme borreliosis (25.4%), when compared with that obtained in a normal control group (10.2%) (chi-square = 5.6; p < 0.05). Interestingly, both children presented the highest titers for IgM antibodies directed to both infective diseases, among all patients with Lyme borreliosis.     

Reproductive system abnormalities in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms isolated from Nectomys squamipes (Muridae: Sigmodontinae): brightfield and confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis

Schistosoma mansoni adult worms with genital anomalies isolated from Nectomys squamipes (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) were studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy under the reflected mode. One male without testicular lobes (testicular agenesia/anorchism) and two females, one with an atrophied ovary and another with 17 uterine eggs, were identified. The absence of testicular lobes occurred in a worm presenting otherwise normal male adult characteristics: tegument, tubercles and a gynaecophoric canal with spines. In both female specimens the digestive tube showed a vacuolated appearance, and the specimen with supernumerary uterine eggs exhibited a developing miracidium and an egg with a formed shell. The area of the ventral sucker was similar in both specimens however the tegument thickness, ovary and vitelline glands of the specimen with the atrophied ovary were smaller than those of the one with supernumerary eggs. These reported anomalies in the reproductive system call attention to the need to improve our understanding of genetic regulation and the possible role of environmental influences upon trematode development.     

In vitro susceptibility characteristics of Cryptococcus neoformans varieties from AIDS patients in Goiânia, Brazil

Sixty clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from AIDS from Goiania, state of Goiás, Brazil, were characterized according to varieties, serotypes and tested for antifungal susceptibility. To differentiate the two varieties was used L-canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue medium and to separate the serotypes was used slide agglutination test with Crypto Check Iatron. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of fluconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B were determined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards macrodilution method. Our results identified 56 isolates as C. neoformans var. neoformans serotype A and 4 isolates as C. neoformans var. gattii serotype B. MIC values for C. neoformans var. gattii were higher than C. neoformans var. neoformans. We verified that none isolate was resistant to itraconazole and to amphotericin B, but one C. neoformans var. neoformans and three C. neoformans var. gattii isolates were resistant to fluconazole. The presence of C. neoformans var. gattii fluconazole resistant indicates the importance of determining not only the variety of C. neoformans infecting the patients but also measuring the MIC of the isolate in order to properly orient treatment.