Genomic Structure and Nucleotide Sequence of the p55 Gene of the Puffer Fish Fugu rubripes

The p55 gene, which codes for a 55-kDa erythrocyte membrane protein, has been cloned and sequenced from the genome of the Japanese puffer fish Fugu rubripes (Fugu). This organism has the smallest recorded vertebrate genome and therefore provides an efficient way to sequence genes at the genomic level. The gene encoding p55 covers 5.5 kb from the beginning to the end of the coding sequence, four to six times smaller than the estimated size of the human gene, and is encoded by 12 exons. The structure of this gene has not been previously elucidated, but from this and other data we would predict a similar or identical structure in mammals. The predicted amino acid sequence of this gene in Fugu, coding for a polypeptide of 467 amino acids, is very similar to that of the human gene with the exception of the first two exons, which differ considerably. The predicted Fugu protein has a molecular weight (52.6 kDa compared with 52.3 kDa) and an isoelectric point very similar to those of human p55. In human, the p55 gene lies in the gene-dense Xq28 region, just 30 kb 3′ to the Factor VIII gene, and is estimated to cover 20-30 kb. Its 5′ end is associated with a CpG island, although there is no evidence that this is the case in Fugu. The small size of genes in Fugu and the high coding homology that they share with their mammalian equivalents, both in structure and sequence, make this compact vertebrate genome an ideal model for genomic studies.     

Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV at a Patient’s First Clinic Visit: The RapIT Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundHigh rates of patient attrition from care between HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation have been documented in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to persistently low CD4 cell counts at treatment initiation. One reason for this is that starting ART in many countries is a lengthy and burdensome process, imposing long waits and multiple clinic visits on patients. We estimated the effect on uptake of ART and viral suppression of an accelerated initiation algorithm that allowed treatment-eligible patients to be dispensed their first supply of antiretroviral medications on the day of their first HIV-related clinic visit.ConclusionsOffering single-visit ART initiation to adult patients in South Africa increased uptake of ART by 36% and viral suppression by 26%. This intervention should be considered for adoption in the public sector in Africa.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01710397","term_id":"NCT01710397"}}NCT01710397, and South African National Clinical Trials Register DOH-27-0213-4177.     

The High Cost of HIV-Positive Inpatient Care at an Urban Hospital in Johannesburg,South Africa

Background

While most HIV care is provided on an outpatient basis, hospitals continue to treat serious HIV-related admissions, which is relatively resource-intensive and expensive. This study reports the primary reasons for HIV-related admission at a regional, urban hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa and estimates the associated lengths of stay and costs.

Methods and Findings

A retrospective cohort study of adult, medical admissions was conducted. Each admission was assigned a reason for admission and an outcome. The length of stay was calculated for all patients (N = 1,041) and for HIV-positive patients (n = 469), actual utilization and associated costs were also estimated. Just under half were known to be HIV-positive admissions. Deaths and transfers were proportionately higher amongst HIV-positive admissions compared to HIV-negative and unknown. The three most common reasons for admission were tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections (18%, n = 187), cardiovascular disorders (12%, n = 127) and bacterial infections (12%, n = 121). The study sample utilized a total of 7,733 bed days of those, 55% (4,259/7,733) were for HIV-positive patients. The average cost per admission amongst confirmed HIV-positive patients, which was an average of 9.3 days in length, was $1,783 (United States Dollars).

Conclusions

Even in the era of large-scale antiretroviral treatment, inpatient facilities in South Africa shoulder a significant HIV burden. The majority of this burden is related to patients not on ART (298/469, 64%), and accounts for more than half of all inpatient resources. Reducing the costs of inpatient care is thus another important benefit of expanding access to ART, promoting earlier ART initiation, and achieving rates of ART retention and adherence.     

Bacteriology of the Gut and Its Clinical Implications

The bacteriology of the gastrointestinal tract is rapidly changing in laboratory techniques and clinical correlations. The flora is found to be very complex, predominantly anaerobic, and importantly dependent on diet. An etiologic role for colon bacteria in colon cancer is suggested by correlations between epidemiologic data and prevalent dietary patterns and stool culture findings. Cultures from aspiration pneumonia, subphrenic abscess, and other intra-abdominal sepsis all yield anaerobes, and for best results antibiotic therapy should combat them as well as aerobes.     

On the sulfur-source requirement for growth of Thiobacillus intermedius

Thiobacillus intermedius grows in glucose-mineral salts medium supplemented with any or all of seven reduced organic sulfur compounds but does not grow in the absence of the supplement(s). This growth represents a physiological capability of T. intermedius and does not result from contaminated or mutant cultures. T. intermedius is not capable of assimilating sulfate; exogenous ³⁵SO₄ ^-is not incorporated by T. intermedius growing autotrophically or heterotrophically. The demonstrated need for a reduced sulfur source explains the previously reported inability of T. intermedius to grow in glucose-mineral salts medium.     

Changes in cell composition and viability of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus during starvation

1. Washed cell suspensions of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus harvested shortly after lysis of their substrate organisms and shaken in buffer have a constant and high endogenous respiration rate for a bout 6 h which then declines sharply to a rate approximately 10% of the original. Viability of cell suspensions shows little change over the first 4–6 h and then decreases by some 50% in 10 h.
2. Over the first 5–6 h of starvation there is a loss of about 50% of total cell carbon. This loss is distributed about equally between CO₂ and small molecules released into the suspending buffer. The protein and nucleic acid contents of the cells decrease concomitantly from time zero during starvation while DNA content remains constant. Ribosomal profiles show a rapid degradation of ribosomes.
3. In the presence of glutamate or glutamate plus a balanced amino acid mixture, loss of cell material and loss of viability is partially or completely prevented. There is extensive protein turnover when glutamate and an amino acid mixture are available to the bdellovibrio.
4. The pattern of changes observed in B. bacteriovorus during starvation is compared to reported changes in other species of bacteria, and the significances of its high endogenous respiration and sensitivity to starvation are discussed.

     

Utilization of Glucose in Heterotrophic Media by Thiobacillus intermedius

The growth yield of Thiobacillus intermedius is greater in glucose-yeast extract or glucose-casein hydrolysate broth than in comparable media without glucose. The quantity of glucose utilized in the glucose-supplemented media is much greater than the increase in cell yield observed relative to the unsupplemented media. Addition of glucose to cell-free extracts of glucose-yeast extract or glucose-casein hydrolysate grown cells results in the reduction of endogenous cytochrome c. Thus, in these media, glucose serves as a source of energy. This is in contrast to thiosulfate-glucose broth in which glucose provides only cell carbon. The presence of thiosulfate in glucose-casein hydrolysate broth results in a marked decrease in glucose consumption. Cytochrome c in extracts of cells grown in this medium is not reduced by glucose addition. The data suggest that thiosulfate prevents the utilization of glucose for energy generation. The final growth yield in glucose-casein hydrolysate broth is directly proportional to the initial glucose concentration, although not all the glucose was utilized even at the lowest concentration tested. This effect may be due to an inefficient glucose transport in this organism.