Natriuretic peptides modify <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis> cytotoxicity by regulating cyclic nucleotides and modifying LPS structure

Background  

Nervous tissues express various communication molecules including natriuretic peptides, i.e. Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and C-type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP). These molecules share structural similarities with cyclic antibacterial peptides. CNP and to a lesser extent BNP can modify the cytotoxicity of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The psychrotrophic environmental species Pseudomonas fluorescens also binds to and kills neurons and glial cells, cell types that both produce natriuretic peptides. In the present study, we investigated the sensitivity of Pseudomonas fluorescens to natriuretic peptides and evaluated the distribution and variability of putative natriuretic peptide-dependent sensor systems in the Pseudomonas genus.     

Involvement of a phospholipase C in the hemolytic activity of a clinical strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis>

Background  

Pseudomonas fluorescens is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium frequently encountered in hospitals as a contaminant of injectable material and surfaces. This psychrotrophic bacterium, commonly described as unable to grow at temperatures above 32°C, is now considered non pathogenic. We studied a recently identified clinical strain of P. fluorescens biovar I, MFN1032, which is considered to cause human lung infection and can grow at 37°C in laboratory conditions.     

Colonisation and mass rearing: learning from others

Mosquitoes, just as other insects produced for the sterile insect technique (SIT), are subjected to several unnatural processes including laboratory colonisation and large-scale factory production. After these processes, sterile male mosquitoes must perform the natural task of locating and mating with wild females. Therefore, the colonisation and production processes must preserve characters necessary for these functions. Fortunately, in contrast to natural selection which favours a suite of characteristics that improve overall fitness, colonisation and production practices for SIT strive to maximize only the few qualities that are necessary to effectively control populations.However, there is considerable uncertainty about some of the appropriate characteristics due to the lack of data. Development of biological products for other applications suggest that it is possible to identify and modify competitiveness characteristics in order to produce competitive mass produced sterile mosquitoes. This goal has been pursued - and sometimes achieved - by mosquito colonisation, production, and studies that have linked these characteristics to field performance. Parallels are drawn to studies in other insect SIT programmes and aquaculture which serve as vital technical reference points for mass-production of mosquitoes, most of whose development occurs - and characteristics of which are determined - in an aquatic environment. Poorly understood areas that require further study are numerous: diet, mass handling and genetic and physiological factors that influence mating competitiveness. Compromises in such traits due to demands to increase numbers or reduce costs, should be carefully considered in light of the desired field performance.     

Potential role of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) phosphorylated at Serine118 in human breast cancer in vivo

Post-translational modifications of proteins are known to be important in protein activity and ERalpha is known to be phosphorylated at multiple sites within the protein. The exact function of site-specific phosphorylation in ERalpha is unknown, although several hypotheses have been developed using site-directed mutagenesis and cell culture models. Targeting the ERalpha at the level of such post-translational modification pathways would be a new and exciting approach to endocrine therapy in breast cancer, but adequate knowledge is lacking with regard to the relevance of site-specific phosphorylation in ERalpha in human breast cancer in vivo. Recently, antibodies to P-Serine(118)-ERalpha and P-Serine(167)-ERalpha, two major sites of phosphorylation in ERalpha, have become available and some in vivo data are now available to complement studies in cells in culture. However, the in vivo data are somewhat contradictory and limited by the small cohorts used and the lack of standard well-characterized reagents and protocols.     

AB5 toxins: structures and inhibitor design

High-resolution crystal structures of AB₅ toxins in their native form or in complex with a variety of ligands have led to the structure-based design and discovery of inhibitors targeting different areas of the toxins. The most significant progress is the development of highly potent multivalent ligands that block binding of the toxins to their receptors.     

Simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys.

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) was isolated from the total peripheral blood mononuclear cell population and the monocyte-macrophage adherent cell population of three seropositive green monkeys originating from Kenya. SIV from these African green monkeys (SIVagm) was isolated and continuously produced with the MOLT-4 clone 8 (M4C18) cell line but not with a variety of other cells including HUT-78, H9, CEM, MT-4, U937, and uncloned MOLT-4 cells. Once isolated, these SIVagm isolates were found to replicate efficiently in M4C18, SupT1, MT-4, U937, and Jurkat-T cells but much less efficiently if at all in HUT-78, H9, CEM, and MOLT-4 cells. The range of CD4+ cells fully permissive for replication of these SIVagm isolates thus differs markedly from that of previous SIV isolates from macaques (SIVmac). These SIVagm isolates had a morphogenesis and morphology like that of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other SIV isolates. Antigens of SIVagm and SIVmac cross-reacted by comparative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay only with reduced efficiency, and optimal results were obtained when homologous antibody and antigen were used. Western blotting (immunoblotting) of purified preparations of SIVagm isolate 385 (SIVagm385) revealed major viral proteins of 120, 27, and 16 kilodaltons (kDa). The presumed major core protein of 27 kDa cross-reacted antigenically with the corresponding proteins of SIVmac (28 kDa) and HIV-1 (24 kDa) by Western blotting. Hirt supernatant replicative-intermediate DNA prepared from cells freshly infected with SIVagm hybridized to SIVmac and HIV-2 DNA probes. Detection of cross-hybridizing DNA sequences, however, required very low stringency, and the restriction endonuclease fragmentation patterns of SIVagm were not similar to those of SIVmac and HIV-2. The nucleotide sequence of a portion of the pol gene of SIVagm385 revealed amino acid identities of 65% with SIVmac142, 64% with HIV-2ROD, and 56% with HIV-1BRU; SIVagm385 is thus related to but distinct from previously described primate lentiviruses SIVmac, HIV-1, and HIV-2. Precise information on the genetic makeup of these and other SIV isolates will possibly lead to better understanding of the history and evolution of these viruses and may provide insight into the origin of viruses that cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in humans.     

The small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences from the hypotrichous ciliates Oxytricha nova and Stylonychia pustulata

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the small- subunit ribosomal RNA genes for the ciliate protozoans Stylonychia pustulata and Oxytricha nova. The sequences are homologous and sufficiently similar that these organisms must be closely related. In a phylogeny inferred from comparisons of several eukaryotic small-subunit ribosomal RNAs, the divergence of the ciliates from the eukaryotic line of descent is seen to coincide with the radiation of the plants, the animals, and the fungi. This radiation is preceded by the divergence of the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum.      

Y chromosome polymorphisms in Native American and Siberian populations: identification of Native American Y chromosome haplotypes

We have initiated a study of ancient male migrations from Siberia to the Americas using Y chromosome polymorphisms. The first polymorphism examined, a C→T transition at nucleotide position 181 of the DYS199 locus, was previously reported only in Native American populations. To investigate the origin of this DYS199 polymorphism, we screened Y chromosomes from a number of Siberian, Asian, and Native American populations for this and other markers. This survey detected the T allele in all five Native American populations studied at an average frequency of 61%, and in two of nine native Siberian populations, the Siberian Eskimo (21%) and the Chukchi (17%). This finding suggested that the DYS199 T allele may have originated in Beringia and was then spread throughout the New World by the founding populations of the major subgroups of modern Native Americans. We further characterized Native American Y chromosome variation by analyzing two additional Y chromosome polymorphisms, the DYS287 Y Alu polymorphic (YAP) element insertion and a YAP-associated A→G transition at DYS271, both commonly found in Africans. We found neither African allele associated with the DYS199 T allele in any of the Native American or native Siberian populations. However, we did find DYS287 YAP+ individuals who harbored the DYS199 C allele in one Native American population, the Mixe, and in one Asian group, the Tibetans. A correlation of these Y chromosome alleles in Native Americans with those of the DYS1 locus, as detected by the p49a/p49f (p49a,f) probes on TaqI-digested genomic DNA, revealed a complete association of DYS1 alleles (p49a,f haplotypes) 13, 18, 66, 67 and 69 with the DYS199 T allele, while DYS1 alleles 8 and 63 were associated with both the DYS199 C and T allele. Received: 18 November 1996 / Accepted: 19 May 1997     

Corneal dystrophy in Fischer 344 rats

A spontaneous degenerative lesion of the cornea resembling calcific band keratopathy in man has been observed in 10-15% of the F-344 rats (aged 35-300 days) purchased from a private vendor's closed breeding colony. The lesion appears clinically as punctuate to linear superficial corneal opacities located in the interpalpebral fissure of one or both eyes. Occasional roughening, bleb formation, or pitting of the corneal surface resembling superficial ulcers may be observed. The lesion occurs in both sexes. It is rarely associated with inflammation or irritation. Histologically, it consists of mineral deposits along the epithelial basement membrane and Bowman's space, some of which are large enough to disrupt or destroy portions of the basilar epithelium. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of the deposits proved them to be composed of calcium and phosphorus. Electron microscopic examination revealed a variety of extracellular laminated and crystalline arrays similar to those seen in humans with band keratopathy. The etiology of the lesion is as yet undetermined. A genetic-associated susceptibility due to hypercalcemia may be involved.