Structural characterization of the Aspergillus niger citrate transporter CexA uncovers the role of key residues S75, R192 and Q196

The Aspergillus niger CexA transporter belongs to the DHA1 (Drug-H⁺ antiporter) family. CexA homologs are exclusively found in eukaryotic genomes, and CexA is the sole citrate exporter to have been functionally characterized in this family so far. In the present work, we expressed CexA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, demonstrating its ability to bind isocitric acid, and import citrate at pH 5.5 with low affinity. Citrate uptake was independent of the proton motive force and compatible with a facilitated diffusion mechanism. To unravel the structural features of this transporter, we then targeted 21 CexA residues for site-directed mutagenesis. Residues were identified by a combination of amino acid residue conservation among the DHA1 family, 3D structure prediction, and substrate molecular docking analysis. S. cerevisiae cells expressing this library of CexA mutant alleles were evaluated for their capacity to grow on carboxylic acid-containing media and transport of radiolabeled citrate. We also determined protein subcellular localization by GFP tagging, with seven amino acid substitutions affecting CexA protein expression at the plasma membrane. The substitutions P200A, Y307A, S315A, and R461A displayed loss-of-function phenotypes. The majority of the substitutions affected citrate binding and translocation. The S75 residue had no impact on citrate export but affected its import, as the substitution for alanine increased the affinity of the transporter for citrate. Conversely, expression of CexA mutant alleles in the Yarrowia lipolytica cex1Δ strain revealed the involvement of R192 and Q196 residues in citrate export. Globally, we uncovered a set of relevant amino acid residues involved in CexA expression, export capacity and import affinity.

Cytoskeleton disruption by the metabolic inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate: implications in cancer therapy

The small molecule 3-bromopyruvate (3BP), is an anticancer molecule that acts by hindering glycolysis and mitochondrial function leading to energy depletion and consequently, to cell death. In this work we have focused on understanding how the glycolytic inhibition affects cancer cell structural features. We showed that 3BP leads to a drastic decrease in the levels of β-actin and α-tubulin followed by disorganization and shrinkage of the cytoskeleton in breast cancer cells. 3BP inhibits cell migration and colony formation independently of the activity of metalloproteinases. To disclose if these structural alterations occurred prior to 3BP toxic effect, non-toxic concentrations of 3BP were used and we could observe that 3BP was able to inhibit energy production and induce loss of β-actin and α-tubulin proteins. This was accompanied with alterations in cytoskeleton organization and an increase in E-cadherin levels which may indicate a decrease in cancer cells aggressiveness. In this study we demonstrate that 3BP glycolytic inhibition of breast cancer cells is accompanied by cytoskeleton disruption and consequently loss of migration ability, suggesting that 3BP can potentially be explored for metastatic breast cancer therapy.

Membrane transporters in the bioproduction of organic acids: state of the art and future perspectives for industrial applications

Organic acids such as monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids or even more complex molecules such as sugar acids, have displayed great applicability in the industry as these compounds are used as platform chemicals for polymer, food, agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors. Chemical synthesis of these compounds from petroleum derivatives is currently their major source of production. However, increasing environmental concerns have prompted the production of organic acids by microorganisms. The current trend is the exploitation of industrial biowastes to sustain microbial cell growth and valorize biomass conversion into organic acids. One of the major bottlenecks for the efficient and cost-effective bioproduction is the export of organic acids through the microbial plasma membrane. Membrane transporter proteins are crucial elements for the optimization of substrate import and final product export. Several transporters have been expressed in organic acid-producing species, resulting in increased final product titers in the extracellular medium and higher productivity levels. In this review, the state of the art of plasma membrane transport of organic acids is presented, along with the implications for industrial biotechnology.

Production of bioactive hepcidin by recombinant DNA tagging with an elastin-like recombinamer

With the lack of new chemical antibiotics and increasing pathogen resistance to those available, new alternatives are being explored. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with a broad range of effects, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral actions, have emerged as one of the options. They can be produced by recombinant DNA technology, but the chromatographic methods used for peptide purification are expensive and time consuming. Here, we describe the design, production, purification and assessment of the antibacterial activity of the human peptide hepcidin, using an elastin-like recombinamer as fusion partner. The recombinant protein Hep-A200 was produced in Escherichia coli and purified by a non-chromatographic procedure, exploiting the thermal properties of the A200 elastin-like recombinamer. Recombinant Hep-A200 was found to retain antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative species.

In vitro studies of DNA damage and repair mechanisms induced by BNCT in a poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma cell line

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for aggressive tumors is based on nuclear reaction [¹⁰B (n, α) ⁷Li]. Previously, we demonstrated that BNCT could be applied for the treatment of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to describe the DNA damage pattern and the repair pathways that are activated by BNCT in thyroid cells. We analyzed γH2AX foci and the expression of Ku70, Rad51 and Rad54, main effector enzymes of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathways, respectively, in thyroid follicular carcinoma cells. The studied groups were: (1) C [no irradiation], (2) gamma [⁶⁰Co source], (3) N [neutron beam alone], (4) BNCT [neutron beam plus 10 µg ¹⁰B/ml of boronphenylalanine (¹⁰BPA)]. The total absorbed dose was always 3 Gy. The results showed that the number of nuclear γH2AX foci was higher in the gamma group than in the N and BNCT groups (30 min-24 h) (p < 0.001). However, the focus size was significantly larger in BNCT compared to other groups (p < 0.01). The analysis of repair enzymes showed a significant increase in Rad51 and Rad54 mRNA at 4 and 6 h, respectively; in both N and BNCT groups and the expression of Ku70 did not show significant differences between groups. These findings are consistent with an activation of HRR mechanism in thyroid cells. A melanoma cell line showed different DNA damage pattern and activation of both repair pathways. These results will allow us to evaluate different blocking points, to potentiate the damage induced by BNCT.

Canine GM2-Gangliosidosis Sandhoff Disease Associated with a 3-Base Pair Deletion in the HEXB Gene

BACKGROUND

GM2-gangliosidosis is a fatal neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by deficiency of either β-hexosaminidase A (Hex-A) and β-hexosaminidase B (Hex-B) together, or the GM2 activator protein. Clinical signs can be variable and are not pathognomonic for the specific, causal deficiency.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the phenotype and genotype of GM2-gangliosidosis disease in an affected dog.

ANIMALS

One affected Shiba Inu and a clinically healthy dog.

METHODS

Clinical and neurologic evaluation, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), assays of lysosomal enzyme activities, and sequencing of all coding regions of HEXA, HEXB, and GM2A genes.

RESULTS

A 14-month-old, female Shiba Inu presented with clinical signs resembling GM2-gangliosidosis in humans and GM1-gangliosidosis in the Shiba Inu. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the dog's brain indicated neurodegenerative disease, and evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) identified storage granules in leukocytes. Lysosomal enzyme assays of plasma and leukocytes showed deficiencies of Hex-A and Hex-B activities in both tissues. Genetic analysis identified a homozygous, 3-base pair deletion in the HEXB gene (c.618-620delCCT).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Clinical, biochemical, and molecular features are characterized in a Shiba Inu with GM2-gangliosidosis. The deletion of 3 adjacent base pairs in HEXB predicts the loss of a leucine residue at amino acid position 207 (p.Leu207del) supporting the hypothesis that GM2-gangliosidosis seen in this dog is the Sandhoff type. Because GM1-gangliosidosis also exists in this breed with almost identical clinical signs, genetic testing for both GM1- and GM2-gangliosidosis should be considered to make a definitive diagnosis.

New Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR/XDR kit for detection of resistance mutations in M. tuberculosis cultures

SETTINGS

The new Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR/XDR PCR assay enables the joint analysis of mutations conferring resistance to first- and second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the performance of the new Anyplex assay in detecting mutations that confer resistance to first- and second-line drugs in M. tuberculosis cultures.

DESIGN

Results obtained using the new technique were compared with those obtained by phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) and with two GenoType tests for the detection of mutations: GenoType(®) MTBDRplus and GenoType(®) MTBDRsl.

RESULTS

For rifampicin resistance mutations, Anyplex displayed 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared with 100% and 100% for MTBDRplus. For isoniazid (INH) resistance, Anyplex displayed 61% sensitivity and 98% specificity compared with 62% and 98% for MTBDRplus. For second-line drugs, Anyplex recorded 95% sensitivity and 99% specificity in the detection of resistance to quinolones compared with 100% and 98% for the MTBDRsl. While both techniques displayed 100% specificity for aminoglycoside resistance mutations, sensitivity was 100% for Anyplex and 88% for MTBDRsl.

CONCLUSIONS

Results obtained using Anyplex agreed strongly with those obtained using the two GenoType molecular techniques and with phenotypic DST, except in the case of INH, due to the large number of genes involved in resistance to this drug.

Monocarboxylate transporters as targets and mediators in cancer therapy response

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) belong to a family of transporters, encoded by the SLC16 gene family, which is presently composed by 14 members, but only MCT1 to 4 have been biochemically characterized. They have important functions in healthy tissues, being involved in the transmembrane transport of lactic acid and other monocarboxylic acids in human cells. One of the recently recognized hallmarks of cancer is altered metabolism, with high rates of glucose consumption and consequent lactate production. To maintain this metabolic phenotype, cancer cells upregulate a series of plasma membrane proteins, including MCTs. MCT1 and MCT4, in particular, play a dual role in the maintenance of the metabolic phenotype of tumour cells. On one hand, they facilitate the efflux of lactate and, on the other hand, they contribute to the preservation of the intracellular pH, by co-transporting a proton. Thus, MCTs are attractive targets in cancer therapy, especially in cancers with a hyper-glycolytic and acid-resistant phenotype. Recent evidence demonstrates that MCTs are involved in cancer cell uptake of chemotherapeutic agents, including 3-bromopyruvate. In this way MCTs can act as "Trojan horses", as their elevated expression in cancer cells can mediate the entry of this chemotherapeutic agent into the cells and selectively kill cancer cells. As a result, MCTs will be mediators of chemotherapeutic response, and their expression can be used as a molecular marker to predict response to chemotherapy.

[Evaluation of the variability in the susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii to tigecycline in the same medium with two methods of quantitative diffusion different commercial]

INTRODUCTION

Tigecycline may be a therapeutic alternative for the control of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, although there is no consensus on the cutoffs or susceptibility to the variability of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) according to the culture medium and strips for the antibiogram against this microorganism by quantitative diffusion method. Therefore, the objective was to verify this variability and propose epsilometer test strip that more closely resemble to the standard method.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

38 strains of A. baumannii were selected and evaluated their susceptibility to tigecycline with two different commercial strips (E-TEST and Liofilchem). MICs were compared with those obtained by the standard technique of microdilution broth.

RESULTS

MICs obtained by the Liofilchem strip were more similar to standard method than those obtained by E-TEST strips.

CONCLUSION

In the two studied strips, higher MICs to those obtained by the standard method were observed leading to false-positive tigecicline resistance in many cases. However, the Liofilchem strip showed the results more closely resemble to the standard method.

[Investigation of antimicrobial resistance to Enterococcus faecium]

We performed a antibiotic resistance study on Enterococcus faecium isolated from intrahospitalary and extrahospitalary samples between 2004 and 2010. Three different samples were studied; urine, blood and wound swabs, considering a strain per patient. We included in the study a global amount of 637 E. faecium isolares. We employed semiautomatic system WIDER I for identification and sensitivity testing. We considered susceptibility and resistance criteria recommended by MENSURA group. We found a susceptibility rate of 48.05% to betalactams, 100% to linezolid, and 99.46% to vancomycin. The resistance to aminoglycosides ranged between 41.41 and 73.55%. We obtained 6 isolates resistant to vancomycin one of them from an extrahospitalary strain and five from intrahospitalary strains. It seems that vancomycin resistance should be controlled.

Structure and diversity of Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix heathlands at different successional stages after cutting

In NW Europe, it is known that cutting is a useful tool for managers with regard to decisions about the conservation and management of wet heathlands. Nevertheless it is rarely described quantitatively in the international literature. In Spain, knowledge about this is scarce or lacking. In this study, twenty communities were selected in Galicia (NW Spain) that would represent from one to four stages of vegetation development after cutting. Two 5 × 5 m plots were established for each stage to characterise the vegetation on the basis of its species composition, frequency values, vertical structure and linear cover features. The Diversity Shannon index was calculated and multivariate analyses were performed. As succession advanced, notable changes were produced in the cover of dominant species, Erica ciliaris and Ulex gallii in the first stages and Erica tetralix and Genista berberidea in mature ones. Also, the species richness decreased because of the reduced number of herbs species in the mature stages and, finally, the cover values are indicators of the degree of vegetation development, together with the other parameters of height, overlayering or diversity. Cutting is a useful tool for management of heathlands because the existence of vegetation units belonging to different succession stages increases the internal diversity of communities. On the other hand, the vertical and horizontal structure reflects the formidable resilience of the vegetation community to this practice. This study offers a global vision of the dynamics of wet heathlands after cutting, with very useful ecological information that can be used by the people responsible for their management.

[Investigation of Enterococcus faecalis antimicrobial resistance]

We performed an antibiotic resistance study on Enterococcus faecalis isolated from intrahospitalary and extrahospitalary samples between january 2004 and january 2008. Three different samples were studied; urine, blood and wound swabs, considering a strain per patient. We included in the study a global amount of 3,641 Enterococcus faecalis isolations from clinical samples received at Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía microbiology service in Córdoba (Spain). We employed semiautomatic system WIDER I (Soria Melguizo) for identification and sensibility testing. We considered sensibility and resistance criteria recommended by MENSURA group. We found a sensitivity rate of 98.04% to betalactamics.The highest resistance rates were obtained with aminoglycosides, between 33.82% and 48.01%. Linezolid and Vancomycin sensitivity was 100%. It seems that vancomycin resistance is not a worrying issue today, but it should be controlled.

Evaluation of new GenoType MTBDRplus for detection of resistance in cultures and direct specimens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

SETTINGS

Molecular methods frequently used in laboratories can now give us useful information about low growth bacteria.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the new GenoType MTBDRplus assay for its ability to detect mutations in the 81-bp hotspot region of the rpoB gene, mutations in codon 315 of the katG gene and alterations in the inhA promoter region.

DESIGN

Prospective resistance to rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid (INH) study using Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive specimens and cultures comparing the results of GenoType MTBDRplus with those obtained phenotypically with the Bactec MGIT (Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube) 960.

RESULTS

In 59 specimens (18 smear microscopy samples and 41 solid and liquid medium cultures), mutations were detected in all of 36 M. tuberculosis strains phenotypically resistant to RMP (100%), and in 35 of 37 strains phenotypically resistant to INH (94.59%). The new assay prompted a 21.6% increase in the direct detection of INH resistance in the strains studied, due to the incorporation of inhA promoter region probes in the test.

CONCLUSIONS

The GenoType MTBDRplus assay is a valid method for detecting the most common mutations in strains resistant to RMP and INH. However, further phenotypic testing is required, as the assay failed to detect 100% of INH and RMP resistance.

Bone morphogenetic proteins in tissue engineering: the road from the laboratory to the clinic, part I (basic concepts)

Discovered in 1965, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a group of cytokines from the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) superfamily with significant roles in bone and cartilage formation. BMPs are used as powerful osteoinductive components of diverse tissue-engineering products for the healing of bone. Several BMPs with different physiological roles have been identified in humans. The purpose of this review is to cover the biological function of the main members of BMP family, the latest research on BMPs signalling pathways and advances in the production of recombinant BMPs for tissue engineering purposes.

Granulibacter bethesdensis isolated in a child patient with chronic granulomatous disease

Chronic granulomatous disease was diagnosed in a 10-year-old boy who, after some weeks' decline, developed acute respiratory distress leading to multiple organ failure and death. All microbiological analyses were negative, except two blood cultures from which the novel bacterium Granulibacter bethesdensis was isolated.

[Situation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistances in Spain]

INTRODUCTION

The Mycobacteriology Spanish Working Group (MSWG) has conducted an epidemiological, descriptive and retrospective study to try to know the level of first line drug resistances in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in Spain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were obtained from a total of 1083 strains isolated between October and November 2006 in 120 microbiology laboratories from 16 autonomous communities and Melilla.

RESULTS

A primary resistance rate of 8.3% and 4.9% was obtained for isoniazid (INH). The probability of suffering resistant tuberculosis was major in the immigrant population with a resistance rate of 12%. Repeating these surveillance studies in later years is recommended.

Osteoinduction in human fat-derived stem cells by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 produced in Escherichia coli

Bioactive recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) was obtained using Escherichia coli pET-25b expression system: 55 mg purified rhBMP-2 were achieved per g cell dry wt, with up to 95% purity. In murine C2C12 cell line, rhBMP-2 induced an increase in the transcription of Smads and of osteogenic markers Runx2/Cbfa1 and Osterix, measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Bioassays performed in human fat-derived stem cells showed an increased activity of the early osteogenic marker, alkaline phosphatase, and the absence of cytotoxicity.

[Susceptibility and resistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antimicrobial agents]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic microorganism that is frequently the cause of nosocomial infections. Multiple mechanisms are involved in its natural and acquired resistance to many of the antimicrobial agents commonly used in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to assess the susceptibility and resistance patterns of P. aeruginosa strains isolated in Hospital Reina Sofia between 2000 and 2005, as well as to analyze the differences between intrahospital and extrahospital isolates in 2005 and to compare the results with those obtained in other studies. A total of 3,019 strains of P. aeruginosa from different hospitals and nonhospital settings were evaluated, taking into consideration their degree of sensitivity to different antibiotics. The MICs were determined by means of the Wider I automated system (Soria Melguizo), taking into consideration the criteria of susceptibility and resistance recommended by MENSURA. Results of the analysis showed that P. aeruginosa maintained similar levels of antimicrobial susceptibility during the period 2000-2005, with increased susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin and tobramycin. There were also important differences in the degree of susceptibility between intrahospital and extrahospital strains, except for imipenem and fosfomycin. The intrahospital difference in susceptibility was also evaluated, emphasizing the importance of periodically studying susceptibility and resistance patterns of P. aeruginosa in each setting in order to evaluate different therapeutic guidelines, as it is not always advisable to extrapolate data from different regions. These differences can be explained by the different use of antibiotics in each center and the geographic variations of the resistance mechanisms of P. aeruginosa.

The Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection antimicrobial susceptibility program in Spain: a 5-year analysis

The Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection program is a global study providing in vitro surveillance data on antimicrobial susceptibility in centers prescribing meropenem. This study summarizes data on the activity of meropenem and 5 comparators against 4022 clinical isolates from 7 centers in Spain (1999-2003). Those bacteria intrinsically resistant to meropenem were excluded. Among Enterobacteriaceae, 100% of Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., and Serratia spp. were susceptible to meropenem. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae susceptibilities to carbapenems were 100% and > or =98%, respectively. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were 3.8% of isolates, and all of them were susceptible to meropenem. Ciprofloxacin resistance in E. coli was around 20%. Meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam were the most active agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Acinetobacter baumannii were 61-90% susceptible to carbapenems, but only 6-21% susceptible to ciprofloxacin. In this period, around 100% of oxacillin-susceptible staphylococci were susceptible to meropenem. There was no significant decrease in susceptibility to the carbapenems throughout the 5-year period. The clinical use of meropenem in 7 Spanish centers did not increase bacterial resistance to this agent in the microorganisms evaluated.

Evaluation of the GenoType Mycobacteria Direct assay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and four atypical mycobacterial species in clinical samples

We evaluated GenoType Mycobacteria Direct (GTMD), a novel commercial assay based on nucleic acid sequence-based amplification technology, for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. avium, M. intracellulare, M. kansasii, and M. malmoense directly from clinical specimens. A total of 134 respiratory and extrapulmonary samples from 65 patients were processed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values for GTMD were 92, 100, 100, and 77%, respectively. The GMTD technique is useful, reliable, and rapid when used during the normal routine of a clinical laboratory.

[Antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from patients in Córdoba (Spain)]

Enterococcus faecalis is a pathogenic microorganism. The aim of this investigation was to study the antibiotic susceptibility of the strains isolated in Cordoba in a 20-month period (January 2004 to August 2005). Susceptibility rates to betalactamics were 98% to ampicillin and 99% to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; high-dose aminoglycosides (streptomycin 1000 microg and gentamycin 500 microg) obtained 56% and 76%, respectively. We found no strains resistant to glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin) or to linezolid.

The effect of a remifentanil bolus on the bispectral index of the EEG (BIS) in anaesthetized patients independently from intubation and surgical stimuli

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Remifentanil boluses are used in different clinical situations and the effects on bispectral index monitoring are unclear. We analysed the effect of a remifentanil bolus on the bispectral index of the electroencephalogram (bispectral index) under total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil.

METHODS

ASA I-III patients were included in this study. All patients received a 2 microg k g-1 remifentanil bolus in a period free from stimuli. Bispectral index and haemodynamic data were collected from an A-2000XP bispectral index monitor (every second) and an AS/3 Datex monitor (every 5 s). Bispectral index data were analysed using the area under the curve. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were averaged at each 30-s period and analysed using analysis of variance.

RESULTS

A total of 240 bispectral index values were obtained per patient. The area under the curve between 90 and 120 s after the bolus was significantly lower than the basal area under the curve (average of all areas before the bolus, P < 0.05). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were significantly reduced from 96.4 +/- 19.9 mmHg at the time of the bolus to 74.2 +/- 16.6 mmHg 120 s after, and from 70 +/- 16.4 bpm at the time of the bolus to 61 +/- 13.6 bpm after (P < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant reduction in the areas under the curve between 90-120 s following the bolus. Heart rate and blood pressure also showed significant reductions. Thus, remifentanil bolus given under total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil decreases bispectral index, an effect independent of intubation and surgical stimuli.

[Evolution of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in Cordoba (Spain) in the years 2002-2005]

In the last few years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a very important human pathogen. Our aim was to study the evolution of methicillin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in our hospital over a four-year period and to compare our situation with the rest of Spain and Europe. The rates varied from 39.9% in 2002 to 46.4% in 2005. Units with the highest rate were ICU and surgical wards. We found no glycopeptide-resistant strains.

Multiple transcripts regulate glucose-triggered mRNA decay of the lactate transporter JEN1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae JEN1 gene encoding the lactate transporter undergoes strong catabolic repression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. JEN1 mRNA decay is greatly accelerated upon the addition of a pulse of glucose, fructose or mannose to induced cell cultures. Mapping of the 5'UTRs and 3'UTRs of JEN1 transcripts revealed multiple transcription start-sites located at position -51, +391 or +972, depending on the cell culture conditions. The presence of the JEN1(+391) transcript correlated with rapid glucose-triggered mRNA degradation of the JEN1(-51) transcript, whereas when the small transcript started at position +972, the JEN1(-51) mRNA turnover rate was unaffected. Overexpressed JEN1(+391) transcript accelerated JEN1(-51) mRNA decay in all conditions tested but was not translated. We propose that the JEN1(+391) transcript may have a "sensor-like" function, regulating glucose-triggered degradation of JEN1(-51) protein-coding mRNA.

A Case-Control Study for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Risk Factors in Four European Countries

The aim of this study was to detect risk factors for multidrug resistance in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in four European Union countries: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. A prospective epidemiological case control study was conducted, made up of patients with clinically diagnosed and microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis in the four countries between 1997 and 2000. A total of 138 cases and 276 controls were studied. Considering the four countries as a whole, the most statistically significant risk factors were as follows: intravenous drug use (OR 4.68); asylum-seeker support (OR 2.55) as income factor; living in a nursing home (OR 2.05); previous tuberculosis (OR 2.03) with pulmonary location; prison (OR 2.02); known tuberculosis contacts (OR 2.01); immunosuppression other than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (OR 1.96); acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (OR 1.96); current tuberculosis with pulmonary location (OR 1.77); and health-care worker (OR 1.69). These risk factors will have to be taken into account in the European Union as a whole, as well as in each individual country, to establish a health policy of monitoring and control for these cases of multidrug resistance. Although rare, their seriousness makes them particularly important.

Susceptibility of filamentous fungi to voriconazole tested by two microdilution methods

The growing number of fungal infections, coupled with emerging resistance to classical antifungal agents, has led to the development of new agents, among them voriconazole. Susceptibility to voriconazole was tested by two microdilution techniques: the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards reference method M38-A and a colorimetric method, Sensititre YeastOne. The study tested a total of 244 isolates: 223 Aspergillus (136 Aspergillus fumigatus, 37 A. niger, 26 A. terreus, 16 A. flavus, 7 A. nidulans, and 1 A. ustus), 14 Fusarium (8 Fusarium moniliformis, and 6 F. oxysporum), 6 Scedosporium apiospermum, and 1 Rhizomucor pusillus strain and four control strains (Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019, C. krusei ATCC 6258, A. fumigatus ATCC 204305, and A. flavus ATCC 204304). For all tested species except one F. moniliforme strain and R. pusillus, the MIC, the MIC at which 50% of the isolates are inhibited (MIC(50)), and MIC(90) ranges of Collapse

Key Words Collapse

MESH Headings

• Antifungal Agents/pharmacology
• Fungi/classification
• Fungi/drug effects
• Humans
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests/methods
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests/standards
• Pyrimidines/pharmacology
• Quality Control
• Reference Standards
• Triazoles/pharmacology
• Voriconazole

Collapse

Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Maria José Linares Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, University of Córdoba, Spain
Guadalupe Charriel
Francisco Solís
Fernando Rodriguez
Ana Ibarra
M Casal

Collapse