Characterization of a pyrene-degrading Mycobacterium sp. strain CH-2.

Mycobacterium sp strain CH-2 was isolated from a manufactured gas plant contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and was identified by analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. Strain CH-2 was capable of mineralizing 3- and 4- ring PAHs, including phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene. In addition, strain CH-2 could utilize phenanthrene, pyrene and a wide range of alkanes as a sole carbon and energy source.

Immune dysregulation accelerates atherosclerosis and modulates plaque composition in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have accelerated atherosclerosis. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, and investigations have been hampered by the absence of animal models that reflect the human condition of generalized atherosclerosis and lupus. We addressed this problem by transferring lupus susceptibility to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-deficient (LDLr-/-) mice, an established model of atherosclerosis, creating radiation chimeras with NZM2410-derived, lupus-susceptible, B6.