Pyrosequencing reveals transient cystic fibrosis lung microbiome changes with intravenous antibiotics.

Chronic airway infection in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) is polymicrobial and the impact of intravenous antibiotics on the bacterial community composition is poorly understood. We employed culture-independent molecular techniques to explore the early effects of i.v.

Stimulated erythropoiesis with secondary iron loading leads to a decrease in hepcidin despite an increase in bone morphogenetic protein 6 expression.

The BMP/SMAD signalling pathway plays an important role in iron homeostasis, regulating hepcidin expression in response to body iron levels. However, the role of this pathway in the reduction in hepcidin associated with increased erythropoiesis (and secondary iron loading) is unclear. To investigate this, we established a mouse model of chronic stimulated erythropoiesis with secondary iron loading using the haemolytic agent phenylhydrazine.

Reorganizing metals: the use of chelating compounds as potential therapies for metal-related neurodegenerative disease.

Metal ions, particularly copper, zinc and iron, are implicated in several amyloidogenic neurodegenerative disorders. In the brain, as elsewhere in the body, metal ion excess or deficiency can potentially inhibit protein function, interfere with correct protein folding or, in the case of iron or copper, promote oxidative stress. The involvement of metal ions in neurodegenerative disorders has made them an emerging target for therapeutic interventions.

The amyloidogenic region of the human prion protein contains a high affinity (Met)(2)(His)(2) Cu(I) binding site.

The prion protein (PrP(c)) is a cuproprotein implicated in a number of human neurodegenerative diseases. Although many physiological functions have been ascribed to PrP, its potential to act as a neuronal antioxidant, based in part on its copper binding ability, is controversial and unresolved. A number of studies have shown that copper bound to PrP(c) is not redox silent, and recent data shows that the Cu(II) sites at histidines 96 and 111 display reversible electrochemistry.

PrrC, a Sco homologue from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, possesses thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase activity.

PrrC is a Sco homologue in Rhodobacter sphaeroides that is associated with PrrBA, a two-component signal transduction system that induces photosynthesis gene expression in response to a decrease in oxygen tension. Although Sco proteins have been shown to bind copper the observation that they are structurally-related to thioredoxins suggested that they might possess thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase activity. Our results show that PrrC reduces Cu(2+) to Cu(+) and possesses disulfide reductase activity.