Controlling the Formation of Peptide Films: Fully Developed Helical Peptides are Required to Obtain a Homogenous Coating over a Large Area.

The influence of conformational dynamics on the self-assembly process of a conformationally constrained analogue of the natural antimicrobial peptide Trichogin GA IV was analysed by spectroscopic methods, microscopy imaging at nanometre resolution, and molecular dynamics simulations. The formation of peptide films at the air/water interface and their deposition on a graphite or a mica substrate were investigated. A combination of experimental evidence with molecular dynamics simulation was used to demonstrate that only the fully developed helical structure of the analogue promotes formation of ordered aggregates that nucleate the growth of micrometric rods, which give rise to homogenous coating over wide regions of the hydrophilic mica.

Intravenous catheter-associated Malassezia furfur fungemia.

Malassezia furfur, a lipophilic yeast that is the etiologic agent of tinea versicolor, has not been considered as a cause of serious illness in adults in the past. Two adults are described in whom Malassezia furfur fungemia developed while receiving total parenteral nutrition supplemented with lipids. The organism was identified in blood cultures from both patients only after isolation media were supplemented with a source of fatty acids.

Inhibition of platelet aggregation in man by indobufen (K 3920).

A complete crossover trial was undertaken in six healthy volunteers to gain information on dose-effect responses to indobufen by assessing the intensity and duration of the effect of 3 single oral doses of the drug on platelet aggregation induced by threshold concentration of ADP and by 3 added doses of collagen. The results of the study confirm that the activity is dose-related and is reversible since 24 hours after administration it has practically disappeared. The effect of the same dose of indobufen differed significantly according to the amount of collagen added to plasma, whereas increasing doses of indobufen provoked a significantly more marked effect when the amount of inducer employed was the same.