Real-time monitoring of the membrane-binding and insertion properties of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin anthrolysin O from Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis has recently been shown to secrete a potently hemolytic/cytolytic protein that has been designated anthrolysin O (ALO). In this work, we initiated a study of this potential anthrax virulence factor in an effort to understand the membrane-binding properties of this protein. Recombinant anthrolysin O (rALO35-512) and two N-terminally truncated versions of ALO (rALO390-512 and rALO403-512) from B.

Radiation enhancement by gemcitabine-mediated cell cycle modulations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the exact dose dependency and time dependency of the radiation-enhancing effect of gemcitabine (2',2'difluoro desoxycytidine [dFdC]) in in vitro experiments (HeLa cells: cancer of the uterine cervix, #4197 cells: oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma), and to correlate this effect with the underlying changes in cell cycle distribution. Cell viability was determined fluorometrically after exposure to dFdC (0-20.0 micro mol/l), irradiation (0-37.

[Combined radiotherapy and gemcitabine. Evaluation of clinical data based on experimental knowledge].

Background: In experimental studies the nucleoside analog Gemcitabine (2',2' difluorodesoxycytidine) clearly demonstrates radiation enhancing properties. After describing the pharmacological Gemcitabine-related data and the clinical studies regarding combined radiochemotherapy and taking under consideration the in-vitro data and the results provided by animal models, this overview is aimed to draw clinically relevant conclusions, resulting in the improvement of treatment approaches.

Materials And Methods: The available literature data regarding the metabolism and the mechanism of action, the evaluation of possible schedules of administration, and combined radiochemotherapy including Gemcitabine has been reviewed.