Large Room Temperature Magnetization Enhancement in a Copper-Based Photoactive Metal-Organic Framework.

The tris(pyridin-4-yl)amine ligand was found to exhibit a radical-actuated coloration phenomenon, and a novel copper-based color-changeable metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized via this photoactive ligand. After light irradiation, the photogenerated stable radicals in this framework induced increasing amplitude of magnetization (32%) at room temperature, being the largest enhancement among radical-based photochromic systems.

Association of CX3CR1 (V249I and T280M) polymorphisms with age-related macular degeneration: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Studies investigating the associations between CX3CR1 genetic polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have reported controversial results. Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to clarify the effects of CX3CR1 T280M and V249I polymorphisms on AMD risk.

Design: Meta-analysis.

Association of TCF4 polymorphisms and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy: a meta-analysis.

Background: Studies investigating the associations between transcription factor 4 (TCF4) genetic polymorphisms and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (FED) have reported controversial results. Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to clarify the effects of TCF4 polymorphisms on FED risk.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inTCF4 and the risk of FED.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS before and after introduction of HAART in China.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) and other fundus lesions in subjects with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) before and after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in China.

Methods: The retrospective study included subjects with AIDS who consecutively attended a third referral center in Beijing before and after HAART was introduced. Comprehensive systemic and ophthalmic examinations, including CD4+ T-cell count, ophthalmoscopy, and fundus photography, were carried out.

Reversible acetylation regulates salt-inducible kinase (SIK2) and its function in autophagy.

Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase belonging to the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family. SIK2 has been shown to function in the insulin-signaling pathway during adipocyte differentiation and to modulate CREB-mediated gene expression in response to hormones and nutrients. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of SIK2 kinase activity remains largely elusive.

Ferrophilic characteristics of Vibrio vulnificus and potential usefulness of iron chelation therapy.

We determined the ferrophilic characteristics of Vibrio vulnificus to evaluate the potential usefulness of iron chelation therapy for the prevention of V. vulnificus infection. Readily available non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) is required for the initiation of V.

Vibrio vulnificus metalloprotease VvpE has no direct effect on iron-uptake from human hemoglobin.

This study was designed to determine whether or not Vibrio vulnificus metalloprotease VvpE can promote iron uptake via the proteolytic cleavage of human hemoglobin. We found that V. vulnificus utilized hemoglobin as an iron source more efficiently via the vulnibactin-mediated iron-uptake system than via the HupA-mediated iron-uptake system and, of the proteases produced by V.

Suppression and inactivation of Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin in cirrhotic ascites, a human ex vivo experimental system.

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the in vivo suppression and inactivation of Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin (VvhA), we used cirrhotic ascites fluid as a human ex vivo experimental system. VvhA expression was suppressed in proportion to the amount of cirrhotic ascites. The expression of vvhA in undiluted cirrhotic ascites could be suppressed further by the addition of glucose, a constituent of cirrhotic ascites.

Swarming differentiation of vibrio vulnificus downregulates the expression of the vvhBA hemolysin gene via the LuxS quorum-sensing system.

Swarming has proven to be a good in vitro model for bacterial surface adherence and colonization, and the swarming differentiation of a bacterium has been shown to be coupled with changes in the expression of virulence factors associated with its invasiveness, particularly in the early stages of infection. In this study, we attempted to determine whether the expression of vvhA, which encodes for hemolysin/cytolysin (VvhA), is either upregulated or downregulated during the swarming differentiation of V. vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus vulnibactin, but not metalloprotease VvpE, is essentially required for iron-uptake from human holotransferrin.

The roles of metalloprotease (VvpE) and catechol-siderophore (vulnibactin) in the uptake of iron from human transferrins by Vibrio vulnificus have been determined using different experimental conditions and methods. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to elucidate the roles of VvpE and vulnibactin using the same methods and experimental conditions, in an in vitro and a human ex vivo system, and in accordance with the molecular version of Koch's postulates. Neither vvpE mutation nor in trans vvpE complementation affected vulnibactin production, iron-assimilation from human holotransferrin (HT), and bacterial growth in a HT-containing deferrated Heart-Infusion medium (HT-DF-HI) or a HT-containing cirrhotic ascites (HT-CA).

Proteases of a Bacillus subtilis clinical isolate facilitate swarming and siderophore-mediated iron uptake via proteolytic cleavage of transferrin.

We isolated a highly serine protease-producing Bacillus subtilis strain (PRY) from a clinical sample and identified it through biochemical testing and ribosomal DNA sequencing. The PRY strain exhibited a robust swarming behavior and was able to digest human transferrin efficiently, concomitantly with the production of catechol-siderophore in the exponential growth phase. The growth of PRY was in proportion to increased iron availability resulting from transferrin destruction.

Effect of the crp mutation on the utilization of transferrin-bound iron by Vibrio vulnificus.

Cyclic AMP-cAMP receptor protein (CRP) complex plays an essential role in the global regulation of Vibrio vulnificus virulence. We found that growth retardation of V. vulnificus caused by mutation of the crp gene encoding CRP was exacerbated under iron-limited conditions.

Human serum albumin enhances the hemolytic activity of Vibrio vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin (VvhA) is inactivated in the late growth phase by its oligomerization. Albumin is known to affect the activities of many bacterial toxins. In this study, we investigated the effects of human or bovine serum albumin (HSA or BSA) on the production and activity of VvhA.

Inactivation of Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin by oligomerization but not proteolysis.

Vibrio vulnificus extracellular protease (VvpE) is believed to destroy its hemolysin (VvhA) in the late growth phase, without obvious experimental evidence. So, we attempted to elucidate the mechanism. The hemolytic activity steeply increased with the expression of the VvhA in the early growth phase, and then abruptly declined with the expression of VvpE in the late growth phase.

Vibrio vulnificus metalloprotease VvpE has no direct effect on the iron-assimilation from human holotransferrin.

In order to elucidate the role of Vibrio vulnificus metalloprotease VvpE in the uptake of iron from human transferrin, we constructed a VvpE-deficient mutant and a merozygotic vvpE-transcriptional reporter from the wild type strain MO6-24/O. All three strains were able to grow only in deferrated Heart Infusion broth (DF-HI) with human holotransferrin (HT), but not in DF-HI containing partially iron-saturated transferrin or apotransferrin, without noticeable differences among the strains. All strains consumed most iron in the early growth phase.

Production of catechol-siderophore and utilization of transferrin-bound iron in Bacillus cereus.

In the present study we attempted to ascertain whether Bacillus cereus was able to produce catechol-siderophore(s), and whether it was able to utilize transferrin-bound iron. The growth of B. cereus was stimulated in proportion to the iron-saturation level of the transferrin, and catechol-siderophores were produced in inverse proportion to this level.

Staphylococcus aureus siderophore-mediated iron-acquisition system plays a dominant and essential role in the utilization of transferrin-bound iron.

Staphylococcus aureus is known to be capable of utilizing transferrin-bound iron, via both siderophore- and transferrin-binding protein (named IsdA)-mediated iron-acquisition systems. This study was designed in order to determine which iron-acquisition system plays the essential or dominant role with respect to the acquisition of iron from human transferrin, in the growth of S. aureus.

Growth of Staphylococcus aureus with defective siderophore production in human peritoneal dialysate solution.

In this study, we attempted to determine the effects of iron-availability and the activity of the bacterial iron-uptake system (IUS) on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in human peritoneal dialysate (HPD) solution. A streptonigrin-resistant S. aureus (SRSA) strain, isolated from S.

Bacterial growth in amniotic fluid is dependent on the iron-availability and the activity of bacterial iron-uptake system.

In the present study, the relationship among iron-availability, antibacterial activity, role of meconium as an iron source and the activity of bacterial iron-uptake system (IUS) for bacterial growth in amniotic fluid (AF) were investigated. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and its streptonigrin-resistant (SR) mutant with defective IUS were used as the test strains. The growth of S.