Sensorically and antimicrobially active metabolite production of Lactobacillus strains on Jerusalem artichoke juice.

Background: In the tubers of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) the main carbohydrate is the well-known prebiotic inulin, which is a good growth substrate for gut microorganisms. Jerusalem artichoke tuber is traditionally consumed boiled or pickled rather than in fermented form.

Presence of heterozygous ATM deletion may not be critical in the primary response of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to fludarabine.

Objectives: Abnormalities of the TP53 or ATM, cooperating tumor-suppressor genes, significantly worsen the treatment options for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Although the aberrations seem to be mutually exclusive in this leukemia, inactivation of the former gene leads to worse prognosis. We tested the in vitro sensitivity of the CLL samples with heterozygous ATM deletion to fludarabine and combination of fludarabine and rituximab; the responses were compared with the TP53-abnormal and wild-type (wt) cells to delimitate relative significance of ATM deletion.

Lack of STAT 1 phosphorylation at TYR 701 by IFNgamma correlates with disease outcome in melanoma patients.

STAT 1, a member of signal transducer and transcription activator family has been implicated as key downstream mediator of interferon (IFN) signaling. Its functional activation requires phosphorylation at Tyr 701 and Ser 727 residues. Various STAT abnormalities have been found in cancer cells but their relation to oncogenesis, tumor behavior and disease outcome remains mostly unknown.

Cost-effective genotyping of human MBL2 gene mutations using multiplex PCR.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to various infections and autoimmune disorders. It is caused by certain polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene promoter and mutations in the coding region of the gene. In this report, we present a novel, rapid, efficient and cost-effective method of two multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for the assessment of three structural point mutations within exon 1 at codons 52, 54 and 57.

Characterization and purification of acidocin CH5, a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus CH5.

Aims: To characterize and to purify a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus strain with its activity restricted to Gram-positive bacteria.

Methods And Results: Native acidocin CH5, a bacteriocin produced by L. acidophilus CH5 an isolate from a dairy starter culture forms in MRS (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK) broth high-molecular weight aggregates which can dissociate into smaller units (retained by 5 kDa membrane) with higher activity.