Influence of furfural on the physiology of Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1.

Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass produces growth inhibitory substances such as furfural which is toxic to microorganisms. Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 cannot use furfural as a carbon source, instead it biotransforms this compound into difurfuryl ether using the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent dehydrogenases AreB and FrmA during aerobic acetate catabolism. However, NADH consumption for furfural biotransformation compromises aerobic growth of A.

Specific properties of shRNA-mediated CCR5 downregulation that enhance the inhibition of HIV-1 infection in combination with shRNA targeting HIV-1 rev.

Treatment with RNAi against HIV-1 transcripts efficiently inhibits viral replication but induces selection of escape mutants; therefore, the CCR5 coreceptor was suggested as an additional target. Blocking viral and host transcripts improved the antiviral effect. We have used short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the human CCR5 (shCCR5) or the HIV-1 rev (shRev) transcripts to demonstrate distinctive properties of anti-CCR5 shRNA: shCCR5 induced more sustained protection than shRev; partial reduction in CCR5 expression substantially decreased HIV-1 infection, and shCCR5 performed better than shRev in the mixed shRNA-treated and untreated cultures.

Detailed phenotypic description of stromal corneal dystrophy in a large pedigree carrying the uncommon TGFBI p.Ala546Asp pathogenic variant.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the corneal clinical spectrum and the intrafamilial phenotypic differences in an extended pedigree suffering from stromal corneal dystrophy due to the rare p.Ala546Asp mutation in TGFBI.

Methods: A total of 15 members from a four-generation Mexican family were ascertained for clinical and genetic assessment.

Furfural biotransformation in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 and Acinetobacter schindleri ACE.

Objectives: To determine furfural biotransformation capabilities of Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 and Acinetobacter schindleri ACE.

Results: Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 and A. schindleri ACE could not use furfural as sole carbon source but when acetate was used as substrate, ADP1 and ACE biotransformed 1 g furfural/l in 5 and 9 h, respectively.

A murine model of acute myeloid leukemia with Evi1 overexpression and autocrine stimulation by an intracellular form of GM-CSF in DA-3 cells.

The poor treatment response of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) overexpressing high-risk oncogenes such as EVI1, demands specific animal models for new treatment evaluations. Evi1 is a common site of activating integrations in murine leukemia virus (MLV)-induced AML and in retroviral and lentiviral gene-modified HCS. Still, a model of overt AML induced by Evi1 has not been generated.

Endothelin ET(B) receptors are involved in the relaxation to the pig urinary bladder neck.

Aims: The involvement of endothelin receptors in the contraction of the lower urinary tract smooth muscle is well established. There is scarce information, however, about endothelin receptors mediating relaxation of the bladder outlet region. The current study investigates the possible existence of endothelin ET(B) receptors involved in the relaxation of pig bladder neck.

Mechanisms involved in endothelin-1-induced contraction of the pig urinary bladder neck.

Aims: There is no information about the signaling pathways involved in the endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced contraction of bladder neck. The current study investigates the mechanisms involved in the ET-1-elicited contraction in the pig bladder neck.

Methods: Bladder neck strips were mounted in organ baths containing physiological saline solution at 37°C and gassed with 95% O(2) and 5% CO(2) , for isometric force recording to endothelin receptor agonists, noradrenaline (NA), and electrical field stimulation.

Mechanisms involved in the adenosine-induced vasorelaxation to the pig prostatic small arteries.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy has been related with glandular ischemia processes and adenosine is a potent vasodilator agent. This study investigates the mechanisms underlying the adenosine-induced vasorelaxation in pig prostatic small arteries. Adenosine receptors expression was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, and rings were mounted in myographs for isometric force recording.

Up-regulation of TLR2 and TLR4 in dendritic cells in response to HIV type 1 and coinfection with opportunistic pathogens.

The ability to trigger an innate immune response against opportunistic pathogens associated with HIV-1 infection is an important aspect of AIDS pathogenesis. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in innate immunity against pathogens, but in HIV-1 patients coinfected with opportunistic infections, the regulation of TLR expression has not been studied. In this context, we have evaluated the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in monocytes, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and myeloid dendritic cells of HIV-1 patients with or without opportunistic infections.

Production of HIV particles is regulated by altering sub-cellular localization and dynamics of Rev induced by double-strand RNA binding protein.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 encoded Rev is essential for export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, of unspliced and singly spliced transcripts coding for structural and nonstructural viral proteins. This process is spatially and temporally coordinated resulting from the interactions between cellular and viral proteins. Here we examined the effects of the sub-cellular localization and dynamics of Rev on the efficiency of nucleocytoplasmic transport of HIV-1 Gag transcripts and virus particle production.

Proteasome-dependent autoregulation of Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) promoter via NF-kappaB.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) is critical for B-cell development. Btk regulates a plethora of signaling proteins, among them nuclear factor-[kappa]B (NF-kappaB). Activation of NF-kappaB is a hallmark of B cells, and NF-kappaB signaling is severely compromised in Btk deficiency.