Dynamic changes of the Prf/Pto tomato resistance complex following effector recognition.

In both plants and animals, nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors play critical roles in pathogen recognition and activation of innate immunity. In plants, NLRs recognise pathogen-derived effector proteins and initiate effector-triggered immunity (ETI). However, the molecular mechanisms that link NLR-mediated effector recognition and downstream signalling are not fully understood.

The IRIDICA BAC BSI Assay: Rapid, Sensitive and Culture-Independent Identification of Bacteria and Candida in Blood.

Unlabelled: Bloodstream infection (BSI) and sepsis are rising in incidence throughout the developed world. The spread of multi-drug resistant organisms presents increasing challenges to treatment. Surviving BSI is dependent on rapid and accurate identification of causal organisms, and timely application of appropriate antibiotics.

Improved sensitivity for molecular detection of bacterial and Candida infections in blood.

The rapid identification of bacteria and fungi directly from the blood of patients with suspected bloodstream infections aids in diagnosis and guides treatment decisions. The development of an automated, rapid, and sensitive molecular technology capable of detecting the diverse agents of such infections at low titers has been challenging, due in part to the high background of genomic DNA in blood. PCR followed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) allows for the rapid and accurate identification of microorganisms but with a sensitivity of about 50% compared to that of culture when using 1-ml whole-blood specimens.

Long-term changes in straylight induced by corneal refractive therapy: a pilot study.

Purpose: To assess long-term intraocular straylight changes induced by corneal refractive therapy (CRT) and to determine whether these changes persist after cessation of CRT lens wear.

Methods: A single-center, prospective, longitudinal study was performed in 22 subjects (group 1) undergoing overnight corneal refractive therapy for 1 year. Ten right eyes of 10 subjects (group 2) with emmetropia served as controls.

The tomato Prf complex is a molecular trap for bacterial effectors based on Pto transphosphorylation.

The major virulence strategy of phytopathogenic bacteria is to secrete effector proteins into the host cell to target the immune machinery. AvrPto and AvrPtoB are two such effectors from Pseudomonas syringae, which disable an overlapping range of kinases in Arabidopsis and Tomato. Both effectors target surface-localized receptor-kinases to avoid bacterial recognition.

Gibberellin biosynthesis and signalling during development of the strawberry receptacle.

The enlargement of receptacle cells during strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruit development is a critical factor determining fruit size, with the increase in cell expansion being one of the most important physiological processes regulated by the phytohormone gibberellin (GA). Here, we studied the role of GA during strawberry fruit development by analyzing the endogenous content of bioactive GAs and the expression of key components of GA signalling and metabolism. Bioactive GA(1) , GA(3) and GA(4) were monitored during fruit development, with the content of GA(4) being extremely high in the receptacle, peaking at the white stage of development.

Prf immune complexes of tomato are oligomeric and contain multiple Pto-like kinases that diversify effector recognition.

Cytoplasmic recognition of pathogen virulence effectors by plant NB-LRR proteins leads to strong induction of defence responses termed effector triggered immunity (ETI). In tomato, a protein complex containing the NB-LRR protein Prf and the protein kinase Pto confers recognition of the Pseudomonas syringae effectors AvrPto and AvrPtoB. Although structurally unrelated, AvrPto and AvrPtoB interact with similar residues in the Pto catalytic cleft to activate ETI via an unknown mechanism.

Host inhibition of a bacterial virulence effector triggers immunity to infection.

Plant pathogenic bacteria secrete effector proteins that attack the host signaling machinery to suppress immunity. Effectors can be recognized by hosts leading to immunity. One such effector is AvrPtoB of Pseudomonas syringae, which degrades host protein kinases, such as tomato Fen, through an E3 ligase domain.

Ziprasidone overdose: cases recorded in the database of Pfizer-Spain and literature review.

Ziprasidone is an atypical antipsychotic with a highly specific receptorbinding profile that has been shown to be effective for both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The agent has been associated with a low frequency of extrapyramidal symptoms and sedative and anticholinergic effects. Four cases of acute ziprasidone overdose were recorded in the database of the department of pharmacovigilance of Pfizer-Spain from January 2003 (when ziprasidone was first marketed in Spain) to October 2004.

Structural analysis of the PsbQ protein of photosystem II by Fourier transform infrared and circular dichroic spectroscopy and by bioinformatic methods.

The structure of PsbQ, one of the three main extrinsic proteins associated with the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of higher plants and green algae, is examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroic (CD) spectroscopy and by computational structural prediction methods. This protein, together with two other lumenally bound extrinsic proteins, PsbO and PsbP, is essential for the stability and full activity of the OEC in plants. The FTIR spectra obtained in both H(2)O and D(2)O suggest a mainly alpha-helix structure on the basis of the relative areas of the constituents of the amide I and I' bands.

Determination of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone in human plasma by liquid chromatography: application to the evaluation of CYP2D6 drug interactions.

A high-pressure liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection method for the simultaneous determination of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone in plasma after liquid-liquid extraction has been developed. The limit of quantitation was 5 nmol/L, and the inter-day coefficient of variation was less than 8% for both compounds. The mean recoveries of risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone added to plasma were 96.