DinB (DNA polymerase IV), ImuBC and RpoS contribute to the generation of ciprofloxacin-resistance mutations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We investigated the role(s) of the damage-inducible SOS response dinB and imuBC gene products in the generation of ciprofloxacin-resistance mutations in the important human opportunistic bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We found that the overall numbers of ciprofloxacin resistant (Cip) mutants able to be recovered under conditions of selection were significantly reduced when the bacterial cells concerned carried a defective dinB gene, but could be elevated to levels approaching wild-type when these cells were supplied with the dinB gene on a plasmid vector; in turn, firmly establishing a role for the dinB gene product, error-prone DNA polymerase IV, in the generation of Cip mutations in P. aeruginosa.

Complete Genome Sequences of Clinical Pandoraea fibrosis Isolates.

is a newly identified Gram-negative bacterial species that was isolated from the respiratory tract of an Australian cystic fibrosis patient. The complete assembled genome sequences of two consecutive isolates (second isolate collected 11 months after antibiotic treatment) from the same individual are presented here.

Pandoraea fibrosis sp. nov., a novel Pandoraea species isolated from clinical respiratory samples.

Pandoraea species have been isolated from diverse environmental samples and are emerging important respiratory pathogens, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). In the present study, two bacterial isolates initially recovered from consecutive sputum samples collected from a CF patient and identified as Pandoraea pnomenusa underwent a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. The isolates were found to be Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic motile bacilli and subsequently designated as strains 6399 (=LMG29626=DSM103228) and 7641 (=LMG29627=DSM103229), respectively.

Widespread alterations in the peripheral blood innate immune cell profile in cystic fibrosis reflect lung pathology.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations to the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CFTR is known to be expressed on multiple immune cell subtypes, dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes. We hypothesized that the lack of CFTR expression on peripheral blood innate immune cells would result in an altered cell profile in the periphery and that this profile would reflect lung pathology.

The Link between Regional Tidal Stretch and Lung Injury during Mechanical Ventilation.

The aim of this study was to assess the association between regional tidal volume (Vt), regional functional residual capacity (FRC), and the expression of genes linked with ventilator-induced lung injury. Two groups of BALB/c mice ( = 8 per group) were ventilated for 2 hours using a protective or injurious ventilation strategy, with free-breathing mice used as control animals. Regional Vt and FRC of the ventilated mice was determined by analysis of high-resolution four-dimensional computed tomographic images taken at baseline and after 2 hours of ventilation and corrected for the volume of the region (i.

Differentially expressed genes from RNA-Seq and functional enrichment results are affected by the choice of single-end versus paired-end reads and stranded versus non-stranded protocols.

Background: RNA-Seq is now widely used as a research tool. Choices must be made whether to use paired-end (PE) or single-end (SE) sequencing, and whether to use strand-specific or non-specific (NS) library preparation kits. To date there has been no analysis of the effect of these choices on identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between controls and treated samples and on downstream functional analysis.

Pandoraea pnomenusa Isolated from an Australian Patient with Cystic Fibrosis.

Pandoraea species are considered as emerging pathogens in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The contribution of these organisms to disease progression in CF patients is not fully understood owing in large measure to the scant reports in clinical and research literature describing their colonization of CF patients and their associated virulence determinants. In an effort to increase awareness and evidence for Pandoraea spp.

Functionalized polyanilines disrupt Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of functionalized polyanilines (fPANIs) against stationary phase cells and biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus using homopolymer of sulfanilic acid (poly-SO3H) as a model. The chemically synthesized poly-SO3H was characterized using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopies. The molecular weight (Mw) and elemental analysis of homopolymer poly-SO3H were also examined.

High peripheral blood th17 percent associated with poor lung function in cystic fibrosis.

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) have been reported to make lung T cell responses that are biased towards T helper (Th) 2 or Th17. We hypothesized that CF-related T cell regulatory defects could be detected by analyzing CD4+ lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 42 CF patients (6 months-53 years old) and 78 healthy controls (2-61 years old) were analyzed for Th1 (IFN-γ+), Th2 (IL-4+), Th17 (IL-17+), Treg (FOXP3+), IL-10+ and TGF-β+ CD4+ cells.

Genome Sequences of Two Pandoraea pnomenusa Isolates Recovered 11 Months Apart from a Cystic Fibrosis Patient.

Pandoraea is an emerging respiratory pathogen capable of causing chronic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), but the clinical significance of this infection is ambiguous. We have sequenced and annotated the genomes of two multidrug-resistant Pandoraea pnomenusa isolates recovered 11 months apart from the same CF patient.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses multiple pathways to acquire iron during chronic infection in cystic fibrosis lungs.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronically infects the lungs of more than 80% of adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and is a major contributor to the progression of disease pathology. P. aeruginosa requires iron for growth and has multiple iron uptake systems that have been studied in bacteria grown in laboratory culture.

Expression of PPARγ and paraoxonase 2 correlated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing signal molecule N-3-oxododecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (3OC(12)HSL) can inhibit function of the mammalian anti-inflammatory transcription factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)γ, and can be degraded by human paraoxonase (PON)2. Because 3OC(12)HSL is detected in lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients infected with P. aeruginosa, we investigated the relationship between P.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae pilin glycan contributes to CR3 activation during challenge of primary cervical epithelial cells.

Expression of type IV pili by Neisseria gonorrhoeae plays a critical role in mediating adherence to human epithelial cells. Gonococcal pilin is modified with an O-linked glycan, which may be present as a di- or monosaccharide because of phase variation of select pilin glycosylation genes. It is accepted that bacterial proteins may be glycosylated; less clear is how the protein glycan may mediate virulence.

Iron-binding compounds impair Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation, especially under anaerobic conditions.

The success of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) and other chronic infections is largely attributed to its ability to grow in antibiotic-resistant biofilm communities. This study investigated the effects of limiting iron levels as a strategy for preventing/disrupting P. aeruginosa biofilms.

Recombinant probiotics for treatment and prevention of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea.

Background & Aims: We have developed a therapeutic strategy for gastrointestinal infections that is based on molecular mimicry of host receptors for bacterial toxins on the surface of harmless gut bacteria. The aim of this study was to apply this to the development of a recombinant probiotic for treatment and prevention of diarrheal disease caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains that produce heat-labile enterotoxin.

Methods: This was achieved by expressing glycosyltransferase genes from Neisseria meningitidis or Campylobacter jejuni in a harmless Escherichia coli strain (CWG308), resulting in the production of a chimeric lipopolysaccharide capable of binding heat-labile enterotoxin with high avidity.

Analysis of the role of pglI in pilin glycosylation of Neisseria meningitidis.

Pilin is the major subunit of the essential virulence factor pili and is glycosylated at Ser63. In this study we investigated the gene pglI to determine whether it is involved in the biosynthesis of the pilin-linked glycan of Neisseria meningitidis strain C311#3. A N.

Purification of post-translationally modified proteins from bacteria: homologous expression and purification of histidine-tagged pilin from Neisseria meningitidis.

Until recently, glycosylation of proteins in prokaryotes was regarded as uncommon and thought to be limited to special cases such as S-layer proteins and some archeal outer membrane proteins. Now, there are an increasing number of reports of bacterial proteins that are glycosylated. Pilin of pathogenic Neisseria is one of the best characterised post-translationally modified bacterial proteins, with four different types of modifications reported, including a novel glycosylation.

Erratum to: Two novel chromosomal loci influence cultivar-specific nodulation failure in the interaction between strain ANU794 and subterranean clover cv. Woogenellup.

The nodulation failure resulting from the interaction between Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii strain ANU794 and the Trifolium subterraneum cv. Woogenellup was examined by transposon mutagenesis to resolve whether multiple determinants were involved in cultivar-specificity. Three new transposon-induced mutants of ANU794 (W72, W78 and W710) with significantly enhanced nodulation ability on cv.

Two novel chromosomal loci influence cultivar-specific nodulation failure in the interaction between strain ANU794 and subterranean clover cv. Woogenellup.

The nodulation failure resulting from the interaction between Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii strain ANU794 and the Trifolium subterraneum cv. Woogenellup was examined by transposon mutagenesis to resolve whether multiple determinants were involved in cultivar-specificity. Three new transposon-induced mutants of ANU794 (W72, W78 and W710) with significantly enhanced nodulation ability on cv.

Genetic characterization of pilin glycosylation in Neisseria meningitidis.

Pili of Neisseria meningitidis are a key virulence factor, being the major adhesin of this capsulate organism and contributing to specificity for the human host. Pili are post-translationally modified by addition of an O-linked trisaccharide, Gal(beta1-4)Gal(alpha1-3)2,4-diacetimido-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose++ +. In a previous study the authors identified and characterized a gene, pglA, encoding a galactosyltransferase involved in pilin glycosylation.