Pre-analytical stability of haematinics, lactate dehydrogenase and phosphate in whole blood at room temperature up to 24 h, and refrigerated serum stability of lactate dehydrogenase, folate and vitamin B12 up to 72 h using the CRESS checklist.

Objectives: There is a lack of analyte stability data in whole blood (WB). The aim of this study was to determine the allowable delay in WB processing for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), folate, vitamin B12, iron and phosphate measurement. The stability of LDH, folate and vitamin B12 was also assessed in stored serum at clinically relevant time points.

Survey of patient perception of pre-analytical requirements for blood testing in the UK and RoI.

Background: A patient survey developed by the Pre-Analytical Phase Special Interest Group of the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB-PA-SIG) was conducted during November and December 2019. The survey aimed to determine the quality of information provided to patients in preparation for their blood test(s). In addition, the ACB-PA-SIG provide a number of recommendations, which, if adopted, may yield higher quality test results and improve patient management.

Development of a novel secondary phenotypic screen to identify hits within the mycobacterial protein synthesis pipeline.

Background: Whole-cell phenotypic screening is the driving force behind modern anti-tubercular drug discovery efforts. Focus has shifted from screening for bactericidal scaffolds to screens incorporating target deconvolution. Target-based screening aims to direct drug discovery toward known effective targets and avoid investing resources into unproductive lines of enquiry.

The hydrolase LpqI primes mycobacterial peptidoglycan recycling.

Growth and division by most bacteria requires remodelling and cleavage of their cell wall. A byproduct of this process is the generation of free peptidoglycan (PG) fragments known as muropeptides, which are recycled in many model organisms. Bacteria and hosts can harness the unique nature of muropeptides as a signal for cell wall damage and infection, respectively.

The singular Emb arabinofuranosyltransferase polymerises the α(1 → 5) arabinan backbone in the early stages of cell wall arabinan biosynthesis.

The arabinan-containing polysaccharides, arabinogalactan (AG) and lipoarabinomannan (LAM), are key cell wall components of the , which include Corynebacteria, Norcadia and Mycobacteria. Both AG and LAM contain elaborate arabinan domains composed of distinct structural motifs. Mycobacterial EmbA, EmbB and EmbC, collectively known as the Emb proteins, have been identified as arabinosyltransferases (AraTs), which are targeted by the front-line anti-tubercular drug ethambutol.