The synergetic effect of ambient PM2.5 exposure and rhinovirus infection in airway dysfunction in asthma: a pilot observational study from the Central Valley of California.

Background: Elevated levels of particulate matter PM2.5 and rhinovirus infection have been known to exacerbate asthma. However, the combined effect of rhinovirus infection and high PM2.

Characterization of BshA, bacillithiol glycosyltransferase from Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.

The first step during bacillithiol (BSH) biosynthesis involves the formation of N-acetylglucosaminylmalate from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and l-malate and is catalyzed by a GT4 class glycosyltransferase enzyme (BshA). Recombinant Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis BshA were highly specific and active with l-malate but the former showed low activity with d-glyceric acid and the latter with d-malate. We show that BshA is inhibited by BSH and similarly that MshA (first enzyme of mycothiol biosynthesis) is inhibited by the final product MSH.