Characterization of the Competitive Pneumocin Peptides of .

In the polymicrobial environment of the human nasopharynx, (pneumococcus) competes with other members of the microbial community for limited nutrients in part by secreting small peptide bacteriocins called pneumocins. Pneumocin production is controlled by a quorum sensing system encoded by the locus. Although the locus is found in all pneumococci, there is significant variability in the repertoire of pneumocins and associated immunity proteins encoded in the Bacteriocin Immunity Region (BIR) and in the presence or absence of a functional Blp transporter.

Surface expression of ASIC2 inhibits the amiloride-sensitive current and migration of glioma cells.

Gliomas are primary brain tumors with a complex biology characterized by antigenic and genomic heterogeneity and a propensity for invasion into normal brain tissue. High grade glioma cells possess a voltage-independent, amiloride-inhibitable, inward Na+ current. This current does not exist in normal astrocytes or low grade tumor cells.