Comparative analysis of virulence factors produced by strains isolated from chronic wounds or bloodstream infections.

is an important pathogen associated with both chronic wounds and bloodstream infections. Virulence factors required for the establishment of acute and chronic infections differ substantially. Since bacteremia can be a severe outcome of wound colonization, we performed a comparative analysis of virulence between strains isolated from the bloodstream and chronic wounds.

Characterization of the oxidative stress response regulatory network in Bacteroides fragilis: An interaction between BmoR and OxyR regulons promotes abscess formation in a model of intra-abdominal infection.

Objectives: Bacteroides fragilis is an anaerobic bacterium that is commonly found in the human gut microbiota and an opportunistic pathogen in extra-intestinal infections. B. fragilis displays a robust response to oxidative stress which allows for survival in oxygenated tissues such as the peritoneal cavity and lead to the formation of abscesses.

Bioactive small molecules produced by the human gut microbiome modulate sessile and planktonic lifestyles.

Humans live in symbiosis with a diverse community of microorganisms, which has evolved to carry out many specific tasks that benefit the host, including protection against invading pathogens. Within the chemical diversity of the gastrointestinal tract, small molecules likely constitute chemical cues for the communication between the microbiota and pathogens. Therefore, we sought to investigate if molecules produced by the human gut microbiota show biological activity against the human pathogen .

The role of two-component regulatory systems in environmental sensing and virulence in .

Adaptation to environments with constant fluctuations imposes challenges that are only overcome with sophisticated strategies that allow bacteria to perceive environmental conditions and develop an appropriate response. The gastrointestinal environment is a complex ecosystem that is home to trillions of microorganisms. Termed microbiota, this microbial ensemble plays important roles in host health and provides colonization resistance against pathogens, although pathogens have evolved strategies to circumvent this barrier.

Cross-reactivity and immunotherapeutic potential of BamA recombinant protein from Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen. BamA is a protein that belongs to a complex responsible for organizing the proteins on the bacterial outer membrane. In this work, we aimed to evaluate murine immune responses to BamA recombinant protein (rAbBamA) from A.

Characterization of a SPM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa by comparative genomics and phenotypic analysis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common pathogens related to healthcare-associated infections. The Brazilian isolate, named CCBH4851, is a multidrug-resistant clone belonging to the sequence type 277. The antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of the CCBH4851 strain are associated with the presence of the bla[Formula: see text] gene, encoding a metallo-beta-lactamase, in combination with other exogenously acquired genes.

Deletion of BmoR affects the expression of genes related to thiol/disulfide balance in Bacteroides fragilis.

Bacteroides fragilis, an opportunistic pathogen and commensal bacterium in the gut, is one the most aerotolerant species among strict anaerobes. However, the mechanisms that control gene regulation in response to oxidative stress are not completely understood. In this study, we show that the MarR type regulator, BmoR, regulates the expression of genes involved in the homeostasis of intracellular redox state.

Impact of violacein from Chromobacterium violaceum on the mammalian gut microbiome.

Violacein is a violet pigment produced by Chromobacterium violaceum that possesses several functions such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. The search for potential compounds and therapies that may interfere with and modulate the gut microbial consortia without causing severe damage and increased resistance is important for the treatment of inflammatory, allergic, and metabolic diseases. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the ability of violacein to change microbial patterns in the mammalian gut by favoring certain groups over the others in order to be used as a therapy for diseases associated with changes in the intestinal microflora.

Differential proteomic analysis of outer membrane enriched extracts of Bacteroides fragilis grown under bile salts stress.

Bacteroides fragilis is the most commonly isolated anaerobic bacteria from infectious processes. Several virulence traits contribute to the pathogenic nature of this bacterium, including the ability to tolerate the high concentrations of bile found in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The activity of bile salts is similar to detergents and may lead to membrane permeabilization and cell death.

Inactivation of a fibronectin-binding TonB-dependent protein increases adhesion properties of Bacteroides fragilis.

Bacteroides fragilis is the Gram-negative strictly anaerobic bacterium most frequently isolated from clinical infections, including intra-abdominal abscess and bacteraemia. A number of factors can contribute to its virulence, including the expression of adhesins. Some of them are already characterized and can recognize and bind to extracellular matrix components, such as fibronectin.

The role of BmoR, a MarR Family Regulator, in the survival of Bacteroides fragilis during oxidative stress.

The intestinal opportunistic pathogen Bacteroides fragilis is among the most aerotolerant species of strict anaerobic bacteria and survives exposure to atmospheric oxygen for up to 72h. Under these circumstances, a strong oxygen stress response (OSR) mechanism is activated and the expression of as much as 45% of B. fragilis genes is altered.

A TonB-dependent outer membrane protein as a Bacteroides fragilis fibronectin-binding molecule.

The binding of Bacteroides fragilis to plasmatic fibronectin was investigated using strains isolated from healthy subjects and from patients with bacteremia. They were cultivated in a synthetic media in which variations in cysteine concentrations determined alterations in the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh). All the strains assayed were capable of adhering to plasmatic fibronectin when cultivated under oxidizing and reducing conditions.

Characterization of Clostridium difficile strains isolated from immunosuppressed inpatients in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The aim of this work was to identify and characterize Clostridium difficile strains from fecal and hospital environmental samples. C. difficile toxins were detected by ELISA in 28.

Enterotoxigenic and nontoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis strains isolated in Brazil.

The presence of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis and nontoxigenic B. fragilis (NTBF) among 109 strains isolated from 1980-2008 in Brazil were investigated by PCR. One strain, representing 0.

Presynaptic local signaling by a canonical wingless pathway regulates development of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

Wnt/wingless signaling contributes to the development of neuronal synapses, including the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Loss of wg (wingless) function alters the number and structure of boutons at this model synapse. Examining Wnt/wingless signaling mechanisms, we find that a distinct pathway operates presynaptically in the motoneuron and can account for many of the effects of wingless at this synapse.

Urethral hypermobility after anti-incontinence surgery - a prognostic indicator?

The aim of this study was to define the concept of hypermobility of the bladder neck and determine its effects on the cure rate and postoperative complications in patients undergoing colposuspension. In a retrospective study, 310 patients who underwent primary colposuspension for urodynamically proven genuine stress urinary incontinence were assessed by introital ultrasound before surgery and during follow-up for up to 48 months postoperatively. A total of 152 women completed 48 months of follow-up.

Targeting coagulation factor XII provides protection from pathological thrombosis in cerebral ischemia without interfering with hemostasis.

Formation of fibrin is critical for limiting blood loss at a site of blood vessel injury (hemostasis), but may also contribute to vascular thrombosis. Hereditary deficiency of factor XII (FXII), the protease that triggers the intrinsic pathway of coagulation in vitro, is not associated with spontaneous or excessive injury-related bleeding, indicating FXII is not required for hemostasis. We demonstrate that deficiency or inhibition of FXII protects mice from ischemic brain injury.

Prenatal diagnosis of a large de novo terminal deletion of chromosome 11q.

Objective: To describe the prenatal phenotype of the 11q deletion syndrome (Jacobsen syndrome) and present the molecular characterization of the deletion in the case presented.

Case: Ultrasound at 18 and 20 weeks of gestation, on a 34-year-old woman who presented for amniocentesis, revealed slow movements, oligohydramnios and dilatation of the cerebral ventricles in the fetus. Maternal and paternal ages were 34 and 38 years, respectively.

Prenatal DNA diagnosis of Noonan syndrome in a fetus with massive hygroma colli, pleural effusion and ascites.

Prenatal molecular genetic diagnosis for Noonan syndrome I is reported. Noonan syndrome was suspected because of large cystic hygroma colli, massive pleural effusion and ascites at 23 weeks of gestation and normal karyotype (46,XX). DNA was prepared from amnion cells and screened for mutations in the PTPN11 gene.

Defective thrombus formation in mice lacking coagulation factor XII.

Blood coagulation is thought to be initiated by plasma protease factor VIIa in complex with the membrane protein tissue factor. In contrast, coagulation factor XII (FXII)-mediated fibrin formation is not believed to play an important role for coagulation in vivo. We used FXII-deficient mice to study the contributions of FXII to thrombus formation in vivo.

Targeted deletion of murine coagulation factor XII gene-a model for contact phase activation in vivo.

To analyze the biological role of factor XII (FXII, Hageman Factor) in vivo, we generated mice deficient for FXII using a gene targeting approach on two distinct genetic backgrounds, i.e. mixed C57Bl/6J X 129X1/SvJ and inbred 129X1/SvJ.

Recurrent pregnancy loss and its relation to FV Leiden, FII G20210A and polymorphisms of plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor.

Thrombophilic disorders and hypofibrinolysis were demonstrated to be risk factors in a majority of women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and infertility. We investigated the association of FV G1691A mutation, F II G20210A gene polymorphism (PM), 4G/5G PAI-1 and Alu I/D tPA PM in 32 women with infertility and 49 women with at least 2 unexplained early abortions. FV Leiden mutation was significantly more common in women with RPL (10%, p = 0.

Prospective analysis of placenta growth factor (PlGF) concentrations in the plasma of women with normal pregnancy and pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze if levels of plasma PlGF in the second half of pregnancy have predictive value for the identification of women destined to develop preeclampsia or another complication of pregnancy.

Material And Methods: A bank of 1.543 randomly collected plasma samples (22-29 weeks of gestation) was established and PlGF concentrations were quantitated in a prospective longitudinal study in all pregnant women who developed a complication of pregnancy in late gestation (177 of 1.

Introital ultrasound of the lower genital tract before and after colposuspension: a 4-year objective follow-up.

Objective: To assess the topography of the bladder neck by introital ultrasound before and after open colposuspension.

Methods: Three hundred and ten women with urodynamically proven stress urinary incontinence were included in this long-term study to investigate the position and function of the bladder neck at rest and during straining. Height (H), distance (D), and urethrovesical angle of the bladder neck (beta) were measured by means of preoperative and postoperative introital ultrasound.