The AraC-type transcription factor TagK is a new player in the signaling cascade that induces the anti-eukaryotic T6SS of Xanthomonas citri.

Type 6 secretion systems (T6SSs) are specialized multiprotein complexes that inject protein effectors into prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic cells. We previously described the role of the T6SS of the phytopathogen Xanthomonas citri pv. citri as an anti-eukaryotic nanoweapon that confers resistance to predation by the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum.

How new molecular tools can help bugbusters: a Burkholderia cepacia complex outbreak investigation.

Unlabelled: An outbreak of bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) took place from March 2012 until April 2014 involving thirteen patients.

Aim: To describe an outbreak investigation of BSI Bcc and showing how genetic sequencing tools contributed to confirm the hypothesis of extrinsic contamination proposed by an observational study.

Methods: The Infection Control Department revised and reinforced good practices of infusion therapy and catheter care, visits to affected wards, a case control study, and environmental screening based on the case-control findings.

Strain-specific transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of heat-labile toxin expression by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) represents one of the most important etiological agents of diarrhea in developing countries and characteristically produces at least one of two enterotoxins: heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable toxin (ST). It has been previously shown that the production and release of LT by human-derived ETEC strains are variable. Although the natural genetic polymorphisms of regulatory sequences of LT-encoding (eltAB) genes may explain the variable production of LT, the knowledge of the transcriptional and posttranscriptional aspects affecting LT expression among ETEC strains is not clear.

Evaluation of adenosine triphosphate test for cleaning assessment of gastroscopes and the effect on workload in a busy endoscopy center.

Objective: Using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) tests to assess manual cleaning of gastroscopes and to determine the associated workload in a busy endoscopy unit.

Methods: Patient-used gastroscopes were sampled before and after cleaning to assess ATP levels, bioburden, and protein. Samples were collected by flushing 20 mL of sterile water through the biopsy port to the distal end.

Alternative Start Codon Connects eIF5A to Mitochondria.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), a protein containing the amino acid residue hypusine required for its activity, is involved in a number of physiological and pathological cellular processes. In humans, several EIF5A1 transcript variants encode the canonical eIF5A1 isoform B, whereas the hitherto uncharacterized variant A is expected to code for a hypothetical eIF5A1 isoform, referred to as isoform A, which has an additional N-terminal extension. Herein, we validate the existence of eIF5A1 isoform A and its production from transcript variant A.