Disinfectant Susceptibility Profiling of Glutaraldehyde-Resistant Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

OBJECTIVE Activated alkaline glutaraldehyde (GTA) remains one of the most widely used high-level disinfectants worldwide. However, several reports have highlighted the potential for nontuberculous mycobacteria to develop high-level resistance to this product. Because aldehyde resistance may lead to cross-resistance to other biocides, we investigated the susceptibility profile of GTA-resistant Mycobacterium chelonae and M.

Correction: LprG-Mediated Surface Expression of Lipoarabinomannan Is Essential for Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.

Analysis of a panel of rapidly growing mycobacteria for resistance to aldehyde-based disinfectants.

After several accounts across the globe of mycobacteria outbreaks associated with medical procedures and aldehyde disinfectants resistance, we undertook an analysis of mycobacteria isolated from patients seen in a hospital in the United States between 1994 and 2008 to determine prevalence of resistance to aldehyde-based disinfectants. Out of the 117 clinical isolates screened, 6 isolates belonging to the emerging Mycobacterium abscessus group were found to display significant levels of resistance to glutaraldehyde and ortho-phthalaldehyde.

Cooccurrence of free-living amoebae and nontuberculous Mycobacteria in hospital water networks, and preferential growth of Mycobacterium avium in Acanthamoeba lenticulata.

The incidence of lung and other diseases due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing. NTM sources include potable water, especially in households where NTM populate pipes, taps, and showerheads. NTM share habitats with free-living amoebae (FLA) and can grow in FLA as parasites or as endosymbionts.

Increased virulence of an epidemic strain of Mycobacterium massiliense in mice.

Background: Chronic pulmonary disease and skin/soft tissue infections due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) of the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus-massiliense group is an emerging health problem worldwide. Moreover, the cure rate for the infections this group causes is low despite aggressive treatment. Post-surgical outbreaks that reached epidemic proportions in Brazil recently were caused by M.

Lymphangiogenesis-independent resolution of experimental edema.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C is necessary for lymphangiogenesis, and excess VEGF-C has been shown to be ameliorative for edema produced by lymphatic obstruction in experimental models. However, it has recently been shown that edema can resolve in the mouse tail even in the complete absence of capillary lymphangiogenesis when distal lymph fluid crosses the regenerating wound site interstitially. This finding has raised questions about the action of VEGF-C/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) signaling during the resolution of experimental edema.

New insights into the early steps of phosphatidylinositol mannoside biosynthesis in mycobacteria: PimB' is an essential enzyme of Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs) are key glycolipids of the mycobacterial cell envelope. They are considered not only essential structural components of the cell but also important molecules implicated in host-pathogen interactions. Although their chemical structures are well established, knowledge of the enzymes and sequential events leading to their biosynthesis is still incomplete.

A once-daily lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimen is noninferior to twice-daily dosing and results in similar safety and tolerability in antiretroviral-naive subjects through 48 weeks.

Background: Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-dosed twice daily has demonstrated durable efficacy in antiretroviral-naive and protease inhibitor (PI) -experienced patients. Study M05-730 compared LPV/r tablets dosed once daily vs. twice daily in antiretroviral-naive subjects.

Neurotensin and cholecystokinin depress motility in isolated Lumbricus terrestris crop-gizzard preparations.

The effects of neurotensin (NT) and cholecystokinin (CCK) were studied on isolated crop-gizzard preparations of Lumbricus terrestris suspended in a smooth muscle organ bath. Changes in the amplitude and frequency of contractions associated with spontaneous motility were observed in response to neurotransmitters known to have an excitatory effect (acetylcholine) and an inhibitory effect (serotonin); and to the hormones NT and CCK, which in vertebrate models have both been shown to inhibit gastric motility. The overall contractile amplitude and frequency of crop-gizzard contractions were decreased in response to increasing concentrations of NT and CCK.

The resolution of lymphedema by interstitial flow in the mouse tail skin.

Lymphangiogenesis is considered a promising approach for increasing fluid drainage during secondary lymphedema. However, organization of lymphatics into functional capillaries may be dependent upon interstitial flow (IF). The present study was undertaken to determine the importance of lymphangiogenesis for lymphedema resolution.