A case of pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) in a patient with HIV infection.

Little is known about pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report a case of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) in a patient who was newly diagnosed as having HIV. His general condition was good, and he was successfully treated in an outpatient setting.

Arctigenin blocks the unfolded protein response and shows therapeutic antitumor activity.

Cancer cells in poorly vascularized solid tumors are constantly or intermittently exposed to stressful microenvironments, including glucose deprivation, hypoxia, and other forms of nutrient starvation. These tumor-specific conditions, especially glucose deprivation, activate a signaling pathway called the unfolded protein response (UPR), which enhances cell survival by induction of the stress proteins. We have established a screening method to discover anticancer agents that could preferentially inhibit tumor cell viability under glucose-deprived conditions.

Tetracenoquinocin and 5-iminoaranciamycin from a sponge-derived Streptomyces sp. Sp080513GE-26.

Two new anthracyclines, tetracenoquinocin (1) and 5-iminoaranciamycin (2), together with the known compounds aranciamycin (3) and antibiotic SM 173B were isolated from the culture of Streptomyces sp. Sp080513GE-26 associated with a marine sponge, Haliclona sp. The structures of 1 and 2 were established on the basis of extensive NMR and MS analyses along with (13)C-labeling experiments.

JBIR-22, an inhibitor for protein-protein interaction of the homodimer of proteasome assembly factor 3.

Proteasome assembling chaperone (PAC) 3 acts as a homodimer and plays an important role in proteasome formation. We screened JBIR-22 (1) as an inhibitor for protein-protein interaction (PPI) of PAC3 homodimer from our natural product library using a protein fragment complementation assay (PCA) with monomeric Kusabira-Green fluorescent protein (mKG) in vitro and found that 1 exhibited potent inhibitory activity against PAC3 homodimerization. Compound 1 showed long-term cytotoxicity against the human cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa.

Tetrapeptides possessing a unique skeleton, JBIR-34 and JBIR-35, isolated from a sponge-derived actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. Sp080513GE-23.

Two new modified indole-containing peptides, JBIR-34 (1) and JBIR-35 (2), were isolated from the fermentation broth of a sponge-derived actinomycete identified by phylogenetic methods as a Streptomyces sp. (strain Sp080513GE-23). The planar structures of 1 and 2 were assigned on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and MS analyses.

A mutation in H5 haemagglutinin that conferred human receptor recognition is not maintained stably during duck passage.

A/Hong Kong/213/97 (HK213; H5N1), isolated from a human, binds to both avian- and human-type receptors, due to a haemagglutinin (HA) mutation probably acquired during adaptation to humans. Duck passage of this virus conferred lethality in ducks. Sequence analyses of the duck-passaged virus revealed that its HA gene reverted back to one recognizing only avian-type receptors, and consequently it bound human tissue to a lesser extent.

Sponge-derived Streptomyces producing isoprenoids via the mevalonate pathway.

In the course of our screening program for isoprenoids of marine actinobacterial origin, 523 actinobacterial strains were isolated from marine samples. Actinobacteria usually use the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway for the production of primary metabolites, but some have been reported to use the mevalonate (MVA) pathway for the production of isoprenoids as secondary metabolites. 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is a key enzyme and plays an important role in the MVA pathway.

T-705 (favipiravir) activity against lethal H5N1 influenza A viruses.

The neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivi are used to treat H5N1 influenza. However, oseltamivir-resistant H5N1 viruses have been isolated from oseltamivir-treated patients. Moreover, reassortment between H5N1 viruses and oseltamvir-resistant human H1N1 viruses currently circulating could create oseltamivir-resistant H5N1 viruses, rendering the oseltamivir stockpile obsolete.

Emerging and reemerging influenza virus infections.

Influenza A virus infection occurs in many species. Wild waterfowl harbor the widest variety of influenza A viruses and serve as a constant reservoir for the emergence of new viruses. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or "fowl plague," has been a known poultry disease for more than 130 years.

Distribution of the 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase gene and isoprenoid production in marine-derived Actinobacteria.

During the course of our screening program to isolate isoprenoids from marine Actinobacteria, 523 actinobacterial strains were isolated from 18 marine sponges, a tunicate, and two marine sediments. These strains belonged to 21 different genera, but most were members of Streptomyces, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and Micromonospora. Some Actinobacteria have been reported to use the mevalonate pathway for the production of isoprenoids as secondary metabolites.

Streptomyces tateyamensis sp. nov., Streptomyces marinus sp. nov. and Streptomyces haliclonae sp. nov., isolated from the marine sponge Haliclona sp.

Three Gram-positive, NaCl-requiring actinobacteria were isolated from a marine sponge, Haliclona sp., collected from the coast of Tateyama City, Japan. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these strains represent novel members of the genus Streptomyces, exhibiting low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.

Disabling c-Myc in childhood medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor cells by the potent G-quadruplex interactive agent S2T1-6OTD.

We investigated here the effects of S2T1-6OTD, a novel telomestatin derivative that is synthesized to target G-quadruplex-forming DNA sequences, on a representative panel of human medulloblastoma (MB) and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid (AT/RT) childhood brain cancer cell lines. S2T1-6OTD proved to be a potent c-Myc inhibitor through its high-affinity physical interaction with the G-quadruplex structure in the c-Myc promoter. Treatment with S2T1-6OTD reduced the mRNA and protein expressions of c-Myc and hTERT, which is transcriptionally regulated by c-Myc, and decreased the activities of both genes.

Identification of amino acids in HA and PB2 critical for the transmission of H5N1 avian influenza viruses in a mammalian host.

Since 2003, H5N1 influenza viruses have caused over 400 known cases of human infection with a mortality rate greater than 60%. Most of these cases resulted from direct contact with virus-contaminated poultry or poultry products. Although only limited human-to-human transmission has been reported to date, it is feared that efficient human-to-human transmission of H5N1 viruses has the potential to cause a pandemic of disastrous proportions.

Clarithromycin inhibits type a seasonal influenza virus infection in human airway epithelial cells.

Human influenza viruses attach to sialic acid with an alpha2,6linkage (SAalpha2,6Gal) on the airway epithelial cells, and the entry of the viruses into the cells and uncoating of the viruses require low pH of endosomes. Bafilomycin A(1), a macrolide antibiotic and a specific inhibitor of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase, inhibits growth of type A and type B human influenza viruses in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. However, the inhibitory effects of clinically used macrolide antibiotics on influenza virus infection in human airways have not been studied.

Glucose-regulated protein 78: a new partner of p53 in trophoblast.

Although wild-type p53 protein is overexpressed in first trimester trophoblast, it is inactive towards its target genes Metalloproteinase 2 and 9. This seems to be due to a complex mechanism of inactivation and stabilization of p53 relying on the formation of protein complexes involving the N-terminus of p53. To detect the proteins associated with this sequence, we incubated biotinylated p53 N-terminal peptide in cytotrophoblastic cell medium 24 h before lysis of cells.

Aminocaprophenone- and pyrrolidine-type alkaloids from the leaves of Ficus septica.

Two new aminocaprophenone alkaloids, ficuseptamines A (1) and B (2), and a new pyrrolidine alkaloid, ficuseptamine C (3), together with 12 known alkaloids and a known acetophenone derivative were isolated from a methanolic extract of the leaves of Ficus septica. The structures of 1-3 were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The compounds obtained were evaluated for cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines.

G-quadruplex recognition by macrocyclic hexaoxazole (6OTD) dimer: greater selectivity than monomer.

Macrocyclic hexaoxazole (6OTD) dimers were designed as candidates for potent G-quadruplex binders and synthesized.

Lethal influenza virus infection in macaques is associated with early dysregulation of inflammatory related genes.

The enormous toll on human life during the 1918-1919 Spanish influenza pandemic is a constant reminder of the potential lethality of influenza viruses. With the declaration by the World Health Organization of a new H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, and with continued human cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus infection, a better understanding of the host response to highly pathogenic influenza viruses is essential. To this end, we compared pathology and global gene expression profiles in bronchial tissue from macaques infected with either the reconstructed 1918 pandemic virus or the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus A/Vietnam/1203/04.

Ostrich involvement in the selection of H5N1 influenza virus possessing mammalian-type amino acids in the PB2 protein.

Amino acids at positions 627 and 701 in the PB2 protein (PB2-627 and PB2-701, respectively) of avian influenza A viruses affect virus replication in some mammalian cells. Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses possessing mammalian-type PB2-627 were detected during the Qinghai Lake outbreak in 2005 and spread to Europe and Africa. Via a database search, we found a high rate of viral isolates from Ratitae, including ostrich, possessing mammalian-type PB2-627 or -701.