Triple-acting Lytic Enzyme Treatment of Drug-Resistant and Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus.

Multi-drug resistant bacteria are a persistent problem in modern health care, food safety and animal health. There is a need for new antimicrobials to replace over used conventional antibiotics. Here we describe engineered triple-acting staphylolytic peptidoglycan hydrolases wherein three unique antimicrobial activities from two parental proteins are combined into a single fusion protein.

Nonreassuring fetal heart rate decreases heart rate variability in newborn infants.

Background: Nonreassuring fetal status (NRFS) refers to a compromised fetal condition which implies hypoxia. The influence of intrapartum hypoxia on autonomic nervous system function in early postnatal life is unknown. This study explored the influence of NRFS on the heart rate variability (HRV) of newborn infants.

Effects of internet addiction on heart rate variability in school-aged children.

Background: The Internet has been gaining worldwide popularity in recent years, but a loss of control over Internet use might lead to negative impacts on our daily lives.

Objectives: This study explored the effects of Internet addiction on autonomic nervous system function through heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional design.

Group B Streptococcus CovR regulation modulates host immune signalling pathways to promote vaginal colonization.

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is a frequent commensal organism of the vaginal tract of healthy women. However, GBS can transition to a pathogen in susceptible hosts, but host and microbial factors that contribute to this conversion are not well understood. GBS CovR/S (CsrR/S) is a two component regulatory system that regulates key virulence elements including adherence and toxin production.

Serratia entomophila bet gene induction and the impact of glycine betaine accumulation on desiccation tolerance.

Aims: The genes involved in choline transport and oxidation to glycine betaine in the biopesticidal bacterium Serratia entomophila were characterized, and the potential of osmoprotectants, coupled with increased NaCl concentrations, to improve the desiccation tolerance of this species was investigated.

Methods And Results: Serratia entomophila carries sequences similar to the Escherichia coli betTIBA genes encoding a choline transporter and dehydrogenase, a betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase and a regulatory protein. Disruption of betA abolished the ability of Ser.