Analysis of a new flavodiiron core structural arrangement in Flv1-ΔFlR protein from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

Flavodiiron proteins (FDPs) play key roles in biological response mechanisms against oxygen and/or nitric oxide; in particular they are present in oxygenic phototrophs (including cyanobacteria and gymnosperms). Two conserved domains define the core of this family of proteins: a N-terminal metallo-β-lactamase-like domain followed by a C-terminal flavodoxin-like one, containing the catalytic diiron centre and a FMN cofactor, respectively. Members of the FDP family may present extra modules in the C-terminus, and were classified into several classes according to their distribution and composition.

Flavodiiron oxygen reductase from Entamoeba histolytica: modulation of substrate preference by tyrosine 271 and lysine 53.

Flavodiiron proteins (FDPs) are a family of enzymes endowed with bona fide oxygen- and/or nitric-oxide reductase activity, although their substrate specificity determinants remain elusive. After a comprehensive comparison of available three-dimensional structures, particularly of FDPs with a clear preference toward either O2 or NO, two main differences were identified near the diiron active site, which led to the construction of site-directed mutants of Tyr(271) and Lys(53) in the oxygen reducing Entamoeba histolytica EhFdp1. The biochemical and biophysical properties of these mutants were studied by UV-visible and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies coupled to potentiometry.

HIV-1-mother-to-child transmission and associated characteristics in a public maternity unit in Presidente Prudente, Brazil.

In children, vertical transmission is the main form of HIV infection. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of HIV-1 vertical transmission in mother-infant pairs in a public maternity ward in Presidente Prudente, SP. Additionally; we sought to identify characteristics associated with this form of transmission.

Vertical transmission of HIV-1 in the western region of the State of São Paulo.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vertical HIV-1 transmission in the western region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods: The study analyzed the medical records of HIV-1-infected mothers and infant pairs living in the municipalities of São Paulo Regional Health Departments DRS II (Araçatuba) and DRS XI (Presidente Prudente). From March 2001 to March 2006, blood samples were collected and referred to the Molecular Biology Unit of the Adolfo Lutz Institute (ALI), Presidente Prudente.

Gene expression study of the flavodi-iron proteins from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

The flavodi-iron proteins, also named FDPs, are an extensive family of enzymes able to reduce dioxygen to water and/or nitric oxide to nitrous oxide. These proteins are formed by a metallo-β-lactamase-like module with a di-iron catalytic site fused to a flavodoxin-like module bearing an FMN. However, in cyanobacteria, which are oxygenic photosynthetic organisms widespread in Nature, FDPs have an extra NAD(P)H:flavin reductase-like domain as a C-terminal extension.

Flavodiiron protein from Trichomonas vaginalis hydrogenosomes: the terminal oxygen reductase.

Trichomonas vaginalis is one of a few eukaryotes that have been found to encode several homologues of flavodiiron proteins (FDPs). Widespread among anaerobic prokaryotes, these proteins are believed to function as oxygen and/or nitric oxide reductases to provide protection against oxidative/nitrosative stresses and host immune responses. One of the T.

Biochemical, spectroscopic, and thermodynamic properties of flavodiiron proteins.

The flavodiiron proteins (FDPs), present in Archaea, Bacteria, and some protozoan pathogens (mostly anaerobes or microaerophiles), have been proposed to afford protection to microbes against nitric oxide and/or oxygen (toxic for anaerobes). The structural prototype of this protein family is a homodimer assembled in a "head-to-tail" configuration, with each monomer being composed of two domains: an N-terminal metallo-beta-lactamase module harboring a nonheme diiron center (active site of NO/O(2) reduction) and a C-terminal flavodoxin module, where a flavin mononucleotide moiety is embedded. Several FDPs bear C-terminal extra domains, which influence the composition of the respective electron transfer chains that couple NAD(P)H oxidation to NO/O(2) reduction.

Flavohemoglobin of Staphylococcus aureus.

Biotically, bacteria encounter nitrogen-reactive species in environments where denitrification occurs or when nitric oxide (NO) is generated by the mammal NO synthase, particularly during the infectious processes. In bacteria, flavohemoglobins have been shown to be one of the major systems responsible for the scavenging of these chemical species, either in aerobic or in anaerobic environments. Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogenic bacterium with high impact on human heath, also contains a gene encoding a homologue of a flavohemoprotein.

[Nursing staff's perception on the assessment of professional performance at a university hospital].

The objective of this study was to understand nursing staff's perception in relation to the professional performance assessment process, which is being implemented through research-action at the Sõ Paulo University Hospital (USP). Data from 16 forums that took place in 2003 and 2003, were summarized and submitted to Content Analysis. The objectives set correspond to those established in literature and are influenced by power relationships and professional training.

The creation of performance evaluation indicators through a focus group.

This study was developed in an action research perspective and aimed to create professional performance evaluation indicators for nursing technicians and auxiliaries working at the University Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo. Data were collected through the focus group technique, involving 19 secondary-level professionals, representing different Nursing Department units. During seven meetings, participants elaborated definitions of seven indicators they and their peers considered relevant to picture the adequate performance of these professional categories.

[An instrument for attitude measurement about professional appraisal].

The study describes a construction of an attitude measurement tool, the Likert Scale, about the performance evaluation process used by the Nursing Department of the University Hospital at University of São Paulo, related to the nurse's beliefs, feelings and ability. The test's results of confidence, Cronbach Alpha and Spearman-Brown Correlation, showed that the tool is confident and appropriate for application in other populations.

Escherichia coli YtfE is a di-iron protein with an important function in assembly of iron-sulphur clusters.

Our previous analysis of the transcriptome of Escherichia coli under nitrosative stress showed that the ytfE gene was one of the highest induced genes. Furthermore, the E. coli strain mutated on the ytfE gene was found to be more sensitive to nitric oxide than the wild-type strain.

Flavohemoglobin requires microaerophilic conditions for nitrosative protection of Staphylococcus aureus.

Flavohemoglobins and flavodiiron proteins are two families of enzymes involved in nitrosative detoxification. However, the physiological oxygen-related conditions under which they work and their relative role are still a matter of debate. To address this question we analyzed the function of the putative flavohemoprotein of Staphylococcus aureus, an organism that lacks a flavodiiron-like gene.

[Situational diagnostic of an evaluation process of professional perfomance].

The aim of this study was to realize a diagnostic situational about the evaluation process of the nursing team performance of USP Hospital. Based in two guiding questions, it was carried out 9 interviews with nurses of this hospital. These interviews were analyzed according Analyze of Contend.