Disruption of VirB6 Paralogs in Anaplasma phagocytophilum Attenuates Its Growth.

Many pathogenic bacteria translocate virulence factors into their eukaryotic hosts by means of type IV secretion systems (T4SS) spanning the inner and outer membranes. Genes encoding components of these systems have been identified within the order based upon their sequence similarities to other prototypical systems. strains are obligate intracellular, tick-borne bacteria that are members of this order.

Novel phosphorescent triptycene-based Ir(iii) complexes for organic light-emitting diodes.

A series of charge-neutral cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes (1-3 and 5-7) containing triptycene-substituted ligands (tbt and tpbi) and two parent complexes (4 and 8) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures indicated that π-π stacking interactions existed in ligand tbtH, but not in complex 6. However, a large intramolecular repulsion was found in complex 6.

Knockout of Babesia bovis rad51 ortholog and its complementation by expression from the BbACc3 artificial chromosome platform.

Babesia bovis establishes persistent infections of long duration in cattle, despite the development of effective anti-disease immunity. One mechanism used by the parasite to achieve persistence is rapid antigenic variation of the VESA1 cytoadhesion ligand through segmental gene conversion (SGC), a phenomenon thought to be a form of homologous recombination (HR). To begin investigation of the enzymatic basis for SGC we initially identified and knocked out the Bbrad51 gene encoding the B.

GCK mutations in Chinese MODY2 patients: a family pedigree report and review of Chinese literature.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY2) is caused by mutations in the glucokinase (GCK) gene and is rare in the Chinese population. We report three Chinese families with MODY2 and the sequencing of the GCK gene.

Methods: Three unrelated Chinese families with MODY2 and their pedigrees were investigated.

Radiation enhancing effects of sanazole and gemcitabine in hypoxic breast and cervical cancer cells in vitro.

Aim Of The Study: Sanazole and gemcitabine have been proven clinically as hypoxic cell radiosensitisers. This study was conducted to determine the radiation enhancing effects of sanazole and gemcitabine when administered together at relevant concentrations into hypoxic human MCF-7 and HeLa cells.

Material And Methods: A 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate the number of surviving cells.

Shared elements of host-targeting pathways among apicomplexan parasites of differing lifestyles.

Apicomplexans are a diverse group of obligate parasites occupying different intracellular niches that require modification to meet the needs of the parasite. To efficiently manipulate their environment, apicomplexans translocate numerous parasite proteins into the host cell. Whereas some parasites remain contained within a parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) throughout their developmental cycle, others do not, a difference that affects the machinery needed for protein export.

Serum CA125 level predicts prognosis in patients with multiple brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer before and after treatment of whole-brain radiotherapy.

This study was to evaluate the effect of serum CA125 level on the prognosis of patients with multiple brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer before and after treatment of whole-brain radiotherapy. Sixty-six patients with multiple brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer before and after treatment of radiotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. Radiotherapy was given to the whole brain using opposed 6MV lateral beams with a dose of 30 Gy in 15 fractions in 3 weeks.

Radiation enhancing effects with the combination of sanazole and irinotecan in hypoxic HeLa human cervical cancer cell line.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the synergistic radiation sensitizing effects of the combination of sanazole and irinotecan in hypoxic cervical cancer HeLa human tumor cell line.

Methods: The 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate the number of surviving cells. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry.

Unusual chromatin structure associated with monoparalogous transcription of the Babesia bovis ves multigene family.

Rapid antigenic variation in Babesia bovis involves the variant erythrocyte surface antigen-1 (VESA1), a heterodimeric protein with subunits encoded by two branches of the ves multigene family. The ves1α and ves1β gene pair encoding VESA1a and 1b, respectively, are transcribed in a monoparalogous manner from a single locus of active ves transcription (LAT), just one of many quasi-palindromic ves loci. To determine whether this organization plays a role in transcriptional regulation, chromatin structure was first assessed.

Hanging Pt hollow nanocrystal assemblies on graphene resulting in an enhanced electrocatalyst.

Pt hollow nanostructures assembled by nanocrystals were in situ grown and hung onto graphene layers to combine the merits from favorable catalyst morphology control and synergetic improvement effect of the graphene support, resulting in a composite with enhanced electrocatalytic performance.

C-reactive protein level predicts prognosis in patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) level on the prognosis of patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy. Fifty-seven patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal carcinoma (cT3-4, N0-3, M0) treated with chemoradiotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. Chemoradiotherapy comprised external beam radiotherapy to the larynx (70 Gy) with three cycles of cisplatin at 3-week intervals.

Characterization of the unusual bidirectional ves promoters driving VESA1 expression and associated with antigenic variation in Babesia bovis.

Rapid clonal antigenic variation in Babesia bovis involves the variant erythrocyte surface antigen-1 (VESA1) protein expressed on the infected-erythrocyte surface. Because of the significance of this heterodimeric protein for demonstrated mechanisms of parasite survival and virulence, there is a need to understand how expression of the ves multigene family encoding this protein is controlled. As an initial step toward this goal, we present here initial characterization of the ves promoter driving transcription of VESA1a and -1b subunits.

The Babesia bovis VESA1 virulence factor subunit 1b is encoded by the 1beta branch of the ves multigene family.

Babesia bovis, an intraerythrocytic parasite of cattle, establishes persistent infections of extreme duration. This is accomplished, at least in part, through rapid antigenic variation of a heterodimeric virulence factor, the variant erythrocyte surface antigen-1 (VESA1) protein. Previously, the VESA1a subunit was demonstrated to be encoded by a 1alpha member of the ves multigene family.

Loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instabilities of fragile histidine triad gene in gastric carcinoma.

Aim: To detect the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instabi1ities (MSI) of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene in gastric carcinoma and to study their association with the clinical pathological characteristics of gastric carcinoma.

Methods: LOH and MSI of FHIT gene were detected at four microsaterllite loci D3Sl3H, D3S4l03, D3Sl48l and D3S1234 using PCR in matched normal and cancerous tissues from 50 patients with primary gastric cancer.

Results: The average frequency of LOH and MSI of FHIT gene in gastric cancer was 32.

Relationship between abnormality of FHIT gene and EBV infection in gastric cancer.

Aim: To examine the aberrant expression of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene and protein in gastric cancer, and to evaluate the role of FHIT gene and the relationship between FHIT gene and EBV infection in gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods: FHIT transcripts were detected by nested RT-PCR in 30 cases of gastric cancer and their products were sequenced. FHIT protein was detected by Western blot.

Glucose deprivation enhances targeting of GLUT1 to lipid rafts in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Glucose deprivation dramatically increases glucose transport activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without changing the concentration of GLUT1 in the plasma membrane (PM). Recent data suggest that subcompartments within the PM, specifically lipid rafts, may sequester selected proteins and alter their activity. To evaluate this possibility, we examined the distribution of GLUT1 in Triton X-100-soluble and -insoluble fractions.