Regulated expression of murine CD40L by a lentiviral vector transcriptionally targeted through its endogenous promoter.

Background: Targeted lentiviral vectors may contribute to circumventing genotoxicity associated with uncontrolled transcription of therapeutic genes. Some vectors replacing strong viral sequences for gene promoters such as β-globin, CD4, CD19 or Igκ were able to drive tissue-specific expression of the transgene. Gene therapy, however, faces even greater hurdles when the therapeutic transgene is subject to strict regulatory mechanisms.

Characterization of haloglycan, an exopolysaccharide produced by Halomonas stenophila HK30.

We have conducted a thorough study of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by strain HK30 of Halomonas stenophila, which we have named haloglycan. This strain was chosen during an ongoing research programme aimed at finding novel exopolysaccharide-producing halophilic bacteria in unexplored hypersaline habitats. Strain HK30 was isolated from a saline-wetland in Brikcha (Morocco) and identified as belonging to the species H.

An exopolysaccharide produced by the novel halophilic bacterium Halomonas stenophila strain B100 selectively induces apoptosis in human T leukaemia cells.

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are highly heterogeneous polymers produced by fungi and bacteria and have recently been attracting considerable attention from biotechnologists because of their potential applications in many fields, including biomedicine. We have screened the antitumoural activity of a panel of sulphated EPSs produced by a newly discovered species of halophilic bacteria. We found that the novel halophilic bacterium Halomonas stenophila strain B100 produced a heteropolysaccharide that, when oversulphated, exerted antitumoural activity on T cell lines deriving from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).