Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis patients.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounts for about one half of all pulmonary infections of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In this study, we analyzed 135 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the expectorations of 55 CF adult patients attending a CF referral center over a period of five years.

Burkholderia respiratory tract infections in Italian patients with cystic fibrosis: molecular characterization.

Objectives: To characterize by molecular techniques Burkholderia strains responsible for respiratory tract infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (children and adults), to assign the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) isolates to a genomovar and to assess the presence of cblA and esmR genes in bacteria. Unique or sequential Burkholderia isolates (n=48) that had been collected from eight CF children and 17 adults over several (4-6) years were investigated; moreover 11 reference strains were analyzed.

Methods: The microorganisms were identified by using biochemical methods, genotyped by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and random-amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting-PCR (RAPD-PCR), and assessed by PCR assays for the genomovar and cblA and esmR genes of Bcc.

Antileishmanial activity of HIV protease inhibitors.

The proteasomes of some protozoa are possible targets for chemotherapy. Leishmaniasis is a major health problem in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected subjects. Two HIV protease inhibitors (PI), indinavir and saquinavir, have been shown to block proteasome functions; we therefore investigated their effects on the growth of two Leishmania spp.