The invertebrate lysozyme effector ILYS-3 is systemically activated in response to danger signals and confers antimicrobial protection in C. elegans

Little is known about the relative contributions and importance of antibacterial effectors in the nematode C. elegans, despite extensive work on the innate immune responses in this organism. We report an investigation of the expression, function and regulation of the six ilys (invertebrate-type lysozyme) genes of C. elegans. These genes exhibited a surprising variety of tissue-specific expression patterns and responses to starvation or bacterial infection. The most strongly expressed, ilys-3, was investigated in detail. ILYS-3 protein was expressed constitutively in the pharynx and coelomocytes, and dynamically in the intestine. Analysis of mutants showed that ILYS-3 was required for pharyngeal grinding (disruption of bacterial cells) during normal growth and consequently it contributes to longevity, as well as being protective against bacterial pathogens. Both starvation and challenge with Gram-positive pathogens resulted in ERK-MAPK-dependent up-regulation of ilys-3 in the intestine. The intestinal induction by pathogens, but not starvation, was found to be dependent on MPK-1 activity in the pharynx rather than in the intestine, demonstrating unexpected communication between these two tissues. The coelomocyte expression appeared to contribute little to normal growth or immunity. Recombinant ILYS-3 protein was found to exhibit appropriate lytic activity against Gram-positive cell wall material

Intravenous versus inhalation anaesthesia for one-lung ventilation

Background the technique called one-lung ventilation can confine bleeding or infection to one lung, prevent rupture of a lung cyst or, more commonly, facilitate surgical exposure of the unventilated lung. During one- lung ventilation, anaesthesia is maintained either by delivering a volatile anaesthetic to the ventilated lung or by infusing an intravenous anaesthetic. It is possible that the method chosen to maintain anaesthesia may affect patient outcomes.Objectives the objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intravenous versus inhalation anaesthesia for one- lung ventilation.Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) ( the Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 3), MEDLINE, LILACS, EMBASE ( from inception to June 2006), ISI web of Science ( 1945 to June 2006), reference lists of identified trials, and bibliographies of published reviews. We also contacted researchers in the field. There were no language restrictions.Selection criteria We included randomized controlled trials and quasi- randomized controlled trials of intravenous versus inhalation anaesthesia for one-lung ventilation.Data collection and analysis Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information.Main results We included nine studies that enrolled 291 participants. We could not perform meta-analyses as the included studies did not report the outcomes listed in the protocol for this review.Authors' conclusions There is no evidence from randomized controlled trials of differences in patient outcomes for anaesthesia maintained by intravenous versus inhalational anaesthesia during one- lung ventilation. This review highlights the need for continued research into the use of intravenous versus inhalation anaesthesia for one- lung ventilation. Future trials should have standardized outcome measures such as death, adverse postoperative outcomes and intraoperative awareness. Dropouts and losses to follow up should be reported.Hosp Sirio Libanes, Dept Anesthesiol, BR-05011040 São Paulo, BrazilMcMaster Univ, Toronto, ON, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazilian Cochrane Ctr, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazilian Cochrane Ctr, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Soybean Toxin (SBTX) Impairs Fungal Growth by Interfering with Molecular Transport, Carbohydrate/Amino Acid Metabolism and Drug/Stress Responses

<p>Soybean toxin (SBTX) is an antifungal protein from soybeans with broad inhibitory activity against the growth and filamentation of many fungi, including human and plant pathogenic species such as Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium herquei, Cercospora sojina and Cercospora kikuchii. Understanding the mechanism by which SBTX acts on fungi and yeasts may contribute to the design of novel antifungal drugs and/or the development of transgenic plants resistant to pathogens. To this end, the polymorphic yeast C. albicans was chosen as a model organism and changes in the gene expression profile of strain SC5314 upon exposure to SBTX were examined. Genes that were differentially regulated in the presence of SBTX were involved in glucose transport and starvation-associated stress responses as well as in the control of both the induction and repression of C. albicans hyphal formation. Transmission electron microscopy showed that C. albicans cells exposed to SBTX displayed severe signs of starvation and were heavily granulated. Our data were indicative of C. albicans cell starvation despite sufficient nutrient availability in the medium; therefore, it can be speculated that SBTX blocks nutrient uptake systems. Because neither the starvation signal nor the alkaline response pathway lead to the induction of hyphae, we hypothesise that conflicting signals are transmitted to the complex regulatory network controlling morphogenesis, eventually preventing the filamentation signal from reaching a significant threshold.</p>