The cytoplasmic domain of CD4 promotes the development of CD4 lineage T cells.

Thymocytes must bind major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins on thymic epithelial cells in order to mature into either CD8+ cytotoxic T cells or CD4+ helper T cells. Thymic precursors express both CD8 and CD4, and it has been suggested that the intracellular signals generated by CD8 or CD4 binding to class I or II MHC, respectively, might influence the fate of uncommitted cells. Here we test the notion that intracellular signaling by CD4 directs the development of thymocytes to a CD4 lineage. A hybrid protein consisting of the CD8 extracellular and transmembrane domains and the cytoplasmic domain of CD4 (CD884) should bind class I MHC but deliver a CD4 intracellular signal. We find that expression of a hybrid CD884 protein in thymocytes of transgenic mice leads to the development of large numbers of class I MHC-specific, CD4 lineage T cells. We discuss these results in terms of current models for CD4 and CD8 lineage commitment

Electrochemical characterization of Geobacter lovleyi identifies limitations of microbial fuel cell performance in constructed wetlands

Power generation in microbial fuel cells implemented in constructed wetlands (CW-MFCs) is low despite the enrichment of anode electricigens most closely related to Geobacter lovleyi. Using the model representative G. lovleyi strain SZ, we show that acetate, but not formate or lactate, can be oxidized efficiently but growth is limited by the high sensitivity of the bacterium to oxygen. Acetate and highly reducing conditions also supported the growth of anode biofilms but only at optimal anode potentials (450 mV vs. standard hydrogen electrode). Still, electrode coverage was poor and current densities, low, consistent with the lack of key c-type cytochromes. The results suggest that the low oxygen tolerance of G. lovleyi and inability to efficiently colonize and form electroactive biofilms on the electrodes while oxidizing the range of electron donors available in constructed wetlands limits MFC performance. The implications of these findings for the optimization of CW-MFCs are discussed. [Int Microbiol 20(2):55-64 (2017)]Keywords: microbial fuel cells; bioelectrochemical systems; constructed wetlands; extracellular electron transfer; electricigen

Reactivity of dolomitizing fluids and Mg source evaluation of fault-controlled dolomitization at the Benicàssim outcrop analogue (Maestrat Basin, E Spain)

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Electrochemical characterization of Geobacter lovleyi identifies limitations of microbial fuel cell performance in constructed wetlands

Microbial Fuel Cells implemented in Constructed Wetlands (CW-MFCs) show limited performance. Geobacter Lovleyi has been demonstrated to be one of the predominant bacterial species in active CW-MFCs. The aim of this study was to characterize the growth of G.Lovleyi so as to identify if it could be a source for the observed CW-MFCs low performances. To this aim, G. Lovelyi was grown under three different electron donors (acetate, lactate and formate) and two electron acceptors (fumarate and Fe(III) citrate). G. Lovleyi growing and electron transfer characteristics was also studied by inoculating it in double chambered MECs (anodes poised at 31, 450 and 771 mV). Results showed that its growth was supported by acetate, with doubling times of 4.4±0.1 and 8±0.1 hours for fumarate and Fe(III) citrate as electron acceptors, respectively. G. Lovleyi was also demonstrated to be highly intolerant to oxygen, requiring cysteine as a reducing agent. In contrast, formate and lactate did not support cell growth even in the presence of cysteine. Maximum currents achieved were that of 0.08 mA and 0.26 mA for the MECs operated at 450 mV and 771 mV, respectively. However, no current was observed at 31mV. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis showed poor electrode coverage, indicating that G. Lovleyi did not attach to the electrode effectively. According to these results, low performances of CW-MFCs could by at least partially explained by the inability of G. lovleyi to oxidize the wide range of metabolites present in CW, to tolerate even trace oxygen concentrations or to efficiently attach to electrodes surface.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Three cases of mcr-1-positive colistin-resistant Escherichia coli bloodstream infections in Italy, August 2016 to January 2017

We describe three cases of bloodstream infection caused by colistin-resistant Escherichia coli in patients in a tertiary hospital in Italy, between August 2016 and January 2017. Whole genome sequencing detected the mcr-1 gene in three isolated strains belonging to different sequence types (STs). This occurrence of three cases with mcr-1-positive E. coli belonging to different STs in six months suggests a widespread problem in settings where high multidrug resistance is endemic such as in Italy

Influence of Diabetes on Implant Failure and Peri-Implant Diseases: A Retrospective Study

Diabetes is an important modifying factor of periodontitis, but its association with peri-implant diseases has not been fully explored and the existing literature reports controversial results. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of diabetes on peri-implantitis and implant failure. Smoking status, history of periodontal disease, presence of diabetes, diabetes type, therapy and glycaemia levels were collected in a total of 204 subjects treated with 929 implants, with a mean follow-up time of 5.7 \ub1 3.82 years after loading. Odds ratio (OR) for diabetes as a direct cause of peri-implantitis and implant failure were calculated, adjusted for smoking status and history of periodontitis. Nineteen patients were diabetic and most of them presented a good control of the disease at the time of surgery. The overall patient-level prevalence of peri-implantitis was 11.3%. Among diabetic patients, one developed peri-implantitis, whereas one experienced multiple implant failures. The calculated ORs, adjusted for smoking status and periodontitis, were not statistically significant. The results revealed no association between diabetes and peri-implantitis or implant failure coherently with the existing scientific literature. The actual influence of hyperglycemia on implant failure is still uncertain and new studies with larger cohorts of patients are needed

Multiple Klebsiella pneumoniae KPC Clones Contribute to an Extended Hospital Outbreak

The circulation of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a significant problem worldwide. In this work we characterize the isolates and reconstruct the spread of a multi-clone epidemic event that occurred in an Intensive Care Unit in a hospital in Northern Italy. The event took place from August 2015 to May 2016 and involved 23 patients. Twelve of these patients were colonized by CRKP at the gastrointestinal level, while the other 11 were infected in various body districts. We retrospectively collected data on the inpatients and characterized a subset of the CRKP isolates using antibiotic resistance profiling and whole genome sequencing. A SNP-based phylogenetic approach was used to depict the evolutionary context of the obtained genomes, showing that 26 of the 32 isolates belong to three genome clusters, while the remaining six were classified as sporadic. The first genome cluster was composed of multi-resistant isolates of sequence type (ST) 512. Among those, two were resistant to colistin, one of which indicating the insurgence of resistance during an infection. One patient hospitalized in this period was colonized by two strains of CRKP, both carrying the blaKPC gene (variant KPC-3). The analysis of the genome contig containing the blaKPC locus indicates that the gene was not transmitted between the two isolates. The second infection cluster comprised four other genomes of ST512, while the third one (ST258) colonized 12 patients, causing five clinical infections and resulting in seven deaths. This cluster presented the highest level of antibiotic resistance, including colistin resistance in all 17 analyzed isolates. The three outbreaking clones did not present more virulence genes than the sporadic isolates and had different patterns of antibiotic resistance, however, were clearly distinct from the sporadic ones in terms of infection status, being the only ones causing overt infections

Fault-controlled and stratabound dolostones in the Late Aptian-earliest Albian Benassal Formation (Maestrat Basin, E Spain) : petrology and geochemistry constrains

This study was developed under the ExxonMobil FC2 Alliance (Fundamental Controls on Flow in Carbonates). The authors wish to thank ExxonMobil Production Company and ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company for providing funding. The views in this article by Sherry L. Stafford are her own and not necessarily those of ExxonMobil. This research was supported by the Sedimentary Geology Research Group of the Generalitat de Catalunya (2014SGR251). We would like to thank Andrea Ceriani and Paola Ronchi for their critical and valuable reviews, and Associated Editor Piero Gianolla for the editorial work.Peer reviewedPostprin

Rasgos de personalidad y burnout en médicos de familia

ObjetivoInvestigar los rasgos de personalidad que podrían asociarse con puntuaciones altas en las escalas de burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory) en médicos de atención primaria.DiseñoEstudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal.EmplazamientoNoventa y tres centros de atención primaria de la ciudad de Barcelona y las comarcas del norte de la provincia: Vallès Oriental, Vallès Occidental, Maresme, Osona, Bages y Berguedà (región sanitaria centro).MétodoEncuesta directa por entrevista personal o grupal a 528 médicos de atención primaria. Se administraron 3 cuestionarios: uno de datos sociodemográficos generales, el Maslasch Burnout Inventory (MBI) y el test de personalidad de Cattell 16 PF-5.ResultadosUn 40% de los encuestados presentaba algún síntoma de burnout sin diferencia entre sexos. De éstos, un 12,4% manifestaba niveles muy altos de «quemazón» profesional. Los sujetos con criterios de burnout obtuvieron puntuaciones significativamente diferentes en los rasgos de estabilidad, tensión y vigilancia y en la dimensión ansiedad.ConclusionesAlgunos rasgos de personalidad, como la baja estabilidad emocional, la tensión y la ansiedad, se asocian de manera significativa a puntuaciones altas de burnoutExisten algunas diferencias entre estos factores internos por sexo.ObjectiveWith this research we try to study personality traits that could be associated with high punctuation at burnout scales (Maslach Burnout Inventory) in primary care physicians.DesignObservational descriptive transversal studySetting93 primary care centres in Barcelona-city and the northern province's region: Vallès Oriental, Vallès Occidental, Maresme, Osona, Bages and Berguedà (centre sanitary region).MethodIndividual or collective direct interview to 528 primary care physicians. Three questioners were administrated: a sociodemographyc items one, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Cattell personality test 16-PF.ResultsThe 40% of the interviewed physicians had some burnout symptom without any difference between sexes. The 12.4% of these ones showed very high burnout levels. Those subjects with burnout criteria punctuated different at stability, tension and vigilance traits and anxiety dimension.ConclusionSome personality traits like low stability, the tension and the anxiety are associated with high punctuation of burnout