CRP-cAMP mediates silencing of Salmonella virulence at the post-transcriptional level

Invasion of epithelial cells by Salmonella enterica requires expression of genes located in the pathogenicity island I (SPI-1). The expression of SPI-1 genes is very tightly regulated and activated only under specific conditions. Most studies have focused on the regulatory pathways that induce SPI-1 expression. Here, we describe a new regulatory circuit involving CRP-cAMP, a widely established metabolic regulator, in silencing of SPI-1 genes under non-permissive conditions. In CRP-cAMP-deficient strains we detected a strong upregulation of SPI-1 genes in the mid-logarithmic growth phase. Genetic analyses revealed that CRP-cAMP modulates the level of HilD, the master regulator of Salmonella invasion. This regulation occurs at the post-transcriptional level and requires the presence of a newly identified regulatory motif within the hilD 3’UTR. We further demonstrate that in Salmonella the Hfq-dependent sRNA Spot 42 is under the transcriptional repression of CRP-cAMP and, when this transcriptional repression is relieved, Spot 42 exerts a positive effect on hilD expression. In vivo and in vitro assays indicate that Spot 42 targets, through its unstructured region III, the 3’UTR of the hilD transcript. Together, our results highlight the biological relevance of the hilD 3’UTR as a hub for post-transcriptional control of Salmonella invasion gene expression.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness BIO2010-15417 BIO2013-44220-R AGL2013-45339-RRecerCaixa program 2012/ACUP/00048Catalonian government 2017SGR49

ACQ-treated veneer based composite VBC hardwood hollow utility poles from mid-rotation plantation thinned trees: Life cycle GHG emissions

Hardwood plantations are slow to mature with low financial returns in the early stage. Veneer Based Composite (VBC) products from mid-rotation plantation thinned trees are currently being developed at Griffith University in partnership with the Salisbury Research Centre, Queensland Government, which may offer an opportunity to improve the industry’s profitability and win new markets. Due to shortage in utility solid hardwood poles, VBC poles are proposed as a potential alternative. In this study, greenhouse gas emissions of alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) preservative-treated VBC pole was assessed using ‘cradle to grave’ life cycle assessment methodology. ACQ preservative was used to extend the service life of wood poles due to wood products are commonly to be degraded in wet environments subject to microbial or insect attack. The manufacturing process considered in this study is based on the current technologies in Salisbury Research Centre. Two (2) end-of-life scenarios were considered: landfilling and incineration with energy recovery. The function unit was a 1-metrelength pole with 115mm internal-diameter and 15mm wall-thickness. Global warming potential (GWP100) was calculated using the IPCC 2007 method. Results indicated disposal stage contributed the most impact. Incineration with energy recovery had the lowest GWP impact (0.337kg-CO2-Eq) followed by landfilling. Transportation distance was identified as a significant parameter affecting the result. Sensitivity analysis indicated that increasing the transportation distance by 100 km would increase the GWP100 by 21% in the incineration option

Psychological Distress and Intimate Physical and Sexual Abuse among Women in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs

Guided by the cognitive theory of stress and coping and the comprehensive health“seeking and coping paradigm, this study examines associations among intimate partner abuse and psychological distress, posttraumatic stress disorder, childhood sexual abuse, and current drug use among a cohort of 416 women randomly recruited from New York City methadone treatment programs. Findings expand on past evidence of the high prevalence of psychological distress among adult victimized women and among those with a history of childhood sexual abuse. Women currently abused by their partners have more posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, and psychological distress than women not abused by their partners

Biological explorations of Sinai: flora and fauna of Wadi Isla and Hebran, St Katherine Protectorate, Egypt

A comprehensive survey was accomplished for two of the most important and beautiful wadis in the Sinai, Wadi Isla & Hebran. The biodiversity of the two wadis are surveyed including plant species and their associated insects, spiders and scorpions. The list includes 20 plant families with 51 species, 8 insect orders with 54 families and 138 species, and 4 arachnid orders with 17 families and 23 species. The highest number of species recorded were Coleoptera and Hymenoptera.Keywords: Biodiversity, checklist, plants, insects, spider

Community Foundations: Egypt

This paper deals with community foundations in Egyp

PS2 transfection of Murine Adenocarcinoma Cell line (410.4) enhances dispersed growth pattern in 3-D collagen gel

We describe the first model system employing human pS2 gene transfer and expression in a non-pS2-expressing cell line, mouse mammary adenocarcinoma 410.4, in order to analyse the potential effect of human trefoil peptide pS2 in glandular epithelium. Two selected clones, AA4 and AD4, were established and shown to have incorporated the pS2 cDNA sequence into the genome, express pS2 containing transcript and produce the pS2 peptide. When grown in 3-D collagen gels both transfectants show striking morphological changes compared to the vector control clone (VA5). VA5 forms large cohesive spherical aggregates with rare coarse spicular outgrowths, accompanied by prominent hyalinised extracellular matrix deposition. pS2 transfectants form poorly cohesive, stellate colonies with very little or no matrix deposition, radiating long cords composed of single elongated cells, an effect previously observed in other cell lines with hepatocyte growth factor. pS2 transfection had no demonstrable effect on proliferation and this is not a morphogenetic phenomenon, as tubulogenesis is not seen. Motility assays suggest that the pS2 \u27dispersant\u27 effect in collagen gels is due to an increase in cell motility. There were no measurable alterations in either E-cadherin expression or E-cadherin-dependent cell-cell aggregation. pS2 may play a role in maintenance and restitution of mucosal integrity by accelerating migration/dispersion

Lung density in the trajectory path — a strong indicator of patients sustaining a pneumothorax during CT-guided lung biopsy

Introduction: The purpose is to evaluate the prognostic significance of lung parenchymal density during percutaneous coaxial cutting needle lung biopsy (PNLB). Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of 179 consecutive patients (106 males, 73 females; mean age 59.16 ± 16.34 years) undergoing PNLB was included. Mean lobar parenchymal lung density, mean densities anterior to the lesion and posterior to the chest wall in the needle trajectory path were measured in HU. Lesion location and needle trajectory were also measured. Fisher’s exact test and Chi-square test were conducted to analyze the categorical variables. ANOVA test was done to examine continuous and normally distributed variables. Statistical significance was considered when p < 0.05. Results: Mean lobar parenchymal lung density (p < 0.05) and mean parenchymal lung density relative to the needle trajectory path were below -800 HU in patients who sustained a pneumothorax. Increase in the number of pleural passes was significantly associated with the risk of patients having pneumothorax (p < 0.05). The mean distance from the skin to the lesion and needle trajectory angle were not statistically different among patients with and without pneumothorax (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Lobar parenchymal density and lung parenchymal density anterior to the lesion and posterior to the chest wall in the needle trajectory path could be used as predicting parameters in patients undergoing PNLB who sustained a pneumothorax. These findings can help interventional radiologist further assess risk of pneumothorax when preforming such procedure

Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Among Drug-Involved Women: Contexts Linking These Two Epidemics—Challenges and Implications for Prevention and Treatment

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV are two serious overlapping public health epidemics that disproportionately affect drug-involved women. This article reviews research that has identified a number of contexts that may explain the links between IPV and HIV transmission risks. These contexts include sexual coercion, fear of violence, negotiation of condom use, extra dyadic relationships, disclosure of sexually transmitted infections or HIV seropositivity to intimate partners, drug involvement of women and their male partners, low social status of drug-involved women, relationship dependencies, and sex ratio imbalances. The article focuses on how the bidirectional relationship between IPV and HIV risks may be mediated by a history of childhood sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. Also addressed are the challenges that substance user treatment programs face in dealing with female clients who experience IPV and the implications for HIV prevention