Small-Molecule Inhibitor of the Shigella flexneri Master Virulence Regulator VirF

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://iai.asm.org/content/81/11/4220VirF is an AraC family transcriptional activator that is required for the expression of virulence genes associated with invasion and cell-to-cell spread by Shigella flexneri, including multiple components of the type three secretion system (T3SS) machinery and effectors. We tested a small-molecule compound, SE-1 (formerly designated OSSL_051168), which we had identified as an effective inhibitor of the AraC family proteins RhaS and RhaR, for its ability to inhibit VirF. Cell-based reporter gene assays with Escherichia coli and Shigella, as well as in vitro DNA binding assays with purified VirF, demonstrated that SE-1 inhibited DNA binding and transcription activation (likely by blocking DNA binding) by VirF. Analysis of mRNA levels using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) further demonstrated that SE-1 reduced the expression of the VirF-dependent virulence genes icsA, virB, icsB, and ipaB in Shigella. We also performed eukaryotic cell invasion assays and found that SE-1 reduced invasion by Shigella. The effect of SE-1 on invasion required preincubation of Shigella with SE-1, in agreement with the hypothesis that SE-1 inhibited the expression of VirF-activated genes required for the formation of the T3SS apparatus and invasion. We found that the same concentrations of SE-1 had no detectable effects on the growth or metabolism of the bacterial cells or the eukaryotic host cells, respectively, indicating that the inhibition of invasion was not due to general toxicity. Overall, SE-1 appears to inhibit transcription activation by VirF, exhibits selectivity toward AraC family proteins, and has the potential to be developed into a novel antibacterial agent

Práticas alimentares no primeiro ano de vida

O estudo buscou analisar a literatura publicada referente às práticas alimentares no primeiro ano de vida de filhos de mães adolescentes, por meio de uma revisão integrativa nas bases de dados Lilacs, Medline e Cochrane, no período de 2000 a 2010. Foram utilizadas as palavras-chave: adolescente, aleitamento materno, alimentação mista e nutrição do lactente, sendo selecionados onze artigos científicos, que compuseram a amostra do estudo. Os resultados apontaram a incipiência de pesquisas publicadas sobre o tema proposto, sobretudo para as que versam sobre alimentação complementar, desvelando uma lacuna na produção mundial sobre o tema. Novas pesquisas, portanto, precisam ser desenvolvidas com foco em mães adolescentes, devendo-se explorar a alimentação infantil em toda sua dimensão

O estudo da prova calórica em pacientes idoso The study of caloric testing in senior patients

OBJETIVO: realizar o estudo da prova calórica em pacientes idosos com queixa de tontura, acompanhada ou não de zumbido com finalidade de traçar um perfil dos idosos quanto os sintomas vestibulares. MÉTODOS: fizeram parte da amostra 143 pacientes, com faixa etária variando de 60 a 90 anos de idade; todos realizaram o exame otoneurológico. Foram excluídos pacientes idosos com queixa de desequilíbrio e aqueles que apresentaram a queixa de zumbido desacompanhado da tontura. RESULTADOS: o estudo demonstrou que a normorreflexia, em valores absolutos, encontra-se entre 82,3% a 91,2% e os valores relativos são de 93%. Referente aos dados colhidos na anamnese, o que chamou a atenção, foi que do total de pacientes analisados, encontrou-se a tontura acompanhada de zumbido em 69% dos casos e o elevado uso de medicação em pacientes nesta faixa etária. CONCLUSÃO: na população estudada houve um predomínio da tontura acompanhada de zumbido. Em relação à prova calórica, o trabalho demonstrou a alta prevalência de pacientes com valores absolutos e relativos normais.<br>PURPOSE: to accomplish the study of caloric testing in senior patients with dizziness, accompanied or not of with buzzing. METHODS: 143 patients were analyzed with age varying from 60 to 90 years; all of them did an otoneurologic evaluation. Senior patients with unbalance complaints and with buzzing unaccompanied with dizziness were excluded from this study. RESULTS: 82.3% to 91.2% of the patients obtained normoreflexia in absolute values and over 93% obtained normal results in relative values. Referring to the data obtained in the anamnesis, what got attention was 69% of dizziness accompanied with buzzing. And the high medication of the patients in this age group. CONCLUSION: there was a prevalence of dizziness accompanied with buzzing in the studied population. Concerning the caloric testing, the study demonstrated the high prevalence of patients with normal absolute and relative values