Inhibitors of COP-mediated Transport and Cholera Toxin Action Inhibit Simian Virus 40 Infection

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a nonenveloped virus that has been shown to pass from surface caveolae to the endoplasmic reticulum in an apparently novel infectious entry pathway. We now show that the initial entry step is blocked by brefeldin A and by incubation at 20degreesC. Subsequent to the entry step, the virus reaches a domain of the rough endoplasmic reticulum by an unknown pathway. This intracellular trafficking pathway is also brefeldin A sensitive. Infection is strongly inhibited by expression of GTP-restricted ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (Arf1) and Sar1 mutants and by microinjection of antibodies to betaCOP. In addition, we demonstrate a potent inhibition of SV40 infection by the dipeptide N-benzoyl-oxycarbonyl-Gly-Phe-amide, which also inhibits late events in cholera toxin action. Our results identify novel inhibitors of SV40 infection and show that SV40 requires COPI- and COPII-dependent transport steps for successful infection

Gelosaite, BiMo6+(2\u20135x)Mo5+6xO7(OH)\ub7H2O (0 64 x 64 0.4), a new mineral from Su Senargiu (CA), Sardinia, Italy, and a second occurrence from Kingsgate, New England, Australia

Gelosaite, BiMo6+(2\u20135x)Mo5+6xO7(OH)\ub7H2O (0 64 x 64 0.4), occurs at the type locality in quartz veins hosted by granitic rocks at Su Senargiu, near Sarroch, Sardegna, Italy. The name is in memory of Mario Gelosa (1947\u20132006) who first found the mineral. The mineral also occurs in the oxidized zones of the Old 25 and Wolfram pipes at Kingsgate, New South Wales, Australia. Both the mineral and its name have been approved by the IMA CNMNC (IMA 2009-022). Gelosaite occurs as yellow, yellowish green, and pale blue, prismatic crystals with a white streak. It is transparent with an adamantine luster, non-fluorescent, brittle, and has a conchoidal fracture. Mohs hardness is ~3. The mineral is monoclinic, space group P21/n, with a = 5.8505(4), b = 9.0421(6), c = 13.917(1) \uc5, \u3b2 = 100.42(1)\ub0, V = 724.1(1) \uc53, Z = 4 (yellow Su Senargiu crystal); a = 5.8570(5), b = 9.0517(8), c = 13.992(1) \uc5, \u3b2 = 100.44(1)\ub0, V = 729.5(1) \uc53, Z = 4 (pale blue Su Senargiu crystal); a = 5.837(3), b = 9.040(5), c = 13.904(7) \uc5, \u3b2 = 100.64(1)\ub0, V = 721.0(6) \uc53, Z = 4 (blue Kingsgate crystal). Strongest lines in the powder X-ray pattern [d (\uc5)(Irel)] are 4.83(100), 3.41(21), 3.30(25), 3.015(50), 2.755(60), 2.080(50), 1.688(20), and 1.509(30). The single-crystal X-ray structure of gelosaite was determined for three separate crystals, two from Su Senargiu and one from Kingsgate. The structure consists of layers of distorted MoO6 octahedra, plus minor amounts of interstitial Mo ions, and layers made up of eight-coordinate Bi3+ ions, plus further small amounts of interstitial Mo ions. The theoretical Mo(VI) end-member has the stoichiometry BiMo6+2O7(OH)\ub7H2O and excess Mo in the interstices requires increasing amounts of Mo(V) to be present. The theoretical Mo(V) end-member has the stoichiometry BiMo5+2.4O7(OH)\ub7H2O

IgE Serum Levels in Psoriasis

Examination of IgE serum levels in 37 patients with psoriasis showed statistically significant values higher than normal when the extent of skin involved was more than 50%

Etiology of diarrheal infections in children of Porto Velho (Rondonia, Western Amazon region, Brazil)

In the present study, 470 children less than 72 months of age and presenting acute diarrhea were examined to identify associated enteropathogenic agents. Viruses were the pathogens most frequently found in stools of infants with diarrhea, including 111 cases of rotavirus (23.6% of the total diarrhea cases) and 30 cases of adenovirus (6.3%). The second group was diarrheogenic Escherichia coli (86 cases, 18.2%), followed by Salmonella sp (44 cases, 9.3%) and Shigella sp (24 cases, 5.1%). Using the PCR technique to differentiate the pathogenic categories of E. coli, it was possible to identify 29 cases (6.1%) of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Of these, 10 (2.1%) were typical EPEC and 19 (4.0%) atypical EPEC. In addition, there were 26 cases (5.5%) of enteroaggregative E. coli, 21 cases (4.4%) of enterotoxigenic E. coli, 7 cases (1.4%) of enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), and 3 cases (0.6%) of enterohemorrhagic E. coli. When comparing the frequencies of diarrheogenic E. coli, EPEC was the only category for which significant differences were found between diarrhea and control groups. A low frequency of EIEC was found, thus EIEC cannot be considered to be a potential etiology agent of diarrhea. Simultaneous infections with two pathogens were found in 39 diarrhea cases but not in controls, suggesting associations among potential enteropathogens in the etiology of diarrhea. The frequent association of diarrheogenic E. coli strains was significantly higher than the probability of their random association, suggesting the presence of facilitating factor(s)