Assessing the vulnerability of women to sexually transmitted diseases STDS/ HIV: construction and validation of markers

Objective To construct and validate markers of vulnerability of women to STDs/HIV, taking into consideration the importance of STDs/HIV. Method Methodological study carried out in three stages: 1) systematic review and identification of elements of vulnerability in the scientific production; 2) selection of elements of vulnerability, and development of markers; 3) establishment of the expert group and validation of the markers (content validity). Results Five markers were validated: no openness in the relationship to discuss aspects related to prevention of STDs/HIV; no perception of vulnerability to STDs/HIV; disregard of vulnerability to STDs/ HIV; not recognizing herself as the subject of sexual and reproductive rights; actions of health professionals that limit women’s access to prevention of STDs/HIV. Each marker contains three to eleven components. Conclusion The construction of such markers constituted an instrument, presented in another publication, which can contribute to support the identification of vulnerabilities of women in relation to STDs/HIV in the context of primary health care services. The markers constitute an important tool for the operationalization of the concept of vulnerability in primary health care and to promote inter/multidisciplinary and inter/multi-sectoral work processes

1.8 Å resolution crystal structure of the carbapenem intrinsic resistance protein CarF

The natural production of the beta-lactam antibiotic carbapenem in bacteria involves a group of enzymes that form a synthetic pathway as well as proteins that protect the cell from self-intoxification by the products. We report the crystal structure of CarF, one of the two proteins that confers resistance to the antibiotic synthesis in the host organism. The CarF fold places it within a widely occurring structural family, indicating an ancient structural origin from which the resistance function has been derived.This work was supported by a Herchel Smith PhD scholarship to Evelyn Tichy. Ben Luisi is supported by the Wellcome Trust and work in the Salmond laboratory is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK