Genome Sequences of Listeria monocytogenes Strains Responsible for Cheese- and Cooked Ham Product-Associated Swiss Listeriosis Outbreaks in 2005 and 2011.

The complete genome sequences of three Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a strains, Lm 3136, Lm 3163, and Lm N1546, which were responsible for listeriosis outbreaks in 2005 and 2011 in Switzerland, are presented here

First detection of Klebsiella variicola producing OXA-181 carbapenemase in fresh vegetable imported from Asia to Switzerland

Background: The emergence and worldwide spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is of great concern to public health services. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in fresh vegetables and spices imported from Asia to Switzerland.Findings: Twenty-two different fresh vegetable samples were purchased in March 2015 from different retail shops specializing in Asian food. The vegetables included basil leaves, bergamont leaves, coriander, curry leaves, eggplant and okra (marrow). Samples had been imported from Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and India. After an initial enrichment-step, carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from two carbapenem-containing selective media (SUPERCARBA II and Brilliance CRE Agar). Isolates were screened by PCR for the presence of bla KPC, bla NDM, bla OXA-48-like and bla VIM. An OXA-181-producing Klebsiella variicola was isolated in a coriander sample with origin Thailand/Vietnam. The bla OXA-181 gene was encoded in a 14′027 bp region flanked by two IS26-like elements on a 51-kb IncX3-type plasmid.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the international production and trade of fresh vegetables constitute a possible route for the spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The presence of carbapenemase-producing organisms in the food supply is alarming and an important food safety issue

Cardio- and reno-protective effect of remote ischemic preconditioning in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. A prospective, non-randomized controlled trial

AbstractObjectivesThis study assessed the cardio- and renoprotective effect of remote ischemic Preconditioning (PreC) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).BackgroundMyocyte necrosis and contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) occur frequently in PCI and are associated with subsequent cardiovascular events. Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing elective PCI with normal baseline troponin-I (cTnI) values were recruited. Subjects were systematically allocated into 2 groups: 100 patients received PreC (created by three 5min inflations of a blood pressure cuff to 200mmHg around the upper arm, separated by 5min intervals of reperfusion) <2h before the PCI procedure, and control group (n=100).ResultsThe incidence of PCI-related myocardial infarction (MI 4a) at 24h after PCI was lower in the PreC group compared with control group (41% vs 64%, P=0.02). Subjects who received PreC had significant trend toward lower incidence of CIN at 72h after contrast exposure (4 vs. 11, P=0.05) and less chest pain during stent implantation compared to control group. At 3 months, the major adverse event rate was lower in the PreC group (6 vs. 14 events; P=0.04).ConclusionsThe use of PreC<2h before PCI, reduces the incidence of PCI-related MI 4a, tends to decrease the incidence of CIN and improves ischemic symptoms in patients undergoing elective PCI. The observed cardio- and renoprotection appears to confer sustained benefit on reduced major adverse events at 3 month follow-up beyond what is seen with judicious pre- and post-hydration (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02313441)

Full-length nucleotide sequences of mcr-1 harboring plasmids isolated from extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- producing Escherichia coli of different origins

Here, we present the full sequences of three mcr-1-carrying plasmids isolated from extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli The plasmids belong to three different replicon types and are 34,640 bp, 209,401 bp, and 247,885 bp in size. We describe for the first time a composite transposon containing mcr-1 localized on a multidrug-resistant (MDR) IncHI2 plasmid harboring additional determinants of resistance to six different classes of antibiotics, including the ESBL gene blaCTX-M-1, and heavy metal resistance

X-Ray absorption spectroscopy of H3O+

We report the X-ray absorption of isolated H3O+ cations at the O 1s edge. The molecular ions were prepared in a flowing afterglow ion source which was designed for the production of small water clusters, protonated water clusters, and hydrated ions. Isolated H2O+ cations have been analyzed for comparison. The spectra show significant differences in resonance energies and widths compared to neutral H2O with resonances shifting to higher energies by as much as 10 eV and resonance widths increasing by as much as a factor of 5. The experimental results are supported by time-dependent density functional theory calculations performed for both molecular cations, showing a good agreement with the experimental data. The spectra reported here could enable the identification of the individual molecules in charged small water clusters or liquid water using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Targeting TRPM2 Channels Impairs Radiation-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Fosters Cell Death of T Cell Leukemia Cells in a Bcl-2-Dependent Manner

Messenger RNA data of lymphohematopoietic cancer lines suggest a correlation between expression of the cation channel TRPM2 and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. The latter is overexpressed in various tumor entities and mediates therapy resistance. Here, we analyzed the crosstalk between Bcl-2 and TRPM2 channels in T cell leukemia cells during oxidative stress as conferred by ionizing radiation (IR). To this end, the effects of TRPM2 inhibition or knock-down on plasma membrane currents, Ca2+ signaling, mitochondrial superoxide anion formation, and cell cycle progression were compared between irradiated (0–10 Gy) Bcl-2-overexpressing and empty vector-transfected Jurkat cells. As a result, IR stimulated a TRPM2-mediated Ca2+-entry, which was higher in Bcl-2-overexpressing than in control cells and which contributed to IR-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest. TRPM2 inhibition induced a release from G2/M arrest resulting in cell death. Collectively, this data suggests a pivotal function of TRPM2 in the DNA damage response of T cell leukemia cells. Apoptosis-resistant Bcl-2-overexpressing cells even can afford higher TRPM2 activity without risking a hazardous Ca2+-overload-induced mitochondrial superoxide anion formation

Potential Role of CXCR4 Targeting in the Context of Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy of Cancer

Cancer immunotherapy has been established as standard of care in different tumor entities. After the first reports on synergistic effects with radiotherapy and the induction of abscopal effects—tumor shrinkage outside the irradiated volume attributed to immunological effects of radiotherapy—several treatment combinations have been evaluated. Different immunotherapy strategies (e.g., immune checkpoint inhibition, vaccination, cytokine based therapies) have been combined with local tumor irradiation in preclinical models. Clinical trials are ongoing in different cancer entities with a broad range of immunotherapeutics and radiation schedules. SDF-1 (CXCL12)/CXCR4 signaling has been described to play a major role in tumor biology, especially in hypoxia adaptation, metastasis and migration. Local tumor irradiation is a known inducer of SDF-1 expression and release. CXCR4 also plays a major role in immunological processes. CXCR4 antagonists have been approved for the use of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization from the bone marrow. In addition, several groups reported an influence of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis on intratumoral immune cell subsets and anti-tumor immune response. The aim of this review is to merge the knowledge on the role of SDF-1/CXCR4 in tumor biology, radiotherapy and immunotherapy of cancer and in combinatorial approaches