The Transactivation and DNA Binding Domains of the BPV-1 E2 Protein Have Different Roles in Cooperative Origin Binding with the E1 Protein

AbstractThe bovine papillomavirus E2 transactivator protein enhances the ability of the E1 protein to bind to the viral origin of replication which contains an E1 binding site flanked by two E2 binding sites. To determine which regions and functions of the E2 protein are important for this cooperative interaction, a series of mutated E2 proteins were assayed for their ability to enhance E1 origin-specific binding. Cooperative origin binding required at least one E2 DNA binding site, an intact functional E2 DNA binding domain, and an intact transactivation domain. The hinge region of the E2 proteins was dispensable for this activity. To further examine the role of the E2 C-terminal domain, a series of chimeric proteins were generated that substituted the yeast GAL4 DNA binding domain for the E2 DNA binding domain. These chimeric proteins were able to cooperatively bind to a hybrid origin that contained GAL4 binding sites in place of the E2 binding sites. These studies indicate that the E2 transactivation domain is sufficient for interaction with the E1 protein and that the E2 DNA binding domain is required for interaction with origin DNA sequences

Antimicrobial Drug–Resistant Escherichia coli from Humans and Poultry Products, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2002–2004

Similarities were found between drug-resistant E. coli from humans and poultry products

Daily Fosfomycin Versus Levofloxacin for Complicated Urinary Tract Infections

Concerns over resistance and safety have been identified in the current treatment regimen for complicated urinary tract infections. Fosfomycin is a drug that is routinely used for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis. This study shows that fosfomycin could be an oral alternative as step-down therapy for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections, with a clinical cure rate comparable to levofloxacin but a lower microbiological success rate 3 weeks from start of antibiotics

Cefepime MIC as a Predictor of the Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Type in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Taiwan

To guide selection of carbapenems or fourth-generation cephalosporins as therapy, 110 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates with extended-spectrum β-lactamases from Taiwan were characterized by phenotypic (MICs), molecular, and chemical methods. MIC patterns of ceftazidime and cefepime clearly differentiate strains treatable by cefepime and those capable of efficiently hydrolyzing available cephalosporins (CTX-M series and SHV-types). Continued use of cefepime appears to be a treatment option in cases for which MIC results are available and interpreted by the criteria presented