Adjuvant interferon gamma in patients with drug – resistant pulmonary tuberculosis: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing in the world and drug-resistant (DR) disease beckons new treatments. METHODS: To evaluate the action of interferon (IFN) gamma as immunoadjuvant to chemotherapy on pulmonary DR-TB patients, a pilot, open label clinical trial was carried out in the Cuban reference ward for the management of this disease. The eight subjects existing in the country at the moment received, as in-patients, 1 × 10(6 )IU of recombinant human IFN gamma intramuscularly, daily for one month and then three times per week up to 6 months as adjuvant to the indicated chemotherapy, according to their antibiograms and WHO guidelines. Sputum samples collection for direct smear observation and culture as well as routine clinical and thorax radiography assessments were done monthly. RESULTS: Sputum smears and cultures became negative for acid-fast-bacilli before three months of treatment in all patients. Lesion size was reduced at the end of 6 months treatment; the lesions disappeared in one case. Clinical improvement was also evident; body mass index increased in general. Interferon gamma was well tolerated. Few adverse events were registered, mostly mild; fever and arthralgias prevailed. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that IFN gamma is useful and well tolerated as adjunctive therapy in patients with DR-TB. Further controlled clinical trials are encouraged

Interaction of DNA with ribosomes in cell-free protein synthetizing systems of Chlorella pyrenoidosa

1. In cell-free protein synthetizing systems of the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa, DNA from various sources enhances the amino acid incorporation. 2. This stimulation is neither inhibited by actinomycin D nor by chloramphenicol or cycloheximide (actidione). 3. In the presence of ribonuclease, some precipitable polypeptide is formed with DNA, although the endogenous incorporation is completely inhibited by ribonuclease. 4. After sucrose density gradient centrifugation, polysomal aggregates of ribosomes with DNA are found. Electron micrographs of such polysomes show a direct association of the DNA molecule with several ribosomes. 5. In Chlorella, direct translation of DNA can be obtained also in the presence of neomycin. The kinetics of this reaction are different from those of endogenous m-RNA mediated and of DNA stimulated polypeptide synthesis.</jats:p

Abundance and translation of the psbA- ,rbcL- and cab- transcript in relation to leaf age and nutrient availability in spinach

Dietz K-J, Schönrock M. Abundance and translation of the psbA- ,rbcL- and cab- transcript in relation to leaf age and nutrient availability in spinach. In: Galling G, ed. Proceedings of the Symposium "Applied Plant Molecular Biology", Braunschweig 21-23.11.1988. Braunschweig: TU Braunschweig; 1989: 153-158