Antagonism of A. viridans to conditionally - pathogenic microflora of the nose and oropharynx of children with cardiac patology

Introduction. Search forharmlessand simultaneouslyeffectiveprobiotics, which could be successfully usedfor treatmentand prevention of infectious deseases, is currently important. A. viridansis of particular interest, as it isrepresentative of thenormal microfloraof human withbroad spectrum of antibacterial action.The useof this microorganismhas a numberof advantages:the absence ofsideeffects on the body; highadhesiveabilities; resistance tolysozymeinsaliva;the abilityofusein patients, sensitizedto antibiotics andchemotherapeutic drugs;stimulationeffects onthe human immune system.Material and methods. The purpose ofthe studywas to investigate theantagonism ofA. viridans №167andautostrains of aerococcuses, isolatedat patients,toconditionally -pathogenic microflora of the nose andoropharynxof children withcardiac patology. At the firststage of the studythemicroflora of theof the nose andoropharynxof 2 investigatedcategorieswas examined – 40 children4-14yearswith cardiac patology and 40healthychildren 4-5 years old. The second stage ofwork was tostudy the effect of A. viridanson the exploredstrains. Results and discussion. A. viridansmanifeststhe antagonism to allstudiedstrains ofgram-positiveandgram-negativemicroorganisms,except C.albisans. A. viridansantagonistic activitytostaphylococci(10 +3 mm) and streptococci(10 +2mm) is at the approximatelysamelevel. It is interestingtocompare theantagonism ofaerococcusesto clinicalisolates ofS. pyogenesand similarstrainsfromcarriers (healthy children category). Impactof aerococcuses on P. mirabilisstrainappearedat the highestlevel. Autosimbionts ofA. viridans,isolated fromhealthy children,are moreantagonistic toCPMstrains,isolatedfrom thesechildren, thanautostrains ofA. viridans,isolated fromchildren withwith cardiac patology, and higher thanthe museumstrainofA. viridans №167 antagonism, and do not affectthe growth of microorganisms of Candidakind. Severeantagonistic activityof the A. viridans №167 strainandautostrains of A. viridans to isolatedconditionally patogeneticstrains was discovered: S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis.Antagonism ofA. viridans №167 to C.albicanswas notfound. Conclusion. The recieved datacanserve as a basisfor further study of the strain of A. viridans №167andaerococcuses’ autostrainsusage for correction of fauces and nasopharynxmicrobiocenosis and also for the complextreatment andpreventive actions in case of cardiac pathology

Multiplex accurate sensitive quantitation (MASQ) with application to minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia

Measuring minimal residual disease in cancer has applications for prognosis, monitoring treatment and detection of recurrence. Simple sequence-based methods to detect nucleotide substitution variants have error rates (about 10-3) that limit sensitive detection. We developed and characterized the performance of MASQ (multiplex accurate sensitive quantitation), a method with an error rate below 10-6. MASQ counts variant templates accurately in the presence of millions of host genomes by using tags to identify each template and demanding consensus over multiple reads. Since the MASQ protocol multiplexes 50 target loci, we can both integrate signal from multiple variants and capture subclonal response to treatment. Compared to existing methods for variant detection, MASQ achieves an excellent combination of sensitivity, specificity and yield. We tested MASQ in a pilot study in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who entered complete remission. We detect leukemic variants in the blood and bone marrow samples of all five patients, after induction therapy, at levels ranging from 10-2 to nearly 10-6. We observe evidence of sub-clonal structure and find higher target variant frequencies in patients who go on to relapse, demonstrating the potential for MASQ to quantify residual disease in AML

Biological properties of aerococci and bacilli as a component of new associate-probiotic complex

Dysbioses of the gastrointestinal tract are common among people of all ages and genders. Development of this pathology is associated with a number of complications, from indigestion to occurrence of malignant disease. Therefore, there is a need in development of measures of their prevention and correction. Probiotics are used as drugs against dysbiosis. Most of the presently known probiotics contain bacterial cells of one species, although combination preparations feature higher efficiency. At the same time, there are difficulties in construction of these drugs, primarily due to incompatibility of physiological properties of microorganisms and mutually antagonistic action of their components. The aim was to examine the compatibility of Bacillus subtilis and Aerococcus viridans in a single preparation, their antagonistic activity against different strains of test-cultures and general antagonism directed on different groups of bacteria for subsequent formation of associative probiotic complex. Properties of aerococci strains were studied and A. viridans 167 strain was selected for inclusion into the probiotic preparation. The tested strain showed the highest indicators of production of hydrogen peroxide, which is one of the mechanisms of antagonistic effect against opportunistic pathogens. General study of biological properties of aerococci strains showed that producing of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical in them was conditioned by functioning of NAD-independent lactatoxidase. It has been determined that antioxidant defense of aerococci from the action of endogenous and active excretable forms of oxygen was provided by activity of superoxide-dismutase and GSH-peroxidase. The method of deferred antagonism found no depressing mutual action between probiotic strains of B. subtilis 3 and A. viridans 167 at their joint cultivation. Inhibition of growth at the joint application of A. viridans 167 and B. subtilis 3 strains was recorded for both museum and clinical strains of test-cultures Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella ozaenae, Citrobacter freundii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Candida albicans. Separate application of A. viridans 167 or B. subtilis 3 against strains of these opportunistic pathogens was characterized by relatively less antagonistic effect of each of strains under study. The results allow us to recommend the studied strains of B. subtilis 3 and A. viridans 167 for use as the components to construct a new associative probiotic preparation

Pyogenic spinal infections warrant a total spine MRI

Study design: retrospective case series. Objective: the presenting clinical symptoms of spinal infections are often nonspecific and a delay in diagnosis can lead to adverse patient outcomes. The morbidity and mortality of patients with multifocal spinal infections is significantly higher compared to unifocal infections. The purpose of the current study was to analyse the risk factors for multifocal spinal infections. Methods: we conducted a retrospective review of all pyogenic non-tuberculous spinal infections treated surgically at a single tertiary care medical center from 2006–2020. The medical records, imaging studies, and laboratory data of 43 patients during this time period were reviewed and analysed after receiving Institutional Review Board approval. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with a multifocal spinal infection. Results: 15 patients (35 %) had multifocal infections. In univariate analysis, there was a significant association with chronic kidney disease (p=0.040), gender (p=0.003), a white blood cell count (p=0.011), and cervical (p&lt;0.001) or thoracic (p&lt;0.001) involvement. In multivariate analysis, both cervical and thoracic involvement remained statistically significant (p=0.001 and p&lt;0.001, respectively). Conclusions: patients with infections in the thoracic or cervical region are more likely to have a multifocal infection. Multifocal pyogenic spinal infections remain a common entity and a total spine MRI should be performed to aid in prompt diagnosis.</p

LKR/SDH Plays Important Roles throughout the Tick Life Cycle Including a Long Starvation Period

BACKGROUND:Lysine-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH) is a bifunctional enzyme catalyzing the first two steps of lysine catabolism in plants and mammals. However, to date, the properties of the lysine degradation pathway and biological functions of LKR/SDH have been very little described in arthropods such as ticks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We isolated and characterized the gene encoding lysine-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR, EC 1.5.1.8) and saccharopine dehydrogenase (SDH, EC 1.5.1.9) from a tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, cDNA library that encodes a bifunctional polypeptide bearing domains similar to the plant and mammalian LKR/SDH enzymes. Expression of LKR/SDH was detected in all developmental stages, indicating an important role throughout the tick life cycle, including a long period of starvation after detachment from the host. The LKR/SDH mRNA transcripts were more abundant in unfed and starved ticks than in fed and engorged ticks, suggesting that tick LKR/SDH are important for the starved tick. Gene silencing of LKR/SDH by RNAi indicated that the tick LKR/SDH plays an integral role in the osmotic regulation of water balance and development of eggs in ovary of engorged females. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Transcription analysis and gene silencing of LKR/SDH indicated that tick LKR/SDH enzyme plays not only important roles in egg production, reproduction and development of the tick, but also in carbon, nitrogen and water balance, crucial physiological processes for the survival of ticks. This is the first report on the role of LKR/SDH in osmotic regulation in animals including vertebrate and arthropods

Cytosolic NADPH balancing in Penicillium chrysogenum cultivated on mixtures of glucose and ethanol

The in vivo flux through the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (oxPPP) in Penicillium chrysogenum was determined during growth in glucose/ethanol carbon-limited chemostat cultures, at the same growth rate. Non-stationary 13C flux analysis was used to measure the oxPPP flux. A nearly constant oxPPP flux was found for all glucose/ethanol ratios studied. This indicates that the cytosolic NADPH supply is independent of the amount of assimilated ethanol. The cofactor assignment in the model of van Gulik et al. (Biotechnol Bioeng 68(6):602–618, 2000) was supported using the published genome annotation of P. chrysogenum. Metabolic flux analysis showed that NADPH requirements in the cytosol remain nearly the same in these experiments due to constant biomass growth. Based on the cytosolic NADPH balance, it is known that the cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase in P. chrysogenum is NAD +  dependent. Metabolic modeling shows that changing the NAD + -aldehyde dehydrogenase to NADP + -aldehyde dehydrogenase can increase the penicillin yield on substrate

The Importance of Resilience for Well-Being in Retirement

The increase in the elderly population has prompted research on retirement. This study investigated the importance of resilience, economic satisfaction, the length of retirement, and planning to well-being during retirement of 270 participants. The majority of this sample were men (64%), and the mean age was 65 years (SD = 5.7). The participants were retired members of 10 public and private organizations in Rio de Janeiro. Factor analysis and hierarchical regression were performed. The results showed that determined resilience (mastery, adaptability, confidence and perseverance) and socioeconomic satisfaction were the main predictors of well-being in retirement and explained 28% of this model. The findings suggest that well-being in retirement is closely related to socioeconomic satisfaction and determined resilience. Additional research should address the importance of resilience for the well-being of retirees who are or not members of retirement associations. Resilience attitudes should be promoted in Retirement Education Programs