The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway found in many bacteria governs the synthesis of isoprenoids, which are crucial lipid precursors for vital cell components such as ubiquinone. Because mammals synthesize isoprenoids via an alternate pathway, the bacterial MEP pathway is an attractive target for novel antibiotic development, necessitated by emerging antibiotic resistance as well as bio...

Although many years have passed from the recognition of otitis media with effusion (OME), there is much controversy on its etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies. This condition occurs more frequently in infants and children. Moreover, it is more common in Eskimo and Native American than White American and Blacks. In addition, socioeconomic and cultural factors can affect its prevalen...

We define and evaluate the normwise backward error and condition numbers for the multiparameter eigenvalue problem (MEP). The pseudospectrum for the MEP is defined and characterized. We show that the distance from a right definite MEP to the closest non right definite MEP is related to the smallest unbounded pseudospectrum. Some numerical results are given.

Motorcycle exhaust particulates (MEP) contain carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including benzo(a)pyrene. This study has determined the ability of MEP to alter the expression of select genes from drug metabolism, cytokine, oncogene, tumor suppressor, and estrogen signaling families of human lung adenocarcinoma CL5 cells. cDNA microarray analyses and confirmation studies were perform...

We studied the genotoxic potency of motorcycle exhaust particles (MEP) by using a bacterial reversion assay and chromosome aberration and micronucleus tests. In the bacterial reversion assay (Ames test), MEP concentration-dependently increased TA98, TA100, and TA102 revertants in the presence of metabolic-activating enzymes. In the chromosome aberration test, MEP concentration-dependently incre...

The effects of optical isomers of ephedrine (EPH) and methylephedrine (MEP) on the twitch response to electrical stimulation (1 msec, 1 Hz) in the isolated rat vas deferens were investigated to clarify the action on alpha 2-adrenoceptors. l-EPH (10(-7) 3 x 10(-5) M) and d-EPH (10(-6)-10(-4) M) markedly inhibited the twitch response in the presence of prazosin (10(-6) M). l-MEP also inhibited th...

Isoprenoid biosynthesis through the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway generates commercially important products and is a target for antimicrobial drug development. MEP pathway regulation is poorly understood in microorganisms. Here we employ a forward genetics approach to understand MEP pathway regulation in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The antimalarial fosmidomycin inhib...

Megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitor (MEP) cells are potential in vivo targets of dengue virus (DENV); the virus has been found associated with megakaryocytes ex vivo and platelets during DENV-induced thrombocytopenia. We report here that DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) propagates well in human nondifferentiated MEP cell lines (Meg01 and K562). In comparison to virus propagated in Vero cells, viruses f...