The binding of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to the urothelial surface is a critical initial event for establishing urinary tract infection, because it prevents the bacteria from being removed by micturition and it triggers bacterial invasion as well as host cell defense. This binding is mediated by the FimH adhesin located at the tip of the bacterial type 1-fimbrium and its urothelial recepto...

KEYWORDS: antibiotics´bioorganic chemistry´chaperone proteins´peptidomimetics The heavy use of antibiotics during the second half of the last century has resulted in widespread bacterial resistance. Overcoming resistance requires the development of antibiotics aimed at new targets in microorganisms. Preferably, such targets should be highly conserved in bacteria and required for pathogenesis, b...

Quorum Sensing (QS) mechanism, a bacterial density-dependent gene expression system, governs the Serratia marcescens pathogenesis through the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation. The present study demonstrates the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS), antibiofilm potential and in vivo protective effect of phytol, a diterpene alcohol broadly utilized as food additive and in therapeuti...

David Lockey, FRCA, FIMC, RCS (Ed)† In this issue of the journal, Cobas et al. report that paramedics in the metropolitan area of Miami, Florida, had problems in 31% of all intubation attempts on trauma patients. It is highly likely that there are similar results in other emergency medical service (EMS) systems, but many may be reluctant to publish negative results. These clinicians in Miami, F...