OBJECTIVES To compare different mef(A) elements of Streptococcus pyogenes for a possible chimeric genetic nature, i.e. a transposon inserted into a prophage. METHODS Eleven S. pyogenes isolates with efflux-mediated erythromycin resistance were used. The isolates were typed using several genotypic approaches. Gene detection was performed by PCR using specific primer pairs. The mef(A) elements ...

Delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (also known as gastro-resistant dimethyl fumarate), an oral therapeutic containing dimethyl fumarate (DMF) as the active ingredient, is currently approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis. DMF is also a component in a distinct mixture product with 3 different salts of monoethyl fumarate (MEF), which is marketed for the treatment of psoriasis. P...

TWEAK, TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis, is a relatively recently identified proinflammatory cytokine that functions through binding to Fn14 receptor in target cells. Although TWEAK has been shown to modulate several biological responses, the TWEAK-induced signaling pathways remain poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TAK1 (TGF-beta-activated kinase 1) is involved i...

Aggregators have emerged as crucial tools for the coordination of distributed, controllable loads. To be used effectively, an aggregator must able to communicate available flexibility loads they control, known aggregate a system operator. However, most existing measures often are slow-timescale estimations and much less attention has been paid real-time between In this paper, we consider solvin...

Suppression of immune response by mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) is well documented. However, their regulatory effects on immune cells, especially regulatory dendritic cells, are not fully understood. We have identified a novel Sca-1(+)Lin(-)CD117(-) MSC population isolated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) that suppressed lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Moreover, the Sca-1(+)Lin...

We assessed the mechanisms of resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B)) antibiotics and related antibiotics in erythromycin-resistant viridans group streptococci (n = 164) and Gemella spp. (n = 28). The macrolide resistance phenotype was predominant (59.38%); all isolates with this phenotype carried the mef(A) or mef(E) gene, with mef(E) being predominant (95.36%). The erm(B)...

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of fibroblast co-culture on in vitro maturation (IVM) of prepubertal mouse preantral follicles. The intact preantral follicles were obtained from the ovaries of 12-14 day old mice and these were cultured individually in α-minimal essential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 mIU/Ml recombinant follicle stimulating ho...

The serine/threonine kinases, Akt1/PKBα, Akt2/PKBβ, Akt3/PKBγ, have been implicated in preventing cells from undergoing apoptosis. Although several small molecule inhibitors of Akt have been reported to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, these inhibitors may have additional targets. In the current study, we used an Akt3 small interfering RNA (Akt3 siRNA) to analyze apoptosis induction in Akt1 an...

Seventy-six Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates, isolated between 1940 and 1987, and seven Neisseria meningitidis isolates, isolated between 1963 and 1987, were screened for the presence of acquired mef(A), erm(B), erm(C), and erm(F) genes by using DNA-DNA hybridization, PCR analysis, and sequencing. The mef(A), erm(B), and erm(F) genes were all identified in a 1955 N. gonorrhoeae isolate, while the...