Repurposing niclosamide for intestinal decolonization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci

Enterococci are commensal micro-organisms present in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. Although normally innocuous to the host, strains of enterococcus exhibiting resistance to vancomycin (VRE) have been associated with high rates of infection and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Decolonization of VRE represents a key strategy to curb infection in highly-susceptible patients. However, there is a dearth of decolonizing agents available clinically that are effective against VRE. The present study found that niclosamide, an anthelmintic drug, has potent antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (minimum inhibitory concentration 1–8?µg/mL). E. faecium mutants exhibiting resistance to niclosamide could not be isolated even after multiple (10) serial passages. Based upon these promising in-vitro results and the limited permeability of niclosamide across the gastrointestinal tract (when administered orally), niclosamide was evaluated in a VRE colonization-reduction murine model. Remarkably, niclosamide outperformed linezolid, an antibiotic used clinically to treat VRE infections. Niclosamide was as effective as ramoplanin in reducing the burden of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium in the faeces, caecal content and ileal content of infected mice after only 8 days of treatment. Linezolid, in contrast, was unable to decrease the burden of VRE in the gastrointestinal tract of mice. The results obtained indicate that niclosamide warrants further evaluation as a novel decolonizing agent to suppress VRE infections.     

Effects of squalene on expression of LDLR in HepG2 cells and its mechanism北大核心CSCD

Aim To investigate the effect of squalene on LDLR expression in HepG2 cells and its mechanism of down-regulated cholesterol. Methods The proliferation of HepG2 cells exposed to squalene at different concentrations was measured by MTT assay. The effect of squalene on the expression of LDLR in HepG2 cells was measured by flow cytometry and fluorescence mi-croscopy. The effect of different concentrations of squalene on the interaction between SCAP and Insig2, two key protein molecules of SREBP pathway, was assayed by FRET technology. Results MTT results showed that squalene had inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy results showed that squalene enhanced LDLR expression in HepG2 cells compared with the control group. The results of FRET technology revealed that compared with model control group, the YFP fluorescence value in Squalene group dramatically declined, and the YFP fluorescence value of each drug group decreased with the range of 5-25 |xmol L1 squalene concentration. Conclusions Squalene may promote the expression of LDLR in HepG2 cells through inhibiting the interaction between SCAP and Insig2 proteins in SREBP pathway, which may confirm that squalene is a potential novel drug for the down-regulation of cholesterol level. © 2018 Publication Centre of Anhui Medical University. All rights reserved.     

Mechanism of acid production and secretion by osteoclasts]

Osteoclasts are primary cells responsible for bone resorption. The most characteristic feature of osteoclasts is the presence of ruffled borders and clear zones. The resorbing area under the ruffled border of osteoclasts is acidic, which favors dissolution of bone mineral. In bone-resorbing osteoclasts, hydrogen ions are provided by carbonic anhydrase II, which catalyzes the hydration of CO2 to H2CO3. Recently, it has been shown that the proton pump of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase type exists in the ruffled border membranes of osteoclasts. Secretion of hydrogen ions by osteoclasts generates an equal amount of cytoplasmic base equivalents, principally as HCO3-. Osteoclasts have a chloride/bicarbonate exchanger, which normalizes the intracellular pH when osteoclasts actively resorb bone. In this paper, we review the mechanism of the acid secretion by osteoclasts.     

Incidence of pertussis in subjects aged 50 years and older in France in 2013–2014

Objective

To assess the incidence of pertussis (whooping cough) in subjects aged 50 years and older in France.

Contact (kallikrein/kinin) system activation in whole human blood induced by low concentrations of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

Iron-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) generated by environmental events are likely to represent health problems. α-Fe₂O₃ NPs were synthesized, characterized and tested in a model for toxicity utilizing human whole blood without added anticoagulant. MALDI-TOF of the corona was performed and activation markers for plasma cascade systems (complement, contact and coagulation systems), platelet consumption and release of growth factors, MPO, and chemokine/cytokines from blood cells were analyzed. The coronas formed on the pristine α-Fe₂O₃ NPs contained contact system proteins and they induced massive activation of the contact (kinin/kallikrein) system, as well as thrombin generation, platelet activation, and release of two pro-angiogeneic growth factors: platelet-derived growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, whereas complement activation was unaffected. The α-Fe₂O₃ NPs exhibited a noticeable toxicity, with kinin/kallikrein activation, which may be associated with hypotension and long-term angiogenesis in vivo, with implications for cancer, arteriosclerosis and pulmonary disease.