Staphylococcus aureus cell wall stress stimulon gene-lacZ fusion strains: potential for use in screening for cell wall-active antimicrobials

lacZ fusion strains were constructed using the promoters of five cell wall stress stimulon genes: pbp2, tcaA, vraSR, sgtB, and lytR. All fusion strains were induced only in the presence of cell wall-active antibiotics, suggesting the potential of these strains for use in high-throughput screening for new cell wall-active agents.     

Difference in Accidents,Health Symptoms,and Ergonomic Problems between Conventional Farmers Using Pesticides and Organic Farmers

ABSTRACT

Organic farming has been promoted in Thailand by King Rama the ninth. In addition to being healthier for consumers, organic farming is healthier for agricultural workers. The cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the frequency of chronic disease conditions, accidents, health symptoms, and ergonomic problems among 243 conventional (pesticide using) farmers and 235 organic farmers. Data were collected using questionnaires in face-to-face interviews. The results indicated symptoms that could be related to pesticide exposure (skin rashes, water blisters, headache, dizziness, and loss of appetite) were significantly higher among conventional farmers than organic farmers. The organic farmers reported significantly more health symptoms such as hives, chest pain, mild fever, flatulence, and frequent urination than the conventional farmers. The organic farmers reported significantly more pain, numbness, or weakness in the wrists/hands, fingers, upper back, hips, and ankles/feet than conventional farmers.     

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among university students in Thailand

We studied the prevalence of methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization among healthy young Thai adults. MSSA nasal colonization was found in 30 of 200 subjects (15%). The prevalence of MRSAnasal carriage was 1% (2 of 200) detected by cefoxitin/oxacillin disk diffusion and oxacillin salt screening methods. These carriers were associated with health care risk factors. The two MRSA isolates were mecA positive, SCCmec type II. All S. aureus isolates were tested for antibiotic resistance. Their resistance rates to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, oxacillin and cefoxitin were 96.7, 26.7, 26.7, 6.7 and 6.7%, respectively. All MSSA and MRSA isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, rifampicin, linezolid, fusidic acid, mupirocin, ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. The results of this first study of MRSA nasal colonization among healthy young Thai adults suggests MRSA is present in the Thai community.     

Sprouty2 and ‐4 hypomorphism promotes neuronal survival and astrocytosis in a mouse model of kainic acid induced neuronal damage

Sprouty (Spry) proteins play a key role as negative feedback inhibitors of the Ras/Raf/MAPK/ERK pathway downstream of various receptor tyrosine kinases. Among the four Sprouty isoforms, Spry2 and Spry4 are expressed in the hippocampus. In this study, possible effects of Spry2 and Spry4 hypomorphism on neurodegeneration and seizure thresholds in a mouse model of epileptogenesis was analyzed. The Spry2/4 hypomorphs exhibited stronger ERK activation which was limited to the CA3 pyramidal cell layer and to the hilar region. The seizure threshold of Spry2/4^+/? mice was significantly reduced at naive state but no difference to wildtype mice was observed 1 month following KA treatment. Histomorphological analysis revealed that dentate granule cell dispersion (GCD) was diminished in Spry2/4^+/? mice in the subchronic phase after KA injection. Neuronal degeneration was reduced in CA1 and CA3 principal neuron layers as well as in scattered neurons of the contralateral CA1 and hilar regions. Moreover, Spry2/4 reduction resulted in enhanced survival of somatostatin and neuropeptide Y expressing interneurons. GFAP staining intensity and number of reactive astrocytes markedly increased in lesioned areas of Spry2/4^+/? mice as compared with wildtype mice. Taken together, although the seizure threshold is reduced in naive Spry2/4^+/? mice, neurodegeneration and GCD is mitigated following KA induced hippocampal lesions, identifying Spry proteins as possible pharmacological targets in brain injuries resulting in neurodegeneration. The present data are consistent with the established functions of the ERK pathway in astrocyte proliferation as well as protection from neuronal cell death and suggest a novel role of Spry proteins in the migration of differentiated neurons. © 2015 The Authors Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.