Escherichia coli grown in inexpensive conical flat-bottom polypropylene tubes produce a high level of pUC vector.

The pUC-derived plasmid yield from E. coli using polypropylene tubes (PP) was compared among round and conical tubes. The yield from cells grown in a cheaper conical-PP with flat-bottom was 1.5-fold higher (p < 0.001) than other PP. The use of the conical-PP can save research budgets in the current inflationary environment.

Interleukin-27-induced HIV-resistant dendritic cells suppress reveres transcription following virus entry in an SPTBN1, autophagy, and YB-1 independent manner.

Interleukin (IL)-27, a member of the IL-12 family of cytokines, induces human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-resistant monocyte-derived macrophages and T cells. This resistance is mediated via the downregulation of spectrin beta, non-erythrocytic 1 (SPTBN1), induction of autophagy, or suppression of the acetylation of Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1); however, the role of IL-27 administration during the induction of immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (iDC) is poorly investigated. In the current study, we investigated the function of IL-27-induced iDC (27DC) on HIV infection. 27DC inhibited HIV infection by 95 ± 3% without significant changes in the expression of CD4, CCR5, and SPTBN1 expression, autophagy induction and acetylation of YB-1 compared to iDC. An HIV proviral DNA copy number assay displayed that 27DC suppressed reverse transcriptase (RT) reaction without influencing the virus entry. A DNA microarray analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes between 27DC and iDC. Compared to iDC, 51 genes were differentially expressed in 27DC, with more than 3-fold changes in four independent donors. Cross-reference analysis with the reported 2,214 HIV regulatory host genes identified nine genes as potential interests: Ankyrin repeat domain 22, Guanylate binding protein (GBP)-1, -2, -4, -5, Stabilin 1, Serpin family G member 1 (SERPING1), Interferon alpha inducible protein 6, and Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3. A knock-down study using si-RNA failed to determine a key factor associated with the anti-HIV activity due to the induction of robust amounts of off-target effects. Overexpression of each protein in cells had no impact on HIV infection. Thus, we could not define the mechanism of the anti-HIV effect in 27DC. However, our findings indicated that IL-27 differentiates monocytes into HIV-resistant DC, and the inhibitory mechanism differs from IL-27-induced HIV-resistant macrophages and T cells.

Contaminación microbiólogica en fórmulas infantiles en polvo en dos hospitales de Honduras / Microbiological contamination in children's powdered formulas in two Honduran hospitals

OBJETIVOS: Determinar la existencia de contaminación por patógenos en fórmulas infantiles en polvo (FIP) procesadas en los dos hospitales públicos más grandes de Honduras y evaluar las condiciones de procesamiento de sus servicios de fórmulas infantiles (SFI). MÉTODOS: Estudio exploratorio realizado en dos etapas: ') Evaluación presencial de las condiciones de procesamiento de las FIP de los dos SFI; 2) Recolección y análisis de las muestras FIP para el aislamiento de Cronobacter spp. y enterobacterias. RESULTADOS: La evaluación de los SFI mostró debilidades en diferentes aspectos como infraestructura, almacenamiento, capacitación y registros. Cincuenta muestras fueron recolectadas en total de cinco marcas originarias de seis países. El 38% se encontraban en uso durante el muestreo y 62% fueron recolectadas de latas selladas. Se comprobó la presencia de Cronobacter spp. en 4% (2/50) del total de muestras, una proveniente de cada hospital. Se elaboró y entregó un manual de procesamiento de FIP a cada hospital participante. CONCLUSIONES: Existe contaminación de Cronobacter spp., Klebsiella y Acinetobacter en los dos hospitales hondureños; resultado similar a los estimados en Chile (5%) y Cuba (',6%). Es necesaria la implementación del manual de procesamiento FIP y el monitoreo de estos y otros microorganismos patógenos.

OBJECTIVES: Determine the existence of pathogen contamination in powdered infant formulas (PIF) processed in the two largest public hospitals in Honduras and evaluate the processing conditions of their infant formula services (IFS). METHODS: Exploratory study executed in two stages: ') faceto-face evaluation of the processing conditions of the PIF of the two IFS; 2) Collection and analysis of the PIF samples for Cronobacter spp. and Enterobacteriaceae isolation. RESULTS: The evaluation of the IFS showed weaknesses in different aspects such as infrastructure, storage, training and keeping records. In total, fifty samples were collected, representing five brands from six countries. Thirty eight percent of samples were collected from cans in use during sampling and 62% were collected from sealed cans. The presence of Cronobacter spp. was detected in 4% (2/50) of the total samples, one from each hospital. A PIF processing manual was prepared and delivered to each participating hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Contamination of Cronobacter spp., Klebsiella and Acinetobacter existed in two evaluated Honduran hospitals; results similar to others in Chile (5%) and Cuba ('.6%). It is necessary to implement the PIF processing manual and monitor these and other pathogenic microorganisms