A small RNA is functional in Escherichia fergusonii despite containing a large insertion.

Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression; however, the impact of natural mutations on sRNA functions has not been studied extensively. Here we show that the sRNA MgrR contains a unique 53 bp insertion in Escherichia fergusonii, a close relative of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. The insertion is a repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequence that could block transcription, but full-length MgrR is produced in E. fergusonii, showing that the insertion has not affected sRNA production. Additionally, despite containing the large insertion, the sRNA appears to be functional because deletion of mgrR made E. fergusonii more susceptible to H2O2. The molecular details of MgrR's roles in H2O2defence are yet to be defined, but our results suggest that having an alternative function allowed the sRNA to be retained in E. fergusonii despite it sustaining a large, potentially disruptive mutation.

A Retrospective Review of Patients' Response to Biologic Therapy for Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Biologic treatments have taken the forefront in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Although numerous randomized, controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of these agents, there is limited data suggesting that clinical trial outcomes are reproducible in real-world patients. OBJECTIVE: Obtain real-world evidence for the use of biologics that target different segments of the immune system in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 100 patients who initiated biologic therapy and had a follow-up visit within a 4- to 12-month period. Efficacy assessments included body surface area (BSA), Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA) scores, composite BSA×PGA scores, and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) Treat to Target (TTT) goal of ≤1% BSA. RESULTS: Biologic treatment led to notable reductions in BSA, PGA, and BSA×PGA relative to baseline, with the majority (67.0%) of the population achieving NPF TTT goals at follow-up. Disease improvements were observed in all patients, regardless of baseline body weight, prior experience with biologics, or the specific immune target of the prescribed biologic. CONCLUSION: Long-term biologic therapy demonstrated effectiveness in treating patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. J Drugs Dermatol. 20(4):442-449. doi:10.36849/JDD.2021.5823Visit the Psoriasis Resource Center for more.