Microbiological and molecular screening of Candida spp. isolated from genital tract of asymptomatic pregnant women.

Introduction. Candida spp. may cause opportunistic infections called vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which is estimated to be the second most common cause of vaginitis worldwide.Gap Statement. Under various circumstances, VVC could compromise pregnancy outcomes. Emerging data suggests that VVC during pregnancy may be associated with increased risk of complications and congenital cutaneous candidiasis.Aim. To assess the prevalence of Candida spp. in asymptomatic pregnant women and determine the susceptibility of the isolates to antifungal drugs.Methodology. In a prospective cohort, 65 high vaginal swab samples of consented pregnant women. Candida isolates were identified using both microbiological and molecular tools and drug susceptibilities were profiled.Results. The prevalence of VVC among our study participants was 37 %, 24 of the 65 asymptomatic pregnant women show Candida spp. colonization. C. albicans was the most common species 61 %, followed by C. glabrata 39 %. In addition, a significant fraction of the isolated colonies showed resistance to Fluconazole, with a ratio of 63 % for C. albicans isolates and 16 % for Candida glabrata isolates. Moreover, relative quantification of genes related to resistance to fluconazole, CDR1, ERG11 as well as HWP1, showed a significant change compared to controls.Conclusion. Monitoring of vaginal Candida colonization before the third trimester of pregnancy, that could reduce congenital Candida colonization and risk of pregnancy complications.

Immunostaining of Whole-Mount Drosophila Testes for 3D Confocal Analysis of Large Spermatocytes.

Drosophila testes are a powerful model system for studying biological processes including stem cell biology, nuclear architecture, meiosis and sperm development. However, immunolabeling of the whole Drosophila testis is often associated with significant non-uniformity of staining due to antibody penetration. Squashed preparations only partially overcome the problem since it decreases the 3D quality of the analyses. Herein, we describe a whole-mount protocol using NP40 and heptane during fixation together with immunolabeling in liquid media. It preserves the volume suitable for confocal microscopy together with reproducible and reliable labeling. We show different examples of 3D reconstitution of spermatocyte nuclei from confocal sections. The intra- and inter-testes reproducibility allows 3D quantification and comparison of fluorescence between single cells from different genotypes. We used different components of the intranuclear MINT structure (Mad1-containing Intra Nuclear Territory) as well as two components associated with the nuclear pore complex to illustrate this protocol and its applications on the largest cells of the testis, the S4-S5 spermatocytes.

Mad1 influences interphase nucleoplasm organization and chromatin regulation in Drosophila.

The Drosophila Mad1 spindle checkpoint protein helps organize several nucleoplasmic components, and flies lacking Mad1 present changes in gene expression reflecting altered chromatin conformation. In interphase, checkpoint protein Mad1 is usually described as localizing to the inner nuclear envelope by binding the nucleoporin Tpr, an interaction believed to contribute to proper mitotic regulation. Whether Mad1 has other nuclear interphase functions is unknown. We found in Drosophila that Mad1 is present in nuclei of both mitotic and postmitotic tissues. Three proteins implicated in various aspects of chromatin organization co-immunoprecipitated with Mad1 from fly embryos: Mtor/Tpr, the SUMO peptidase Ulp1 and Raf2, a subunit of a Polycomb-like complex. In primary spermatocytes, all four proteins colocalized in a previously undescribed chromatin-associated structure called here a MINT (Mad1-containing IntraNuclear Territory). MINT integrity required all four proteins. In mad1 mutant spermatocytes, the other proteins were no longer confined to chromatin domains but instead dispersed throughout the nucleoplasm. mad1 flies also presented phenotypes indicative of excessive chromatin of heterochromatic character during development of somatic tissues. Together these results suggest that Drosophila Mad1, by helping organize its interphase protein partners in the nucleoplasm, contributes to proper chromatin regulation.

RZZ and Mad1 dynamics in Drosophila mitosis.

The presence or absence of Mad1 at kinetochores is a major determinant of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) activity, the surveillance mechanism that delays anaphase onset if one or more kinetochores remain unattached to spindle fibers. Among the factors regulating the levels of Mad1 at kinetochores is the Rod, Zw10, and Zwilch (RZZ) complex, which is required for Mad1 recruitment through a mechanism that remains unknown. The relative dynamics and interactions of Mad1 and RZZ at kinetochores have not been extensively investigated, although Mad1 has been reported to be stably recruited to unattached kinetochores. In this study, we directly compare Mad1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) turnover dynamics on unattached Drosophila kinetochores with that of RZZ, tagged either with GFP-Rod or GFP-Zw10. We find that nearly 40 % of kinetochore-bound Mad1 has a significant dynamic component, turning over with a half-life of 12 s. RZZ in contrast is essentially stable on unattached kinetochores. In addition, we report that a fraction of RZZ and Mad1 can co-immunoprecipitate, indicating that the genetically determined recruitment hierarchy (in which Mad1 depends on RZZ) may reflect a physical association of the two complexes.

Fem1b, a proapoptotic protein, mediates proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of human colon cancer cells.

In the treatment of colon cancer, the development of resistance to apoptosis is a major factor in resistance to therapy. New molecular approaches to overcome apoptosis resistance, such as selectively upregulating proapoptotic proteins, are needed in colon cancer therapy. In a mouse model with inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) tumor suppressor gene, reflecting the pathogenesis of most human colon cancers, the gene encoding feminization-1 homolog b (Fem1b) is upregulated in intestinal epithelium following Apc inactivation. Fem1b is a proapoptotic protein that interacts with apoptosis-inducing proteins Fas, tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR1), and apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1). Increasing Fem1b expression induces apoptosis of cancer cells, but effects on colon cancer cells have not been reported. Fem1b is a homolog of feminization-1 (FEM-1), a protein in Caenorhabditis elegans that is regulated by proteasomal degradation, but whether Fem1b is likewise regulated by proteasomal degradation is unknown. Herein, we found that Fem1b protein is expressed in primary human colon cancer specimens, and in malignant SW620, HCT-116, and DLD-1 colon cancer cells. Increasing Fem1b expression, by transfection of a Fem1b expression construct, induced apoptosis of these cells. We found that proteasome inhibitor treatment of SW620, HCT-116, and DLD-1 cells caused upregulation of Fem1b protein levels, associated with induction of apoptosis. Blockade of Fem1b upregulation with morpholino antisense oligonucleotide suppressed the proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of these cells. In conclusion, the proapoptotic protein Fem1b is downregulated by the proteasome in malignant colon cancer cells and mediates proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of these cells. Therefore, Fem1b could represent a novel molecular target to overcome apoptosis resistance in therapy of colon cancer.