Public Health Research Institute

About: Public Health Research Institute is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Randomized controlled trial. The organization has 4889 authors who have published 8149 publications receiving 276945 citations.

Sequence and properties of comQ, a new competence regulatory gene of Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract: The sequence and properties of the comQ gene are described comQ was predicted to encode a 34,209-Da protein, and the product of comQ was shown to be required for the development of genetic competence The apparent transcriptional initiation and termination sites of comQ were mapped, and the location of a likely E sigma A promoter was inferred The expression of comQ was maximal early in growth and declined as the cells approached the stationary phase This expression was not dependent on any of the competence regulatory genes tested (comA, comP, sin, abrB, degU, and spo0A) Disruption of comQ in the chromosome prevented the development of competence as well as the transcription of comG, a late competence operon This disruption also decreased the expression of srfA, a regulatory operon needed for the expression of competence These and other results suggest a role for ComQ early in the hierarchy of competence regulatory genes, probably as a component of a signal transduction system

Fluoroquinolone Action against Mycobacteria: Effects of C-8 Substituents on Growth, Survival, and Resistance

Abstract: Fluoroquinolones trap gyrase on DNA as bacteriostatic complexes from which lethal DNA breaks are released. Substituents at the C-8 position increase activities of N-1-cyclopropyl fluoroquinolones against several bacterial species. In the present study, a C-8-methoxyl group improved bacteriostatic action against gyrA (gyrase-resistant) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG. It also enhanced lethal action against gyrase mutants of M. bovis BCG. When cultures of M. smegmatis, M. bovis BCG, and M. tuberculosis were challenged with a C-8-methoxyl fluoroquinolone, no resistant mutant was recovered under conditions in which more than 1,000 mutants were obtained with a C-8-H control. A C-8-bromo substituent also increased bacteriostatic and lethal activities against a gyrA mutant of M. bovis BCG. When lethal activity was normalized to bacteriostatic activity, the C-8-methoxyl compound was more bactericidal than its C-8-H control, while the C-8-bromo fluoroquinolone was not. The C-8-methoxyl compound was also found to be more effective than the C-8-bromo fluoroquinolone at reducing selection of resistant mutants when each was compared to a C-8-H control over a broad concentration range. These data indicate that a C-8-methoxyl substituent, which facilitates attack of first-step gyrase mutants, may help make fluoroquinolones effective antituberculosis agents.

The effects of fifteen evidence-supported therapies for adult depression: A meta-analytic review.

Abstract: Objective: In the past decades, many different types of psychotherapy for adult depression have been developed. Method: In this meta-analysis we examined the effects of 15 different types of psycho...

Characterization of chimeric plasmid cloning vehicles in Bacillus subtilis

Abstract: Restriction endonuclease cleavage maps of seven chimeric plasmids that may be used for molecular cloning in Bacillus subtilis are presented. These plasmids all carry multiple antibiotic resistance markers and were constructed by in vitro molecular cloning techniques. Several of the antibiotic resistance markers were shown to undergo insertional inactivation at specific restriction endonuclease sites. Kanamycin inactivation occurred at the BglII site of pUB110 derivatives, erythromycin inactivation occurred at the HpaI and BclI sites of pE194 derivatives, and streptomycin inactivation occurred at the HindIII site of pSA0501 derivatives. A stable mini-derivative of pBD12 was isolated and characterized. By using these plasmids, we identified proteins involved in plasmid-coded kanamycin and erythromycin resistance. The properties and uses of these chimeric plasmids in the further development of recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid technology in B. subtilis are discussed.