Lipid remodelling of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycoconjugates in procyclic-form trypanosomes: biosynthesis and processing of GPIs revisited

The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has been used as a model to study the biosynthesis of GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol) anchors. In mammalian (bloodstream)-form parasites, diacyl-type GPI precursors are remodelled in their lipid moieties before attachment to variant surface glycoproteins. In contrast, the GPI precursors of insect (procyclic)-form parasites, consisting of lyso-(acyl)PI (inositol-acylated acyl-lyso-phosphatidylinositol) species, remain unaltered before protein attachment. By using a combination of metabolic labelling, cell-free assays and complementary MS analyses, we show in the present study that GPI-anchored glycoconjugates in T. congolense procyclic forms initially receive tri-acylated GPI precursors, which are subsequently de-acylated either at the glycerol backbone or on the inositol ring. Chemical and enzymatic treatments of [3H]myristate-labelled lipids in combination with ESI-MS/MS (electrospray ionization-tandem MS) and MALDI-QIT-TOF-MS3 (matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-quadrupole ion trap-time-of-flight MS) analyses indicate that the structure of the lipid moieties of steady-state GPI lipids from T. congolense procyclic forms consist of a mixture of lyso-(acyl)PI, diacyl-PI and diacyl-(acyl)PI species. Interestingly, some of these species are myristoylated at the sn-2 position. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of lipid remodelling at the level of protein- or polysaccharide-linked GPI anchors in procyclic-form trypanosomes.

Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with ambrisentan: a parallel, randomized trial

BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by formation and proliferation of fibroblast foci. Endothelin-1 induces lung fibroblast proliferation and contractile activity via the endothelin A (ETA) receptor. OBJECTIVE To determine whether ambrisentan, an ETA receptor-selective antagonist, reduces the rate of IPF progression. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00768300). SETTING Academic and private hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Patients with IPF aged 40 to 80 years with minimal or no honeycombing on high-resolution computed tomography scans. INTERVENTION Ambrisentan, 10 mg/d, or placebo. MEASUREMENTS Time to disease progression, defined as death, respiratory hospitalization, or a categorical decrease in lung function. RESULTS The study was terminated after enrollment of 492 patients (75% of intended enrollment; mean duration of exposure to study medication, 34.7 weeks) because an interim analysis indicated a low likelihood of showing efficacy for the end point by the scheduled end of the study. Ambrisentan-treated patients were more likely to meet the prespecified criteria for disease progression (90 [27.4%] vs. 28 [17.2%] patients; P = 0.010; hazard ratio, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.14 to 2.66]). Lung function decline was seen in 55 (16.7%) ambrisentan-treated patients and 19 (11.7%) placebo-treated patients (P = 0.109). Respiratory hospitalizations were seen in 44 (13.4%) and 9 (5.5%) patients in the ambrisentan and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.007). Twenty-six (7.9%) patients who received ambrisentan and 6 (3.7%) who received placebo died (P = 0.100). Thirty-two (10%) ambrisentan-treated patients and 16 (10%) placebo-treated patients had pulmonary hypertension at baseline, and analysis stratified by the presence of pulmonary hypertension revealed similar results for the primary end point. LIMITATION The study was terminated early. CONCLUSION Ambrisentan was not effective in treating IPF and may be associated with an increased risk for disease progression and respiratory hospitalizations. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Gilead Sciences.

Mondes clos. Cultures et Jardins

À l’origine était le jardin. éden biblique, paradis persan, jardins clos d’innombrables mythes et récits. La condition des mortels découle de l’arrachement à ce premier terreau. L’humain dès lors n’a de cesse d’en repenser la perfection et de la reproduire en autant de paradis miniatures. Le jardin, en réduisant le monde à un espace clos, tente de se l’approprier et de le dominer. En ceci, il remplit une fonction d’ordre magique. Mondes clos est le résultat d’une rencontre interdisciplinaire organisée au printemps 2011 par l’Unité d’histoire des religions de l’Université de Genève en collaboration avec Asdiwal, revue genevoise d’anthropologie et d’histoire des religions.

Genome Sequences of Two Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Different Geographical Regions, Argentina (Strain JHCK1) and the United States (Strain VA360)

We report the sequences of two Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates, strains JHCK1 and VA360, from a newborn with meningitis in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and from a tertiary care medical center in Cleveland, OH, respectively. Both isolates contain one chromosome and at least five plasmids; isolate VA360 contains the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) gene

Adrenocortical carcinoma-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in dog : diagnostic methodology.

A 12 year old German sheperd dog was examined because of polyuria-polydipsia and polyphagia for the last month. Hemogram and biochemistry profile being compatible with hypercorticism, functional test were undertaken and allow to emit a suspicion of primary adrenocortical tumor-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. Diagnosis was confirmed with CT-scan examination and at surgery, an adrenocortical carcinoma was found. Diagnostic evaluation of Cushing syndrom in the dog is discussed.