Author Archives: ev1

Research and Markets: Mexico In Vitro Diagnostics Market Outlook to 2018 – Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xls83g/mexico_in_vitro) has announced the addition of GlobalData's new report "Mexico In Vitro Diagnostics Market Outlook to 2018 - Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture" to their offering.

This new report, Mexico In Vitro Diagnostics Market Outlook to 2018- Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture provides key market data on the Mexico In Vitro Diagnostics market. The report provides value (USD million), volume (units) and average price (USD) data for each segment and sub-segment within market categories - Immuno Chemistry, Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Infectious Immunology, Histology And Cytology, Microbiology Culture and Genetic Testing. The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of the aforementioned market categories. The report is supplemented with global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants with information on company financials and pipeline products, wherever available.

Scope

- Market size and company share data for In Vitro Diagnostics market categories - Immuno Chemistry, Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Infectious Immunology, Histology And Cytology, Microbiology Culture and Genetic Testing.

- Annualized market revenues (USD million), volume (units) and average price (USD) data for each of the segments and sub-segments within market categories. Data from 2004 to 2011, forecast forward for 7 years to 2018.

- 2011 company shares and distribution shares data for each of the market categories.

- Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the Mexico In Vitro Diagnostics market.

Companies Mentioned

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

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Research and Markets: Microbiology Laboratory Practices (Certified) – E-Learning Course

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/s7b3jt/elearning_course) has announced the addition of the "E-Learning Course - Microbiology Laboratory Practices (Certified)" training to their offering.

This course covers the key critical techniques and practices that are required knowledge for all competent microbiologists.

It covers basic microbiological techniques such as media preparation, pure culture techniques and the pour plate technique. The application of good aseptic technique to microbiological testing is described in detail.

A key tool in microbiology - the microscope - is comprehensively covered by explaining its main components and key microscopic techniques.

The main categories of staining - simple, differential, and structural - are described along with the different staining techniques commonly used in a microbiology laboratory. Finally, the concept of unknown bacterial identification is explained and the morphological and cultural tests carried out to identify unknowns.

Certificate

There is a 16 question assessment associated with each lesson within the Course and we offer a Certificate Service in which Users who achieve 100% in the assessment associated with each Lesson of a Course are deemed to have passed the Course, and are posted a Certificate.

Modules Covered:

(1) Principles of Good Aseptic Technique

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Research and Markets: Microbiology Laboratory Practices (Certified) - E-Learning Course

Edmond centenarian shares secrets to longevity

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January 22, 2013 Edmond centenarian shares secrets to longevity

Anonymous Special to The Sun The Edmond Sun Tue Jan 22, 2013, 09:59 PM CST

EDMOND Edmond resident Winnie Harmon celebrated her 100th birthday this month with 30 family members at her home at Grace Living Center Edmond. Enjoying social gatherings is one of her secrets to longevity.

Born Jan. 5, 1913, Harmon was one of 10 children and grew up on a farm east of Norman, learning social skills and a work ethic that would serve her well in life.

A career woman, Harmon worked in retail sales at Rothschilds, an upscale Oklahoma City department store. She never drove and instead took the bus to work and anywhere else beyond walking distance.

I always enjoyed helping people and sometimes wish Id become a nurse, Harmon said.

Doing volunteer work and a having a sense of humor were two other factors in Harmons long life.

Harmon said she always dressed up and took good care of herself. She never smoked or drank alcohol. She ate oatmeal for breakfast every day and still enjoys her coffee in the morning.

Never married, instead Harmon plays Auntie to many nieces and nephews. For years, she also enjoyed the company of and caring for her pet dachshund.

Now, Harmon enjoys the social life at Grace where she shares coffee klatches with her friends and attending the many parties and events at the home.

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Edmond centenarian shares secrets to longevity

Winchester approves longevity bonuses

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By Casey Castle The Winchester Sun

Some city employees finally got a longevity increase thanks to a measure approved by the Winchester Board of Commissioners Tuesday night.

The city met in special session Tuesday after rescheduling its January meetings last month.

The approved order moves the cap for employees serving for longer than 25 years, giving each pay grade a wider range of pay. This allows employees who had already reached the maximum salary to continue to get time-in-service bumps for working more than 25 years.

Their only opportunity for an increase is if theres a budgeted across-the-board raise, said J.R. Wilhite, interim city manager. There are just a handful of employees that this would impact, so its not a significant cost.

Wilhite said the measure would immediately affect about five employees and cost the city less than $3,000.

Its continuing the same step increases that are available for them in their first 25 years of service, he said. You certainly want to do what you can to encourage folks who have good experience to stay working.

In other business, the board also:

Approved a measure reclassifying property at 134 S. Maple St. and 103 W. Hickman St. from residential to downtown business.

Approved orders appointing Nick Bailey to the Winchester Tree Board, accepting the resignation of Doug Beltzner from the same board and appointing Drew Graham to finish Beltzners term.

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How can evolutionary biology explain why we get cancer?

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Jan. 22, 2013 Over 500 billion cells in our bodies will be replaced daily, yet natural selection has enabled us to develop defenses against the cellular mutations which could cause cancer. It is this relationship between evolution and the body's fight against cancer which is explored in a new special issue of the Open Access journal Evolutionary Applications.

"Cancer is far from a single well-defined disease which we can identify and eradicate," said Dr Athena Aktipis, Director, Human and Social Evolution, Center for Evolution and Cancer at the University of California, San Francisco. "It is highly diverse and evolutionary theory allows us to consider cancer as a highly complex and evolving ecosystem. This approach can improve the understanding, treatment and prevention of a number of different cancer types."

By applying the principles of evolutionary biology papers in the special issue ask: Why do we get cancer, despite the body's powerful cancer suppression mechanisms? How do evolutionary principles like natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift, work in a cancer ecosystem? How can we use evolutionary theory to minimize the rate of cancers worldwide?

"Nowhere is the diversity of cancer better revealed than the many reasons why we remain vulnerable to it," said Dr Aktipis. "Evolutionary medicine allows us to see explanations for traits that leave organisms vulnerable to disease."

These evolutionary explanations include the role of environmental factors, such as the relationship between tobacco availability and lung cancer; co-evolution with fast evolving pathogens; constraints on what selection can do; trade-offs, such as the capacity for tissue repair vs. risk of cancer; reproductive success at the expense of health; defenses with costs as well as benefits, such as inflammation.

"An evolutionary approach can unite and explain the many avenues of cancer research by allowing us to see cancer as an ecosystem," concluded Dr Aktipis. "Just as a forest depends on the individual characteristics of trees as well as the interactions of each tree with its environment; similarly tumors can be [composed of] genetically distinct cells, which depend on both cell-to-cell interactions within the tumor, as well as on the interactions of tumor itself with the body."

This special issue is collaboration between scientists from the Darwinian Evolution of Cancer Consortium in France and the Center for Evolution and Cancer at the University of California, San Francisco. The issue is guest edited by Frederic Thomas, Michael Hochberg, Athena Aktipis, Carlo Maley and Ursula Hibner.

Papers from the Evolution and Cancer Special Issue are all freely available on the Evolutionary Applications website: http://www.evolutionaryapplications.org

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Mersana Therapeutics Expands Senior Leadership Team with Appointments of Peter Park, Ph.D., as VP of Biology and Wayne …

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing its Fleximer antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform and pipeline of small molecule Fleximer conjugates, announced today that the company has expanded its senior leadership team. Peter U. Park, Ph.D., has joined the company as Vice President of Biology, and Wayne Foster, CPA, has joined as Vice President of Finance.

The addition of Peter to our senior team reflects Mersanas focus on our next generation Fleximer antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform, said Nicholas Bacopoulos, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Mersana. Peters extensive and successful experience with ADC discovery and development will be integral to the continued advancement of our Fleximer-based ADC platform and pipeline in oncology. Additionally, as we continue to advance our existing collaborative projects and grow through new strategic alliances, Peters experience with Pharma and Biotech collaborations will be fundamental. Waynes broad and deep expertise on strategic planning, alliance management, financial processes and controls, and fundraising will also serve Mersana very well as we progress to our next stage of growth.

Dr. Park brings to Mersana significant experience in the discovery and development of antibody-drug conjugate therapies. Prior to joining Mersana, he was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Habgen, Inc., a start-up focused on antibody therapeutics. Prior to that, Dr. Park served at ImmunoGen, Inc. for 10 years, most recently as Senior Director of Discovery Research. In this role, he managed the discovery research portfolio for the development of novel monoclonal antibody and antibody-drug conjugates for oncology, advancing two compounds into Phase 1 and several additional projects into late discovery and preclinical development. Additionally, he oversaw ImmunoGens research collaboration with Sanofi. He is the author on many patents and has contributed to numerous scientific publications. Dr. Park earned his Ph.D. and B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr. Foster has held management positions in several life science and technology companies. Prior to joining Mersana, he served for nine years as Senior Director of Finance at Tolerx, Inc. In this role, he was responsible a wide variety of finance functions as the company grew from early stage through precommercialization. Mr. Foster also served as Senior Manager at Arthur Andersen LLP where he specialized in emerging life science and technology companies. He earned his B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

About Mersana

Mersana engineers novel drug conjugates that maximize the potential of new and established therapeutic classes. Utilizing its proprietary conjugation technology, which is comprised of the Fleximer polymer and a broad array of customizable linker chemistries, Mersana is developing its next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform with superior properties not found with other ADC technologies. Mersana is currently working with a number of top Pharma companies to develop next generation Fleximer-ADCs and most recently announced a $270 million collaboration with Endo Pharmaceuticals in March, 2012. The company is also advancing its own pipeline of next-generation drugs with best-in-class potential to address unmet needs and improve patient outcomes in multiple oncology indications. Mersanas investors include New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Pfizer Venture Investments, Proquest Investments, Fidelity Biosciences, Rho Ventures and Harris and Harris Group. Mersana was founded by PureTech Ventures, LLC and a group of leading academics and clinicians.

For more information, visit http://www.mersana.com.

Fleximeris a trademark of Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

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Mersana Therapeutics Expands Senior Leadership Team with Appointments of Peter Park, Ph.D., as VP of Biology and Wayne ...

The biology of plague: Systems approach used to investigate strains of Yersinia

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Journal cover showing association network inferred from integrated proteomic and transcriptomic data from three different Yersinia strains with varying levels of virulence. Examples of significantly enriched functional clusters are indicated in the figure.

(Phys.org)When is the plague not the plague? When it's a different strain of the same bacteria. In two strains of the bacteria genus Yersinia a highly lethal pathogen and its less-virulent formscientists performed multi-omic analyses to gain insights how they differ. They found that how the genes in both are expressed contribute to the striking difference in the diseases caused by these pathogens. The research team included scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the J. Craig Venter Institute, and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

The work, featured on the cover of Molecular BioSystems, is the next step in ongoing research on Yersinia pestis (YP), which causes plague with a high mortality rate, and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (YPT), an intestinal pathogen with a modest mortality rate. The bacteria are highly similar with some species-specific differences; however, the molecular causes of their distinct outcomes are poorly understood. The team's analysis revealed that gene and protein expression levels of shared or common virulence-related proteins were both higher in YP than in YPT.

This suggests that adaptation in the regulatory architecture of YP, in addition to the presence of unique genetic material, may contribute to its increased pathogenicity," said the study's lead author Dr. Charles Ansong, PNNL.

The availability of genome sequences for several Yersinia strains, including YPT and both epidemic and non-epidemic YP variants, has provided an opportunity to explore mechanisms responsible for the differences in pathogenicity. Scientists already knew that all human pathogenic Yersinia strains, including YP and YPT, share almost identical genes in plasmids that are essential for virulence.

This work highlights the utility of a systems approach incorporating multiple omics measurements and computational analyses to provide novel insights into Yersinia biology; and provides an important resource for the Yersinia research community that should aid the understanding of the markedly different pathogenicities of YP and YPT.

The scientists grew YPT and two forms of YP at temperatures representative of host environments, then sampled them over an 8-hour period. The samples were analyzed using a multi-genome microarray and mass spectrometric methods.

"This experimental design, using multiple omic technologies, was exciting because it allowed us to get a greater grasp of the mechanisms involved in the differences between what have been sometimes called a 'nearly clonal' group of organisms." said PNNL biochemist Dr. Joshua Adkins.

Novel virulence factors predicted from computational analysis of the multi-omics data will be validated in animal models of bubonic plague in follow-on studies. These represent apparent novel therapeutic targets that, with the recent reports of drug-resistant Yersinia strains, are sorely needed.

More information: Ansong, C. et al. A Multi-omic Systems Approach to Elucidating Yersinia Virulence Mechanisms, Molecular BioSystems.DOI: 10.1039/C2MB25287B

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The biology of plague: Systems approach used to investigate strains of Yersinia

Some Budding Yeast I Used to Grow (Gotye Parody) – Video

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Some Budding Yeast I Used to Grow (Gotye Parody)
Some Budding Yeast I Used to Grow (Parody of Somebody that I Used to Know by Gotye feat. Kimbra) Submission for UC-Berkeley MCB Follies 2012-2013 (UC-Berkeley, Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology) LYRICS, VOCALS, EDITING STARRING: Nathaniel Krefman STORYLINE: Lydia Thé, Haomiao Huang, Nathaniel Krefman ANIMATION: Lydia Thé Nathaniel Krefman DIRECTION PHOTOGRAPHY: Lydia Thé Haomiao Huang ________________________________________________ LYRICS: Now and then I think of things that I could have done better. Like when I forgot to give you glucose, and you just died. An organism that was right for me. The awesome power of genetics in yeast. But now I think I #39;ll have to use a metazoan. You can get addicted to the haploid-diploid cycle. And recombination in a site-specific way. So when they showed yeast could do anti-sense, It didn #39;t change any experiments. A recessive loss-of-function, try to find one in a Hela cell. But NIH, don #39;t cut me off. Just cuz yeast aren #39;t motile doesn #39;t mean I don #39;t need funding. And I don #39;t even need that much, But you say they don #39;t have neurons, and your budget #39;s tough. Did you know that we have auxotrophs? Synthetic genetic arrays. Try doing that with a fish or monkey. You say they don #39;t get develop though. Now you #39;re just some budding yeast I used to grow. Now you #39;re just some budding yeast I used to grow. Now you #39;re just some budding yeast I used to grow. Now and then I think of all we #39;ve learned with Saccharomyces. Cuz of all that ...

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Some Budding Yeast I Used to Grow (Gotye Parody) - Video

Scientific Explanation on How and Why Cannabis can Cure Cancer – Video

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Scientific Explanation on How and Why Cannabis can Cure Cancer
Health Professionals, Doctors and Scientists Interviewed on the subject of cannabis. They are listed in order of appearance in this video... Jeffrey Hergenrather MD President of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians thesethgroup.org Dr. Robert Melamed Ph.D. Associate Professor and Biology Chairman in the Biology Department at the University of Colorado and of Cannabis Science Dr. Manuel Guzman Professor of Biochemistry - University of Madrid Paul Armentano Deputy Director NORML Prakash Nagarkatti, Ph.D. Vice President for Research University of South Carolina Columbia Distinguished Professor Dr. Donald Tashkin MD Professor of Pulmonary Medicine, UCLA

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Scientific Explanation on How and Why Cannabis can Cure Cancer - Video

How to Pronounce Coded – Video

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How to Pronounce Coded
Learn how to say Coded correctly with EmmaSaying #39;s "how do you pronounce" free tutorials. Definition of code (oxford dictionary): noun 1a system of words, letters, figures, or symbols used to represent others, especially for the purposes of secrecy: the Americans cracked their diplomatic code [mass noun]: messages written in code a phrase or concept used to represent another in an indirect way: researching #39;the family #39; is usually a code for studying women a series of letters, numbers, or symbols assigned to something for the purposes of classification or identification: each box had a label with the code SC 90 short for dialling code. I was given the number, but not the code for Guildford 2 [mass noun] Computing program instructions: assembly code 3a systematic collection of laws or statutes: a revision of the penal code a set of conventions or moral principles governing behaviour in a particular sphere: a strict dress code a stern code of honour verb [with object] 1convert (the words of a message) into a code so as to convey a secret meaning: only Mitch knew how to read the message mdash;even the name was coded express the meaning of (a statement) in an indirect way: (as adjective coded) journalists made coded allusions to his deficiencies assign a code to (something) for purposes of classification or identification: she coded the samples and sent them for dissection 2write code for (a computer program). 3 [no object] (code for) Biochemistry be the genetic code for (an amino ...

By: Emma Saying

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How to Pronounce Coded - Video

How to Pronounce Coders – Video

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How to Pronounce Coders
Learn how to say Coders correctly with EmmaSaying #39;s "how do you pronounce" free tutorials. Definition of code (oxford dictionary): noun 1a system of words, letters, figures, or symbols used to represent others, especially for the purposes of secrecy: the Americans cracked their diplomatic code [mass noun]: messages written in code a phrase or concept used to represent another in an indirect way: researching #39;the family #39; is usually a code for studying women a series of letters, numbers, or symbols assigned to something for the purposes of classification or identification: each box had a label with the code SC 90 short for dialling code. I was given the number, but not the code for Guildford 2 [mass noun] Computing program instructions: assembly code 3a systematic collection of laws or statutes: a revision of the penal code a set of conventions or moral principles governing behaviour in a particular sphere: a strict dress code a stern code of honour verb [with object] 1convert (the words of a message) into a code so as to convey a secret meaning: only Mitch knew how to read the message mdash;even the name was coded express the meaning of (a statement) in an indirect way: (as adjective coded) journalists made coded allusions to his deficiencies assign a code to (something) for purposes of classification or identification: she coded the samples and sent them for dissection 2write code for (a computer program). 3 [no object] (code for) Biochemistry be the genetic code for (an amino ...

By: Emma Saying

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How to Pronounce Coders - Video

How to Pronounce Coder – Video

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How to Pronounce Coder
Learn how to say Coder correctly with EmmaSaying #39;s "how do you pronounce" free tutorials. Definition of code (oxford dictionary): noun 1a system of words, letters, figures, or symbols used to represent others, especially for the purposes of secrecy: the Americans cracked their diplomatic code [mass noun]: messages written in code a phrase or concept used to represent another in an indirect way: researching #39;the family #39; is usually a code for studying women a series of letters, numbers, or symbols assigned to something for the purposes of classification or identification: each box had a label with the code SC 90 short for dialling code. I was given the number, but not the code for Guildford 2 [mass noun] Computing program instructions: assembly code 3a systematic collection of laws or statutes: a revision of the penal code a set of conventions or moral principles governing behaviour in a particular sphere: a strict dress code a stern code of honour verb [with object] 1convert (the words of a message) into a code so as to convey a secret meaning: only Mitch knew how to read the message mdash;even the name was coded express the meaning of (a statement) in an indirect way: (as adjective coded) journalists made coded allusions to his deficiencies assign a code to (something) for purposes of classification or identification: she coded the samples and sent them for dissection 2write code for (a computer program). 3 [no object] (code for) Biochemistry be the genetic code for (an amino ...

By: Emma Saying

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How to Pronounce Coder - Video

How to Pronounce Codes – Video

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How to Pronounce Codes
Learn how to say Codes correctly with EmmaSaying #39;s "how do you pronounce" free tutorials. Definition of code (oxford dictionary): noun 1a system of words, letters, figures, or symbols used to represent others, especially for the purposes of secrecy: the Americans cracked their diplomatic code [mass noun]: messages written in code a phrase or concept used to represent another in an indirect way: researching #39;the family #39; is usually a code for studying women a series of letters, numbers, or symbols assigned to something for the purposes of classification or identification: each box had a label with the code SC 90 short for dialling code. I was given the number, but not the code for Guildford 2 [mass noun] Computing program instructions: assembly code 3a systematic collection of laws or statutes: a revision of the penal code a set of conventions or moral principles governing behaviour in a particular sphere: a strict dress code a stern code of honour verb [with object] 1convert (the words of a message) into a code so as to convey a secret meaning: only Mitch knew how to read the message mdash;even the name was coded express the meaning of (a statement) in an indirect way: (as adjective coded) journalists made coded allusions to his deficiencies assign a code to (something) for purposes of classification or identification: she coded the samples and sent them for dissection 2write code for (a computer program). 3 [no object] (code for) Biochemistry be the genetic code for (an amino ...

By: Emma Saying

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How to Pronounce Codes - Video

Crystal structure of the piRNA biogenesis factor Zucchini from mouse – Video

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Crystal structure of the piRNA biogenesis factor Zucchini from mouse
Animation of X-ray crystallographic structure determined for the protein mZuc (Zucchini / PLD6 from mouse) which has been implicated as a nuclease in piRNA biogenesis. The protein forms a homodimer which displays a narrow, positively-charged groove running through the active site which is capable of accommodating single-stranded nucleic acids. These data are available on the PDB with accession codes 4GGJ and 4GGK. The full research article is: The structural biochemistry of Zucchini implicates it as a nuclease in piRNA biogenesis. Ipsaro JJ, Haase AD, Knott SR, Joshua-Tor L, Hannon GJ. Nature. 2012 Nov 8;491(7423):279-83. doi: 10.1038/nature11502. Epub 2012 Oct 14.

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Crystal structure of the piRNA biogenesis factor Zucchini from mouse - Video

Biochemists left cell-shocked by UH study

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Associate professor Masaya Fujita and doctoral candidate Sarem Davi study B. subtilis cells grown on an agar plate. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

Novel research in UHs biochemistry department is unfolding previously misunderstood and seemingly simple pathways in bacterial sporulation.

Biochemistry associate professor Masaya Fujitaand doctoral candidateSarem Davirecently published a paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that outlines a mechanism for spore formation in bacillus subtilis, a common bacteria that is harmless to humans. The pathway was previously assumed by other scientists to involve only one protein: Spo0A. Fujita and Davi discovered that multiple checkpoints were involved that caused this bacteria to form into a spore.

For the bacterial system, people thought it was much simpler than a eukaryotic system. Of course, the eukaryotic systems like our body are very complicated andhave checkpoints or critical points to decide their future fate, Fujita said.

However, B. subtilis undergoes either a growing cell or a spore, depending on the environmental conditions. Its just two choices so people thought that this was very simple: that a single protein Spo0A molecule can make thesedecisions. However, the cells expressing Spo0A only kick off the sporulation process and begin making preparations, but the cells are not yet committed to this survival strategy.

The research was published in the PNAS journal because of the surprise that the previous assumptions were debunked,Fujita said. Instead of a simple network, the process involves many different steps.

The research team found that the ultimate decision process for sporulation is a result of a series of nested feed forward loops network motifs in which one master regulator controls another by directly regulating its amount and indirectly regulating its activity,Fujita said.

Using such integrated and sophisticated genetic networks, the cells can process information, and if needed, change their mind, though without a brain. This strategy allows them to make an accurate decision under unpredictable environmental conditions. Thus, the cells can postpone their final decision-making until the point of no return.

This process is difficult to study with in the wild B. subtilis, Davi said. Artificial techniques needed to be used to study the processes.

Its very difficult to study in the wild-type cells so thats why we use this artificial sporulation system so we can decouple the pathways. We can dissect different pathways and use IPCT as the inducer to study different parts. We can study it in more detail. That is how we can find out that there are different steps going on. Its very complex, Davi said.

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Odd biochemistry yields lethal bacterial protein

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Jan. 22, 2013 While working out the structure of a cell-killing protein produced by some strains of the bacterium Enterococcus faecalis, researchers stumbled on a bit of unusual biochemistry. They found that a single enzyme helps form distinctly different, three-dimensional ring structures in the protein, one of which had never been observed before.

The new findings, reported in Nature Chemical Biology, should help scientists find new ways to target the enterococcal cytolysin protein, a "virulence factor that is associated with acute infection in humans," said University of Illinois chemistry and Institute for Genomic Biology professor Wilfred van der Donk, who conducted the study with graduate student Weixin Tang.

Enterococcus faecalis (EN-ter-oh-cock-us faye-KAY-liss) is a normal microbial inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other mammals and generally does not harm its host. Some virulent strains, however, produce cytolysin (sigh-toe-LIE-sin), a protein that, once assembled, attacks other microbes and kills mammalian cells.

"The cytolysin protein made by Enterococcus faecalis consists of two compounds that have no activity by themselves but when combined kill human cells," van der Donk said. "We know from epidemiological studies that if you are infected with a strain of E. faecalis that has the genes to make cytolysin, you have a significantly higher chance of dying from your infection." E. faecalis contributes to root canal infections, urinary tract infections, endocarditis, meningitis, bacteremia and other infections.

Enterococcal cytolysin belongs to a class of antibiotic proteins, called lantibiotics, which have two or more sulfur-containing ring structures. Scientists had been unable to determine the three-dimensional structure of this cytolysin because the bacterium produces it at very low concentrations. Another problem that has stymied researchers is that the two protein components of cytolysin tend to clump together when put in a lab dish.

Van der Donk and Tang got around these problems by producing the two cytolysin components separately in another bacterium, Escherichia coli (esh-uh-REE-kee-uh KOH-lie), and analyzing them separately.

"The two components are both cyclic peptides, one with three rings and the other with two rings," van der Donk said. "Curiously, a single enzyme makes both compounds."

In a series of experiments, the researchers found that one ring on each of the proteins adopted a (D-L) stereochemistry that is common in lantibiotics (see image, above). But the other rings all had an unusual (L-L) configuration, something van der Donk had never seen before.

Scientists had assumed that the enzyme that shaped enterococcal cytolysin, a lantibiotic synthetase, acted like a three-dimensional mold that gave the ring structures of cytolysin the exact same stereochemistry, van der Donk said.

"But we found that the enzyme, enterococcal cytolysin synthetase, makes the rings with different stereochemistry," he said. "I don't know of any other examples where one enzyme can make very similar products but with different stereochemistries."

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Odd biochemistry yields lethal bacterial protein