Virulence of the nosocomial pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis is crucially linked to formation of adherent biofilms on artificial surfaces. Biofilm assembly is significantly fostered by production of a bacteria derived extracellular matrix. However, the matrix composition, spatial organization, and relevance of specific molecular interactions for integration of bacterial cells into the multil...

The ability of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to cause symptomatic UTI is associated with the expression of a variety of virulence factors. Biofilm formation enables UPEC to resist the flow of urine and increases its tolerance to antimicrobials and the host immune response. The measurement of biofilm formation in vitro is affected by the type of culture medium used. The aim of this study was to e...

The accumulation of 14C-benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) sorbed to sediment was examined in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to compare uptake from sediment with a high organic carbon (OC) content (7.7%), to that with a low OC content (2%). Ingestion of sediments was quantified by co-labeling the sediment with 141Cerium, which was not assimilated by the fish. Results of this study indicated that (1) s...

Several well-studied proteins with defined roles in Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation are LPXTG motif-containing proteins. Here, we investigate the possible use of the LPXTG motif-containing protein SesC (S. epidermidis surface protein C; accession no. NP_765787) as a target for antibodies to prevent biofilm formation. In vitro and in a in vivo rat model of catheter infection, gene a...

Background & Aims: B.cepacia is one of the causative agents of health care associated infections which have the ability of attachment to different surfaces and biofilm formation is one of the most important virulence factors in pathogenesis of this microorganism. Nanoparticles are key components which are considered for the designing of new antimicrobial agents, no studies have been done on the...

Cigarette smoking has been strongly associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but the components of tobacco smoke involved in AAA have not been identified. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is an important constituent in cigarette smoke capable of induction of alterations strikingly similar to the pathological changes seen during AAA development. We therefore hypothesized that BaP exposure contribute...

INTRODUCTION One possible mechanism for the postulated link between high consumption of meat and colorectal cancer (CRC) is the content of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in meat. METHODS We investigated this association in a population-based case-control study in Western Australia (567 cases and 713 controls). Participants' self-report of meat consumption and lifestyle was used in conjunction with the ...

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a fatal disease, and exposure to 3,4-benzopyrene (Bap) is closely related to the development of AAA. We have found that Bap could impair the biological function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are associated with the occurrence of AAA. We have also demonstrated that macrophage activation plays a key role in Bap-induced AAA, but the mechanism is u...

BACKGROUND Blood lead levels (BLLs) have been shown to increase during periods of high bone turnover such as pregnancy and menopause. OBJECTIVES We examined the associations between bone turnover and micronutrient intake with BLLs in women 20-85 years of age (n = 2,671) participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002. METHODS Serum bone-specific alkaline pho...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) hydrolyzes pyrophosphate, which inhibits vascular calcification. We examined association between serum BAP and vascular calcification of male hemodialysis patients. METHODS Hand roentgenography of 167 male maintenance hemodialysis patients was conducted, and visible vascular calcification of the hand arteries was evaluated. Serum levels...