Defense against diverse biotic and abiotic stresses requires the plant to distinguish between self and non-self signaling molecules. Pathogen/microbe-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs) are pivotal for triggering innate immunity in plants. Unlike in animals and humans, the precise roles of nucleic acids in plant innate immunity are unclear. We therefore investigated the effects of infil...

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to determine the bacterial aetiology of lower respiratory tract infections in this environment as well as update the clinicians in the various antimicrobial alternatives available in the treatment. METHODS Between September 2002 and February 2005, 157 bacterial pathogens from 556 patients with lower respiratory tract infections were isolated from sputum spe...