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Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare cancer type, but with a low five-year survival rate. Dysregulation of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) and microRNA hsa-miR-150-5p is involved in the development of various cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of the hsa-miR-150-5p-PYCR1 axis in nasopharyngeal cancer remains unclear. To identify the mechanism of the hsa-miR-150-5p-PYCR1 axis, the expression of hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1 in nasopharyngeal cancer tissues and cells was first measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The luciferase and RNA pull-down assays were used to confirm the interaction between hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1. The overexpression of hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1 was detected by cell viability, proliferation, western blotting, migration, and invasion in nasopharyngeal cancer cells. The expression levels of hsa-miR-150-5p was reduced in the nasopharyngeal cancer tissues and cells and were negatively correlated with the PYCR1 levels. The upregulation of hsa-miR-150-5p significantly repressed cell growth and promoted apoptosis. However, the upregulation of PYCR1 expression significantly promoted nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis, which could abolish the inhibitory effect of hsa-miR-150-5p. In conclusion, we clarified that hsa-miR-150-5p attenuated nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis by reducing the PYCR1 expression levels. This provides a new perspective of nasopharyngeal cancer involving both hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1 for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a rare cancer type with a low five-year survival rate. Dysregulation of PYCR1 and miR-150-5p has been involved in the development of various cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of the miR-150-5p-PYCR1 axis in NPC remains unclear.The expressions of miR-150-5p and PYCR1 in NPC tissues and cells were measured by RT-qPCR. The luciferase assay and RNA pull-down assay were used to confirm the interaction between miR-150-5p and PYCR1. The function of overexpression of miR-150-5p and PYCR1 were detected by cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion in NPC C666-1 and SUNE-1 cells.The miR-150-5p expression was reduced in NPC tissues and cells and negatively correlated with PYCR1 level. Upregulation of miR-150-5p conspicuously repressed cell growth. However, upregulation of PYCR1 significantly facilitated the development of NPC, which further suppressed NPC tumorigenesis by abolishing the effect of miR-150-5p.We clarified that miR-150-5p attenuated NPC tumorigenesis through reducing PYCR1 expression. This provides a new perspective of NPC involving both miR-150-5p and PYCR1 for the treatment of NPC.

In birds, the sperm storage tubules (SST) are dispersed in uterovaginal junction (UVJ) and highly correlated with differential capacity of sperm storage (SS) in and among species with unspecified mechanisms. Here, the SS duration of 252 egg layer breeders was evaluated in 5 rounds with 3 phenotypic traits to screen high- and low-SS individuals, respectively, followed with transcriptome of UVJ tissues and metabolome of serum (high-SS vs. low-SS) to decipher the candidate genes and biochemical markers correlated with differential SS capacity. Histological characterization suggested slightly higher density of SST in UVJ (high-SS vs. low-SS). Transcriptome analyses identified 596 differentially expressed genes (336 upregulated vs. 260 downregulated), which were mainly enriched in gene ontology terms of homeostasis, steroid and lipid metabolism and hormone activity, and 12 significant pathways (P

Cerebral hernia in crested chicken has been characterized as the protrusion of cerebral hemispheres into the unsealed skull for hundreds of years, since Charles Darwin. The development of deformed forebrain (telencephalon) of cerebral hernia remains largely unknown. Here, the unsealed frontal skull combined with misplaced sphenoid bone was observed and potentially associated with brain protuberance. The shifted pallidum, elongated hippocampus, expanded mesopallium and nidopallium, and reduced hyperpallium were observed in seven regions of the malformed telencephalon. The neurons were detected with nuclear pyknosis and decreased density. Astrocytes showed uneven distribution and disordered protuberances in hyperpallium and hippocampus. Transcriptome analyses of chicken telencephalon (cerebral hernia vs. control) revealed 547 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), mainly related to nervous system development, and immune system processes, including astrocyte marker gene GFAP, and neuron and astrocyte developmental gene S100A6. The upregulation of GFAP and S100A6 genes in abnormal telencephalon was correlated with reduced DNA methylation levels in the promoter regions. The morphological, cellular, and molecular variations in the shape, regional specification, and cellular states of malformed telencephalon potentially participate in brain plasticity and previously reported behavior changes. Chickens with cerebral hernia might be an interesting and valuable disease model to further explore the recognition, diagnosis, and therapy of cerebral hernia development of crested chickens and other species.

Human exposure to consumer and personal care products chemicals such as phenols, including parabens and other antimicrobial agents, can be assessed through biomonitoring by quantifying urinary concentrations of the parent chemical or its metabolites, often after hydrolysis of phase II conjugates. Developing suitable analytical methods for the concurrent quantification of multiple exposure biomarkers is challenging because optimal conditions for the hydrolysis of such conjugates (e.g., O-glucuronides, N-glucuronides, sulfates) may differ depending on the biomarker. We evaluated the effectiveness of seven commercial hydrolytic enzymes to simultaneously hydrolyze N-glucuronides (using the antibacterial triclocarban as example compound) and other conjugates (using select phenols and parabens as examples) by using on-line solid phase extraction–high performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution-tandem mass spectrometry. Incubation (30 min, 55 °C) with a genetically engineered β-glucuronidase (IMCS, ≥ 15 units/μL urine) hydrolyzed N-glucuronide triclocarban, but did not fully hydrolyze the conjugates of phenols and parabens. By contrast, incubation (4 h, 37 °C) with solid β-glucuronidase (Helix pomatia, Type H-1, ≥ 30 units/μL urine) or liquid β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase (Helix pomatia, 30 units/μL urine [i.e., 30 μL/100 μL urine]) in the presence of 100 μL methanol for 100 μL urine completely hydrolyzed N-glucuronide triclocarban and the conjugates of several phenols and parabens, without cleaving the ester bond of the parabens to form p-hydroxybenzoic acid. These results highlight the relevance of method validation procedures that include optimizing the hydrolysis of phase II urinary conjugates (e.g., enzyme type and amount used, reaction time, temperature) to quantify accurately and concurrently multiple exposure biomarkers for biomonitoring purposes.

Objective To investigate the association between urinary triclosan concentrations and antral follicle count (AFC), a well-accepted marker of ovarian reserve, among women from a fertility center. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Hospital fertility center. Patient(s) A total of 109 women. Intervention(s) Urinary triclosan concentrations quantified by online solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Main Outcome Measure(s) AFC through transvaginal ultrasonography on the third day of an unstimulated menstrual cycle or on the third day of a progesterone withdrawal bleed. Result(s) The geometric mean of the specific gravity–adjusted urinary triclosan concentrations for the 225 samples provided by the 109 women was 13.0 μg/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.9, 19.1). Women had median (with interquartile range) AFC of 13 (8, 18). The specific gravity–adjusted urinary triclosan concentrations were inversely associated with AFC (−4%; 95% CI, −7%, −1%). Women with triclosan concentrations above the median had lower AFC compared with those whose triclosan concentrations were equal to or below the median, with an adjusted difference of −3.2 (95% CI, −3.9, −1.6) among those with a body mass index 2 and −1.8 (95% CI, −3.2, −0.3) among those who were Conclusion(s) Specific gravity–adjusted urinary triclosan concentrations were inversely associated with AFC in women seeking care at a fertility center. This association was modified by age and body mass index, with the younger and leaner women showing larger decreases in AFC.

The primary feather follicles are universal skin appendages widely distributed in the skin of feathered birds. The morphogenesis and development of the primary feather follicles in goose skin remain largely unknown. Here, the induction of primary feather follicles in goose embryonic skin (pre-induction vs induction) was investigated by de novo transcriptome analyses to reveal 409 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were characterized to potentially regulate the de novo formation of feather follicle primordia consisting of placode (4 genes) and dermal condensate (12 genes), and the thickening of epidermis (5 genes) and dermal fibroblasts (17 genes), respectively. Further analyses enriched DEGs into GO terms represented as cell adhesion and KEGG pathways including Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways that are highly correlated with cell communication and molecular regulation. Six selected Wnt pathway genes were detected by qPCR with up-regulation in goose skin during the induction of primary feather follicles. The localization of WNT16, SFRP1 and FRZB by in situ hybridization showed weak expression in the primary feather primordia, whereas FZD1, LEF1 and DKK1 were expressed initially in the inter-follicular skin and feather follicle primordia, then mainly restricted in the feather primordia. The spatial-temporal expression patterns indicate that Wnt pathway genes DKK1, FZD1 and LEF1 are the important regulators functioned in the induction of primary feather follicle in goose skin. The dynamic molecular changes and specific gene expression patterns revealed in this report provide the general knowledge of primary feather follicle and skin development in waterfowl, and contribute to further understand the diversity of hair and feather development beyond the mouse and chicken models.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical disease with high morbidity in both humans and animals. Ginsenoside Rg3, a type of traditional Chinese medicine extracted from ginseng, is widely used to cure many inflammation-related diseases. However, the specific molecular mechanism of the effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on inflammation has rarely been reported. Thus, we established a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI to investigate the immune protective effects of ginsenoside Rg3 and explore its molecular mechanism. In wild type (WT) mice, we found that ginsenoside Rg3 treatment significantly mitigated pathological damages and reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as well as the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6); furthermore, the production of anti-inflammatory mediators interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), polarization of M2 macrophages and expression levels of the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (PKB, also known as AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (MerTK) were promoted. However, there were no significant differences with regards to the pathological damage, MPO levels, inflammatory cytokine levels, and protein expression levels of the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT and mTOR between the LPS treatment group and ginsenoside Rg3 group in MerTK-/- mice. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg3 could attenuate LPS-induced ALI by decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and increasing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. These processes were mediated through MerTK-dependent activation of its downstream the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. These findings identified a new site of the specific anti-inflammatory mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3.

Chronic clinical Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection is the primary disease state that causes severe encephalitis. CD44 is a member of the cell adhesion molecule family and plays an important role in T. gondii infection. However, proteomic changes in CD44 during chronic T. gondii infection have rarely been reported. Thus, an iTRAQ-based proteomic study coupled with 2D-LC-MS/MS analysis was performed to screen CD44-related proteins during chronic T. gondii infection. As a result, a total of 2612 proteins were reliably identified and quantified. Subsequently, 259, 106, and 249 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were compared between CD44- mice (A) vs wild-type mice (B), B vs wild-type mice infected with T. gondii (C), and C vs CD44- mice infected with T. gondii (D). Gene ontology, KEGG pathway, and protein-protein interaction analyses were performed on the DEPs. According to the results, immune-related proteins were altered significantly among the A vs B, B vs C, and C vs D comparisons, which might indicate that chronic T. gondii infection caused changes in the host immune response. Additionally, Ca2+- and metabolism-related proteins were upregulated in C vs D, which supported the hypothesis that CD44 mediated the production of host Ca2+ and IFN-γ and that the parasite preferentially invaded cells expressing high levels of CD44. The present findings validate and enable a more comprehensive knowledge of the role of CD44 in hosts chronically infected with T. gondii, thus providing new ideas for future studies on the specific functions of CD44 in latent toxoplasmosis.

Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is widespread. However, in recent years, bisphenol analogs such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are replacing BPA in the production of some consumer products. Because human exposure to these alternative bisphenols may occur, biomonitoring of these bisphenol analogs is warranted. In the present study, we developed and validated a sensitive and selective method that uses on-line solid phase extraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry with peak focusing to measure BPA, BPF, BPS, and 11 other environmental phenols in urine. The method required a small amount of sample (100μL) and minimal sample pretreatment. The limits of detection were 0.03ng/mL (BPS), 0.06ng/mL (BPF), 0.10ng/mL (BPA), and ranged from 0.1ng/mL to 1.0ng/mL for the other 11 phenols. In 100 urine samples collected in 2009-2012 from a convenience group of anonymous adults in the United States, of the three bisphenols, we detected BPA at the highest frequency and median concentrations (95%, 0.72ng/mL), followed by BPS (78%, 0.13ng/mL) and BPF (55%, 0.08ng/mL). This sensitive, rugged, and labor and cost-effective method could be used for the analysis of large number of samples for epidemiologic studies.

Background: 2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), and their precursors are widely used in industry and in consumer products. Urinary concentrations of these dichlorophenols (DCPs) have been measured as part of four National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles in order to assess the exposure to these compounds or their precursors among the general U.S. population. Objectives: We identified predictors and evaluated trends in DCP concentrations according to race/ethnicity, age, sex, family income, and housing type. Methods: We used analysis of covariance to examine associations of various demographic parameters and survey cycle with urinary concentrations of DCPs during NHANES 2003–2010. We also conducted weighted logistic regressions to estimate associations of DCP concentrations above the 95th percentile with housing type, race/ethnicity, and income. Results: We detected DCPs in at least 81% of participants. Geometric mean (GM) urinary concentrations were higher for 2,5-DCP (6.1–12.9 μg/L) than 2,4-DCP (0.8–1.0 μg/L) throughout 2003–2010. Adjusted GM concentrations of the DCPs among children (6–11 years of age) and adults > 60 years of age were higher than among adolescents and other adults. Adjusted GM concentrations among non-Hispanic whites were lower than among non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans, although differences according to race/ethnicity were less pronounced among participants in high-income households. Among non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans, adjusted GM concentrations were lowest among high-income participants relative to other income groups, with a monotonic decrease with increasing income among Mexican Americans. Type of housing and race/ethnicity were significant predictors of DCP urinary concentrations above the 95th percentile. Furthermore, urinary DCP concentrations have showed a downward trend since 2003. Conclusions: Exposure to DCPs and their precursors was prevalent in the general U.S. population in 2003–2010. We identified age and race/ethnicity, family income, and housing type as predictors of exposure to these compounds. Citation: Ye X, Wong LY, Zhou X, Calafat AM. 2014. Urinary concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,5-dichlorophenol in the U.S. population (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003–2010): trends and predictors. Environ Health Perspect 122:351–355; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306816

The infrared spectrum of ether was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in conjunction with the density functional theory (DFT). The optimized structures and vibrational frequencies of the ether·(H2O) n (n = 1–3) complexes were obtained at B3LYP/6-31G(d) theory levels. Compared to those of free-form ether, the C–O stretching vibrational frequencies of the ether–water complexes are found to shift to red by up to 39 cm−1 with an increase in the C–O length of 0.016 A. Meanwhile, the frequency of the O–H stretching modes of water in the complexes appears significantly redshifted to a varying degree. The DFT calculations suggest that these shifts are caused by the hydrogen bonding between ether and water.

Because of regulatory actions and public concerns, the use of bisphenol A (BPA) may decrease, while the use of BPA alternatives may increase. Although BPA alternatives are considered safer than BPA, their effects on health are still largely unknown. For risk assessment, understanding exposure to these chemicals is necessary. We measured the urinary concentrations of BPA and three bisphenol analogs, bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol AF (BPAF), in 616 archived samples collected from convenience samplings of U.S. adults at eight time points between 2000 and 2014. We detected BPA at the highest frequency and geometric mean (GM) concentrations (74-99%, 0.36-2.07 μg/L), followed by BPF (42-88%, 0.15-0.54 μg/L) and BPS (19-74%, < 0.1-0.25 μg/L); BPAF was rarely detected (

Background: 3, 4, 4'- Trichlorocarbanilide (triclocarban) is widely used as an antimicrobial agent in a variety of consumer and personal care products including soaps, deodorants, and cleansing lot...

Two-component regulatory systems are involved in processes important for bacterial pathogenesis. The proposedmisR/misS(orphoP/phoQ) system is one of four two-component systems of the obligate human pathogenNeisseria meningitidis. Inactivation of this system results in loss of phosphorylation of the lipooligosaccharide inner core and causes attenuation in a mouse model of meningococcal infection. MisR and the cytoplasmic domain of MisS were purified as His6and maltose binding protein fusion proteins, respectively. The MisS fusion was shown to be autophosphorylated in the presence of ATP, and the phosphoryl group was subsequently transferred to MisR. The phosphotransfer reaction was halted with a MisR/D52A mutation, while a MisS/H246A mutation prevented autophosphorylation. Specific interaction of phosphorylated MisR (MisR∼P) and MisR with themisRpromoter was demonstrated by gel mobility shift assays, where MisR∼P exhibited higher affinity than did the nonphosphorylated protein. The transcriptional start site of themisRSoperon was mapped, and DNase I protection assays revealed that MisR interacted with a 15-bp region upstream of the transcriptional start site that shared no similarity to binding motifs of other two-component systems. Transcriptional reporter studies suggested that MisR phosphorylation is critical for the autoinduction of themisRSoperon. Limited Mg2+concentration failed to induce expression of themisRSoperon, which is the only operon now proven to be under the direct control of the MisRS two-component system. Thus, these results indicate that the meningococcal MisRS system constitutes a functional signal transduction circuit and that both components are critical in the autoregulation of their expression.

Concerns exist regarding children’s exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and other phenols because of the higher sensitivity, compared to adults, of children’s developing organs to endocrine disruptors. Several studies reported the urinary concentrations of these phenols in children, but data on levels of these compounds in children’s serum are limited. We present here the total (free plus conjugated) and free concentrations of BPA and seven other phenols in 24 pooled serum samples prepared from individual specimens collected from 936 children 3–11 years old who participated in the 2001–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We detected benzophenone-3, triclosan, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,5- dichlorophenol, and three parabens in at least 60% of the pools suggesting children’s exposure to these compounds or their precursors. Conjugated phenols were the major species. However, although many previous studies have shown widespread detection of BPA in children’s urine, we only detected total or free BPA in 3 and 2 pooled serum samples, respectively, at concentrations of 0.1–0.2 µg/L. The non-persistent nature of BPA and the phenols examined and the likely episodic nature of the exposures to these compounds (or their precursors) suggest that for general population biomonitoring of these non-persistent phenols, urine, not serum or plasma, is the preferred matrix.

Background: Biomonitoring studies are conducted to assess internal dose (i.e., body burden) to environmental chemicals. However, because of the ubiquitous presence in the environment of some of these chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), external contamination during handling and analysis of the biospecimens collected for biomonitoring evaluations could compromise the reported concentrations of such chemicals. Objectives: We examined the contamination with the target analytes during analysis of biological specimens in biomonitoring laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation. Discussions: We present several case studies using the quantitative determination of BPA and other organic chemicals (i.e., benzophenone-3, triclosan, parabens) in human urine, milk, and serum to identify potential contamination sources when the biomarkers measured are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Conclusions: Contamination with target analytes during biomonitoring analysis could result from solvents and reagents, the experimental apparatus used, the laboratory environment, and/or even the analyst. For biomonotoring data to be valid—even when obtained from high-quality analytical methods and good laboratory practices—the following practices must be followed to identify and track unintended contamination with the target analytes during analysis of the biological specimens: strict quality control measures including use of laboratory blanks; replicate analyses; engineering controls (e.g., clean rooms, biosafety cabinets) as needed; and homogeneous matrix-based quality control materials within the expected concentration ranges of the study samples.

3,4,4'-Trichlorocarbanilide (triclocarban, TCC) is widely used as an antimicrobial agent in a variety of consumer and personal care products. Because of its widespread use, the potential for human exposure to TCC is high. Human exposure to TCC may be assessed by measuring the concentrations of conjugated or free species of TCC and its two oxidative metabolites, 2'-hydroxy-TCC (2'-OH-TCC) and 3'-hydroxy-TCC (3'-OH-TCC), in urine or serum. To assess human exposure to TCC, we developed a method that uses restricted access materials (RAM) on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled to high performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry with peak focusing (HPLC-MS/MS). Sample clean-up by RAM relies on both size exclusion chromatography, to remove the high-molecular matrix components, and reversed phase partition, to extract and pre-concentrate the target analytes. TCC, 2'-OH-TCC and 3'-OH-TCC present in urine or serum were concentrated on the RAM SPE column, back-eluted from the SPE column, diluted through a mixing tee for peak focusing, separated by HPLC, and detected by isotope dilution-MS/MS. The method required a small amount of sample (50 μL) and minimal sample pretreatment. The limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.01 to 0.1 ng/mL. The method was applied to measure TCC and its metabolites in 158 urine and 16 serum samples collected from adults with no known exposure to TCC. TCC was detected in 35.4% of the urine samples (range

The antimicrobial efflux system encoded by the operon mef(E)-mel on the mobile genetic element MEGA in Streptococcus pneumoniae and other Gram-positive bacteria is inducible by macrolide antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides. Induction may affect the clinical response to the use of macrolides. We developed mef(E) reporter constructs and a disk diffusion induction and resistance assay to determine the kinetics and basis of mef(E)-mel induction. Induction occurred rapidly, with a >15-fold increase in transcription within 1 h of exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of erythromycin. A spectrum of environmental conditions, including competence and nonmacrolide antibiotics with distinct cellular targets, did not induce mef(E). Using 16 different structurally defined macrolides, induction was correlated with the amino sugar attached to C-5 of the macrolide lactone ring, not with the size (e.g., 14-, 15- or 16-member) of the ring or with the presence of the neutral sugar cladinose at C-3. Macrolides with a monosaccharide attached to C-5, known to block exit of the nascent peptide from the ribosome after the incorporation of up to eight amino acids, induced mef(E) expression. Macrolides with a C-5 disaccharide, which extends the macrolide into the ribosomal exit tunnel, disrupting peptidyl transferase activity, did not induce it. The induction of mef(E) did not require macrolide efflux, but the affinity of macrolides for the ribosome determined the availability for efflux and pneumococcal susceptibility. The induction of mef(E)-mel expression by inducing macrolides appears to be based on specific interactions of the macrolide C-5 saccharide with the ribosome that alleviate transcriptional attenuation of mef(E)-mel.

The extensive use of bisphenol A (BPA) in the manufacture of consumer products results in widespread human exposure to the chemical. In the body, BPA undergoes first-pass metabolism to form BPA glucuronide, considered to be a major BPA byproduct. Concentrations of total (free plus conjugated) urinary species of BPA are used to assess human exposure to BPA. However, because BPA can be present in numerous consumer and household products, potential contamination with parent BPA during collection and handling may pose a challenge when measuring BPA in such biological samples as blood or urine. In this study we investigated the in-vitro phase I metabolism of BPA in rat and human liver microsomes by using on-line solid-phase extraction–high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to identify phase I metabolites (e.g., BPA oxidation products) that could be used as potential alternative biomarkers of BPA exposure. We unambiguously identified 5-hydroxy BPA (BPA catechol) as an in-vitro oxidative metabolite of BPA, but human microsomes oxidized only about 10% of BPA to BPA catechol. We evaluated the usefulness of BPA catechol as a potential biomarker of human exposure to BPA by measuring total concentrations of BPA catechol and BPA in 20 urine samples. We detected BPA catechol at much lower concentrations and frequency than those of BPA. Furthermore, we found that free BPA catechol was rather unstable in urine, which highlights the importance of sampling techniques to adequate interpretation of biomonitoring data. Together, these findings suggest that BPA catechol may not be a suitable biomarker of environmental exposure to BPA, but could be used to confirm BPA exposure in special populations or in situations when urine specimens were potentially contaminated with BPA.

Macrolide resistance is a major concern in the treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Inducible macrolide resistance in this pneumococcus is mediated by the efflux pump MefE/Mel. We show here that the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 induces the mefE promoter and confers resistance to erythromycin and LL-37. Such induction may impact the efficacy of host defenses and of macrolide-based treatment of pneumococcal disease.

The free and conjugated urinary species of non-persistent environmental chemicals or their breakdown products are valid human exposure biomarkers. For convenience, disposable diapers and other absorbent materials are widely used to collect urine specimens from infants and young toddlers. However, the extent to which the different urinary species of the target analytes and other components are recovered after the urine is extracted from these absorbent materials is unknown. In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated the extraction recovery from disposable diapers, cotton pads, and gauzes of the free versus glucuronidated urinary species of three example chemicals: bisphenol A, triclosan, and 4-methylumbelliferone. Although the glucuronides were almost fully recovered, the free species were not. Our results suggest that, in addition to other sampling considerations, the binding affinity and extraction recovery of the target biomarkers to the material used to collect the urine should be considered. Alternative collection approaches that do not require such an extraction (e.g., urine bags routinely used in hospitals) may be worth exploring. Despite its shortcomings, having urinary concentrations for biomonitoring considerably strengthens the exposure assessment, particularly for infants and young toddlers, and the benefits of including biomonitoring data outweigh their potential limitations.

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are important components of the innate host defense system against microbial infections and microbial products. However, the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis is intrinsically highly resistant to CAMPs, such as polymyxin B (PxB) (MIC ≥ 512 μg/ml). To ascertain the mechanisms by which meningococci resist PxB, mutants that displayed increased sensitivity (≥4-fold) to PxB were identified from a library of mariner transposon mutants generated in a meningococcal strain, NMB. Surprisingly, more than half of the initial PxB-sensitive mutants had insertions within the mtrCDE operon, which encodes proteins forming a multidrug efflux pump. Additional PxB-sensitive mariner mutants were identified from a second round of transposon mutagenesis performed in an mtr efflux pump-deficient background. Further, a mutation in lptA , the phosphoethanolamine (PEA) transferase responsible for modification of the lipid A head groups, was identified to cause the highest sensitivity to PxB. Mutations within the mtrD or lptA genes also increased meningococcal susceptibility to two structurally unrelated CAMPs, human LL-37 and protegrin-1. Consistently, PxB neutralized inflammatory responses elicited by the lptA mutant lipooligosaccharide more efficiently than those induced by wild-type lipooligosaccharide. mariner mutants with increased resistance to PxB were also identified in NMB background and found to contain insertions within the pilMNOPQ operon involved in pilin biogenesis. Taken together, these data indicated that meningococci utilize multiple mechanisms including the action of the MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump and lipid A modification as well as the type IV pilin secretion system to modulate levels of CAMP resistance. The modification of meningococcal lipid A head groups with PEA also prevents neutralization of the biological effects of endotoxin by CAMP.