Month: September 2022

IRON MINING. "Bacterial pathogens can also elaborate secreted heme-scavenging molecules that remove heme from host hemoproteins. These molecules, known as hemophores, are functionally analogous to siderophores but are proteins that target heme, whereas siderophores are small molecules that target iron atoms." https://lnkd.in/epJAeXg View in LinkedIn

DIVERSE IRON SOURCE EXPLOITATION. "During infection, bacterial pathogens are capable of altering the battlefield to increase the abundance of potential iron sources. Bacterial cytotoxins damage host cells, leading to the release of ferritin while hemolytic toxins lyse erythrocytes, liberating hemoglobin. The resulting inflammatory response includes the release of lactoferrin from secondary granules contained with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs)." https://lnkd.in/epJAeXg View in LinkedIn

CONFLICTING IRON THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES. "To date, the implication of divalent metals have been described in two different immune strategies that aim to fight microbial invaders. One consists in depriving microbes of essential divalent metals whereas the other aims at overloading invaders with toxic concentrations of metal." https://lnkd.in/eRyAPb7 View in LinkedIn

FEEDING THE BEAST. "Iron injections into animals infected with virulent bacteria result in increased death rates, and parenteral iron administration to human infants predisposes them to fatal septicemia." https://lnkd.in/e9yjFnc View in LinkedIn

IRON SUPPLEMENTS. "Clinical trials which were performed to supplement iron to children in developing countries based on the notion that iron deficiency is associated with growth and mental retardation produced unpredicted results. These studies demonstrated that iron supplementation resulted in higher incidence of or higher mortality from infections such as malaria, diarrhea or bacterial meningitis." https://lnkd.in/eBzy3XB View in LinkedIn

VITAMIN C AND IRON. "The average intake of supplemental ascrobic acid in this population was 280 mg daily. If taken only with breakfast, this level of supplementation would produce a nearly 2-fold increase in the amount of iron absorbed daily. If taken in divided doses with each mean, the increase in iron absorption would be more than 3-fold." https://lnkd.in/eF6eYjS View in LinkedIn

VITAMIN C AND COLDS. "Pauling suggested that ingestion of 1–2 g of ascorbic acid effectively prevents/ ameliorate common cold. The role of oral vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of colds remains controversial despite many controlled trials. Several clinical trails with varying doses of ascorbic acid showed that ascorbic acid does not have significant prophylactic effect, but reduced the severity and duration of symptoms of cold during the period of infection." https://lnkd.in/ehzFPvw View in LinkedIn

OPEN SOURCE EVOLUTION, by mobile genetic elements. "Recent work shows promise of improved mobile genetic element (MGE) genomics and consequent opportunities to take advantage — and avoid the dangers — of these 'natural genetic engineers'." https://lnkd.in/eUjKi_t View in LinkedIn

AUTONOMOUS REPLICATORS. "Conjugative (horizontally transmissible) plasmids are autonomous replicators, whose "self-interests" do not necessarily overlap with those of their hosts. This situation causes plasmids and bacteria to sometimes experience differing selection pressures." https://lnkd.in/ex7Abte View in LinkedIn

PLASMID PARASITES. "Plasmids are circular, double-stranded DNA (g) molecules that are separate from a cell’s chromosomal DNA. These extrachromosomal DNAs, which occur naturally in bacteria, yeast, and some higher eukaryotic cells, exist in a parasitic or symbiotic relationship with their host cell." https://lnkd.in/eukBn2t View in LinkedIn