“Serotonin (5-HT)


“Serotonin (5-HT) Z-VAD-FMK ic50 signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) helps to regulate a variety of important cognitive and behavioral processes and it is a common therapeutic target for mood disorders. Because sleep abnormalities are frequently associated

with mood disorders, there has been substantial interest in the regulatory abilities of 5-HT signaling on the sleep/wake cycle. However, to date there have been few practical and reliable ways to reversibly manipulate brain 5-HT levels without disrupting other monoaminergic signaling pathways that may be important for sleep. In this issue of European Journal of Neuroscience, Nakamaru-Ogiso and colleagues reveal a new method for reducing brain 5-HT levels in rats, a well-established Selleckchem KU-60019 rodent model of sleep–wake architecture. Intraperitoneal injections of the hemoprotein enzyme tryptophan side chain oxidase I (TSOI) transiently reduce brain and peripheral 5-HT concentrations by reversibly depleting the rats of tryptophan, while preserving catecholeaminergic

signaling. The authors report that this transient reduction of brain 5-HT abolishes the sleep/wake rhythm but has no meaningful influences on daily sleep amount. Moreover, the circadian rhythm in brain temperature is preserved in TSOI-injected rats, providing evidence that the effects of the manipulation are specific to sleep and are not caused by global effects on circadian timing. These findings suggest that in addition to its well-established selleck compound regulatory influences

on central circadian timing, brain 5-HT also plays a more direct role in the specific regulation of the sleep/wake rhythm. The lack of practical methods to rapidly and reversibly manipulate brain 5-HT in mammals has been an obstacle in our understanding of the role of 5-HT signaling in sleep. Tryptophan-hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), the rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT synthesis in the brain, has been a dependable target for brain 5-HT reduction; however, a lack of specificity of TPH2 inhibitors results in the collateral reduction of catecholamines such as the sleep/wake regulator norepinephrine, making these types of agents impractical for sleep studies. Serotonergic neurotoxins and TPH2 molecular deletions in mice have also been valuable to uncover the specific roles of 5-HT signaling, but neither manipulation is reversible, giving them limited usefulness in in vivo sleep experiments. Nakamaru-Ogiso and colleagues report that TSOI eliminates tryptophan and reduces brain 5-HT levels to 30% of controls within 12 h of treatment, with no collateral reductions in catecholeamines, other amino acids or protein synthesis. These influences of TSOI injection are no longer observed 96 h after injection.

Fig S6 Dengue serotype 2 complete E gene analysis The phylogeny

Fig. S6 Dengue serotype 2 complete E gene analysis. The phylogeny was inferred by Neighbor-joining method. The optimal tree is shown. Strains obtained during the study are marked in bold. Fig. S7 Dengue serotype 3 complete E gene analysis. The phylogeny was inferred by Neighbor-joining method. The optimal tree is shown. Strains obtained during the study are marked in bold. Fig. S8 Dengue serotype 4 complete E gene analysis. A: Neighbor-joining method. The optimal tree (sum of branch length = 0.61297211) is shown. B: Maximum-likelihood method. The tree with the highest log (−8058.5260) is shown. 116 nucleotide sequences were

included RO4929097 in the analysis. “
“Background. The etiological spectrum of cerebro-meningeal infections (CMI) in travelers has never been specifically analyzed. Objectives. To assess the etiologies of CMI in hospitalized travelers and to propose a diagnostic approach to travel-related CMI. Methods. During an 8-year period, we retrospectively collected data on all travelers hospitalized in our department for a CMI occurring during travel or in the month after their return. Results. Fifty-six patients (35 men and 21 women; mean age 29 years (16–83); 44.6% tourists, 26.8% military, 16% immigrants, 12.5% expatriates) CYC202 ic50 were included. The main destinations were Africa (57.2%), Europe (19.5%), and Asia (12.5%). The median duration of travel was

24 days (5–550). Symptoms occurred during travel in 20 patients (11 of which required a medical evacuation). In the remaining 36 patients, the median duration between return and clinical onset was 10 days. The median time from clinical onset to hospitalization was 4 days (0.5–96). Twenty-four patients presented with a meningeal syndrome and 20 others

with encephalitic features. The remaining 12 patients had an incomplete clinical presentation (headaches or fever). The etiology was confirmed in 42 cases (75%) of which tropical diseases (n = 14) were less common than cosmopolitan ones (n = 28). Sub-Saharan Plasmodium falciparum malaria (n = 12) was the leading tropical infection, whereas viral infections (enterovirus, herpesviridae, HIV) were the main cosmopolitan etiologies. Only four bacterial infections Sinomenine were reported (Neisseria meningitidis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Brucella melitensis, Salmonella typhi). Sixteen patients were admitted to intensive care for a median time of 9.5 days (1–63). The average duration of hospitalization was 14 days (3–63). One death by herpes simplex virus 1 encephalitis was recorded. Four patients (7%) had neurological sequelae. Conclusions. Among the diversified etiological spectrum of CMI, cosmopolitan infections are widely predominant, particularly viral infections, followed by tropical causes, of which malaria is the leading disease in returnees from endemic areas. The diagnostic approach should be driven by history and physical examination.

Options to decrease time to therapy once malaria is suspected inc

Options to decrease time to therapy once malaria is suspected include stocking antimalarials in the ED, access to rapid diagnostic tests in rural areas, and possible presumptive antimalarial therapy. This study reinforces that clinicians need to consider malaria in the diagnosis of a febrile child with an appropriate travel history, and to utilize appropriate resources for timely diagnosis and therapy. Immigration to regional Manitoba communities has been increasing, with 23.3% more immigrants settling outside of Winnipeg find more from 2007 to 2008; therefore, clinicians in both urban and rural communities may encounter children with malaria.[7] Our study

would seem to indicate that frontline clinicians and residents in Manitoba may require ongoing education and formal academic teaching (resident academic days, province-wide Pediatric Grand Rounds) on the diagnosis and management of clinical malaria, rather than a focus on screening and presumptive treatment

buy AG-014699 of migrants. Ongoing reinforcement could include communication via the bulletin of the provincial medical college sent to all physicians, done by our group initially. As pre-travel services are not covered by provincial health plans in Canada, the associated costs may be a barrier for travelers obtaining appropriate advice regarding malaria prevention, especially VFRs. Clinicians in Canada should advocate for the coverage of pre-travel care, especially for children. S. T. F. was supported by Verteporfin ic50 a clinical postdoctoral fellowship from the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. The other authors state they have no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“While highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) decreases long-term morbidity and mortality, its short-term

effect on hospitalization rates is unknown. The primary objective of this study was to determine hospitalization rates over time in the year after HAART initiation for virological responders and nonresponders. Hospitalizations among 1327 HAART-naïve subjects in an urban HIV clinic in 1997–2007 were examined before and after HAART initiation. Hospitalization rates were stratified by virological responders (≥1 log10 decrease in HIV-1 RNA within 6 months after HAART initiation) and nonresponders. Causes were determined through International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) codes and chart review. Multivariate negative binomial regression was used to assess factors associated with hospitalization. During the first 45 days after HAART initiation, the hospitalization rate of responders was similar to their pre-HAART baseline rate [75.1 vs. 78.8/100 person-years (PY)] and to the hospitalization rate of nonresponders during the first 45 days (79.4/100 PY).

HIV, for which risk was overestimated by 75% of our FBT, has rece

HIV, for which risk was overestimated by 75% of our FBT, has received extensive public media attention worldwide, and Shell followed suit between 2003 and 2006 by launching awareness programs in over 60 countries. We postulate that global efforts to focus detailed information on high-risk groups only would aid in dispelling disproportionate fear among those at low risk. The statistical association of Afatinib datasheet typhoid risk overestimation with seeking company health advice demonstrates overexaggeration of typhoid

risk specifically within Shell’s travel clinic.[11] More careful evaluation of the real typhoid risk to the traveler would allow Shell health care professionals to reduce the number of unnecessary typhoid vaccinations. More accurate knowledge will nevertheless do little to reduce infectious disease-related morbidity if it does not lead to preventative

check details behavior. For this, adequate time to complete required vaccination schedules is paramount, and it is therefore of concern that almost one third (27%) of trips were planned within 2 weeks of departure. There is evidence to suggest that both short-notice and business travelers tend to adopt more high-risk behavior.[12] We cannot make conclusive statements about compliance, as preventative behavior was not measured in our survey. However, these previous findings imply that the sizeable group of Shell FBT embarking on short-notice trips may be at higher risk of acquiring disease

than the rest of the cohort. Several drawbacks to this study require attention. First, self-registration of FBT and the voluntary nature of the questionnaire may have introduced responder bias; FBT with more confidence in the accuracy of their risk perception, for instance, may have been more likely to complete the survey, thus raising knowledge scores. Second, our specific FBT definition also necessitates caution when comparing this cohort to other business travelers. Additionally, traveler risk depends as much on the individual travel profile as on trip location, so WHO country prevalence data are an imprecise proxy marker for traveler risk. The 55% FBT underestimation Baf-A1 cost of polio risk, for instance, is artificially high. Wild transmission occurring within local populations of countries with poorly implemented childhood immunization programs (including the common FBT destinations of India and Nigeria) is of negligible actual risk to a vaccinated traveler.[13] Our study would have benefited greatly from closer assessment of vaccination status, as well as trip features such as location, hygiene standards, access to health services, and FBT adherence to simple prevention measures. We can only hypothesize, based on the high level of compliance to malaria prophylaxis among the same FBT (92%),[5] that adherence to prevention measures for other infectious diseases would also be high.

We did not find lpfA1 variants 1, 3–5, or lpfA2 variant 2 in any

We did not find lpfA1 variants 1, 3–5, or lpfA2 variant 2 in any of the strains studied. The four lpfA-negative STEC strains identified in our study were of human origin (serotypes O8:H16, O117:H7, ONT:H4 and ONT:HNM). Two of them, serotypes O8:H16 and

ONT:H4, were isolated from HUS cases and the only putative virulence factor currently identified in these strains is encoded by the iha gene. The ONT:HNM strain was isolated from a patient suffering from diarrhea and the only virulence factor found in this serotype is encoded by the stx1 toxin gene. Finally, the O117:H7 strain was isolated from an asymptomatic carrier with prolonged shedding and, unusually, it was nonsorbitol fermenting and carried the putative virulence factors iha and astA. In the current study, we could not find a statistical association between the presence of a particular lpfA variant and the severity of the disease. However, we observed that most selleck compound serotypes maintained the same combination of lpf variants independent of the source of isolation. Therefore, we observed a good association between the lpfA variant and the serotype of the strain, i.e. we identified two strains from serotype O22:H8 that carried lpfA1-2 and lpfA2-1, and two strains from serotype O22:H16 that carried only lpfA2-1. Interestingly, we found that these strains

belonging to the same serogroup and, isolated from cattle, shared the same virulence profiles (Table 1). One more isolate from serotype O22:HNT, Ketotifen which was isolated

from a human diarrheal case, KU-60019 price carried the lpfA1-2 and lpfA2-1 genes. Similar results occurred in the O174 serogroup, where all the O174:H21 isolates carried the lpfA1-2 and lpfA2-1 gene variants, whereas the other O174 serotypes (O174:H8, O174:H28, O174:NM) carried the lpfA2-1 gene and no common theme with respect to the virulence profile or the source of isolation was observed. The most variable serogroup with respect to the lpfA gene variant content was O8, from which we identified three O8:H16 and four O8:H19 isolates. In the case of the O8:H16 isolates, two were lpfA1-2 and lpfA2-1-positive and carried the same virulence profile, whereas a third isolate was lpfA-negative and iha was the only putative virulence marker. Another difference in these strains, apart from the source of isolation, was the stx genotype; whereas the lpfA-negative strain was stx2 positive, the others were stx1/stx2 positive. In the case of the O8:H19 isolates, two carried the lpfA1-2 and lpfA2-1 genes, and two strains carried only the lpfA2-1gene. Further, all the strains of this serotype carried different virulence gene profiles. Another serotype identified in our study was O178:H19, which included two strains sharing the same origin and carrying the same stx gene and a common virulence profile, but differing in the type of lpfA variant present. One strain was lpfA1-2 positive, whereas the other was both lpfA1-2 and lpfA2-1-positive.

Both Polymyxa graminis and Polymyxa betae were identified This i

Both Polymyxa graminis and Polymyxa betae were identified. This is the first report of infection of Arabidopsis by Polymyxa spp. and shows the possibility Anti-cancer Compound Library order of using this system for studies of infection biology and host–parasite interactions. Polymyxa spp. are a group of obligate root-infecting organisms belonging to the plasmodiophorid group that are important plant–virus vectors (Kanyuka et al., 2003). Polymyxa graminis transmits viruses such as soil-borne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV), soil-borne wheat mosaic virus and wheat spindle streak mosaic virus to cereals. Polymyxa

betae transmits beet necrotic yellow vein virus, the cause of rhizomania, to sugar beet. Polymyxa graminis has a wide host range including wheat, barley, rye, rice, sorghum, groundnut and various grasses, whereas P. betae is mostly restricted to beet and other plants in the family Chenopodiaceae. A number of subgroups (ribotypes) of Polymyxa spp. have been identified according to rDNA sequence data (Ward et al., 1994, 2005; Ward & Adams, 1998; Legrève et al., 2002). Some of the P. graminis ribotypes appear to differ in host range and temperature requirements, leading to the suggestion that they should be classified as formae speciales (Legrève et al., 1998, 2002). Two groups of P. graminis isolates are found in temperate regions: ribotype I (f. sp. temperata) and ribotype II (f. sp. tepida). All Carfilzomib mw internal transcribed

spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences Grape seed extract for P. betae reported to date fall

into two types that differ by only one base pair (Ward & Adams, 1998; Legrève et al., 2002). Because of their obligate nature and relatively long life cycle, Polymyxa spp. have been difficult to study. The development of a model system for studying Polymyxa–plant interactions would be extremely useful. Arabidopsis thaliana is an invaluable model system for several reasons: (1) short generation time, (2) the ability to grow large numbers in a relatively small space, (3) its ability to self-fertilize, (4) the large number of progeny that can be produced from a single plant, (5) its small haploid genome containing a relatively small number of repetitive genetic elements, (6) the availability of a fully sequenced genome, (7) the availability of mutagenized lines, (8) ease of transformation and (9) the large number of ecotypes exhibiting natural variation available (Meyerowitz, 1989). These features are in contrast to many crop species such as cereals, where genetic resources are less well advanced. Arabidopsis has already been used very successfully to study the interactions of another plasmodiophorid: Plasmodiophora brassicae (Koch et al., 1991). The ability to separate host sequences from those of Plasmodiophora by bioinformatics analysis has simplified the interpretation of data, for example from suppressive subtractive hybridization experiments to study gene structure and expression (Bulman et al., 2006, 2007).

Both Polymyxa graminis and Polymyxa betae were identified This i

Both Polymyxa graminis and Polymyxa betae were identified. This is the first report of infection of Arabidopsis by Polymyxa spp. and shows the possibility check details of using this system for studies of infection biology and host–parasite interactions. Polymyxa spp. are a group of obligate root-infecting organisms belonging to the plasmodiophorid group that are important plant–virus vectors (Kanyuka et al., 2003). Polymyxa graminis transmits viruses such as soil-borne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV), soil-borne wheat mosaic virus and wheat spindle streak mosaic virus to cereals. Polymyxa

betae transmits beet necrotic yellow vein virus, the cause of rhizomania, to sugar beet. Polymyxa graminis has a wide host range including wheat, barley, rye, rice, sorghum, groundnut and various grasses, whereas P. betae is mostly restricted to beet and other plants in the family Chenopodiaceae. A number of subgroups (ribotypes) of Polymyxa spp. have been identified according to rDNA sequence data (Ward et al., 1994, 2005; Ward & Adams, 1998; Legrève et al., 2002). Some of the P. graminis ribotypes appear to differ in host range and temperature requirements, leading to the suggestion that they should be classified as formae speciales (Legrève et al., 1998, 2002). Two groups of P. graminis isolates are found in temperate regions: ribotype I (f. sp. temperata) and ribotype II (f. sp. tepida). All selleck chemicals llc internal transcribed

spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences Carbachol for P. betae reported to date fall

into two types that differ by only one base pair (Ward & Adams, 1998; Legrève et al., 2002). Because of their obligate nature and relatively long life cycle, Polymyxa spp. have been difficult to study. The development of a model system for studying Polymyxa–plant interactions would be extremely useful. Arabidopsis thaliana is an invaluable model system for several reasons: (1) short generation time, (2) the ability to grow large numbers in a relatively small space, (3) its ability to self-fertilize, (4) the large number of progeny that can be produced from a single plant, (5) its small haploid genome containing a relatively small number of repetitive genetic elements, (6) the availability of a fully sequenced genome, (7) the availability of mutagenized lines, (8) ease of transformation and (9) the large number of ecotypes exhibiting natural variation available (Meyerowitz, 1989). These features are in contrast to many crop species such as cereals, where genetic resources are less well advanced. Arabidopsis has already been used very successfully to study the interactions of another plasmodiophorid: Plasmodiophora brassicae (Koch et al., 1991). The ability to separate host sequences from those of Plasmodiophora by bioinformatics analysis has simplified the interpretation of data, for example from suppressive subtractive hybridization experiments to study gene structure and expression (Bulman et al., 2006, 2007).

Both Polymyxa graminis and Polymyxa betae were identified This i

Both Polymyxa graminis and Polymyxa betae were identified. This is the first report of infection of Arabidopsis by Polymyxa spp. and shows the possibility Epigenetic inhibitor library of using this system for studies of infection biology and host–parasite interactions. Polymyxa spp. are a group of obligate root-infecting organisms belonging to the plasmodiophorid group that are important plant–virus vectors (Kanyuka et al., 2003). Polymyxa graminis transmits viruses such as soil-borne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV), soil-borne wheat mosaic virus and wheat spindle streak mosaic virus to cereals. Polymyxa

betae transmits beet necrotic yellow vein virus, the cause of rhizomania, to sugar beet. Polymyxa graminis has a wide host range including wheat, barley, rye, rice, sorghum, groundnut and various grasses, whereas P. betae is mostly restricted to beet and other plants in the family Chenopodiaceae. A number of subgroups (ribotypes) of Polymyxa spp. have been identified according to rDNA sequence data (Ward et al., 1994, 2005; Ward & Adams, 1998; Legrève et al., 2002). Some of the P. graminis ribotypes appear to differ in host range and temperature requirements, leading to the suggestion that they should be classified as formae speciales (Legrève et al., 1998, 2002). Two groups of P. graminis isolates are found in temperate regions: ribotype I (f. sp. temperata) and ribotype II (f. sp. tepida). All Afatinib supplier internal transcribed

spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences Protirelin for P. betae reported to date fall

into two types that differ by only one base pair (Ward & Adams, 1998; Legrève et al., 2002). Because of their obligate nature and relatively long life cycle, Polymyxa spp. have been difficult to study. The development of a model system for studying Polymyxa–plant interactions would be extremely useful. Arabidopsis thaliana is an invaluable model system for several reasons: (1) short generation time, (2) the ability to grow large numbers in a relatively small space, (3) its ability to self-fertilize, (4) the large number of progeny that can be produced from a single plant, (5) its small haploid genome containing a relatively small number of repetitive genetic elements, (6) the availability of a fully sequenced genome, (7) the availability of mutagenized lines, (8) ease of transformation and (9) the large number of ecotypes exhibiting natural variation available (Meyerowitz, 1989). These features are in contrast to many crop species such as cereals, where genetic resources are less well advanced. Arabidopsis has already been used very successfully to study the interactions of another plasmodiophorid: Plasmodiophora brassicae (Koch et al., 1991). The ability to separate host sequences from those of Plasmodiophora by bioinformatics analysis has simplified the interpretation of data, for example from suppressive subtractive hybridization experiments to study gene structure and expression (Bulman et al., 2006, 2007).

Interestingly, there is little variation in the abundance of SqrD

Interestingly, there is little variation in the abundance of SqrD, which is in agreement with the observed constitutive expression of the sqrD gene (Chan et al., 2009). The abundance of the core enzyme of the DSR system, DsrAB, is not exceptionally different between early and late growth phase. However, the DsrEFH proteins are less abundant in the late growth phase, which could be due to the change in the sulfur substrates available to the cells. The DsrEFH proteins form a complex in Alc. vinosum that appears to be involved in cytoplasmic sulfur transfer in many sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Dahl et al., 2005).

There is a slight increase in the APR and Qmo proteins in the late growth phase consistent with the suggestion that these proteins are responsible for sulfite oxidation and thus sulfate production in Cba. tepidum 17-AAG mouse (Rodriguez et al., 2011). The dsrM mutant strain lacks a functional DSR system and oxidizes sulfide and thiosulfate, but not sulfur globules (Holkenbrink et al., 2011). This mutant was constructed by transposon mutagenesis of the dsrM gene such that polar effects on adjacent genes are minimal (wild-type phenotype was shown to be restored by complementation

Trametinib in vivo of dsrM in trans; Holkenbrink et al., 2011). The cells were sampled in the late exponential growth phase, where thiosulfate and sulfur globules are available

for oxidation. Figure 5b shows the relative expression of sulfur metabolism enzymes grouped according to the position of their genes in the genome. Seventeen per cent of the detected proteins showed large variation between wild type and dsrM mutant (>2 or <0.5) (Fig. S2). About one-third of these proteins are annotated as hypothetical proteins, which is a clear indication that the physiology of oxidative sulfur metabolism in Cba. tepidum Methocarbamol is far from understood. The core enzyme of the DSR enzyme, DsrAB, is significantly more abundant in the dsrM mutant. This may be explained by the fact that the substrate of the DsrAB enzyme presumably is present in high concentration (some form of reduced sulfur derived from the sulfur globules). However, DsrAB cannot transfer electrons to the putative DsrTMKJOP complex, and therefore oxidation of sulfur globules to sulfite cannot proceed (Fig. 1). The complete absence of sulfite probably explains why the Sat-Apr-Qmo enzyme system is less abundant in the dsrM mutant. Thus, the abundance of the individual components of the DSR system appears to be regulated according to the abundance of substrate. Finally, the absence of DsrM may explain why DsrK and DsrO are so little abundant in the dsrM mutant. DsrMKJOP constitute a tight complex in Alc. vinosum (Grein et al.

Genes involved in cysteine metabolism are important for tellurite

Genes involved in cysteine metabolism are important for tellurite resistance in bacteria (Chasteen et al., 2009). We then decided to compare the tellurite sensitivity of strains BSIP1215 and BSIP1793 (ΔcymR). On plates containing methionine, the ΔcymR mutant was less resistant to tellurite than the wild-type strain with a growth inhibition area diameter of 47.7 and 30.3 mm, respectively (Fig. 4b). In contrast, on plates containing cystine, the same growth inhibition area diameter was obtained for both strains (40.2 mm for BSIP1793 and 40.6 mm for BSIP1215) (Fig. 4b). In addition, the black deposits were much more prevalent for the ΔcymR mutant than for

the wild-type strain and the Ganetespib blackening mostly surrounded the paper disk for strain BSIP1793

(Fig. 4a, left buy Metformin panel). Tellurite might be reduced by the H2S produced by bacteria. The significant amount of H2S produced in the ΔcymR mutant was probably responsible for the quantity of tellurium deposits observed with this mutant. The diffusion of H2S into the plate could also explain why tellurite reduction occurred even in the zone of growth inhibition. To confirm the possible role of H2S in this phenomenon, we repeated the same disk assay, but kept the lid of the plate open in a moisturized atmosphere, allowing H2S diffusion outside from the plate. The growth inhibition area diameter of the ΔcymR mutant then markedly increased in the open plates, reaching 52.7 mm instead of 38.1 mm for the wild-type strain. Simultaneously, the blackening around the paper disk disappeared

NADPH-cytochrome-c2 reductase (Fig. 4a, right panel). A similar result was obtained when 5 mL of alkaline agar enriched with zinc acetate was poured on the lid to absorb H2S (data not shown). This indicated that H2S obtained from cysteine degradation probably participated in tellurite reduction, protecting the ΔcymR mutant from its toxicity. When H2S escaped from the plate, we observed a drastic increase in tellurite sensitivity for the ΔcymR strain similar to that obtained in the presence of methionine under conditions producing less H2S (Fig. 3a). We then tested the effect of CymR inactivation on the susceptibility of B. subtilis to other stress stimuli. We compared the sensitivity of strains BSIP1215 and BSIP1793 (ΔcymR) to paraquat, H2O2 and diamide using disk diffusion assays. The ΔcymR mutant was significantly more sensitive than the wild-type strain to diamide, a specific thiol oxidant that causes disulfide stress. This effect was observed with plates containing cystine or methionine (Table 1, data not shown). We further tested the effect of H2O2 and paraquat. On plates with methionine, the growth inhibition area in the presence of 10 μL of 2 M paraquat was 58.8 mm for the ΔcymR mutant and 49.3 mm for the wild-type strain. Under the same conditions, the zone of growth inhibition in the presence of 10 μL of 10 M H2O2 was 52.1 mm for the ΔcymR mutant and 41.4 mm for the wild-type strain.