Mobility assays confirm the broad host-range activity of the Minos transposable element and validate new transformation tools.

Fast and reliable methods for assessing the mobility of the transposable element Minos have been developed. These methods are based on the detection of excision and insertion of Minos transposons from and into plasmids which are co-introduced into cells. Excision is detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with appropriate primers. Transposition is assayed by marker rescue in Escherichia coli, using a transposon plasmid that carries a tetracycline resistance gene and a target plasmid carrying a gene that can be selected against in E. coli. Using both assays, Minos was shown to transpose in Drosophila melanogaster cells and embryos, and in cultured cells of a mosquito, Aedes aegypti, and a lepidopteran, Spodoptera frugiperda. In all cases, mobility was dependent on the presence of exogenously supplied transposase, and both excision and transposition were precise. The results indicate that Minos can transpose in heterologous insect species with comparable efficiencies and therefore has the potential to be used as a transgenesis vector for diverse species.

Comparison of roxithromycin with co-amoxiclav in patients with sinusitis.

In an open, randomized study of 60 patients with acute or recurrent sinusitis, the bacteriological and clinical efficacy of roxithromycin 150 mg bd were compared with those of po co-amoxiclav (625 mg) tds. Of 52 patients who underwent sinus puncture for isolation of causative organisms, 48 had pathogens sensitive to both antibiotics. Satisfactory clinical response was obtained in 93.1% (27/29) evaluable patients receiving roxithromycin and 88.8% (24/27) receiving co-amoxiclav. Tolerability was significantly better in the roxithromycin group, with 1/29 (3.4%) patients in this group experiencing gastrointestinal side-effects, compared with 7/27 (25.9%) patients in the co-amoxiclav group (P < 0.05). Although the study had limited power to detect differences, roxithromycin demonstrated clinical, bacteriological and overall efficacy similar to that of co-amoxiclav, but with better tolerability. Roxithromycin thus appears to be an effective and well-tolerated drug for the treatment of acute and recurrent sinusitis.