Mycobacterium tuberculosis CysA2 is a dual sulfurtransferase with activity against thiosulfate and 3-mercaptopyruvate and interacts with mammalian cells.

Cyanide is a toxic compound that is converted to the non-toxic thiocyanate by a rhodanese enzyme. Rhodaneses belong to the family of transferases (sulfurtransferases), which are largely studied. The sulfur donor defines the subfamily of these enzymes as thiosulfate:cyanide sulfurtransferases or rhodaneses (TSTs) or 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransfeases (MSTs). In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, the gene Rv0815c encodes the protein CysA2, a putative uncharacterized thiosulfate:cyanide sulfurtransferase that belongs to the essential sulfur assimilation pathway in the bacillus and is secreted during infection. In this work, we characterized the functional and structural properties of CysA2 and its kinetic parameters. The recombinant CysA2 is a α/ß protein with two rhodanese-like domains that maintains the functional motifs and a catalytic cysteine. Sulfurtransferase activity was determined using thiosulfate and 3-mercaptopyruvate as sulfur donors. The assays showed Km values of 2.89 mM and 7.02 mM for thiosulfate and 3-mercaptopyruvate, respectively, indicating the protein has dual activity as TST and MST. Immunological assays revealed that CysA2 interacted with pulmonary cells, and it was capable to activate macrophages and dendritic cells, indicating the stimulation of the immune response, which is important for its use as an antigen for vaccine development and immunodiagnostic.

La enseñanza a pacientes con diabetes: significado para profesionales de enfermería / Teaching to diabetes patients: Meaning for the professionals of Nursing / O ensino a pacientes com diabetes: significado para profissionais de enfermagem

Objetivo: Describir el significado que para profesionales de enfermería tiene la enseñanza a pacientes diabéticos hospitalizados sobre su cuidado en el hogar. Método: Estudio cualitativo, fenomenológico, descriptivo, desarrollado en un hospital de Culiacán, Sinaloa. Selección de participantes con base a muestreo teórico: fueron enfermeras que laboran en servicios de medicina interna y cirugía. Número de entrevistas con base en la saturación de datos. En aspectos éticos, han sido considerados los principios de beneficencia, confidencialidad y respeto a la intimidad, así como la autorización de los participantes mediante consentimiento informado. Para recolección de datos se utilizó entrevista a profundidad. Instrumentos: guía de preguntas semiestructurada y notas de campo. El análisis y la interpretación de los datos fueron de acuerdo a la propuesta de De Sousa Minayo, basada en el análisis temático, que incluye: organización de datos, clasificación de temas y análisis final. Resultados: Se realizaron 7 entrevistas. El análisis inicial identificó que la relación intersubjetiva de la enfermera con el paciente y su familia se puede realizar en cualquier espacio de enseñanza. Se generaron dos categorías; en este manuscrito solo se referirá la categoría información que proporciona la enfermera, que incluyó tres subcategorías: información que proporciona al paciente, a la familia y momentos para enseñar. Conclusión: Los hallazgos evidencian la necesidad de redefinir el papel de la (del) enfermera(o) en la enseñanza a pacientes diabéticos y considerar la importancia del contexto en desarrollo de esta función; estos tienen utilidad en planteamiento de propuestas educativas efectivas que contribuyan a potencializar la enseñanza a estos pacientes.

Objective: To describe the meaning which Nursing professionals have about their teaching to hospitalized patients with diabetes regarding their home care. Method: This is a qualitative, phenomenological and descriptive study conducted in a Hospital in Culiacan, Sinaloa. The participants were selected on the basis of theoretical sampling and included nurses working in the services of internal medicine and surgery. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. Regarding the ethical aspects, the principles of beneficence, confidentiality, and respect to the intimacy were considered as well as the participants' authorization through their informed consent. Data were collected through interviews with semi-structured questions and field notes. The analysis and interpretation was conducted following the De Sousa Minayo proposal which is based on thematic analysis, and includes: organization of data, classification of themes, and final analysis. Results: Seven interviews were conducted. In the initial analysis, it was identified that the inter-subjective relation between the nurse and the patient and family can take place in any teaching space. Two categories emerged, one of these being information which the nurse provides which included tree sub-categories: information provided to the patient, information provided to the family, and the moments to do the teaching. Conclusion: The findings suggest that there exists a necessity to re-define the role of the nurses regarding their teaching to diabetic patients, and also to consider the importance of the context in the development of this function; all these in order to generate effective educational proposals which can contribute to the improvement of their teaching to these patients.

Objetivo: Descrever o significado que tem o ensino a pacientes diabéticos hospitalizados sobre o cuidado no lar para profissionais de enfermagem. Método: estudo qualitativo, fenomenológico, descritivo, desenvolvido em um hospital de Culiacán, Sinaloa, seleção de participantes com base na amostragem teórica, foram enfermeiras que lavoram em serviços de medicina interna e cirurgia, número de entrevistas com base na saturação de dados. Em aspectos éticos têm sido considerados os princípios de beneficência, confidencialidade e respeito à intimidade, bem como a autorização de participantes através de consentimento informado. Para a coleta de dados utilizou-se entrevista a profundidade, instrumentos: guia de perguntas semiestruturada e notas de campo. A análise e interpretação de dados foi conforme à proposta de De Sousa Minayo, baseada na análise temática, que inclui: organização de dados, classificação de temas e análise final. Resultados: Realizaram-se 7 entrevistas. Análise inicial identificou que a relação intersubjetiva da enfermeira com o paciente e sua família, pode se realizar em qualquer espaço de ensino. Geraram-se duas categorias, neste manuscrito, só se referirá a categoria informação que proporciona a enfermeira que incluiu três subcategorias: informação que proporciona ao paciente, à família e momentos para ensinar. Conclusão: Os achados evidenciam a necessidade de redefinir o papel da enfermeira (o) no ensino a pacientes diabéticos e considerar a importância do contexto no desenvolvimento desta função, estes têm utilidade na abordagem de propostas educativas efetivas, que contribuem a potencializar o ensino a estes pacientes.

Development of an integrated genetic map of a sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) commercial cross, based on a maximum-likelihood approach for estimation of linkage and linkage phases.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a clonally propagated outcrossing polyploid crop of great importance in tropical agriculture. Up to now, all sugarcane genetic maps had been developed using either full-sib progenies derived from interspecific crosses or from selfing, both approaches not directly adopted in conventional breeding. We have developed a single integrated genetic map using a population derived from a cross between two pre-commercial cultivars ('SP80-180' x 'SP80-4966') using a novel approach based on the simultaneous maximum-likelihood estimation of linkage and linkage phases method specially designed for outcrossing species. From a total of 1,118 single-dose markers (RFLP, SSR and AFLP) identified, 39% derived from a testcross configuration between the parents segregating in a 1:1 fashion, while 61% segregated 3:1, representing heterozygous markers in both parents with the same genotypes. The markers segregating 3:1 were used to establish linkage between the testcross markers. The final map comprised of 357 linked markers, including 57 RFLPs, 64 SSRs and 236 AFLPs that were assigned to 131 co-segregation groups, considering a LOD score of 5, and a recombination fraction of 37.5 cM with map distances estimated by Kosambi function. The co-segregation groups represented a total map length of 2,602.4 cM, with a marker density of 7.3 cM. When the same data were analyzed using JoinMap software, only 217 linked markers were assigned to 98 co-segregation groups, spanning 1,340 cM, with a marker density of 6.2 cM. The maximum-likelihood approach reduced the number of unlinked markers to 761 (68.0%), compared to 901 (80.5%) using JoinMap. All the co-segregation groups obtained using JoinMap were present in the map constructed based on the maximum-likelihood method. Differences on the marker order within the co-segregation groups were observed between the two maps. Based on RFLP and SSR markers, 42 of the 131 co-segregation groups were assembled into 12 putative homology groups. Overall, the simultaneous maximum-likelihood estimation of linkage and linkage phases was more efficient than the method used by JoinMap to generate an integrated genetic map of sugarcane.

cDNA-derived amino-acid sequence of a land turtle (Geochelone carbonaria) beta-chain hemoglobin.

The cDNA sequence encoding the turtle Geochelone carbonaria beta-chain was determinated. The isolation of hemoglobin mRNA was based on degenerate primers' PCR in combination with 5'- and 3'-RACE protocol. The full length cDNA is 615 bp with the ATG start codon at position 53 and TGA stop codon at position 495; The AATAAA polyadenylation signal is found at position 599. The deduced polypeptyde contains 146 amino-acid residues. The predicted amino acid sequence shares 83% identity with the beta-globin of a related specie, the aquatic turtle C. p. belli. Otherwise, identity is higher when compared with chicken beta-Hb (80%) than with other reptilian orders (Squamata, 69%, and Crocodilia, 61%). Compared with human HbA, there is 67% identity, and at least three amino acid substitutions could be of some functional significance (Glu43 beta-->Ser, His116 beta-->Thr and His143 beta-->Leu). To our knowledge this represents the first cDNA sequence of a reptile globin gene described.