Functional characterization of the Xcs and Xps type II secretion systems from the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria.

*Type II secretion (T2S) systems of many plant-pathogenic bacteria often secrete cell wall-degrading enzymes into the plant apoplast. *Here, we show that the Xps-T2S system from the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria (Xcv) promotes disease and contributes to the translocation of effector proteins that are delivered into the plant cell by the type III secretion (T3S) system. *The Xcs-T2S system instead lacks an obvious virulence function. However, individual xcs genes can partially complement mutants in homologous xps genes, indicating that they encode functional components of T2S systems. Enzyme activity assays showed that the Xps system contributes to secretion of proteases and xylanases. We identified the virulence-associated xylanase XynC as a substrate of the Xps system. However, homologs of known T2S substrates from other Xanthomonas spp. are not secreted by the T2S systems from Xcv. Thus, T2S systems from Xanthomonas spp. appear to differ significantly in their substrate specificities. *Transcript analyses revealed that expression of xps genes in Xcv is activated by HrpG and HrpX, key regulators of the T3S system. By contrast, expression of xynC and extracellular protease and xylanase activities are repressed by HrpG and HrpX, suggesting that components and substrates of the Xps system are differentially regulated.

Costo directo de la farmacoterapia de la leucemia aguda en el Hospital Clínico Regional de Valdivia, Chile: análisis del período 2003 a 2006 / Direct costs of pharmacotherapy for acute leukemia at a Regional Hospital in Chile

Background: In Chile, leukemia is one of the diseases whose treatment is guaranteed by a special law called AUGE (universal access and explicit guaranties). Therefore, the knowledge of its treatment costs is of utmost importance. Aim: To determine and to characterize the direct costs of pharmacotherapy for leukemia at a regional hospital in Chile. Material and methods: Data were retrospectively obtained from electronic and manual records of the hospital for all patients treated for leukemia between 2003 and 2006. Patients were classified into four groups: pediatric and adult patients treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL children and ALL adults, respectively), and pediatric and adult patients treated for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML children and AML adults, respectively). Results: Total accumulated costs of pharmacotherapy for acute leukemia between 2003 and 2006 were 304,724,845 Chilean pesos (USD 574,952). The higher total or per patient costs, were generated by drugs for chemotherapy compared to other required medications. The exception were AML children, where support drugs, such as antimicrobials, ant emetic drugs and colony stimulating factors, generated the higher costs per patient. Among ALL adults, AML children and AML adults, the costs were concentrated in the first 6 months of treatment. NO children followed this tendency concentrating the costs between the seventh and twenty-fourth months. Conclusions: Annual costs of pharmacotherapy per patient for acute leukemia in this regional hospital were approximately USD 4,717. Chemotherapy was the item with the greatest impact on cost.

[Direct costs of pharmacotherapy for acute leukemia at a Regional Hospital in Chile]. / Costo directo de la farmacoterapia de la leucemia aguda en el Hospital Clínico Regional de Valdivia, Chile: análisis del período 2003 a 2006.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, leukemia is one of the diseases whose treatment is guaranteed by a special law called AUGE (universal access and explicit guaranties). Therefore, the knowledge of its treatment costs is of utmost importance. AIM: To determine and to characterize the direct costs of pharmacotherapy for leukemia at a regional hospital in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were retrospectively obtained from electronic and manual records of the hospital for all patients treated for leukemia between 2003 and 2006. Patients were classified into four groups: pediatric and adult patients treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL children and ALL adults, respectively), and pediatric and adult patients treated for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML children and AML adults, respectively). RESULTS: Total accumulated costs of pharmacotherapy for acute leukemia between 2003 and 2006 were 304,724,845 Chilean pesos (USD 574,952). The higher total or per patient costs, were generated by drugs for chemotherapy compared to other required medications. The exception were AML children, where support drugs, such as antimicrobials, ant emetic drugs and colony stimulating factors, generated the higher costs per patient. Among ALL adults, AML children and AML adults, the costs were concentrated in the first 6 months of treatment. NO children followed this tendency concentrating the costs between the seventh and twenty-fourth months. CONCLUSIONS: Annual costs of pharmacotherapy per patient for acute leukemia in this regional hospital were approximately USD 4,717. Chemotherapy was the item with the greatest impact on cost.