Biomedical subjects

Maria J Gomez

Publications and source records attributed to Maria J Gomez.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Genes involved in intrinsic antibiotic resistance of Acinetobacter baylyi.

Bacterial genes defining intrinsic resistance to antibiotics encode proteins that can be targeted by antibiotic potentiators. To find such genes, a transposon insertion library of Acinetobacter baylyi was screened with subinhibitory concentrations of various antibiotics to find supersusceptible mutants. A DNA microarray printer was used to replica plate 10,000 individual library clones to select mutants unable to grow at 1/10 the MICs of 12 different antibiotics. Transposon insertions in 11 genes were found to cause an eightfold or higher hypersusceptibility to at least one antibiotic. Most of the mutants identified exhibited hypersusceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics. These included mutants with disruptions of genes encoding proteins involved in efflux (acrB and oprM) as well as genes pertaining to peptidoglycan synthesis and modification (ampD, mpl, and pbpG). However, disruptions of genes encoding proteins with seemingly unrelated functions (gph, argH, hisF, and ACIAD0795) can also render cells hypersusceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics. A knockout of gshA, involved in glutathione biosynthesis, enhanced the susceptibility to metronidazole, while a knockout of recD, involved in recombination and repair, made the bacteria hypersusceptible to ciprofloxacin. Disruption of acrB in Escherichia coli rendered the cells hypersusceptible to several antibiotics. However, knockout mutants of other homologous genes in E. coli showed no significant changes in antibiotic MICs, indicating that the intrinsic resistance genes are species specific.

Acinetobacter↗

PubMed2003

The critical role of the universally conserved A2602 of 23S ribosomal RNA in the release of the nascent peptide during translation termination.

The ribosomal peptidyl transferase center is responsible for two fundamental reactions, peptide bond formation and nascent peptide release, during the elongation and termination phases of protein synthesis, respectively. We used in vitro genetics to investigate the functional importance of conserved 23S rRNA nucleotides located in the peptidyl transferase active site for transpeptidation and peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis. While mutations at A2451, U2585, and C2063 (E. coli numbering) did not significantly affect either of the reactions, substitution of A2602 with C or its deletion abolished the ribosome ability to promote peptide release but had little effect on transpeptidation. This indicates that the mechanism of peptide release is distinct from that of peptide bond formation, with A2602 playing a critical role in peptide release during translation termination.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2002

Type 1 T helper cells specific for Candida albicans antigens in peripheral blood and vaginal mucosa of women with recurrent vaginal candidiasis.

The cytokine profile of circulating and vaginal T cells specific for immunodominant mannoprotein antigens of Candida albicans was analyzed in patients with recurrent vaginal candidiasis (RVC). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with RVC proliferated more than those from healthy subjects and expressed higher type 1:type 2 T helper cell cytokine ratios in response to C. albicans stimulation. A higher number of C. albicans-specific T cells was generated in PBMC from patients with RVC than in PBMC from healthy donors. C. albicans-specific T cell clones from patients with RVC produced higher levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma and lower levels of interleukin (IL)-4 than clones from control women. More important, a higher proportion of C. albicans-specific T cell clones was generated from lesional mucosa of patients with RVC than from normal mucosa, all of which produced IFN-gamma but not IL-4. These findings provide direct evidence that RVC is characterized by a highly polarized local and circulating type 1 T helper cell-like response against C. albicans antigens.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Countertransference management and therapy outcome: an initial evaluation.

The relationship between therapist countertransference management ability and therapy outcome was examined. Participants were 32 therapist-trainees and their clinical supervisors. Supervisors completed the Countertransference Factors Inventory (CFI) with regard to their supervisees. The CFI assesses five therapist characteristics thought to comprise countertransference management: Self-Insight, Self-Integration, Anxiety Management, Empathy, and Conceptualizing Skills. Both trainees and their supervisors rated the degree of improvement for each client seen in therapy. Results indicated that the CFI total score and the subscales of Anxiety Management and Conceptualizing Skills were positively related to both trainee and supervisor ratings of outcome; Self-Integration was related to trainee, but not supervisor, outcome ratings.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological factors after traumatic amputation in landmine survivors: the bridge between physical healing and full recovery.

PURPOSE: Limb loss due to a landmine injury is sudden and devastating. The resulting disability makes life challenging in a world where physical ability is the 'norm'. In order to better understand the psychological adjustments individuals make in their recovery from a landmine injury, the Landmine Survivors Network conducted an exploratory qualitative study to determine factors that contribute to an individual's recovery. The study examined psychosocial aspects, coping strategies, and resilience characteristics of limb loss survivors across differing cultural, societal and economic backgrounds. METHOD: Eighty-five participants (68 persons of limb loss, 10 family members, seven service providers) were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol in the USA and an open-ended format in six landmine affected countries. Data analysis was completed using grounded theory analytic strategies. RESULTS: Data indicated that the survivors' acceptance of limb loss and their state of psychological recovery were greatly influenced by the individual's resilience characteristics, social support, medical care, economic situation and societal attitudes toward people with disabilities. CONCLUSION: Recovery from traumatic amputation in landmine survivors needs to be comprehensive and coordinated, and requires addressing the individual's physical, psychological, economic and social needs within the context of family, community, and the socio-cultural environment in which they live.

Adaptation, Physiological↗