Background-Potassium currents contribute to action potential duration (APD) and arrhythmogenesis. In heart failure, Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is upregulated and can alter ion channel regulation and expression. Methods and Results-We examine the influence of overexpressing cytoplasmic CaMKII␦ C , both acutely in rabbit ventricular myocytes (24-hour adenoviral gene transfer) and chronically in CaMKII␦ C -transgenic mice, on transient outward potassium current (I to ), and inward rectifying current (I K1 ). Acute and chronic CaMKII overexpression increases I to,slow amplitude and expression of the underlying channel protein K V 1.4. Chronic but not acute CaMKII overexpression causes downregulation of I to,fast , as well as K V 4.2 and KChIP2, suggesting that K V 1.4 expression responds faster and oppositely to K V 4.2 on CaMKII activation. These amplitude changes were not reversed by CaMKII inhibition, consistent with CaMKII-dependent regulation of channel expression and/or trafficking. CaMKII (acute and chronic) greatly accelerated recovery from inactivation for both I to components, but these effects were acutely reversed by AIP (CaMKII inhibitor), suggesting that CaMKII activity directly accelerates I to recovery. Expression levels of I K1 and Kir2.1 mRNA were downregulated by CaMKII overexpression. CaMKII acutely increased I K1 , based on inhibition by AIP (in both models). CaMKII overexpression in mouse prolonged APD (consistent with reduced I to,fast and I K1 ), whereas CaMKII overexpression in rabbit shortened APD (consistent with enhanced I K1 and I to,slow and faster I to recovery). Computational models allowed discrimination of contributions of different channel effects on APD. Key Words: action potentials Ⅲ potassium Ⅲ arrhythmia Ⅲ electrophysiology Ⅲ heart failure H eart failure (HF) is accompanied by arrhythmogenic changes related to electric remodeling. This is associated with prolongation of action potential duration (APD) 1 and downregulation of transient outward K-current (I to ) and inward rectifying K-current (I K1 ). I K1 is responsible for stabilizing the diastolic membrane potential (E m ), such that decreased I K1 increases the propensity for triggered arrhythmias. 2 I to is important in early repolarization and influences the effects of other currents and transporters by affecting AP voltage-time trajectory. There are at least 2 components of I to generated by different K-channel isoforms, which can be distinguished according to their recovery and inactivation kinetics. 3,4 The fast component (I to,fast ) recovers and inactivates with time constants () of Ͻ100 ms, whereas the slow component (I to,slow ) recovers with of hundreds of milliseconds up to several seconds and inactivates with of Ϸ200 ms. 3-5 Downregulation of I to has been described in animal models of hypertrophy and human HF, 2,6,7 is associated with APD prolongation, 8 and predisposes to early afterdepolarizations. Conclusion-CaMKII Clinical Perspective on p 294In HF, expression and activity of Ca/cal...

While formerly known infections of Corynebacterium ulcerans are rare and mainly associated with contact to infected cattle, C. ulcerans has become an emerging pathogen today. In Western Europe, cases of respiratory diphtheria caused by C. ulcerans have been reported more often than infections by Corynebacterium diphtheria, while systemic infections are also increasingly reported. Little is known about factors that contribute to host colonization and virulence of this zoonotic pathogen. Research in this field has received new impetus by the publication of several C. ulcerans genome sequences in the past years. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the basic knowledge of C. ulcerans, as well as the recent advances made in the analysis of putative virulence factors.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is typically recognized as an extracellular pathogen. However, a number of studies revealed its ability to invade epithelial cells, indicating a more complex pathogen-host interaction. The molecular mechanisms controlling and facilitating internalization of Cor. diphtheriae are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of DIP0733 as virulence factor to elucidate how it contributes to the process of pathogen-host cell interaction. Based on in vitro experiments, it was suggested recently that the DIP0733 protein might be involved in adhesion, invasion of epithelial cells and induction of apoptosis. A corresponding Cor. diphtheriae mutant strain generated in this study was attenuated in its ability to colonize and kill the host in a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model system. Furthermore, the mutant showed an altered adhesion pattern and a drastically reduced ability to adhere and invade epithelial cells. Subsequent experiments showed an influence of DIP0733 on binding of Cor. diphtheriae to extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and fibronectin. Furthermore, based on its fibrinogen-binding activity, DIP0733 may play a role in avoiding recognition of Cor. diphtheriae by the immune system. In summary, our findings support the idea that DIP0733 is a multi-functional virulence factor of Cor. diphtheriae.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is typically recognized as the a etiological agent of diphtheria, a toxaemic infection of the respiratory tract; however, both non-toxigenic and toxigenic strains are increasingly isolated from cases of invasive infections. The molecular mechanisms responsible for bacterial colonization and dissemination to host tissues remain only partially understood. In this report, we investigated the role of DIP2093, described as a putative adhesin of the serine-aspartate repeat (Sdr) protein family in host-pathogen interactions of C. diphtheriae wild-type strain NCTC13129. Compared to the parental strain, a DIP2093 mutant RN generated in this study was attenuated in its ability to bind to type I collagen, to adhere to and invade epithelial cells, as well as to survive within macrophages. Furthermore, DIP2093 mutant strain RN had a less detrimental impact on the viability of Caenorhabditis elegans as well as in the clinical severity of arthritis in mice. In conclusion, DIP2093 functions as a microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecules, and may be included among the factors that contribute to the pathogenicity of C. diphtheriae strains, independently of toxin production.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the causative agent of diphtheria, a toxin mediated disease of upper respiratory tract, which can be fatal. As a member of the CMNR group, C. diphtheriae is closely related to members of the genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia and Rhodococcus. Almost all members of these genera comprise an outer membrane layer of mycolic acids, which is assumed to influence host-pathogen interactions. In this study, three different C. diphtheriae strains were investigated in respect to their interaction with phagocytic murine and human cells and the invertebrate infection model Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results indicate that C. diphtheriae is able to delay phagolysosome maturation after internalization in murine and human cell lines. This effect is independent of the presence of mycolic acids, as one of the strains lacked corynomycolates. In addition, analyses of NF-κB induction revealed a mycolate-independent mechanism and hint to detrimental effects of the different strains tested on the phagocytic cells. Bioinformatics analyses carried out to elucidate the reason for the lack of mycolates in one of the strains led to the identification of a new gene involved in mycomembrane formation in C. diphtheriae.