Search

Over the last two decades, red umbrellas have increasingly appeared in campaigns to end violence against sex workers, oppose harmful legislation, advocate for decriminalization, commemorate lost community members, and broadly express sex worker pride. Originating with the work of the artist/activist Tadej Pogačar and the P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Museum of Contemporary Art's contribution to the 2001 Venice Biennale ("The Prostitute Pavilion"), red umbrellas were originally presented as a visual symbol of self-help, organization, and protection for sex workers. Since then the red umbrella has been adopted and adapted to a broader range of meanings related to sex worker activism, including decriminalization, opposition to antitrafficking discourse, and more. The umbrella has also come to convey the "big tent" concept—that all sex workers are together under its canopy, unified as one coalition. But like any symbol, the red umbrella's use has limitations. The red umbrella risks amplifying negative rhetoric employed by the antitrafficking movement, which casts sex workers as passive victims in need of salvation, or of oversimplifying a complex, multifaceted political movement. The Curated Spaces section of this issue presents a brief history of the red umbrella as a symbol for sex workers' rights and images that demonstrate its varied uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an interview with Naomi Akers, a long-time sex workers' rights activist and former executive director of the St. James Infirmary, focusing on the concept of harm reduction in relation to sex work. Topics include the origins of harm reduction, its application in addressing various issues faced by sex workers, such as condom possession laws and legal brothels, and the fundamental principle of empowering individuals to make their own choices without judgment.

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) catalyze the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides and are essential for de novo DNA synthesis and repair. Streptomycetes contain genes coding for two RNRs. The class Ia RNR is oxygen dependent, and the class II RNR is oxygen independent and requires coenzyme B12. Either RNR is sufficient for vegetative growth. We show here that the Streptomyces coelicolor M145 nrdABS genes encoding the class Ia RNR are regulated by coenzyme B12. The 5'-untranslated region of nrdABS contains a 123-nucleotide B12 riboswitch. Similar B12 riboswitches are present in the corresponding regions of eight other S. coelicolor genes. The effect of B12 on growth and nrdABS transcription was examined in a mutant in which the nrdJ gene, encoding the class II RNR, was deleted. B12 concentrations of just 1 [micro]g/liter completely inhibited growth of the NrdJ mutant strain. Likewise, B12 significantly reduced nrdABS transcription. To further explore the mechanism of B12 repression, we isolated in the nrdJ deletion strain mutants that are insensitive to B12 inhibition of growth. Two classes of mutations were found to map to the B12 riboswitch. Both conferred resistance to B12 inhibition of nrdABS transcription and are likely to affect B12 binding. These results establish that B12 regulates overall RNR expression in reciprocal ways, by riboswitch regulation of the class Ia RNR nrdABS genes and by serving as a cofactor for the class II RNR.

In this report we describe the cloning, organization, and promoter analysis of the Staphylococcus' aureus thioredoxin (trxA) and thioredoxin reductase (trxB) genes and their transcription in response to changes in oxygen concentration and to oxidative stress compounds. Northern analysis showed that the S. aureus trxA and trxB genes were transcribed equally well in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Several oxidative stress compounds were found to rapidly induce transcription of the trxA and trxB genes. The most pronounced effects were seen with diamide, a thiol-specific oxidant that promotes disulfide bond formation; menadione, a redox cycling agent; and [tau]-butyl hydroperoxide, an organic peroxide. In each case the induction was independent of the general stress sigma factor [[sigma].sup.B]. These studies show that the S. aureus trxA and trxB genes are upregulated following exposure to these oxidative stress agents, resulting in increased disulfide bond formation. In contrast, no effect of hydrogen peroxide on induction of the trxA and trxB genes was seen. We also show that the S. aureus thioredoxin reductase appears to be essential for growth. This observation, coupled with structural differences between the bacterial and mammalian thioredoxin reductases, suggests that it may serve as a target for the development of new antimicrobials.

Research has been conducted on the genes encoding ribonucleotide reductases. The identification of these genes in the genus Streptomyces has been carried out and the results indicate that the genes are differentially expressed during the vegetative growth.

Results demonstrate that transcription of class Ib and class III ribonucleotide reductase gene regulation is favored under conditions of deoxyribonucleotide depletion. Further, Staphylococcus aureus ability to adapt to oxygen concentration changes is mediated by nrdIEF and nrdDG genes, whose transcription is influenced by oxygen.

Eucaryotic thioredoxin reductase gene cloning reveals that Penicillin chrysogenum disulfide reductase belongs to the thioredoxin group of oxidoreductases. In a coupled state, with isopenicillin N synthase, the reductase converts delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine to isopenicillin N. The disulfide reductase consists of a two-subunit 72-kDa reductase and a 12-kDa disulfide reductant.

DNA sequences of Streptomyces clavuligerus were determined by cloning the genes that encode thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase of the bacterium. Thioredoxin reductase is seen as a 35-KDa protein, sharing an amino acid sequence with Escherichia coli, while thioredoxin is a 12-KDA protein, with an amino acid sequence similar to other thioredoxins. The cysternem redox-active segment is found in all encaryotic and procaryotic thioredoxins and in S. thioredoxin. The thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase genes in S. clavuligerus are in a cluster separated by 33 nucleotides, in contrast to the trxA and trxB genes of E. coli which are spread widely.

The characterization of a disulfide reductase from beta-lactam-producing Streptomyces clavuligerus was described. It was shown that S. clavuligerus possesses an NADPH-dependent disulfide reductase of broad substrate specificity. When the disulfide reductase is coupled with isopenicillin N synthase, it converts bis-delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine to isopenicillin N. The results suggest that the disulfide reductase may play a role in the biosynthesis of penicillin.

University fine arts departments sometimes hire faculty to teach in new media, but without complete acceptance of the new media's role in the fine arts. The teachers of new media thus meet with some resistance and are apparently viewed as threatening by other faculty members. The new media are also associated with different conceptions of art and pedagogy that may not be accepted by all.

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) catalyse the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides and are essential forde novoDNA synthesis and repair.Streptomycesspp. contain genes coding for two RNRs. We show here that theStreptomyces coelicolorM145nrdABgenes encoding an oxygen-dependent class I RNR are co-transcribed withnrdS, which encodes an AraC-like regulatory protein. Likewise, the class II oxygen-independent RNRnrdJgene forms an operon with a likely regulatory gene,nrdR, which encodes a protein possessing an ATP-cone domain like those present in the allosteric activity site of many class Ia RNRs. Deletions innrdBandnrdJhad no discernible effect on growth individually, but abolition of both RNR systems, using hydroxyurea to inactivate the class Ia RNR (NrdAB) in thenrdJdeletion mutant, was lethal, establishing thatS. coelicolorpossesses just two functional RNR systems. The class II RNR (NrdJ) may function to provide a pool of deoxyribonucleotide precursors for DNA repair during oxygen limitation and/or for immediate growth after restoration of oxygen, as thenrdJmutant was slower in growth recovery than thenrdBmutant or the parent strain. The class Ia and class II RNR genes show complex regulation. ThenrdRJgenes were transcribed some five- to sixfold higher than thenrdABSgenes in vegetative growth, but whennrdJwas deleted,nrdABStranscription was upregulated by 13-fold. In a reciprocal experiment, deletion ofnrdBhad little effect onnrdRJtranscription. Deletion ofnrdRcaused a dramatic increase in transcription ofnrdJand to a less extentnrdABS, whereas disruption ofcobN, a gene required for synthesis of coenzyme B12 a cofactor for the class II RNR, caused similar upregulation of transcription ofnrdRJandnrdABS. In contrast, deletion ofnrdShad no detectable effect on transcription of either set of RNR genes. These results establish the existence of control mechanisms that sense and regulate overall RNR gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastroparesis is a chronic disorder of abnormal gastric motility causing considerable suffering. We describe two cases of gastroparesis which were treated by methods which were not part of routine conventional therapy, but which, nevertheless, led to significant clinical improvement. In the first case, the patient suffered from gastroparesis following a vagal injury while undergoing a lung transplant. During his illness a mega-bezoar formed, a well-described complication of gastroparesis. After conservative measures failed, and in order to avoid a surgical intervention that carried considerable risk under the circumstances, a successful trial consisting of imbibing large amounts of "Coca Cola" and acupuncture was initiated. The bezoar dissolved completely and considerable improvement of the patient's gastric motility was achieved. In the second case, the patient was a young woman suffering from idiopathic gastroparesis, which responded well to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants. Due to her intention to become pregnant, this treatment was discontinued and she was admitted to receive homeopathic treatment. After two failed attempts in finding the right homeopathic remedy to replace the conventional treatment, the third remedy (Sepia) used brought dramatic improvement in her general condition and her dyspepsia. Today, over two years after her successful homeopathic treatment, she is in the middle of her second pregnancy, without any treatment and free of complaints. These two cases are examples of simple solutions for seemingly complicated and complex conditions alleviated by an integration of conventional and complementary/alternative medicine.