bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Criteria for the Allocation of Medical Resources: Citizens' Perspectives
Authors: Cicognani Elvira , Mancini Tiziana , Nicoli Maria Augusta
Published: October 2007

The aim of this research was to assess which criteria laypeople use to evaluate the importance of treatments the Italian National Health Service (NHS) should or should not guarantee and the relationship with their degree of importance. A convenience sample of 100 individuals (22–65 years old) were asked to evaluate 52 treatments partly included and partly not included in the Essential Assistance Levels. Results showed that laypeople employ a wide range of criteria, only part of which corresponds to those traditionally investigated in the psychosocial literature. Two main dimensions emerge as organizing principles underlying their judgments, referring to NHS function (prevention vs. treatment) and to the opportunity to focus on the specific health needs of particular categories of citizens (selectivity).
Do Basic Psychological Needs Moderate Relationships Within the Theory of Planned Behavior?
Authors: Harris Jemma , Hagger Martin S.
Published: October 2007

The effects of basic psychological need satisfaction from the self‐determination theory on relationships within the theory of planned behavior (TPB) were examined in a prospective study. It was hypothesized that need satisfaction would moderate the relationship between intention and behavior and between intention and its proximal determinants. Participants (n = 250) completed measures of the TPB and psychological need satisfaction with respect to restrictive dietary behaviors. Moderated multiple regression analyses indicated that each psychological need moderated the effects of subjective norms on intention. Results suggest that individuals with high psychological need satisfaction tend to base their intentions on subjective norms to a greater extent compared with individuals with lower psychological need satisfaction.
Media Influences on Attitudes and Perceptions Toward the Body Among Adult Men and Women
Authors: McCabe Marita P. , Butler Kelly , Watt Christina
Published: October 2007

The current study investigated media influences on men's and women's body perception. Participants were 60 men and 60 women. Men overestimated their chest, waist, and thighs and underestimated their hips. Women overestimated the size of all body parts. Men's and women's perception of their body was not predicted by media exposure or attitudes to the media. Both men's and women's ideal body was different from their current bodies. Attitudes and exposure to the media predicted men's (but not women's) perceptions of the ideal body held by the media, as well as both men's and women's ideal chest and waist. These findings suggest that the media has an impact on the ideal body size of both men and women.
Non‐prescription supplement‐induced hepatitis with hyperferritinemia and mutation (H63D) in the HFE gene
Authors: Fujii Hideki , Takagaki Nobumasa , Yoh Takaharu , Morita Atsuhiro , Ohkawara Tohru , Yamaguchi Kanji , Minami Masahito , Sawa Yoshihiko , Okanoue Takeshi , Ohkawara Yasuo , Itoh Yoshito
Published: October 2007

A 55‐year‐old Japanese woman was hospitalized because liver function tests showed an abnormality. Transaminases and biliary enzymes were markedly elevated with hyperferritinemia. Her imaging tests revealed no significant abnormality. She had been taking various non‐prescription supplements for over approximately 6 months. After the supplements were discontinued her liver function gradually improved. This clinical course was suggestive of supplement‐induced hepatitis. She had no history of taking supplements containing iron, so it was interesting that she had hyperferritinemia. We examined C282Y and H63D, which are important mutations in theiron‐metabolizing gene, HFE. She was found to be heterozygous for the H63D mutation. The interaction between hyperferritinemia and supplements is unknown, but it can be speculated that some interaction between iron overload and supplements may have underlain the pathogenesis of her liver injury.
Locke on Individuation and the Corpuscular Basis of Kinds1
Authors: KAUFMAN DAN
Published: October 2007

In this paper, I examine the crucial relationship between Locke’s theory of individuation and his theory of kinds. Locke holds that two material objects—e.g., a mass of matter and an oak tree—can be in the same place at the same time, provided that they are ‘of different kinds’. According to Locke, kinds are nominal essences, that is, general abstract ideas based on objective similarities between particular individuals. I argue that Locke’s view on coinciding material objects is incompatible with his view on kinds. In order for two material objects to be in the same place at the same time, they must differ with respect to at least one nominal essence. However, Locke thinks that it is impossible that x and y have the same real essence but differ with respect to any nominal essence; and coinciding material objects have the same real essence. Therefore, Locke cannot hold what he in fact holds, namely that distinct material objects can be in the same place at the same time.
What Is Wrong with Lying?
Authors: FAULKNER PAUL
Published: October 2007

One thing wrong with lying is that it can be manipulative. Understanding why lying can be a form of manipulation involves understanding how our telling someone something can give them a reason to believe it, and understanding this requires seeing both how our telling things can invite trust and how trust can be a reason to believe someone. This paper aims to outline the mechanism by means of which lies can be manipulative and through doing so identify a unique reason for accepting testimony; a reason based on trusting a speaker’s telling.
On Pragmatic Encroachment in Epistemology
Authors: FANTL JEREMY , MCGRATH MATTHEW
Published: October 2007

We argue, contrary to epistemological orthodoxy, that knowledge is not purely epistemic—that knowledge is not simply a matter of truth‐related factors (evidence, reliability, etc.). We do this by arguing for a pragmatic condition on knowledge, KA: if a subject knows that p, then she is rational to act as if p. KA, together with fallibilism, entails that knowledge is not purely epistemic. We support KA by appealing to the role of knowledge‐citations in defending and criticizing actions, and by giving a principled argument for KA, based on the inference rule KB: if a subject knows that A is the best thing she can do, she is rational to do A. In the second half of the paper, we consider and reject the two most promising objections to our case for KA, one based on the Gricean notion of conversational implicature and the other based on a contextualist maneuver.
On the Content of Experience*
Authors: SCHROEDER TIMOTHY , CAPLAN BEN
Published: October 2007

The intentionalist about consciousness holds that the qualitative character of experience, “what it’s like,” is determined by the contents of a select group of special intentional states of the subject. FredDretske (1995), MikeThau (2002), MichaelTye (1995)and many others have embraced intentionalism, but these philosophers have not generally appreciated that, since we are intimately familiar with the qualitative character of experience, we thereby have special access to the nature of these contents. In this paper, we take advantage of this fact to show that intentionalism is incompatible with the idea that these contents are singular or general propositions, and thus that intentionalism is incompatible with one dominant trend in thinking about contents in general. In particular, there appear to be insoluble difficulties in explaining how the phenomenology of place and time can be explained by any intentionalist theory appealing to singular or general propositions.
The human genioglossus response to negative airway pressure: stimulus timing and route of delivery
Authors: Doherty Liam S. , Cullen John P. , Nolan Philip , McNicholas Walter T.
Published: October 2007

The genioglossus reflex response to sudden onset pulses of negative airway pressure (NAP) in humans is reported to occur more commonly at end rather than onset of expiration when delivered via a mouthpiece. We examined whether this response was modulated by the route of stimulus delivery throughout the respiratory cycle. The genioglossus surface EMG (GGsEMG) response to NAP delivered randomly throughout the respiratory cycle was measured in a set of experiments: (i) 40 stimuli of NAP at −5, −7.5 and −10 cmH2O applied to eight healthy, awake, supine males via nose‐mask; and (ii) 60 stimuli of −7.5 cmH2O NAP applied to 15 subjects via both nose‐mask and mouthpiece in random order. Despite similar pressure changes being detected in the epiglottis during both routes of stimulus delivery, far lower pressure changes were measured at the nasal choanae during mouthpiece compared with nose‐mask delivery. There were no significant differences between the responses during any phase of respiration, nor when NAP was delivered via nose‐mask or mouthpiece. We conclude that the sensitivity of the GGsEMG response to NAP in humans does not vary significantly with phase of respiration or route of breathing.
Postsynaptic GABAB receptor signalling enhances LTD in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells
Authors: Kamikubo Yuji , Tabata Toshihide , Kakizawa Sho , Kawakami Daisuke , Watanabe Masahiko , Ogura Akihiko , Iino Masamitsu , Kano Masanobu
Published: October 2007

Long‐term depression (LTD) of excitatory transmission at cerebellar parallel fibre–Purkinje cell synapses is a form of synaptic plasticity crucial for cerebellar motor learning. Around the postsynaptic membrane of these synapses, B‐type γ‐aminobutyric acid receptor (GABABR), a Gi/o protein‐coupled receptor for the inhibitory transmitter GABA is concentrated and closely associated with type‐1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1) whose signalling is a key factor for inducing LTD. We found that in cultured Purkinje cells, GABABR activation enhanced LTD of a glutamate‐evoked current (LTDglu), increasing the magnitude of depression. It has been reported that parallel fibre–Purkinje cell synapses receive a micromolar level of GABA spilt over from the synaptic terminals of the neighbouring GABAergic interneurons. This level of GABA was able to enhance LTDglu. Our pharmacological analyses revealed that the βγ subunits but not the α subunit of Gi/o protein mediated GABABR‐mediated LTDglu enhancement. Gi/o protein activation was sufficient to enhance LTDglu. In this respect, LTDglu enhancement is clearly distinguished from the previously reported GABABR‐mediated augmentation of an mGluR1‐coupled slow excitatory postsynaptic potential. Baclofen application for only the induction period of LTDglu was sufficient to enhance LTDglu, suggesting that GABABR signalling may modulate mechanisms underlying LTDglu induction. Baclofen augmented mGluR1‐coupled Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores in a Gi/o protein‐dependent manner. Therefore, GABABR‐mediated LTDglu enhancement is likely to result from augmentation of mGluR1 signalling. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of GABABR reduced the magnitude of LTD at parallel fibre–Purkinje cell synapses in cerebellar slices. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism that would facilitate cerebellar motor learning.
Golf putt outcomes are predicted by sensorimotor cerebral EEG rhythms
Authors: Babiloni Claudio , Del Percio Claudio , Iacoboni Marco , Infarinato Francesco , Lizio Roberta , Marzano Nicola , Crespi Gianluca , Dassù Federica , Pirritano Mirella , Gallamini Michele , Eusebi Fabrizio
Published: October 2007

It is not known whether frontal cerebral rhythms of the two hemispheres are implicated in fine motor control and balance. To address this issue, electroencephalographic (EEG) and stabilometric recordings were simultaneously performed in 12 right‐handed expert golfers. The subjects were asked to stand upright on a stabilometric force platform placed at a golf green simulator while playing about 100 golf putts. Balance during the putts was indexed by body sway area. Cortical activity was indexed by the power reduction in spatially enhanced alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) rhythms during movement, referred to as the pre‐movement period. It was found that the body sway area displayed similar values in the successful and unsuccessful putts. In contrast, the high‐frequency alpha power (about 10–12 Hz) was smaller in amplitude in the successful than in the unsuccessful putts over the frontal midline and the arm and hand region of the right primary sensorimotor area; the stronger the reduction of the alpha power, the smaller the error of the unsuccessful putts (i.e. distance from the hole). These results indicate that high‐frequency alpha rhythms over associative, premotor and non‐dominant primary sensorimotor areas subserve motor control and are predictive of the golfer's performance.
Influence of brain catecholamines on the development of fatigue in exercising rats in the heat
Authors: Hasegawa Hiroshi , Piacentini Maria Francesca , Sarre Sophie , Michotte Yvette , Ishiwata Takayuki , Meeusen Romain
Published: October 2007

The purpose of the present study was to identify the effects of an acute injection of a dual dopamine (DA)/noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitor (bupropion) on exercise performance, thermoregulation and neurotransmitters in the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) of the rat during exercise in the heat. Body core temperature (Tcore), brain temperature (Tbrain) and tail skin temperature (Ttail) were measured. A microdialysis probe was inserted in the PO/AH, and samples for measurement of extracellular DA, NA and serotonin (5‐HT) levels were collected. Rats received either bupropion (17 mg kg−1; hot‐BUP) or saline (1 ml kg−1; hot) 20 min before the start of exercise and ran at a speed of 26 m min−1 until exhaustion in a warm environment (30°C). Rats also ran until exhaustion in a cool environment (18°C; cool). Running time to exhaustion was significantly influenced by the ambient temperature, and it was increased by bupropion in the heat (cool, 143.6 ± 21 min; hot, 65.8 ± 13 min; hot‐BUP, 86.3 ± 7.2 min). Tcore and Tbrain at exhaustion were significantly higher in the bupropion group compared to the cool and hot groups, respectively. Ttail measured at exhaustion was not significantly different between the two hot conditions. Extracellular concentrations of DA and NA in the PO/AH increased during exercise, and was significantly higher in the bupropion than in cool and hot groups (P < 0.05). No differences were observed between groups for 5‐HT levels. These results suggest that DA and NA in the PO/AH might be responsible for the increase in exercise performance and Tcore and Tbrain in the bupropion group in hyperthermia. Moreover, these results support previous findings in humans that acute bupropion ingestion increases Tcore during exercise in the heat, indicating the possibility of an important role for DA and NA in thermoregulation.
Corticostriatal synaptic function in mouse models of Huntington's disease: early effects of huntingtin repeat length and protein load
Authors: Milnerwood Austen J. , Raymond Lynn A.
Published: October 2007

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, late onset, neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor deficits and dementia that is caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in the HD gene. Clinical manifestations result from selective neuronal degeneration of predominantly GABAergic striatal medium‐sized spiny neurons (MSNs). A growing number of studies demonstrate that personality, mood and cognitive disturbances are some of the earliest signs of HD and may reflect synaptic dysfunction prior to neuronal loss. Previous studies in striatal MSNs demonstrated early alterations in NMDA‐type glutamate receptor currents in several HD mouse models, as well as evidence for presynaptic dysfunction prior to disease manifestations in the R6/2 HD fragment mouse model. We have compared corticostriatal synaptic function in full‐length, human HD gene‐carrying YAC transgenic mice expressing a non‐pathogenic CAG repeat (YAC18; control) with three increasingly severe variants of pathogenic HD gene‐expressing mice (YAC72 and two different lines of YAC128), at ages that precede any detectable disease phenotype. We report presynaptic dysfunction and a propensity towards synaptic depression in YAC72 and YAC128 compared to YAC18 mice, and, in the most severe model, we also observed altered AMPA receptor function. When normalized to evoked AMPAR currents, postsynaptic NMDAR currents are augmented in all three pathogenic HD YAC variants. These findings demonstrate multiple perturbations to corticostriatal synaptic function in HD mice, furthering our understanding of the early effects of the HD mutation that may contribute to cognitive dysfunction, mood disorders and later development of more serious dysfunction. Furthermore, this study provides a set of neurophysiological sequelae against which to test and compare other mouse models and potential therapies in HD.
Comment on "Human Neuroblasts Migrate to the Olfactory Bulb via a Lateral Ventricular Extension"
Authors: Sanai Nader , Berger Mitchel S. , Garcia-Verdugo Jose Manuel , Alvarez-Buylla Arturo
Published: October 2007

Curtis
et al
. (Research Articles, 2 March 2007, p. 1243) claimed discovery of a human neuronal migratory stream to the olfactory bulb along a putative lateral ventricular extension. However, high levels of proliferation reported with proliferating cell nuclear antigen were not confirmed using different markers, neuronal chain migration was not demonstrated, and no serial reconstruction shows a true ventricular extension.
Light-Responsive Cryptochromes from a Simple Multicellular Animal, the Coral
Acropora millepora
Authors: Levy O. , Appelbaum L. , Leggat W. , Gothlif Y. , Hayward D. C. , Miller D. J. , Hoegh-Guldberg O.
Published: October 2007

Hundreds of species of reef-building corals spawn synchronously over a few nights each year, and moonlight regulates this spawning event. However, the molecular elements underpinning the detection of moonlight remain unknown. Here we report the presence of an ancient family of blue-light–sensing photoreceptors, cryptochromes, in the reef-building coral
Acropora millepora
. In addition to being cryptochrome genes from one of the earliest-diverging eumetazoan phyla,
cry1
and
cry2
were expressed preferentially in light. Consistent with potential roles in the synchronization of fundamentally important behaviors such as mass spawning,
cry2
expression increased on full moon nights versus new moon nights. Our results demonstrate phylogenetically broad roles of these ancient circadian clock–related molecules in the animal kingdom.
Constraints on Neon and Argon Isotopic Fractionation in Solar Wind
Authors: Meshik Alex , Mabry Jennifer , Hohenberg Charles , Marrocchi Yves , Pravdivtseva Olga , Burnett Donald , Olinger Chad , Wiens Roger , Reisenfeld Dan , Allton Judith , McNamara Karen , Stansbery Eileen , Jurewicz Amy J. G.
Published: October 2007

To evaluate the isotopic composition of the solar nebula from which the planets formed, the relation between isotopes measured in the solar wind and on the Sun's surface needs to be known. The Genesis Discovery mission returned independent samples of three types of solar wind produced by different solar processes that provide a check on possible isotopic variations, or fractionation, between the solar-wind and solar-surface material. At a high level of precision, we observed no significant inter-regime differences in
20
Ne/
22
Ne or
36
Ar/
38
Ar values. For
20
Ne/
22
Ne, the difference between low- and high-speed wind components is 0.24 ± 0.37%; for
36
Ar/
38
Ar, it is 0.11 ± 0.26%. Our measured
36
Ar/
38
Ar ratio in the solar wind of 5.501 ± 0.005 is 3.42 ± 0.09% higher than that of the terrestrial atmosphere, which may reflect atmospheric losses early in Earth's history.
JMJD6 Is a Histone Arginine Demethylase
Authors: Chang Bingsheng , Chen Yue , Zhao Yingming , Bruick Richard K.
Published: October 2007

Arginine methylation occurs on a number of proteins involved in a variety of cellular functions. Histone tails are known to be mono- and dimethylated on multiple arginine residues where they influence chromatin remodeling and gene expression. To date, no enzyme has been shown to reverse these regulatory modifications. We demonstrate that the Jumonji domain–containing 6 protein (JMJD6) is a JmjC-containing iron- and 2-oxoglutarate–dependent dioxygenase that demethylates histone H3 at arginine 2 (H3R2) and histone H4 at arginine 3 (H4R3) in both biochemical and cell-based assays. These findings may help explain the many developmental defects observed in the JMJD6
–/–
knockout mice.
Genome-Wide Experimental Determination of Barriers to Horizontal Gene Transfer
Authors: Sorek Rotem , Zhu Yiwen , Creevey Christopher J. , Francino M. Pilar , Bork Peer , Rubin Edward M.
Published: October 2007

Horizontal gene transfer, in which genetic material is transferred from the genome of one organism to that of another, has been investigated in microbial species mainly through computational sequence analyses. To address the lack of experimental data, we studied the attempted movement of 246,045 genes from 79 prokaryotic genomes into
Escherichia coli
and identified genes that consistently fail to transfer. We studied the mechanisms underlying transfer inhibition by placing coding regions from different species under the control of inducible promoters. Our data suggest that toxicity to the host inhibited transfer regardless of the species of origin and that increased gene dosage and associated increased expression may be a predominant cause for transfer failure. Although these experimental studies examined transfer solely into
E. coli
, a computational analysis of gene-transfer rates across available bacterial and archaeal genomes supports that the barriers observed in our study are general across the tree of life.
Mussel-Inspired Surface Chemistry for Multifunctional Coatings
Authors: Lee Haeshin , Dellatore Shara M. , Miller William M. , Messersmith Phillip B.
Published: October 2007

We report a method to form multifunctional polymer coatings through simple dip-coating of objects in an aqueous solution of dopamine. Inspired by the composition of adhesive proteins in mussels, we used dopamine self-polymerization to form thin, surface-adherent polydopamine films onto a wide range of inorganic and organic materials, including noble metals, oxides, polymers, semiconductors, and ceramics. Secondary reactions can be used to create a variety of ad-layers, including self-assembled monolayers through deposition of long-chain molecular building blocks, metal films by electroless metallization, and bioinert and bioactive surfaces via grafting of macromolecules.
Mitochondrial DNA as a Genomic Jigsaw Puzzle
Authors: Marande William , Burger Gertraud
Published: October 2007

In mitochondria of the unicellular eukaryote Diplonema, genes are systematically fragmented into small pieces that are encoded on separate chromosomes, transcribed individually, and then concatenated into contiguous messenger RNA molecules
Trojan Horse Strategy in
Agrobacterium
Transformation: Abusing MAPK Defense Signaling
Authors: Djamei Armin , Pitzschke Andrea , Nakagami Hirofumi , Rajh Iva , Hirt Heribert
Published: October 2007

Nuclear import of transfer DNA (T-DNA) is a central event in
Agrobacterium
transformation of plant cells and is thought to occur by the hijacking of certain host cell proteins. The T-DNA–associated virulence protein VirE2 mediates this process by binding to the nuclear import machinery via the host cell factor VIP1, whose role in plants has been so far unknown. Here we show that VIP1 is a transcription factor that is a direct target of the
Agrobacterium
-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) MPK3. Upon phosphorylation by MPK3, VIP1 relocalizes from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and regulates the expression of the
PR1
pathogenesis-related gene. MAPK-dependent phosphorylation of VIP1 is necessary for VIP1-mediated
Agrobacterium
T-DNA transfer, indicating that
Agrobacterium
abuses the MAPK-targeted VIP1 defense signaling pathway for nuclear delivery of the T-DNA complex as a Trojan horse.
Structure of a Thiol Monolayer-Protected Gold Nanoparticle at 1.1 Å Resolution
Authors: Jadzinsky Pablo D. , Calero Guillermo , Ackerson Christopher J. , Bushnell David A. , Kornberg Roger D.
Published: October 2007

Structural information on nanometer-sized gold particles has been limited, due in part to the problem of preparing homogeneous material. Here we report the crystallization and x-ray structure determination of a
p
-mercaptobenzoic acid (p-MBA)–protected gold nanoparticle, which comprises 102 gold atoms and 44 p-MBAs. The central gold atoms are packed in a Marks decahedron, surrounded by additional layers of gold atoms in unanticipated geometries. The p-MBAs interact not only with the gold but also with one another, forming a rigid surface layer. The particles are chiral, with the two enantiomers alternating in the crystal lattice. The discrete nature of the particle may be explained by the closing of a 58-electron shell.
Induction of Cross-Serovar Protection against Genital Chlamydial Infection by a Targeted Multisubunit Vaccination Approach
Authors: Li Weidang , Guentzel M. Neal , Seshu J. , Zhong Guangming , Murthy Ashlesh K. , Arulanandam Bernard P.
Published: October 2007

An important consideration for antichlamydial vaccine development is the induction of cross-serovar protection, since multiple serovars (D to L) ofChlamydia trachomatiscause genital infections. We have shown previously that vaccination withC. trachomatis-derived recombinant chlamydial protease-like activity factor (rCPAF) induced significant earlier resolution ofChlamydia muridaruminfection and reduced oviduct pathology. However, the vaccinated mice continued to shed chlamydiae for up to 2 weeks after challenge. In this study,C. trachomatisserovar D recombinant proteins, such as recombinant major outer membrane protein (rMOMP), recombinant inclusion membrane protein A (rIncA), and rCPAF were administered intranasally, individually or in combinations, with murine interleukin-12 (IL-12) as an adjuvant, and cross-species immunity against intravaginalC. muridaruminfection was examined. Immunization with rCPAF plus IL-12 (rCPAF+IL-12), compared to immunization with rIncA+IL-12 or rMOMP+IL-12, induced the greatest antigen-specific gamma interferon production from purified CD4+T cells and concurrently enhanced serum antibody production. All (100%) the animals vaccinated with rCPAF+IL-12 alone or in any combination completely resolved the infection by day 18 after challenge compared to animals vaccinated with rIncA+IL-12 (50%), rMOMP+IL-12 (33%), or phosphate-buffered saline (mock vaccinated; 0%). Moreover, oviduct pathology in mice vaccinated by any regimen that included rCPAF, but not rMOMP+IL-12 or rIncA+IL-12 alone, was markedly reduced compared to mock-immunized animals. The addition of rMOMP and/or rIncA did not significantly enhance the rCPAF+IL-12-induced effect on bacterial clearance or oviduct pathology. These results suggest a greater conservation of protective linear antigenic epitopes within CPAF than MOMP or IncA across the examined serovars and the need to identify other highly conserved antigens for use with rCPAF in a multisubunit recombinant vaccine.
Prevalence and Protein Specificity of Human Antibodies to Inkoo Virus Infection
Authors: Putkuri Niina , Vaheri Antti , Vapalahti Olli
Published: October 2007

Inkoo virus (INKV), a member of the California serogroup orthobunyaviruses, is circulating widely in northern Europe. Although the virus was discovered over 40 years ago, the disease associations and immune responses in human infection are poorly characterized. We first developed an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the detection of INKV antibodies in humans, and then we studied a panel of 1,292 sera in patients with a febrile illness in Finland. We found four acute (immunoglobulin M [IgM] positive) INKV infections and an IgG seroprevalence of 51.3%. The data indicate that the infection has become more common than it was in the 1960s, especially in southern Finland. Two distinct IgG IFA fluorescence patterns were observed: a granular pattern in sera from patients with acute INKV infection and a diffuse pattern in those with long-standing immunity. Further analysis with a panel of INKV-positive sera (
n
= 18; verified by neutralization assay) of protein-specific responses, using immunoprecipitation and IFA based on baculovirus-expressed INK N, Gn, and Gc proteins, demonstrated a strong IgG response predominantly towards N protein in the acute phase. In contrast, in patients with long-standing immunity, the Gc response was more prominent and the N response was weaker. In conclusion, a diagnostic IgG IFA pattern distinguishing between acute infection and long-standing immunity was observed. N protein seems to be the optimal antigen for the serodiagnosis of acute infection, and the Gc protein could be appropriate for the serosurveillance of INKV.
Use of a Newly Developed β-Mercaptoethanol Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay To Diagnose Visceral Leishmaniasis in Patients in Eastern Sudan
Authors: Mansour Durria , Abass Elfadil M. , el Mutasim Mohamed , Mahamoud Abdelhafeiz , el Harith Abdallah
Published: October 2007

Corroboration of serology results is essential for restricting the risk of inappropriate antileishmanial prescription. A direct agglutination test (DAT) and a recently developed β-mercaptoethanol-modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (β-ME ELISA) based on the use of antigen prepared as described for the DAT were applied to 416 sera from two Sudanese populations with and without clinical evidence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Of 285 sera with the lowest antileishmanial DAT titers (≤1:100 to 1:1,600), 270 (94.7%) scored comparable minimum β-ME ELISA absorbance values (≤0.1 to 0.26). In 117 sera that demonstrated the highest DAT titers (1:12,800 to ≥1:25,600), 86 (73.5%) scored maximum (0.81 to ≥1.35) and 30 (25.6%) medium (0.27 to 0.80) β-ME ELISA absorbance values. VL diagnosis was established for 142 (44.1%) patients in the VL-symptomatic group (n= 322), based on positive microscopy forLeishmania donovaniin lymph node aspirates or positive DAT (titer, ≥1:3,200). Of the 125 sera from the symptomatic patients for whom microscopy was positive for VL, 111 (88.8%) had comparable positive DAT and β-ME ELISA readings. In all 17 sera from the symptomatic DAT-positive patients for whom leishmaniasis was not established by microscopy but who responded favorably to antileishmanial therapy, absorbance values (≥0.27) indicative of VL were obtained by β-ME ELISA. Of 197 symptomatic patients for whom microscopy was negative for VL, 172 (87.3%) tested negative in β-ME ELISA and 180 (91.4%) in DAT. Based on the high reliability demonstrated here for VL detection, β-ME ELISA fulfills the requirement of confirming DAT results in patients manifesting suspected VL.
Development of an Effective Whole-Spore Vaccine To Protect against Microsporidial Gill Disease in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by Using a Low-Virulence Strain ofLoma salmonae
Authors: Speare D. J. , Markham R. J. F. , Guselle N. J.
Published: October 2007

In determining the effective vaccine spore dose of a low-virulence strain ofLoma salmonaeto limit microsporidial gill disease in trout, we found that fish receiving 103to 105killed spores had the best protection against experimental infection, with 85% fewer xenomas in their gills than in the controls. Intraperitoneal delivery of the vaccine was effective, and the addition of adjuvant did not improve vaccine performance against this disease-causing microsporidian.
AvrACXcc8004, a Type III Effector with a Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain fromXanthomonas campestrisPathovar campestris Confers Avirulence in Vascular Tissues ofArabidopsis thalianaEcotype Col-0
Authors: Xu Rong-Qi , Blanvillain Servane , Feng Jia-Xun , Jiang Bo-Le , Li Xian-Zhen , Wei Hong-Yu , Kroj Thomas , Lauber Emmanuelle , Roby Dominique , Chen Baoshan , He Yong-Qiang , Lu Guang-Tao , Tang Dong-Jie , Vasse Jacques , Arlat Matthieu , Tang Ji-Liang
Published: October 2007

Xanthomonas campestrispathovar campestris causes black rot, a vascular disease on cruciferous plants, includingArabidopsis thaliana. The gene XC1553 fromX. campestrispv. campestris strain 8004 encodes a protein containing leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and appears to be restricted to strains ofX. campestrispv. campestris. LRRs are found in a number of type III-secreted effectors in plant and animal pathogens. These prompted us to investigate the role of the XC1553 gene in the interaction betweenX. campestrispv. campestris andA. thaliana. Translocation assays using the hypersensitive-reaction-inducing domain ofX. campestrispv. campestris AvrBs1 as a reporter revealed that XC1553 is a type III effector. Infiltration ofArabidopsisleaf mesophyll with bacterial suspensions showed no differences between the wild-type strain and an XC1553 gene mutant; both strains induced disease symptoms on Kashmir and Col-0 ecotypes. However, a clear difference was observed when bacteria were introduced into the vascular system by piercing the central vein of leaves. In this case, the wild-type strain 8004 caused disease on the Kashmir ecotype, but not on ecotype Col-0; the XC1553 gene mutant became virulent on the Col-0 ecotype and still induced disease on the Kashmir ecotype. Altogether, these data show that the XC1553 gene, which was renamedavrACXcc8004, functions as an avirulence gene whose product seems to be recognized in vascular tissues.
Crystal Structure of the NADH:Quinone Oxidoreductase WrbA from
Escherichia coli
Authors: Andrade Susana L. A. , Patridge Eric V. , Ferry James G. , Einsle Oliver
Published: October 2007

The flavoprotein WrbA, originally described as a tryptophan (
W
)
r
epressor-
b
inding protein in
Escherichia coli
, has recently been shown to exhibit the enzymatic activity of a NADH:quinone oxidoreductase. This finding points toward a possible role in stress response and in the maintenance of a supply of reduced quinone. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of the WrbA holoprotein from
E. coli
at high resolution (1.66 Å), and we observed a characteristic, tetrameric quaternary structure highly similar to the one found in the WrbA homologs of
Deinococcus radiodurans
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. A similar tetramer was originally observed in an iron-sulfur flavoprotein involved in the reduction of reactive oxygen species. Together with other, recently characterized proteins such as YhdA or YLR011wp (Lot6p), these tetrameric flavoproteins may constitute a large family with diverse functions in redox catalysis. WrbA binds substrates at an active site that provides an ideal stacking environment for aromatic moieties, while providing a pocket that is structured to stabilize the ADP part of an NADH molecule in its immediate vicinity. Structures of WrbA in complex with benzoquinone and NADH suggest a sequential binding mechanism for both molecules in the catalytic cycle.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitansand Its Relationship to Initiation of Localized Aggressive Periodontitis: Longitudinal Cohort Study of Initially Healthy Adolescents
Authors: Fine Daniel H. , Markowitz Kenneth , Furgang David , Fairlie Karen , Ferrandiz Javier , Nasri Cebile , McKiernan Marie , Gunsolley John
Published: October 2007

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitansis frequently associated with localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP); however, longitudinal cohort studies relatingA. actinomycetemcomitansto initiation of LAP have not been reported. A periodontal assessment was performed on 1,075 primarily African-American and Hispanic schoolchildren, ages 11 to 17 years. Samples were taken from each child forA. actinomycetemcomitans. A cohort of 96 students was established that included a test group of 38A. actinomycetemcomitans-positive students (36 periodontally healthy and 2 with periodontal pockets) and 58 healthyA. actinomycetemcomitans-negative controls. All clinical and microbiological procedures were repeated at 6-month intervals. Bitewing radiographs were taken annually for definitive diagnosis of LAP. At the initial examination, clinical probing attachment measurements indicated that 1.2% of students had LAP, while 13.7% carriedA. actinomycetemcomitans, including 16.7% of African-American and 11% of Hispanic students (P= 0.001, chi-square test).A. actinomycetemcomitansserotypes a, b, and c were equally distributed among African-Americans; Hispanic students harbored predominantly serotype c (P= 0.05, chi-square test). In the longitudinal phase, survival analysis was performed to determine whetherA. actinomycetemcomitans-positive as compared toA. actinomycetemcomitans-negative students remained healthy (“survived”) or progressed to disease with attachment loss of >2 mm or bone loss (failed to “survive”). Students withoutA. actinomycetemcomitansat baseline had a significantly greater chance to remain healthy (survive) compared to theA. actinomycetemcomitans-positive test group (P= 0.0001). Eight of 38A. actinomycetemcomitans-positive and none of 58A. actinomycetemcomitans-negative students showed bone loss (P= 0.01).A. actinomycetemcomitansserotype did not appear to influence survival. These findings suggest that detection ofA. actinomycetemcomitansin periodontally healthy children can serve as a risk marker for initiation of LAP.
Bivalvular
Bartonella henselae
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis
Authors: Vikram Holenarasipur R. , Bacani A. Kirstin , DeValeria Patrick A. , Cunningham Scott A. , Cockerill Franklin R.
Published: October 2007

Prosthetic valve endocarditis is an uncommon manifestation of infection with
Bartonella
species. Herein, we report a case of
Bartonella henselae
endocarditis involving prosthetic mitral and aortic valves. The patient had a favorable outcome with combined medical and surgical therapy. Concomitant crescentic glomerulonephritis led to an initial mistaken diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis.
Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Nasal Colonization among Taiwanese Children in 2005 and 2006
Authors: Huang Yhu-Chering , Hwang Kao-Pin , Chen Po-Yen , Chen Chih-Jung , Lin Tzou-Yien
Published: October 2007

From July 2005 to October 2006, a total of 3,046 children, of ages between 2 months and 5 years, presented for a well-child health care visit to one of three medical centers, which are located in the northern, central, and southern parts of Taiwan, and were surveyed for nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). The overall prevalences of
S. aureus
and MRSA nasal carriage among the children were 23% and 7.3%, respectively (18% and 4.8% in the central region, 25% and 6.7% in the southern region, and 27% and 9.5% in the northern region). Of the 212 MRSA isolates (96%) available for analysis, a total of 10 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns with two major patterns (C [61%] and D [28%]) were identified. One hundred forty-nine isolates (70%) contained type IV staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
) DNA, and 55 isolates (26%) contained SCC
mec
V
T
. The presence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes was detected in 60 isolates (28%). Most MRSA isolates belonged to one of two major clones, characterized as sequence type 59 (ST59)/PFGE C/SCC
mec
IV/absence of PVL genes (59%) and ST59/PFGE D/SCC
mec
V
T
/presence of PVL genes (25%). We concluded that between 2005 and 2006, 7.3% of healthy Taiwanese children were colonized by MRSA in nares. MRSA harbored in healthy children indicates an accelerated spread in the community.
Prevalence of
Chlamydia trachomatis
Infection among Low- and High-Risk Filipino Women and Performance of
Chlamydia
Rapid Tests in Resource-Limited Settings
Authors: Saison Francis , Mahilum-Tapay Lourdes , Michel Claude-Edouard E. , Buttress Nigel D. , Nadala Elpidio Cesar B. , Magbanua Jose Paolo V. , Harding-Esch Emma M. , Villaruel M. Odeta , Canong Lorna , Celis Rey L. , Lee Helen H.
Published: October 2007

The prevalence of urogenital
Chlamydia trachomatis
infection was determined with a PCR-based test of women from low- and high-risk populations in Iloilo City, Philippines, between August 2002 and March 2006. Two rapid tests for
C. trachomatis
, Clearview Chlamydia MF and the
Chlamydia
Rapid Test (CRT), were also evaluated in these resource-limited settings. Specimens were obtained from female sex workers (FSWs;
n
= 1,484) attending a social hygiene clinic (SHC) and from women (
n
= 838) attending an obstetrics-gynecology (OB-GYN) clinic. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the rapid tests were determined, with PCR as the gold standard. The PCR positivity rate for SHC participants (72% asymptomatic) ranged from 17.9 to 32.0% during the study period. Compared with those of PCR, the sensitivities and specificities of the Clearview test were 53.5 and 99.1%, respectively, with endocervical swab specimens (CS;
n
= 822) from the FSWs and 31.1 and 95.2%, respectively, with vaginal swab specimens (VS;
n
= 333) from these women. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the CRT with VS from the FSWs were 71.0, 99.0, 97.1, and 87.9%, respectively. At the OB-GYN site, the PCR positivity rate with VS was 6.3%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the CRT with these specimens were 86.8, 99.6, 93.9, and 99.1%, respectively. The performance of the Clearview test at the SHC was thus markedly lower with VS than with CS, whereas the CRT performed well with VS from both populations.
Detection and Typing of Human Herpesvirus 6 by Molecular Methods in Specimens from Patients Diagnosed with Encephalitis or Meningitis
Authors: Tavakoli Norma P. , Nattanmai Seela , Hull Rene , Fusco Heather , Dzigua Lela , Wang Heng , Dupuis Michelle
Published: October 2007

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) was detected in specimens from patients hospitalized with symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis. A real-time PCR assay was developed which has a linear dynamic range of 5 to 5 × 10
6
copies of HHV-6 and a sensitivity of five gene copies per reaction. While the assay detects both subtypes, HHV-6A and HHV-6B, it is specific and does not cross-react with a selected specificity panel. A total of 1,482 patient specimens, which were collected between 2003 and 2007, were tested; 26 specimens from 24 patients were found to be positive for HHV-6 by real-time PCR. The HHV-6 detection rate in this population was therefore 1.75%. The majority of the specimens tested (>95%) were cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens. We were able to type 20 of the 26 positive specimens by conventional PCR and sequence analysis; all were HHV-6B. Forty-two percent of the patients were 3 years of age or younger, which may indicate a primary infection in these patients. Given the ages of the remaining patients (from 4 to 81 years), their infections were most probably due to virus reactivations. Where information was available, symptoms of patients included fever (71%), altered mental status (67%), and abnormal CSF profile (75%). Fifty percent of patients of 3 years of age or younger suffered from seizures. The detection of HHV-6 in specimens from patients diagnosed with encephalitis or meningitis, in the absence of a positive PCR result for other agents, strongly suggests a role for HHV-6 in the pathogenesis of these central nervous system diseases.
Emergence of a New Norovirus Variant in Scotland in 2006
Authors: Adamson W. E. , Gunson R. N. , Maclean A. , Carman W. F.
Published: October 2007

For each month between January 2005 and August 2006, a representative number of outbreaks was examined using nucleic acid sequence analysis. Using this method, we showed that an increase in norovirus activity coincided with the emergence of a new GII genotype 4 variant, which by March 2006 was detected in the majority of health boards in Scotland.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp41 Antibodies That Mask Membrane Proximal Region Epitopes: Antibody Binding Kinetics, Induction, and Potential for Regulation in Acute Infection
Authors: Alam S. Munir , Scearce Richard M. , Parks Robert J. , Plonk Kelly , Plonk Steven G. , Sutherland Laura L. , Gorny Miroslaw K. , Zolla-Pazner Susan , VanLeeuwen Stacie , Moody M. Anthony , Xia Shi-Mao , Montefiori David C. , Tomaras Georgia D. , Weinhold Kent J. , Karim Salim Abdool , Hicks Charles B. , Liao Hua-Xin , Robinson James , Shaw George M. , Haynes Barton F.
Published: October 2007

Two human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (2F5 and 4E10) against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope g41 cluster II membrane proximal external region (MPER) broadly neutralize HIV-1 primary isolates. However, these antibody specificities are rare, are not induced by Env immunization or HIV-1 infection, and are polyspecific and also react with lipids such as cardiolipin or phosphatidylserine. To probe MPER anti-gp41 antibodies that are produced in HIV-1 infection, we have made two novel murine MAbs, 5A9 and 13H11, against HIV-1 gp41 envelope that partially cross-blocked 2F5 MAb binding to Env but did not neutralize HIV-1 primary isolates or bind host lipids. Competitive inhibition assays using labeled 13H11 MAb and HIV-1-positive patient plasma samples demonstrated that cluster II 13H11-blocking plasma antibodies were made in 83% of chronically HIV-1 infected patients and were acquired between 5 to 10 weeks after acute HIV-1 infection. Both the mouse 13H11 MAb and the three prototypic cluster II human MAbs (98-6, 126-6, and 167-D) blocked 2F5 binding to gp41 epitopes to variable degrees; the combination of 98-6 and 13H11 completely blocked 2F5 binding. These data provide support for the hypothesis that in some patients, B cells make nonneutralizing cluster II antibodies that may mask or otherwise down-modulate B-cell responses to immunogenic regions of gp41 that could be recognized by B cells capable of producing antibodies like 2F5.
WFDC1/ps20 Is a Novel Innate Immunomodulatory Signature Protein of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Permissive CD4+CD45RO+Memory T Cells That Promotes Infection by Upregulating CD54 Integrin Expression and Is Elevated in HIV Type 1 Infection
Authors: Alvarez R. , Reading J. , King D. F. L. , Hayes M. , Easterbrook P. , Farzaneh F. , Ressler S. , Yang F. , Rowley D. , Vyakarnam A.
Published: October 2007

Understanding why human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preferentially infects some CD4+CD45RO+memory T cells has implications for antiviral immunity and pathogenesis. We report that differential expression of a novel secreted factor, ps20, previously implicated in tissue remodeling, may underlie why some CD4 T cells are preferentially targeted. We show that (i) there is a significant positive correlation between endogenous ps20 mRNA in diverse CD4 T-cell populations and in vitro infection, (ii) a ps20+permissive cell can be made less permissive by antibody blockade- or small-interference RNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous ps20, and (iii) conversely, a ps20lowcell can be more permissive by adding ps20 exogenously or engineering stable ps20 expression by retroviral transduction. ps20 expression is normally detectable in CD4 T cells after in vitro activation and interleukin-2 expansion, and such oligoclonal populations comprise ps20positiveand ps20low/negativeisogenic clones at an early differentiation stage (CD45RO+/CD25+/CD28+/CD57−). This pattern is altered in chronic HIV infection, where ex vivo CD4+CD45RO+T cells express elevated ps20. ps20 promoted HIV entry via fusion and augmented CD54 integrin expression; both of these effects were reversed by anti-ps20 antibody. We therefore propose ps20 to be a novel signature of HIV-permissive CD4 T cells that promotes infection in an autocrine and paracrine manner and that HIV has coopted a fundamental role of ps20 in promoting cell adhesion for its benefit. Disrupting the ps20 pathway may therefore provide a novel anti-HIV strategy.