bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extracellular and Cytosolic Iron Superoxide Dismutase from
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG
Authors: Kang Sung-Koo , Jung Yong-Jae , Kim Cheorl-Ho , Song Chul-Yong 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Two forms of iron superoxide dismutase (SOD) were purified from cell extract (CE) and culture filtrate (CF) of
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG, respectively. The molecular weight of both enzymes was estimated to be approximately 84,000 by gel filtration, whereas that of their subunits was 21,500, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that each of purified enzymes is composed of four identical subunits. The specific activities of CE SOD and CF SOD were 3,850 and 4,040, respectively. The purified enzymes were not joined by disulfide bonds and were, to some extent, resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate. Their activities were lost by H
2
O
2
, but not by azide and cyanide, indicating iron SODs. Enzyme activities were detectable over a broad range of pHs, from 5.0 to 9.0, and were stable for 6 months at −20°C. Each value of pI was 4.5. In Western blots, both enzymes reacted with sera of tuberculosis patients, but not with normal sera. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of CE SOD and CF SOD were the same, suggesting that there is no N-terminal signal sequence.
Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Tax among American Blood Donors
Authors: Zucker-Franklin Dorothea , Pancake Bette A. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTIn the United States, all blood used for transfusion is tested for the presence of antibodies to the structural components of the human T-cell lymphotropic viruses types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and -2). Based on such serologic tests, the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection is estimated to range from 0.016 to 0.1%. As a consequence of studies of patients with mycosis fungoides and some of their healthy relatives who are antibody negative but were found to carry thetaxsequence of HTLV-1 in their lymphocytes and who had antibodies to the p40taxprotein, a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of the “tax-only” state in 250 healthy blood donors and other volunteers. Using PCR and Southern analysis for cell lysates and using Western blotting for plasmas, 8.6% of the blood donors proved to betaxsequence positive and antibody positive. Sequence analysis of specimens from 22 individuals proved that 20 of the sequences were homologous with that of HTLV-1 while 2 resembled the HTLV-2 sequence. The latter were obtained from volunteers of Indian origin. The possible clinical significance of thetax-only carrier state is discussed.
Effects of Ginseng Treatment on Neutrophil Chemiluminescence and Immunoglobulin G Subclasses in a Rat Model of ChronicPseudomonas aeruginosaPneumonia
Authors: Song Zhijun , Kharazmi Arsalan , Wu Hong , Faber Viggo , Moser Claus , Krogh Johansen Helle , Rygaard Jørgen , Høiby Niels 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTChronicPseudomonas aeruginosalung infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is almost impossible to eradicate with antibiotic treatment. In the present study, the effects of treatment with the Chinese herbal medicine ginseng on blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemiluminescence and serum specific antibody responses were studied in a rat model of chronicP. aeruginosapneumonia mimicking CF. An aqueous extract of ginseng was administered by subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 25 mg/kg of body weight/day for 2 weeks. Saline was used as a control. Two weeks after the start of ginseng treatment, significantly increased PMN chemiluminescence (P≤ 0.001) and a decreased level in serum of immunoglobulin G (IgG) againstP. aeruginosa(P< 0.05) were found. Furthermore, a higher IgG2a level (P< 0.04) but lower IgG1 level (P< 0.04) were found in the ginseng-treated infected group than in the control group. In the ginseng-treated group the macroscopic lung pathology was milder (P= 0.0003) and the percent PMNs in the cells collected by bronchoalveolar lavage was lower (P= 0.0006) than in the control group. However, the alveolar macrophage (AM) chemiluminescence values were not significantly different in the two groups infected withP. aeruginosa. The differences between the ginseng-treated noninfected rats and the control group (withoutP. aeruginosalung infection) for the PMN chemiluminescence and AM chemiluminescence were not significant. These results suggest that ginseng treatment leads to an activation of PMNs and modulation of the IgG response toP. aeruginosa, enhancing the bacterial clearance and thereby reducing the formation of immune complexes, resulting in a milder lung pathology. The changes in IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses indicate a possible shift from a Th-2-like to a Th-1-like response. These findings indicate that the therapeutic effects of ginseng may be related to activation of a Th-1 type of cellular immunity and down-regulation of humoral immunity.
Comparison of Three Different Methods for Measuring Classical Pathway Complement Activity
Authors: Jaskowski Troy D. , Martins Thomas B. , Litwin Christine M. , Hill Harry R. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

The complement system plays an important role in host defense against infection and in most inflammatory processes. The standard 50% hemolytic complement (CH
50
) assay is the most commonly used method of screening patient sera for functional activity of the classical complement pathway. Our objective in this study was to compare two newer methods (the enzyme immunoassay and the liposome immunoassay) to a commercial CH
50
assay for measuring total classical complement activity. We conclude that both newer methods compare well with a CH
50
assay and are equally sensitive in screening routine clinical sera.
Expression and Self-Assembly of Grimsby Virus: Antigenic Distinction from Norwalk and Mexico Viruses
Authors: Hale Antony D. , Crawford Sue E. , Ciarlet Max , Green Jonathan , Gallimore Christopher , Brown David W. G. , Jiang Xi , Estes Mary K. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
A cDNA obtained from Grimsby virus (GRV), a Norwalk-like virus, purified from a stool sample of a symptomatic adult associated with a gastroenteritis outbreak in the United Kingdom, was used to obtain the complete nucleotide sequence of the second open reading frame (ORF2). The ORF2 sequence of GRV predicts a capsid of 539 amino acids (aa) which exhibits aa identities of 96% to Lordsdale virus, 67% to Mexico virus (MXV), and 43% to Norwalk virus (NV). The GRV capsid protein was expressed in insects cells by using a recombinant baculovirus, and the resulting virus-like particles (VLPs) possessed a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 58,000. Hyperimmune antisera raised against purified GRV, MXV, and NV VLPs were tested in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against GRV, NV, and MXV VLPs, revealing that GRV is antigenically distinct from both NV and MXV. The antigenic specificity of the GRV-hyperimmune antiserum was confirmed in an antigen capture ELISA using GRV-, NV-, or MXV-containing fecal specimens. The expression of the GRV capsid protein has, for the first time, allowed the antigenic comparison of three distinct recombinant Norwalk-like viruses.
Transplacental Transmission of Serotype-Specific Pneumococcal Antibodies in a Brazilian Population
Authors: Carvalho Beatriz T. Costa , Carneiro-Sampaio Magda M. , Solé Dirceu , Naspitz Charles , Leiva Lily E. , Sorensen Ricardo U. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

The highest incidence of severe pneumococcal infections in children occurs in the first 6 months of life; however, immunization of infants with the existing polysaccharide vaccines is ineffective. We wished to determine the prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) pneumococcal antibodies in unimmunized Brazilian mothers and their transplacental transmission to term and preterm infants. Total IgG, IgG1 and -2 subclass levels, and IgG antibodies against
Streptococcus pneumoniae
serotypes 1, 3, 6B, 9V, and 14 were determined in 15 pairs of mothers and term newborns (gestational age, ≥37 weeks) and in 18 pairs of mothers and preterm newborns (gestational age, 32 to 36 weeks). Serotype-specific anti-pneumococcal antibodies were detected by a recently standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay calibrated with the 89-SF reference serum. Varying percentages of the mothers had antibody concentrations below arbitrarily defined protective levels: 33% for serotype 1, 67% for serotype 3, 30% for serotype 6B, 52% for serotype 9V, and 22% for serotype 14. In term newborns, IgG1 concentrations were slightly higher than maternal concentrations; in preterm newborns, the concentrations were much lower. Concentrations of IgG2 in term and preterm infants were significantly lower than in the mothers. Transplacental transmission of antibodies to serotypes 3 and 14 was clearly different from that of antibodies to serotypes 1, 6B, and 9V. Concentrations of IgG antibodies against serotypes 3 and 14 were similar to or higher than those of the mothers; against serotypes 1, 6B, and 9V they ranged from 77 to 83% of maternal concentrations in term newborns and also in preterm infants, although transplacental transmission of antibodies was proportionally lower for each specific serotype in preterm than in term infants. These data are relevant for developing strategies to protect infants against pneumococcal infections in the first months of life. Our findings and a review of existing information stress the importance of understanding the relationships among pneumococcal immunization, IgG subclass antibodies to individual serotypes, transplacental transport, half-life, and antibody function and their protective values against infection.
Contributory and Exacerbating Roles of Gaseous Ammonia and Organic Dust in the Etiology of Atrophic Rhinitis
Authors: Hamilton T. D. C. , Roe J. M. , Hayes C. M. , Jones P. , Pearson G. R. , Webster A. J. F. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Pigs reared commercially indoors are exposed to air heavily contaminated with particulate and gaseous pollutants. Epidemiological surveys have shown an association between the levels of these pollutants and the severity of lesions associated with the upper respiratory tract disease of swine atrophic rhinitis. This study investigated the role of aerial pollutants in the etiology of atrophic rhinitis induced by
Pasteurella multocida
. Forty, 1-week-old Large White piglets were weaned and divided into eight groups designated A to H. The groups were housed in Rochester exposure chambers and continuously exposed to the following pollutants: ovalbumin (groups A and B), ammonia (groups C and D), ovalbumin plus ammonia (groups E and F), and unpolluted air (groups G and H). The concentrations of pollutants used were 20 mg m
−3
total mass and 5 mg m
−3
respirable mass for ovalbumin dust and 50 ppm for ammonia. One week after exposure commenced, the pigs in groups A, C, E, and G were infected with
P. multocida
type D by intranasal inoculation. After 4 weeks of exposure to pollutants, the pigs were killed and the extent of turbinate atrophy was assessed with a morphometric index (MI). Control pigs kept in clean air and not inoculated with
P. multocida
(group H) had normal turbinate morphology with a mean MI of 41.12% (standard deviation [SD], ± 1.59%). In contrast, exposure to pollutants in the absence of
P. multocida
(groups B, D, and F) induced mild turbinate atrophy with mean MIs of 49.65% (SD, ±1.96%), 51.04% (SD, ±2.06%), and 49.88% (SD, ±3.51%), respectively. A similar level of atrophy was also evoked by inoculation with
P. multocida
in the absence of pollutants (group G), giving a mean MI of 50.77% (SD, ±2.07%). However, when
P. multocida
inoculation was combined with pollutant exposure (groups A, C, and E) moderate to severe turbinate atrophy occurred with mean MIs of 64.93% (SD, ±4.64%), 59.18% (SD, ±2.79%), and 73.30% (SD, ±3.19%), respectively. The severity of atrophy was greatest in pigs exposed simultaneously to dust and ammonia. At the end of the exposure period, higher numbers of
P. multocida
bacteria were isolated from the tonsils than from the nasal membrane, per gram of tissue. The severity of turbinate atrophy in inoculated pigs was proportional to the number of
P. multocida
bacteria isolated from tonsils (
r
2
= 0.909,
P
< 0.05) and nasal membrane (
r
2
= 0.628,
P
< 0.05). These findings indicate that aerial pollutants contribute to the severity of lesions associated with atrophic rhinitis by facilitating colonization of the pig’s upper respiratory tract by
P. multocida
and also by directly evoking mild atrophy.
Human Herpesviruses in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Wallace Howard L. , Natelson Benjamin , Gause William , Hay John 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
We have conducted a double-blind study to assess the possible involvement of the human herpesviruses (HHVs) HHV6, HHV7, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients compared to age-, race-, and gender-matched controls. The CFS patient population was composed of rigorously screened civilian and Persian Gulf War veterans meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CFS case definition criteria. Healthy control civilian and veteran populations had no evidence of CFS or any other exclusionary medical or psychiatric condition. Patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by PCR for the presence of these HHVs. Using two-tailed Fisher’s exact test analyses, we were unable to ascertain any statistically significant differences between the CFS patient and control populations in terms of the detection of one or more of these viruses. This observation was upheld when the CFS populations were further stratified with regard to the presence or absence of major axis I psychopathology and patient self-reported gradual versus acute onset of disease. In tandem, we performed serological analyses of serum anti-EBV and anti-HHV6 antibody titers and found no significant differences between the CFS and control patients.
Production, Characterization, and Uses of Monoclonal Antibodies against Recombinant Nucleoprotein of Elk Coronavirus
Authors: Daginakatte Girish C. , Chard-Bergstrom Cindy , Andrews Gordon A. , Kapil Sanjay 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
This is the first report of the production of monoclonal antibodies against elk coronavirus. The nucleoprotein gene of elk coronavirus was amplified by PCR and was cloned and expressed in a prokaryotic expression vector. Recombinant nucleocapsid protein was used to immunize mice for the production of hybridomas. Twelve hybridomas that produced monoclonal antibodies against the nucleocapsid protein of elk coronavirus were selected by an indirect fluorescent-antibody test, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a Western blot assay. Ten of the monoclonal antibodies were of the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) isotype, one was IgG2a, and one was IgM. All had kappa light chains. By immunohistochemistry four monoclonal antibodies detected bovine coronavirus and elk coronavirus in formalin-fixed intestinal tissues. Antinucleoprotein monoclonal antibodies were found to be better at ruminant coronavirus detection than the anti-spike protein monoclonal antibodies. Because nucleoprotein is a more abundant antigen than spike protein in infected cells, this was not an unexpected finding.
Comparative Effects of Antilactoferrin Antibodies and Tumor Necrosis Factor on Neutrophil Adherence to Matrix Proteins
Authors: Zweiman Burton , von Allmen Carolyn 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTNeutrophil adherence to matrix proteins likely plays an important role in inflammatory responses. Antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies may activate neutrophils in certain diseases. Using an in vitro method that allows simultaneous quantitation of neutrophil adherence and superoxide secretion, we compared the effects of antibodies against neutrophil granule proteins and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a known neutrophil agonist. Antilactoferrin antibodies but not antielastase or antimyeloperoxidase antibodies stimulated increased adherence to fibronectin and laminin similar in degree to that induced by TNF-α. This, but not the simultaneous superoxide secretion, was inhibited in the presence of anti-CD18 antibodies. Humoral immune responses to lactoferrin, likely expressed on the neutrophil surface, can activate neutrophils in proinflammatory responses that may be pathogenic.
Helicobacter pylori
Heat Shock Protein A: Serologic Responses and Genetic Diversity
Authors: Ng Enders K. W. , Thompson Stuart A. , Pérez-Pérez Guillermo I. , Kansau Imad , van der Ende Arie , Labigne Agnès , Sung Joseph J. Y. , Chung S. C. Sydney , Blaser Martin J. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter pylori
synthesizes an unusual GroES homolog, heat shock protein A (HspA). The present study was aimed at an assessment of the serological response to HspA in a group of Chinese patients with defined gastroduodenal pathologies and determination of whether diversity is present in the nucleotide sequences encoding HspA in isolates from these patients. Serum samples collected from 154 patients who had an upper gastrointestinal pathology and the presence of
H. pylori
defined by biopsy were tested for an immunoglobulin G (IgG) serologic response to
H. pylori
HspA by an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. HspA-encoding nucleotide sequences in
H. pylori
isolates from 14 patients (7 seropositive and 7 seronegative for HspA) were analyzed by PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR products. The sequencing results were compared to those of 48 isolates from other parts of the world. Of the 154 known
H. pylori
-positive patients, 54 (35.1%) were seropositive for HspA. The A domain (GroES homology) of HspA was highly conserved in the 14 isolates tested. Although the B domain (metal-binding site unique to
H. pylori
) resembled that in the known major variant, particular amino acid substitutions allowed definition of an HspA variant associated with isolates from East Asia. There were no associations between patient characteristics and HspA seropositivity or amino acid sequences. We confirmed in this study that the clinical outcomes of
H. pylori
infection are not related to HspA antigenicity or to sequence variation. However, B-domain sequence variation may be a marker for the study of the genetic diversity of
H. pylori
strains of different geographic origins.
Interactions of
Streptococcus mutans
Fimbria-Associated Surface Proteins with Salivary Components
Authors: Ray Chad A. , Gfell Linda E. , Buller Tiffany L. , Gregory Richard L. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus mutans
has been implicated as the major causative agent of human dental caries.
S. mutans
binds to saliva-coated tooth surfaces, and previous studies suggested that fimbriae may play a role in the initial bacterial adherence to salivary components. The objectives of this study were to establish the ability of an
S. mutans
fimbria preparation to bind to saliva-coated surfaces and determine the specific salivary components that facilitate binding with fimbriae. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) established that the
S. mutans
fimbria preparation bound to components of whole saliva. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot techniques were used to separate components of whole saliva and determine fimbria binding. SDS-PAGE separated 15 major protein bands from saliva samples, and Western blot analysis indicated significant binding of the
S. mutans
fimbria preparation to a 52-kDa salivary protein. The major fimbria-binding salivary protein was isolated by preparative electrophoresis. The ability of the
S. mutans
fimbria preparation to bind to the purified salivary protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis and ELISA. Incubation of the purified salivary protein with the
S. mutans
fimbria preparation significantly neutralized binding of the salivary protein-fimbria complex to saliva-coated surfaces. The salivary protein, whole saliva, and commercial amylase reacted similarly with antiamylase antibody in immunoblots. A purified 65-kDa fimbrial protein was demonstrated to bind to both saliva and amylase. These data indicated that the
S. mutans
fimbria preparation and a purified fimbrial protein bound to whole-saliva-coated surfaces and that amylase is the major salivary component involved in the binding.
Intranasal Immunization against Dental Caries with aStreptococcus mutans-Enriched Fimbrial Preparation
Authors: Fontana Margherita , Dunipace Ann J. , Stookey George K. , Gregory Richard L. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTStreptococcus mutanshas been identified as the major etiological agent of human dental caries. The first step in the initiation of infection by this pathogenic bacterium is its attachment (i.e., through bacterial surface proteins such as glucosyltransferases, P1, glucan-binding proteins, and fimbriae) to a suitable receptor. It is hypothesized that a mucosal vaccine against a combination ofS. mutanssurface proteins would protect against dental caries by inducing specific salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies which may reduce bacterial pathogenesis and adhesion to the tooth surface by affecting several adhesins simultaneously. Conventional Sprague-Dawley rats, infected withS. mutansat 18 to 20 days of age, were intranasally immunized with a mixture ofS. mutanssurface proteins, enriched for fimbriae and conjugated with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) plus free cholera toxin (CT) at 13, 15, 22, 29, and 36 days of age (group A). Control rats were either not immunized (group B) or immunized with adjuvant alone (CTB and CT [group C]). At the termination of the study (when rats were 46 days of age), immunized animals (group A) had significantly (P< 0.05) higher salivary IgA and serum IgG antibody responses to the mixture of surface proteins and to whole bacterial cells than did the other two groups (B and C). No significant differences were found in the average numbers of recoveredS. mutanscells among groups. However, statistically fewer smooth-surface enamel lesions (buccal and lingual) were detected in the immunized group than in the two other groups. Therefore, a mixture ofS. mutanssurface proteins, enriched with fimbria components, appears to be a promising immunogen candidate for a mucosal vaccine against dental caries.
Evaluation of Newly Developed Immunoperoxidase Monolayer Assays for Detection of Antibodies against Bovine Herpesvirus 4
Authors: Wellenberg G. J. , van Rooij E. M. A. , Maissan J. , Van Oirschot J. T. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

This study describes the evaluation of immunoperoxidase monolayer assays (IPMAs) for detection of antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV4) DN-599 or BHV4 LVR 140 in sera of cattle. We compared the quality of these IPMAs with the quality of a BHV4 indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, a preliminary serological survey of BHV4 antibodies was carried out to estimate the seroprevalence of BHV4 in Dutch cattle at different ages. The specificities of both BHV4 IPMAs were 1.00. The geometrical mean titers (detection limit) of the BHV4 IPMAs were twice as high as that of the BHV4 indirect ELISA. In experimentally infected cattle, BHV4 antibodies were detectable by IPMAs 16 to 18 days postinfection, which was almost 2 weeks earlier than in the indirect ELISA. The reproducibility of the BHV4 DN-599 IPMA (
κ
D value, 0.92) and of the BHV4 LVR 140 IPMA (
κ
D value, 0.87) were good. For field sera the overall agreement between the BHV4 indirect ELISA and the two BHV4 IPMAs, DN-599 and LVR 140, was 95 and 96%, respectively. The serological-survey study showed that the estimated seroprevalence of BHV4 in Dutch cattle was 16 to 18% and that the percentage of BHV4-positive animals varied by age category (between 6 and 43%). In summary, the two BHV4 IPMA formats have several advantages that make IPMA a useful alternative to the BHV4 indirect ELISA for detecting BHV4 antibodies in cattle.