bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alterations in the autonomic and haemodynamic response to prolonged high‐intensity endurance exercise in individuals with coronary artery calcification
Authors: Svane Jakob , Wiktorski Tomasz , Eftestøl Trygve , Ørn Stein 
Published: December 2024

AbstractEndurance exercise is associated with increased life duration and improved life quality. Paradoxically, high exercise intensity is also associated with increased coronary artery calcification (CAC) and a small but significant increased risk of adverse cardiac events during exercise. The mechanisms underlying the development of CAC during prolonged high‐intensity endurance exercise are unknown. This study aims to determine if there are differences in cardiovascular haemodynamic measures and heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals with (CAC+) and without CAC (CAC−). Hemodynamic measures from 56 healthy, middle‐aged (median [interquartile range] 51 [43–58] years) individuals (41 men/15 women) participating in a 91 km [251.2 [217.2‐271.6] min] leisure sport mountain bike race were included in this study. Twenty‐five participants (20 men/5 women) were classified as CAC+ based on coronary computed tomographic assessment. Haemodynamic measures and HRV were quantified at the top of the hardest hill (THH) during the last quarter of the race. At the top of THH, CAC+ individuals had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) (235 [225–245] mmHg vs. 220 [193–238] mmHg, P = 0.008), higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (105 [95–110] mmHg vs. 95 [85–110] mmHg, P = 0.006), higher pulse pressure (130 [125–140] mmHg vs. 123 [110–130] mmHg, P = 0.039), higher mean rate pressure product (33,882 [30,872–35,053] bpm × mmHg vs. 31,028 [27,392–33,047] bpm × mmHg, P = 0.028), and larger increase in DBP from baseline (20 [20–30] mmHg vs. 10 [0–20] mmHg, P = 0.001), compared with CAC− individuals. Further, CAC+ participants showed a significant reduction in the low‐frequency component of HRV (HRVLF) (6.3 [2.4–11.5] ms2 vs. 12.4 [6.8–20.2] ms2, P = 0.044). In multivariable analysis, HRVLF was an independent predictor of the presence of CAC even after adjusting for established risk factors of atherosclerosis: age, sex, body mass index, maximum heart rate, , smoking, resting SBP and resting DBP. CAC+ individuals had significant alterations in haemodynamic measures and HRVLF following prolonged high‐intensity endurance exercise compared with individuals without CAC. HRVLF was an independent predictor of CAC, suggesting an adverse autonomic response to high‐intensity endurance exercise in individuals with CAC.
Comparative Effects of the Free Weights and Smith Machine Squat and Bench Press: The Important Role of Specificity for Strength Adaptations
Authors: Marcos-Frutos Daniel , Miras-Moreno Sergio , Márquez Gonzalo , García-Ramos Amador 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: Although previous studies have compared strength-training adaptations between free weights (FW) and machine-guided exercises, those studies did not use a Smith machine (SM), which most closely replicates the exercises performed with FW. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the chronic effects of strength-focused, velocity-based training regimens using FW versus SM. Methods: Thirty-seven sport-science students (14 female) were assigned, balanced by sex and relative strength, to either an FW or SM training group. The training program lasted 8 weeks (2 sessions/wk), and participants performed 4 sets per exercise (back squat and bench press) at 70% of their 1-repetition maximum with moderate effort levels (20%–25% velocity loss). Load–velocity profile parameters (load-axis intercept, velocity-axis intercept, and area under the load–velocity relationship line), cross-sectional areas of the vastus lateralis and pectoralis major muscles, and the number of repetitions to failure in the bench-press exercise were assessed before and after the training program. Mechanical variables were assessed using both FW and SM. Results: All variables, with the exception of back-squat velocity-axis intercept (P = .124), improved in both training groups. The changes in load-axis intercept and area under the load–velocity relationship line were more pronounced when the training and testing conditions matched. Failure in the bench-press exercise and cross-sectional areas of the vastus lateralis and pectoralis major showed comparable improvements for both training groups, while velocity-axis intercept tended to improve more in the SM group. Conclusions: The general population, unconcerned with the specificity of strength adaptations, can choose a training modality (FW or SM) based on personal preferences.
Leveraging Resources Through Interdisciplinary Partnerships
Authors: Brusseau Timothy A. , Perrin David H. 
Published: December 2024

In 2014, the College of Health at the University of Utah hired a new dean, who was charged with increasing research productivity (e.g., extramural funding). This paper highlights several ways that the Department of Health and Kinesiology (more broadly the College of Health) leveraged resources through interdisciplinary partnerships to meet this challenge. More specifically, the paper highlights efforts to develop new research space, explore partnerships with other units and initiatives on campus to recruit and retain faculty, and use existing programming on campus to strengthen the research infrastructure. It also illustrates changes in policies that enabled this research expansion.
Morphogenetic penicillin-binding proteins control virulence-associated type III secretion systems in
Salmonella
Authors: Castanheira Sónia , Torronteras Sara , Cestero Juan J. , García-del Portillo Francisco 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Type III protein secretion systems (T3SSs) function as multiprotein devices that span the envelope of Gram-negative bacteria using the peptidoglycan (PG) layer as scaffold. This spatial arrangement explains why modifications in PG structure can alter T3SS activity. In
Salmonella,
incorporation of non-canonical D-amino acids in the PG was shown to decrease the activity of the T3SS encoded by the pathogenicity island-1 (SPI-1) without affecting other T3SS, like the flagellum apparatus. Enigmatically, following invasion of host cell
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium modifies PG synthesis by upregulating two pathogen-specific enzymes, the penicillin-binding proteins PBP2
SAL
and PBP3
SAL
, with roles in cell elongation and division, respectively. In the mouse typhoid model, the amount of PBP2
SAL
and PBP3
SAL
produced by the pathogen exceeds by large those of the canonical enzymes PBP2 and PBP3. This change responds to acidity and high osmolarity, the same cues that intra-phagosomal
S
. Typhimurium perceives to switch the SPI-1 T3SS by that encoded in SPI-2. Using isogenic mutants lacking each of the four morphogenetic PBPs, we tested whether their activities and those of the T3SS encoded by SPI-1 and SPI-2, are interconnected. Our data show that PBP2 is required for proper function of SPI-1 T3SS but dispensable for motility, whereas the lack of any of the morphogenetic PBPs increases SPI-2 T3SS activity. The positive control exerted by PBP2 on SPI-1 takes place via the SPI-1-specific regulators HilA and InvF. To our knowledge, these findings provide the first evidence linking morphogenetic enzymes that synthesize PG with T3SS associated to virulence.
Prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility of pneumococci based on whole-genome sequencing data: a direct comparison of two genomic tools to conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Authors: Sanchez Gerardo J. , Cuypers Lize , Laenen Lies , Májek Peter , Lagrou Katrien , Desmet Stefanie 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Determination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pneumococcal isolates is important for surveillance purposes and in a clinical context. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of pneumococci is complicated by the need for exact minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of beta-lactam antibiotics. Two next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis tools have implemented the prediction of AMR in their analysis workflow, including the prediction of MICs: Pathogenwatch (
https://pathogen.watch/
) and AREScloud (OpGen). The performance of these tools in comparison to phenotypic AST following EUCAST guidelines is unknown. A total of 538
Streptococcus pneumoniae
isolates were used to compare both tools with phenotypic AST for penicillin, amoxicillin, cefotaxime/ceftriaxone, erythromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline. Disk diffusion was performed for all isolates, and broth microdilution was performed for isolates with reduced beta-lactam susceptibility. Demultiplexed FASTQ files from Illumina sequencing, covering the whole genome of pneumococci, were used as input for the NGS tools. Categorical agreement (CA), major error (ME), and very major error (VME) rates were calculated. For beta-lactam antibiotics, CA was high (>94%) associated with none or only one ME and VME (<1%). For erythromycin and tetracycline, CA was >93% for predictions by AREScloud, while for Pathogenwatch, this ranged around 88%. For trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, CA was for both tools <86%. High VME rates were observed for erythromycin and tetracycline, higher for Pathogenwatch (53.6% and 47.0%, respectively) compared to AREScloud (14.3% and 19.1%, respectively). Both tools performed excellently despite the complexity of predicting beta-lactam resistance in pneumococci. Further optimization and validation are needed for non-beta-lactams since high (very) major error rates were observed.
Characteristics of viral ovarian tumor domain protease from two emerging orthonairoviruses and identification of Yezo virus human infections in northeastern China as early as 2012
Authors: Chen Zi-Yun , Zhang Jie , He Pei-Jun , Xiong Tao , Zhu Dai-Yun , Zhu Wen-Jie , Ni Xue-Bing , Du Li-Feng , Wang Qian , Zhang Ya-Wei , Xia Luo-Yuan , Chen Dong-Sheng , Li Liang-Jing , Zhang Ming-Zhu , Cui Xiao Ming , Wang Tian-Hong , Wang Juan , Wang Zhenfei , An Tian-Feng , Cao Wu-Chun , Liu Xiao-Hua , Huang En-Jiong , Jia Na 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Emerging tick-borne orthonairovirus infections pose a growing global concern, with limited understanding of the viral ovarian tumor-like cysteine proteases (vOTUs) encoded by novel orthonairoviruses. These vOTUs, a group of deubiquinylases (DUBs), disrupt the innate immune response. Yezo virus (YEZV), a recently discovered pathogenic orthonairovirus, was first reported in Japan in 2021. In this study, we successfully isolated and identified YEZV and a new orthonairovirus, Jiànchuān tick virus (JCTV), from
Ixodes persulcatus
and
Haemaphysalis montgomeryi
ticks, respectively, in China. We found that the vOTU domains encoded by YEZV and JCTV exhibited both DUB and deISGylase activities, though with potentially less broad deISGylation compared to that of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) during natural infection. Phylogenetic analysis of global vOTUs, including 83 new sequences, revealed a high diversity of this domain. Interestingly, retrospective screening of tick-bite patients from 2012 to 2016 in northeastern China traced YEZV infections as far back as 2012, identifying four cases. Additionally, YEZV primarily infected
I. persulcatus
(31.4%) and
Dermacentor nuttalli
(10.5%) in northern China, while JCTV exhibited high infection rates in
H. montgomeryi
(81.3%) in southern China. In summary, our work emphasizes the active surveillance of orthonairovirus infections and the imperative need for the development of vOTU domain-targeted anti-virals, offering potential therapeutic solutions for a broad spectrum of orthonairoviruses.

IMPORTANCE

The vOTUs, a group of DUBs, mimic the functions of host DUBs to enhance viral infectivity and may serve as potential drug targets. vOTUs from different orthonairoviruses exhibit distinct preferences toward ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin-like protein interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15). In this study, we investigated the deubiquitinase and deISGylase functions of various orthonairoviral vOTUs using both an overexpression system and natural viral infections
in vitro
. Our findings illustrate that the vOTUs from YEZV and JCTV can cleave both Ub and ISG15 in an overexpression system, but these viruses exhibit potentially narrower deISGylation capacity than CCHFV during natural infection. This suggests that the diversity of vOTUs may have a potential relationship with the pathogenesis.
Induction of innate immunity and plant growth promotion in tomato unveils the antiviral nature of bacterial endophytes against groundnut bud necrosis virus
Authors: Sharanya R. , Gayathri M. , Renukadevi P. , Saranya N. , Suganthy M. , Varanavasiappan S. , Ghosh Amalendu , Nakkeeran S. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Tomato is an important crop worldwide, but groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) often hampers its growth. This study investigates the antiviral potential of bacterial endophytes, including
Brucella melitensis
CNEB54,
Bacillus licheniformis
CNEB4,
Bacillus velezensis
CNEB26, and
Bacillus vallismortis
BAVE5 against GBNV, as well as their ability to enhance immunity and growth in tomato. All four bacterial isolates demonstrated a significant delay in GBNV symptom development 10 days post-inoculation, with disease incidence ranging from 18% to 36% compared to 84% in control. DAC-ELISA results indicated a noteworthy reduction in virus titer (0.32–0.96 OD) in treated tomato plants versus the control (3.26 OD). In addition, qPCR analysis revealed decreased viral copy numbers in plants treated with bacterial endophytes (1.3–3.1 × 10
5
) as against in untreated inoculated control (2.4 × 10
6
). Furthermore, these endophytes upregulated the expression of defense-associated genes, such as
MAPKK1
,
PAL
,
PPO
,
LOX1
,
JAR1
, and
PDF 1.2
. Field experiments with the application of
B. melitensis and B. velezensis
exhibited improved growth, with an average plant height of 123.70 cm, 14.87 flowers per plant, and a fruit weight of 549.3 g per plant, with a disease incidence of 18.1%. In comparison, the untreated control plants only reached a height of 104.73 cm, produced 11.17 flowers per plant, and yielded 267 g of fruit per plant, with a disease incidence of 30.1%. These findings strongly support the use of bacterial endophytes to reduce disease incidence and severity, enhance plant immunity and promote plant growth, resulting in overall crop productivity in sustainable agriculture.

IMPORTANCE
The infection of GBNV in crops such as tomatoes, peanuts, and pulses leads to significant yield loss. Applying insecticides to control vector populations, can limit the spread of viruses carried by these vectors. The present study envisages a novel strategy to combat GBNV, with the help of bacterial endophytes. These bacterial endophytes have tremendously reduced the symptom expression of GBNV, induced the expression of defense genes during the tri-trophic interaction and promoted plant growth in tomatoes under field conditions. Hence, these bacteria are identified to be involved in immunity boosting, viral suppression and growth promotion.
Quorum sensing inhibits phage infection by regulating biofilm formation of
P. aeruginosa
PAO1
Authors: Cao Lei , Mi Jinhui , He Yile , Xuan Guanhua , Wang Jingxue , Li Mengzhe , Tong Yigang 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Quorum sensing (QS) can regulate diverse critical phenotypic responses in
Pseudomonas. aeruginosa
(
P. aeruginosa
), enabling bacterial adaptation to external environmental fluctuations and optimizing population advantages. While there is emerging evidence of QS’s involvement in influencing phage infections, our current understanding remains limited, necessitating further investigation. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel phage designated as BUCT640 that infected
P. aeruginosa
PAO1. This phage belonged to class
Caudoviricetes
, genus
Bruynoghevirus
, with a podovirus morphology, and its adsorption was dependent on Psl polysaccharides, a repeating pentamer used to support biofilm structure. Leveraging phage BUCT640 as a model, we analyzed the role of both
rhl
QS and
las
QS in bacteria–phage interactions. Based on its distinctive plaque formation performances on different QS-related mutants, we investigated the variations of phage sensitivity to these strains and ultimately elucidated the mechanism underlying how QS inhibited phage infection to PAO1. Specifically, we unveiled that the
las
QS could inhibit phage adsorption, which is related to the thickness change caused by biofilm differentiation. Our findings suggest that the inhibition of QS may enhance phage infectivity, potentially facilitating advanced phage therapy combined with QS interference.

IMPORTANCE

Phage therapy is a powerful solution to combat drug-resistant pathogenic bacterial infections and has earned remarkable success in clinical treatment. However, recent insights underscore the potential impact of bacterial QS on phage infection dynamics. Here, we reported a unique phenomenon wherein QS, particularly in the
las
QS pathway, showed distinctive plaque formation behaviors by enlarging halos around plaques in mutant strains. In addition to this, we first elucidated the correlation between biofilm formation and phage infection. Notably, the
las
QS could inhibit phage adsorption, an effect closely related to biofilm thickness. Such research could be the evidence to steer bacterial QS toward favorable therapeutical outcomes. Therefore, our work can extend the comprehension of the interactions between bacteria and phages influenced by QS, thereby providing new perspectives on leveraging QS interference to enhance the efficacy of phage therapy for clinical applications.
Complete genome sequence of
Pseudoxanthomonas koreensis
strain TDY-1, an odor-reducing bacterium isolated from livestock wastewater
Authors: Han Kook-Il , Nam Young Ho , Kim Eui-Jin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

We report the complete genome sequence of
Pseudoxanthomonas koreensis
TDY-1
,
an odor-reducing strain isolated from livestock wastewater on a pig farm. Its genome consists of a 2.97-Mb chromosome.
Identification and characterization of
Faecalibacterium
prophages rich in diversity-generating retroelements
Authors: Gulyaeva Anastasia , Liu Lei , Garmaeva Sanzhima , Kruk Marloes , Weersma Rinse K. , Harmsen Hermie J. M. , Zhernakova Alexandra 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Metagenomics has revealed the incredible diversity of phages within the human gut. However, very few of these phages have been subjected to in-depth experimental characterization. One promising method of obtaining novel phages for experimental characterization is through induction of the prophages integrated into the genomes of cultured gut bacteria. Here, we developed a bioinformatic approach to prophage identification that builds on prophage genomic properties, existing prophage-detecting software, and publicly available virome sequencing data. We applied our approach to 22 strains of bacteria belonging to the genus
Faecalibacterium
, resulting in identification of 15 candidate prophages, and validated the approach by demonstrating the activity of five prophages from four of the strains. The genomes of three active phages were identical or similar to those of known phages, while the other two active phages were not represented in the Viral RefSeq database. Four of the active phages possessed a diversity-generating retroelement (DGR), and one retroelement had two variable regions. DGRs of two phages were active at the time of the induction experiments, as evidenced by nucleotide variation in sequencing reads. We also predicted that the host range of two active phages may include multiple bacterial species. Finally, we noted that four phages were less prevalent in the metagenomes of inflammatory bowel disease patients compared to a general population cohort, a difference mainly explained by differences in the abundance of the host bacteria. Our study highlights the utility of prophage identification and induction for unraveling phage molecular mechanisms and ecological interactions.

IMPORTANCE

While hundreds of thousands of phage genomes have been discovered in metagenomics studies, only a few of these phages have been characterized experimentally. Here, we explore phage characterization through bioinformatic identification of prophages in genomes of cultured bacteria, followed by prophage induction. Using this approach, we detect the activity of five prophages in four strains of commensal gut bacteria
Faecalibacterium
. We further note that four of the prophages possess diversity-generating retroelements implicated in rapid mutation of phage genome loci associated with phage–host and phage–environment interactions and analyze the intricate patterns of retroelement activity. Our study highlights the potential of prophage characterization for elucidating complex molecular mechanisms employed by the phages.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices among patients with impacted wisdom teeth towards teeth extraction in Jinan, Shandong Province, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sun Jing , Meng Junru , Wang Xin , Wang Bing , Luan Xiao , Li Shu , Tong Dongdong 
Published: December 2024

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients with impacted wisdom teeth towards tooth extraction, with the intention of identifying both gaps and opportunities for improved dental health education and practices.DesignA cross-sectional study using a web-based questionnaire.SettingThe study was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, and Jinan Stomatological Hospital.ParticipantsThis study included responses from 3467 individuals presenting with impacted wisdom teeth at the study settings between March and May 2023.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcomes measured were the levels of KAP towards wisdom teeth extraction among participants. Knowledge was assessed on a scale of 0–11, attitudes on a scale of 10–50 and practices on a scale of 11–55. Secondary outcomes included the exploration of associations between knowledge, attitudes and practices using structural equation modelling.ResultsParticipants demonstrated a mean knowledge score of 9.1±1.4, mean attitude score of 38.0±2.7 and mean practice score of 41.7±8.2. The analysis using a structural equation model revealed a direct effect of knowledge on attitudes (path coefficient=2.042, p<0.001) and a direct effect of attitudes on practices (path coefficient=1.460, p<0.001).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that patients with impacted wisdom teeth possess adequate knowledge and favourable attitudes towards teeth extraction, which positively influences their practices. However, tailored interventions are still needed to further enhance KAP regarding this procedure in this population.