bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vector competence and innate immune responses to dengue virus infection in selected laboratory and field‐collected Stegomyia aegypti (= Aedes aegypti)
Authors: SERRATO I. M. , CAICEDO P. A. , OROBIO Y. , LOWENBERGER C. , OCAMPO C. B. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractControl of dengue virus (DenV) transmission, primarily based on strategies to reduce populations of the principle vector Stegomya aegypti (= Aedes aegypti) (Diptera: Culicidae), is difficult to sustain over time. Other potential strategies aim to manipulate characteristics such as vector competence (VC), the innate capacity of the vector to transmit the virus. Previous studies have identified genetic factors, including differential expression of apoptosis‐related genes, associated with the refractory and susceptible phenotypes in selected strains of S. aegypti from Cali, Colombia. The present study was designed to evaluate the variability of VC in selected strains against different DenV serotypes and to determine whether field‐collected mosquitoes respond similarly to selected laboratory strains in terms of enhanced or reduced expression of apoptosis‐related genes. Vector competence differed between strains, but did not differ in response to different DenV serotypes. Differences in VC were observed among mosquitoes collected from different localities in Cali. The overexpression of the pro‐apoptosis genes, caspase 16 and Aedronc, was conserved in field‐collected refractory mosquitoes and the selected laboratory refractory strain. The results suggest that the apoptosis response is conserved among all refractory mosquitoes to inhibit the development of all DenV serotypes.
Fibrinogen links podocyte injury with Toll‐like receptor 4 and is associated with disease activity in FSGS patients
Authors: Wang Hongtian , Zheng Chunxia , Xu Xiaodong , Zhao Yue , Lu Yinghui , Liu Zhihong 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAimFibrinogen (Fg) is reported to participate in inflammation through Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4). However, it remains unknown whether Fg might induce podocyte damage through TLR4 and be related to disease activity in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).MethodsWe observed Fg‐induced alterations in actin and apoptosis in cultured human podocytes transfected with or without TLR4 siRNA. Expression of TLR4, phospho‐p38 MAPK and phospho‐NF‐κB p65 was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) or western blotting, and we analysed urinary Fg levels in adriamycin‐treated mice and double immunofluorescence staining for TLR4, Fg and podocin. Urinary Fg changes were also analyzed in FSGS patients under prednisone treatment.ResultsFirst, Fg dose‐dependently induced actin damage and apoptosis in cultured human podocytes, with an Fg‐induced increase in TLR4 expression, and TLR4 siRNA transfection prevented these effects. TLR4 knockdown inhibited activation of p38 MAPK and NF‐κB p65 in podocytes. Elevated urinary Fg levels were positively correlated with albuminuria in adriamycin‐treated mice, in which Fg and TLR4 colocalized and exhibited increased expression in podocytes. Additionally, elevated urinary Fg levels were positively correlated with 24‐h proteinuria and foot process width in FSGS patients. Urinary Fg levels were significantly decreased in patients with complete remission but not in those without remission.ConclusionsFg induced podocytes injury via the TLR4‐p38 MAPK‐NF‐κB p65 pathway. In FSGS patients, urinary Fg levels reflect therapeutic response to prednisone and disease activity.
The Verticillium‐specific protein VdSCP7 localizes to the plant nucleus and modulates immunity to fungal infections
Authors: Zhang Lisha , Ni Hao , Du Xuan , Wang Sheng , Ma Xiao‐Wei , Nürnberger Thorsten , Guo Hui‐Shan , Hua Chenlei 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Fungal pathogens secrete effector proteins to suppress plant basal defense for successful colonization. Resistant plants, however, can recognize effectors by cognate R proteins to induce effector‐triggered immunity (ETI). By analyzing secretomes of the vascular fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, we identified a novel secreted protein VdSCP7 that targets the plant nucleus.

The green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐tagged VdSCP7 gene with either a mutated nuclear localization signal motif or with additional nuclear export signal was transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana, and investigated for induction of plant immunity. The role of VdSCP7 in V. dahliae pathogenicity was characterized by gene knockout and complementation, and GFP labeling.

Expression of the VdSCP7 gene in N. benthamiana activated both salicylic acid and jasmonate signaling, and altered the plant's susceptibility to the pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora capsici. The immune response activated by VdSCP7 was highly dependent on its initial extracellular secretion and subsequent nuclear localization in plants. Knockout of the VdSCP7 gene significantly enhanced V. dahliae aggressiveness on cotton. GFP‐labeled VdSCP7 is secreted by V. dahliae and accumulates in the plant nucleus.

We conclude that VdSCP7 is a novel effector protein that targets the host nucleus to modulate plant immunity, and suggest that plants can recognize VdSCP7 to activate ETI during fungal infection.
Evolutionary priority effects persist in anthropogenically created habitats, but not through nonnative plant invasion
Authors: Brandt Angela J. , Lee William G. , Tanentzap Andrew J. , Hayman Ella , Fukami Tadashi , Anderson Barbara J. 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Evolutionary priority effects, where early‐arriving lineages occupy niche space via diversification and preclude dominance of later arrivals, have been observed in alpine and forest communities. However, the potential for evolutionary priority effects to persist in an era of rapid global change remains unclear.

Here, we use a natural experiment of historical disturbance in New Zealand to test whether anthropogenic changes in available habitat and nonnative invasion eliminate the role of evolutionary priority effects in community assembly. We also test whether evolutionary priority effects diminish with decreasing resource availability.

Older plant clades, as estimated by clade crown age, were relatively more abundant in both primary and secondary grassland. Relative abundance in primary grassland decreased with clade stem age, but only weakly. However, for both clade age estimates, relative abundance decreased with age when nonnative biomass was high and soil moisture was low.

Our data show that patterns in community structure consistent with evolutionary priority effects can occur in both primary and secondary grasslands, the latter created by anthropogenic disturbance. However, nonnative invasion may overwhelm the effect of immigration timing on community dominance, possibly as a result of high immigration rates and preadaptation to anthropogenically modified environments.
OsHAC4 is critical for arsenate tolerance and regulates arsenic accumulation in rice
Authors: Xu Jiming , Shi Shulin , Wang Lei , Tang Zhong , Lv Tingting , Zhu Xinlu , Ding Xiaomeng , Wang Yifeng , Zhao Fang‐Jie , Wu Zhongchang 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Soil contamination with arsenic (As) can cause phytotoxicity and elevated As accumulation in rice grain. Here, we used a forward genetics approach to investigate the mechanism of arsenate (As(V)) tolerance and accumulation in rice.

A rice mutant hypersensitive to As(V), but not to As(III), was isolated. Genomic resequencing and complementation tests were used to identify the causal gene. The function of the gene, its expression pattern and subcellular localization were characterized.

OsHAC4 is the causal gene for the As(V)‐hypersensitive phenotype. The gene encodes a rhodanase‐like protein that shows As(V) reductase activity when expressed in Escherichia coli. OsHAC4 was highly expressed in roots and was induced by As(V). In OsHAC4pro‐GUS transgenic plants, the gene was expressed exclusively in the root epidermis and exodermis. OsHAC4‐eGFP was localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Mutation in OsHAC4 resulted in decreased As(V) reduction in roots, decreased As(III) efflux to the external medium and markedly increased As accumulation in rice shoots. Overexpression of OsHAC4 increased As(V) tolerance and decreased As accumulation in rice plants.

OsHAC4 is an As(V) reductase that is critical for As(V) detoxification and for the control of As accumulation in rice. As(V) reduction, followed by As(III) efflux, is an important mechanism of As(V) detoxification.
Endometrial gene expression in primiparous dairy cows at the end of the voluntary waiting period is affected by nutrition: Total mixed ration vs increasing levels of herbage allowance
Authors: Astessiano AL , Carriquiry M , Mattiauda DA , Adrien ML , Chilibroste P , Meikle A 
Published: April 2017

ContentsThe study postulated that differential nutritional management during the early lactation period would be reflected in endometrial expression of genes related to embryo growth at the end of the voluntary waiting period. Thus, the effect of the combined use of total mixed ration (TMR) and grazing under different herbage allowances during the first 75 days post‐partum (DPP) on endometrial gene expression was evaluated in primiparous dairy cows. Cows were blocked by body weight, age and body condition score and randomly assigned to three grazing treatments: high (HA, 30 kg DM per cow per day), medium (MA, 15 kg DM per cow per day) and low (LA, 7.5 kg DM per cow per day) herbage allowance (mixed pasture, 2,600 kg DM per ha) plus 8 kg DM of supplement or TMR (55% forage, 45% concentrate) fed ad libitum (TMR) from calving to 75 DPP. At 57 DPP, cows were synchronized for oestrus (day 0, 68 DPP) and at day 7, endometrial biopsies were obtained. The nutritional treatment did not affect insulin, IGF‐1 and leptin concentrations on days 0, 4 or 7. Expression of IGF1, IGFBP3, IGFBP4, ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 mRNA was significantly affected by the nutritional treatment. Endometrial IGF1 and IGFBP4 mRNA were twofold greater in TMR and HA than MA and LA cows. Expression of IGFBP3 and ADIPOR1 mRNAs was greater in TMR and HA than MA cows, but did not differ from LA cows. All groups had greater expression of ADIPOR2 mRNA than MA cows. This study provided solid evidence of the importance of nutritional management during early lactation on uterine environment at the end of the voluntary waiting period. The greater expression of genes related to embryo growth and uterine function (IGF system, progesterone and adiponectin receptors) in cows fed diets maximizing energy intake suggests a favourable environment for embryonic growth, which may explain the improved reproductive performance of cows in good energy balance.
Uptake and performance of prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission and early infant diagnosis in pregnant HIV‐infected women and their exposed infants at seven health centres in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Girma Marshet , Wendaferash Rahel , Shibru Hailu , Berhane Yemane , Hoelscher Michael , Kroidl Arne 
Published: April 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the uptake of WHO‐recommended PMTCT procedures in Ethiopia's health services.MethodsProspective observational study of HIV‐positive pregnant mothers and their newborns attending PMTCT services at seven health centres in Addis Ababa. Women were recruited during antenatal care and followed up with their newborns at delivery, Day 6 and Week 6 post‐partum. Retention to PMCTC procedures, self‐reported antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence and HIV infant outcome were assessed. Turnaround times of HIV early infant diagnosis (EID) procedures were extracted from health registers.ResultsOf 494 women enrolled, 4.9% did not complete PMTCT procedures due to active denial or loss to follow‐up. HIV was first diagnosed in 223 (45.1%) and ART initiated in 321 (65.0%) women during pregnancy. ART was initiated in a median of 1.3 weeks (IQR 0–4.3) after HIV diagnosis. Poor self‐reported treatment adherence was higher post‐partum than during pregnancy (12.5% vs. 7.0%, P = 0.002) and significantly associated with divorced/separated marital status (RR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3–3.8), low family income (RR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–4.1), low CD4 count (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–3.0) and ART initiation during delivery (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.6). Of 435 infants born alive, 98.6% received nevirapine prophylaxis. The mother‐to‐child HIV transmission rate was 0.7% after a median of 6.7 weeks (IQR 6.4–10.4), but EID results were received for only 46.6% within 3 months of birth.ConclusionHigh retention in PMTCT services, triple maternal ART and high infant nevirapine prophylaxis coverage were associated with low mother‐to‐child HIV transmission. Declining post‐partum ART adherence and challenges of EID linkage require attention.
Activation of the Arabidopsis membrane‐bound transcription factor bZIP28 is mediated by site‐2 protease, but not site‐1 protease
Authors: Iwata Yuji , Ashida Makoto , Hasegawa Chisa , Tabara Kazuki , Mishiba Kei‐ichiro , Koizumi Nozomu 
Published: April 2017

SummaryThe unfolded protein response (UPR) is a homeostatic cellular response conserved in eukaryotic cells to alleviate the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Arabidopsis bZIP28 is a membrane‐bound transcription factor activated by proteolytic cleavage in response to ER stress, thereby releasing its cytosolic portion containing the bZIP domain from the membrane to translocate into the nucleus where it induces the transcription of genes encoding ER‐resident molecular chaperones and folding enzymes. It has been widely recognized that the proteolytic activation of bZIP28 is mediated by the sequential cleavage of site‐1 protease (S1P) and site‐2 protease (S2P). In the present study we provide evidence that bZIP28 protein is cleaved by S2P, but not by S1P. We demonstrated that wild‐type and s1p mutant plants produce the active, nuclear form of bZIP28 in response to the ER stress inducer tunicamycin. In contrast, tunicamycin‐treated s2p mutants do not accumulate the active, nuclear form of bZIP28. Consistent with these observations, s2p mutants, but not s1p mutants, exhibited a defective transcriptional response of ER stress‐responsive genes and significantly higher sensitivity to tunicamycin. Interestingly, s2p mutants accumulate two membrane‐bound bZIP28 fragments with a shorter ER lumen‐facing C‐terminal domain. Importantly, the predicted cleavage sites are located far from the canonical S1P recognition motif previously described. We propose that ER stress‐induced proteolytic activation of bZIP28 is mediated by the sequential actions of as‐yet‐unidentified protease(s) and S2P, and does not require S1P.
Transition metal–catalyzed alkyl-alkyl bond formation: Another dimension in cross-coupling chemistry
Authors: Choi Junwon , Fu Gregory C. 
Published: April 2017

Stitching one alkyl group to another
Chemical reactions such as Heck and Suzuki coupling facilitate access to an enormous range of relatively flat molecules. This geometrical constraint is associated with the comparative ease of linking together aryl and alkenyl carbons. Choi and Fu review recent developments in forming bonds between the more abundant alkyl carbon centers that underlie diverse molecules with complex three-dimensional structures. Nickel catalysis in particular has emerged as a powerful method to access individual mirror-image isomers selectively and thereby tune the biological properties of the targeted products.

Science
, this issue p.
eaaf7230
An HIV Envelope gp120-Fc Fusion Protein Elicits Effector Antibody Responses in Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Shubin Zhanna , Li Weizhong , Poonia Bhawna , Ferrari Guido , LaBranche Celia , Montefiori David , Zhu Xiaoping , Pauza C. David 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT

A goal for HIV prevention programs is to develop safe, effective vaccines that elicit durable and broadly protective antibodies. Many vaccine programs focus on the immune responses to critical epitopes in the gp120 portion of HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) and seek to improve the quality and quantity of antibodies by altering the sequence, conformation, oligomerization, or glycosylation of gp120 to activate appropriate germ line B cells and mimic the subsequent maturation pathways seen in infected individuals. As a complement to these strategies, we developed dimeric fusion protein immunogens consisting of HIV
BaL
gp120 monomer attached to a Gly/Ser linker that is, in turn, fused to one half of the dimeric Fc domain from rhesus macaque IgG1 (Env-rFc). We envisioned that Env-rFc may mimic some aspects of immune complexes by binding Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) on immune cells to increase the strength, breadth, and durability of Env-specific antibody responses. The Env-rFc retained a capacity to bind both cell surface CD4 and FcγRs. In a rhesus macaque immunization study, Env-rFc elicited higher gp120 binding antibody titers than Env and elicited antibodies that recognize CD4-induced epitopes. Env-rFc also induced antibodies capable of neutralizing tier 1A HIV pseudotyped viruses and mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, outcomes not observed with monomeric gp120 in our study. Serum antibodies produced in Env-rFc-immunized macaques had increased durability compared to that of Env monomer immunization. Our work suggests that adding IgG1 Fc to Env-based immunogens may stimulate increased effector capacity in the immune sera and improve the protective serum antibody response.
Comparison of Whole-Genome Sequencing Methods for Analysis of Three Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Outbreaks
Authors: Cunningham Scott A. , Chia Nicholas , Jeraldo Patricio R. , Quest Daniel J. , Johnson Julie A. , Boxrud Dave J. , Taylor Angela J. , Chen Jun , Jenkins Gregory D. , Drucker Travis M. , Nelson Heidi , Patel Robin 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can provide excellent resolution in global and local epidemiological investigations of
Staphylococcus aureus
outbreaks. A variety of sequencing approaches and analytical tools have been used; it is not clear which is ideal. We compared two WGS strategies and two analytical approaches to the standard method of SmaI restriction digestion pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for typing
S. aureus
. Forty-two
S. aureus
isolates from three outbreaks and 12 reference isolates were studied. Near-complete genomes, assembled
de novo
with paired-end and long-mate-pair (8 kb) libraries were first assembled and analyzed utilizing an in-house assembly and analytical informatics pipeline. In addition, paired-end data were assembled and analyzed using a commercial software package. Single nucleotide variant (SNP) analysis was performed using the in-house pipeline. Two assembly strategies were used to generate core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) data. First, the near-complete genome data generated with the in-house pipeline were imported into the commercial software and used to perform cgMLST analysis. Second, the commercial software was used to assemble paired-end data, and resolved assemblies were used to perform cgMLST. Similar isolate clustering was observed using SNP calling and cgMLST, regardless of data assembly strategy. All methods provided more discrimination between outbreaks than did PFGE. Overall, all of the evaluated WGS strategies yielded statistically similar results for
S. aureus
typing.
Comparison of ePlex Respiratory Pathogen Panel with Laboratory-Developed Real-Time PCR Assays for Detection of Respiratory Pathogens
Authors: Nijhuis R. H. T. , Guerendiain D. , Claas E. C. J. , Templeton K. E. 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT

Infections of the respiratory tract can be caused by a diversity of pathogens, both viral and bacterial. Rapid microbiological diagnosis ensures appropriate antimicrobial therapy as well as effective implementation of isolation precautions. The ePlex respiratory pathogen panel (RP panel) is a novel molecular biology-based assay, developed by GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. (Carlsbad, CA), to be performed within a single cartridge for the diagnosis of 25 respiratory pathogens (viral and bacterial). The objective of this study was to compare the performance of the RP panel with those of laboratory-developed real-time PCR assays, using a variety of previously collected clinical respiratory specimens. A total of 343 clinical specimens as well as 29 external quality assessment (EQA) specimens and 2 different Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus isolates have been assessed in this study. The RP panel showed an agreement of 97.4% with the real-time PCR assay regarding 464 pathogens found in the clinical specimens. All pathogens present in clinical samples and EQA samples with a threshold cycle (

C
T

) value of <30 were detected correctly using the RP panel. The RP panel detected 17 additional pathogens, 7 of which could be confirmed by discrepant testing. In conclusion, this study shows excellent performance of the RP panel in comparison to real-time PCR assays for the detection of respiratory pathogens. The ePlex system provided a large amount of useful diagnostic data within a short time frame, with minimal hands-on time, and can therefore potentially be used for rapid diagnostic sample-to-answer testing, in either a laboratory or a decentralized setting.
Brain-Eating Amoebae: Predilection Sites in the Brain and Disease Outcome
Authors: Ong Timothy Yu Yee , Khan Naveed Ahmed , Siddiqui Ruqaiyyah 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT

Acanthamoeba
spp. and
Balamuthia mandrillaris
are causative agents of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), while
Naegleria fowleri
causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM is an acute infection that lasts a few days, while GAE is a chronic to subacute infection that can last up to several months. Here, we present a literature review of 86 case reports from 1968 to 2016, in order to explore the affinity of these amoebae for particular sites of the brain, diagnostic modalities, treatment options, and disease outcomes in a comparative manner.