bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does ethnic conflict impede or enable employee innovation behavior?
Authors: Reade Carol , Lee Hyun-Jung 
Published: April 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate whether a societal context of ethnic conflict influences employee innovation behavior in the work domain and whether a collaborative conflict management style adopted by supervisors plays a moderating role.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the conflict, organizational behavior and innovation literature, the study examines the main and interaction effects of employee sensitivity to ethnic conflict, organizational frustration and collaborative conflict management style of supervisors on employee engagement with colleagues to innovate products, services and job processes. Hypotheses are tested using hierarchical regression analysis, controlling for ethnic diversity in workgroups.FindingsEmployee innovation behavior is greatest when employee sensitivity to ethnic conflict is high, organizational frustration is low and when supervisors are perceived to be highly collaborative in managing conflict, regardless of whether the workgroup is ethnically homogenous or diverse.Research limitations/implicationsThe study findings expand our knowledge of the effects of sociopolitical conflict on employee behavior and the role of collaborative conflict management. Future research can address limitations including self-reports, cross-sectional design and single country setting.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study suggest that employee innovation behavior can be enhanced through developing collaborative conflict management skills of those in leadership positions.Originality/valueThis is the first study to empirically examine the influence of ethnic conflict on employee innovation behavior and is of value to businesses operating in conflict settings.
Work relationships: counteracting the negative effects of conflict
Authors: Jungst Martijn , Blumberg Boris 
Published: April 2016

PurposeGuided by social resource theory, this study aims to examine the influence of conflict (i.e. task and relationship) on performance. The authors investigated whether job engagement mediates this relationship and whether social network quality moderates the relationship between conflict, job engagement and performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors built and tested a moderated mediation model, using data from 217 graduate students.FindingsResults showed that job engagement operates as a mediating mechanism between task conflict and performance. The authors also found that the indirect effect of job engagement depended upon the quality of the social networks. When the quality of the social network was high, both the task and relationship conflict did not negatively influence the association between job engagement and performance.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings provide new insights into how social embeddedness in the form of social network quality can create a social context in which conflict works out less detrimental.Practical implicationsGiven that employees are interdependent and coworkers are likely to differ in their personal values and opinions, the authors conclude that managers should facilitate the development of meaningful relationships at work.Originality/valueWhereas prior research has found conflict (i.e. task and relationship) to negatively associate with performance, the authors show that social networks do affect the strength of the relationship between conflict (i.e. task and relationship) and performance.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens Zur Regulates the High-Affinity Zinc Uptake System TroCBA and the Putative Metal Chaperone YciC, along with ZinT and ZnuABC, for Survival under Zinc-Limiting Conditions
Authors: Chaoprasid Paweena , Dokpikul Thanittra , Johnrod Jaruwan , Sirirakphaisarn Sirin , Nookabkaew Sumontha , Sukchawalit Rojana , Mongkolsuk Skorn 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

Agrobacterium tumefaciens
has a cluster of genes (Atu3178, Atu3179, and Atu3180) encoding an ABC-type transporter, here named
troA
,
troB
, and
troC
, respectively, which is shown here to be a zinc-specific uptake system. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis confirmed that
troA
,
troB
, and
troC
are cotranscribed, with
troC
as the first gene of the operon. The
yciC
(Atu3181) gene is transcribed in the opposite orientation to that of the
troCBA
operon and belongs to a metal-binding GTPase family. Expression of
troCBA
and
yciC
was inducible under zinc-limiting conditions and was controlled by the zinc uptake regulator, Zur. Compared to the wild type, the mutant strain lacking
troC
was hypersensitive to a metal chelator, EDTA, and the phenotype could be rescued by the addition of zinc, while the strain with a single
yciC
mutation showed no phenotype. However,
yciC
was important for survival under zinc limitation when either
troC
or
zinT
was inactivated. The periplasmic zinc-binding protein, ZinT, could not function when TroC was inactivated, suggesting that ZinT may interact with TroCBA in zinc uptake. Unlike many other bacteria, the ABC-type transporter ZnuABC was not the major zinc uptake system in
A. tumefaciens
. However, the important role of
A. tumefaciens
ZnuABC was revealed when TroCBA was impaired. The strain containing double mutations in the
znuA
and
troC
genes exhibited a growth defect in minimal medium.
A. tumefaciens
requires cooperation of zinc uptake systems and zinc chaperones, including TroCBA, ZnuABC, ZinT, and YciC, for survival under a wide range of zinc-limiting conditions.

IMPORTANCE
Both host and pathogen battle over access to essential metals, including zinc. In low-zinc environments, physiological responses that make it possible to acquire enough zinc are important for bacterial survival and could determine the outcome of host-pathogen interactions.
A. tumefaciens
was found to operate a novel pathway for zinc uptake in which ZinT functions in concert with the high-affinity zinc importer TroCBA.
Genomic Resolution of Outbreak-Associated Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Isolates from New York State
Authors: Raphael Brian H. , Baker Deborah J. , Nazarian Elizabeth , Lapierre Pascal , Bopp Dianna , Kozak-Muiznieks Natalia A. , Morrison Shatavia S. , Lucas Claressa E. , Mercante Jeffrey W. , Musser Kimberlee A. , Winchell Jonas M. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

A total of 30
Legionella pneumophila
serogroup 1 isolates representing 10 separate legionellosis laboratory investigations (“outbreaks”) that occurred in New York State between 2004 and 2012 were selected for evaluation of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) approaches for molecular subtyping of this organism. Clinical and environmental isolates were available for each outbreak and were initially examined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Sequence-based typing alleles were extracted from WGS data yielding complete sequence types (ST) for isolates representing 8 out of the 10 outbreaks evaluated in this study. Isolates from separate outbreaks sharing the same ST also contained the fewest differences in core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the greatest proportion of identical allele sequences in a whole-genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST) scheme. Both core SNP and wgMLST analyses distinguished isolates from separate outbreaks, including those from two outbreaks sharing indistinguishable PFGE profiles. Isolates from a hospital-associated outbreak spanning multiple years shared indistinguishable PFGE profiles but displayed differences in their genome sequences, suggesting the presence of multiple environmental sources. Finally, the
rtx
gene demonstrated differences in the repeat region sequence among ST1 isolates from different outbreaks, suggesting that variation in this gene may be useful for targeted molecular subtyping approaches for
L. pneumophila
. This study demonstrates the utility of various genome sequence analysis approaches for
L. pneumophila
for environmental source attribution studies while furthering the understanding of
Legionella
ecology.

IMPORTANCE
We demonstrate that whole-genome sequencing helps to improve resolution of
Legionella pneumophila
isolated during laboratory investigations of legionellosis compared to traditional subtyping methods. These data can be important in confirming the environmental sources of legionellosis outbreaks. Moreover, we evaluated various methods to analyze genome sequence data to help resolve outbreak-related isolates.
Species Diversity of Environmental GIM-1-Producing Bacteria Collected during a Long-Term Outbreak
Authors: Wendel Andreas F. , Ressina Sofija , Kolbe-Busch Susanne , Pfeffer Klaus , MacKenzie Colin R. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

Reports of outbreaks concerning carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria in which the main source of transmission is the hospital environment are increasing. This study describes the results of environmental sampling in a protracted polyspecies metallo-beta-lactamase GIM-1 outbreak driven by plasmids and bacterial clones of
Enterobacter cloacae
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
in a tertiary care center. Environmental sampling targeting wet locations (especially sinks) was carried out on a surgical intensive care unit and on a medical ward on several occasions in 2012 and 2013. We were able to demonstrate 43
bla
GIM-1
-carrying bacteria (mainly nonfermenters but also
Enterobacteriaceae
) that were either related or unrelated to clinical strains in 30 sinks and one hair washbasin. GIM-1 was found in 12 different species, some of which are described here as carriers of GIM-1. Forty out of 43 bacteria displayed resistance to carbapenems and, in addition, to various non-beta-lactam antibiotics. Colistin resistance was observed in two
E. cloacae
isolates with MICs above 256 mg/liter. The
bla
GIM-1
gene was harbored in 12 different class 1 integrons, some without the typical 3′ end. The
bla
GIM-1
gene was localized on plasmids in five isolates.
In vitro
plasmid transfer by conjugation was successful in one isolate. The environment, with putatively multispecies biofilms, seems to be an important biological niche for multidrug-resistant bacteria and resistance genes. Biofilms may serve as a “melting pot” for horizontal gene transfer, for dissemination into new species, and as a reservoir to propagate future hospital outbreaks.

IMPORTANCE
In Gram-negative bacteria, resistance to the clinically relevant broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotics is a major public health concern. Major reservoirs for these resistant organisms are not only the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans but also the (hospital) environment. Due to the difficulty in eradicating biofilm formation in the latter, a sustained dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria from the environment can occur. In addition, horizontal transfer of resistance genes on mobile genetic elements within biofilms adds to the total “resistance gene pool” in the environment. To gain insight into the transmission pathways of a rare and locally restricted carbapenemases resistance gene (
bla
GIM-1
), we analyzed the genetic background of the
bla
GIM-1
gene in environmental bacteria during a long-term polyspecies outbreak in a German hospital.
The Role of Bacterial Spores in Metal Cycling and Their Potential Application in Metal Contaminant Bioremediation
Authors: Butterfield Cristina N. , Lee Sung-Woo , Tebo Bradley M. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT
Bacteria are one of the premier biological forces that, in combination with chemical and physical forces, drive metal availability in the environment. Bacterial spores, when found in the environment, are often considered to be dormant and metabolically inactive, in a resting state waiting for favorable conditions for them to germinate. However, this is a highly oversimplified view of spores in the environment. The surface of bacterial spores represents a potential site for chemical reactions to occur. Additionally, proteins in the outer layers (spore coats or exosporium) may also have more specific catalytic activity. As a consequence, bacterial spores can play a role in geochemical processes and may indeed find uses in various biotechnological applications. The aim of this review is to introduce the role of bacteria and bacterial spores in biogeochemical cycles and their potential use as toxic metal bioremediation agents.
Population Phylogenomics of Extraintestinal PathogenicEscherichia coli
Authors: Tourret Jérôme , Denamur Erick 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTThe emergence of genomics over the last 10 years has provided new insights into the evolution and virulence of extraintestinalEscherichia coli. By combining population genetics and phylogenetic approaches to analyze whole-genome sequences, it became possible to link genomic features to specific phenotypes, such as the ability to cause urinary tract infections. AnE. colichromosome can vary extensively in length, ranging from 4.3 to 6.2 Mb, encoding 4,084 to 6,453 proteins. This huge diversity is structured as a set of less than 2,000 genes (core genome) that are conserved between all the strains and a set of variable genes. Based on the core genome, the history of the species can be reliably reconstructed, revealing the recent emergence of phylogenetic groups A and B1 and the more ancient groups B2, F, and D. Urovirulence is most often observed in B2/F/D group strains and is a multigenic process involving numerous combinations of genes and specific alleles with epistatic interactions, all leading down multiple evolutionary paths. The genes involved mainly code for adhesins, toxins, iron capture systems, and protectins, as well as metabolic pathways and mutation-rate-control systems. However, the barrier between commensal and uropathogenicE. colistrains is difficult to draw as the factors that are responsible for virulence have probably also been selected to allow survival ofE. colias a commensal in the intestinal tract. Genomic studies have also demonstrated that infections are not the result of a unique and stable isolate, but rather often involve several isolates with variable levels of diversity that dynamically changes over time.
Contrasting Lifestyles Within the Host Cell
Authors: Case Elizabeth Di Russo , Samuel James E. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTIntracellular bacterial pathogens have evolved to exploit the protected niche provided within the boundaries of a eukaryotic host cell. Upon entering a host cell, some bacteria can evade the adaptive immune response of its host and replicate in a relatively nutrient-rich environment devoid of competition from other host flora. Growth within a host cell is not without their hazards, however. Many pathogens enter their hosts through receptor-mediated endocytosis or phagocytosis, two intracellular trafficking pathways that terminate in a highly degradative organelle, the phagolysosome. This usually deadly compartment is maintained at a low pH and contains degradative enzymes and reactive oxygen species, resulting in an environment to which few bacterial species are adapted. Some intracellular pathogens, such asShigella,Listeria,Francisella, andRickettsia, escape the phagosome to replicate within the cytosol of the host cell. Bacteria that remain within a vacuole either alter the trafficking of their initial phagosomal compartment or adapt to survive within the harsh environment it will soon become. In this chapter, we focus on the mechanisms by which different vacuolar pathogens either evade lysosomal fusion, as in the case ofMycobacteriumandChlamydia, or allow interaction with lysosomes to varying degrees, such asBrucellaandCoxiella, and their specific adaptations to inhabit a replicative niche.
Staying Alive:
Vibrio cholerae
’s Cycle of Environmental Survival, Transmission, and Dissemination
Authors: Conner Jenna G. , Teschler Jennifer K. , Jones Christopher J. , Yildiz Fitnat H. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

Infectious diseases kill nearly 9 million people annually. Bacterial pathogens are responsible for a large proportion of these diseases, and the bacterial agents of pneumonia, diarrhea, and tuberculosis are leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Increasingly, the crucial role of nonhost environments in the life cycle of bacterial pathogens is being recognized. Heightened scrutiny has been given to the biological processes impacting pathogen dissemination and survival in the natural environment, because these processes are essential for the transmission of pathogenic bacteria to new hosts. This chapter focuses on the model environmental pathogen
Vibrio cholerae
to describe recent advances in our understanding of how pathogens survive between hosts and to highlight the processes necessary to support the cycle of environmental survival, transmission, and dissemination. We describe the physiological and molecular responses of
V. cholerae
to changing environmental conditions, focusing on its survival in aquatic reservoirs between hosts and its entry into and exit from human hosts.
Evolution of Bacterial Pathogens Within the Human Host
Authors: Bliven Kimberly A. , Maurelli Anthony T. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT
Selective pressures within the human host, including interactions with innate and adaptive immune responses, exposure to medical interventions such as antibiotics, and competition with commensal microbiota all facilitate the evolution of bacterial pathogens. In this chapter, we present examples of pathogen strategies that emerged as a result of selective pressures within the human host niche and discuss the resulting coevolutionary “arms race” between these organisms. In bacterial pathogens, many of the genes responsible for these strategies are encoded on mobile pathogenicity islands or plasmids, underscoring the importance of horizontal gene transfer in the emergence of virulent microbial species.
Microbial Endocrinology in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease
Authors: Lyte Mark 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT
Microbial endocrinology represents the intersection of two seemingly disparate fields, microbiology and neurobiology, and is based on the shared presence of neurochemicals that are exactly the same in host as well as in the microorganism. The ability of microorganisms to not only respond to, but also produce, many of the same neurochemicals that are produced by the host, such as during periods of stress, has led to the introduction of this evolutionary-based mechanism which has a role in the pathogenesis of infectious disease. The consideration of microbial endocrinology–based mechanisms has demonstrated, for example, that the prevalent use of catecholamine-based synthetic drugs in the clinical setting contributes to the formation of biofilms in indwelling medical devices. Production of neurochemicals by microorganisms most often employs the same biosynthetic pathways as those utilized by the host, indicating that acquisition of host neurochemical-based signaling system in the host may have been acquired due to lateral gene transfer from microorganisms. That both host and microorganism produce and respond to the very same neurochemicals means that there is bidirectionality contained with the theoretical underpinnings of microbial endocrinology. This can be seen in the role of microbial endocrinology in the microbiota-gut-brain axis and its relevance to infectious disease. Such shared pathways argue for a role of microorganism-neurochemical interactions in infectious disease.
The Staphylococcal Biofilm: Adhesins, Regulation, and Host Response
Authors: Paharik Alexandra E. , Horswill Alexander R. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTThe staphylococci comprise a diverse genus of Gram-positive, nonmotile commensal organisms that inhabit the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other mammals. In general, staphylococci are benign members of the natural flora, but many species have the capacity to be opportunistic pathogens, mainly infecting individuals who have medical device implants or are otherwise immunocompromised.Staphylococcus aureusandStaphylococcus epidermidisare major sources of hospital-acquired infections and are the most common causes of surgical site infections and medical device-associated bloodstream infections. The ability of staphylococci to form biofilmsin vivomakes them highly resistant to chemotherapeutics and leads to chronic diseases. These biofilm infections include osteomyelitis, endocarditis, medical device infections, and persistence in the cystic fibrosis lung. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of our current understanding of staphylococcal biofilm formation, with an emphasis on adhesins and regulation, while also addressing how staphylococcal biofilms interact with the immune system. On the whole, this review will provide a thorough picture of biofilm formation of the staphylococcus genus and how this mode of growth impacts the host.
Organ manifestations and long-term outcome of Fabry disease in patients with the GLA haplotype D313Y
Authors: Oder Daniel , Üçeyler Nurcan , Liu Dan , Hu Kai , Petritsch Bernhard , Sommer Claudia , Ertl Georg , Wanner Christoph , Nordbeck Peter 
Published: April 2016

ObjectivesThe severity of Fabry disease is dependent on the type of mutation in the α-galactosidase A (AgalA) encoding gene (GLA). This study focused on the impact of the GLA haplotype D313Y on long-term organ involvement and function.Setting and participantsIn this monocentric study, all participants presenting with the D313Y haplotype between 2001 and 2015 were comprehensively clinically investigated at baseline and during a 4-year follow-up if available. Five females and one male were included.Primary and secondary outcome measuresCardiac, nephrological, neurological, laboratory and quality of life data.ResultsAgalA enzyme activity in leucocytes (0.3±0.9 nmol/min/mg protein (mean±SD)) and serum lyso-Gb3 (0.6±0.3 ng/mL at baseline) were in normal range in all patients. Cardiac morphology and function were normal (left-ventricular (LV) ejection fraction 66±8%; interventricular septum 7.7±1.4 mm; LV posterior wall 7.5±1.4 mm; normalised LV mass in MRI 52±9 g/m2; LV global longitudinal strain −21.6±1.9%) and there were no signs of myocardial fibrosis in cardiac MRI. Cardiospecific biomarkers were also in normal range. Renal function was not impaired (estimated glomerular filtration rate MDRD 103±15 mL/min; serum-creatinine 0.75±0.07 mg/dL; cystatin-c 0.71±0.12 mg/L). One female patient (also carrying a Factor V Leiden mutation) had a transitory ischaemic attack. One patient showed white matter lesions in brain MRI, but none had Fabry-associated pain attacks, pain crises, evoked pain or permanent pain. Health-related quality of life analysis revealed a reduction in individual well-being. At long-term follow-up after 4 years, no significant change was seen in any parameter.ConclusionsThe results of the current study suggest that the D313Y genotype does not lead to severe organ manifestations as seen in genotypes known to be causal for classical FD.