bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An antibody that confers plant disease resistance targets a membrane‐bound glyoxal oxidase in Fusarium
Authors: Song Xiu‐Shi , Xing Shu , Li He‐Ping , Zhang Jing‐Bo , Qu Bo , Jiang Jin‐He , Fan Chao , Yang Peng , Liu Jin‐Long , Hu Zu‐Quan , Xue Sheng , Liao Yu‐Cai 
Published: December 2015

Summary

Plant germplasm resources with natural resistance against globally important toxigenic Fusarium are inadequate. CWP2, a Fusarium genus‐specific antibody, confers durable resistance to different Fusarium pathogens that infect cereals and other crops, producing mycotoxins. However, the nature of the CWP2 target is not known. Thus, investigation of the gene coding for the CWP2 antibody target will likely provide critical insights into the mechanism underlying the resistance mediated by this disease‐resistance antibody.

Immunoblots and mass spectrometry analysis of two‐dimensional electrophoresis gels containing cell wall proteins from Fusarium graminearum (Fg) revealed that a glyoxal oxidase (GLX) is the CWP2 antigen. Cellular localization studies showed that GLX is localized to the plasma membrane.

This GLX efficiently catalyzes hydrogen peroxide production; this enzymatic activity was specifically inhibited by the CWP2 antibody. GLX‐deletion strains of Fg, F. verticillioides (Fv) and F. oxysporum had significantly reduced virulence on plants. The GLX‐deletion Fg and Fv strains had markedly reduced mycotoxin accumulation, and the expression of key genes in mycotoxin metabolism was downregulated.

This study reveals a single gene‐encoded and highly conserved cellular surface antigen that is specifically recognized by the disease‐resistance antibody CWP2 and regulates both virulence and mycotoxin biosynthesis in Fusarium species.
Pathogenicity of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus towards leaves of three European ash species: Fraxinus excelsior, F. angustifolia and F. ornus
Authors: Schwanda K. , Kirisits T. 
Published: December 2015

This study aimed to demonstrate the association of the ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus with leaf symptoms on Fraxinus excelsior and to test its pathogenicity towards leaves of three European ash species, F. excelsior, F. angustifolia and F. ornus, in wound inoculation experiments. On F. excelsior, H. fraxineus was isolated from 94% of leaf rachises with necrotic lesions and from 74% of necrotic leaflet midribs. Following wound inoculation of leaf rachises, in two separate experiments performed in 2010 and 2011, the ash dieback pathogen caused symptoms (necrotic rachis lesions, leaf wilting and premature leaf shedding) on all three ash species, while control leaves remained symptomless. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was consistently reisolated from fungus‐inoculated rachises. All 10 isolates tested were pathogenic to the three ash species and varied in virulence. Koch's postulates for H. fraxineus as causal agent of leaf symptoms on F. excelsior were fulfilled in this study. Complemented with the isolation of the fungus from naturally infected, symptomatic leaf rachises of F. angustifolia and F. ornus in previous investigations, H. fraxineus was confirmed to be a leaf pathogen of these ash species as well. The leaf inoculation experiments showed that F. excelsior was highly susceptible to H. fraxineus, F. angustifolia was equally or slightly less susceptible, whereas F. ornus was the least affected species; however, F. ornus should also be regarded as a host tree for the ash dieback pathogen. This susceptibility ranking corresponds well with field observations and previous stem inoculation experiments.
On Estimation of the Noise Variance in High Dimensional Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Passemier Damien , Li Zhaoyuan , Yao Jianfeng 
Published: December 2015

Summary
We develop new statistical theory for probabilistic principal component analysis models in high dimensions. The focus is the estimation of the noise variance, which is an important and unresolved issue when the number of variables is large in comparison with the sample size. We first unveil the reasons for an observed downward bias of the maximum likelihood estimator of the noise variance when the data dimension is high. We then propose a bias-corrected estimator by using random-matrix theory and establish its asymptotic normality. The superiority of the new and bias-corrected estimator over existing alternatives is checked by Monte Carlo experiments with various combinations of (p, n) (the dimension and sample size). Next, we construct a new criterion based on the bias-corrected estimator to determine the number of the principal components, and a consistent estimator is obtained. Its good performance is confirmed by a simulation study and real data analysis. The bias-corrected estimator is also used to derive new asymptotics for the related goodness-of-fit statistic under the high dimensional scheme.
Genome‐wide screen of genes imprinted in sorghum endosperm, and the roles of allelic differential cytosine methylation
Authors: Zhang Meishan , Li Ning , He Wenan , Zhang Huakun , Yang Wei , Liu Bao 
Published: December 2015

SummaryImprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon referring to allele‐biased expression of certain genes depending on their parent of origin. Accumulated evidence suggests that, while imprinting is a conserved mechanism across kingdoms, the identities of the imprinted genes are largely species‐specific. Using deep RNA sequencing of endosperm 14 days after pollination in sorghum, 5683 genes (29.27% of the total 19 418 expressed genes) were found to harbor diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms between two parental lines. The analysis of parent‐of‐origin expression patterns in the endosperm of a pair of reciprocal F1 hybrids between the two sorghum lines led to identification of 101 genes with ≥ fivefold allelic expression difference in both hybrids, including 85 maternal expressed genes (MEGs) and 16 paternal expressed genes (PEGs). Thirty of these genes were previously identified as imprinted in endosperm of maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa) or Arabidopsis, while the remaining 71 genes are sorghum‐specific imprinted genes relative to these three plant species. Allele‐biased expression of virtually all of the 14 tested imprinted genes (nine MEGs and five PEGs) was validated by pyrosequencing using independent sources of RNA from various developmental stages and dissected parts of endosperm. Forty‐six imprinted genes (30 MEGs and 16 PEGs) were assayed by quantitative RT–PCR, and the majority of them showed endosperm‐specific or preferential expression relative to embryo and other tissues. DNA methylation analysis of the 5’ upstream region and gene body for seven imprinted genes indicated that, while three of the four PEGs were associated with hypomethylation of maternal alleles, no MEG was associated with allele‐differential methylation.
Impact of a 5‐year deferral from blood donation for men who have sex with men
Authors: O'Brien Sheila F. , Osmond Lori , Fan Wenli , Yi Qi‐Long , Goldman Mindy 
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUNDThe deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) changed from a permanent deferral since 1977 to a 5‐year deferral on July 22, 2013, in Canada. We assessed the impact on safety and adequacy of the blood supply at Canadian Blood Services.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rates were monitored from January 1, 2010, to July 21, 2015. Risk factors were assessed in notification interviews. Anonymous online surveys of male whole blood donors assessed compliance before and after implementation.RESULTSHIV rates were 0.2, 0.5, and 0.51 per 100,000 donations in 2010 to 2012; they were 0.54 and 0.22 in the first and second years after implementation (p = 0.8). Of four male HIV‐positive donors after implementation, three denied risk factors and one knew he had HIV. Before implementation 9669 of 19,437 (49.7%) donors participated in the survey, and after implementation, 6881 of 18,934 (36.3%). Before implementation 0.67% of male donors were noncompliant, and after implementation, 0.44%. There was no difference before versus after implementation in male donors with MSM history in the past 5 years (0.37% vs. 0.43%, p = 0.54). After implementation, eligible MSM donors increased (0.42% vs. 0.66%, p = 0.04), with approximately 500 more donors in 2014.CONCLUSIONImplementation of a 5‐year deferral for MSM had no impact on HIV rates in 2 years of postimplementation monitoring. Donor compliance improved after implementation due to MSM donors who were previously ineligible becoming eligible. There was no change in the percentage of male donors with recent male partners but there was a modest increase in eligible MSM in the donor pool.
Assessment of in vivo fetal growth and placental vascular function in a novel intrauterine growth restriction model of progressive uterine artery occlusion in guinea pigs
Authors: Herrera Emilio A. , Alegría René , Farias Marcelo , Díaz‐López Farah , Hernández Cherie , Uauy Ricardo , Regnault Timothy R. H. , Casanello Paola , Krause Bernardo J. 
Published: December 2015

Key points
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with short‐ and long‐term detrimental cardiometabolic effects.
Mice and rats are commonly used to assess IUGR, but differences in placental and fetal developmental physiology relative to those in humans highlight the need for alternative small animal IUGR models.
We developed a guinea pig IUGR model by gradual occlusion of uterine arteries by ameroid constrictor implantation. In this model, reduced uterine blood flow was associated with IUGR, allowing in vivo assessment of fetal growth trajectory and umbilico‐placental vascular function in conscious animals.
The intervention induces placental vascular dysfunction and remodelling, as well as altered fetal abdominal growth resulting in an asymmetric IUGR and preserved brain growth.

AbstractIntra‐uterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with short and long‐term metabolic and cardiovascular alterations. Mice and rats have been extensively used to study the effects of IUGR, but there are notable differences in fetal and placental physiology relative to those of humans that argue for alternative animal models. This study proposes that gradual occlusion of uterine arteries from mid‐gestation in pregnant guinea pigs produces a novel model to better assess human IUGR. Fetal biometry and in vivo placental vascular function were followed by sonography and Doppler of control pregnant guinea pigs and sows submitted to surgical placement of ameroid constrictors in both uterine arteries (IUGR) at mid‐gestation (35 days). The ameroid constrictors induced a reduction in the fetal abdominal circumference growth rate (0.205 cm day−1) compared to control (0.241 cm day−1, P < 0.001) without affecting biparietal diameter growth. Umbilical artery pulsatility and resistance indexes at 10 and 20 days after surgery were significantly higher in IUGR animals than controls (P < 0.01). These effects were associated with a decrease in the relative luminal area of placental chorionic arteries (21.3 ± 2.2% vs. 33.2 ± 2.7%, P < 0.01) in IUGR sows at near term. Uterine artery intervention reduced fetal (∼30%), placental (∼20%) and liver (∼50%) weights (P < 0.05), with an increased brain to liver ratio (P < 0.001) relative to the control group. These data demonstrate that the ameroid constrictor implantations in uterine arteries in pregnant guinea pigs lead to placental vascular dysfunction and altered fetal growth that induces asymmetric IUGR.
Concentration of Sonication Fluid through Centrifugation Is Superior to Membrane Filtration for Microbial Diagnosis of Orthopedic Implant-Associated Infection
Authors: Zitron Renato , Wajsfeld Tali , Klautau Giselle Burlamaqui , da Silva Cely Barreto , Nigro Stanley , Mercadante Marcelo Tomanik , Polesello Giancarlo Cavalli , Cury Ricardo de Paula Leite , Salles Mauro Jose Costa 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT

Microbial identification of orthopedic implant-associated infections using sonication fluid (SF) submitted to a concentration step by membrane filtration (SMF) was compared with the standard centrifugation (SC) method. Among 33 retrieved infected implants, sonication identified microorganisms in 26 (78.8%). The sensitivity of SC was higher than that of SMF (78.8% versus 30.3%;
P
< 0.001).
Coproduction of KPC-18 and VIM-1 Carbapenemases by Enterobacter cloacae: Implications for Newer β-Lactam–β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations
Authors: Thomson Gina K. , Snyder James W. , McElheny Christi L. , Thomson Kenneth S. , Doi Yohei 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT

Enterobacter cloacae
strain G6809 with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems was identified from a patient in a long-term acute care hospital in Kentucky. G6809 belonged to sequence type (ST) 88 and carried two carbapenemase genes,
bla
KPC-18
and
bla
VIM-1
. Whole-genome sequencing localized
bla
KPC-18
to the chromosome and
bla
VIM-1
to a 58-kb plasmid. The strain was highly resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam. Insidious coproduction of metallo-β-lactamase with KPC-type carbapenemase has implications for the use of next-generation β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor combinations.
Comparison of Vitek MS and MALDI Biotyper for Identification of Actinomycetaceae of Clinical Importance
Authors: Ferrand Janina , Hochard Hélène , Girard Victoria , Aissa Nejla , Bogard Baptiste , Alauzet Corentine , Lozniewski Alain 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT

The Vitek MS
in vitro
diagnostic (IVD) and MALDI Biotyper IVD systems were evaluated for the identification of 158 strains of
Actinomycetaceae
. Correct species-level identification rates of 60.7% and 58.2% were obtained with the Vitek MS system after direct deposit and with the MALDI Biotyper system after on-plate formic acid treatment, respectively.
Hemagglutinin Stalk Immunity Reduces Influenza Virus Replication and Transmission in Ferrets
Authors: Nachbagauer Raffael , Miller Matthew S. , Hai Rong , Ryder Alex B. , Rose John K. , Palese Peter , García-Sastre Adolfo , Krammer Florian , Albrecht Randy A. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT
We assessed whether influenza virus hemagglutinin stalk-based immunity protects ferrets against aerosol-transmitted H1N1 influenza virus infection. Immunization of ferrets by a universal influenza virus vaccine strategy based on viral vectors expressing chimeric hemagglutinin constructs induced stalk-specific antibody responses. Stalk-immunized ferrets were cohoused with H1N1-infected ferrets under conditions that permitted virus transmission. Hemagglutinin stalk-immunized ferrets had lower viral titers and delayed or no virus replication at all following natural exposure to influenza virus.
Nonstructural 5A Protein of Hepatitis C Virus Regulates Soluble Resistance-Related Calcium-Binding Protein Activity for Viral Propagation
Authors: Tran Giao V. Q. , Luong Trang T. D. , Park Eun-Mee , Kim Jong-Wook , Choi Jae-Woong , Park Chorong , Lim Yun-Sook , Hwang Soon B. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease and is highly dependent on cellular proteins for virus propagation. To identify the cellular factors involved in HCV propagation, we recently performed protein microarray assays using the HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein as a probe. Of 90 cellular protein candidates, we selected the soluble resistance-related calcium-binding protein (sorcin) for further characterization. Sorcin is a calcium-binding protein and is highly expressed in certain cancer cells. We verified that NS5A interacted with sorcin through domain I of NS5A, and phosphorylation of the threonine residue 155 of sorcin played a crucial role in protein interaction. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of sorcin impaired HCV propagation. Silencing of sorcin expression resulted in a decrease of HCV assembly without affecting HCV RNA and protein levels. We further demonstrated that polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1)-mediated phosphorylation of sorcin was increased by NS5A. We showed that both phosphorylation and calcium-binding activity of sorcin were required for HCV propagation. These data indicate that HCV modulates sorcin activity via NS5A protein for its own propagation.IMPORTANCESorcin is a calcium-binding protein and regulates intracellular calcium homeostasis. HCV NS5A interacts with sorcin, and phosphorylation of sorcin is required for protein interaction. Gene silencing of sorcin impaired HCV propagation at the assembly step of the HCV life cycle. Sorcin is phosphorylated by PLK1 via protein interaction. We showed that sorcin interacted with both NS5A and PLK1, and PLK1-mediated phosphorylation of sorcin was increased by NS5A. Moreover, calcium-binding activity of sorcin played a crucial role in HCV propagation. These data provide evidence that HCV regulates host calcium metabolism for virus propagation, and thus manipulation of sorcin activity may represent a novel therapeutic target for HCV.
Parainfluenza Virus 3 Blocks Antiviral Mediators Downstream of the Interferon Lambda Receptor by Modulating Stat1 Phosphorylation
Authors: Eberle Kirsten C. , McGill Jodi L. , Reinhardt Timothy A. , Sacco Randy E. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT

Parainfluenza viruses are known to inhibit type I interferon (IFN) production; however, there is a lack of information regarding the type III IFN response during infection. Type III IFNs signal through a unique heterodimeric receptor, IFN-λR1/interleukin-10R2 (IL-10R2), which is primarily expressed by epithelial cells. Parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV-3) infection is highly restricted to the airway epithelium. We therefore sought to examine type III IFN signaling pathways during PIV-3 infection of epithelial cells. We used three strains of PIV-3: human PIV-3 (HPIV-3), bovine PIV-3 (BPIV-3), and dolphin PIV-1 (
Tursiops truncatus
PIV-1, or TtPIV-1). Here, we show that message levels of IL-29 are significantly increased during PIV-3 infection, yet downstream antiviral signaling molecules are not upregulated to levels similar to those of the positive control. Furthermore, in Vero cells infected with PIV-3, stimulation with recombinant IL-29/-28A/-28B does not cause upregulation of downstream antiviral molecules, suggesting that PIV-3 interferes with the JAK/STAT pathway downstream of the IFN-λR1/IL-10R2 receptor. We used Western blotting to examine the phosphorylation of Stat1 and Stat2 in Vero cells and the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. In Vero cells, we observed reduced phosphorylation of the serine 727 (S727) site on Stat1, while in BEAS-2B cells Stat1 phosphorylation was decreased at the tyrosine 701 (Y701) site during PIV-3 infection. PIV-3 therefore interferes with the phosphorylation of Stat1 downstream of the type III IFN receptor. These data provide new evidence regarding strategies employed by parainfluenza viruses to effectively circumvent respiratory epithelial cell-specific antiviral immunity.

IMPORTANCE
Parainfluenza virus (PIV) in humans is associated with bronchiolitis and pneumonia and can be especially problematic in infants and the elderly. Also seen in cattle, bovine PIV-3 causes respiratory infections in young calves. In addition, PIV-3 is one of a number of pathogens that contribute to the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). As their name suggests, interferons (IFNs) are produced by cells to interfere with viral replication. Paramyxoviruses have previously been shown to block production and downstream signaling of type I IFNs. For the first time, it is shown here that PIV-3 can induce protective type III IFNs in epithelial cells, the primary site of PIV-3 infection. However, we found that PIV-3 modulates signaling pathways downstream of the type III IFN receptor to block production of several specific molecules that aid in a productive antiviral response. Importantly, this work expands our understanding of how PIV-3 effectively evades host innate immunity.
Human Cytomegalovirus US28 Is Important for Latent Infection of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells
Authors: Humby Monica S. , O'Connor Christine M. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) resides latently in hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). During latency, only a subset of HCMV genes is transcribed, including one of the four virus-encoded G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), US28. Although US28 is a multifunctional lytic protein, its function during latency has remained undefined. We generated a panel of US28 recombinant viruses in the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-derived clinical HCMV strain TB40/E-mCherry. We deleted the entire US28 open reading frame (ORF), deleted all four of the viral GPCR ORFs, or deleted three of the HCMV GPCRs but not the US28 wild-type protein. Using these recombinant viruses, we assessed the requirement for US28 during latency in the Kasumi-3in vitrolatency model system and in primaryex vivo-cultured CD34+HPCs. Our data suggest that US28 is required for latency as infection with viruses lacking the US28 ORF alone or in combination with the remaining HCMV-encoded GPCR results in transcription from the major immediate early promoter, the production of extracellular virions, and the production of infectious virus capable of infecting naive fibroblasts. The other HCMV GPCRs are not required for this phenotype as a virus expressing only US28 but not the remaining virus-encoded GPCRs is phenotypically similar to that of wild-type latent infection. Finally, we found that US28 copurifies with mature virions and is expressed in HPCs upon virus entry although its expression at the time of infection does not complement the US28 deletion latency phenotype. This work suggests that US28 protein functions to promote a latent state within hematopoietic progenitor cells.IMPORTANCEHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen that, once acquired, remains with its host for life. HCMV remains latent, or quiescent, in cells of the hematopoietic compartment and upon immune challenge can reactivate to cause disease. HCMV-encoded US28 is one of several genes expressed during latency although its biological function during this phase of infection has remained undefined. Here, we show that US28 aids in promoting experimental latency in tissue culture.