bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic response induced by parasitic plant-fungus interactions hinder amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism in the host
Authors: Lee Dong-Kyu , Ahn Soohyun , Cho Hae Yoon , Yun Hye Young , Park Jeong Hill , Lim Johan , Lee Jeongmi , Kwon Sung Won 
Published: November 2016

AbstractInfestation by the biotrophic pathogen Gymnosporangium asiaticum can be devastating for plant of the family Rosaceae. However, the phytopathology of this process has not been thoroughly elucidated. Using a metabolomics approach, we discovered the intrinsic activities that induce disease symptoms after fungal invasion in terms of microbe-induced metabolic responses. Through metabolic pathway enrichment and mapping, we found that the host altered its metabolite levels, resulting in accumulation of tetrose and pentose sugar alcohols, in response to this fungus. We then used a multiple linear regression model to evaluate the effect of the interaction between this abnormal accumulation of sugar alcohol and the group variable (control/parasitism). The results revealed that this accumulation resulted in deficiency in the supply of specific sugars, which led to a lack of amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. Halting this metabolism could hamper pivotal functions in the plant host, including cell wall synthesis and lesion repair. In conclusion, our findings indicate that altered metabolic responses that occur during fungal parasitism can cause deficiency in substrates in pivotal pathways and thereby trigger pathological symptoms.
Caterpillar-induced plant volatiles attract conspecific adults in nature
Authors: El-Sayed Ashraf M. , Knight Alan L. , Byers John A. , Judd Gary J. R. , Suckling David M. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractPlants release volatiles in response to caterpillar feeding that attract natural enemies of the herbivores, a tri-trophic interaction which has been considered an indirect plant defence against herbivores. The caterpillar-induced plant volatiles have been reported to repel or attract conspecific adult herbivores. To date however, no volatile signals that either repel or attract conspecific adults under field conditions have been chemically identified. Apple seedlings uniquely released seven compounds including acetic acid, acetic anhydride, benzyl alcohol, benzyl nitrile, indole, 2-phenylethanol, and (E)-nerolidol only when infested by larvae of the light brown apple moth,Epiphyas postvittana. In field tests in New Zealand, a blend of two of these, benzyl nitrile and acetic acid, attracted a large number of conspecific male and female adult moths. In North America, male and female adults of the tortricid, oblique-banded leafroller,Choristoneura rosaceana, were most attracted to a blend of 2-phenylethanol and acetic acid. Both sexes of the eye-spotted bud moth,Spilonota ocellana, were highly attracted to a blend of benzyl nitrile and acetic acid. This study provides the first identification of caterpillar-induced plant volatiles that attract conspecific adult herbivores under natural conditions, challenging the expectation of herbivore avoidance of these induced volatiles.
Nanomolar oligomerization and selective co-aggregation of α-synuclein pathogenic mutants revealed by single-molecule fluorescence
Authors: Sierecki Emma , Giles Nichole , Bowden Quill , Polinkovsky Mark E. , Steinbeck Janina , Arrioti Nicholas , Rahman Diya , Bhumkar Akshay , Nicovich Philip R. , Ross Ian , Parton Robert G. , Böcking Till , Gambin Yann 
Published: November 2016

AbstractProtein aggregation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, notably Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the presence of Lewy bodies, abnormal aggregates mainly composed of α-synuclein. Moreover, cases of familial Parkinson’s disease have been linked to mutations in α-synuclein. In this study, we compared the behavior of wild-type (WT) α-synuclein and five of its pathological mutants (A30P, E46K, H50Q, G51D and A53T). To this end, single-molecule fluorescence detection was coupled to cell-free protein expression to measure precisely the oligomerization of proteins without purification, denaturation or labelling steps. In these conditions, we could detect the formation of oligomeric and pre-fibrillar species at very short time scale and low micromolar concentrations. The pathogenic mutants surprisingly segregated into two classes: one group forming large aggregates and fibrils while the other tending to form mostly oligomers. Strikingly, co-expression experiments reveal that members from the different groups do not generally interact with each other, both at the fibril and monomer levels. Together, this data paints a completely different picture of α-synuclein aggregation, with two possible pathways leading to the development of fibrils.
Down-regulation of coasy, the gene associated with NBIA-VI, reduces Bmp signaling, perturbs dorso-ventral patterning and alters neuronal development in zebrafish
Authors: Khatri Deepak , Zizioli Daniela , Tiso Natascia , Facchinello Nicola , Vezzoli Sara , Gianoncelli Alessandra , Memo Maurizio , Monti Eugenio , Borsani Giuseppe , Finazzi Dario 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMutations in Pantothenate kinase 2 and Coenzyme A (CoA) synthase (COASY), genes involved in CoA biosynthesis, are associated with rare neurodegenerative disorders with brain iron accumulation. We showed that zebrafish pank2 gene plays an essential role in brain and vasculature development. Now we extended our study to coasy. The gene has high level of sequence identity with the human ortholog and is ubiquitously expressed from the earliest stages of development. The abrogation of its expression led to strong reduction of CoA content, high lethality and a phenotype resembling to that of dorsalized mutants. Lower doses of morpholino resulted in a milder phenotype, with evident perturbation in neurogenesis and formation of vascular arborization; the dorso-ventral patterning was severely affected, the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) receptors and activity were decreased, while cell death increased. These features specifically correlated with the block in CoA biosynthesis and were rescued by the addition of CoA to fish water and the overexpression of the human wild-type, but not mutant gene. These results confirm the absolute requirement for adequate levels of CoA for proper neural and vascular development in zebrafish and point to the Bmp pathway as a possible molecular connection underlining the observed phenotype.
Selected Biomarkers Revealed Potential Skin Toxicity Caused by Certain Copper Compounds
Authors: Li Hairui , Toh Pei Zhen , Tan Jia Yao , Zin Melvin T. , Lee Chi-Ying , Li Bo , Leolukman Melvina , Bao Hongqian , Kang Lifeng 
Published: November 2016

AbstractCopper is an essential mineral and plays important roles in skin growth and activity. Copper delivery through skin can provide beneficial effects but its potential to induce skin irritation reactions is often overlooked. Data on dermal toxicity caused by copper compounds is scant. Some recognizedin vitroskin toxicity methods are unsuitable for all metal compounds. Here, we employ a keratinocyte-based model and evaluated the skin irritation potential of copper compounds at cellular, genomic and proteomic levels. We determined cell viability and cytotoxicity by using tetrazolium reduction assay and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, performed real-time PCR and protein quantification to assess the expression of biomarkers after treating cells with copper peptide (GHK-Cu), copper chloride (CuCl2) and copper acetate (Cu(OAc)2). These copper compounds exhibited different irritancy potentials at the same treatment concentrations. GHK-Cu was not cytotoxic and did not induce any significant change in the expression levels of various skin irritation-related biomarkers. IL-1α and IL-8, HSPA1A and FOSL1 were significantly upregulated following 24-h treatment with CuCl2and Cu(OAc)2at 58 and 580 μM without concomitant inhibition in cell viability. GHK-Cu has a low potential of inducing skin irritation and therefore provides a safer alternative for the delivery of copper through skin.
Parity–time-symmetric circular Bragg lasers: a proposal and analysis
Authors: Gu Jiahua , Xi Xiang , Ma Jingwen , Yu Zejie , Sun Xiankai 
Published: November 2016

AbstractWe propose a new type of semiconductor lasers by implementing the concept of parity–time symmetry in a two-dimensional circular Bragg grating structure, where both the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index are modulated along the radial direction. The laser modal properties are analyzed with a transfer-matrix method and are verified with numerical simulation of a practical design. Compared with conventional distributed-feedback lasers with modulation of only the real part of refractive index, the parity–time-symmetric circular Bragg lasers feature reduced threshold and enhanced modal discrimination, which in combination with the intrinsic circularly symmetric, large emission aperture are clear advantages in applications that require mode-hop-free, high-power, single-mode laser operation.
Stress Wave Propagation in Two-dimensional Buckyball Lattice
Authors: Xu Jun , Zheng Bowen 
Published: November 2016

AbstractOrderly arrayed granular crystals exhibit extraordinary capability to tune stress wave propagation. Granular system of higher dimension renders many more stress wave patterns, showing its great potential for physical and engineering applications. At nanoscale, one-dimensionally arranged buckyball (C60) system has shown the ability to support solitary wave. In this paper, stress wave behaviors of two-dimensional buckyball (C60) lattice are investigated based on square close packing and hexagonal close packing. We show that the square close packed system supports highly directional Nesterenko solitary waves along initially excited chains and hexagonal close packed system tends to distribute the impulse and dissipates impact exponentially. Results of numerical calculations based on a two-dimensional nonlinear spring model are in a good agreement with the results of molecular dynamics simulations. This work enhances the understanding of wave properties and allows manipulations of nanoscale lattice and novel design of shock mitigation and nanoscale energy harvesting devices.
Dendritic cell function and pathogen-specific T cell immunity are inhibited in mice administered levonorgestrel prior to intranasal Chlamydia trachomatis infection
Authors: Quispe Calla Nirk E. , Vicetti Miguel Rodolfo D. , Mei Ao , Fan Shumin , Gilmore Jocelyn R. , Cherpes Thomas L. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe growing popularity of levonorgestrel (LNG)-releasing intra-uterine systems for long-acting reversible contraception provides strong impetus to define immunomodulatory properties of this exogenous progestin. In initial in vitro studies herein, we found LNG significantly impaired activation of human dendritic cell (DCs) and their capacity to promote allogeneic T cell proliferation. In follow-up studies in a murine model of intranasal Chlamydia trachomatis infection, we analogously found that LNG treatment prior to infection dramatically reduced CD40 expression in DCs isolated from draining lymph nodes at 2 days post infection (dpi). At 12 dpi, we also detected significantly fewer CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the lungs of LNG-treated mice. This inhibition of DC activation and T cell expansion in LNG-treated mice also delayed chlamydial clearance and the resolution of pulmonary inflammation. Conversely, administering agonist anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody to LNG-treated mice at 1 dpi restored lung T cell numbers and chlamydial burden at 12 dpi to levels seen in infected controls. Together, these studies reveal that LNG suppresses DC activation and function, and inhibits formation of pathogen-specific T cell immunity. They also highlight the need for studies that define in vivo effects of LNG use on human host response to microbial pathogens.
Host-derived extracellular RNA promotes adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae to endothelial and epithelial cells
Authors: Zakrzewicz Dariusz , Bergmann Simone , Didiasova Miroslava , Giaimo Benedetto Daniele , Borggrefe Tilman , Mieth Maren , Hocke Andreas C. , Lochnit Guenter , Schaefer Liliana , Hammerschmidt Sven , Preissner Klaus T. , Wygrecka Malgorzata 
Published: November 2016

AbstractStreptococcus pneumoniaeis the most frequent cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The infection process involves bacterial cell surface receptors, which interact with host extracellular matrix components to facilitate colonization and dissemination of bacteria. Here, we investigated the role of host-derived extracellular RNA (eRNA) in the process of pneumococcal alveolar epithelial cell infection. Our study demonstrates that eRNA dose-dependently increasedS. pneumoniaeinvasion of alveolar epithelial cells. Extracellular enolase (Eno), a plasminogen (Plg) receptor, was identified as a novel eRNA-binding protein onS. pneumoniaesurface, and six Eno eRNA-binding sites including a C-terminal 15 amino acid motif containing lysine residue 434 were characterized. Although the substitution of lysine 434 for glycine (K434G) markedly diminished the binding of eRNA to Eno, the adherence to and internalization into alveolar epithelial cells ofS. pneumoniaestrain carrying the C-terminal lysine deletion and the mutation of internal Plg-binding motif were only marginally impaired. Accordingly, using a mass spectrometric approach, we identified seven novel eRNA-binding proteins in pneumococcal cell wall. Given the high number of eRNA-interacting proteins on pneumococci, treatment with RNase1 completely inhibited eRNA-mediated pneumococcal alveolar epithelial cell infection. Our data support further efforts to employ RNAse1 as an antimicrobial agent to combat pneumococcal infectious diseases.
Si doped T6 carbon structure as an anode material for Li-ion batteries: An ab initio study
Authors: Rajkamal A. , Kumar E. Mathan , Kathirvel V. , Park Noejung , Thapa Ranjit 
Published: November 2016

AbstractFirst-principles calculations are performed to identify the pristine and Si doped 3D metallic T6 carbon structure (having both sp2and sp3type hybridization) as a new carbon based anode material. The π electron of C2atoms (sp2bonded) forms an out of plane network that helps to capture the Li atom. The highest Li storage capacity of Si doped T6 structure with conformation Li1.7Si1C5produces theoretical specific capacity of 632 mAh/g which substantially exceeding than graphite. Also, open-circuit voltage (OCV) with respect to Li metal shows large negative when compared to the pristine T6 structure. This indicates modifications in terms of chemical properties are required in anode materials for practical application. Among various doped (Si, Ge, Sn, B, N) configuration, Si doped T6 structure provides a stable positive OCV for high Li concentrations. Likewise, volume expansion study also shows Si doped T6 structure is more stable with less pulverization and substantial capacity losses in comparison with graphite and silicon as an anode materials. Overall, mixed hybridized (sp2 + sp3) Si doped T6 structure can become a superior anode material than present sp2hybridized graphite and sp3hybridized Si structure for modern Lithium ion batteries.
Sphingomyelin generated by sphingomyelin synthase 1 is involved in attachment and infection with Japanese encephalitis virus
Authors: Taniguchi Makoto , Tasaki Takafumi , Ninomiya Hideaki , Ueda Yoshibumi , Kuremoto Koh-ichi , Mitsutake Susumu , Igarashi Yasuyuki , Okazaki Toshiro , Takegami Tsutomu 
Published: November 2016

AbstractJapanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne RNA virus which infects target cells via the envelope protein JEV-E. However, its cellular targets are largely unknown. To investigate the role of sphingomyelin (SM) in JEV infection, we utilized SM-deficient immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts (tMEF) established from SM synthase 1 (SMS1)/SMS2 double knockout mice. SMS deficiency significantly reduced both intracellular and extracellular JEV levels at 48 h after infection. Furthermore, after 15 min treatment with JEV, the early steps of JEV infection such as attachment and cell entry were also diminished in SMS-deficient tMEFs. The inhibition of JEV attachment and infection were recovered by overexpression of SMS1 but not SMS2, suggesting SMS1 contributes to SM production for JEV attachment and infection. Finally, intraperitoneal injection of JEV into SMS1-deficient mice showed an obvious decrease of JEV infection and its associated pathologies, such as meningitis, lymphocyte infiltration, and elevation of interleukin 6, compared with wild type mice. These results suggest that SMS1-generated SM on the plasma membrane is related in JEV attachment and subsequent infection, and may be a target for inhibition of JEV infection.
Four translation initiation pathways employed by the leaderless mRNA in eukaryotes
Authors: Akulich Kseniya A. , Andreev Dmitry E. , Terenin Ilya M. , Smirnova Victoria V. , Anisimova Aleksandra S. , Makeeva Desislava S. , Arkhipova Valentina I. , Stolboushkina Elena A. , Garber Maria B. , Prokofjeva Maria M. , Spirin Pavel V. , Prassolov Vladimir S. , Shatsky Ivan N. , Dmitriev Sergey E. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractmRNAs lacking 5′ untranslated regions (leaderless mRNAs) are molecular relics of an ancient translation initiation pathway. Nevertheless, they still represent a significant portion of transcriptome in some taxons, including a number of eukaryotic species. In bacteria and archaea, the leaderless mRNAs can bind non-dissociated 70 S ribosomes and initiate translation without protein initiation factors involved. Here we use the Fleeting mRNA Transfection technique (FLERT) to show that translation of a leaderless reporter mRNA is resistant to conditions when eIF2 and eIF4F, two key eukaryotic translation initiation factors, are inactivated in mammalian cells. We report an unconventional translation initiation pathway utilized by the leaderless mRNA in vitro, in addition to the previously described 80S-, eIF2-, or eIF2D-mediated modes. This mechanism is a bacterial-like eIF5B/IF2-assisted initiation that has only been reported for hepatitis C virus-like internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs). Therefore, the leaderless mRNA is able to take any of four different translation initiation pathways in eukaryotes.
Sensitization with vaccinia virus encoding H5N1 hemagglutinin restores immune potential against H5N1 influenza virus
Authors: Yasui Fumihiko , Itoh Yasushi , Ikejiri Ai , Kitabatake Masahiro , Sakaguchi Nobuo , Munekata Keisuke , Shichinohe Shintaro , Hayashi Yukiko , Ishigaki Hirohito , Nakayama Misako , Sakoda Yoshihiro , Kida Hiroshi , Ogasawara Kazumasa , Kohara Michinori 
Published: November 2016

AbstractH5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 HPAI) virus causes elevated mortality compared with seasonal influenza viruses like H1N1 pandemic influenza (H1N1 pdm) virus. We identified a mechanism associated with the severe symptoms seen with H5N1 HPAI virus infection. H5N1 HPAI virus infection induced a decrease of dendritic cell number in the splenic extrafollicular T-cell zone and impaired formation of the outer layers of B-cell follicles, resulting in insufficient levels of antibody production after infection. However, in animals vaccinated with a live recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the H5 hemagglutinin, infection with H5N1 HPAI virus induced parafollicular dendritic cell accumulation and efficient antibody production. These results indicate that a recombinant vaccinia encoding H5 hemagglutinin gene does not impair dendritic cell recruitment and can be a useful vaccine candidate.
GWAS study using DNA pooling strategy identifies association of variant rs4910623 in OR52B4 gene with anti-VEGF treatment response in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Riaz Moeen , Lorés-Motta Laura , Richardson Andrea J. , Lu Yi , Montgomery Grant , Omar Amer , Koenekoop Robert K. , Chen John , Muether Philipp , Altay Lebriz , Schick Tina , Fauser Sascha , Smailhodzic Dzenita , van Asten Freekje , de Jong Eiko K. , Hoyng Carel B. , Burdon Kathryn P. , MacGregor Stuart , Guymer Robyn H. , den Hollander Anneke I. , Baird Paul N. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractPooled DNA based GWAS to determine genetic association of SNPs with visual acuity (VA) outcome in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients. We performed pooled DNA based GWAS on 285 anti-VEGF treated nAMD patients using high density Illumina 4.3 M array. Primary outcome was change in VA in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters after 6 months of anti-VEGF treatment (patients who lost ≥5 ETDRS letters classified as non-responders and all remaining classified as responders). GWAS analysis identified 44 SNPs of interest: 37 with strong evidence of association (p < 9 × 10−8), 2 in drug resistance genes (p < 5 × 10−6) and 5 nonsynonymous changes (p < 1 × 10−4). In the validation phase, individual genotyping of 44 variants showed three SNPs (rs4910623 p = 5.6 × 10−5, rs323085 p = 6.5 × 10−4 and rs10198937 p = 1.30 × 10−3) remained associated with VA response at 6 months. SNP rs4910623 also associated with treatment response at 3 months (p = 1.5 × 10−3). Replication of these three SNPs in 376 patients revealed association of rs4910623 with poor VA response after 3 and 6 months of treatment (p = 2.4 × 10−3 and p = 3.5 × 10−2, respectively). Meta-analysis of both cohorts (673 samples) confirmed association of rs4910623 with poor VA response after 3 months (p = 1.2 × 10−5) and 6 months (p = 9.3 × 10−6) of treatment in nAMD patients.
The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of PD-L1 expression in gastric cancer: a meta-analysis of 10 studies with 1,901 patients
Authors: Zhang Minghui , Dong Yuandi , Liu Haitao , Wang Yan , Zhao Shu , Xuan Qijia , Wang Yan , Zhang Qingyuan 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe prognostic value of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial. To clarify this problem, we performed a meta-analysis of research studies identified in the PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library databases. A total of 1,901 patients in 10 studies were enrolled in this meta-analysis, and the pooled hazard ratio (HR) of 1.64 (95% CI 1.11 to 2.43; P = 0.01) indicated that PD-L1 expression is associated with a shorter overall survival (OS). The pooled odds ratios (ORs) indicated that PD-L1 expression was associated with tumour size (OR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.78; P = 0.002) and lymph node status (OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.52; P = 0.04). However, PD-L1 had no correlation with gender, age, cancer location, differentiation, depth of invasion, and tumour stage. This meta-analysis indicates that PD-L1 expression is a valuable predictor of the prognosis of patients with GC. PD-L1 expression could be used for identifying a subgroup of patients, who would potentially benefit from targeted therapy against PD-1 or PD-L1. Well-designed large-cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings.