bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnosing Genital Ulcer Disease in a Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Authors: Bruisten S. M. , Cairo I. , Fennema H. , Pijl A. , Buimer M. , Peerbooms P. G. H. , Van Dyck E. , Meijer A. , Ossewaarde J. M. , van Doornum G. J. J. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

The most common etiologic agents of genital ulcer disease (GUD) are herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2,
Treponema pallidum
, and
Haemophilus ducreyi
. In an outpatient clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, specimens from 372 patients with GUD were collected from February to November 1996. Sera were collected at the time of the symptoms and, for most patients, also during follow-up visits. Swabs in viral transport medium were used for HSV culture and for detection of DNA. The most prevalent pathogen found was HSV-2, which was detected by culture in 35% of the patients and by PCR in 48% of the patients. Also, HSV-1 infection was more often detected by PCR (7.8%) than by culture (5.6%). Evidence for an active infection with
T. pallidum
was found in 1.9% of the patients, using serological tests. A multiplex PCR for simultaneous
T. pallidum
and
H. ducreyi
DNA detection was positive for
T. pallidum
in 3.3% of the samples and for
H. ducreyi
in only 0.9% (3 out of 368) of the samples. The sensitivity of the PCR was superior to that of culture for HSV detection and to that of serology for
T. pallidum
detection. Specific
H. ducreyi
immunoglobulin G antibodies were detected in sera of 5.2% of the patients, with no concordance between serology and PCR. In 37% of the cases, none of the tested microorganisms was detected. Performance of PCR in addition to conventional techniques significantly improved the diagnosis of GUD.
National Epidemiologic Surveys of
Enterobacter aerogenes
in Belgian Hospitals from 1996 to 1998
Authors: De Gheldre Y. , Struelens M. J. , Glupczynski Y. , De Mol P. , Maes N. , Nonhoff C. , Chetoui H. , Sion C. , Ronveaux O. , Vaneechoutte M. ,   le Groupement Pour Le Dépistage, l'Etude et la Prevention des Infections Hospitalières (gdepih-gospiz)
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

Two national surveys were conducted to describe the incidence and prevalence of
Enterobacter aerogenes
in 21 Belgian hospitals in 1996 and 1997 and to characterize the genotypic diversity and the antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinical strains of
E. aerogenes
isolated from hospitalized patients in Belgium in 1997 and 1998. Twenty-nine hospitals collected 10 isolates of
E. aerogenes
, which were typed by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) using two primers and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. MICs of 10 antimicrobial agents were determined by the agar dilution method. Beta-lactamases were detected by the double-disk diffusion test and characterized by isoelectric point. The median incidence of
E. aerogenes
colonization or infection increased from 3.3 per 1,000 admissions in 1996 to 4.2 per 1000 admissions in the first half of 1997 (
P
< 0.01).
E. aerogenes
strains (
n
= 260) clustered in 25 AP-PCR types. Two major types, BE1 and BE2, included 36 and 38% of strains and were found in 21 and 25 hospitals, respectively. The BE1 type was indistinguishable from a previously described epidemic strain in France. Half of the strains produced an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, either TEM-24 (in 86% of the strains) or TEM-3 (in 14% of the strains). Over 75% of the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, piperacillin-tazobactam, and ciprofloxacin. Over 90% of the strains were susceptible to cefepime, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides. In conclusion, these data suggest a nationwide dissemination of two epidemic multiresistant
E. aerogenes
strains in Belgian hospitals. TEM-24 beta-lactamase was frequently harbored by one of these epidemic strains, which appeared to be genotypically related to a TEM-24-producing epidemic strain from France, suggesting international dissemination.
Genetic Polymorphism of
Aspergillus fumigatus
in Clinical Samples from Patients with Invasive Aspergillosis: Investigation Using Multiple Typing Methods
Authors: Bertout S. , Renaud F. , Barton R. , Symoens F. , Burnod J. , Piens M.-A. , Lebeau B. , Viviani M.-A. , Chapuis F. , Bastide J.-M. , Grillot R. , Mallié M. ,   THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH GROUP ON BIOTYPE AND GENOTYPE OF ASPERGILLUS
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

The genotypes of 52 strains of
Aspergillus fumigatus
isolated from 12 patients with invasive aspergillosis were investigated using three typing methods (random amplified polymorphic DNA, sequence-specific DNA polymorphism, and microsatellite polymorphism) combined with multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Isolates were from patients hospitalized in three different geographic areas (Lyon, France; Grenoble, France; and Milan, Italy). In each case, the genetic polymorphism of several colonies (two to five) within the first respiratory clinical sample was studied. For the 52 isolates tested, random amplified polymorphic DNA identified 8 different genotypes, sequence-specific DNA polymorphism identified 9 different types, and microsatellite polymorphism identified 14 types. A combination of these results with multilocus enzyme electrophoresis study identified 25 different types within the sample studied. We identified 3 patients (of the 12 studied) who carried a single genotype; 6 patients were infected by two genotypes, 1 patient had four genotypes, while the last patient had five. A combination of typing methods provided better discrimination than the use of a single method. Typing methods revealed a population structure within each geographical site, suggesting that the epidemiology of
A. fumigatus
should be considered separately for each of these geographic areas. This study demonstrates the usefulness of combining several typing methods in reaching an understanding of the epidemiology of
A. fumigatus
and clarifies whether it is sufficient to type one isolate from each specimen to determine the strain involved in invasive aspergillosis.
Evaluation of VITEK 2 Rapid Identification and Susceptibility Testing System against Gram-Negative Clinical Isolates
Authors: Ling Thomas K. W. , Tam P. C. , Liu Z. K. , Cheng Augustine F. B. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

A total of 281 strains of miscellaneous members of the family
Enterobacteriaceae
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and other gram-negative bacteria were evaluated by use of identification tests with the VITEK 2 system (bioMérieux) and an API identification system (bioMérieux). A total of 237 (95%) strains were correctly identified to the species level. Only six (2.1%) strains were misidentified, and eight (2.8%) strains were not identified. Among 14 strains with discrepant identifications, 8 (57.1%) strains were nonfermenters. The susceptibilities of 228 strains to 11 antibiotics including amikacin, netilmicin, tobramycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, meropenem, ceftazidime, cefepime, piperacillin, and piperacillin in combination with tazobactam were tested with the VITEK 2 AST-No. 12 card and by the broth microdilution (MB) method, according to NCCLS guidelines, as a reference. For the 2,508 organism-antibiotic combinations, the rates at which duplicate MICs correlated within ±1 dilution ranged from 84.2 to 95.6%. Only 13 (0.5%) and 10 (0.4%) of the susceptibility tests gave major errors (resistant with the VITEK 2 system but sensitive by the MB method) and very major errors (sensitive with the VITEK 2 system but resistant by the MB method), respectively. Both VITEK 2 ID-GNB (an identification system) and VITEK 2 AST-No. 12 (a susceptibility testing system) card systems gave rapid, reliable, and highly reproducible results.
Novel Method for Detection, Typing, and Quantification of Human Papillomaviruses in Clinical Samples
Authors: Hart Keith W. , Williams O. Martin , Thelwell Nicola , Fiander Alison N. , Brown Tom , Borysiewicz Lesek K. , Gelder Colin M. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
We report the development of a novel detection and typing methodology for human papillomaviruses (HPV) based on real-time PCR with the self-probing fluorescent primers known as Scorpions. This technique is quick, simple, specific, sensitive, and capable of estimating viral load per cell. We report the results of over 100 typing reactions performed on cell lines, biopsies, and cervical cytobrush samples which, when compared to the current reference HPV detection and typing technique, present a κ value of 0.89. We further report preliminary data suggesting a relationship between viral load per cell and grade of cervical disease.
Antigenic and Genetic Characterization of Influenza C Viruses Which Caused Two Outbreaks in Yamagata City, Japan, in 1996 and 1998
Authors: Matsuzaki Y. , Sugawara K. , Mizuta K. , Tsuchiya E. , Muraki Y. , Hongo S. , Suzuki H. , Nakamura K. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
During the 3 years from January 1996 to December 1998, a total of 33 strains of influenza C virus were isolated from 10,726 throat swab specimens collected from children with acute respiratory illness who visited two pediatric clinics in Yamagata City, Japan. These 33 strains were isolated in clusters during two different periods, 20 strains in May to August 1996 and the remaining 13 in March to June 1998. Antigenic analysis with monoclonal antibodies to the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoprotein and phylogenetic analysis of seven RNA segments showed that the 33 influenza C viruses isolated were antigenically and genetically similar and that they were reassortant viruses which had obtained PB2, PB1, HE, M, and NS genes from a C/pig/Beijing/115/81-like virus and P3 and NP genes from a C/Mississippi/80-like virus. These observations suggest strongly that during the survey period of 3 years, two outbreaks of influenza C occurred in Yamagata City, both of which were caused by a reassortant virus having the genome composition described above.
Antibiotic Resistance of
Helicobacter pylori
Strains in Japanese Children
Authors: Kato Seiichi , Fujimura Shigeru , Udagawa Hirokazu , Shimizu Toshiaki , Maisawa Shunichi , Ozawa Kyoko , Iinuma Kazuie 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

The resistance of
Helicobacter pylori
to the recently available antibiotic treatment regimens has been a growing problem. We investigated the prevalence of
H. pylori
resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and amoxicillin among 51
H. pylori
isolates from Japanese children. In addition, the mutations of the corresponding gene were studied by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Primary resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and amoxicillin was detected in 29, 24, and 0% of strains, respectively. The eradication rates in clarithromycin-susceptible and -resistant strains were 89 and 56%, respectively (
P
< 0.05). The prevalence of strains with acquired resistance to clarithromycin (78%) was higher than that of strains with primary resistance (
P
< 0.01). Among the clarithromycin-resistant strains studied, 92% showed cross-resistance to azithromycin. No acquired resistance to amoxicillin was demonstrated. The A2144G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene was detected in 11 of 12 (92%) clarithromycin-resistant strains tested, whereas the mutation was not detected in any of the 15 susceptible strains. The deletion of the
rdxA
gene was not demonstrated in any of the strains. The results indicate that a high prevalence of clarithromycin-resistant strains is associated with eradication failure. Testing of susceptibility to clarithromycin is recommended.
Production of BRO β-Lactamases and Resistance to Complement in European
Moraxella catarrhalis
Isolates
Authors: Schmitz Franz-Josef , Beeck Andreas , Perdikouli Mirella , Boos Mechthild , Mayer Susanne , Scheuring Sybille , Köhrer Karl , Verhoef Jan , Fluit Ad C. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

Of the 419
Moraxella catarrhalis
isolates collected during the 1997-1999 European SENTRY surveillance study, 385 (92%) were β-lactamase positive. Twenty-two (5.7%) produced BRO-2 β-lactamase. Twenty-one new mutations were found in the putative promoter region of the
bro
genes. Nineteen percent of all isolates tested were complement sensitive. Resistance to β-lactams is not linked to the phylogenetic lineages associated with susceptibility to complement.
Early Therapy of Vertical Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infection: Control of Viral Replication and Absence of Persistent HIV-1-Specific Immune Responses
Authors: Luzuriaga Katherine , McManus Margaret , Catalina Michelle , Mayack Shane , Sharkey Mark , Stevenson Mario , Sullivan John L. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTStudies of potent antiretroviral combination regimens were undertaken in young infants to evaluate the potential for long-term suppression of viral replication and to evaluate the immune consequences of such therapies. Early combination antiretroviral therapy led to a loss of plasma viremia, cultivable virus, and labile extrachromosomal replication intermediates. Despite preservation of immune function, persistent human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1)-specific immune responses were not detected in most infants. The absence of detectable, persisting immune responses in most HIV-1-infected infants treated early contrasts with what is typically seen in adults who are treated early. These results are consistent with the notion that early combination antiretroviral therapy of HIV-1-infected infants allows the long-term suppression of viral replication.
Genetics of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus-Induced Mammary Tumors: Linkage of Tumor Induction to thegagGene
Authors: Hook Lauren M. , Agafonova Yelena , Ross Susan R. , Turner Stephanie J. , Golovkina Tatyana V. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTRetroviruses are believed to induce tumors by acting as insertional mutagens that activate expression of cellular protooncogenes. Indeed, almost 90% of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-induced mammary tumors in C3H/He mice show upregulation ofIntprotooncogenes. We have analyzed three different MMTV variants [MMTV(C3H), MMTV(HeJ), and a genetically engineered MMTV hybrid provirus (HP)] for tumorigenicity in mice from two distinct genetic backgrounds. All three viruses were tumor causing in BALB/cJ mice. However, only MMTV(C3H), but not MMTV(HeJ) or HP, induced mammary tumors in C3H/He mice. All of the viruses were infectious on either background and up-regulated expression ofIntgenes in tumors they induced. Like HP, MMTV(HeJ) was found to be a genetic recombinant between endogenousMtv1provirus and exogenous MMTV(C3H). Sequence comparison of MMTV variants linked the tumorigenicity of MMTV(C3H) to thegagregion of the retrovirus.
Identification of a Second Transforming Function in Bovine Papillomavirus Type 1 E6 and the Role of E6 Interactions with Paxillin, E6BP, and E6AP
Authors: Das Kingshuk , Bohl Joanna , Vande Pol Scott B. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
Papillomavirus E6 oncoproteins transform mammalian cells through interaction with cellular proteins. Bovine papillomavirus type 1 E6 (BE6) interacts with three previously described cellular targets: the E6AP E3 ubiquitin ligase, the calcium-binding protein E6BP (also known as ERC-55), and paxillin, which is a focal adhesion adapter protein. BE6 interacts strongly with each of these proteins in vitro, binding to similar peptide sequences found in E6AP, E6BP, and paxillin. To determine which BE6 interactions are necessary for transformation by BE6, we used a novel selection strategy for temperature-sensitive BE6 mutants in yeast that could discriminate in their interaction between E6AP, E6BP, and paxillin. All BE6 mutants that retained transforming ability retained association with paxillin, while some mutants that were transformation positive failed to interact with E6AP or E6BP. This study demonstrates that oncogene mutants that are temperature sensitive for transformation can be selected in yeast and that the induction of anchorage-independent cell proliferation by BE6 does not require strong association of BE6 with either E6AP or E6BP. Of particular interest is the identification of a BE6 mutant that interacts strongly with the acidic charged leucine motifs of E6AP, E6BP, and paxillin but is devoid of transformation activity, thereby genetically identifying a second essential transformation function in BE6 that is independent of interaction with acidic charged leucine motifs.
Infectious Epstein-Barr Virus Lacking Major Glycoprotein BLLF1 (gp350/220) Demonstrates the Existence of Additional Viral Ligands
Authors: Janz Annette , Oezel Muhsin , Kurzeder Christian , Mautner Josef , Pich Dagmar , Kost Manuela , Hammerschmidt Wolfgang , Delecluse Henri-Jacques 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTThe binding of the viral major glycoprotein BLLF1 (gp350/220) to the CD21 cellular receptor is thought to play an essential role during infection of B lymphocytes by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, since CD21-negative cells have been reported to be infectible with EBV, additional interactions between viral and cellular molecules seem to be probable. Based on a recombinant genomic EBV plasmid, we deleted the gene that encodes the viral glycoprotein BLLF1. We tested the ability of the viral mutant to infect different lymphoid and epithelial cell lines. Primary human B cells, lymphoid cell lines, and nearly all of the epithelial cell lines that are susceptible to wild-type EBV infection could also be successfully infected with the viral mutant in vitro, although the efficiency of infection with BLLF1-negative virus was clearly lower than the one observed with wild-type EBV. Our studies show that the interaction between BLLF1 and CD21 is not absolutely required for the infection of lymphocytes and epithelial cells, indicating that viral molecules other than BLLF1 can mediate the binding of EBV to its target cells. In this context, our results further suggest the hypothesis that additional cellular molecules, apart from CD21, allow virus entry into these cells.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and G and/or SH Protein Expression Contribute to Substance P, Which Mediates Inflammation and Enhanced Pulmonary Disease in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Tripp Ralph A. , Moore Deborah , Winter Jorn , Anderson Larry J. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTA distinct clinical presentation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection of humans is bronchiolitis, which has clinical features similar to those of asthma. Substance P (SP), a tachykinin neuropeptide, has been associated with neurogenic inflammation and asthma; therefore, we chose to examine SP-induced inflammation with RSV infection. In this study, we examined the production of pulmonary SP associated with RSV infection of BALB/c mice and the effect of anti-SP F(ab)2antibodies on the pulmonary inflammatory response. The peak production of pulmonary SP occurred between days 3 and 5 following primary RSV infection and day 1 after secondary infection. Treatment of RSV-infected mice with anti-SP F(ab)2antibodies suggested that SP may alter the natural killer cell response to primary and secondary infection. In mice challenged after formalin-inactivated RSV vaccination, SP appears to markedly enhance pulmonary eosinophilia as well as increase polymorphonuclear cell trafficking to the lung. Based on studies with a strain of RSV that lacks the G and SH genes, the SP response to RSV infection appears to be associated with G and/or SH protein expression. These data suggest that SP may be an important contributor to the inflammatory response to RSV infection and that anti-SP F(ab)2antibodies might be used to ameliorate RSV-associated disease.
Mutational Analysis of Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Rep68 Protein Endonuclease Activity on Partially Single-Stranded Substrates
Authors: Davis Michael D. , Wu Jianwen , Owens Roland A. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

The endonuclease activity of the Rep68 and Rep78 proteins (Rep68/78) of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV) cuts at the terminal resolution site (
trs
) within the hairpin structure formed by the AAV inverted terminal repeats. Recent studies suggest that a DNA unwinding function of Rep68/78 may be required for endonuclease activity. We demonstrate that several mutant proteins which are endonuclease negative on a fully duplex hairpin substrate are endonuclease positive on a partially single-stranded hairpin substrate. Truncation analysis revealed that the endonuclease function is contained within the first 200 amino acids of Rep68/78. This endonucleolytic cleavage is believed to involve the covalent attachment of Rep68/78 to the
trs
via a phosphate-tyrosine linkage. A previous report (S. L. Walker, R. S. Wonderling, and R. A. Owens, J. Virol. 71:2722–2730, 1997) suggested that tyrosine 152 was part of the active site. We individually mutated each tyrosine within the first 200 amino acids of the Rep68 moiety of a maltose binding protein-Rep68/78 fusion protein to phenylalanine. Only mutation of tyrosine 156 resulted in a protein incapable of covalent attachment to a partially single-stranded hairpin substrate, suggesting that tyrosine 156 is part of the endonuclease active site.
The Use of Chimeric Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Viruses as an Approach for the Molecular Identification of Natural Virulence Determinants
Authors: Powers Ann M. , Brault Aaron C. , Kinney Richard M. , Weaver Scott C. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus antigenic subtypes and varieties are considered either epidemic/epizootic or enzootic. In addition to epidemiological differences between the epidemic and enzootic viruses, several in vitro and in vivo laboratory markers distinguishing the viruses have been identified, including differential plaque size, sensitivity to interferon (IFN), and virulence for guinea pigs. These observations have been shown to be useful predictors of natural, equine virulence and epizootic potential. Chimeric viruses containing variety IAB (epizootic) nonstructural genes with variety IE (enzootic) structural genes (VE/IAB-IE) or IE nonstructural genes and IAB structural genes (IE/IAB) were constructed to systematically analyze and map viral phenotype and virulence determinants. Plaque size analysis showed that both chimeric viruses produced a mean plaque diameter that was intermediate between those of the parental strains. Additionally, both chimeric viruses showed intermediate levels of virus replication and virulence for guinea pigs compared to the parental strains. However, IE/IAB produced a slightly higher viremia and an average survival time 2 days shorter than the VE/IAB-IE virus. Finally, IFN sensitivity assays revealed that only one chimera, VE/IAB-IE, was intermediate between the two parental types. The second chimera, containing the IE nonstructural genes, was at least five times more sensitive to IFN than the IE parental virus and greater than 50 times more sensitive than the IAB parent. These results implicate viral components in both the structural and nonstructural portions of the genome in contributing to the epizootic phenotype and indicate the potential for epidemic emergence from the IE enzootic VEE viruses.