bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engineering fire blight resistance into the apple cultivar ‘Gala’ using the FB_MR5 CC‐NBS‐LRR resistance gene of Malus × robusta 5
Authors: Broggini Giovanni A. L. , Wöhner Thomas , Fahrentrapp Johannes , Kost Thomas D. , Flachowsky Henryk , Peil Andreas , Hanke Maria‐Viola , Richter Klaus , Patocchi Andrea , Gessler Cesare 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe fire blight susceptible apple cultivar Malus × domestica Borkh. cv. ‘Gala’ was transformed with the candidate fire blight resistance gene FB_MR5 originating from the crab apple accession Malus × robusta 5 (Mr5). A total of five different transgenic lines were obtained. All transgenic lines were shown to be stably transformed and originate from different transgenic events. The transgenic lines express the FB_MR5 either driven by the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter and the ocs terminator or by its native promoter and terminator sequences. Phenotyping experiments were performed with Mr5‐virulent and Mr5‐avirulent strains of Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight. Significantly less disease symptoms were detected on transgenic lines after inoculation with two different Mr5‐avirulent E. amylovora strains, while significantly more shoot necrosis was observed after inoculation with the Mr5‐virulent mutant strain ZYRKD3_1. The results of these experiments demonstrated the ability of a single gene isolated from the native gene pool of apple to protect a susceptible cultivar from fire blight. Furthermore, this gene is confirmed to be the resistance determinant of Mr5 as the transformed lines undergo the same gene‐for‐gene interaction in the host–pathogen relationship Mr5–E. amylovora.
New Japanese neonatal anthropometric charts for gestational age at birth
Authors: Itabashi Kazuo , Miura Fumihiro , Uehara Ritei , Nakamura Yoshikazu 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundMore than 10 years have passed since the previous Japanese neonatal growth charts were published, therefore the aim of this study was to develop an updated set of Japanese neonatal growth charts.MethodsWe used data from the registry database of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2003 until 2005. A total of 150 471 singleton live births without stillbirth or severe congenital malformation were enrolled in the preliminary analysis. It was found that the distribution of the 10th centile charts based on these subjects was skewed toward lower birthweight for preterm infants, because of the significantly lower birthweight in the 10th centile in neonates delivered by cesarean section than those delivered vaginally. Therefore, the data of subjects delivered by cesarean section were also excluded.ResultsFinally, 104 748 singleton vaginal births at 22–41 weeks of gestation were used to construct a new set of Japanese neonatal anthropometric charts. The birthweight chart is parity and sex specific. The differences between the Japanese fetal growth chart and the new neonatal birthweight chart were small.ConclusionThe present new neonatal anthropometric charts may reveal unrestricted growth pattern mimicking fetal growth. Use of these charts may result in recognition of abnormal fetal growth and risk in preterm infants. Further studies are needed to evaluate the risk for adverse neonatal and long‐term outcome among small‐for‐gestational‐age infants using these neonatal charts.
Aquaporin water channel in the salivary glands of the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus is predominant in workers and absent in soldiers
Authors: Kambara Kohei , Nagae Tomone , Ohmura Wakako , Azuma Masaaki 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTermite society is unique because the worker caste fetches and carries free water, utilizing it as a solvent for nest construction and gallery building and to maintain wetness for their nestmates. Such water management in a social organization relies largely upon the function of the workers in the colony, as well as on the individuals controlling the location and movement of water inside their bodies. The movement of water via aquaporins (AQPs; water channels) into and out of cells is a key feature of the numerous physiological functions related to whole‐insect water balance. In the present study, the homologue of the water‐specific Drosophila AQP [Drosophila integral protein (DRIP)] is characterized in workers of the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), a highly active wood decomposer. Immunoblot analysis of DRIP‐type AQP using an antibody from the silkworm Bombyx mori reveals that the Coptotermes DRIP (formerly cloned as ‘CfAQP1’) with a molecular mass of approximately 25.7 kDa is expressed predominantly in the salivary (labial) gland of the workers. The Coptotermes DRIP is present at the basal plasma membrane of the parietal cells, as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry. By contrast, there is no DRIP detected within the salivary glands of soldier termites, and neither caste expresses DRIP in their labial gland reservoir (water sac), a tissue that is suggested to have a function as a water sink. The AQP present in the salivary glands is of physiological importance with respect to salivation, aiding in the secretion of cellulolytic enzymes for wood ingestion by the workers of the subterranean termite.
A new cryptic species of theChrysoperla carneagroup (Neuroptera:Chrysopidae) from westernAsia: parallel speciation without ecological adaptation
Authors: HENRY CHARLES S. , BROOKS STEPHEN J. , JOHNSON JAMES B. , MOCHIZUKI ATSUSHI , DUELLI PETER 
Published: March 2014

AbstractParallel (or convergent) evolution of vibrational mating songs between species confined to different continents has been found several times in theChrysoperla carneaspecies‐group of cryptic (morphologically indistinguishable) green lacewings. Repeated parallel speciation resulting in taxa that differ in duetting songs but not in appearance or ecology suggests an atypical mode of speciation, one that need not involve ecological adaptation. Here we describe an additional example of convergent song phenotypes reflecting parallel nonadaptive speciation, between the commonNorthAmerican speciesChrysoperla plorabunda(Fitch) and a newly discovered species that appears to be widespread in westernAsia. To support the hypothesis of parallel evolution, we describe the song of the new species in detail, comparing it to that ofC. plorabundaand demonstrate their acoustical similarity. Results of song playback trials are then presented, showing that the songs are also functionally (behaviourally) indistinguishable between individuals of both species and could not prevent hybridisation if the two species were sympatric. We demonstrate that the new species is very similar in morphology and ecology not only toC. plorabunda, but also to at least four other species in thecarnea‐group that co‐occur with it in westernAsia. To reject the alternative hypothesis thatC. plorabundaand the new species are alike simply due to common ancestry, we show that they occupy relatively distant positions in a phylogenetic analysis of 4630 base pairs of protein‐coding mitochondrialDNA. We then formally describe the new species asChrysoperla heidariisp.n., including with this description observations of its behaviour, ecology and life history.This published work has been registered in ZooBank,http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:60C0FFC5‐92B9‐4C20‐9FDF‐561EB2764F16.
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia with an atypical granulomatous response after kidney transplantation
Authors: Ramalho J. , Bacelar Marques I.D. , Aguirre A.R. , Pierrotti L.C. , de Paula F.J. , Nahas W.C. , David‐Neto E. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. Granulomatous PCP is an unusual histological presentation that has been described in a variety of immunosuppressive conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between granulomatous disorders and hypercalcemia, the purported mechanism of which is extrarenal production of 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D by activated macrophages. Here, we report a case of granulomatous formation in a kidney transplant recipient with PCP who presented with hypercalcemia and suppressed parathyroid hormone, both of which resolved after successful treatment of the pneumonia. In immunocompromised patients, pulmonary infection associated with hypercalcemia should raise the suspicion of PCP and other granulomatous disorders.
Efficacy of disinfectants containing accelerated hydrogen peroxide against conidial arthrospores and isolated infective spores of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton sp.
Authors: Moriello Karen A. , Hondzo Hanna 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundAccelerated hydrogen peroxide is a proprietary disinfectant formulation that is available for both commercial and home use and is labelled as antifungal.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo determine the antifungal efficacy of accelerated hydrogen peroxide disinfectants against Microsporum and Trichophyton spp.MethodsThree products formulated as ready to use and three concentrates were used. Concentrates were tested at dilutions of 1:8, 1:16 (recommended dilution) and 1:32. One product was a surgical instrument disinfectant. Sterile water, sodium hypochlorite (1:32 dilution) and over‐the‐counter 3% hydrogen peroxide were used as controls. Conidial suspensions contained ~9.6 × 105/mL Microsporum canis, ~1.0 × 107/mL M. gypseum or ~2.0 × 107/mL Trichophyton sp. and were tested at 1:10 dilution. Isolated infective spore suspensions of M. canis from an untreated cat and T. erinacei from an untreated hedgehog were tested at 1:10, 1:5 and 1:1 spore‐to‐disinfectant dilutions.ResultsToo many colonies to count were present on untreated control plates. Accelerated hydrogen peroxide and household hydrogen peroxide inhibited growth of both pathogens in conidial (1:10 dilution) and spore suspensions (1:10, 1:5 and 1:10 dilution). There was no lack of efficacy of products that were >12 months old.Conclusions and clinical importanceAccelerated hydrogen peroxide products are an option for environmental disinfection of surfaces exposed to M. canis and Trichophyton sp. after appropriate gross decontamination and mechanical cleaning with a detergent. The results from conidial testing were identical to those of isolated infected spore testing, which suggests that accelerated hydrogen peroxide products with label claim as antifungal against Trichophyton mentagrophytes may be suitable as an alternative disinfectant to sodium hypochlorite.
An Evaluation of Rabies Vaccination Rates among Canines and Felines Involved in Biting Incidents within the Wellington–Dufferin–Guelph Public Health Department
Authors: Bottoms K. , Trotz‐Williams L. , Hutchison S. , MacLeod J. , Dixon J. , Berke O. , Poljak Z. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe objectives of this study were to determine the rate of animal bite incidents occurring in the human population of a local health department, and to determine the proportion of these canines and felines that were not up to date on their rabies vaccination at the time the incident occurred. Data were obtained from animal bite incidents reported to Wellington–Dufferin–Guelph Public Health during 2010 and 2011. Descriptive statistics of 718 eligible reports revealed the average rate of animal biting was 1.55 bites per 1000 residents per year. Approximately 54% of these animals were vaccinated against rabies, 32% were not up to date with their rabies vaccination, and the remaining 14.5% were of unknown status. The unit of analysis was the municipality, and the four outcomes of interest were: (i) number of animal bite incidents per 1000 residents, (ii) number of dog bite incidents per 1000 residents, (iii) proportion of animals involved in bite incidents that were not up to date with their rabies vaccination, and (iv) proportion of dogs that were not up to date. Associations between the outcomes and selected demographic variables were investigated using regression analysis. The number of veterinary clinics per 10 000 residents, and whether the municipality was urban or rural were identified as significant predictors for the number of animal bites per 1000 residents, and the number of dog bites. There were no significant predictors for the proportion of unvaccinated animals or dogs. Spatial clustering and the location of spatial clusters were assessed using the empirical Bayes index and spatial scan test. This analysis identified five municipalities within the health department that have a high rate of biting incidents and a high proportion of animals that were not up to date on their rabies vaccination. Such municipalities are ideal for targeted educational campaigns regarding the importance of vaccination in pets.
Identification of OppA2 Linear Epitopes as Serodiagnostic Markers for Lyme Disease
Authors: Signorino Giacomo , Arnaboldi Paul M. , Petzke Mary M. , Dattwyler Raymond J. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTLaboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on the serological detection of antibodies against the etiologic agentBorrelia burgdorferi. Current diagnostics are insensitive at detecting early infection, when treatment is most effective. This deficiency results from the limited number ofB. burgdorferiantigens expressed in early infection and the use of an insensitive two-tier paradigm, put in place to deal with insufficient specificity associated with the use of whole-protein antigens and/or bacterial lysates as serodiagnostic targets. Whole-protein antigens contain epitopes that are unique toB. burgdorferias well as cross-reactive epitopes found in other bacteria. One method for overcoming the limitations imposed by cross-reactive epitopes is the use of short peptides containing epitopes unique toB. burgdorferias antigen targets. This eliminates nonspecific epitopes. Using overlapping peptide libraries, we performed epitope mapping of linear epitopes in oligopeptide permease A2 (OppA2), a member of the oligopeptide permease (Opp) family of peptide transporters, expressed during earlyB. burgdorferiinfection. We identified 9 epitopes, synthesized peptides containing these epitopes, and screened those using panels of blood from patients with early Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or syphilis or from healthy individuals. Two of the peptides, OppA2 (191-225) (amino acids comprising the peptide are shown in parentheses) and OppA2 (381-400), are highly conserved among the three major pathogenicBorreliaspecies responsible for most Lyme disease cases in North America and Europe. They detected antibodies in Lyme disease patient sera with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to indicate that they could have value in a serological assay for Lyme disease.
Identification of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci from Bovine Intramammary Infection by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Tomazi Tiago , Gonçalves Juliano Leonel , Barreiro Juliana Regina , Braga Patrícia Aparecida de Campos , Prada e Silva Luis Felipe , Eberlin Marcos Nogueira , dos Santos Marcos Veiga 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTCoagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are among the main pathogens causing bovine intramammary infection (IMI) in many countries. However, one of the limitations related to the specific diagnosis of CoNS is the lack of an accurate, rapid, and convenient method that can differentiate the bacterial species comprising this group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to accurately identify CoNS species in dairy cow IMI. In addition, the study aimed to determine the frequency of CoNS species causing bovine IMI. A total of 108 bacterial isolates were diagnosed as CoNS by microbiological cultures from two milk samples collected from 21 dairy herds; the first sample was collected at the cow level (i.e., 1,242 composite samples from all quarters), while the second sample was collected at the mammary quarter level (i.e., 1,140 mammary samples collected from 285 cows). After CoNS isolation was confirmed by microbiological culture for both samples, all CoNS isolates (n= 108) were genotypically differentiated by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a partialgroELgene sequence and subjected to the MALDI-TOF MS identification procedure. MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified 103 (95.4%) of the CoNS isolates identified by PCR-RFLP at the species level. Eleven CoNS species isolated from bovine IMI were identified by PCR-RFLP, and the most prevalent species wasStaphylococcus chromogenes(n= 80; 74.1%). In conclusion, MALDI-TOF MS may be a reliable alternative method for differentiating CoNS species causing bovine IMI.
Detection of Nonhemagglutinating Influenza A(H3) Viruses by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in Quantitative Influenza Virus Culture
Authors: van Baalen C. A. , Els C. , Sprong L. , van Beek R. , van der Vries E. , Osterhaus A. D. M. E. , Rimmelzwaan G. F. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTTo assess the efficacy of novel antiviral drugs against influenza virus in clinical trials, it is necessary to quantify infectious virus titers in respiratory tract samples from patients. Typically, this is achieved by inoculating virus-susceptible cells with serial dilutions of clinical specimens and detecting the production of progeny virus by hemagglutination, since influenza viruses generally have the capacity to bind and agglutinate erythrocytes of various species through their hemagglutinin (HA). This readout method is no longer adequate, since an increasing number of currently circulating influenza A virus H3 subtype (A[H3]) viruses display a reduced capacity to agglutinate erythrocytes. Here, we report the magnitude of this problem by analyzing the frequency of HA-deficient A(H3) viruses detected in The Netherlands from 1999 to 2012. Furthermore, we report the development and validation of an alternative method for monitoring the production of progeny influenza virus in quantitative virus cultures, which is independent of the capacity to agglutinate erythrocytes. This method is based on the detection of viral nucleoprotein (NP) in virus culture plates by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and it produced results similar to those of the hemagglutination assay using strains with good HA activity, including A/Brisbane/059/07 (H1N1), A/Victoria/210/09 (H3N2), other seasonal A(H1N1), A(H1N1)pdm09, and the majority of A(H3) virus strains isolated in 2009. In contrast, many A(H3) viruses that have circulated since 2010 failed to display HA activity, and infectious virus titers were determined only by detecting NP. The virus culture ELISA described here will enable efficacy testing of new antiviral compounds in clinical trials during seasons in which nonhemagglutinating influenza A viruses circulate.
Quantification of Deaminase Activity-Dependent and -Independent Restriction of HIV-1 Replication Mediated by APOBEC3F and APOBEC3G through Experimental-Mathematical Investigation
Authors: Kobayashi Tomoko , Koizumi Yoshiki , Takeuchi Junko S. , Misawa Naoko , Kimura Yuichi , Morita Satoru , Aihara Kazuyuki , Koyanagi Yoshio , Iwami Shingo , Sato Kei 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
APOBEC3F and APOBEC3G cytidine deaminases potently inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication by enzymatically inserting G-to-A mutations in viral DNA and/or impairing viral reverse transcription independently of their deaminase activity. Through experimental and mathematical investigation, here we quantitatively demonstrate that 99.3% of the antiviral effect of APOBEC3G is dependent on its deaminase activity, whereas 30.2% of the antiviral effect of APOBEC3F is attributed to deaminase-independent ability. This is the first report quantitatively elucidating how APOBEC3F and APOBEC3G differ in their anti-HIV-1 modes.
Association between Cellular Immune Activation, Target Cell Frequency, and Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Superinfection
Authors: Blish Catherine A. , Dogan Ozge C. , Jaoko Walter , McClelland R. Scott , Mandaliya Kishorchandra , Odem-Davis Katherine , Richardson Barbra A. , Overbaugh Julie 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
We performed a case-control study of women at risk of HIV-1 superinfection to understand the relationship between immune activation and HIV-1 acquisition. An increase in the frequency of HIV-1 target cells, but not in other markers of T cell activation, was associated with a 1.7-fold increase in the odds of superinfection. This suggests that HIV-1 acquisition risk is influenced more by the frequency of target cells than by the generalized level of immune activation.
Attenuation of Human Enterovirus 71 High-Replication-Fidelity Variants in AG129 Mice
Authors: Meng Tao , Kwang Jimmy 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

In a screen for ribavirin resistance, a novel high-fidelity variant of human enterovirus 71 (EV71) with the single amino acid change L123F in its RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp or 3D) was identified. Based on the crystal structure of EV71 RdRp, L123 locates at the entrance of the RNA template binding channel, which might form a fidelity checkpoint. EV71 RdRp-L123F variants generated less progeny in a guanidine resistance assay and virus populations with lower mutation frequencies in cell culture passage due to their higher replication fidelity. However, compared with wild-type viruses, they did not show growth defects.
In vivo
infections further revealed that high-fidelity mutations L123F and G64R (previously reported) negatively impacted EV71 fitness and greatly reduced viral pathogenicity alone or together in AG129 mice. Interestingly, a variant with double mutations, RG/B4-G64R/L123F (where RG/B4 is an EV71 genotype B4 virus constructed by reverse genetics [RG])showed higher fidelity
in vitro
and less virulence
in vivo
than any one of the above two single mutants. The 50% lethal dose (LD
50
) of the double mutant increased more than 500 times compared with the LD
50
of wild-type RG/B4 in mice. The results indicated that these high-fidelity variants exhibited an attenuated pathogenic phenotype
in vivo
and offer promise as a live attenuated EV71 vaccine.

IMPORTANCE
The error-prone nature of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of RNA viruses during replication results in quasispecies and aids survival of virus populations under a wide range of selective pressures. Virus variants with higher replication fidelity exhibit lower genetic diversity and attenuated pathogenicity
in vivo
. Here, we identified a novel high-fidelity mutation L123F in the RdRp of human enterovirus 71 (EV71). We further elucidated that EV71 variants with the RdRp-L123F mutation and/or the previously identified high-fidelity mutation RdRp-G64R were attenuated in an AG129 mouse model. As EV71 has emerged as a serious worldwide health threat, especially in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, we urgently need EV71 vaccines. Learning from the poliovirus vaccination, we prefer live attenuated EV71 vaccines to inactivated EV71 vaccines in order to effectively control EV71 outbreaks at low cost. Our results imply a new means of attenuating EV71 and reducing its mutation rate at the same time.