bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biological and Genetic Classification of Canine Intestinal Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria
Authors: Kim So‐Young , Adachi Yoshikazu 
Published: November 2013

AbstractTo investigate the distribution of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inhabiting canine intestines, a total of 374 gram‐positive LAB and bifidobacteria (BF) isolated from large intestinal contents in 36 dogs were classified and identified by phenotypic and genetic analyses. Based on cell morphological sizes, these isolates were divided into seven biotypes containing the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus. The LAB and BF isolates were classified into 38 chemotypes based on SDS‐PAGE protein profile analysis of whole cells. Furthermore, partial 16S rDNA sequencing analysis demonstrated the presence of 24 bacterial species in the 38 chemotypes from 36 dogs. The identified species consisted of ten species belonging to the genus Lactobacillus (78.8%), seven species to the genus Bifidobacterium (6.8%), five species to the genus Enterococcus (11.6%), one species of Streptococcus bovis (2.0%), and one species of Pediococcus acidilactici (0.8%). In particular, the most predominant species in canine intestines were L. reuteri, L. animalis, and L. johnsonii and were found in the high frequency of occurrence of 77.8, 80.6, and 86.1%, respectively. Besides these, Enterococcus faecalis, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Streptococcus bovis were also isolated in the present study. The sequences of the isolates also showed high levels of similarity to those of the reference strains registered previously in the DDBJ and the similarity was above 97.2%. Their partial 16S rRNA genes were registered in the DDBJ.
Induction of Preferential Chemotaxis of Unstimulated B‐Lymphocytes by 2‐Arachidonoylglycerol in Immunized Mice
Authors: Tanikawa Takashi , Kurohane Kohta , Imai Yasuyuki 
Published: November 2013

Abstract2‐Arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) is an endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors. There are two types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. We investigated the chemotactic activity of 2‐AG using mouse lymphocytes because cells in the immune system are known to express CB2. Spleen cell migration toward 2‐AG was observed, which was completely inhibited by SR144528, a CB2‐specific antagonist 2‐AG has been reported to induce a preferential B cell chemotaxis. We examined whether there is any difference in responsiveness during the activation of B cells. When spleen cells from immunized mice were tested, naive B cells but not germinal center B cells (GL7‐positive) were increased in the fraction attracted by 2‐AG. Furthermore, when Peyer's patch lymphocytes were tested after oral administration of cholera toxin, the number of IgA– B cells was increased in the fraction attracted by 2‐AG. These results suggested that 2‐AG preferentially attracts unstimulated naive B cells rather than activated and/or class‐switched B cells. This property may influence the structure of B cell compartments in secondary lymphoid tissues.
Correlation between Substitutions in Penicillin‐Binding Protein 1 and Amoxicillin Resistance in Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Rimbara Emiko , Noguchi Norihisa , Kawai Takashi , Sasatsu Masanori 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe correlation between the substitutions of penicillin‐binding protein 1 (PBP1) and amoxicillin resistance was studied for the determination of the substitutions in PBP1 which confer amoxicillin resistance in Helicobacter pylori. By the comparison of the amino acid sequences of PBP1 in the amoxicillin‐resistant (n=3), low‐susceptible (n=3), and susceptible (n = 13) H. pylori isolates, the substitution Asn562→Tyr, which is adjacent to KTG motif (555–557), was common and specific to amoxicillin‐resistant H. pylori. Additionally, all amoxicillin‐resistant isolates had multiple substitutions such as Ser414→Arg in the transpeptidase region of PBP1 of H. pylori. Furthermore all transformants obtained by the natural transformation using the pbp1 genes of amoxicillin‐resistant H. pylori isolates had multiple substitutions including Asn562→Tyr. These results suggest that multiple amino acid substitutions in the transpeptidase region of PBP1 are closely related to amoxicillin resistance in H. pylori.
Evaluation of the Levels of Specific IgE against Cryptococcus diffluens and Cryptococcus liquefaciens in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Kato Hiroshi , Sugita Takashi , Ishibashi Yoshio , Nishikawa Akemi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractCryptococcus diffluens and Cryptococcus liquefaciens, 2 basidiomycetous yeasts, frequently colonize the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we investigated the presence of specific IgE antibodies against C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens in the sera of AD patients by using an enzyme immunoassay. Of the 122 AD serum samples tested, 43 (35.2%) and 50 (41.0%) were positive for specific IgE antibodies against C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens, respectively. The levels of specific IgE against the C diffluens antigen and that against the C. liquefaciens antigen were strongly correlated (r = 0.96). In contrast, no remarkable correlation was observed between the levels of specific IgE against the 2 Cryptococcus species and that of specific IgE against Malassezia restricta. Competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition tests revealed that C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens shared common antigens. This finding was consistent with the IgE immunoblotting data which demonstrated that several IgE‐binding proteins with molecular masses of 77, 54, and 30 kDa were recognized in both C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens antigens. These results suggest that fungal components from C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens may act as allergens and play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Salt in Surroundings Influences the Production of Serine Protease into Milieu by Aeromonas sobria
Authors: Khan Rasel , Takahashi Eizo , Ramamurthy Thandavarayan , Takeda Yoshifumi , Okamoto Keinosuke 
Published: November 2013

AbstractPreviously we have shown that the open reading frame 2 protein (ORF2 protein), which is encoded at the 3′ end of serine protease of Aeromonas sobria (ASP), functions as a chaperone protein in periplasm in the production of ASP. Both proteins, ASP and ORF2 protein, associate in periplasm and ORF2 protein helps ASP to take an active form. ASP which is dissociated from ORF2 protein emerges in milieu. In this study, we examined the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) in medium on ASP production by A. sobria. The ASP activity of culture supernatant was extremely decreased when A. sobria was cultured in medium containing 3.0% NaCl (concentration almost equivalent to sea water salinity). Our analysis showed that the transcription of asp by A. sobria is not inhibited by NaCl in medium and that A. sobria synthesizes and releases ASP in milieu even under the condition of 3.0% NaCl. However, these ASPs in milieu formed complex as with ORF2 proteins. This indicates that the maturation pathway of ASP is disturbed in A. sobria cultured in medium containing 3.0% NaCl. It is likely that ASP does not associate with ORF2 protein in the correct form in periplasam when A. sobria is cultured in medium containing 3.0% NaCl, though both proteins, ASP and ORF2 protein, make complexes and emerge outside of the cell. This idea suggests that the chaperone system of ASP possesses the ability to sense NaCl in surroundings and regulates the production of active ASP.
Mechanism of Inhibition of DNA Gyrase by ES‐1273, a Novel DNA Gyrase Inhibitor
Authors: Oyamada Yoshihiro , Yamagishi Jun‐ichi , Kihara Takahiro , Yoshida Hiroaki , Wachi Masaaki , Ito Hideaki 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe investigated the mode of action of ES‐1273, a novel DNA gyrase inhibitor obtained by optimization of ES‐0615, which was found by screening our chemical library using anucleate cell blue assay. ES‐1273 exhibited the same antibacterial activity against S. aureus strains with amino acid change(s) conferring quinolone‐ and coumarin‐resistance as that against a susceptible strain. In addition, ES‐1273 inhibited DNA gyrase supercoiling activity, but not ATPase activity of the GyrB subunit of DNA gyrase. Moreover, ES‐1273 did not induce cleavable complex. These findings demonstrate that the mechanism by which ES‐1273 inhibits DNA gyrase is different from that of the quinolones or the coumarins. Preincubation of DNA gyrase and substrate DNA prevented inhibition of DNA gyrase supercoiling activity by ES‐1273. ES‐1273 antagonized quinolone‐induced cleavage. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay, no band representing DNA gyrase‐DNA complex was observed in the presence of ES‐1273. Taken together, these results indicate that ES‐1273 prevents DNA from binding to DNA gyrase. Furthermore, our results from surface plasmon resonance experiments strongly suggest that ES‐1273 interacts with DNA. Therefore, the interaction between ES‐1273 and DNA prevents DNA from binding to DNA gyrase, resulting in inhibition of DNA gyrase supercoiling. Interestingly, we also found that ES‐1273 inhibits topoisomerase IV and human topoisomerase IIoc, but not human topoisomerase I. These findings indicate that ES‐1273 is a type II topoisomerase specific inhibitor.
Novel Functions of Herbal Medicines in Dendritic Cells: Role of Amomi Semen in Tumor Immunity
Authors: Fukui Hajime , Mitsui Seika , Harima Nobue , Nose Mitsuhiko , Tsujimura Kunio , Mizukami Hajime , Morita Akimichi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) have a major role in regulating immune responses, including tumor immunity and peripheral tolerance. In the present study, we identified novel functions of herbal medicines in DCs by screening 99 herbal medicines, most of which are among the 210 Chinese medicines approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, Japan. Ethanol extracts were prepared, and a murine epidermal‐derived Langerhans cell line, XS106, was used to screen the 99 extracts by analyzing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression. Amomi Semen (amomum seed), Polyporus (polyporus sclerotium), and Plantaginis Semen (plantago seed) potently activated XS106 and were selected for further analysis. The effects of these extracts on bone marrow‐derived DCs (BM‐DCs) generated in vitro were then analyzed using surface phenotype (MHC class II, CD80, and CD86) and interleukin (IL)‐12p70 production as indicators. BM‐DCs treated with Amomi Semen extract exhibited activated phenotypes and secreted IL‐12p70. The activation level was similar to that induced by lipopolysaccharides. Finally, an E.G7‐OVA tumor model (E.L4‐OVA transfectant) was used to examine the anti‐tumor effects of Amomi Semen extract. Vaccination of mice with a subcutaneous injection of BM‐DCs treated with Amomi Semen extract and OVA peptide significantly inhibited the growth of tumor cells and prolonged survival time compared to controls. Furthermore, therapeutic effects were observed on established tumors. The inhibition rates for both the prophylactic and therapeutic protocols were comparable to those of lipopolysaccharides. These results indicate that Amomi Semen extract potently activate DCs and is potentially useful for DC vaccination.
Direct Comparison of the Pharmacodynamics of Four Antifungal Drugs in a Mouse Model of Disseminated Candidiasis Using Microbiological Assays of Serum Drug Concentrations
Authors: Maki Katsuyuki , Holmes Ann R. , Watabe Etsuko , Iguchi Yumi , Matsumoto Satoru , Ikeda Fumiaki , Tawara Shuichi , Mutoh Seitaro 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare the pharmacodynamics of the azole antifungal drugs fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole, and the polyene antifungal amphotericin B, in a mouse model of disseminated Candida albicans infection. In order to directly compare effective serum concentrations of these antifungals, drug concentrations were assayed microbiologically by measuring inhibition of C. albicans mycelial growth (mMIC) in a mouse serum‐based assay (serum antifungal titer). Efficacy in the mouse infection model was determined using an organ‐based (kidney burden) endpoint. For all four drugs, the serum antifungal titers, 8 hr after administration of single doses of drugs at a range of drug concentrations, correlated closely with C. albicans kidney fungal burden in the mouse model. The results showed that determining serum antifungal titer may be used to accurately represent kidney fungal burden in a mouse model of disseminated candidiasis and allowed direct comparison of the pharmacodynamics of differing classes of antifungal drugs.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of All RND‐Type Efflux Transporters in Vibrio cholerae Non‐O1
Authors: Rahman M. Mushfequr , Matsuo Taira , Ogawa Wakano , Koterasawa Motohiro , Kuroda Teruo , Tsuchiya Tomofusa 
Published: November 2013

AbstractResistance Nodulation cell Division (RND) efflux transporters are thought to be involved in mediating multidrug resistance in Gram‐negative bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae non‐O1. There are six operons for putative RND‐type efflux transporters present in the chromosome of V. cholerae O1 including two operons, vexAB and vexCD, which had already been identified. All of the six operons were cloned from V. cholerae non‐O1, NCTC4716 by the PCR method, introduced, and expressed in cells of drug hypersusceptible Escherichia coli KAM33 (AacrAB, AydhE). Only vexEF conferred elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of some antimicrobial agents in the E. coli cells. However, VexEF did not confer increased MIC of any drug tested in tolC‐deficient E. coli KAM43 cells. On the other hand, when E. coli KAM43 was transformed with vexAB, vexCD or vexEF together with tolCVc of V. cholerae NCTC4716, we observed elevated MICs of various antimicrobial agents. Among them, E. coli KAM43 expressing both VexEF and TolCVc showed much higher MICs and much broader substrate specificity than the other two. We also observed ethidium efflux activity via VexEF‐TolCVc, and the activity required Na+. Thus, VexEF‐TolCVc is either a Na+‐activated or a Na+‐coupled transporter. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the requirement of Na+ for an RND‐type efflux transporter.
Mode of Infection of Hokkaido Virus (Genus Hantavirus) among Grey Red‐Backed Voles, Myodes rufocanus, in Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Daud Nur Hardy Abu , Kariwa Hiroaki , Tanikawa Yoich , Nakamura Ichiro , Seto Takahiro , Miyashita Daisuke , Yoshii Kentaro , Nakauchi Mina , Yoshimatsu Kumiko , Arikawa Jiro , Takashima Ikuo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractHokkaido virus (HOKV) is a member of the genus Hantavirus, in the family Bunyaviridae. To investigate HOKV infection in the host Myodes rufocanus, the grey red‐backed vole, 199 animals were captured at Tobetsu (October 2004 and July 2005) and Nakagawa (October 2004) in Hokkaido, Japan, for detection of antibody, antigen, and viral RNA. In the surveys in Tobetsu (2004) and Nakagawa (2004), seropositive animals were detected at a frequency of 6.0% (5/84) and 10.4% (5/48), respectively. No seropositive animals were detected in Tobetsu in 2005. Seroprevalence in males in Tobetsu and Nakagawa in 2004 was 25% (1/4) and 45.5% (5/11), respectively, which was higher than in females, at 5.0% (4/80) and 0% (0/37), respectively (P<0.01). These results suggest that male animals play an important role in the maintenance of HOKV in M. rufocanus. Two females were seronegative but viral RNA‐positive, indicating that these animals had acute infections before antibody was produced. Another five infected animals in Nakagawa were all male and had high levels of antibodies and viral RNA, suggesting that they had persistent infections. Viral RNA copies in organs of infected animals in Nakagawa were quantified by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Two acutely infected animals had ≥10 times the number of RNA copies in their lungs compared to those of persistently infected animals. In most cases, lungs or spleen had the highest RNA copy number, regardless of infection status.
Evasion of Legionella pneumophila from the Bactericidal System by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Macrophages
Authors: Harada Toshihiko , Miyake Masaki , Imai Yasuyuki 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe demonstrated that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by U937 macrophage‐like cells was suppressed upon infection with a wild type Legionella pneumophila strain, whereas such suppression was not observed in the case of infection with intracellular growth‐deficient mutants. This was supported not only by measuring ROS released into the supernatants of cell cultures by chemiluminescence assaying but also by detecting intracellular ROS with a fluorescent probe, 2‐[6‐(4′‐amino)phenoxy‐3H‐xanthen‐3‐on‐9‐yl]benzoic acid (APF), under a confocal laser scanning microscope. Furthermore, more than 60% of the phagosomes containing intracellular growth‐deficient mutants were colocalized with p47phox, which is the cytosolic subunit of NADPH oxidase, consistently throughout the observation period in an early stage of bacterial infection. In contrast, the colocalization of p47phox was suppressed after infection with the wild type strain. These results suggest that the interference with ROS production by U937 cells infected with wild type L. pneumophila is due to a failure of NADPH oxidase activation through inhibition of p47phox recruitment to phagosomes harboring bacteria. The results also highlighted the difference in the nature of phagosomes between ones harboring the wild type and ones the intracellular growth‐deficient strains.
Comparison of Epitope Structures of H3HAs through Protein Modeling of Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin: Mechanism for Selection of Antigenic Variants in the Presence of a Monoclonal Antibody
Authors: Nakajima Setsuko , Nakajima Katsuhisa , Nobusawa Eri , Zhao Jin , Tanaka Shigenori , Fukuzawa Kaori 
Published: November 2013

AbstractStarting with nine plaques of influenza A/Kamata/14/91(H3N2) virus, we selected mutants in the presence of monoclonal antibody 203 (mAb203). In total, amino acid substitutions were found at nine positions (77, 80, 131, 135, 141, 142, 143, 144 and 146), which localized in the antigenic site A of the hemagglutinin (HA). The escape mutants differed in the extent to which they had lost binding to mAb203. HA protein with substitutions of some amino acid residues created by site‐directed mutagenesis in the escape mutants retained the ability to bind to mAb203. Changes in the amino acid character affecting charge or hydrophobicity accounted for the binding capacity to the antibody of the HA with most of the substitutions in the escape mutants and binding‐positive mutants. However, the effect of some amino acid substitutions remained unexplained. A three‐dimensional model of the 1991 HA was constructed and used to analyze substituted amino acids in these mutants for the accessible surface hydrophobic and hydrophilic characters. One amino acid substitution in an escape mutant and another amino acid substitution in a binding‐positive mutant seemed to be explained by the changes noted on this model.
Impact of a 4q25 Genetic Variant in Atrial Flutter and on the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation After Cavotricuspid Isthmus Ablation
Authors: ROBERTS JASON D. , HSU JONATHAN C. , AOUIZERAT BRADLEY E. , PULLINGER CLIVE R. , MALLOY MARY J. , KANE JOHN P. , OLGIN JEFFREY E. , MARCUS GREGORY M. 
Published: November 2013

Role of a 4q25 Genetic Variant in Atrial FlutterBackgroundThe prediction of atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation of atrial flutter (Afl) would be helpful to facilitate targeted arrhythmia monitoring and anti‐coagulation strategies. A single nucleotide polymorphism, rs2200733, is strongly associated with AF. We sought to characterize the association between rs2200733 and prevalent Afl and to determine if the variant could predict AF after cavotricuspid isthmus ablation.Methods and ResultsWe performed a genetic association study of 295 patients with Afl and/or AF and 469 controls using multivariable logistic regression. The variant was then assessed as a predictor of incident AF after cavotricuspid isthmus ablation in 87 consecutive typical Afl patients with Cox proportional hazards models. The rs2200733 rare allele was associated with an adjusted 2.06‐fold increased odds of isolated Afl (95% CI: 1.13–3.76, P = 0.019) and an adjusted 2.79‐fold increased odds of a combined phenotype of AF and Afl (95% CI: 1.81–4.28, P < 0.001). Following catheter ablation for Afl, carrier status of rs2200733 failed to predict an increased risk of AF either among all subjects (adjusted HR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.58–1.53, P = 0.806) or among those with isolated Afl (adjusted HR: 1.29; 95% CI: 0.51–3.26, P = 0.585).ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that Afl, whether occurring in isolation or along with AF, is associated with the rs2200733 AF risk allele. Genetic carrier status of rs2200733 failed to predict an increased risk of incident or recurrent AF following catheter ablation for Afl. These findings suggest that the causal mechanism associated with rs2200733 is germane to both AF and Afl.
Impact of Structural Heart Disease on the Acute Complication Rate in Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Results from the German Ablation Registry
Authors: HOFFMANN BORIS A. , KUCK KARL‐HEINZ , ANDRESEN DIETRICH , SPITZER STEFAN G. , HOFFMANN ELLEN , SCHUMACHER BURGHARD , ECKARDT LARS , BRACHMANN JOHANNES , BECKER RÜDIGER , STEVEN DANIEL , ROSTOCK THOMAS , JÜNGER CLAUS , SENGES JOCHEN , WILLEMS STEPHAN 
Published: November 2013

Acute Complication Rate in AF AblationIntroductionCatheter ablation (CA) has emerged as a widespread therapeutic option in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, no safety data with regard to the impact of the underlying structural heart diseases (SHD) are available. We sought to assess the risk for acute and long‐term complications during CA of AF in relation to underlying SHD.Methods and ResultsWe included 6,211 patients in a prospective registry undergoing CA of AF in 41 nationwide centers. All patients were divided into 4 groups according to the underlying heart disease: No SHD (69.4%), hypertensive heart disease (HHD) (12.0%), coronary artery disease (CAD) (15.1%), and cardiomyopathy (CM) (3.6%). In univariate analysis, patients with HHD had an overall complication rate of 7.28%, whereas patients without an SHD had a significantly lower rate of 6.01% (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that HHD (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.97 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–3.83], P = 0.0442) and age (years; OR: 1.04 [95% CI: 1.01–1.07], P = 0.0155) were independent predictors of severe, nonfatal complications and death. Other SHD including CAD (OR: 1.48 (0.73–3.00), P = 0.2797) and CM (OR: 2.37 [0.70–7.99], P = 0.1630) failed to reach statistical significance. Male sex was protective (OR: 0.47 [95% CI: 0.27–0.81], P = 0.0062).ConclusionIn general, CA of AF has a low number of severe complications. In our prospective registry HHD emerged as an independent predictor of severe, nonfatal complications during AF ablation but other SHD including CAD and CM did not. The influence of HHD on the complication rate should be considered in patient selection.