bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The protective effect of aDNAvaccine encoding theToxoplasma gondiicyclophilin gene inBALB/cmice
Authors: Gong P. , Huang X. , Yu Q. , Li Y. , Huang J. , Li J. , Yang J. , Li H. , Zhang G. , Ren W. , Zhang X. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryToxoplasmosis is a world‐wide zoonosis that causes significant public health and veterinary problems. The study of vaccines remains the most promising method for the future prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. RecombinantToxoplasma gondiicyclophilin has been shown to have potent PPIase andIL‐12‐inducing activities, thus promoting the stabilization ofT. gondii's life cycle and maintaining the survival of its host during evolution. In this study, theT. gondiicyclophilin gene was used to construct aDNAvaccine (pVAX1‐TgCyP). The immune response and protective efficacy of the vaccine againstT. gondiiinfection in BALB/c mice were evaluated. AllBALB/cmice that were vaccinated withpVAX1‐TgCyP developed a high response with TgCyP‐specific antibodies, and significant splenocyte proliferation (P < 0·05) compared withpVAX1vector and PBS groups.pVAX1‐TgCyP also induced a significant Th1 type immune response, indicated by the higher production ofIL‐2 andIFN‐γ (P < 0·05). The survival rate ofBALB/cmice increased significantly after vaccination withpVAX1‐TgCyP (37·5%) (P < 0·05). These results indicate that TgCyP is a highly efficacious vaccine candidate that can generate protective immunity againstT. gondiiinfection inBALB/cmice.
Clinoform deposition across a boundary between orogenic front and foredeep – an example from the Lower Cretaceous in Arctic Alaska
Authors: Houseknecht David W. , Wartes Marwan A. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe Lower Cretaceous Fortress Mountain Formation occupies a spatial and temporal niche between syntectonic deposits at the Brooks Range orogenic front and post‐tectonic strata in the Colville foreland basin. The formation includes basin‐floor fan, marine‐slope and fan‐delta facies that define a clinoform depositional profile. Texture and composition of clasts in the formation suggest progressive burial of a tectonic wedge‐front that included older turbidites and mélange. These new interpretations, based entirely on outcrop study, suggest that the Fortress Mountain Formation spans the boundary between orogenic wedge and foredeep, with proximal strata onlapping the tectonic wedge‐front and distal strata downlapping the floor of the foreland basin. Our reconstruction suggests that clinoform amplitude reflects the structural relief generated by tectonic wedge development and load‐induced flexural subsidence of the foreland basin.
Discrimination ofAmbrosia artemisiifoliaandArtemisia vulgarisby hyperspectral image analysis during the growing season
Authors: Dammer K‐H , Intress J , Beuche H , Selbeck J , Dworak V 
Published: December 2012

SummaryAmbrosia artemisiifolia(ragweed) is an invasive plant in Europe. An optical detection system for effective monitoring requires differences in the spectral reflectance properties compared with other plant species.A. artemisiifoliaoften occurs together withArtemisia vulgaris(mugwort). Both plant species are of theAsteraceaefamily and they are almost indistinguishable in appearance. With the help of hyperspectral image analysis, a method was developed to determine characteristic wavelengths for their classification. High‐resolution hyperspectral images (400–1000 nm) were generated indoors. The factors measured were two weed species, two tissue classes (leaf and stem) and three growth stages (rosette growth, inflorescence emergence and fruit development). Only the stems ofA. artemisiifoliain the fruit development stage showed different reflectance behaviour compared with its leaves and with the stems and leaves ofA. vulgaris. At wavelengths ranging from 550 to 650 nm, the reflectance increased, and then at wavelengths up to 680 nm, the reflectance decreased. The other tissue classes showed constantly decreasing spectral reflectance from 550 to 680 nm. In the two other early growth stages, the reflectance of all four tissue classes decreased similarly. Thus, using two wavelengths of 550 and 650 nm, classification betweenA. artemisiifoliaandA. vulgarisat fruit development was achieved. The findings could be a first step to develop an optical outdoor detection system to identify hot spots ofA. artemisiifolia.
Two Cases of Cutaneous Diphtheria Associated with Occupational Pig Contact in Germany
Authors: Berger A. , Boschert V. , Konrad R. , Schmidt‐Wieland T. , Hörmansdorfer S. , Eddicks M. , Sing A. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryIn 2010, two independent cases of cutaneous diphtheria caused by toxigenic C. ulcerans were identified in Germany. Both patients had intense occupational contact with pigs. Diagnostic work‐up comprising biochemical differentiation, rpoB sequencing, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF) analysis, real‐time tox PCR and Elek test as well as public health measures including an intensified source tracing involving 83 asymptomatic pigs of an associated pig farm are presented.
Survival of Pathogenic Escherichia Coli on Basil, Lettuce, and Spinach
Authors: Markland S. M. , Shortlidge K. L. , Hoover D. G. , Yaron S. , Patel J. , Singh A. , Sharma M. , Kniel K. E. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryThe contamination of lettuce, spinach and basil with pathogenic E. coli has caused numerous illnesses over the past decade. E. coli O157:H7, E. coli O104:H4 and avian pathogenic E. coli (APECstx‐ and APECstx+) were inoculated on basil plants and in promix substrate using drip and overhead irrigation. When overhead inoculated with 7 log CFU/ml of each strain, E. coli populations were significantly (P = 0.03) higher on overhead‐irrigated plants than on drip‐irrigated plants. APECstx‐, E. coli O104:H4 and APECstx+ populations were recovered on plants at 3.6, 2.3 and 3.1 log CFU/g at 10 dpi (days post‐inoculation), respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was not detected on basil after 4 dpi. The persistence of E. coli O157:H7 and APECstx‐ were similar when co‐inoculated on lettuce and spinach plants. On spinach and lettuce, E. coli O157:H7 and APEC populations declined from 5.7 to 6.1 log CFU/g and 4.5 log CFU/g, to undetectable at 3 dpi and 0.6–1.6 log CFU/g at 7 dpi, respectively. The detection of low populations of APEC and E. coli O104:H4 strains 10 dpi indicates these strains may be more adapted to environmental conditions than E. coli O157:H7. This is the first reported study of E. coli O104:H4 on a produce commodity.
A geometric‐sensitivity‐difference based algorithm improves object depth‐localization for diffuse optical tomography in a circular‐array outward‐imaging geometry
Authors: Xu Guan , Piao Daqing 
Published: December 2012

Purpose:To improve object depth‐localization for diffuse optical tomography (DOT) in a circular‐array outward‐imaging geometry that is subjected to strong sensitivity variation with respect to imaging depth.Methods:The authors introduce an alternative DOT image reconstruction approach that optimizes the data‐model fit based on thepaired measurements corresponding to two pairs of source‐detector that share either the source or the detector, in comparison to the conventional method that optimizes the data‐model fit based on the unpaired measurements corresponding to individual pairs of source‐detector. This alternative approach, namely, geometric‐sensitivity‐difference (GSD) method, effectively reduces the variation of the reconstruction sensitivity with respect to imaging depth. The DOT image reconstruction based on GSD‐scheme applied to same‐source source‐detector pairs is demonstrated using simulated and experimental continuous‐wave measurements in a circular‐array outward‐imaging geometry, of which the native sensitivity varies strongly with respect to the depth. The outcomes of GSD‐based image reconstruction are compared to those of two other methods: one is the conventional baseline method that utilizes the native sensitivity but does not involve depth‐compensating scheme; and the other is a reference‐compensation approach that employs active and depth‐adapted compensation scheme to counteract the dependence of the reconstruction sensitivity with respect to imaging depth.Results:The GSD method generally outperforms the other two methods in localizing the depth of single object, resolving two objects that are azimuthally separated, and estimating the optical property of single object or azimuthally separated dual objects. The GSD method, however, demands more computations due to an increase of the element size of the resulted sensitivity matrix and more matrix multiplications.Conclusions:The GSD method improves the depth localization in the circular‐array outward‐imaging geometry, by taking advantage of the paired measurements of two source‐sharing source‐detector‐pairs to passively and effectively homogenize the sensitivity of the reconstruction with respect to imaging depth.
Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Nucleic Acids after Antibiotic Treatment Does Not Confirm Viability
Authors: Iyer Radha , Mukherjee Priyanka , Wang Kemeng , Simons Joshua , Wormser Gary P. , Schwartz Ira 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

The persistence of dormant, noncultivable
Borrelia burgdorferi
after ceftriaxone treatment was examined.
B. burgdorferi
isolates were cultivated in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium in the presence or absence of ceftriaxone, and cultures were monitored for up to 56 days. Viability of
B. burgdorferi
was assessed by subculture, growth, morphology, and pH (as a surrogate for metabolic activity). In addition, the presence of
B. burgdorferi
DNA and mRNA was assayed by PCR and by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, respectively. Spirochetes could not be successfully subcultured by day 3 after exposure to ceftriaxone. In cultures treated with ceftriaxone, the pH of the culture medium did not change through day 56, whereas it declined by at least 1 pH unit by 14 days in untreated cultures. These results suggest that
B. burgdorferi
viability is rapidly eliminated after antibiotic treatment. Nevertheless, DNA was detected by
B. burgdorferi
-specific PCR for up to 56 days in aliquots from both ceftriaxone-treated and untreated cultures. In addition, although ceftriaxone treatment resulted in a reduction in the quantities of transcript for
ospC
,
ospA
,
flaB
, and
pfk
, certain mRNAs could be detected through day 14. Transcript for all 4 genes was essentially undetectable after 28 days of treatment. Taken together, the results suggest that
B. burgdorferi
DNA and mRNA can be detected in samples long after spirochetes are no longer viable as assessed by classic microbiological parameters. PCR positivity in the absence of culture positivity following antibiotic treatment in animal and human studies should be interpreted with caution.
Simultaneous Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. mitis, and S. oralis by a Novel Multiplex PCR Assay Targeting the
gyrB
Gene
Authors: Kim Wonyong , Park Hee Kuk , Hwang Woo-Jin , Shin Hyoung-Shik 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

A multiplex PCR (mPCR) protocol was developed for simultaneous detection of the
gyrB
gene in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
,
Streptococcus mitis
, and
Streptococcus oralis
, and the specificity was evaluated using 141 coccus strains. Genomic DNAs purified from
S. pneumoniae
,
S. mitis
, and
S. oralis
strains were efficiently detected with size differences, whereas no PCR products were amplified from any of the reference strains tested. A pilot study of 47 human oral swab specimens was conducted in parallel, and the mPCR assay identified
S. pneumoniae
in 1 sample,
S. mitis
in 8 samples, and
S. oralis
in 2 samples, providing a powerful means for characterization at the level of species compared with traditional culture analysis. Our results suggest that the mPCR protocol presented here is a sensitive and promising tool for the rapid detection and discrimination of
S. pneumoniae
,
S. mitis
, and
S. oralis
from clinical specimens.
The Tanapoxvirus 15L Protein Is a Virus-Encoded Neuregulin That Promotes Viral Replication in Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Jeng David , Ma Zhenzhong , Barrett John W. , McFadden Grant , Loeb Jeffrey A. , Essani Karim 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

Studies on large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses such as poxviruses have been helpful in identifying a number of viral and cellular growth factors that contribute to our broad understanding of virus-host interaction. Orthopoxviruses and leporipoxviruses are among the most studied viruses in this aspect. However, tanapoxvirus (TPV), a member of the genus
Yatapoxvirus
, still remains largely unexplored, as the only known hosts for this virus are humans and monkeys. Here, we describe the initial characterization of an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor mimicking human neuregulin from TPV, expressed by the TPV-15L gene. Assays using a baculovirus-expressed and tagged TPV-15L protein demonstrated the ability to phosphorylate neuregulin receptors. Neuregulins represent a large family of EGF-like growth factors that play important roles in embryonic endocardium development, Schwann and oligodendrocyte survival and differentiation, localized acetylcholine receptor expression at the neuromuscular junction, and epithelial morphogenesis. Interestingly, certain neuregulin molecules are able to target specific tissues through interactions with heparin sulfate proteoglycans via an immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain. Analyses of TPV-15L revealed no Ig-like domain, but it retains the ability to bind heparin and phosphorylate neuregulin receptors, providing compelling evidence that TPV-15L is a functional mimetic of neuregulin. TPV-15L knockout virus experiments demonstrate that the virus replicates in human umbilical vein endothelial cells less efficiently than wild-type TPV-Kenya, indicating that this is a nonessential protein for virus viability but can serve a stimulatory role for replication in some cultured cells. However, the precise role of this protein in host-virus interaction still remains to be deduced.
Amino Acid Requirements for MDA5 and LGP2 Recognition by Paramyxovirus V Proteins: a Single Arginine Distinguishes MDA5 from RIG-I
Authors: Rodriguez Kenny R. , Horvath Curt M. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT
Paramyxovirus V proteins bind to MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5) and LGP2 (laboratory of genetics and physiology gene 2) but not RIG-I (retinoic acid-inducible gene I). The results demonstrate MDA5 R806 is essential for inhibition by diverse V proteins. Complementary substitution for the analogous RIG-I L714 confers V protein recognition. The analogous LGP2 R455 is required for recognition by measles V protein, but not other V proteins. These findings indicate that paramyxoviruses use a single amino acid to distinguish MDA5 from RIG-I and have evolved distinct contact sites for LGP2 interference.
RNA Interference Targets Arbovirus Replication in Culicoides Cells
Authors: Schnettler Esther , Ratinier Maxime , Watson Mick , Shaw Andrew E. , McFarlane Melanie , Varela Mariana , Elliott Richard M. , Palmarini Massimo , Kohl Alain 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

Arboviruses are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by biting arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and midges. These viruses replicate in both arthropods and vertebrates and are thus exposed to different antiviral responses in these organisms. RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanism that has been shown to play a major role in the antiviral response against arboviruses in mosquitoes.
Culicoides
midges are important vectors of arboviruses, known to transmit pathogens of humans and livestock such as bluetongue virus (BTV) (
Reoviridae
), Oropouche virus (
Bunyaviridae
), and likely the recently discovered Schmallenberg virus (
Bunyaviridae
). In this study, we investigated whether
Culicoides
cells possess an antiviral RNAi response and whether this is effective against arboviruses, including those with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genomes, such as BTV. Using reporter gene-based assays, we established the presence of a functional RNAi response in
Culicoides sonorensis
-derived KC cells which is effective in inhibiting BTV infection. Sequencing of small RNAs from KC and
Aedes aegypti
-derived Aag2 cells infected with BTV or the unrelated Schmallenberg virus resulted in the production of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (viRNAs) of 21 nucleotides, similar to the viRNAs produced during arbovirus infections of mosquitoes. In addition, viRNA profiles strongly suggest that the BTV dsRNA genome is accessible to a Dicer-type nuclease. Thus, we show for the first time that midge cells target arbovirus replication by mounting an antiviral RNAi response mainly resembling that of other insect vectors of arboviruses.
Transmitted/Founder and Chronic HIV-1 Envelope Proteins Are Distinguished by Differential Utilization of CCR5
Authors: Parker Zahra F. , Iyer Shilpa S. , Wilen Craig B. , Parrish Nicholas F. , Chikere Kelechi C. , Lee Fang-Hua , Didigu Chuka A. , Berro Reem , Klasse Per Johan , Lee Benhur , Moore John P. , Shaw George M. , Hahn Beatrice H. , Doms Robert W. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

Infection by HIV-1 most often results from the successful transmission and propagation of a single virus variant, termed the transmitted/founder (T/F) virus. Here, we compared the attachment and entry properties of envelope (Env) glycoproteins from T/F and chronic control (CC) viruses. Using a panel of 40 T/F and 47 CC Envs, all derived by single genome amplification, we found that 52% of clade C and B CC Envs exhibited partial resistance to the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc (MVC) on cells expressing high levels of CCR5, while only 15% of T/F Envs exhibited this same property. Moreover, subtle differences in the magnitude with which MVC inhibited infection on cells expressing low levels of CCR5, including primary CD4
+
T cells, were highly predictive of MVC resistance when CCR5 expression levels were high. These results are consistent with previous observations showing a greater sensitivity of T/F Envs to MVC inhibition on cells expressing very high levels of CCR5 and indicate that CC Envs are often capable of recognizing MVC-bound CCR5, albeit inefficiently on cells expressing physiologic levels of CCR5. When CCR5 expression levels are high, this phenotype becomes readily detectable. The utilization of drug-bound CCR5 conformations by many CC Envs was seen with other CCR5 antagonists, with replication-competent viruses, and did not obviously correlate with other phenotypic traits. The striking ability of clade C and B CC Envs to use MVC-bound CCR5 relative to T/F Envs argues that the more promiscuous use of CCR5 by these Env proteins is selected against at the level of virus transmission and is selected for during chronic infection.
T-Cell Infiltration Correlates with CXCL10 Expression in Ganglia of Cynomolgus Macaques with Reactivated Simian Varicella Virus
Authors: Ouwendijk Werner J. D. , Abendroth Allison , Traina-Dorge Vicki , Getu Sarah , Steain Megan , Wellish Mary , Andeweg Arno C. , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. , Gilden Don , Verjans Georges M. G. M. , Mahalingam Ravi 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT
Ganglia of monkeys with reactivated simian varicella virus (SVV) contained more CD8 than CD4 T cells around neurons. The abundance of CD8 T cells was greater less than 2 months after reactivation than that at later times and correlated with that of CXCL10 RNA but not with those of SVV protein or open reading frame 61 (ORF61) antisense RNA. CXCL10 RNA colocalized with T-cell clusters. After SVV reactivation, transient T-cell infiltration, possibly mediated by CXCL10, parallels varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in humans.
Molecular Pathways: Targeting PARP in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Do Khanh , Chen Alice P. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP) are a family of nuclear protein enzymes involved in the DNA damage response. The role of PARP-1 in base excisional repair has been extensively characterized. More recent in vitro studies additionally implicate a role for PARP-1 in facilitating homologous recombination and nonhomologous end-joining. The more faithful process of homologous recombination repair of double-stranded DNA breaks involves localization of BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 to sites of DNA damage, resection of the double-stranded break, and gap-filling DNA synthesis using the homologous sister chromatid as a template. Simultaneous dysfunction of both DNA repair pathways decreases the ability of cells to compensate, and forms the basis for the concept of synthetic lethality. Treatment strategies, thus far, have focused on two main principles: (i) exploitation of the concept of synthetic lethality in homologous recombination–deficient tumors, primarily in breast and ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutation, and (ii) as radiosensitizers and chemosensitizers. BRCA deficiency accounts for only a fraction of dysfunction in homologous recombination repair. Epigenetic alterations of BRCA function and defects within the Fanconi anemia pathway also result in defective DNA repair. Rational therapeutic combinations exploiting alternate mechanisms of defective DNA repair, abrogation of cell-cycle checkpoints, and additional functions of PARP-1 present novel opportunities for further clinical development of PARP inhibitors. On the basis of the results of clinical studies of PARP inhibitors thus far, it is imperative that future development of PARP inhibitors take a more refined approach, identifying the unique subset of patients that would most benefit from these agents, determining the optimal time for use, and identifying the optimal combination partner in any particular setting. Clin Cancer Res; 19(5); 977–84. ©2012 AACR.
miRNA-100 Inhibits Human Bladder Urothelial Carcinogenesis by Directly Targeting mTOR
Authors: Xu Chuanliang , Zeng Qinsong , Xu Weidong , Jiao Li , Chen Yanqiong , Zhang Zhensheng , Wu Chengyao , Jin Taile , Pan Anyin , Wei Rongchao , Yang Bo , Sun Yinghao 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
miRNAs are involved in cancer development and progression, acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. In this study, miRNA profiling was conducted on 10 paired bladder cancer tissues using 20 GeneChip miRNA Array, and 10 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in bladder cancer and adjacent noncancerous tissues of any disease stage/grade. After being validated on expanded cohort of 67 paired bladder cancer tissues and 10 human bladder cancer cell lines by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), it was found that miR-100 was downregulated most significantly in cancer tissues. Ectopic restoration of miR-100 expression in bladder cancer cells suppressed cell proliferation and motility, induced cell-cycle arrest in vitro, and inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo both in subcutaneous and in intravesical passage. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the mTOR gene was a direct target of miR-100. siRNA-mediated mTOR knockdown phenocopied the effect of miR-100 in bladder cancer cell lines. In addition, the cancerous metastatic nude mouse model established on the basis of primary bladder cancer cell lines suggested that miR-100/mTOR regulated cell motility and was associated with tumor metastasis. Both mTOR and p70S6K (downstream messenger) presented higher expression levels in distant metastatic foci such as in liver and kidney metastases than in primary tumor. Taken together, miR-100 may act as a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer, and reintroduction of this mature miRNA into tumor tissue may prove to be a therapeutic strategy by reducing the expression of target genes. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(2); 207–19. ©2012 AACR.