bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adaptational Changes of Fatty Acid Composition and the Physical State of Membrane Lipids Following the Change of Growth Temperature in Yersinia enterocolitica
Authors: Nagamachi Eiko , Shibuya Sei‐ichiro , Hirai Yoshikazu , Matsushita Osamu , Tomochika Ken‐ichi , Kanemasa Yasuhiro 
Published: November 2013

AbstractYersinia enterocolitica is capable of growing in a broad range of temperatures from 4 to 45 C. How this organism alters its membrane lipids in response to the change of growth temperature is very interesting. The fatty acids of membrane lipids of cells cultured at 5, 15, 25 and 37 C were analyzed and the physical states of these membrane lipids were characterized. The major phospholipids of this bacterium were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, lysophosphatidylglycerol and lysophosphatidylethanolamine. No significant difference in phospholipid composition in response to culture temperatures was observed. It was reported in our previous paper that the major fatty acids of membrane phospholipids of Y. enterocolitica were C15:0, C16:0, C16:1, cyclopropane C17:0 and C18:0, Some differences in the fatty acid composition were, however, observed with the change of culture temperature. When the culture temperature was raised, the saturated and cyclopropane fatty acids substantially increased and the unsaturated ones decreased. A reverse phenomenon was observed when culture temperature was lowered. From the viewpoints of membrane physical state, adaptational changes were analyzed using a nylon microcapsule method. Phase transition in membrane lipids of cells grown at each culture temperature took place in the range of about 5 C below and about 10 C above the culture temperature. It is, therefore, considered that Y. enterocolitica maintains its membrane rigidity and fluidity in response to growth temperature by changing the membrane fatty acid composition.
Immunological Properties of Borrelia burgdorferi Isolated from the Ixodes ovatus in Shizuoka, Japan
Authors: Masuzawa Toshiyuki , Okada Yutaka , Beppu Yoshihito , Oku Tomozou , Kawamori Fumihiko , Yanagihara Yasutake 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThree strains of spirochetes (IKA1 to 3) were isolated from the midgut of Ixodes ovatus collected in the Ikawa region of the northern part of Shizuoka, Japan. These isolates had eight flagella, and their size and other morphological features were similar to Borrelia burgdorferi. They showed similar motility and reacted with monoclonal antibody (MAb) H9724 against borrelial flagella and with MAb H5332 against the outer surface protein A. These strains showed similar SDS‐PAGE profiles to that of B. burgdorferi strain B31 and P/Bi isolated in the U.S.A. and Europe, respectively. Immunoblot with Lyme disease patient serum showed positive reactions with the flagella (41 Kilodalton, kDa), protein C (20 to 22 kDa), and outer surface protein A (29 kDa) of the isolates. Immunological properties, morphological characteristics, and epidemiological features revealed that these isolates were B. burgdorferi.
Detection and Discrimination of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium by the in vitro DNA Amplification
Authors: Sasaki Yuko , Shintani Miharu , Shimada Toru , Watanabe Haruo , Sasaki Tsuguo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBy using the primers designed on the bases of the sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium, respectively, specific and sensitive in vitro DNA amplification assay system for the detection and discrimination of these two mycoplasmas was established. The detection limit of the assay was 100 cells for M. pneumoniae and 1,000 cells for M. genitalium. Neither other human mycoplasmas nor oral bacteria existing in human saliva showed any cross‐reactions with these primers.
Some Improved Versions of Methods for the Indirect Detection of Staphylococcal Protein A Gene Expressed in Escherichia coli
Authors: Sakurada Junji , Sumi Yoshiko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractSeveral versions of methods for the indirect detection of expression of staphylococcal protein A gene (spa) in Escherichia coli (E. coli) were devised by making use of biological properties of staphylococcal protein A (SpA). i) Hemagglutination of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) sensitized with anti‐SRBC‐antibodies using heat‐treated spa‐transformed E. coli organisms; Native spa‐transformed E. coli organisms did not agglutinate the sensitized SRBC. The heat‐treatment (60 C, 4 hr) of the transformants, however, caused positive hemagglutination like SpA‐positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) organisms. ii) Halo formation around colonies on agar plates containing normal dog serum, which is originally used for the detection of SpA of S. aureus. A mutant strain NMJ was isolated, which showed formation of the halo of precipitate due to interaction between immunoglobulin and SpA. iii) A new version of immunodetection; After lysis of the transformants grown on a nitrocellulose membrane by alkali, SpA could be directly detected by immuno‐detection procedures after inactivation of endogenous peroxidase in bacteria by phenylhydrazine and hydrogen peroxide.
Correlation between Increased Susceptibility to Primary Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Depressed Production of Gamma Interferon in Pregnant Mice
Authors: Shirahata Toshikazu , Muroya Naoyoshi , Ohta Chikako , Goto Hitoshi , Nakane Akio 
Published: November 2013

AbstractTo explore a possible mechanism of pregnancy‐associated suppression of T cell‐mediated immunity to Toxoplasma gondii, acquired resistance and gamma interferone (IFN‐γ) production in pregnant mice were compared with those in virgin mice after infection with the S‐273 strain of this protozoan parasite. The 50% lethal dose of this strain was less than 200 tachyzoites for pregnant mice and 2,800 organisms for virgin controls. Toxoplasma‐induced production of both IFN‐α and IFN‐γ in the bloodstream of pregnant mice was significantly depressed as compared with that in virgin controls. The administration of recombinant murine IFN‐γ (rMuIFN‐γ) resulted in a significant decrease of mortality and parasitic growth in the organs of pregnant mice infected with a lethal dose of S‐273 strain tachyzoites. Thus, the impairment of T cell‐mediated immune responses was evident in pregnant mice from the impaired IFN‐γ‐generating capacity and poor survival rate after primary infection with Toxoplasma. When mice with chronic Toxoplasma infection were injected with specific antigen, the resultant production of IFN‐γ was also significantly suppressed during pregnancy. However, there was no direct correlation between the serum levels of IFN‐γ and susceptibility to reinfection, since the mortality rate of chronically infected pregnant mice after the challenge with the high virulent RH strain was not significantly higher than that of virgin controls.
A Broad‐Host‐Range Vibriophage, KVP40, Isolated from Sea Water
Authors: Matsuzaki Shigenobu , Tanaka Shuji , Koga Tetsuro , Kawata Tomio 
Published: November 2013

AbstractA broad‐host‐range vibriophage, KVP40, was isolated from sea water by using Vibrio parahaemolyticus 1010 (EB101) as the indicator host. The host range of KVP40 extended over at least 8 Vibrio and 1 Photobacterium species. KVP40 was a large tailed phage containing double‐stranded DNA and belonged to Ackermann's morphotype A2. KVP40 DNA was cleaved by 11 different type II restriction endo‐nucleases including EcoRl and Hindlll, but not by 17 other enzymes including BamHI, KpnI and SalI.1
A Unique Monoclonal Antibody That Recognizes Mature p17 of HIV‐1 but Not Its Precursor
Authors: Saitoh Atsushi , Tanaka Naoto , Nakata Atsuo , Ikuta Kazuyoshi , Shinagawa Hideo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe entire and partial gag regions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) were overproduced in Escherichia coli and used for epitope mapping of antibodies against p17. We found that a mouse monoclonal antibody to p17, V17 recognizes the mature p17 but not the unprocessed Gag proteins containing the entire p17 moiety. Further analysis revealed that V17 recognizes the C‐terminal 12‐amino‐acid region of p17 having free C‐terminus. This monoclonal antibody may be useful for monitoring the maturation of virus particles.
Separate Isolation of Clostridium difficile Spores and Vegetative Cells from the Feces of Newborn Infants
Authors: Miyazaki Shuichi , Matsunaga Toshiyuki , Kawasaki Kenji , Kobayashi Intetsu , Tada Hiroshi , Yamaguchi Keizo , Goto Sachiko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractA modified taurocholate‐cefoxitin‐cycloserine‐fructose agar medium, pH 5.5, on which vegetative cells alone could grow, was newly devised for separate isolation of Clostridium difficile vegetative cells and spores from feces. The ratio of C. difficile‐positive feces from healthy newborn infants younger than 10 days of the age was 30.8%, and 93.3% of feces from healthy infants older than 20 days were positive for C. difficile. C. difficile spores alone were detected in twenty‐one samples (75%) of C. difficile‐positive Twenty‐eight specimens. Only 10.7% (3/28) C. difficile vegetative cells alone were detected. C. difficile spores alone were detected in one of nine healthy adults. These collective results offer potential explanations for high frequent isolations of C. difficile from newborn infants without occurrence of pseudomembranous colitis.
Molecular Cloning and Nucleotide Sequencing of a Novel Aminoglycoside 6′‐N‐Acetyltransferase Gene from an R‐Plasmid of Salmonella typhimurium S24 Isolated in Taiwan
Authors: Peng Chien‐fang , Chang Shui‐feng 
Published: November 2013

AbstractA conjugative aminoglycoside resistance plasmid pST2 has been isolated from Escherichia coli K‐12 14R525, which was mated with a clinical isolate of Salmonella typhimurium S24. A novel resistance gene of aminoglycoside 6′‐N‐acetyltransferase[AAC(6′)] was cloned from plasmid pST2 on a 1,393 kilobase (kb) of Sphl‐SalI fragment into vector pACYC184 and pUC18. This novel A AC (6′) gene in plasmid pST2 acetylated kanamycin, amikacin, dibekacin, tobramycin, gentamicin, netilmicin, and sisomicin. The complete nucleotide sequence of the novel AAC(6′) gene and its neighboring sequences were also determined. Minicell experiments detected only one protein of 24.7 kilodaltons (kDa) translated from an open reading frame of the 618 base pairs (bp) gene.
Serological Cross‐Reaction between Yersinia enterocolitica O9 and Non‐O1 Vibrio cholerae Bio‐Serogroup Hakata and Antigenic Analysis of Their Relationship by Their Lipopolysaccharides
Authors: Isshiki Yasunori , Haishima Yuji , Kondo Seiichi , Shimada Toshio , Hisatsune Kazuhito 
Published: November 2013

AbstractCross‐agglutination and cross‐agglutinin absorption experiments were carried out on non‐O1 Vibrio cholerae bio‐serogroup Hakata (Hakata) and Yersinia enterocolitica O9 (O9). It was shown that the O‐antigen of Hakata was closely related to that of O9 in an a, b‐a, c type of relationship. The antigenic relationship between the O‐antigens of the two bacteria was analyzed by passive hemolysis (PH) and passive hemolysis inhibition (PHI) tests by using their lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as antigen for sensitizing sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and, in the case of the latter, as an inhibitor in a PH system consisting of LPS‐coated SRBC, guinea‐pig complement and anti‐Hakata or O9 antiserum, both unabsorbed and absorbed with the heterologous Hakata or O9 antigen. In the PH experiment, unabsorbed anti‐Hakata antiserum had hemolytic titers of 126,100 and 2,600 against Hakata‐ and O9‐LPS‐coated SRBC, respectively, and anti‐O9 antiserum had hemolytic titers of 19,400 and 38,800, respectively, against these SRBC. The PH experiment showed that anti‐O9 antiserum contains a hemolysin reacting with the heterologous Hakata antigen at a high titer (19,400), while anti‐Hakata antiserum contains a hemolysin reacting with the heterologous O9 antigen at a significant titer (2,600). The former was completely removed from anti‐O9 antiserum with the Hakata antigen and the latter from anti‐Hakata antiserum with the O9 antigen. Thus, serological cross‐reactivity was demonstrated between the Hakata and O9 strains.
Type 1 Pili Enhance the Invasion of Salmonella braenderup and Salmonella typhimurium to HeLa Cells
Authors: Horiuchi Sankichi , Inagaki Yoshio , Okamura Noboru , Nakaya Rintaro , Yamamoto Naoki 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe relationship between type 1 pili‐associated adhesion and invasion to HeLa cells by Salmonella braenderup and S. typhimurium was studied. When the clinical isolates of these strains were grown in L‐broth, they showed both type 1 pili formation and mannose‐sensitive adhesion to HeLa cells. On the other hand, the type 1 pili‐defective mutants, which were obtained either by repeated subcultures on L‐agar plates or by the transposon Tn1‐insertion mutagenesis of the S. braenderup and S. typhimurium strains, concomitantly lost mannose‐sensitive adhesion to HeLa cells. When the HeLa cells were incubated with Salmonella, the type 1 piliated strains invaded the HeLa cells with much higher infection rate than did the type 1 pili‐defective strains. The invasion of type 1 piliated strains to HeLa cells was markedly inhibited in the presence of d‐mannose. The infectivity of the strain, which lost type 1 pili but still had mannose‐resistant adhesion, was slightly higher than that of the strains defective in both mannose‐sensitive and mannose‐resistant adhesion. These results suggested that type 1 pili have a role in enhancing the invasion of S. braenderup and S. typhimurium to HeLa cells.
Seroepidemiology of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Small Field Rodents in Japan
Authors: Ishikura Mitsuhiro , Watanabe Mamoru , Nakayama Takashi , Matsuura Kumiko , Morita Osayuki , Uchida Takahiro 
Published: November 2013

AbstractTo clarify the geographic distribution of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in Japan, small field rodents captured in endemic and nonendemic areas were screened for anti‐SFG rickettsia antibodies by the immunofluorescence test. Among total 716 specimens tested, 73–75% of rodents were antibody‐positive against Rickettsia japonica and/or Rickettsia montana, showing different degree of antibody‐positive proportions among each species of the rodents. Interestingly, these profiles were not different in the rodents from each endemic and nonendemic areas, indicating that the SFG rickettsiae are prevailing in the wider areas where patients have not been found yet.
Cloning and Nucleotide Sequence Analysis of a Chloramphenicol Acetyltransferase Gene from Vibrio anguillarum
Authors: Zhao Jiang , Aoki Takashi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe chloramphenicol resistant gene (cat) encoding chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) in a transferable R plasmid (pJA7324) isolated from the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum strain PT24 was cloned into the plasmid vector pUC19. The nucleotide sequence analysis of 1,348 base pair DNA identified an open reading frame encoding a protein of 216 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 25,471 daltons. The predicted amino acid sequences for this cat gene are 37–69% homologous with other CAT proteins of both Gram‐negative and ‐positive bacteria. Colony hybridization performed with a PvuII‐BamHI fragment including this cat gene as a probe, revealed that the same or similar chloramphenicol resistance genes existed among V. anguillarum isolates.
Comparison of Borrelia burgdorferi Isolated from Humans and Ixodid Ticks in Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Nakao Minoru , Miyamoto Kenji , Kawagishi Naoko , Hashimoto Yoshio , Iizuka Hajime 
Published: November 2013

AbstractFour spirochetal isolates (JEM1 to JEM4) were obtained from cutaneous lesions of patients manifesting erythema chronicum migrans in Hokkaido, Japan. In the protein profiles by SDS‐PAGE and the reactivities with monoclonal antibodies (H5332 and H9724) by immunoblotting, all the human isolates were identical with the tick isolates from Ixodes persulcatus. These data indicate that I. persulcatus is an important vector of Lyme disease for humans in Japan.
Proposal of Burkholderia gen. nov. and Transfer of Seven Species of the Genus Pseudomonas Homology Group II to the New Genus, with the Type Species Burkholderia cepacia (Palleroni and Holmes 1981) comb. nov.
Authors: Yabuuchi Eiko , Kosako Yoshimasa , Oyaizu Hiroshi , Yano Ikuya , Hotta Hisako , Hashimoto Yasuhiro , Ezaki Takayuki , Arakawa Michio 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBased on the 16S rRNA sequences, DNA‐DNA homology values, cellular lipid and fatty acid composition, and phenotypic characteristics, a new genus Burkholderia is proposed for the RNA homology group II of genus Pseudomonas. Seven species in this group were transfered to the new genus. Thus seven new combinations, Burkholderia cepacia (Palleroni and Holmes 1981), Burkholderia mallei (Zopf 1885), Burkholderia pseudomallei (Whitmore 1913), Burkholderia caryophylli (Burkholder 1942), Burkholderia gladioli (Severini 1913), Burkholderia pickettii (Ralston et al 1973) and Burkholderia solanacearum (Smith 1896) were proposed.
Antiviral Activity of 1‐β‐D‐Arabinofuranosyl‐E‐5‐(2‐Bromovinyl)Uracil against Thymidine Kinase Negative Strains of Varicella‐Zoster Virus
Authors: Kawai Hideki , Yoshida Itsuro , Suzutani Tatsuo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractMechanism of antiviral activity of 1‐β‐d‐arabinofuranosyl‐E‐5‐(2‐bromovinyl)uracil (BV‐araU) against the YSR strain of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV), which is a mutant derived from the wild YS strain and is completely deficient in viral thymidine kinase (TK), was searched in comparison with antiviral activity of other thymidine analogues, guanosine analogue and thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor in human embryo lung fibroblast cells.Thymidine analogues, such as BV‐araU, 5‐iododeoxyuridine (IUDR), 1‐β‐d‐arabinofuranosylthymine (araT), and guanosine analogue, such as 9‐(2‐hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (ACV), showed higher antiviral activity to the YS strain than to the YSR strain. Though, BV‐araU also had the antiviral activity of a microgram level against the YSR strain. In contrast to these results, TS inhibitor, 5‐fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR), had higher antiviral activity to the YSR strain than to the YS strain. Highly synergistic antiviral activities of FUDR to the YS strain and the YSR strain were observed in combination with IUDR, araT, or ACV. However, weakly synergistic or additive inhibition to the YSR strain was shown in combination of BV‐araU and FUDR, in spite of highly synergistic effect of this combination to the YS strain. The viral and cellular TS activity was partially inhibited by BV‐araU monophosphate, but not by BV‐araU. These results indicate that BV‐araU is converted into BV‐araU monophosphate by cellular TK, and the inhibition of TS activity by BV‐araU monophosphate in the YSR strain‐infected cells results in the suppression of viral replication.
Serological Reactivity of Sera from Scrub Typhus Patients against Weil‐Felix Test Antigens
Authors: Amano Ken‐ichi , Suzuki Nagao , Fujita Miki , Nakamura Yoko , Suto Tsunehisa 
Published: November 2013

AbstractSera from 17 patients of scrub typhus in the acute and convalescent phases were tested by indirect immunoperoxidase test, Weil‐Felix (WF) test, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblotting. In the comparison of antibody titers between acute‐ and convalescent‐phase sera, we recognized a parallelism of increment between the titers in WF test and titers of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in ELISA against Proteus mirabilis strain OXK‐whole cells and OXK‐lipopolysaccharides (Proteus OXK‐LPS). Furthermore, IgM antibodies from almost all of WF test‐positive sera recognized LPS from Proteus OXK in immunoblotting. Based on these results, it was concluded that IgM antibody rather than IgG may participate in WF test, and that Proteus OXK‐LPS may have one of antigenic epitopes common to the components of R. tsutsugamushi.
Localization and Functions of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Nonstructural Proteins NS3 and NS5 for Viral RNA Synthesis in the Infected Cells
Authors: Edward Zulkarnain , Takegami Tsutomu 
Published: November 2013

AbstractRecently it has been reported that Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)‐specific RNAs can be synthesized in vitro in the subcellular fraction including outer‐nuclear membrane (Takegami and Hotta, 1989). The results of Western blot analysis and indirect immunofluorescence test using two kinds of monospecific antisera against JEV nonstructural proteins NS3 and NS5 showed that NS3 and NS5 were membrane‐associated proteins and formed the complex at the perinuclear site in the infected cells. Both antisera against NS3 and NS5 inhibited in vitro RNA synthesis. These results suggest that NS5 and NS3 play important role(s) in flavivirus RNA replication.
Extrathymic Pathways of T‐Cell Differentiation: A Primitive and Fundamental Immune System
Authors: Abo Toru 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn addition to an intrathymic pathway of T‐cell differentiation, extrathymic pathways of T‐cell differentiation have recently been demonstrated to occur in multiple sites in mice. Such sites include the sinusoids of the liver, the intraepithelial region of the intestine, and the omentum of the peritoneal cavity. Although these extrathymic pathways are minimal at a young age, they become predominant with aging. Extrathymically differentiated T cells display many properties distinct from those of regular T cells of thymic origin. For instance, they consist of a considerably large proportion of γδT cells as well as αβT cells, contain double‐negative CD4–CD8– cells and self‐reactive oligoclones, constitutively express the II‐2 receptor β‐chain, and have an αα homodimer of CD8 if they carry it. Cumulative evidence reveals that the extrathymic pathways comprise a primitive and fundamental immune system in the body and play a pivotal role in immune reactions under conditions of aging, bacterial infections, malignancies, autoimmune diseases, and pregnancy.
Enhancement and Neutralization of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus Infection in Feline Macrophages by Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Recognizing Different Epitopes
Authors: Hohdatsu Tsutomu , Yamada Hitomi , Ishizuka Yuzuru , Koyama Hiroyuki 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe interaction between the enhancing and neutralizing activities of three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (5‐6‐2, 6‐4‐2 and 7‐4‐1) to the spike protein of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) strain 79‐1146 was determined using feline macrophages. At a high MAb concentration, all of the three MAbs completely inhibited the FIPV infection at 37 C. However, two of them (6‐4‐2 and 7‐4‐1) enhanced FIPV infection when either the MAb concentration or reaction temperature was lowered. These MAbs also exerted an immediate infectivity‐enhancing activity for up to 10 min of reaction and by 20 min, neutralizing activities were observed. Only MAb 5‐6‐2 consistently showed neutralizing activity regardless of the reaction conditions. Competition with sera from cats experimentally infected with FIPV strain 79‐1146 or feline enteric coronavirus strain 79‐1683 showed that the two epitopes recognized by MAb 5‐6‐2 and MAb 6‐4‐2, respectively, are also recognized by the natural host.