bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary Bifidobacterium lactis (HN019) Enhances Resistance to Oral Salmonella typhimurium Infection in Mice
Authors: Shu Quan , Lin Hai , Rutherfurd Kay J. , Fenwick Stan G. , Prasad Jaya , Gopal Pramod K. , Gill Harsharnjit S. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe ability of a newly identified probiotic lactic acid bacterial strain, Bifidobacterium lactis (HN019), to confer protection against Salmonella typhimurium was investigated in BALB/c mice. Feeding mice with B. lactis conferred a significant degree of protection against single or multiple oral challenge with virulent S. typhimurium, in comparison to control mice that did not receive B. lactis. Protection included a ten‐fold increase in survival rate, significantly higher post‐challenge food intake and weight gain, and reduced pathogen translocation to visceral tissues (spleen and liver). Furthermore, the degree of pathogen translocation showed a significant inverse correlation with splenic lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens, blood and peritoneal cell phagocytic activity and intestinal mucosal anti‐S. typhimurium antibody titers in infected mice; all of these immune parameters were enhanced in mice fed B. lactis. Together, these results suggest that dietary B. lactis can provide a significant degree of protection against Salmonella infection by enhancing various parameters of immune function that are relevant to the immunological control of salmonellosis. Thus dietary supplementation with B. lactis provides a unique opportunity for developing immune‐enhancing probiotic dairy food products with proven health benefits.
Phylogenic and Phenotypic Characterization of Some Eubacterium‐Like Isolates from Human Feces: Description of Solobacterium moorei Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov.
Authors: Kageyama Akiko , Benno Yoshimi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThree isolated strains from human feces were characterized by biochemical tests and 16S rDNA analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these isolated strains were members of the Clostridium subphylum of Gram‐positive bacteria. The phenotypic characters resembled those of the genus Eubacterium, but these strains were shown to be phylogenetically distant from the type species of the genus, Eubacterium limosum. The strains showed a specific phylogenetic association with Holdemania filiformis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Based on a 16S rDNA sequence divergence of greater than 12% with H. filiformis and E. rhusiopathiae, a new genus, Solobacterium, is proposed for three strains, with one species, Solobacterium moorei. The type strain of Solobacterium moorei is JCM 10645T.
Oxalate‐Degrading Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Hokama Sanehiro , Honma Yasuko , Toma Claudia , Ogawa Yoshihide 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAn oxalate‐degrading Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from human stools under anaerobic conditions. The bacteria required a poor nutritional environment and repeated subculturing to maintain their oxalate‐degrading ability. The E. faecalis produced 3 proteins (65, 48, and 40 kDa) that were not produced by non‐oxalate‐degrading E. faecalis as examined by SDS‐PAGE. Antibodies against oxalyl‐coenzyme A decarboxylase (65 kDa) and formyl‐coenzyme A transferase (48 kDa) obtained from Oxalobacter formigenes (an oxalate‐degrading anaerobic bacterium in the human intestine) reacted with 2 of the proteins (65 and 48 kDa) from the E. faecalis as examined by Western blottings. This is the first report on the isolation of oxalate‐degrading facultative anaerobic bacteria from humans.
Release of Membrane Vesicles Containing Endotoxic Lipopolysaccharide in Escherichia coli O157:H7 Clinical Isolates
Authors: Meno Yuko , Fujimoto Shuji , Horikawa Kazumi , Yoshida Shin‐ichi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractMembrane vesicles released by E. coli O157:H7 strains were investigated by immuno‐electron microscopy using anti‐O157 antibody. Anti‐O157 antibody enhanced the negative‐staining of vesicles and we found numerous small vesicles clearly formed around bacterial cells. An immunogold‐electron microscopic examination confirmed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) including the O‐side chain is present on the surface of the vesicles. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the purified vesicles showed that the vesicles contained LPS consisting of a lipid‐A and an O polysaccharide. In addition, the endotoxic activity of the vesicle was confirmed by a limulus test. These results suggest that the vesicles may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli O157:H7.
Helicobacter pylori May Have Only a Transient Presence in the Oral Cavity and on the Surface of Oral Cancer
Authors: Okuda Katsuji , Ishihara Kazuyuki , Miura Tadashi , Katakura Akira , Noma Hiroyasu , Ebihara Yoko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe used the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and culture methods to study the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric and oral samples from a total of 116 gastritis and peptic ulcer patients, including 58 with oral cancer. Detection rates of H. pylori were 46.6% in stomach samples and 12.1 % in oral swab samples. All of the oral cancer surface swab samples were positive for H. pylori, as were their gastric samples suggesting that oral H. pylori derived from the stomach. The culture supernatants of Streptococcus mutans and Prevotella intermedia inhibited the growth of the H. pylori strain and caused the formation of the coccal form. In cases where H. pylori was detected in the oral cavity samples, including the oral cancer surface samples, it was believed that this species had colonized the stomach and were present in the oral cavity only as a transient organism.
Proposal of Sphingomonadaceae Fam. Nov., Consisting of Sphingomonas Yabuuchi et al. 1990, Erythrobacter Shiba and Shimidu 1982, Erythromicrobium Yurkov et al. 1994, Porphyrobacter Fuerst et al. 1993, Zymomonas Kluyver and van Niel 1936, and Sandaracinobacter Yurkov et al. 1997, with the Type Genus Sphingomonas Yabuuchi et al. 1990
Authors: Kosako Yoshimasa , Yabuuchi Eiko , Naka Takashi , Fujiwara Nagatoshi , Kobayashi Kazuo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBased on the results of phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences and the presence of N‐2′‐hydroxymyristoyl dihydrosphingosine 1‐glucuronic acid (SGL‐1) and 2‐hydroxymyristic acid (non‐hydroxymyristic acid in Zymomonas) in cellular lipids, a new family, Sphingomonadaceae, for Group 4 of the alpha‐subclass of the class Proteobacteria is herein proposed and a description of the family is given. The family consists of six genera, Sphingomonas, Erythrobacter, Erythromicrobium, Porphyrobacter, Sandaracinobacter and Zymomonas. Thus, all the validly published and currently known genera in Group 4 of the alpha‐subclass of Proteobacteria belong to Sphingomonadaceae fam. nov. Among them, type strains of two species, Porphyrobacter and Erythrobacter, Sandaracinobacter sibiricus and Sphingomonas ursincola, respectively, are facultatively photosynthetic due to bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl)‐a. The type strains of two subspecies of Zymomonas mobilis are facultative anaerobes. The presence of SGL‐1 together with the results of a phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences recommends a new criteria by which to define the new family Sphingomonadaceae. The type genus is Sphingomonas Yabuuchi et al. 1990.
Comparison of the Oral Bacterial Flora in Saliva from a Healthy Subject and Two Periodontitis Patients by Sequence Analysis of 16S rDNA Libraries
Authors: Sakamoto Mitsuo , Umeda Makoto , Ishikawa Isao , Benno Yoshimi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe oral bacterial flora in the saliva from two patients with periodontitis and from a periodontally healthy subject were compared using a sequence analysis of 16S rDNA libraries without cultivation. 16S rDNAs were amplified from salivary DNA by PCR and cloned. Randomly selected clones were partially sequenced. On the basis of sequence similarities, the clones were classified into several clusters corresponding to the major phylum of the domain Bacteria. The major phylum in the libraries was the low G+C Gram‐positive bacteria. There was no clonal sequence affiliated with periodontopathic bacteria in the salivary sample from the healthy subject, while a number of periodontal pathogens such as Campylobacter rectus, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema socranskii were detected in the salivary samples from the patients with periodontitis. In addition, a number of previously uncharacterized and uncultured microorganisms were recognized. These organisms may have some role in periodontal disease. This study reveals some potential for a molecular‐biological technique to analyze the oral microflora associated with periodontal disease, including previously uncharacterized and uncultured microorganisms, without cultivation.
Production of Serine Protease of Aeromonas sobria Is Controlled by the Protein Encoded by the Gene Lying Adjacent to the 3′ End of the Protease Gene
Authors: Okamoto Keinosuke , Nomura Tomohiko , Hamada Masaki , Fukuda Takayuki , Noguchi Yoko , Fujii Yoshio 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe cloned a protease gene of Aeromonas sobria and determined its nucleotide sequence. The protease is composed of 624 amino acid residues and its calculated molecular weight is 66,737.7. The amino acid sequence showed the characteristic features of a bacterial serine protease. We expressed the protease gene in Vibrio parahaemolyticus from which the synthesized protease is secreted into the culture medium as the mature form, and purified the mature protease by successive column chromatographies. The size of the mature protease is 65,000 daltons and the amino acid sequence analysis revealed that a 24‐amino acid peptide at the amino terminal of the precursor is removed from the mature protease. This peptide might function as a signal peptide in translocation across the inner membrane. Subsequently, we found that the protein, designated ORF2 protein, encoded by the gene lying adjacent to the 3′ end of the protease gene plays an important role in production of the protease. Mutation of the ORF2 gene did not affect transcription of the protease gene, but resulted in degradation of the protease in the cell. This shows that ORF2 protein is required for the successful production of the serine protease by cell.
Erythromycin Resistance Genes in Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates in Kanagawa, Japan
Authors: Murase Toshiyuki , Suzuki Rieko , Watanabe Yuko , Yamai Shiro 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe susceptibility of 224 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates obtained from children in Japan from 1981 to 1997 to treatment with erythromycin was determined by the agar dilution method. A total of 17 isolates belonging to serotype M12T12 were resistant (MICs > 1 μg/ml). Fourteen of the 17 resistant strains obtained from 1982 to 1985 harbored ermB and showed an identical pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis pattern, indicating the spread of a single clone. Two ermTR‐containing isolates were obtained in 1983. mefA gene was found in a strain obtained in 1994 in the present study, although this gene is predominantly associated with recent erythromycin resistance among S. pyogenes strains in many countries.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐Induced Intra‐Uterine Fetal Death (IUFD) in Mice Is Principally Due to Maternal Cause but Not Fetal Sensitivity to LPS
Authors: Kohmura Yasuhiro , Kirikae Teruo , Kirikae Fumiko , Nakano Masayasu , Sato Ikuo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe present study deals with whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced intra‐uterine fetal death (IUFD) is related to LPS‐susceptibility of either mother or fetus and how LPS or LPS‐induced TNF causes IUFD. LPS‐susceptible C3H/HeN or ‐hypo‐susceptible C3H/HeJ pregnant mice and the mice mated reciprocally with these mice were used on days 14 to 16 of gestation for experiments. All of fetuses in pregnant C3H/HeN mice mated with either C3H/HeN males [HeN(HeN)] or C3H/HeJ males [HeN(HeJ)] were killed within 24 hr when injected intravenously (i.v.) with 50 or 100 μg of LPS. On the other hand, the majority of fetuses in C3H/HeJ females mated with either C3H/HeJ males [HeJ(HeJ)] or C3H/HeN males [HeJ(HeN)] survived when injected i.v. with even 400 μg of LPS. These findings indicate that LPS‐induced IUFD depends on the maternal LPS‐responsiveness. LPS injected into mothers could pass through placenta to fetuses, since an injection with 125I‐labeled LPS or IgG into pregnant mice resulted in considerable levels of radioactivity in fetuses as well as placenta. Cultured peritoneal macrophages derived from F1 mice of HeJ(HeN) or HeN(HeJ) mice, produced nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in response to LPS, although the levels of NO and TNF were lower in comparison with those of C3H/HeN macrophage cultures, suggesting a possibility that the fetus as well as F1 cells might be responsible to LPS. LPS‐induced IUFD was not blocked by treatment with anti‐TNF antibody which inhibited LPS‐induced TNF production in pregnant females, although an injection of recombinant TNFα instead of LPS could induce IUFD, suggesting that the cause of IUFD cannot be attributed to mother‐derived TNF alone. The roles of LPS passed through placenta and LPS‐induced mediators on IUFD were discussed.
Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Manganese‐Resistant Mutants in Reference to the Function of the Ferric Uptake Regulatory Protein
Authors: Funahashi Tatsuya , Fujiwara Chihiro , Okada Mitsuyo , Miyoshi Shin‐ichi , Shinoda Sumio , Narimatsu Shizuo , Yamamoto Shigeo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn many bacteria, the ferric uptake regulatory protein (Fur) has a central role in the negative regulation of genes affected by iron limitation. In this study, Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains carrying mutations in the fur gene encoding Fur were isolated by the manganese selection method to assess the function of Fur in connection with alternations in the coordinate expression of the siderophore vibrioferrin (VF) and iron‐repressible outer membrane proteins (IROMPs). Ten out of 25 manganese‐resistant mutants constitutively produced VF and expressed at least two IROMPs irrespective of the iron concentration in the medium. PCR‐direct DNA sequencing of the fur genes in these mutants identified four different point mutations causing amino acid changes. Moreover, a fur overexpressing plasmid was constructed to prepare antiserum against V. parahaemolyticus Fur. Western blotting with this antiserum revealed that the intracellular abundance of the wild‐type Fur was not significantly affected by the iron concentrations in the growth medium, and that the Fur proteins of the mutant strains occurred at substantially smaller amounts and/or migrated more rapidly in sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis than the wild‐type Fur. These data afford an additional insight into the structure‐function relationship of Fur and imply its involvement in the iron acquisition systems of V. parahaemolyticus, although it is yet unknown whether its action on the target genes is direct or indirect.
A VSV‐G Pseudotyped HIV Vector Mediates Efficient Transduction of Human Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Li Shou‐lin , Zhang Xiao‐yan , Ling Hong , Ikeda Jun , Shirato Kunio , Hattori Toshio 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAttempts were made to infect human vascular smooth muscle cells derived from the pulmonary artery (hPASMC) with two different human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vector systems. ADA/Luc or HXB2/Luc were generated by cotransfection of luciferase reporter gene vector, pNL4‐3‐Lue‐E–R–, and one of two envelope expressing vectors, pSMADA (R5) or pSMHXB2 (X4). The VSV‐G/Luc or VSV‐G/GFP were produced by a three‐plasmid expression system which consisted of vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV‐G) expressing vector, packaging plasmid, and one of two reporter genes (pHR'‐CMV‐Luc or pHR'‐CMV‐GFP). We used hPASMC, U87.CD4.CCR5 and U87.CD4.CXCR4 for infection. Neither ADA/Luc nor HXB2/Luc could infect hPASMC, though they could infect U87.CD4 with corresponding coreceptors. On the other hand, the transduction of both VSV‐G/Luc and VSV‐G/GFP to hPASMC was remarkable. At day 3, the relative proportion of positive cells of hPASMC infected with VSV‐G/GFP was 15%. The above finding indicates a direct role of HIV‐1 infection in pulmonary hypertension ‘a rare complication of HIV‐1 infection’ and HIV‐based vectors could introduce foreign genes into hPASMC for gene therapy of pulmonary hypertension.
Nitric Oxide Production and iNOS mRNA Expression in Mice Induced by Repeated Stimulation with Live Fusobacterium nucleatum
Authors: Kato Chihomi , Mikami Masato , Saito Kazuko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThere have been few studies on the detection of direct nitric oxide (NO) production and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) in vivo without using animal cell culture. We questioned whether NO and IFN‐γ could be produced at the site of infection. The peritoneal cavity of mice was used as the local infection model. NO and IFN‐γ in abdominal washings from these mice were measured directly at various times after injection of Fusobacterium nucleatum, a gram‐negative rod periodontal pathogen. The mice were divided into three groups: those treated with live bacteria (LB), those treated with heat‐killed bacteria (HKB) and those untreated: normal (N). These mice were compared on the basis of cell filtration, NO and IFN‐γ production by injection of live bacteria (LFn) or heat‐killed bacteria (HKFn). In the LB group, the total cell number increased corresponding to an increase in neutrophils after injection of both LFn and HKFn. A low level of NO was constantly produced in abdominal washings, but a significant amount of NO was synthesized in the LB group only 12 hr to 24 hr after injection of LFn. At the same time iNOS enzyme activity and iNOS mRNA expression were detected. IFN‐γ, which may contribute to enhance NO production, was also secreted at a high level from peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) at 12 hr and 24 hr in the LB group by stimulation of LFn. At 12 hr and 24 hr, iNOS positive cells in the LB group by infection of LFn were identified and shown to contain mostly macrophages. These findings indicate that live bacteria play important roles in NO production by macrophages. It is suggested that NO may contribute to the inflammatory response during F. nucleatum infection in periodontitis.
A Non‐Surgical Rat Model of Foreign Body‐Associated Urinary Tract Infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Kurosaka Yuichi , Ishida Yoshihisa , Yamamura Eiko , Takase Hiroyuki , Otani Tsuyoshi , Kumon Hiromi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis study established a rat model of foreign body‐associated urinary tract infection. A spiral polyethylene tube (PT) was placed transurethrally into the bladder without surgical manipulation, followed by transurethral inoculation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The persistence of P. aeruginosa in the kidneys and bladder was significantly enhanced by placement of the PT, whereas the bacteria were eliminated rapidly from the urinary tract in the animals without the PT. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a thick biofilm on the surface of the PT from the early stage of infection. Histopathologically, acute pyelonephritis was followed by chronic renal inflammation as well as continuous and sporadic polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation and hemorrhage in the pelvis and adjacent tissues, suggesting continuous ascending introduction of the bacteria from the biofilm adhering to the PT. We believe our model simulates the pathophysiology of foreign body‐associated urinary tract infection characterized by biofilm formation on the surface of a foreign body.
A Lack of Consistent Amino Acid Substitutions in NSP4 between Rotaviruses Derived from Diarrheal and Asymptomatically‐Infected Kittens
Authors: Oka Toyonori , Nakagomi Toyoko , Nakagomi Osamu 
Published: November 2013

AbstractNonstructural glycoprotein NSP4 of group A rotavirus has recently been shown to be a viral enterotoxin, inducing diarrhea in neonatal mice. Literature is conflicting as to whether there is any consistent amino acid substitution between virulent (or symptomatic) and attenuated (or asymptomatic) rotavirus strains. We have sequenced and compared the NSP4 sequences derived from a total of 10 geographically‐ and serologically‐related feline rotavirus strains from both diarrheal and asymptomatically‐infected kittens. These NSP4 sequences were closely related to each other and there were differences at 19 amino acid residues, but none was segregated according to whether the strain was isolated from a diarrheal kitten or not. Thus, this study failed to lend support to the contention that mutations in NSP4 play a significant role in the pathogenesis of rotavirus diarrhea. Involvement of other genes may explain the outcome of infection in cats from which these 10 feline rotaviruses were isolated.
Genomic Map of Clostridium perfringens Strain 13
Authors: Shimizu Tohru , Ohshima Shinobu , Ohtani Kaori , Shimizu Takeshi , Hayashi Hideo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractA physical and genetic map of Clostridium perfringens strain 13 was constructed. C. perfringens strain 13 was found to have a 3.1‐Mb chromosome and a large 50‐kb plasmid, indicating that strain 13 has a relatively small genome among C. perfringens strains. A total of 313 genetic markers were mapped on the chromosome of strain 13. Compared with the physical and genetic map of C. perfringens CPN50, strain 13 had a quite similar genome organization, but with a large deletion (~400 kb) in a particular segment of the chromosome. Among several toxin genes, a beta2 toxin gene that is a novel virulence gene in C. perfringens was found to be located on the 50‐kb plasmid.
Vi‐Suppressed Wild Strain Salmonella typhi Cultured in High Osmolarity Is Hyperinvasive toward Epithelial Cells and Destructive of Peyer's Patches
Authors: Zhao Licheng , Ezaki Takayuki , Li Zhi‐Yu , Kawamura Yoshiaki , Hirose Kenji , Watanabe Haruo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractSalmonella typhi GIFU10007–3 which lost a viaB locus on its chromosome became highly invasive in our previous study. To investigate the phenomenon, we controlled Vi expression in wild strain S. typhi GIFU10007, and studied the invasive phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. When the wild strain of S. typhi was cultured in 300 mm NaCl containing Luria‐Bertani broth (LBH), the expression of Vi antigen was suppressed, but secretion of invasion proteins (SipC, SipB and SipA) was increased. In this condition, wild strain S. typhi became highly invasive toward both epithelial cells and M cells of rat Peyer's patches. When GIFU10007 was cultured under conditions of high osmolarity, the bacteria disrupted Peyer's patches and induced massive bleeding in these structures only 20 min after inoculation into the ileal loop. In contrast, Vi‐encapsulated wild strain GIFU10007 cultured under low osmolarity was not destructive, even after 60 min. To understand the role of the type III secretion system under conditions of high osmolarity, we knocked out the invA and sipC genes of both GIFU10007 and GIFU10007–3. Neither invA nor sipC mutants could invade epithelial cells or M cells in a high osmolarity environment. Our data show that the highly invasive phenotype was only expressed when the wild strain S. typhi was cultured under high osmolarity, which induced a state of Vi suppression, and in the presence of the type III secretion system.