bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurologic Abnormalities in Two Dogs Suspected Lyme Disease
Authors: Azuma Yuzo , Kawamura Katsuzi , Isogai Hiroshi , Isogai Emiko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractA 2‐year‐old mongrel dog developed neurological signs following tick bite. These included astasia, persistent tonic convulsions and hyper‐reflexia. Both serum IgG and IgM antibody titers against Borrelia burgdorferi were positive in enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The neurological signs subsided after high‐dose penicillin and streptomycin treatment. A strain of spirochetes (P427a) was isolated from the midgut of Ixodes persulcatus feeding on the dog. Morphological characteristic, immunological property and protein profile revealed that the isolate was B. burgdorferi. Similarly, a 2‐year‐old Labrador retriever dog developed neurological signs after tick bite and showed a positive IgG antibody titer against B. burgdorferi. Antibiotic treatment was effective also in this case. These findings suggest that neurological symptoms shown in both dogs were caused by infection with B. burgdorferi.
Increase in T‐Cells Bearing CD25 in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from HAM/TSP Patients and HTLV‐I Carriers
Authors: Mukae Hiroshi , Kohno Shigeru , Morikawa Nobuo , Kadota Jun‐ichi , Matsukura Shigeru , Hara Kohei 
Published: November 2013

AbstractTo determine the immunologic characteristics of T‐cells in local pulmonary lesions of human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I) carriers, we investigated lymphocyte surface markers in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of 38 HTLV‐I carriers, 8 HTLV‐I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients, 44 HTLV‐I seronegative patients with pulmonary diseases and 7 healthy volunteers using two‐color flow cytometric analysis. In peripheral blood, activated T‐cells, CD4+HLA‐DR +, CD8 + HLA‐DR + and CD3 + CD25 +, and CD4+CD29+ cells increased significantly in carriers and HAM/TSP patients compared with healthy volunteers and seronegative patients. In BALF, T‐cells, especially CD25+ cells, increased significantly in carriers and HAM/TSP patients, compared with healthy volunteers and seronegative patients. These findings indicated that T‐cells in the lungs, as well as in peripheral blood, are activated in carriers and HAM/TSP patients. Interestingly, there was dissociation between expression of CD3 + CD25+ cells in BALF and peripheral blood from these patients. These results suggest that T‐cells activated probably by HTLV‐I accumulate in the lungs in some carriers and HAM/TSP patients, and HTLV‐I may be involved in the immunologic dysfunction in the lungs of these patients. However, we did not find any correlation between the degree of clinical features and the elevation of CD3 + CD25+ cells in BALF, or its characteristic features on chest roentgenograms.
Epidemiological and Ecological Studies of Japanese Encephalitis in Okinawa, Subtropical Area in Japan. I. Investigations on Antibody Levels to Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Swine Sera and Vector Mosquito in Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki Islands
Authors: Tadano Masayuki , Kanemura Kazumi , Hasegawa Hideo , Makino Yoshihiro , Fukunaga Toshihiko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractFrom 1985 to 1989, serum specimens of swine raised in the northern, central and southern areas in Okinawa island were examined for Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus antibody by ELISA and hemagglutination‐inhibition test. The antibody positive rate was found to be higher in the north and central than in the south. The 2‐mercaptoethanol sensitive antibody to JE was detected mostly in June and July, and occasionally in other months except February and March. There was no month when all specimens from three areas turned antibody‐negative simultaneously, indicating that JE virus transmission to swine lasted longer in Okinawa island than in other temperate areas in Japan. From 1986 to 1991, the vector mosquitoes (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) were collected in a pig farm in the south of Okinawa island. A total of 153 strains of JE virus was isolated from the vector mosquitoes mainly in June. In Miyako and Ishigaki islands, the antibody positive rate in swine sera was found to be extremely low, compared with that in Okinawa island. In Miyako island, where no paddy rice field is cultivated, a few adults as well as larvae of the vector mosquito were collected, while in Ishigaki island, where there are many watered rice fields, a lot of adults as well as larvae were collected. Although the environmental situation is quite different between the two islands, JE virus transmission appeared to be very low in both islands.
Induction of Yersinia enterocolitica Stress Proteins by Phagocytosis with Macrophage
Authors: Yamamoto Tomoko , Hanawa Tomoko , Ogata Sachio 
Published: November 2013

AbstractYersinia enterocolitica is a facultative intracellular pathogen which invades to epithelial cells and survives in phagocytes. Since the internal environment of phagocytes should be stressful conditions for the phagocytosed Yersinia, the bacteria should respond to protect themselves from otherwise lethal results. We analyzed the stress‐induced proteins which possibly contribute to survival of Yersinia within the phagocytes. Y. enterocolitica was radiolabeled during the growth in macrophage‐like J774‐1 cells, and the bacterial proteins were analyzed by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. At least 16 proteins were selectively induced in response to phagocytosis, and several out of 16 proteins were also induced by heat shock at 42 C or oxidative stresses in vitro. Of those, two major stress proteins were identified to be homologues of DnaK and CRPA by immunoblotting analysis. These results have indicated that Y. enterocolitica exhibits a global stress response to the hostile environment in the phagocytosed macrophage.
Modulation by Polymyxin B of the Effects of Interferon on Human Myelogenous Leukemia Cells
Authors: Tamura Minori , Nagano Yasuiti 
Published: November 2013

AbstractNatural and recombinant human interferon‐α (IFN‐α) and ‐γ (IFN‐γ) exert differentiation‐inducing and cytocidal effects in vitro on cells of the human myeloblastic leukemia cell line ML‐2. These activities of IFNs are modulated by polymyxin B (PMB), a cyclic polycationic peptide antibiotic effective on Gram‐negative bacilli. The modulating effect of PMB varies according to the species of IFN, namely, PMB enhances the activities of either natural IFN‐γ or recombinant IFN‐γ, while it inhibits the effects of either natural IFN‐α or recombinant IFN‐α. The cause of this variety in PMB effect on IFNs remains to be clarified.
Relationship between Hemolytic Activity and Adsorption Capacity of Aluminum Hydroxide and Calcium Phosphate as Immunological Adjuvants for Biologicals
Authors: Kato Hiroshi , Shibano Michiko , Saito Takuya , Yamaguchi Junji , Yoshihara Shinobu , Goto Norihisa 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAluminum hydroxide (Al) and calcium phosphate (Ca) gels have been used as vaccine adjuvants for many years. We investigated mechanism of the hemolytic activities of both adjuvant materials. The hemolytic activity of each gel depended on the gel dose. The adsorption capacities and the hemolytic activities of both adjuvants decreased as the concentration of phosphate increased in a gel‐washing solution. A positive correlation between the hemolytic activity and the adsorption capacity was found in Al‐gel. A disruptive effect of Ca‐gel on membrane of erythrocytes was shown by electron microscopy. Ca‐gel required more than 10 times as much pre‐adsorbed ovalbumin as did Al‐gel to inhibit the hemolysis. These results suggest that the hemolytic activity of both adjuvant materials depended mainly on the adsorption ability, and it may be useful to control the adsorption ability of adjuvants to reduce their hemolytic activity.
A Sandwich Cup Method for the Penetration Assay of Antimicrobial Agents through Pseudomonas Exopolysaccharides
Authors: Kumon Hiromi , Tomochika Ken‐ichi , Matunaga Tosiyuki , Ogawa Masatoshi , Ohmori Hiroyuki 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe developed new sandwich cup method to assay the penetration of various antimicrobial agents through Pseudomonas exopolysaccharides. Using alginate extracted from mucoid‐type Pseudomonas aeruginosa and gellan gum from Pseudomonas elodea, the role of exopolysaccharides as a barrier against drug penetration was examined. The penetration of positively charged hydrophilic drugs such as aminoglycosides and polypeptides was markedly inhibited by the gels tested, but that of β‐lactams, quinolones, and macrolides was not inhibited. The penetration of gentamicin was strongly influenced by the gel concentration, the solution to be used, and the presence of Ca2+. These results suggest that the microenvironment at the infection site could greatly influence drug penetration through biofilms in vivo.
Prevalence of Colonization Factor Antigens (CFAs) and Adherence to HeLa Cells in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Feces of Children in São Paulo
Authors: Guth Beatriz Ernestina Cabilio , Aguiar Eliana Gonçalves , Griffin Patricia Marie , da Silva Ramos Sonia Regina Testa , Gomes Tânia Aparecida Tardelli 
Published: November 2013

AbstractFifty‐eight enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains, isolated from children with and without diarrhea in Sao Paulo, were examined for the presence of colonization factor antigens (CFAs) and their ability to adhere to HeLa cells. Antisera to CFA/I, the coli surface (CS) antigens CS1CS3, CS2CS3, and CS2 of CFA/II, CFA/III, and CS5CS6 and CS6 of CFA/IV were used. CFAs were identified in 43% of the ETEC strains: 40% of the strains with CFAs harbored CFA/I, 24% carried CFA/II (CS1CS3), 24% carried CFA/IV (CS6), and 12% carried CFA/IV (CS5CS6). CFAs occurred mainly among ETEC strains producing only heat‐stable (ST‐I) enterotoxin and in strains also producing heat‐labile toxin (LT‐I). No ETEC strains tested expressed CFA/III. A marked change in serotypes of ST‐I‐producing strains was found in Sao Paulo between 1979 and 1990. Adherence to HeLa cells was detected in 14% of the ETEC strains. All of them had a diffuse adherence pattern and produced only ST‐I, and 88% carried CS6 antigen.
The Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor in Host Defense against Scrub Typhus Rickettsiae. II. Differential Induction of Tumor Necrosis Factor‐Alpha Production by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi and Rickettsia conorii
Authors: Jerrells Thomas R. , Geng Peigin 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe present study was undertaken to investigate the ability of members of two different groups of Rickettsia to stimulate macrophages or immune lymphocytes to produce TNF. It was found that R. conorii, a spotted fever group rickettsia, readily induced murine peritoneal macrophages or the macrophage‐like cell line P388D1 to produce relatively high levels of TNF. The interaction of macrophages with viable organisms or heat‐killed organisms resulted in TNF production. In contrast, viable or killed R. tsutsugamushi did not stimulate the production of detectable TNF even though viable organisms grew to high numbers in both cell types. It was found that the appropriate immune spleen cells stimulated with heat‐killed R. tsutsugamushi or R. conorii produced TNF, and TNF activity was found in the sera of immune mice after injection with rickettsial antigen. Infection of naive mice with viable R. tsutsugamushi resulted in high TNF levels in ascites, but TNF was not found in ascites obtained from infected athymic (nu/nu) mice. These data support the suggestion that spotted fever group rickettsiae, such as R. conorii, possess components perhaps on the surface that interact with macrophages to induce TNF production and this component is lacking in R. tsutsugamushi. Antigens of R. tsutsugamushi and R. conorii will stimulate immune cells to produce TNF activity. These data are compatible with the suggestion that the TH‐1 subset of T cells is predominant in immunity to R. tsutsugamushi.
Elevated Plasma Levels of P‐Selectin (GMP‐140/CD62P) in Patients with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria
Authors: Facer Christine A. , Theodoridou Agapi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe plasma concentration of soluble P‐selectin (GMP‐140/CD62P/PADGEM), a selectin produced by activated platelets and endothelial cells, was quantitated in a group of adults and East African negro children presenting with either non‐severe or severe (cerebral) malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Sixty percent of adults with non‐severe malaria had immunoreactive levels of P‐selectin above 200 ng/ml (the maximum recorded for any normal healthy adult in the assay) and 86 % of all African children with malaria had concentrations above normal irrespective of their clinical categorization, and most exceeded the maximum limits of the assay (> 640 ng/ml). There was no correlation between P‐selectin levels and parasitemia. These results raise the possibility that elevated soluble P‐selectin in malaria may have an important beneficial antiinflammatory function.
Characterization of Immunological Activity of a Low Toxicity Antitumor Lipopolysaccharide from Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Ohnishi Megumi , Kimura Sadao , Yamazaki Masatoshi , Abe Shigeru , Yamaguchi Hideyo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractImmunological properties of a low toxicity lipopolysaccharide (BP‐LPS) extracted from Bordetella pertussis (Tohama strain) which was reported to have high antitumor activity against murine tumors were examined and compared with those of LPS extracted from other enterobacteria. The activation or stimulation of murine macrophages and lymphocytes by these LPS, including TNF induction, was found to be similar. However, BP‐LPS was clearly less active in its stimulation of murine and human neutrophils as estimated by neutrophil‐adherence assay and by their TNF production than E. coli LPS. Furthermore, BP‐LPS also suppressed the activation of human neutrophils by Escherichia coli LPS. A comparative study with 7 LPS preparations indicated that their toxicity in terms of animal body weight loss correlated with their ability to induce human neutrophil adherence. The inability of BP‐LPS to activate neutrophils may thus have some bearing on its low toxicity.
Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus DNA in Breast Milk by Means of Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Hotsubo Tomoyuki , Nagata Nobuo , Shimada Masayoshi , Yoshida Koichi , Fujinaga Kei , Chiba Shunzo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThree hundred and twenty‐five breast milk samples were examined for the occurrence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) by cell culture method. Virus was isolated from the milk in 1 of 177 samples collected within 6 days after delivery, 2 of 115 samples collected during the period of 7 days to 1 month after delivery, 10 of 33 samples collected over 1 month after delivery. Next, we tried to amplify HCMV DNA from the breast milk samples from HCMV seropositive mothers and seronegative mothers at 1 month after delivery by polymerase chain reaction. HCMV DNA was detected in 12 of 13 samples from seropositive mothers and in none of 7 samples from seronegative mothers. It was thought that all women seropositive for HCMV principally shed the virus into their breast milk at 1 month after delivery.
Coccoid Helicobacter pylori Not Culturable In Vitro Reverts in Mice
Authors: Cellini Luigina , Allocati Nerino , Angelucci Domenico , Iezzi Teresa , Campli Emanuela Di , Marzio Leonardo , Dainelli Benedetto 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAn experimental rodent model was used to demonstrate the viability of the coccoid form of Helicobacter pylori. Concentrated suspensions were prepared for the two different morphologies: at 2 days incubation for the bacillary forms and at 20 days incubation for the “dormant” forms. The strains used for incubation were two fresh isolates from humans with duodenal ulceration, and two collection strains. Five hundred microliters of culture (OD550 = 5 Mc Farland) of Helicobacter pylori with bacillary (2‐5×109 CFU/ml) and coccoid (0 CFU/ml) morphology were inoculated intragastrically in BALB/c mice. The gastric mucosa of the mice was colonized by Helicobacter pylori with the administration of fresh bacillary and coccoid cultures and not with the established cultures. Helicobacter pylori was isolated at 1 week after inoculation with the administration of fresh bacillary cultures, while fresh coccoid Helicobacter pylori was recovered in mice stomachs after 2 weeks of inoculation. After colonization, histopathologic changes occurred after 1 month from inoculation; all colonized mice showed a systemic antibody response to Helicobacter pylori. These results support the thesis of the viability of coccoid Helicobacter pylori non‐culturable in vitro and confirm that concentrated bacterial suspensions are able to colonize and to produce gastric alterations in this suitable animal model.
Influence of Molecular Sizes of Cryptococcus neoformans Capsular Polysaccharide on Phagocytosis
Authors: Yasuoka Akira , Kohno Shigeru , Yamada Hiroshi , Kaku Mitsuo , Koga Hironobu 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe role of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) of Cryptococcus neoformans in phagocytosis by murine alveolar macrophages was investigated in four strains of C. neoformans serotype A, YC‐11, YC‐5, YC‐27 and YC‐13. Phagocytosis rates increased markedly after adding 10% mouse serum, compared to fetal calf serum. The reverse relation between capsular thickness of C. neoformans and phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages was observed except in YC‐27, which had thin capsules and high virulence. The phagocytosis rate in mice serum was 17.3% in YC‐11 (capsule thickness 2.8‐3.5 μm), 39.8% in YC‐5 (capsule size 0.8‐1.5 μm), 20.3% in YC‐27 (capsule size 0.6‐1.1 μm), and 62.8% in YC‐13 (capsule not detected microscopically). The CPS of YC‐11, YC‐5, and YC‐27 analyzed by gel‐filtration using CL‐2B showed high molecular fractions near the void volume. However, the CPS of YC‐13 showed only low molecular fractions. The widely eluted CPS of YC‐11 was separated into 3 fractions and each fraction was added in the phagocytosis assay of YC‐13. Phagocytosis was markedly suppressed particularly by the addition of a higher molecular fraction. These results suggest that phagocytosis of C. neoformans by alveolar macrophages is influenced by the molecular sizes of the CPS.
Characterization of a Chlamydia pneumoniae Strain Isolated from a 57‐Year‐Old Man
Authors: Miyashita Naoyuki , Kubota Yoshifumi , Kimura Masashi , Nakajima Masamitsu , Niki Yoshihito , Soejima Rinzo , Matsumoto Akira 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe isolation of Chlamydia pneumoniae, especially from elderly persons, is generally not easy. Recently, we succeeded in isolating a chlamydial strain, which was designated KKpn‐15, from a 57‐year‐old man suffering from acute bronchitis. It was compared with well established strains of C. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis and C. psittaci, and its biological properties, such as the morphology of elementary bodies (EBs) and inclusions, and the immunochemistry of EB proteins, were investigated. Based on the results obtained in the present study, it was confirmed that the new chlamydial strain, KKpn‐15, is a member of the C. pneumoniae strain and that the organisms of KKpn‐15 are useful as an antigen for the serodiagnosis and epidemiology of C. pneumoniae infection.
Studies on Serological Cross‐Reaction in Sequential Flavivirus Infections
Authors: Makino Yoshihiro , Tadano Masayuki , Saito Mika , Maneekarn Niwat , Sittisombut Nopporn , Sirisanthana Virat , Poneprasert Boosom , Fukunaga Toshihiko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAcute‐ and convalescent‐phase sera from patients with dengue (DEN) hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and Japanese encephalitis (JE) that contained pre‐existing flavivirus antibodies were tested for cross‐reacting antibodies to DEN, JE and yellow fever (YF) viruses by a neutralization (N) test. A fourfold or greater rise in N antibody titer in the convalescent‐phase was considered significant. Of 39 DHF cases, obtained at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, 15 (38.5%) showed a rise in DEN antibody titer, while another 15 (38.5%) showed a significant rise in both DEN and JE N antibody titers. On the other hand, eight (61.5%) of 13 JE cases obtained at the same Hospital, showed a significant rise in JE antibody titer, while two (15.4%) showed a significant rise in both DEN and JE antibody titers. Sucrose gradient centrifugation and fractionation of these two cross‐reactive JE sera revealed that IgM class antibody was specific for JE, while IgG class antibody was cross‐reactive. Of three JE cases with pre‐existing YF antibody obtained in Okinawa, Japan, two showed a significant rise in YF and JE antibodies. Both IgM and IgG class antibodies to YF virus were elevated. These results indicate that the cross‐reactivity among flaviviruses in different subgroups (complexes), was observed quite often, even by the N test, in sequential flavivirus infection.
Molecular Cloning of the leuB Gene from Bacteroides fragilis by Functional Complementation in Escherichia coli
Authors: Sarker Mahfuzur R. , Akimoto Shigeru , Ono Tsuneko , Kinouchi Takemi , Ohnishi Yoshinari 
Published: November 2013

AbstractClones containing the Bacteroides fragilis leuB‐complementing gene were isolated by screening of a B. fragilis genomic library constructed in Escherichia coli. One recombinant clone, designated pOT865, with the smallest DNA insert (4.5 kb) could complement three independent leuB mutations in E. coli and the leuB‐complementing determinant in pOT865 was localized to a region of 1.5‐kb DNA. The results of Southern blot analysis suggested that a single copy of the cloned gene was present in the B. fragilis genome. The cloned fragment appeared to contain a sequence that could function as a promoter in E. coli and direct the synthesis of a 42‐kDa protein. These results suggest that the cloned segment contains the structural gene for β‐isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (leuB).
Immunogenicity of the Shigella flexneri Serotype Y (SFL124) Vaccine Strain Expressing Cloned Glucosyl Transferase Gene of Converting Bacteriophage SfX
Authors: Huan Pham Thi , Taylor Rona , Lindberg Alf A. , Verma Naresh K. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe glucosyl transferase gene (gtr) from bacteriophage phage X (SfX) caused partial conversion of serotype Y (group antigen 3, 4) to X (group antigen 7, 8) when introduced into a candidate vaccine strain of Shigella flexneri serotype Y (SFL124). The gtr gene caused conversion of O‐antigens but did not eliminate the adsorption of the corresponding phage SfX. The hybrid strain expressing both group antigens 7, 8 and 3, 4 showed 75% protection when immunized guinea pigs were challenged with a wild‐type S. flexneri serotype X strain. No protection was observed against serotype Y challenge, although group antigen 3, 4 was detected in the LPS of the hybrid strain. This suggests the importance of O‐antigen immunity in the host defense against shigellosis.