bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Latex Clearing Protein—an Oxygenase Cleaving Poly(
cis
-1,4-Isoprene) Rubber at the
cis
Double Bonds
Authors: Hiessl Sebastian , Böse Dietrich , Oetermann Sylvia , Eggers Jessica , Pietruszka Jörg , Steinbüchel Alexander 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

Gordonia polyisoprenivorans
strain VH2, a potent rubber-degrading actinomycete, harbors two latex clearing proteins (Lcps), which are known to be essential for the microbial degradation of rubber. However, biochemical information on the exact role of this protein in the degradation of polyisoprene was lacking. In this study, the gene encoding Lcp1
VH2
was heterologously expressed in strains of
Escherichia coli
, the corresponding protein was purified, and its role in rubber degradation was examined by measurement of oxygen consumption as well as by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. It turned out that active Lcp1
VH2
is a monomer and is responsible for the oxidative cleavage of poly(
cis
-1,4-isoprene) in synthetic as well as in natural rubber by the addition of oxygen (O
2
) to the
cis
double bonds. The resulting oligomers possess repetitive isoprene units with aldehyde (CHO-CH
2
—) and ketone (—CH
2
-CO-CH
3
) functional groups at the termini. Two fractions with average isoprene contents of 18 and 10, respectively, were isolated, thus indicating an endocleavage mechanism. The activity of Lcp1
VH2
was determined by applying a polarographic assay. Alkenes, acyclic terpenes, or other rubber-like polymers, such as poly(
cis
-1,4-butadiene) or poly(
trans
-1,4-isoprene), are not oxidatively cleaved by Lcp1
VH2
. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme are at pH 7 and 30°C, respectively. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that active Lcp1
VH2
is a Cu(II)-containing oxygenase that exhibits a conserved domain of unknown function which cannot be detected in any other hitherto-characterized enzyme. The results presented here indicate that this domain might represent a new protein family of oxygenases.
Binding Site Concentration Explains the Differential Susceptibility of Chilo suppressalis and Sesamia inferens to Cry1A-Producing Rice
Authors: Han Lanzhi , Han Chao , Liu Zewen , Chen Fajun , Jurat-Fuentes Juan Luis , Hou Maolin , Peng Yufa 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

Chilo suppressalis
and
Sesamia inferens
are two important lepidopteran rice pests that occur concurrently during outbreaks in paddy fields in the main rice-growing areas of China. Previous and current field tests demonstrate that the transgenic rice line Huahui 1 (HH1) producing a Cry1Ab-Cry1Ac hybrid toxin from the bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis
reduces egg and larval densities of
C. suppressalis
but not of
S. inferens
. This differential susceptibility to HH1 rice correlates with the reduced susceptibility to Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins in
S. inferens
larvae compared to
C. suppressalis
larvae. The goal of this study was to identify the mechanism responsible for this differential susceptibility. In saturation binding assays, both Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins bound with high affinity and in a saturable manner to midgut brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from
C. suppressalis
and
S. inferens
larvae. While binding affinities were similar, a dramatically lower concentration of Cry1A toxin binding sites was detected for
S. inferens
BBMV than for
C. suppressalis
BBMV. In contrast, no significant differences between species were detected for Cry1Ca toxin binding to BBMV. Ligand blotting detected BBMV proteins binding Cry1Ac or Cry1Ca toxins, some of them unique to
C. suppressalis
or
S. inferens
. These data support that reduced Cry1A binding site concentration is associated with a lower susceptibility to Cry1A toxins and HH1 rice in
S. inferens
larvae than in
C. suppressalis
larvae. Moreover, our data support Cry1Ca as a candidate for pyramiding efforts with Cry1A-producing rice to extend the activity range and durability of this technology against rice stem borers.
Rapeseed Oil and Ginseng Saponins Work Synergistically To Enhance Th1 and Th2 Immune Responses Induced by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine
Authors: Zhang Cenrong , Wang Yuemin , Wang Meng , Su Xiaoyan , Lu Yisong , Su Fei , Hu Songhua 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACTPrevious investigations demonstrated that saponins isolated from the root ofPanax ginsengC. A. Meyer (i.e., ginseng root saponin [GS-R]) had adjuvant activity. In the present study, the combined effects of rapeseed oil (RO) and GS-R on the immune responses elicited by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine were investigated by measuring FMD virus (FMDV)-specific antibody levels, cytokine levels, lymphocyte proliferation, and long-lived IgG-secreting plasma cells from bone marrow in a mouse model. The results indicated that RO in combination with GS-R significantly enhanced serum IgG and isotype concentrations, gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin 5 (IL-5) levels, splenocyte proliferative responses to stimulations with concanavalin A (ConA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and FMDV antigen, and the numbers of IgG-secreting plasma cells in the bone marrow, suggesting that RO/GS-R enhanced both Th1 and Th2 immune responses. In addition, no significant difference was found between RO/GS-R and the commercial adjuvant oil ISA 206 in the promotion of FMD vaccine-induced immune responses. Considering the vegetable origin of RO and GS-R and the potent adjuvant activity, RO/GS-R should be studied further for the development of veterinary vaccines, especially for use in food animals in order to promote food safety.
Tonsils of the Soft Palate Do Not Mediate the Response of Pigs to Oral Vaccination with Heat-Inactivated Mycobacterium bovis
Authors: Beltrán-Beck Beatriz , Romero Beatriz , Boadella Mariana , Casal Carmen , Bezos Javier , Mazariegos María , Martín MariPaz , Galindo Ruth C. , Pérez de la Lastra José M. , Villar Margarita , Garrido Joseba M. , Sevilla Iker A. , Asensio Fernando , Sicilia Javier , Lyashchenko Konstantin P. , Domínguez Lucas , Juste Ramón A. , de la Fuente José , Gortázar Christian 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACTMycobacterium boviscauses animal tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, humans, and other mammalian species, including pigs. The goal of this study was to experimentally assess the responses of pigs with and without a history of tonsillectomy to oral vaccination with heat-inactivatedM. bovisand challenge with a virulentM. bovisfield strain, to compare pig and wild boar responses using the same vaccination model as previously used in the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), to evaluate the use of several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and lateral flow tests forin vivoTB diagnosis in pigs, and to verify if these tests are influenced by oral vaccination with inactivatedM. bovis. At necropsy, the lesion and culture scores were 20% to 43% higher in the controls than those in the vaccinated pigs. MassiveM. bovisgrowth from thoracic tissue samples was observed in 4 out of 9 controls but in none of the 10 vaccinated pigs. No effect of the presence or absence of tonsils was observed on these scores, suggesting that tonsils are not involved in the protective response to this vaccine in pigs. The serum antibody levels increased significantly only after challenge. At necropsy, the estimated sensitivities of the ELISAs and dual path platform (DPP) assays ranged from 89% to 94%. In the oral mucosa, no differences in gene expression were observed in the control group between the pigs with and without tonsils. In the vaccinated group, the mRNA levels for chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 7 (CCR7), interferon beta (IFN-β), and methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase (MUT) were higher in pigs with tonsils. Complement component 3 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) increased with vaccination and decreased afterM. bovischallenge. This information is relevant for pig production in regions that are endemic forM. bovisand for TB vaccine research.
Vacuolating Cytotoxin Genotypes Are Strong Markers of Gastric Cancer and Duodenal Ulcer-Associated Helicobacter pylori Strains: a Matched Case-Control Study
Authors: Memon Ameer A. , Hussein Nawfal R. , Miendje Deyi Véronique Y. , Burette Alain , Atherton John C. 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

The
Helicobacter pylori
virulence gene,
cagA
, and active forms of the vacuolating cytotoxin gene,
vacA
, are major determinants of pathogenesis. However, previous studies linking these factors to disease risk have often included patients using aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) or acid-suppressing drugs, both of which may confound results. Also, particularly for gastric cancer (GC), controls have often been of quite different ages. Here, we performed a careful study in a “clean” Belgian population with gastric cancer cases age and sex matched to 4 controls and with a parallel duodenal ulcer (DU) group. As in other populations, there was a close association between the presence of
cagA
and the
vacA
s1 genotype. For GC, associations were found for
vacA
s1-positive (
P
= 0.01, odds ratio [OR], 9.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 201.89), i1-positive (
P
= 0.003; OR, 12.08; 95% CI, 1.50 to 259.64), and
cagA
-positive status (
P
< 0.05; OR, infinity; 95% CI, 0.76 to infinity). For DU, associations were found with
vacA
s1 (
P
= 0.002; OR, 6.04; 95% CI, 1.52 to 27.87) and i1 (
P
= 0.004; OR, 4.35; 95% CI, 1.36 to 14.78) status but not with
cagA
status. Neither condition showed independent associations with the
vacA
m1 allele or with more biologically active forms of
cagA
with longer 3′ variable regions. In this Belgian population, the best markers of gastric cancer- and duodenal ulcer-associated strains are the
vacA
s1 and i1 genotypes. This fits with experimental data showing that the s and i regions are the key determinants of vacuolating cytotoxin activity.
New Sensitive One-Step Real-Time Duplex PCR Method for Group A and B HIV-2 RNA Load
Authors: Avettand-Fenoel Véronique , Damond Florence , Gueudin Marie , Matheron Sophie , Mélard Adeline , Collin Gilles , Descamps Diane , Chaix Marie-Laure , Rouzioux Christine , Plantier Jean-Christophe 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACTThe Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le Sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS) previously developed a widely used method for HIV-1 RNA quantification (Biocentric). Here, we report the development of a new specific and sensitive method for HIV-2 RNA quantification, based on an adaptation of the existing HIV-1 protocol. The new test is based on TaqMan one-step reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) targeting two conserved consensus regions of HIV-2 (long terminal repeat [LTR] andgag). Analytic performances were determined in three laboratories. Clinical performances were evaluated on 100 plasma samples from HIV-2-infected patients (groups A, B, and H) by comparison with the assay currently used for the ANRS HIV-2 cohort. The specificity was 100%. Sensitivity was 50 copies/ml (cp/ml) and was optimized to 10 cp/ml. The within-run coefficients of variation in the three laboratories varied from 0.54% to 1.61% at 4 log10copies/ml and from 7.24% to 14.32% at 2 log10cp/ml. The between-run coefficients of variation varied from 2.28% to 6.43%. Of the 39 clinical samples below 2 log10in the current assay, the new test improved the detection or quantification of 17 samples, including eight group B samples. For quantifiable samples, similar loads were obtained with the two assays for group A samples. The median difference between the two assays for group B samples was +0.18 but with greater heterogeneity than for group A. The HIV-2 group H sample had similar results with the two assays. This new assay is highly sensitive and accurately quantifies the most prevalent HIV-2 groups. This test will be useful for monitoring low viral loads in HIV-2-infected patients.
Prostatitis, Steatitis, and Diarrhea in a Dog following Presumptive Flea-Borne Transmission of Bartonella henselae
Authors: Balakrishnan Nandhakumar , Pritchard Jessica , Ericson Marna , Grindem Carol , Phillips Kathryn , Jennings Samuel , Mathews Kyle , Tran Huy , Birkenheuer Adam J. , Breitschwerdt Edward B. 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

Bartonella henselae
is increasingly associated with a variety of pathological entities, which are often similar in dogs and human patients. Following an acute flea infestation, a dog developed an unusual clinical presentation for canine bartonellosis. Comprehensive medical, microbiological, and surgical interventions were required for diagnosis and to achieve a full recovery.
Planctomycetes DNA in Febrile Aplastic Patients with Leukemia, Rash, Diarrhea, and Micronodular Pneumonia
Authors: Drancourt M. , Prebet T. , Aghnatios R. , Edouard S. , Cayrou C. , Henry M. , Blaise D. , Raoult D. 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

We found
Planctomycetes
DNA in 2 out of 100 blood samples from patients suffering from leukemia with neutropenia induced by chemotherapy, as well as fever, rash, pneumonia, and diarrhea. Antibiotic-resisting
Planctomycetes
may be pathogenic in these patients.
Novel Strategy for Typing Mycoplasma pneumoniae Isolates by Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Coupled with ClinProTools
Authors: Xiao Di , Zhao Fei , Zhang Huifang , Meng Fanliang , Zhang Jianzhong 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

The typing of
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
mainly relies on the detection of nucleic acid, which is limited by the use of a single gene target, complex operation procedures, and a lengthy assay time. Here, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) coupled to ClinProTools was used to discover MALDI-TOF MS biomarker peaks and to generate a classification model based on a genetic algorithm (GA) to differentiate between type 1 and type 2
M. pneumoniae
isolates. Twenty-five
M. pneumoniae
strains were used to construct an analysis model, and 43
Mycoplasma
strains were used for validation. For the GA typing model, the cross-validation values, which reflect the ability of the model to handle variability among the test spectra and the recognition capability value, which reflects the model's ability to correctly identify its component spectra, were all 100%. This model contained 7 biomarker peaks (
m
/
z
3,318.8, 3,215.0, 5,091.8, 5,766.8, 6,337.1, 6,431.1, and 6,979.9) used to correctly identify 31 type 1 and 7 type 2
M. pneumoniae
isolates from 43
Mycoplasma
strains with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The strain distribution map and principle component analysis based on the GA classification model also clearly showed that the type 1 and type 2
M. pneumoniae
isolates can be divided into two categories based on their peptide mass fingerprints. With the obvious advantages of being rapid, highly accurate, and highly sensitive and having a low cost and high throughput, MALDI-TOF MS ClinProTools is a powerful and reliable tool for
M. pneumoniae
typing.
Effect of HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Mutations When Introduced into SIVmac239 on Susceptibility to Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors
Authors: Hassounah Said A. , Mesplède Thibault , Quashie Peter K. , Oliveira Maureen , Sandstrom Paul A. , Wainberg Mark A. 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

Studies on the
in vitro
susceptibility of SIV to integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) have been rare. In order to determine the susceptibility of SIVmac239 to INSTIs and characterize the genetic pathways that might lead to drug resistance, we inserted various integrase (IN) mutations that had been selected with HIV under drug pressure with raltegravir (RAL), elvitegravir (EVG), and dolutegravir (DTG) into the IN gene of SIV. We evaluated the effects of these mutations on SIV susceptibility to INSTIs and on viral infectivity. Sequence alignments of SIVmac239 IN with various HIV-1 isolates showed a high degree of homology and conservation of each of the catalytic triad and the key residues involved in drug resistance. Each of the G118R, Y143R, Q148R, R263K, and G140S/Q148R mutations, when introduced into SIV, impaired infectiousness and replication fitness compared to wild-type virus. Using TZM-bl cells, we demonstrated that the Q148R and N155H mutational pathways conferred resistance to EVG (36- and 62-fold, respectively), whereas R263K also displayed moderate resistance to EVG (12-fold). In contrast, Y143R, Q148R, and N155H all yielded low levels of resistance to RAL. The combination of G140S/Q148R conferred high-level resistance to both RAL and EVG (>300- and 286-fold, respectively). DTG remained fully effective against all site-directed mutants except G118R and R263K. Thus, HIV INSTI mutations, when inserted into SIV, resulted in a similar phenotype. These findings suggest that SIV and HIV may share similar resistance pathways profiles and that SIVmac239 could be a useful nonhuman primate model for studies of HIV resistance to INSTIs.

IMPORTANCE
The goal of our project was to establish whether drug resistance against integrase inhibitors in SIV are likely to be the same as those responsible for drug resistance in HIV. Our data answer this question in the affirmative and show that SIV can probably serve as a good animal model for studies of INSTIs and as an early indicator for possible emergent mutations that may cause treatment failure. An SIV-primate model remains an invaluable tool for investigating questions related to the potential role of INSTIs in HIV therapy, transmission, and pathogenesis, and the present study will facilitate each of the above.
Outcomes after corrective surgery for congenital dextro-transposition of the great arteries using the arterial switch technique: a protocol for a scoping systematic review
Authors: Mbuagbaw Lawrence , Forlemu-Kamwa Doris , Chu Angela , Thabane Lehana , Dillenberg Rejane 
Published: June 2014

IntroductionDextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) is a life-threatening congenital health defect that requires rapid surgery. The most widely used approach is the arterial switch operation (ASO) developed by Jatene in the 1970s. The first set of children who received this intervention are now adults. The objective of this scoping review of the literature was to document the short-term (less than 1 year), medium-term (1–20 years) and long-term (more than 20 years) outcomes in children who underwent the ASO. Our primary income is survival, but we will explore other secondary surgical, cardiovascular, reproductive and quality-of-life outcomes.Methods and analysesUsing a systematic scoping review approach, we will conduct a systematic search of the published literature for experimental and observational studies published on children who received the ASO intervention for classic d-TGA. We will search MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) from 1973 (date of the first successful ASO) to February 2014. Identified articles will be screened in duplicate and full text for selected articles will be retrieved. Data extraction will be carried out in duplicate. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus or by consulting a third author. Where possible, proportions will be pooled using the inverse variance method. Our findings will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analysis Of Observational studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines.Ethics and disseminationThe results of this paper will be disseminated as peer-reviewed publications, at conferences and at clinical rounds. Our findings may answer important questions for surgeons who perform the ASO intervention and for clinicians who take care of patients after surgery and throughout their lifespans.Trial Registration numberProspero/CRD42014007590.
A daily huddle facilitates patient transports from a neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Hughes Driscoll Colleen , El Metwally Dina 
Published: June 2014

AbstractTo improve hospital access for expectant women and newborns in the state of Maryland, a quality improvement team reviewed the patient flow characteristics of our neonatal intensive care unit. We identified inefficiencies in patient discharges, including delays in patient transports. Several patient transport delays were caused by late preparation and delivery of the patient transfer summary.Baseline data collection revealed that transfer summaries were prepared on-time by the resident or nurse practitioner only 41% of the time on average, while the same transfer summaries were signed on-time by the neonatologist 5% of the time on average. Our aim was to improve the rate of on-time transfer summaries to 50% over a four month time period.We performed two PDSA cycles based on feedback from our quality improvement team. In the first cycle, we instituted a daily huddle to increase opportunities for communication about patient transports. In the second cycle, we increased computer access for residents and nurse practitioners preparing the transfer summaries. The on-time summary preparation by residents/nurse practitioners improved to an average of 72% over a nine month period. The same summaries were signed on-time by a neonatologist 26% of the time on average over a nine month period.In conclusion, institution of a daily huddle combined with augmented computer resources significantly increased the percentage of on-time transfer summaries. Current data show a trend toward improved ability to accept patient referrals. Further data collection and analysis is needed to determine the impact of these interventions on access to hospital care for expectant women and newborns in our state.
Improving patient care over weekends by reducing on-call work load and better time management
Authors: Gardezi Syed Anjum Ali 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe Royal College of Physicians states that "handover, particularly of temporary ‘on-call’ responsibility, has been identified as a point at which errors are likely to occur."[1] Working a weekend on-call covering medical wards is often busy and stressful for all junior doctors. Thehigh volume of routine and unplanned tasks make the situation even worse. In Nevill Hall hospital Abergavenny, we measured the workload on a junior doctor for medical ward cover on weekends by counting the number of times he/she was bleeped for routine tasks. Initial study demonstrated that on average 30-40% of time on a long day shift was spent on jobs which could have been done on the preceding Friday. The ''FRIDAYS'' checklist was introduced for clinical staff (particularly junior doctors) to identify these jobs.According to this model, all the junior doctors were encouraged to review:F: PhlebotomyR: Rewriting drug chartsI: IV fluidsD: discharge summariesA: Antibiotic reviewY: Yellow book/Warfarin doseS: Status of resuscitation and escalation plans before leaving the wards on Friday afternoon.This implementation successfully showed reduction in weekend workload, allowing the ward cover to be focused on care and safety of comparatively sick patients while at the same time reducing the stress for the on-call team.