bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure of the halotolerant γ‐glutamyltranspeptidase from Bacillus subtilis in complex with glutamate reveals a unique architecture of the solvent‐exposed catalytic pocket
Authors: Wada Kei , Irie Machiko , Suzuki Hideyuki , Fukuyama Keiichi 
Published: January 2010

γ‐Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT; EC 2.3.2.2), an enzyme found in organisms from bacteria to mammals and plants, plays a central role in glutathione metabolism. Structural studies of GGTs from Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori have revealed detailed molecular mechanisms of catalysis and maturation. In these two GGTs, highly conserved residues form the catalytic pockets, conferring the ability of the loop segment to shield the bound γ‐glutamyl moiety from the solvent. Here, we have examined the Bacillus subtilis GGT, which apparently lacks the amino acids corresponding to the lid‐loop that are present in mammalian and plant GGTs as well as in most bacterial GGTs. Another remarkable feature of B. subtilis GGT is its salt tolerance; it retains 86% of its activity even in 3 m NaCl. To better understand these characteristics of B. subtilis GGT, we determined its crystal structure in complex with glutamate, a product of the enzymatic reaction, at 1.95 Å resolution. This structure revealed that, unlike the E. coli and H. pylori GGTs, the catalytic pocket of B. subtilis GGT has no segment that covers the bound glutamate; consequently, the glutamate is exposed to solvent. Furthermore, calculation of the electrostatic potential showed that strong acidic patches were distributed on the surface of the B. subtilis GGT, even under high‐salt conditions, and this may allow the protein to remain in the hydrated state and avoid self‐aggregation. The structural findings presented here have implications for the molecular mechanism of GGT.Structured digital abstract
MINT‐7383558: GGT (uniprotkb:P54422) and GGT (uniprotkb:P54422) bind (MI:0407) by X‐ray crystallography (MI:0114)
The Effect of Renal Transplantation for End-Stage Renal Disease on Female Sexual Function and Depression
Authors: Kettaş Elife , Çayan Filiz , Efesoy Ozan , Akbay Erdem , Çayan Selahittin 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Studies have suggested that women with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) had higher risk of sexual dysfunction than healthy women.

Aims
To prospectively determine the effect of renal transplantation for ESRD on female sexual function and depression.

Methods
During a 5-year period, the study included 21 sexually active women who underwent renal transplantation for ESRD at a single university hospital. After obtaining demographic characteristics, female sexual function was evaluated with a detailed 19-item questionnaire (The Female Sexual Function Index, FSFI), and depression was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale.

Main Outcome Measures
In all women, FSFI and BDI scores were compared before and after the renal transplantation surgery.

Results
The mean age of the women was 35.04 ± 9.6 years, and mean follow-up duration after renal transplantation was 27.5 ± 20.4 months. Mean total sexual function score increased from 17.57 ± 7.07 to 25.3 ± 3.28, revealing significant difference (P = 0.001). Compared with preoperative period, sexual function domains including sexual desire (P = 0.001), arousal (P = 0.001), lubrication (P = 0.003), orgasm (P = 0.001), satisfaction (P = 0.001), and pain (P = 0.02) significantly improved after renal transplantation. Mean BDI score significantly decreased from 17.91 ± 8.56 to 3 ± 4.17 after renal transplantation (P = 0.001).

Conclusions
Successful renal transplantation may improve female sexual functions and depression. Therefore, life quality increases as sexual functions and depression improve after the renal transplantation surgery.
Impact of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 on Lipids and Atherosclerosis in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Ashikaga Eijin , Honda Hirokazu , Suzuki Hiroki , Hosaka Nozomu , Hirai Yuki , Sanada Daisuke , Nakamura Mari , Nagai Hisako , Matsumoto Kei , Kato Noriyuki , Mukai Masanori , Watanabe Makoto , Takahashi Keiko , Shishido Kanji , Akizawa Tadao 
Published: January 2010

AbstractLevels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23, a phosphatonin, are frequently elevated in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). However, the role of FGF23 remains unclear because renal FGF receptor function might be impaired. The present cross‐sectional study examines a cohort of patients (n = 196) on MHD who were not undergoing therapy with lipid‐lowering drugs including sevelamer. Non‐fasting venous blood samples were withdrawn before the hemodialysis (HD) session on the third day after the previous HD session to measure serum levels of albumin, calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), total cholesterol (C), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐C, low‐density lipoprotein(LDL)‐C, oxidative LDL‐C, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (HsCRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and FGF23. Nutritional status was assessed using the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI). Carotid intima‐medial thickness (CIMT) was assessed using a B‐mode ultrasound scanner. FGF23 was positively correlated with P, Caalb×P product, and intact PTH, and inversely correlated with C and non‐HDL‐C. In the higher FGF23 tertile, levels of both non‐HDL‐C and C were significantly decreased and CIMT was less elevated compared to the lower FGF23 tertile. Multivariate analysis showed that the higher FGF23 tertile was independently associated with decreases in C (adjusted r2 = 0.14) and non‐HDL‐C (adjusted r2 = 0.20) levels and with a less‐pronounced increase in CIMT (adjusted r2 = 0.14). High FGF23 appears to be an independent biomarker of a decrease in C and non‐HDL‐C that is negatively associated with atherosclerosis in patients on MHD.
An Assessment of the Influence of the Inter‐Tropical Discontinuity on Inter‐Annual Rainfall Characteristics in Nigeria
Authors: ODEKUNLE THEOPHILUS O. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis study assessed the influence of the Inter‐Tropical Discontinuity (ITD) on inter‐annual rainfall characteristics in Nigeria between 1970 and 2000. This involved determining the strength and direction of the relationships between the total annual rainfalls in the extreme southern and northern parts of the country and the total annual rainfalls during the period of the Little Dry Season in southwestern Nigeria, and the surface locations of the ITD over Nigeria and some other factors that may impact ITD characteristics (such as the pressure differences between Azores, Libyan and St. Helena anticyclones and the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Guinea). Results indicate that although the surface location of the ITD significantly accounts for rainfall inter‐annual variability in Nigeria, it does so in the northern part of the country only. Pressure differences between the various anticyclones were observed to be another significant factor influencing inter‐annual rainfall variability in the north. However, the influence of the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Guinea on the rainfall characteristics in the northern region is ill‐defined. It was also noted that the only factor influencing inter‐annual variability in the Little Dry Season rainfall in the southwest and the total annual rainfalls in the south is the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Guinea. The results obtained indicate that the total annual rainfalls in the north have significant positive relationships with the surface location of the ITD but significant negative relationships with the pressure differences between the Azores, Libyan and St. Helena anticyclones. The Little Dry Season rainfalls and total annual rainfalls in the south have significant positive relationships with the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Guinea.
Attitudes to Drought in Outback Communities in South Australia
Authors: PEARCE MERYL , WILLIS EILEEN , WADHAM BEN , BINKS BILL 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis paper explores the perceptions of drought by residents in outback South Australia and their associated responses to the drought. Behavioural Geography methodology is used with data drawn from interviews with pastoralists, business owners, and residents of small outback towns and Aboriginal communities. Although they were not resident in the region, the perceptions of tourists were also garnered. The results show that perceptions varied between the groups of people interviewed. Outback residents contrasted their own frugal water use with reports of wasteful behaviour by foreign tourists. Local inhabitants were largely ‘accepting’ of the drought, having survived worse droughts in the past and over many years. They were therefore of the sentiment that they would cope with future droughts. Despite the sentiments of acceptance, the dropping groundwater levels and continued lack of rainfall were leading to growing concerns for the future. The concerns point to a boundary to community resilience to drought in outback South Australia.
Underground Vetch (Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa): A Potential Pasture and Forage Legume for Dry Areas in West Asia
Authors: Abd El Moneim A. M. , Elias S. F. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractSubterranean vetch [Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa (Dorth.) Aschers & Graebn.] is native to disturbed grasslands of the Mediterranean basin where heavy grazing, seasonal drought and erosion act as strong selection forces. It produces two pod types, above‐ground and 5 cm below the soil surface. Unlike subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean L.), which buries its seeds after flowering above‐ground, subterranean vetch flowers and forms pods beneath the soil surface on underground stems. The aerial pods are produced after vegetative development ceases, while the underground pods are produced in ontogeny. The ability of this unusual vetch to survive in marginal areas with low rainfall (about 250 mm year−1) and to produce nutritious herbage and pods is an important characteristic which helps address rehabilitation of degraded rangelands and increase feed production for small ruminants. Research at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) during the 1988–93 growing seasons has assessed the herbage and seed productivity of underground vetch, its ability to grow in rotation with barley in marginal low‐rainfall areas, and its capacity to regenerate after heavy grazing. Drier conditions in 1989 favoured earlier underground flowering; the number of underground pods was higher than that of aerial pods. Grain yield of barley (var. Atlas) was around 2.0 t ha−1 after underground vetch and only 1.2 t ha−1 after barley. Grazing underground vetch had no effect on the productivity of the succeeding barley crop. The aerial and underground pods serve two distinct functions; aerial pods increase dissemination within suitable habitats, while underground pods increase the probability of plant survival under adverse conditions such as drought and heavy grazing. Underground vetch has two potential uses, namely the rehabilitation of marginal areas and production in rotation with barley.
Effect of intermittent aeration on the microbial community structure of activated sludge in a submerged membrane bioreactor
Authors: Chang Jun‐Jun , Liang Wei , Xiao En‐Rong , Wu Zhen‐Bin 
Published: January 2010

AbstractLow removal rate for total nitrogen (TN) is the main limitation of a membrane bioreactor (MBR). The effects of intermittent aeration on the removal of TN and the microbial community structure of activated sludge from a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) operating at three different aeration on/off times (run 1, continuous aeration; run 2, 60/60 min aeration on/off time; and run 3, 60/75 min aeration on/off time) were studied. The results showed that the removal rates for TN under different operation conditions were 26.2% (run 1), 59.5% (run 2) and 70.7% (run 3), respectively, and significant improvements were achieved. Monounsaturated phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and saturated PLFAs were dominant PLFA types in activated sludge, followed by branched PLFAs; cyclopropane fatty acid were relatively small in amount. The highest ratio of the characteristic fatty acid representing the abundance of bacteria in activated sludge was found in run 2. Aerobic prokaryotes were the predominant groups under all three operation conditions, followed by the anaerobic bacteria and the Gram‐positive bacteria group; sulphate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) and other anaerobic bacteria occupied the lowest proportion. Intermittent aeration can be used as a possible means to improve the treatment performance in an MBR.
Immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia in 110 dogs in Victoria, Australia
Authors: McAlees TJ 
Published: January 2010

Objective Evaluate the survival and prognostic indicators (i.e. breed predilection, season, blood transfusion, and the prevalence of autoagglutination) of dogs with immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) in Victoria, Australia.Design Retrospective study of 110 diagnosed with primary IMHA at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital.Results In total, 80 of the dogs (72.7%) were discharged from hospital and 48 of 65 (73.8%) dogs available for follow‐up were known to be alive at 1 year, giving an overall 1‐year survival of 48 (50.5%) of 95 dogs for which survival data were available. Regarding breed, 80 (18.2%) of the 110 dogs were Maltese‐breed dogs compared with 81 (7.4%) of 1100 control dogs (P < 0.001). Springer Spaniels (P = 0.02), Hungarian Vizslas (P = 0.02) and Airedale Terriers (P < 0.001) were also over‐represented compared with the control sample. There was no evidence of an association between the occurrence of IMHA in dogs and season in this study. Receiving one or more blood transfusions did not affect survival to the time of discharge from hospital. On initial blood smear examination, 57 (51.8%) of the 110 dogs had spontaneous autoagglutination and its presence was associated with decreased survival to discharge from hospital (P = 0.03). Packed cell volume, white cell count, platelet count and serum total bilirubin on admission had no effect on survival to the time of discharge from hospital or 1 year later.Conclusion Dogs with IMHA have a guarded prognosis as only half are still alive 1 year after the acute event.
Development of novel chloroplast microsatellite markers to identify species in the Agrostis complex (Poaceae) and related genera
Authors: ZAPIOLA MARIA L. , CRONN RICHARD C. , MALLORY‐SMITH CAROL A. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractWe needed a reliable way to identify species and confirm potential interspecific and intergeneric hybrids in a landscape level study of gene flow from transgenic glyphosate‐resistant Agrostis stolonifera (Poaceae) to compatible relatives. We developed 12 new polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite markers to aid in identifying species recipient of transgenic pollen both within the Agrostis complex and the related genera Polypogon.
Neurotoxicity by microglia: Mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategy
Authors: Takeuchi Hideyuki 
Published: January 2010

AbstractMicrogliosis (accumulation of activated microglia) around degenerative neurons is a common pathological feature of various neurological disorders. Glutamate released by activated microglia induces excito‐neurotoxicity and most likely contributes to neurodegeneration in numerous neurological diseases including ischemia, inflammation, epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases. Although both blockade of glutamate receptors and inhibition of microglial activation are the therapeutic candidates for activated microglia‐mediated neurodegenerative diseases, clinical trials have been failed because of adverse effects. In the present review, the neurotoxic factors from activated microglia are examined, and how these factors disturb neuronal functions is discussed. The efforts to suppress neurotoxic mechanisms by microglia are also introduced. (Clin. Exp. Neuroimmunol. doi: 10.1111/j.1759‐1961.2009.00001.x, January 2010)
Activity of a New Cephalosporin, CXA-101 (FR264205), against β-Lactam-Resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Mutants Selected
In Vitro
and after Antipseudomonal Treatment of Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Moya Bartolome , Zamorano Laura , Juan Carlos , Pérez José L. , Ge Yigong , Oliver Antonio 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

CXA-101, previously designated FR264205, is a new antipseudomonal cephalosporin. We evaluated the activity of CXA-101 against a highly challenging collection of β-lactam-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
mutants selected
in vitro
and after antipseudomonal treatment of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The
in vitro
mutants investigated included strains with multiple combinations of mutations leading to several degrees of AmpC overexpression (
ampD
,
ampDh2
,
ampDh3
, and
dacB
[PBP4]) and porin loss (
oprD
). CXA-101 remained active against even the AmpD-PBP4 double mutant (MIC = 2 μg/ml), which shows extremely high levels of AmpC expression. Indeed, this mutant showed high-level resistance to all tested β-lactams, except carbapenems, including piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ), aztreonam (ATM), ceftazidime (CAZ), and cefepime (FEP), a cephalosporin considered to be relatively stable against hydrolysis by AmpC. Moreover, CXA-101 was the only β-lactam tested (including the carbapenems imipenem [IMP] and meropenem [MER]) that remained fully active against the OprD-AmpD and OprD-PBP4 double mutants (MIC = 0.5 μg/ml). Additionally, we tested a collection of 50 sequential isolates that were susceptible or resistant to penicillicins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, or fluoroquinolones that emerged during treatment of ICU patients. All of the mutants resistant to CAZ, FEP, PTZ, IMP, MER, or ciprofloxacin showed relatively low CXA-101 MICs (range, 0.12 to 4 μg/ml; mean, 1 to 2 μg/ml). CXA-101 MICs of pan-β-lactam-resistant strains ranged from 1 to 4 μg/ml (mean, 2.5 μg/ml). As described for the
in vitro
mutants, CXA-101 retained activity against the natural AmpD-PBP4 double mutants, even when these exhibited additional overexpression of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. Therefore, clinical trials are needed to evaluate the usefulness of CXA-101 for the treatment of
P. aeruginosa
nosocomial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant isolates that emerge during antipseudomonal treatments.
Nitazoxanide Inhibits Biofilm Production and Hemagglutination by Enteroaggregative
Escherichia coli
Strains by Blocking Assembly of AafA Fimbriae
Authors: Shamir Eliah R. , Warthan Michelle , Brown Sareena P. , Nataro James P. , Guerrant Richard L. , Hoffman Paul S. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

Enteroaggregative
Escherichia coli
(EAEC) strains have emerged as common causes of persistent diarrhea and malnutrition among children and HIV-infected persons. During infection, EAEC typically adheres to the intestinal mucosa via fimbrial adhesins, which results in a characteristic aggregative pattern. In the study described here we investigated whether the broad-spectrum antiparasitic and antidiarrheal drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) might be active against EAEC
in vitro
. While
E. coli
strains were resistant to NTZ in rich Luria-Bertani medium (MIC > 64 μg/ml), the drug was slightly inhibitory in a minimal medium supplemented with glucose (MinA-G medium; MIC, ∼32 μg/ml). NTZ also inhibited biofilm production by strain EAEC 042 in both Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and MinA-G medium with a 50% inhibitory concentration of ∼12 μg/ml. Immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses with antibody against the major fimbrial subunit AafA of aggregative adherence fimbriae vaariant II (AAF/II) established that the numbers of AAF/II filaments on bacteria grown in the presence of NTZ were dramatically reduced. Comparative quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and reporter gene fusions (
aafA
::
phoA
) indicated that
aafA
expression was unaffected by NTZ, while
aggR
transcript levels and
aggR
::
lacZ
expression were increased ∼10- and 2.5-fold, respectively, compared with that for the untreated controls. More generally, NTZ inhibited hemagglutination (HA) of red blood cells by the non-biofilm-producing strain JM221 expressing either AAF/I or type I fimbriae. Our findings suggest that the inhibitory action of NTZ on biofilm formation and HA is likely due to inhibition of fimbrial assembly. Antimicrobial agents that inhibit the assembly or function of fimbrial filaments should be good candidates for the prevention of infection.
Genetically Engineered Lipopeptide Antibiotics Related to A54145 and Daptomycin with Improved Properties
Authors: Nguyen Kien T. , He Xiaowei , Alexander Dylan C. , Li Chen , Gu Jian-Qiao , Mascio Carmela , Van Praagh Andrew , Mortin Larry , Chu Min , Silverman Jared A. , Brian Paul , Baltz Richard H. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

Daptomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic approved for the treatment of skin and skin structure infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens and for that of bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis caused by
Staphylococcus aureus
. Daptomycin failed to meet noninferiority criteria for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, likely due to sequestration in pulmonary surfactant. Many analogues of daptomycin have been generated by combinatorial biosynthesis, but only two displayed improved activity in the presence of bovine surfactant, and neither was as active as daptomycin
in vitro
. In the present study, we generated hybrid molecules of the structurally related lipopeptide A54145 in
Streptomyces fradiae
and tested them for antibacterial activity in the presence of bovine surfactant. Hybrid A54145 nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) biosynthetic genes were constructed by genetic engineering and were expressed in combination with a deletion of the
lptI
methyltransferase gene, which is involved in the formation of the 3-methyl-glutamic acid (3mGlu) residue at position 12. Some of the compounds were very active against
S. aureus
and other Gram-positive pathogens; one compound was also highly active in the presence of bovine surfactant, had low acute toxicity, and showed some efficacy against
Streptococcus pneumoniae
in a mouse model of pulmonary infection.
Identification of Novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Inhibitory Peptides Based on the Antimicrobial Peptide Database
Authors: Wang Guangshun , Watson Karen M. , Peterkofsky Alan , Buckheit Robert W. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

To identify novel anti-HIV-1 peptides based on the antimicrobial peptide database (APD;
http://aps.unmc.edu/AP/main.php
), we have screened 30 candidates and found 11 peptides with 50% effective concentrations (EC
50
) of <10 μM and therapeutic indices (TI) of up to 17. Furthermore, among the eight peptides (with identical amino acid compositions but different sequences) generated by shuffling the sequence of an aurein 1.2 analog, two had a TI twice that of the original sequence. Because antiviral peptides in the database have an arginine/lysine (R/K) ratio of >1, increases in the Arg contents of amphibian maximin H5 and dermaseptin S9 peptides and the database-derived GLK-19 peptide improved the TIs. These examples demonstrate that the APD is a rich resource and a useful tool for developing novel HIV-1-inhibitory peptides.