bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Elevated Interferon Gamma Production is an Important Immunological Marker in HAM/TSP Pathogenesis
Authors: Montanheiro P. A. , Penalva de Oliveira A. C. , Smid J. , Fukumori L. M. I. , Olah I. , Duarte A. J. da S. , Casseb J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractHuman T‐lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) is the agent of the HTLV‐1‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which may occur in >5% of patients during their lifetime. HTLV‐1‐infection causes disturbances in the immune system, and the viral load may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP. Some cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. We have determined IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐12 p70, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α production among HTLV‐1‐infected subjects from our HTLV‐out Clinic in Institute of Infectious ‘Emílio Ribas’ in Sao Paulo city, Brazil. PBMC obtained from healthy controls (n = 32), asymptomatic HTLV‐1 carriers (n = 68) and HAM/TSP patients (n = 44) were grown in the absence and in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and the supernatants’ fluids were measured for cytokines production. IL‐2 levels were increased in the asymptomatic HTLV‐1 carriers, and IFN‐γ was increased in both groups of patients (asymptomatic HTLV‐1 carriers and more significantly among HAM/TSP patients). IL‐4, IL‐10, TNF‐α and IL‐12 p70 levels were not significantly increased on both groups of patients, as compared with controls. The major finding of this study is that IFN‐γ was an important cytokine for the HAM/TSP pathogenesis. Therefore, immune modulation of IFN‐γ may be critical to treat of HAM/TSP patients.
The Role of Natural Killer Cells in Resistance to the Intracellular Bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in Rats
Authors: Shegarfi H. , Sydnes K. , Løvik M. , Inngjerdingen M. , Rolstad B. , Naper C. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWe have investigated the influence of early innate immune resistance mechanisms on infection with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in rats. Rats were injected i.v. with various amounts of Listeria and the number of bacterial colonies in the spleen was determined at different time points after infection. A bacterial dose as low as 2 × 104 cells gave reproducible infection within the spleen. Athymic nude rats lacking normal T cells but with a robust NK cell repertoire for MHC antigens were more resistant to bacterial replication within the spleen than were normal littermate rats and eliminated the infection within 3 days. In vivo depletion of NK cells, or NK subpopulations expressing Ly49 receptors, increased the bacterial load in the spleen, indicating that these cells were important in the initial control of Listeria infection. An increased frequency of Ly49 expressing NK cells in Listeria‐infected rats further supported this notion. As several rat strains, unlike mice, display a large repertoire of MHC‐recognizing activating Ly49 receptors, these observations raise the interesting possibility that NK cells may recognize alterations in the MHC‐I molecules on Listeria‐infected cells leading to their elimination before the adaptive immune system comes into play.
A plant thiolase involved in benzoic acid biosynthesis and volatile benzenoid production
Authors: Moerkercke Alex Van , Schauvinhold Ines , Pichersky Eran , Haring Michel A. , Schuurink Robert C. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryThe exact biosynthetic pathways leading to benzoic acid (BA) formation in plants are not known, but labeling experiments indicate the contribution of both β‐oxidative and non‐β‐oxidative pathways. In Petunia hybrida BA is a key precursor for the production of volatile benzenoids by its flowers. Using functional genomics, we identified a 3‐ketoacyl‐CoA thiolase, PhKAT1, which is involved in the benzenoid biosynthetic pathway and the production of BA. PhKAT1 is localised in the peroxisomes, where it is important for the formation of benzoyl‐CoA‐related compounds. Silencing of PhKAT1 resulted in a major reduction in BA and benzenoid formation, leaving the production of other phenylpropanoid‐related volatiles unaffected. During the night, when volatile benzenoid production is highest, it is largely the β‐oxidative pathway that contributes to the formation of BA and benzenoids. Our studies add the benzenoid biosynthetic pathway to the list of pathways in which 3‐ketoacyl‐CoA thiolases are involved in plants.
Characterization of HLA‐G expression in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Li B.‐L. , Lin A. , Zhang X.‐J. , Zhang X. , Zhang J.‐G. , Wang Q. , Zhou W.‐J. , Chen H.‐X. , Wang T.‐J. , Yan W.‐H. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPrevious studies showed that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐G is specifically upregulated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, a larger cohort of RCC patients are necessary to obtain more information. In this study, 109 RCC primary lesions (clear cell, n = 95; chromophobe, n = 4; papillary, n = 4; collecting duct, n = 6) and corresponding adjacent tumor‐negative renal tissues (n = 34) were analyzed for the HLA‐G expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Meanwhile, plasma soluble HLA‐G (sHLA‐G) from 16 RCC patients and 144 sex‐ and age‐matched normal individuals was detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Correlations between lesion HLA‐G expression and various clinical parameters were evaluated. Receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the feasibility of HLA‐G protein staining and sHLA‐G as a diagnosis marker for RCC. IHC data showed that HLA‐G was observed in 49.5% of clear cell, 50% of either chromophobe or collecting duct RCC lesions but undetectable in papillary RCC and tumor‐negative renal tissues. This finding was consistent with the western blot results. sHLA‐G was pronouncedly increased in RCC patients when compared with normal controls (median: 39.5 vs 19.2 U/ml, P = 0.002). However, no correlation was observed between HLA‐G expression and various clinical parameters. We found that the area under ROC curve for HLA‐G expression and sHLA‐G was 0.739 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.659–0.816, P = 0.000] and 0.733 (95% CI: 0.619–0.847, P = 0.002), respectively. Our findings indicated that, except the papillary RCC, other types of RCC could express HLA‐G. Furthermore, both lesion HLA‐G expression and plasma sHLA‐G level might be a useful preoperative biomarker for diagnosis.
Role of phosphoglucosamine mutase on virulence properties of Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Liu X. D. , Duan J. , Guo L. H. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction:  Streptococcus mutans has been strongly implicated as the principal etiological agent in dental caries. As a gram‐positive bacterium, S. mutans has a thick and compact cell wall to maintain the cell shape and protect the cells against mechanical or osmotic damage. Previous studies have proved that peptidoglycan is the main component of the cell wall involved in the autolysis or biofilm formation processes.Methods:  In this study, we investigated the gene SMU.1426c in the amino‐sugar metabolism pathway of S. mutans UA159, which encodes phosphoglucosamine mutase (GlmM). The glmM gene that functions in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan has been well investigated in Escherichia coli. Here a glmM mutant strain of S. mutans UA159 was constructed and several virulence properties were investigated.Results:  The mutant devoid of the glmM gene displayed long chains, reduced growth rate and increased autolysis. Biofilm formation by the mutant was found to be attenuated.Conclusion:  These results proved that peptidoglycan biosynthesis plays an important part in a series of bacterial morphologies. The glmM gene may have a constructive role in the virulence properties of S. mutans.
Bacteriophages induced from lysogenic root canal isolates of Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Stevens R. H. , Porras O. D. , Delisle A. L. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction:  Bacterial viruses play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of many systemic diseases. They are known to inhabit the oral cavity, both as free virions and as prophages in lysogenic bacterial strains; however, there has been no report of bacteriophages in endodontic infections. In this study, we sought to detect, isolate, and describe temperate bacteriophages harbored by Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from endodontic infections.Methods: Ten E. faecalis strains were isolated from root canals of teeth undergoing retreatment following unsuccessful endodontic therapy. Mitomycin C was used to induce any prophages present in the bacterial isolates. The induced phages were purified and examined using electron microscopy. The DNA extracted from one of the phage isolates was subjected to restriction endonuclease digestion and agarose electrophoresis analysis.Results:  Lysogeny was demonstrated in 4 of the 10 E. faecalis strains. Three of the lysogenic strains yielded phages exhibiting a Siphoviridae morphology, with long, non‐contractile tails 130 nm in length, and spherical/icosahedral heads 41 nm in diameter. The virus induced from the fourth lysogenic E. faecalis strain had a contractile tail characteristic of Myoviridae. Restriction endonuclease analysis of NsiI and NdeI DNA fragments from one of the Siphoviridae phage isolates (phage φEf11) indicated a genome size of approximately 41 kbp.Conclusion:  This is the first report of lysogenic bacteria and their inducible viruses in infected root canals.
Does the frequency of Prevotella intermedia increase during pregnancy?
Authors: Gürsoy M. , Haraldsson G. , Hyvönen M. , Sorsa T. , Pajukanta R. , Könönen E. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction: The former Bacteroides intermedius, currently including Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens, has been associated with hormone‐induced pregnancy gingivitis. The aim of the present longitudinal study was to determine whether only P. intermedia or P. nigrescens, or both species, are involved in the demonstrated microbial shift during pregnancy.Methods: Subgingival plaque and saliva samples, collected from 30 healthy pregnant women and 24 healthy non‐pregnant women as their controls, were examined for the presence of pigmented gram‐negative anaerobes. Altogether 2628 isolates were preliminarily identified as P. intermedia sensu lato, based on phenotypic testing. Their further identification was performed by using a 16S ribosomal DNA‐based polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: A mean of 8.3 P. intermedia sensu lato isolates from each subject/sampling was examined. During the second trimester, the mean number of P. intermedia sensu lato in plaque increased along with increasing signs of pregnancy gingivitis, and then both decreased. After delivery, gingival inflammation still decreased while the number of P. intermedia sensu lato transiently increased both in plaque and saliva. In the present study, the vast majority of isolates (95.3%) proved to be P. nigrescens and 2.5% were P. intermedia. The remaining 2.2% of the isolates could not be identified with PCR as P. intermedia or P. nigrescens. The corresponding percentages in the control population were 94.2%, 5.5%, and 0.3%.Conclusion: In the oral cavity of relatively young women without periodontitis, P. nigrescens, unlike P. intermedia, is a frequent finding. Conceivably, pregnant women harbor increasing numbers of P. nigrescens associated with pregnancy gingivitis.
Identification of oral species of the genus Veillonella by polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Igarashi E. , Kamaguchi A. , Fujita M. , Miyakawa H. , Nakazawa F. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction:  Members of the genus Veillonella cannot be reliably distinguished by their biochemical characteristics and phenotypic features. Moreover, DNA–DNA hybridization and sequence analyses of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene including random fragment length polymorphism analysis, are complex and time‐consuming procedures that are not well‐suited to identifying oral species of Veillonella: Veillonella atypica, Veillonella denticariosi, Veillonella dispar, Veillonella parvula, and Veillonella rogosae.Methods:  In this study, five forward primers and a reverse primer were designed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) according to the partial sequences of the rpoB genes of these oral Veillonella species.Results:  The forward primers were species‐specific for these five Veillonella species, and could produce specific amplicons when used together with reverse primer and individual DNA templates of these species in PCR. These primer pairs were also found to discriminate between the respective species, and the Veillonella strains isolated from human oral cavities were successfully assigned to one of the five oral species of the genus Veillonella based on their specific products by PCR.Conclusion:  A simple two‐step PCR procedure using the five sets of primer pairs developed in the present study is a rapid and reliable method for the identification of the recognized oral Veillonella species.
Prevalence and molecular diversity of Archaea in subgingival pockets of periodontitis patients
Authors: Li C. L. , Liu D. L. , Jiang Y. T. , Zhou Y. B. , Zhang M. Z. , Jiang W. , Liu B. , Liang J. P. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction:  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and molecular diversity of Archaea in the subgingival crevices of patients with chronic periodontitis.Methods:  Subgingival plaque was collected from 41 patients with chronic periodontitis and 15 healthy subjects. The prevalence of Archaea in those plaque samples was tested by polymerase chain reaction with two broad‐range archaeal primer sets. Amplicons from eight Archaea‐positive plaque samples were cloned and sequenced for molecular diversity analysis using one of these two primer sets and a novel third primer set.Results:  Archaea were detected in the subgingival plaque of patients with chronic periodontitis at a prevalence of 70.7–73.2%, but were not detected in healthy subjects. Using one primer set, all sequences of the archaeal amplicons were identified as Methanobrevibacter oralis‐like species. With another primer set, the amplicons were also found to be identical to the uncultured M. oralis‐like species except one phylotype was found to belong to the class Thermoplasmata.Conclusion:  Archaea might be correlated with periodontal diseases. The diversity of Archaea associated with periodontitis was limited. Almost all sequenced amplicons fell into the genus Methanobrevibacter of the Euryarcheota phylum. M. oralis‐like species was the predominant but non‐exclusive archaeon in the subgingival dental plaque of patients with periodontitis.
Progressive increase of human papillomavirus carriage rates in potentially malignant and malignant oral disorders with increasing malignant potential
Authors: Szarka K. , Tar I. , Fehér E. , Gáll T. , Kis A. , Tóth E. D. , Boda R. , Márton I. , Gergely L. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction:  We investigated the potential role of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in potentially malignant oral disorders, oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichen planus (OLP), and in oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) in an Eastern Hungarian population with a high incidence of OSCC.Methods:  Excised tumor samples (65 OSCC patients) and exfoliated cells from potentially malignant lesions (from 44 and 119 patients with OL and OLP, respectively) as well as from healthy controls (72 individuals) were analysed. OLPs were classified based on clinical appearance, 61 patients had erosive–atrophic lesions (associated with higher malignancy risk, EA‐OLP) and 58 had non‐erosive non‐atrophic lesions (with lower risk of becoming malignant, non‐EA‐OLP), respectively. Exfoliated cells collected from apparently healthy mucosa accompanied each lesion sample. HPV was detected by MY/GP polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotyped by restriction analysis of amplimers. Copy numbers in lesions were determined using real‐time PCR. Prevalence rates, copy number distributions, and association with risk factors and diseases were analysed using chi‐square test, t‐test, and logistic regression, respectively.Results:  We detected HPVs significantly more frequently in lesions than in controls (P ≤ 0.001 in all comparisons). HPV prevalence increased gradually with increasing severity of lesions (32.8, 40.9, and 47.7% in OLP, OL, and OSCC, respectively). Copy number distribution patterns roughly corresponded to prevalence rates, but OLP and OL were comparable. HPV prevalence differed significantly between EA‐OLP and non‐EA‐OLP groups (42.6 vs. 22.4%); EA‐OLP group showed a prevalence similar to that found in OL.Conclusion:  HPVs may be involved in the development or progression of not only OSCC but also of potentially malignant oral lesions.
Proteomic analysis of endodontic infections by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Nandakumar R. , Madayiputhiya N. , Fouad A. F. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction:  Endodontic infections are very prevalent and have a polymicrobial etiology characterized by complex interrelationships between endodontic microorganisms and the host defenses. Proteomic analysis of endodontic infections can provide global insights into the invasion, pathogenicity mechanisms, and multifactorial interactions existing between root canal bacteria and the host in the initiation and progression of apical periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to apply proteomic techniques such as liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for the identification of proteins of bacterial origin present in endodontic infections.Methods:  Endodontic specimens were aseptically obtained from seven patients with root canal infections. Protein mixtures were subjected to tryptic in‐solution digestion and analysed by reverse‐phase nano‐LC–MS/MS followed by a database search.Results:  Proteins, mainly of cell wall or membrane origin, from endodontic bacteria especially Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Treponema denticola were identified from all the samples tested. Identified proteins included adhesins, autolysins, proteases, virulence factors, and antibiotic‐resistance proteins.Conclusions:  LC–MS/MS offers a sensitive analytical platform to study the disease processes in the root canal environment. The array of proteins expressed in endodontic infections reflects the complex microbial presence and highlights the bacterial species involved in the inflammatory process.
Dysfunctional innate immune responsiveness to Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide in diabetes
Authors: Morran M. P. , Alexander L. A. , Slotterbeck B. D. , McInerney M. F. 
Published: June 2009

Introduction:  Type 1 diabetes is a major risk factor for the development of severe periodontal disease. As diabetes increases in severity, so does the susceptibility to and severity of periodontitis. People with diabetes who have periodontal disease have a harder time maintaining healthy blood glucose levels. Macrophages play an important role in both diabetes and periodontitis. Previous research comparing bone‐marrow‐derived macrophages (BM‐Mϕ) from diabetic non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice and control mice illustrates that a dysregulation in cytokine, Toll‐like receptor (TLR) expression, and cell signaling occurs in the diabetic state.Methods:  This study examines the effect of chronic hyperglycemia on BM‐Mϕ TLR expression and activation, cell signaling, cytokine production, and phagocytic function in the diabetic state, when challenged with the periodontal stimulus Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to further understand how diabetes and associated hyperglycemia may contribute to the increased susceptibility of people with diabetes to periodontitis.Results:  When BM‐Mϕ, obtained from diabetic NOD mice, are stimulated with P. gingivalis LPS under hyperglycemic conditions the following changes occur: reduced messenger RNA expression and cell surface expression of TLR2, reduced messenger RNA expression and protein production of tumor necrosis factor‐α, reduced signal transduction, and a reduction in phagocytic function. All the activity of BM‐Mϕ from diabetic NOD mice was restored when differentiation and stimulation occurred under normoglycemic conditions.Discussion:  Diabetic patients in a hyperglycemic state may be generating macrophages that are inherently immunocompromised, contributing to an environment allowing periodontal infections to flourish. As a consequence, people with diabetes who maintain proper control of blood sugar levels may experience an increased immunological benefit when challenged with a periodontal infection.
Periodontitis lesions are the main source of salivary cytomegalovirus
Authors: Şahin S. , Saygun I. , Kubar A. , Slots J. 
Published: June 2009

Background:  Herpesviruses play causal or cooperative roles in childhood infections, tumorigenesis, ulcerogenesis, and periodontitis. Saliva is a common vehicle of herpesvirus horizontal transmission, but the source of salivary herpesviruses remains obscure. To evaluate the significance of periodontal disease in shedding of oral herpesviruses, this study determined the genome‐copy counts of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in whole saliva of subjects with periodontitis, gingivitis, or no natural teeth.Methods:  Whole saliva was collected from 14 periodontitis patients, 15 gingivitis patients and 13 complete denture wearers. The study subjects were systemically healthy and had not received periodontal treatment in the past 3 months. Real‐time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the salivary load of HCMV and EBV.Results:  Salivary HCMV was detected in seven (50%) periodontitis patients, but not in any gingivitis or edentulous subjects (P < 0.001). Salivary EBV was detected in 11 (79%) periodontitis patients, in five (33%) gingivitis patients, and in seven (54%) edentulous subjects (P = 0.076). Salivary samples showed copy counts of HCMV in the range of 3.3 × 103–4.2 × 104/ml and of EBV in the range of 3.6 × 102–1.6 × 109/ml.Conclusions:  HCMV and EBV are commonly present in the saliva of periodontitis patients. Periodontitis lesions of systemically healthy subjects seem to constitute the main origin of salivary HCMV, but do not comprise the sole source of salivary EBV.
Unravelling and managing fusiform rust disease: a model approach for coevolved forest tree pathosystems
Authors: Nelson C. D. , Kubisiak T. L. , Amerson H. V. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryFusiform rust disease remains the most destructive disease in pine plantations in the southern United States. Our ongoing research is designed to identify, map, and clone the interacting genes of the host and pathogen. Several resistance (R) genes have been identified and genetically mapped using informative pine families and single‐spore isolate inoculations. In addition, we are mapping the first of many expected corresponding avirulence (Avr) genes in the fungal pathogen. The Avr genes condition avirulence/virulence and avirulence is required for an incompatible reaction (i.e., no‐gall development) to take place within an inoculated tree that carries resistance at the corresponding R gene. We provide an overview of our methodology for identifying and mapping R and Avr genes, an update of our current progress, and a brief discussion of two approaches for predicting R gene genotypes of uncharacterized parental trees and for estimating the efficacy of specific pine genotypes at various planting locations. This paper emphasizes the critical importance of controlled genetic materials of both the host and pathogen for elucidating the genetic nature of resistance and virulence in coevolved forest pathosystems.