bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Behind the veil: women‐only entrepreneurship training in Pakistan
Authors: Azam Roomi Muhammad , Harrison Pegram 
Published: June 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the gender‐related challenges of Pakistani women entrepreneurs, to explore these women's particular capacity‐building needs, and to assess the impact of capacity‐building programs on the establishment and performance of the women's enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe paper begins with a review of various theoretical contexts through which to understand women's entrepreneurship in an Islamic socio‐cultural context. From this, the paper derived two working propositions: women in Islamic Pakistan face particular barriers to becoming entrepreneurs; these barriers can be reduced by women‐only training in entrepreneurial competences. These propositions are examined in a three‐part longitudinal process: a field survey to gather information about the training needs of current and potential women entrepreneurs, the design and delivery of a women‐only training module, a follow‐up survey with participants, 18 months later. Subjects and participants were randomly selected, and segmented according to entrepreneurial factors and characteristics.FindingsResults confirm that the barriers perceived by women entrepreneurs in Islamic Pakistan can be alleviated through women‐only training that allows participants to develop capital and competences. Greater clarity about learning outcomes desired and achieved by women entrepreneurs in an Islamic socio‐cultural context can be a basis for designing improved training and education programmes, with a view to women's economic empowerment.Practical implicationsFor women entrepreneurs living in an Islamic society, this analysis has implications for understanding the importance and effectiveness of entrepreneurial training especially in a women‐only setting. For policy makers, it turns the spotlight on the need for creating an environment conducive to female entrepreneurship consistent with socio‐cultural structures and gender asymmetries.Originality/valueThere are no comparable previous data on the learning preferences and outcomes of this particular demographic group.
Pyrosequencing Analysis of Bacterial Biofilm Communities in Water Meters of a Drinking Water Distribution System
Authors: Hong Pei-Ying , Hwang Chiachi , Ling Fangqiong , Andersen Gary L. , LeChevallier Mark W. , Liu Wen-Tso 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT
The applicability of 454 pyrosequencing to characterize bacterial biofilm communities from two water meters of a drinking water distribution system was assessed. Differences in bacterial diversity and composition were observed. A better understanding of the bacterial ecology of drinking water biofilms will allow for effective management of water quality in distribution systems.
Integrated Microbial Survey Analysis of Prokaryotic Communities for the PhyloChip Microarray
Authors: Schatz Michael C. , Phillippy Adam M. , Gajer Pawel , DeSantis Todd Z. , Andersen Gary L. , Ravel Jacques 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

PhyloTrac is an integrated desktop application for analysis of PhyloChip microarray data. PhyloTrac combined with PhyloChip provides turnkey and comprehensive identification and analysis of bacterial and archaeal communities in complex environmental samples. PhyloTrac is free for noncommercial organizations and is available for all major operating systems at
http://www.phylotrac.org/
.
Origin of the Putrescine-Producing Ability of the Coagulase-Negative BacteriumStaphylococcus epidermidis2015B
Authors: Coton Emmanuel , Mulder Niels , Coton Monika , Pochet Sylvie , Trip Hein , Lolkema Juke S. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACTA multiplex PCR method, aimed at the detection of genes associated with biogenic amine production, identified theodcgene encoding ornithine decarboxylase in 1 of 15 strains ofStaphylococcus epidermidis. The ability of the positive strain,S. epidermidis2015B, to produce putrescinein vitrowas demonstrated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In this strain, theodcgene was detected on plasmid DNA, suggesting that the ability to form putrescine is carried by a mobile element, which explains the fact that the trait is strain dependent within theS. epidermidisspecies. A 6,292-bp nucleotide sequence harboring the putativeodcgene was determined.S. epidermidisornithine decarboxylase (ODC) showed 60 to 65% sequence identity with known ODCs of Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacteria. Downstream of theodcgene, a gene encoding a putative amino acid transporter was found that shared 59% sequence identity with the ornithine/putrescine exchanger (PotE) ofEscherichia coli. Cloning and expression of thepotEgene ofS. epidermis2015B inLactococcus lactisdemonstrated that the gene product transported ornithine and putrescine into the cells and efficiently exchanged putrescine for ornithine. Analysis of the flanking regions showed high identity levels with differentS. epidermidisplasmid sequences, which would confirm the plasmidic location of theodcoperon. It follows that theodcandpotEgene pair encodes a putrescine-producing pathway inS. epidermis2015B that was acquired through horizontal gene transfer.
Synthesis of Trypsin-Resistant Variants of the
Listeria
-Active Bacteriocin Salivaricin P
Authors: O'Shea Eileen F. , O'Connor Paula M. , Cotter Paul D. , Ross R. Paul , Hill Colin 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Two-component salivaricin P-like bacteriocins have demonstrated potential as antimicrobials capable of controlling infections in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The anti-
Listeria
activity of salivaricin P is optimal when the individual peptides Sln1 and Sln2 are added in succession at a 1:1 ratio. However, as degradation by digestive proteases may compromise the functionality of these peptides within the GIT, we investigated the potential to create salivaricin variants with enhanced resistance to the intestinal protease trypsin. A total of 11 variants of the salivaricin P components, in which conservative modifications at the trypsin-specific cleavage sites were explored in order to protect the peptides from trypsin degradation while maintaining their potent antimicrobial activity, were generated. Analysis of these variants revealed that eight were resistant to trypsin digestion while retaining antimicrobial activity. Combining the complementary trypsin-resistant variants Sln1-5 and Sln2-3 resulted in a MIC
50
of 300 nM against
Listeria monocytogenes
, a 3.75-fold reduction in activity compared to the level for wild-type salivaricin P. This study demonstrates the potential of engineering bacteriocin variants which are resistant to specific protease action but which retain significant antimicrobial activity.
Development and Validation of a Continuous
In Vitro
System Reproducing Some Biotic and Abiotic Factors of the Veal Calf Intestine
Authors: Gérard-Champod Marie , Blanquet-Diot Stéphanie , Cardot Jean-Michel , Bravo David , Alric Monique 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Following the January 2006 European ban of antibiotics used as growth promoters in the veal calf industry, new feed additives are needed in order to maintain animal health and growth performance. As an alternative to
in vivo
experiments in the testing of such additives, an
in vitro
system modeling the intestinal ecosystem of the veal calf was developed. Stabilization of the main cultured microbial groups and their metabolic activity were tracked in an
in vitro
continuous fermentor operated under anaerobiosis, at pH 6.5, and at a temperature of 38.5°C and supplied with one of three different nutritive media (M1, M2, or M3). These media mainly differed in their concentrations of simple and complex carbohydrates and in their lipid sources.
In vitro
microbial levels and fermentative metabolite concentrations were compared to
in vivo
data, and the biochemical composition of the nutritive media was compared to that of the veal calf intestinal content. All three nutritive media were able to stabilize anaerobic and facultative anaerobic microflora, lactate-utilizing bacteria, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, enterococci, and
Bacteroides fragilis
group bacteria at levels close to
in vivo
values. The microbiota was metabolically active, with high concentrations of lactate, ammonia, and short-chain fatty acids found in the fermentative medium. Comparison with
in vivo
data indicated that M3 outperformed M1 and M2 in simulating the conditions encountered in the veal calf intestine. This
in vitro
system would be useful in the prescreening of new feed additives by studying their effect on the intestinal microbiota levels and fermentative metabolite production.
Persistence of Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) in Feathers Detached from Bodies of Infected Domestic Ducks
Authors: Yamamoto Yu , Nakamura Kikuyasu , Yamada Manabu , Mase Masaji 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Asian lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) continues to cause mortality in poultry and wild bird populations at a panzootic scale. However, little is known about its persistence in contaminated tissues derived from infected birds. We investigated avian influenza virus (H5N1) persistence in feathers detached from bodies of infected ducks to evaluate their potential risk for environmental contamination. Four-week-old domestic ducks were inoculated with different clades of avian influenza virus (H5N1). Feathers, drinking water, and feces were collected on day 3 postinoculation and stored at 4°C or 20°C. Viral persistence in samples was investigated for 360 days by virus isolation and reverse transcription-PCR. Infectious viruses persisted for the longest period in feathers, compared with drinking water and feces, at both 4°C and 20°C. Viral infectivity persisted in the feathers for 160 days at 4°C and for 15 days at 20°C. Viral titers of 10
4.3
50% egg infectious doses/ml or greater were detected for 120 days in feathers stored at 4°C. Viral RNA in feathers was more stable than the infectivity. These results indicate that feathers detached from domestic ducks infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) can be a source of environmental contamination and may function as fomites with high viral loads in the environment.
Community Dynamics of Bacteria in Sourdough Fermentations as Revealed by Their Metatranscriptome
Authors: Weckx Stefan , Van der Meulen Roel , Allemeersch Joke , Huys Geert , Vandamme Peter , Van Hummelen Paul , De Vuyst Luc 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

The lactic acid bacterial (LAB) community dynamics of two wheat and two spelt sourdough fermentations that were daily back-slopped were monitored during a period of 10 days by hybridizing time-related RNA samples, representing the metatranscriptome, to an LAB functional gene microarray. To indicate the species present in each hybridized sample, annotation information for the 2,269 oligonucleotides on the microarray was used. The overall hybridization data revealed that after a transition phase of 5 days, in which atypical sourdough LAB species, including
Enterococcus
species, were found, a stabilized ecosystem was established with
Lactobacillus plantarum
and
Lactobacillus fermentum
as the dominating LAB species. Compared with the combined outcome of culture-dependent and culture-independent identification techniques, the microarray data revealed a functional role for
Lactococcus lactis
in the early stage ecosystem and the dominance of
Pediococcus pentosaceus
in most of the fermentations, besides
L. plantarum
and
L. fermentum
. Consequently, metatranscriptome hybridization data obtained using an LAB functional gene microarray was shown to be an interesting alternative to microbiological analysis of the community dynamics of complex food ecosystems.
Simultaneously Discrete Biomineralization of Magnetite and Tellurium Nanocrystals in Magnetotactic Bacteria
Authors: Tanaka Masayoshi , Arakaki Atsushi , Staniland Sarah S. , Matsunaga Tadashi 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACTMagnetotactic bacteria synthesize intracellular magnetosomes comprising membrane-enveloped magnetite crystals within the cell which can be manipulated by a magnetic field. Here, we report the first example of tellurium uptake and crystallization within a magnetotactic bacterial strain,Magnetospirillum magneticumAMB-1. These bacteria independently crystallize tellurium and magnetite within the cell. This is also highly significant as tellurite (TeO32−), an oxyanion of tellurium, is harmful to both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Additionally, due to its increasing use in high-technology products, tellurium is very precious and commercially desirable. The use of microorganisms to recover such molecules from polluted water has been considered as a promising bioremediation technique. However, cell recovery is a bottleneck in the development of this approach. Recently, using the magnetic property of magnetotactic bacteria and a cell surface modification technology, the magnetic recovery of Cd2+adsorbed onto the cell surface was reported. Crystallization within the cell enables approximately 70 times more bioaccumulation of the pollutant per cell than cell surface adsorption, while utilizing successful recovery with a magnetic field. This fascinating dual crystallization of magnetite and tellurium by magnetotactic bacteria presents an ideal system for both bioremediation and magnetic recovery of tellurite.
The Genome Sequence of the Crenarchaeon
Acidilobus saccharovorans
Supports a New Order,
Acidilobales
, and Suggests an Important Ecological Role in Terrestrial Acidic Hot Springs
Authors: Mardanov Andrey V. , Svetlitchnyi Vitali A. , Beletsky Alexey V. , Prokofeva Maria I. , Bonch-Osmolovskaya Elizaveta A. , Ravin Nikolai V. , Skryabin Konstantin G. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Acidilobus saccharovorans
is an anaerobic, organotrophic, thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon isolated from a terrestrial hot spring. We report the complete genome sequence of
A. saccharovorans
, which has permitted the prediction of genes for Embden-Meyerhof and Entner-Doudoroff pathways and genes associated with the oxidative tricarboxylic acid cycle. The electron transfer chain is branched with two sites of proton translocation and is linked to the reduction of elemental sulfur and thiosulfate. The genomic data suggest an important role of the order
Acidilobales
in thermoacidophilic ecosystems whereby its members can perform a complete oxidation of organic substrates, closing the anaerobic carbon cycle.
In Vivo
Enzyme Immobilization by Inclusion Body Display
Authors: Steinmann Björn , Christmann Andreas , Heiseler Tim , Fritz Janine , Kolmar Harald 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

A novel strategy for
in vivo
immobilization of enzymes on the surfaces of inclusion bodies has been established. It relies on expression in
Escherichia coli
of the polyhydroxybutyrate synthase PhaC from
Cupriavidus necator
, which carries at its amino terminus an engineered negatively charged α-helical coil (Ecoil) and forms inclusion bodies upon high-level expression. Coexpression in the same cell of galactose oxidase (GOase) from
Fusarium
spp. carrying a carboxy-terminal positively charged coil (lysine-rich coil [Kcoil]) sequence results in heterodimeric coiled-coil formation
in vivo
and in the capture of the enzyme in active form on the surface of the inclusion body particle. These round-shaped enzyme-decorated microparticles, with sizes of approximately 0.7 μm, can be isolated from lysed cells simply by centrifugation. The cost-effective one-step generation and isolation of enzymes immobilized on inclusion body particles may become useful for various applications in bioprocessing and biotransformation.
Genome-Driven Investigation of Compatible Solute Biosynthesis Pathways ofPseudomonas syringaepv. syringae and Their Contribution to Water Stress Tolerance
Authors: Kurz Matthias , Burch Adrien Y. , Seip Britta , Lindow Steven E. , Gross Harald 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACTThe foliar pathogenPseudomonas syringaepv. syringae exhibits an exceptional ability to survive on asymptomatic plants as an epiphyte. Intermittent wetting events on plants lead to osmotic and matric stresses which must be tolerated for survival as an epiphyte. In this study, we have applied bioinformatic, genetic, and biochemical approaches to address water stress tolerance inP. syringaepv. syringae strain B728a, for which a complete genome sequence is available.P. syringaepv. syringae B728a is able to produce the compatible solutes betaine, ectoine,N-acetylglutaminylglutamine amide (NAGGN), and trehalose. Analysis of osmolyte profiles ofP. syringaepv. syringae B728a under a variety ofin vitroandin plantaconditions reveals that the osmolytes differentially contribute to water stress tolerance in this species and that they interact at the level of transcription to yield a hierarchy of expression. While the interruption of a putative gene cluster coding for NAGGN biosynthesis provided the first experimental evidence of the NAGGN biosynthetic pathway, application of this knockout strain and also agfpreporter gene fusion strain demonstrated the small contribution of NAGGN to cell survival and desiccation tolerance ofP. syringaepv. syringae B728a underin plantaconditions. Additionally, detailed investigation ofectC, an orphan of the ectoine cluster (lacking theectAandectBhomologs), revealed its functionality and that ectoine production could be detected in NaCl-amended cultures ofP. syringaepv. syringae B728a to which sterilized leaves ofSyringa vulgarishad been added.
Effect of the Deletion of
qmoABC
and the Promoter-Distal Gene Encoding a Hypothetical Protein on Sulfate Reduction in
Desulfovibrio vulgaris
Hildenborough
Authors: Zane Grant M. , Yen Huei-che Bill , Wall Judy D. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

The pathway of electrons required for the reduction of sulfate in sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is not yet fully characterized. In order to determine the role of a transmembrane protein complex suggested to be involved in this process, a deletion in
Desulfovibrio vulgaris
Hildenborough was created by marker exchange mutagenesis that eliminated four genes putatively encoding the QmoABC complex and a hypothetical protein (DVU0851). The Qmo (
q
uinone-interacting
m
embrane-bound
o
xidoreductase) complex is proposed to be responsible for transporting electrons to the dissimilatory adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate reductase in SRB. In support of the predicted role of this complex, the deletion mutant was unable to grow using sulfate as its sole electron acceptor with a range of electron donors. To explore a possible role for the hypothetical protein in sulfate reduction, a second mutant was constructed that had lost only the gene that codes for the DVU0851 protein. The second constructed mutant grew with sulfate as the sole electron acceptor; however, there was a lag that was not present with the wild-type or complemented strain. Neither deletion strain was significantly impaired for growth with sulfite or thiosulfate as the terminal electron acceptor. Complementation of the Δ(
qmoABC
-DVU0851) mutant with all four genes or only the
qmoABC
genes restored its ability to grow by sulfate respiration. These results confirmed the prediction that the Qmo complex is in the electron pathway for sulfate reduction and revealed that no other transmembrane complex could compensate when Qmo was lacking.
Rapid Microarray-Based Genotyping of Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
Serotype O156:H25/H−/Hnt Isolates from Cattle and Clonal Relationship Analysis
Authors: Geue Lutz , Schares Susann , Mintel Birgit , Conraths Franz J. , Müller Elke , Ehricht Ralf 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Since enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC) isolates of serogroup O156 have been obtained from human diarrhea patients and asymptomatic carriers, we studied cattle as a potential reservoir for these bacteria.
E. coli
isolates serotyped by agglutination as O156:H25/H−/Hnt strains (
n
= 32) were isolated from three cattle farms during a period of 21 months and characterized by rapid microarray-based genotyping. The serotyping by agglutination of the O156 isolates was not confirmed in some cases by the results of DNA-based serotyping as only 25 of the 32 isolates were conclusively identified as O156:H25. In the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis, all EHEC O156:H25 isolates were characterized as sequence type 300 (ST300) and ST688, which differ by a single-nucleotide exchange in the
purA
gene. Oligonucleotide microarrays allow simultaneous detection of a wider range of EHEC-associated and other
E. coli
virulence markers than other methods. All O156:H25 isolates showed a wide spectrum of virulence factors typical for EHEC. The
stx
1
genes combined with the EHEC
hlyA
(
hlyA
EHEC
) gene, the
eae
gene of the ζ subtype, as well as numerous other virulence markers were present in all EHEC O156:H25 strains. The behavior of eight different cluster groups, including four that were EHEC O156:H25, was monitored in space and time. Variations in the O156 cluster groups were detected. The results of the cluster analysis suggest that some O156:H25 strains had the genetic potential for a long persistence in the host and on the farm, while other strains did not. As judged by their pattern of virulence markers,
E. coli
O156:H25 isolates of bovine origin may represent a considerable risk for human infection. Our results showed that the miniaturized
E. coli
oligonucleotide arrays are an excellent tool for the rapid detection of a large number of virulence markers.
Interdomain Conjugal Transfer of DNA from Bacteria to Archaea
Authors: Dodsworth Jeremy A. , Li Lei , Wei Shiping , Hedlund Brian P. , Leigh John A. , de Figueiredo Paul 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
transforms the methanogenic archaeon
Methanococcus maripaludis
at frequencies ranging from 0.2 × 10
−6
to 2 × 10
−6
per recipient cell. Transformation requires cell-to-cell contact,
oriT
, and
tra
functions, is insensitive to DNase I, and otherwise displays hallmarks of conjugation.
Genomic Sequence and Characterization of the Virulent Bacteriophage φCTP1 from
Clostridium tyrobutyricum
and Heterologous Expression of Its Endolysin
Authors: Mayer Melinda J. , Payne John , Gasson Michael J. , Narbad Arjan 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

The growth of
Clostridium tyrobutyricum
in developing cheese leads to spoilage and cheese blowing. Bacteriophages or their specific lytic enzymes may provide a biological control method for eliminating such undesirable organisms without affecting other microflora. We isolated the virulent bacteriophage φCTP1 belonging to the
Siphoviridae
and have shown that it is effective in causing lysis of sensitive strains. The double-stranded DNA genome of φCTP1 is 59,199 bp, and sequence analysis indicated that it has 86 open reading frames.
orf29
was identified as the gene coding for the phage endolysin responsible for cell wall degradation prior to virion release. We cloned and expressed the
ctp1l
gene in
E. coli
and demonstrated that the partially purified protein induced lysis of
C. tyrobutyricum
cells and reduced viable counts both in buffer and in milk. The endolysin was inactive against a range of clostridial species but did show lysis of
Clostridium sporogenes
, another potential spoilage organism. Removal of the C-terminal portion of the endolysin completely abolished lytic activity.