bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management issues for women with epilepsy—Focus on pregnancy (an evidence‐based review): II. Teratogenesis and perinatal outcomes
Authors: Harden Cynthia L. , Meador Kimford J. , Pennell Page B. , Allen Hauser W. , Gronseth Gary S. , French Jacqueline A. , Wiebe Samuel , Thurman David , Koppel Barbara S. , Kaplan Peter W. , Robinson Julian N. , Hopp Jennifer , Ting Tricia Y. , Gidal Barry , Hovinga Collin A. , Wilner Andrew N. , Vazquez Blanca , Holmes Lewis , Krumholz Allan , Finnell Richard , Hirtz Deborah , Le Guen Claire 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA committee assembled by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) reassessed the evidence related to the care of women with epilepsy (WWE) during pregnancy, including antiepileptic drug (AED) teratogenicity and adverse perinatal outcomes. It is highly probable that intrauterine first‐trimester valproate (VPA) exposure has higher risk of major congenital malformations (MCMs) compared to carbamazepine (CBZ), and possibly compared to phenytoin (PHT) or lamotrigine (LTG). It is probable that VPA as part of polytherapy and possible that VPA as monotherapy contribute to the development of MCMs. AED polytherapy probably contributes to the development of MCMs and reduced cognitive outcomes compared to monotherapy. Intrauterine exposure to VPA monotherapy probably reduces cognitive outcomes and monotherapy exposure to PHT or phenobarbital (PB) possibly reduces cognitive outcomes. Neonates of WWE taking AEDs probably have an increased risk of being small for gestational age and possibly have an increased risk of a 1‐minute Apgar score of <7. If possible, avoidance of VPA and AED polytherapy during the first trimester of pregnancy should be considered to decrease the risk of MCMs. If possible, avoidance of VPA and AED polytherapy throughout pregnancy should be considered and avoidance of PHT and PB throughout pregnancy may be considered to prevent reduced cognitive outcomes.
Management issues for women with epilepsy—Focus on pregnancy (an evidence‐based review): III. Vitamin K, folic acid, blood levels, and breast‐feeding
Authors: Harden Cynthia L. , Pennell Page B. , Koppel Barbara S. , Hovinga Collin A. , Gidal Barry , Meador Kimford J. , Hopp Jennifer , Ting Tricia Y. , Hauser W. A. , Thurman David , Kaplan Peter W. , Robinson Julian N. , French Jacqueline A. , Wiebe Samuel , Wilner Andrew N. , Vazquez Blanca , Holmes Lewis , Krumholz Allan , Finnell Richard , Shafer Patricia O. , Le Guen Claire L. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA committee assembled by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) reassessed the evidence related to the care of women with epilepsy (WWE) during pregnancy, including preconceptional folic acid and prenatal vitamin K use and the clinical implications of placental and breast‐milk transfer of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The committee evaluated the available evidence based on a structured literature review and classification of relevant articles. Preconceptional folic acid supplementation is possibly effective in preventing major congenital malformations in the newborns of WWE taking AEDs. There is inadequate evidence to determine if the newborns of WWE taking AEDs have a substantially increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. Primidone and levetiracetam probably transfer into breast milk in clinically important amounts. Valproate, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine probably are not transferred into breast milk in clinically important amounts. Pregnancy probably causes an increase in the clearance and a decrease in the concentrations of lamotrigine, phenytoin, and, to a lesser extent carbamazepine, and possibly decreases the level of levetiracetam and the active oxcarbazepine metabolite, the monohydroxy derivative (MHD). Supplementing WWE with at least 0.4 mg of folic acid before pregnancy may be considered. Monitoring of lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and phenytoin levels during pregnancy should be considered, and monitoring of levetiracetam and oxcarbazepine (as MHD) levels may be considered. A paucity of evidence limited the strength of many recommendations.
Web-Based Software for Rapid Top-Down Proteomic Identification of Protein Biomarkers, with Implications for Bacterial Identification
Authors: Fagerquist Clifton K. , Garbus Brandon R. , Williams Katherine E. , Bates Anna H. , Boyle Síobhán , Harden Leslie A. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

We have developed web-based software for the rapid identification of protein biomarkers of bacterial microorganisms. Proteins from bacterial cell lysates were ionized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), mass isolated, and fragmented using a tandem time of flight (TOF-TOF) mass spectrometer. The sequence-specific fragment ions generated were compared to a database of in silico fragment ions derived from bacterial protein sequences whose molecular weights are the same as the nominal molecular weights of the protein biomarkers. A simple peak-matching and scoring algorithm was developed to compare tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) fragment ions to in silico fragment ions. In addition, a probability-based significance-testing algorithm (
P
value), developed previously by other researchers, was incorporated into the software for the purpose of comparison. The speed and accuracy of the software were tested by identification of 10 protein biomarkers from three
Campylobacter
strains that had been identified previously by bottom-up proteomics techniques. Protein biomarkers were identified using (i) their peak-matching scores and/or
P
values from a comparison of MS-MS fragment ions with all possible in silico N and C terminus fragment ions (i.e., ions a, b, b-18, y, y-17, and y-18), (ii) their peak-matching scores and/or
P
values from a comparison of MS-MS fragment ions to residue-specific in silico fragment ions (i.e., in silico fragment ions resulting from polypeptide backbone fragmentation adjacent to specific residues [aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, etc.]), and (iii) fragment ion error analysis, which distinguished the systematic fragment ion error of a correct identification (caused by calibration drift of the second TOF mass analyzer) from the random fragment ion error of an incorrect identification.
Degradation of Phenol via Phenylphosphate and Carboxylation to 4-Hydroxybenzoate by a Newly Isolated Strain of the Sulfate-Reducing BacteriumDesulfobacterium anilini
Authors: Ahn Young-Beom , Chae Jong-Chan , Zylstra Gerben J. , Häggblom Max M. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTA sulfate-reducing phenol-degrading bacterium, strain AK1, was isolated from a 2-bromophenol-utilizing sulfidogenic estuarine sediment enrichment culture. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and DNA homology, strain AK1 is most closely related toDesulfobacterium anilinistrain Ani1 (= DSM 4660T). In addition to phenol, this organism degrades a variety of other aromatic compounds, including benzoate, 2-hydroxybenzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, 2-aminobenzoate, 2-fluorophenol, and 2-fluorobenzoate, but it does not degrade aniline, 3-hydroxybenzoate, 4-cyanophenol, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoate, monohalogenated phenols, or monohalogenated benzoates. Growth with sulfate as an electron acceptor occurred with acetate and pyruvate but not with citrate, propionate, butyrate, lactate, glucose, or succinate. Strain AK1 is able to use sulfate, sulfite, and thiosulfate as electron acceptors. A putative phenylphosphate synthase gene responsible for anaerobic phenol degradation was identified in strain AK1. In phenol-grown cultures inducible expression of theppsAgene was verified by reverse transcriptase PCR, and 4-hydroxybenzoate was detected as an intermediate. These results suggest that the pathway for anaerobic degradation of phenol inD. anilinistrain AK1 proceeds via phosphorylation of phenol to phenylphosphate, followed by carboxylation to 4-hydroxybenzoate. The details concerning such reaction pathways in sulfidogenic bacteria have not been characterized previously.
Correlation between Genotypic Diversity, Lipooligosaccharide Gene Locus Class Variation, and Caco-2 Cell Invasion Potential of
Campylobacter jejuni
Isolates from Chicken Meat and Humans: Contribution to Virulotyping
Authors: Habib Ihab , Louwen Rogier , Uyttendaele Mieke , Houf Kurt , Vandenberg Olivier , Nieuwenhuis Edward E. , Miller William G. , van Belkum Alex , De Zutter Lieven 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Significant interest in studying the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of
Campylobacter jejuni
has stemmed from its potential role in postinfection paralytic disorders. In this study we present the results of PCR screening of five LOS locus classes (A, B, C, D, and E) for a collection of 116
C. jejuni
isolates from chicken meat (
n
= 76) and sporadic human cases of diarrhea (
n
= 40). We correlated LOS classes with clonal complexes (CC) assigned by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Finally, we evaluated the invasion potential of a panel of 52 of these
C. jejuni
isolates for Caco-2 cells. PCR screening showed that 87.1% (101/116) of isolates could be assigned to LOS class A, B, C, D, or E. Concordance between LOS classes and certain MLST CC was revealed. The majority (85.7% [24/28]) of
C. jejuni
isolates grouped in CC-21 were shown to express LOS locus class C. The invasion potential of
C. jejuni
isolates possessing sialylated LOS (
n
= 29; classes A, B, and C) for Caco-2 cells was significantly higher (
P
< 0.0001) than that of
C. jejuni
isolates with nonsialylated LOS (
n
= 23; classes D and E). There was no significant difference in invasiveness between chicken meat and human isolates. However,
C. jejuni
isolates assigned to CC-206 (correlated with LOS class B) or CC-21 (correlated with LOS class C) showed statistically significantly higher levels of invasion than isolates from other CC. Correlation between LOS classes and CC was further confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The present study reveals a correlation between genotypic diversity and LOS locus classes of
C. jejuni
. We showed that simple PCR screening for
C. jejuni
LOS classes could reliably predict certain MLST CC and add to the interpretation of molecular-typing results. Our study corroborates that sialylation of LOS is advantageous for
C. jejuni
fitness and virulence in different hosts. The modulation of cell surface carbohydrate structure could enhance the ability of
C. jejuni
to adapt to or survive in a host.
Conjugative Type 4 Secretion System of a Novel Large Plasmid from the ChemoautotrophTetrathiobacter kashmirensisand Construction of Shuttle Vectors forAlcaligenaceae
Authors: Dam Bomba , Ghosh Wriddhiman , Das Gupta Sujoy K. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTTetrathiobacterspp. and other members of theAlcaligenaceaeare metabolically versatile and environmentally significant. A novel, ∼60-kb conjugative plasmid, pBTK445, from the sulfur chemolithoautotrophTetrathiobacter kashmirensis, was identified and characterized. This plasmid exists at a low copy number of 2 to 3 per host chromosome. The portion of pBTK445 sequenced so far (∼25 kb) harbors genes putatively involved in replication, transfer functions, partition, and UV damage repair. A 1,373-bp region was identified as the minimal replicon. This region contains arepAgene encoding a protein belonging to the RPA (replication protein A) superfamily and an upstream, iteron-basedoriV. A contiguous 11-gene cluster homologous to various type 4 secretion systems (T4SSs) was identified. Insertional inactivation demonstrated that this cluster is involved in the conjugative transfer functions of pBTK445, and thus, it was named thetagB(transfer-associated gene homologous tovirB) locus. The core and peripheral TagB components show different phylogenetic affinities, suggesting that this system has evolved by assembling components from evolutionarily divergent T4SSs. AvirD4homolog, putatively involved in nucleoprotein transfer, is also present downstream of thetagBlocus. Although pBTK445 resembles IncP plasmids in terms of its genomic organization and the presence of an IncP-specifictrbMhomolog, it also shows several unique features. Unlike that of IncP, theoriTof pBTK445 is located in close proximity to theoriV, and atraLhomolog, which is generally present in the TraI locus of IncP, is present in pBTK445 in isolation, upstream of thetagBlocus. A significant outcome of this study is the construction of conjugative shuttle vectors forTetrathiobacterand related members of theAlkaligenaceae.
Identification of a Novel Alkaliphilic Esterase Active at Low Temperatures by Screening a Metagenomic Library from Antarctic Desert Soil
Authors: Heath Caroline , Hu Xiao Ping , Cary S. Craig , Cowan Donald 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

A novel esterase was identified through functional screening of a metagenomic library in
Escherichia coli
obtained from Antarctic desert soil. The 297-amino-acid sequence had only low (<29%) similarity to a putative esterase from
Burkholderia xenovorans
. The enzyme was active over a temperature range of 7 to 54°C and at alkaline pH levels and is a potential candidate for industrial application.
Enterocin 96, a Novel Class II Bacteriocin Produced by
Enterococcus faecalis
WHE 96, Isolated from Munster Cheese
Authors: Izquierdo Esther , Wagner Camille , Marchioni Eric , Aoude-Werner Dalal , Ennahar Saïd 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Enterococcus faecalis
WHE 96, a strain isolated from soft cheese based on its anti-
Listeria
activity, produced a 5,494-Da bacteriocin that was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration and cation-exchange and reversed-phase chromatographies. The amino acid sequence of this bacteriocin, named enterocin 96, was determined by Edman degradation, and its structural gene was sequenced, revealing a double-glycine leader peptide. After a comparison with other bacteriocins, it was shown that enterocin 96 was a new class II bacteriocin that showed very little similarity with known structures. Enterocin 96 was indeed a new bacteriocin belonging to class II bacteriocins. The activity spectrum of enterocin 96 covered a wide range of bacteria, with strong activity against most gram-positive strains but very little or no activity against gram-negative strains.
Flow-Based Microfluidic Device for Quantifying Bacterial Chemotaxis in Stable, Competing Gradients
Authors: Englert Derek L. , Manson Michael D. , Jayaraman Arul 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Chemotaxis is the migration of cells in gradients of chemoeffector molecules. Although multiple, competing gradients must often coexist in nature, conventional approaches for investigating bacterial chemotaxis are suboptimal for quantifying migration in response to gradients of multiple signals. In this work, we developed a microfluidic device for generating precise and stable gradients of signaling molecules. We used the device to investigate the effects of individual and combined chemoeffector gradients on
Escherichia coli
chemotaxis. Laminar flow-based diffusive mixing was used to generate gradients, and the chemotactic responses of cells expressing green fluorescent protein were determined using fluorescence microscopy. Quantification of the migration profiles indicated that
E. coli
was attracted to the quorum-sensing molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2) but was repelled from the stationary-phase signal indole. Cells also migrated toward higher concentrations of isatin (indole-2,3-dione), an oxidized derivative of indole. Attraction to AI-2 overcame repulsion by indole in equal, competing gradients. Our data suggest that concentration-dependent interactions between attractant and repellent signals may be important determinants of bacterial colonization of the gut.
Ustilago maydis
Rho1 and 14-3-3 Homologues Participate in Pathways Controlling Cell Separation and Cell Polarity
Authors: Pham Cau D. , Yu Zhanyang , Sandrock Björn , Bölker Michael , Gold Scott E. , Perlin Michael H. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Proteins of the 14-3-3 and Rho-GTPase families are functionally conserved eukaryotic proteins that participate in many important cellular processes such as signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, malignant transformation, stress response, and apoptosis. However, the exact role(s) of these proteins in these processes is not entirely understood. Using the fungal maize pathogen,
Ustilago maydis
, we were able to demonstrate a functional connection between Pdc1 and Rho1, the
U. maydis
homologues of 14-3-3ε and Rho1, respectively. Our experiments suggest that Pdc1 regulates viability, cytokinesis, chromosome condensation, and vacuole formation. Similarly,
U. maydis
Rho1 is also involved in these three essential processes and exerts an additional function during mating and filamentation. Intriguingly, yeast two-hybrid and epistasis experiments suggest that both Pdc1 and Rho1 could be constituents of the same regulatory cascade(s) controlling cell growth and filamentation in
U. maydis
. Overexpression of
rho1
ameliorated the defects of cells depleted for Pdc1. Furthermore, we found that another small G protein, Rac1, was a suppressor of lethality for both Pdc1 and Rho1. In addition, deletion of
cla4
, encoding a Rac1 effector kinase, could also rescue cells with Pdc1 depleted. Inferring from these data, we propose a model for Rho1 and Pdc1 functions in
U. maydis
.
Isolation and Characterization of Senescent
Cryptococcus neoformans
and Implications for Phenotypic Switching and Pathogenesis in Chronic Cryptococcosis
Authors: Jain Neena , Cook Emily , Xess Immaculata , Hasan Fahmi , Fries Dietrich , Fries Bettina C. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Although several virulence factors and associated genes have been identified, the mechanisms that allow
Cryptococcus neoformans
to adapt during chronic infection and to persist in immunocompromised hosts remain poorly understood. Characterization of senescent cells of
C. neoformans
demonstrated that these cells exhibit a significantly enlarged cell body and capsule but still cross the blood-brain barrier.
C. neoformans
cells with advanced generational age are also more resistant to phagocytosis and killing by antifungals, which could promote their selection during chronic disease in humans. Senescent cells of RC-2, a
C. neoformans
strain that undergoes phenotypic switching, manifest switching rates up to 11-fold higher than those of younger cells. Infection experiments with labeled cells suggest that senescent yeast cells can potentially accumulate in vivo. Mathematical modeling incorporating different switching rates demonstrates how increased switching rates promote the emergence of hypervirulent mucoid variants during chronic infection. Our findings introduce the intriguing concept that senescence in eukaryotic pathogens could be a mechanism of microevolution that may promote pathoadaptation and facilitate evasion of an evolving immune response.
A Subunit of Protein Kinase A Regulates Growth and Differentiation in the FungusMucor circinelloides
Authors: Ocampo J. , Fernandez Nuñez L. , Silva F. , Pereyra E. , Moreno S. , Garre V. , Rossi S. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTThe cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway plays a role in regulating development, growth, and virulence in a number of fungi. To determine whether PKA plays a similar function in zygomycete fungi, a mutant ofMucor circinelloideswas generated that lackspkaR1, one of the regulatory subunits of PKA. The mutant showed a reduction in growth and alterations in germination rates, cell volume, germ tube length, and asexual sporulation. The lack ofpkaR1gene resulted in a highly decreased, but not null, cAMP binding activity and in a protein kinase activity that was still dependent on cAMP, although with a higher −/+ cAMP activity ratio, suggesting the existence of other cAMP binding activities. Consequently, three proteins analogous topkaR1were predicted from the recently sequenced genome ofM. circinelloidesand were namedpkaR2,pkaR3, andpkaR4. Two of the proteins,pkaR2andpkaR3, with cAMP binding activity were isolated from the wild-type strain and identified by mass spectrometry. The expression of all genes was detected at the mRNA level by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR, and they showed a differential expression at different developmental stages. This is the first time that a fungus is reported to have more than one gene encoding the regulatory subunit of PKA.
Class III Chitin Synthase ChsB of
Aspergillus nidulans
Localizes at the Sites of Polarized Cell Wall Synthesis and Is Required for Conidial Development
Authors: Fukuda Kazuharu , Yamada Kazunari , Deoka Ken , Yamashita Shuichi , Ohta Akinori , Horiuchi Hiroyuki 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Class III chitin synthases play important roles in tip growth and conidiation in many filamentous fungi. However, little is known about their functions in those processes. To address these issues, we characterized the deletion mutant of a class III chitin synthase-encoding gene of
Aspergillus nidulans
,
chsB
, and investigated ChsB localization in the hyphae and conidiophores. Multilayered cell walls and intrahyphal hyphae were observed in the hyphae of the
chsB
deletion mutant, and wavy septa were also occasionally observed. ChsB tagged with FLAG or enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) localized mainly at the tips of germ tubes, hyphal tips, and forming septa during hyphal growth. EGFP-ChsB predominantly localized at polarized growth sites and between vesicles and metulae, between metulae and phialides, and between phalides and conidia in asexual development. These results strongly suggest that ChsB functions in the formation of normal cell walls of hyphae, as well as in conidiophore and conidia development in
A. nidulans
.
The Global Consequence of Disruption of the AcrAB-TolC Efflux Pump in
Salmonella enterica
Includes Reduced Expression of SPI-1 and Other Attributes Required To Infect the Host
Authors: Webber Mark A. , Bailey Andrew M. , Blair Jessica M. A. , Morgan Eirwen , Stevens Mark P. , Hinton Jay C. D. , Ivens Al , Wain John , Piddock Laura J. V. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

The mechanisms by which RND pumps contribute to pathogenicity are currently not understood. Using the AcrAB-TolC system as a paradigm multidrug-resistant efflux pump and
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium as a model pathogen, we have demonstrated that AcrA, AcrB, and TolC are each required for efficient adhesion to and invasion of epithelial cells and macrophages by
Salmonella
in vitro. In addition, AcrB and TolC are necessary for
Salmonella
to colonize poultry. Mutants lacking
acrA
,
acrB
, or
tolC
showed differential expression of major operons and proteins involved in pathogenesis. These included chemotaxis and motility genes, including
cheWY
and
flgLMK
and 14
Salmonella
pathogenicity island (SPI)-1-encoded type III secretion system genes, including
sopE
, and associated effector proteins. Reverse transcription-PCR confirmed these data for identical mutants in two other
S.
Typhimurium backgrounds. Western blotting showed reduced production of SipA, SipB, and SipC. The absence of AcrB or TolC also caused widespread repression of chemotaxis and motility genes in these mutants, and for
acrB
::
aph
, this was associated with decreased motility. For mutants lacking a functional
acrA
or
acrB
gene, the
nap
and
nir
operons were repressed, and both mutants grew poorly in anaerobic conditions. All phenotypes were restored to that of the wild type by
trans
-complementation with the wild-type allele of the respective inactivated gene. These data explain how mutants lacking a component of AcrAB-TolC are attenuated and that this phenotype is a result of decreased expression of numerous genes encoding proteins involved in pathogenicity. The link between antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity establishes the AcrAB-TolC system as fundamental to the biology of
Salmonella
.