bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic Diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi and Detection of B. bissettii-Like DNA in Serum of North-Coastal California Residents
Authors: Girard Yvette A. , Fedorova Natalia , Lane Robert S. 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT

In North America, Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a tick-borne disease caused by infection with the spirochete
Borrelia burgdorferi
. We studied the genetic diversity of LB spirochetes in north-coastal California residents. Spirochete DNA was detected in 23.7% (27/114) of the study subjects using a PCR protocol optimized for increased sensitivity in human sera. Californians were most commonly infected with
B. burgdorferi ospC
genotype A, a globally widespread spirochete associated with high virulence in LB patients. Sequence analysis of
rrf-rrl
and
p66
loci in 11% (3/27) of the PCR-positive study subjects revealed evidence of infection with an organism closely related to
B. bissettii
. This spirochete, heretofore associated with LB only in Europe, is widely distributed among ticks and wildlife in North America. Further molecular testing of sera from residents in areas where LB is endemic is warranted to enhance our understanding of the geographic distribution and frequency of occurrence of
B. bissettii
-like infections.
Evaluation of the Cobas TaqMan MTB Test for Direct Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Respiratory Specimens
Authors: Yang Yuan-Chieh , Lu Po-Liang , Huang Su Chiao , Jenh Yi-Shan , Jou Ruwen , Chang Tsung Chain 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT

The Cobas TaqMan MTB test, based on real-time PCR technology, was evaluated for direct detection of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (MTBC) in respiratory specimens. A total of 1,093 samples from 446 patients, including 118 acid-fast smear-positive and 975 acid-fast smear-negative specimens, were investigated. Diagnostic cultures performed with 7H11 agar, Löwenstein-Jensen medium, and the Bactec MGIT 960 system were considered the reference methods. When discrepant results between the Cobas TaqMan MTB test and culture occurred, additional results from the BD MGIT TBc identification test and the GenoType Mycobacterium CM test performed on growth-positive and acid-fast-stain-positive MGIT tubes and review of the patient's medical history were used for discrepancy analysis. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the Cobas TaqMan MTB test were 91.5%, 98.7%, 91.5%, and 98.7%, respectively. In general, the performance of the new Cobas TaqMan MTB test was comparable to that of the replaced Cobas Amplicor MTB system. The most prominent feature of the new system was its extraordinarily high sensitivity (79.5%) for detecting MTBC in smear-negative specimens; out of 44 smear-negative but culture-positive specimens, 35 were positive by the new system. The Cobas TaqMan MTB assay, including DNA extraction, can be completed within 3 h.
Detection of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Organisms from Rectal Swabs by Use of Selective Media Prior to a Transrectal Prostate Biopsy
Authors: Liss Michael A. , Peeples Amy N. , Peterson Ellena M. 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT

Sepsis caused by fluoroquinolone-resistant
Escherichia coli
is a risk for patients undergoing an ultrasound-guided, transrectal prostate biopsy. A method incorporating selective broth and media was evaluated using rectal swabs obtained from 136 patients prior to a biopsy procedure. Fluoroquinolone-resistant organisms were isolated from 22% of the patients included in this study.
The Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Latency-Associated Transcript Can Protect Neuron-Derived C1300 and Neuro2A Cells from Granzyme B-Induced Apoptosis and CD8 T-Cell Killing
Authors: Jiang Xianzhi , Alami Chentoufi Aziz , Hsiang Chinhui , Carpenter Dale , Osorio Nelson , BenMohamed Lbachir , Fraser Nigel W. , Jones Clinton , Wechsler Steven L. 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency-associated transcript (LAT) is the only HSV-1 gene transcript abundantly expressed throughout latency. LAT null mutants have a significantly reduced reactivation phenotype. LAT's antiapoptosis activity is the major LAT factor involved in supporting the wild-type reactivation phenotype. During HSV-1 latency, some ganglionic neurons are surrounded by CD8 T cells, and it has been proposed that these CD8 T cells help maintain HSV-1 latency by suppressing viral reactivations. Surprisingly, despite injection of cytotoxic lytic granules by these CD8 T cells into latently infected neurons, neither apoptosis nor neuronal cell death appears to occur. We hypothesized that protection of latently infected neurons against cytotoxic CD8 T-cell killing is due to LAT's antiapoptosis activity. Since CD8 T-cell cytotoxic lytic granule-mediated apoptosis is critically dependent on granzyme B (GrB), we examined LAT's ability to block GrB-induced apoptosis. We report here that (i) LAT can interfere with GrB-induced apoptosis in cell cultures, (ii) LAT can block GrB-induced cleavage (activation) of caspase-3 both in cell culture and in a cell-free
in vitro
cell extract assay, and (iii) LAT can protect C1300 and Neuro2A cells from cytotoxic CD8 T-cell killing
in vitro
. These findings support the hypothesis that LAT's antiapoptosis activity can protect latently infected neurons from being killed by CD8 T-cell lytic granules
in vivo
.
The Human Cytomegalovirus Protein UL37 Exon 1 Associates with Internal Lipid Rafts
Authors: Williamson Chad D. , Zhang Aiping , Colberg-Poley Anamaris M. 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTThe human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) protein UL37 exon 1 (pUL37x1), also known as viral mitochondrion-localized inhibitor of apoptosis (vMIA), sequentially traffics from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through mitochondrion-associated membranes (MAMs) to the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM), where it robustly inhibits apoptosis. Here, we report the association of pUL37x1/vMIA with internal lipid rafts (LRs) in the ER/MAM. The MAM, which serves as a site for lipid transfer and calcium signaling to mitochondria, is enriched in detergent-resistant membrane (DRM)-forming lipids, including cholesterol and ceramide, which are found in lower concentrations in the bulk ER. Sigma 1 receptor (Sig-1R), a MAM chaperone affecting calcium signaling to mitochondria, is anchored in the MAM by its LR association. Because of its trafficking through the MAM and partial colocalization with Sig-1R, we tested whether pUL37x1/vMIA associates with MAM LRs. Extraction with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) removed pUL37x1/vMIA from lysed but not intact cells, indicating its association with internal LRs. Furthermore, the isolation of DRMs from purified intracellular organelles independently verified the localization of pUL37x1/vMIA within ER/MAM LRs. However, pUL37x1/vMIA was not detected in DRMs from mitochondria. pUL37x1/vMIA associated with LRs during all temporal phases of HCMV infection, indicating the likely importance of this location for HCMV growth. Although detected during its sequential trafficking to the OMM, the pUL37x1/vMIA LR association was independent of its mitochondrial targeting signals. Rather, it was dependent upon cholesterol binding. These studies suggest a conserved ability of UL37 proteins to interact with cholesterol and LRs, which is functionally distinguishable from their sequential trafficking to mitochondria.
A Single Mutation Responsible for Temperature-Sensitive Entry and Assembly Defects in the VP1-2 Protein of Herpes Simplex Virus
Authors: Abaitua F. , Daikoku T. , Crump C. M. , Bolstad M. , O'Hare P. 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTEvidence for an essential role of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) tegument protein VP1-2 originated from the analysis of the temperature-sensitive (ts) mutanttsB7. At the nonpermissive temperature (NPT),tsB7 capsids accumulate at the nuclear pore, with defective genome release and substantially reduced virus gene expression. We compared the UL36 gene oftsB7 with that of the parental strain HFEM or strain 17 and identified four amino acid substitutions, 1061D → G, 1453Y → H, 2273Y → H, and 2558T → I. We transferred the UL36 gene fromtsB7, HFEM, or strain 17 into a KOS background. While KOS recombinants containing the HFEM or strain 17 UL36 gene exhibited notsdefect, recombinants containing thetsB7 UL36 VP1-2 exhibited a 5-log deficiency at the NPT. Incubation at the NPT resulted in little or no virus gene expression, though limited expression could be detected in a highly delayed fashion. Using shift-down regimes, gene expression recovered and recapitulated the time course normally observed, indicating that the initial block was in a reversible pathway. Using temperature shift-up regimes, a second defect later in the replication cycle was also observed in the KOS.tsviruses. We constructed a further series of recombinants which contained subsets of the four substitutions. A virus containing the wild-type (wt) residue at position 1453 and with the other three residues being fromtsB7 VP1-2 exhibited wt plaquing efficiency. Conversely, a virus containing the three wt residues but the single Y → H change at position 1453 fromtsB7 exhibited a 4- to 5-log drop in plaquing efficiency and was defective at both early and late stages of infection.
Access to RNA Encapsidated in the Nucleocapsid of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
Authors: Green Todd J. , Rowse Michael , Tsao Jun , Kang Jungsoon , Ge Peng , Zhou Z. Hong , Luo Ming 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT

The genomic RNA of negative-strand RNA viruses, such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), is completely enwrapped by the nucleocapsid protein (N) in every stage of virus infection. During viral transcription/replication, however, the genomic RNA in the nucleocapsid must be accessible by the virus-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in order to serve as the template for RNA synthesis. With the VSV nucleocapsid and a nucleocapsid-like particle (NLP) produced in
Escherichia coli
, we have found that the RNA in the VSV nucleocapsid can be removed by RNase A, in contrast to what was previously reported. Removal of the RNA did not disrupt the assembly of the N protein, resulting in an empty capsid. Polyribonucleotides were reencapsidated into the empty NLP, and the crystal structures were determined. The crystal structures revealed variable degrees of association of the N protein with a specific RNA sequence.
The PA Protein Directly Contributes to the Virulence of H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in Domestic Ducks
Authors: Song Jiasheng , Feng Huapeng , Xu Jing , Zhao Dongming , Shi Jianzhong , Li Yanbing , Deng Guohua , Jiang Yongping , Li Xuyong , Zhu Pengyang , Guan Yuntao , Bu Zhigao , Kawaoka Yoshihiro , Chen Hualan 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT

During their circulation in nature, H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have acquired the ability to kill their natural hosts, wild birds and ducks. The genetic determinants for this increased virulence are largely unknown. In this study, we compared two genetically similar H5N1 AIVs, A/duck/Hubei/49/05 (DK/49) and A/goose/Hubei/65/05 (GS/65), that are lethal for chickens but differ in their virulence levels in ducks. To explore the genetic basis for this difference in virulence, we generated a series of reassortants and mutants of these two viruses. The virulence of the reassortant bearing the PA gene from DK/49 in the GS/65 background increased 10
5
-fold relative to that of the GS/65 virus. Substitution of two amino acids, S224P and N383D, in PA contributed to the highly virulent phenotype. The amino acid 224P in PA increased the replication of the virus in duck embryo fibroblasts, and the amino acid 383D in PA increased the polymerase activity in duck embryo fibroblasts and delayed the accumulation of the PA and PB1 polymerase subunits in the nucleus of virus-infected cells. Our results provide strong evidence that the polymerase PA subunit is a virulence factor for H5N1 AIVs in ducks.
Acquisition of Host-Derived CD40L by HIV-1In Vivoand Its Functional Consequences in the B-Cell Compartment
Authors: Imbeault Michaël , Ouellet Michel , Giguère Katia , Bertin Jonathan , Bélanger Dave , Martin Geneviève , Tremblay Michel J. 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTAberrant activation of the B-cell compartment and hypergammaglobulinemia were among the first recognized characteristics of HIV-1-infected patients in the early 1980s. It has been demonstrated previously that HIV-1 particles acquire the costimulatory molecule CD40L when budding from activated CD4+T cells. In this paper, we confirmed first that CD40L-bearing virions are detected in the plasma from untreated HIV-1-infected individuals. To define the biological functions of virus-associated CD40L and fully characterize its influence on the activation state of B cells, we conducted a large-scale gene expression analysis using microarray technology on B cells isolated from human tonsillar tissue. Comparative analyses of gene expression profiles revealed that CD40L-bearing virions induce a highly similar response to the one observed in samples treated with a CD40 agonist, indicating that virions bearing CD40L can efficiently activate B cells. Among modulated genes, many cytokines/chemokines (CCL17, CCL22), surface molecules (CD23, CD80, ICAM-1), members of the TNF superfamily (FAS, A20, TNIP1, CD40, lymphotoxin alpha, lymphotoxin beta), transcription factors and associated proteins (NFKB1, NFKBIA, NFKBIE), second messengers involved in CD40 signaling (TRAF1, TRAF3, MAP2K1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase), and the activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) were identified. Moreover, we show that soluble factors induced upon the exposure of B cells to CD40L-bearing virions can exert chemoattractant properties toward CD4+T cells. We thus propose that a positive feedback loop involving CD40L-bearing HIV-1 particles issued from CD4+T cells productively infected with HIV-1 play a role in the virus-induced dysfunction of humoral immunity by chronically activating B cells through sustained CD40 signaling.
Human Ago2 Is Required for Efficient MicroRNA 122 Regulation of Hepatitis C Virus RNA Accumulation and Translation
Authors: Wilson Joyce A. , Zhang Chao , Huys Adam , Richardson Christopher D. 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT
MicroRNA 122 (miR-122) increases the accumulation and translation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in infected cells through direct interactions with homologous sequences in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the HCV genome. Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is a component of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and mediates small interfering RNA (siRNA)-directed mRNA cleavage and microRNA translational suppression. We investigated the function of Ago2 in HCV replication to determine whether it plays a role in enhancing the synthesis and translation of HCV RNA that is associated with miR-122. siRNA-mediated depletion of Ago2 in human hepatoma cells reduced HCV RNA accumulation in transient HCV replication assays. The treatment did not adversely affect cell viability, as assessed by cell proliferation, capped translation, and interferon assays. These data are consistent with complementary roles for Ago2 and miR-122 in enhancing HCV RNA amplification. By using a transient HCV replication assay that is dependent on an exogenously provided mutant miR-122, we determined that Ago2 depletion still reduced luciferase expression and HCV RNA accumulation, independently of miR-122 biogenesis. miR-122 has previously been found to stimulate HCV translation. Similarly, Ago2 knockdown also reduced HCV translation, and its depletion reduced the ability of miR-122 to stimulate viral translation. These data suggest a direct role for Ago2 in miR-122-mediated translation. Finally, Ago2 was also necessary for efficient miR-122 enhancement of HCV RNA accumulation. These data support a model in which miR-122 functions within an Ago2-containing protein complex to augment both HCV RNA accumulation and translation.
Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen Assembly Function Persists when Entire Transmembrane Domains 1 and 3 Are Replaced by a Heterologous Transmembrane Sequence
Authors: Berkower Ira , Spadaccini Angelo , Chen Hong , Al-Awadi Danah , Muller Jacqueline , Gao Yamei , Feigelstock Dino , Virnik Konstantin , Ni Yisheng 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT
Native hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) spontaneously assembles into 22-nm subviral particles. The particles are lipoprotein micelles, in which HBsAg is believed to span the lipid layer four times. The first two transmembrane domains, TM1 and TM2, are required for particle assembly. We have probed the requirements for particle assembly by replacing the entire first or third TM domain of HBsAg with the transmembrane domain of HIV gp41. We found that either TM domain of HBsAg could be replaced, resulting in HBsAg-gp41 chimeras that formed particles efficiently. HBsAg formed particles even when both TM1 and TM3 were replaced with the gp41 domain. The results indicate remarkable flexibility in HBsAg particle formation and provide a novel way to express heterologous membrane proteins that are anchored to a lipid surface by their own membrane-spanning domain. The membrane-proximal exposed region (MPER) of gp41 is an important target of broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1, and HBsAg-MPER particles may provide a good platform for future vaccine development.
Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase III Beta Is a Target of Enviroxime-Like Compounds for Antipoliovirus Activity
Authors: Arita Minetaro , Kojima Hirotatsu , Nagano Tetsuo , Okabe Takayoshi , Wakita Takaji , Shimizu Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT
Enviroxime is an antienterovirus compound that targets viral protein 3A and/or 3AB and suppresses a step in enterovirus replication by unknown mechanism. To date, four antienterovirus compounds, i.e., GW5074, Flt3 inhibitor II, TTP-8307, and AN-12-H5, are known to have similar mutations in the 3A protein-encoding region causing resistance to enviroxime (a G5318A [3A-Ala70Thr] mutation in poliovirus [PV]) and are considered enviroxime-like compounds. Recently, antienterovirus activity of a phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase III beta (PI4KB) inhibitor, PIK93, was reported, suggesting that PI4KB is an important host factor targetable by antienterovirus compounds (N. Y. Hsu et al., Cell 141:799-811, 2010). In this study, we analyzed the inhibitory effects of previously identified enviroxime-like compounds (GW5074 and AN-12-H5) and a newly identified antienterovirus compound, T-00127-HEV1, on phosphoinositide (PI) kinases. We found that T-00127-HEV1 inhibited PI4KB activity with a higher specificity for than other PI kinases, in contrast to GW5074, which had a broad specificity for PI kinases. In contrast, AN-12-H5 showed no inhibitory effect on PI4KB activity and only moderate inhibitory effects on PI 3-kinase activity. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) screening targeting PI kinases identified PI4KB is a target of GW5074 and T-00127-HEV1, but not of AN-12-H5, for anti-PV activity. Interestingly, T-00127-HEV1 and GW5074 did not inhibit hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication, in contrast to a strong inhibitory effect of AN-12-H5. These results suggested that PI4KB is an enterovirus-specific host factor required for the replication process and targeted by some enviroxime-like compounds (T-00127-HEV1 and GW5074) and that enviroxime-like compounds may have targets other than PI kinases for their antiviral effect.
Effects of high-profile collisions on drink-driving penalties and alcohol-related crashes in Japan
Authors: Nakahara Shinji , Ichikawa Masao 
Published: December 2010

BackgroundJapanese road traffic law was amended in 2002 and 2007 to increase the penalties for drink-driving in response to media coverage, publicity campaigns, and debates following high-profile alcohol-related motor-vehicle crashes in 1999 and 2006.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that the proportion of crashes involving drink-driving started to decline before the law amendments, because of changes in social norms and driver behaviour after the high-profile crashes.MethodsIn order to assess the impact of the cases in 1999 and 2006, time-series analyses were used to examine the trends in the proportion of crashes involving drink-driving, and whether there were abrupt changes in the level or slope at the expected time points, using monthly police data for the period between January 1995 and December 2008.ResultsIn 1999, the proportion of alcohol-related fatal crashes in which the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) ≥0.5 mg/ml started to decline with a slope change of −0.09 percentage points per month (95% CI −0.15 to −0.03) but no level change, whereas there were no changes for drivers with a BAC <0.5. In 2006, the trends for drivers with a BAC ≥0.5 or <0.5 showed significant level declines of −3.1 (−5.0 to −1.2) and −1.7 (−2.5 to −0.9) percentage points, respectively, but no slope changes.ConclusionsMedia coverage of high-profile crashes, and subsequent publicity campaigns and debates might have altered social norms and driver behaviour, reducing the proportion of alcohol-related crashes before the introduction of more severe penalties for drink-driving.
Autumnal patterns of nocturnal passerine migration in the St. Lawrence estuary region, Quebec, Canada: a weather radar study
Authors: Gagnon François , Ibarzabal Jacques , Savard Jean-Pierre L. , Bélisle Marc , Vaillancourt Pierre 
Published: December 2010

We documented the pattern of nocturnal passerine migration on each side of the St. Lawrence estuary (Côte-Nord north and Gaspésie south), using the Doppler Canadian weather surveillance radar of Val d’Irène (XAM). We examined whether autumnal migrants flew across the St. Lawrence, resulting in a uniform broad-front migration, or avoided crossing it, resulting in a bird concentration along the north coast. We found that a proportion of migrants crossed the estuary but that most followed the north coast. Ranges at which birds were detected were, on average, greater on Côte-Nord, thereby rejecting the uniform broad-front migration hypothesis, inasmuch as reflectivity measurements suggested that bird concentrated along Côte-Nord. The mean flight direction on Côte-Nord was southwest but shifted westward as the night progressed, avoiding crossing the estuary by late night. In Gaspésie, the mean flight direction over land was south and no directional shift was observed throughout the night. Flight altitude reach up to 1000 m above sea level (a.s.l.), but migratory activity was highest in the first 500 m a.s.l. It appears that the St. Lawrence estuary acts as a leading line and a barrier for nocturnal passerine migrants, and likely shapes migration farther south in Canada and in the United States.
Strong Convergence Theorems of a New General Iterative Process with Meir-Keeler Contractions for a Countable Family of "Equation missing" -Strict Pseudocontractions in "Equation missing" -Uniformly Smooth Banach Spaces
Authors: Song Yanlai , Hu Changsong 
Published: December 2010

AbstractWe introduce a new iterative scheme with Meir-Keeler contractions for strict pseudocontractions in "Equation missing"-uniformly smooth Banach spaces. We also discuss the strong convergence theorems for the new iterative scheme in "Equation missing"-uniformly smooth Banach space. Our results improve and extend the corresponding results announced by many others.
Browder's Fixed Point Theorem and Some Interesting Results in Intuitionistic Fuzzy Normed Spaces
Authors: Cancan M 
Published: December 2010

AbstractWe define and study Browder's fixed point theorem and relation between an intuitionistic fuzzy convex normed space and a strong intuitionistic fuzzy uniformly convex normed space. Also, we give an example to show that uniformly convex normed space does not imply strongly intuitionistic fuzzy uniformly convex.