bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circulating follistatin in the human foetus at term birth
Authors: Sebastiani G. , Díaz M. , López‐Bermejo A. , Arranz A. , de Zegher F. , Ibáñez L. 
Published: December 2011

SummaryBackgroundPrenatal weight partitioning is gender specific, and infants born small for gestational age (SGA) have a lower fat mass and a lower fat‐free mass than infants born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Follistatin is an adipokine with adipogenic properties.ObjectivesWe examined whether follistatin circulates in the human foetus at term birth and, if so, whether cord blood follistatin relates to birthweight and neonatal body composition.MethodsThe study population was comprised of 248 term newborns (128 girls, 120 boys; 133 AGA, 115 SGA). The main outcome measures used for the study were birthweight, follistatin and insulin in umbilical cord serum, and neonatal body composition by absorptiometry.ResultsFollistatin was detectable in all cord serum samples. Cord follistatin concentrations were similar in girls and boys, being about 25% higher (P < 0.001) in SGA than AGA infants. In SGA infants, higher follistatin concentrations related to lower fat mass.ConculsionFollistatin is detectable in the circulation of the human foetus at term birth. The circulating levels of follistatin, an adipogenic adipokine, are higher in SGA than AGA infants, particularly so in SGA infants with a lower fat mass.
Pharmacodynamics of TD-1792, a Novel Glycopeptide-Cephalosporin Heterodimer Antibiotic Used against Gram-Positive Bacteria, in a Neutropenic Murine Thigh Model
Authors: Hegde Sharath S. , Okusanya Olanrewaju O. , Skinner Robert , Shaw Jeng-Pyng , Obedencio Glenmar , Ambrose Paul G. , Blais Johanne , Bhavnani Sujata M. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

TD-1792 is a novel glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer investigational antibiotic that displays potent bactericidal effects against clinically relevant Gram-positive organisms
in vitro
. The present studies evaluated the
in vivo
pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of TD-1792 in the neutropenic murine thigh infection animal model. TD-1792, dosed subcutaneously (SC), produced dose-dependent reduction in the thigh bacterial burden of several organisms, including methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Staphylococcus epidermidis
(MSSA, MRSA, MSSE, MRSE, respectively), penicillin-susceptible strains of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
(PSSP),
Streptococcus pyogenes
, and vancomycin-intermediate-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
(VISA). In single-dose efficacy studies, the 1-log
10
CFU kill effective dose (ED
1-log kill
) estimates for TD-1792 ranged from 0.049 to 2.55 mg/kg of body weight administered SC, and the bacterial burden was reduced by up to 3 log
10
CFU/g from pretreatment values. Against
S. aureus
ATCC 33591 (MRSA), the total 24-h log
10
stasis dose (ED
stasis
) and ED
1-logkill
doses for TD-1792 were 0.53 and 1.11 mg/kg/24 h, respectively, compared to 23.4 and 54.6 mg/kg/24 h for vancomycin, indicating that TD-1762 is 44- to 49-fold more potent than vancomycin. PK-PD analysis of data from single-dose and dose-fractionation studies for MRSA (ATCC 33591) demonstrated that the total-drug 24-h area under the concentration-time curve-to-MIC ratio (AUC/MIC ratio) was the best predictor of efficacy (
r
2
= 0.826) compared to total-drug maximum plasma concentration of drug-to-MIC ratio (Cmax/MIC ratio;
r
2
= 0.715) and percent time that the total-drug plasma drug concentration remains above the MIC (%Time>MIC;
r
2
= 0.749). The magnitudes of the total-drug AUC/MIC ratios associated with net bacterial stasis, a 1-log
10
CFU reduction from baseline and near maximal effect, were 21.1, 37.2, and 51.8, respectively. PK-PD targets based on such data represent useful inputs for analyses to support dose selection decisions for clinical studies of patients.
Decrease of Antibiotic Consumption in Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections after Implementation of an Intervention Program in Cyprus
Authors: Papaevangelou V. , Rousounides A. , Hadjipanagis A. , Katsioulis A. , Theodoridou M. , Hadjichristodoulou C. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT
To assess the impact of intervention on antibiotic misuse in children, parents' and pediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning antibiotic use were evaluated pre- and postintervention in Larnaca (Cyprus) and Limassol (Cyprus). Concurrently, pediatricians documented upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) visits and pharmacists provided antibiotic consumption data. Intervention was implemented for parents and pediatricians residing in Larnaca. The consumption/URTI incidence index was significantly reduced in Larnaca but not in Limassol. Parental responses to a KAP questionnaire remained unchanged; therefore, antibiotic consumption reduction is attributable to pediatricians' education.
Impact of Feed Efficiency and Diet on Adaptive Variations in the Bacterial Community in the Rumen Fluid of Cattle
Authors: Hernandez-Sanabria Emma , Goonewardene Laksiri A. , Wang Zhiquan , Durunna Obioha N. , Moore Stephen S. , Guan Le Luo 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Limited knowledge of the structure and activities of the ruminal bacterial community prevents the understanding of the effect of population dynamics on functional bacterial groups and on host productivity. This study aimed to identify particular bacteria associated with host feed efficiency in steers with differing diets and residual feed intake (RFI) using culture-independent methods: PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. PCR-DGGE profiles were generated from the ruminal fluid of 55 steers fed a low-energy-density diet and then switched to a high-energy-density diet. Bacterial profile comparisons by multivariate statistical analysis showed a trend only for RFI-related clusters on the high-energy diet. When steers (
n
= 19) belonging to the same RFI group under both diets were used to identify specific bacterial phylotypes related to feed efficiency traits, correlations were detected between dry matter intake, average daily gain, and copy numbers of the 16S rRNA gene of
Succinivibrio
sp. in low-RFI (efficient) steers, whereas correlations between
Robinsoniella
sp. and RFI (
P
< 0.05) were observed for high-RFI (inefficient) animals.
Eubacterium
sp. differed significantly (
P
< 0.05) between RFI groups that were only on the high-energy diet. Our work provides a comprehensive framework to understand how particular bacterial phylotypes contribute to differences in feed efficiency and ultimately influence host productivity, which may either depend on or be independent from diet factors.
Functional Characterization of Crp/Fnr-Type Global Transcriptional Regulators in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough
Authors: Zhou Aifen , Chen Yunyu I. , Zane Grant M. , He Zhili , Hemme Christopher L. , Joachimiak Marcin P. , Baumohl Jason K. , He Qiang , Fields Matthew W. , Arkin Adam P. , Wall Judy D. , Hazen Terry C. , Zhou Jizhong 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTCrp/Fnr-type global transcriptional regulators regulate various metabolic pathways in bacteria and typically function in response to environmental changes. However, little is known about the function of four annotated Crp/Fnr homologs (DVU0379, DVU2097, DVU2547, and DVU3111) inDesulfovibrio vulgarisHildenborough. A systematic study using bioinformatic, transcriptomic, genetic, and physiological approaches was conducted to characterize their roles in stress responses. Similar growth phenotypes were observed for thecrp/fnrdeletion mutants under multiple stress conditions. Nevertheless, the idea of distinct functions of Crp/Fnr-type regulators in stress responses was supported by phylogeny, gene transcription changes, fitness changes, and physiological differences. The fourD. vulgarisCrp/Fnr homologs are localized in three subfamilies (HcpR, CooA, andcc). Thecrp/fnrknockout mutants were well separated by transcriptional profiling using detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), and more genes significantly changed in expression in a ΔDVU3111 mutant (JW9013) than in the other three paralogs. In fitness studies, strain JW9013 showed the lowest fitness under standard growth conditions (i.e., sulfate reduction) and the highest fitness under NaCl or chromate stress conditions; better fitness was observed for a ΔDVU2547 mutant (JW9011) under nitrite stress conditions and a ΔDVU2097 mutant (JW9009) under air stress conditions. A higher Cr(VI) reduction rate was observed for strain JW9013 in experiments with washed cells. These results suggested that the four Crp/Fnr-type global regulators play distinct roles in stress responses ofD. vulgaris. DVU3111 is implicated in responses to NaCl and chromate stresses, DVU2547 in nitrite stress responses, and DVU2097 in air stress responses.
Discovering Novel Bile Protection Systems in Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 through Functional Genomics
Authors: Ruiz Lorena , Zomer Aldert , O'Connell-Motherway Mary , van Sinderen Douwe , Margolles Abelardo 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Tolerance of gut commensals to bile salt exposure is an important feature for their survival in and colonization of the intestinal environment. A transcriptomic approach was employed to study the response of
Bifidobacterium breve
UCC2003 to bile, allowing the identification of a number of bile-induced genes with a range of predicted functions. The potential roles of a selection of these bile-inducible genes in bile protection were analyzed following heterologous expression in
Lactococcus lactis
. Genes encoding three transport systems belonging to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), Bbr_0838, Bbr_0832, and Bbr_1756, and three ABC-type transporters, Bbr_0406-0407, Bbr_1804-1805, and Bbr_1826-1827, were thus investigated and shown to provide enhanced resistance and survival to bile exposure. This work significantly improves our understanding as to how bifidobacteria respond to and survive bile exposure.
Effect of
Rj
Genotype and Cultivation Temperature on the Community Structure of Soybean-Nodulating Bradyrhizobia
Authors: Shiro Sokichi , Yamamoto Akihiro , Umehara Yosuke , Hayashi Masaki , Yoshida Naoto , Nishiwaki Aya , Yamakawa Takeo , Saeki Yuichi 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

The nodulation tendency and community structure of indigenous bradyrhizobia on
Rj
genotype soybean cultivars at cultivation temperatures of 33/28°C, 28/23°C, and 23/18°C for 16/8 h (day/night degrees, hours) were investigated using 780 bradyrhizobial DNA samples from an Andosol with 13 soybean cultivars of four
Rj
genotypes (non-
Rj
,
Rj
2
Rj
3
,
Rj
4
, and
Rj
2
Rj
3
Rj
4
). A dendrogram was constructed based on restriction fragment length polymorphism of the PCR products (PCR-RFLP) of the 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer region. Eleven
Bradyrhizobium
U.S. Department of Agriculture strains were used as a reference. The dendrogram indicated seven clusters based on similarities among the reference strains. The occupancy rate of the Bj123 cluster decreased with increasing cultivation temperature, whereas the occupancy rates of the Bj110 cluster, Be76 cluster, and Be94 cluster increased with increasing cultivation temperature. In particular, the
Rj
2
Rj
3
Rj
4
genotype soybeans were infected with a number of Bj110 clusters, regardless of the increasing cultivation temperature, compared to other
Rj
genotype soybean cultivars. The ratio of beta diversity to gamma diversity (
H′
β
/
H′
γ
), which represents differences in the bradyrhizobial communities by pairwise comparison among cultivation temperature sets within the same soybean cultivar, indicated that the bradyrhizobial communities tended to be different among cultivation temperatures. Multidimensional scaling analysis indicated that the infection of the Bj110 cluster and the Bj123 cluster by host soybean genotype and the cultivation temperature affected the bradyrhizobial communities. These results suggested that the
Rj
genotypes and cultivation temperatures affected the nodulation tendency and community structures of soybean-nodulating bradyrhizobia.
Molecular and Histological Characterization of Primary (Betaproteobacteria) and Secondary (Gammaproteobacteria) Endosymbionts of Three Mealybug Species
Authors: Gatehouse Laurence N. , Sutherland Paul , Forgie Shaun A. , Kaji Ryohei , Christeller John T. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Microscopic localization of endosymbiotic bacteria in three species of mealybug (
Pseudococcus longispinus
, the long-tailed mealybug;
Pseudococcus calceolariae
, the citrophilus mealybug; and
Pseudococcus viburni
, the obscure mealybug) showed these organisms were confined to bacteriocyte cells within a bacteriome centrally located within the hemocoel. Two species of bacteria were present, with the secondary endosymbiont, in all cases, living within the primary endosymbiont. DNA from the dissected bacteriomes of all three species of mealybug was extracted for analysis. Sequence data from selected 16S rRNA genes confirmed identification of the primary endosymbiont as “
Candidatus
Tremblaya princeps,” a betaproteobacterium, and the secondary endosymbionts as gammaproteobacteria closely related to
Sodalis glossinidius
. A single 16S rRNA sequence of the primary endosymbiont was found in all individuals of each mealybug species. In contrast, the presence of multiple divergent strains of secondary endosymbionts in each individual mealybug suggests different evolutionary and transmission histories of the two endosymbionts. Mealybugs are known vectors of the plant pathogen
Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3
. To examine the possible role of either endosymbiont in virus transmission, an extension of the model for interaction of proteins with bacterial chaperonins, i.e., GroEL protein homologs, based on mobile-loop amino acid sequences of their GroES homologs, was developed and used for analyses of viral coat protein interactions. The data from this model are consistent with a role for the primary endosymbiont in mealybug transmission of
Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3
.
Potential Probiotic Kluyveromyces marxianus B0399 Modulates the Immune Response in Caco-2 Cells and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Impacts the Human Gut Microbiota in an
In Vitro
Colonic Model System
Authors: Maccaferri Simone , Klinder Annett , Brigidi Patrizia , Cavina Piero , Costabile Adele 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Considering the increase in the consumption of yeasts as human probiotics, the aim of this study was to broadly investigate the beneficial properties of the lactic yeast
Kluyveromyces marxianus
(formerly
Kluyveromyces fragilis
) B0399. Several potential probiotic traits of
K. marxianus
B0399 were investigated by using
in vitro
assays, including adhesion and immune modulation, and the effect of the administration of 10
7
CFU/day of
K. marxianus
B0399 on the composition and metabolic activity of the human intestinal microbiota was investigated in a 3-stage continuous-culture system simulating the human colon. We demonstrated that this strain was highly adhesive to human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells and modulated the immune response, inducing proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In the presence of inflammatory stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS),
K. marxianus
B0399 provoked decreases in the levels of production of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs and Caco-2 cells, thus ameliorating the inflammatory response. Furthermore,
K. marxianus
B0399 impacted the colonic microbiota, increasing the bifidobacterial concentration in the stages of the colonic model system simulating the proximal and transverse colon. The amounts of the short-chain fatty acids acetate and propionate also increased following yeast supplementation. Finally,
K. marxianus
B0399 was found to induce a decrease of the cytotoxic potential of the culture supernatant from the first stage of the colonic model system. The effects of
K. marxianus
B0399 on adhesion, immune function, and colonic microbiota demonstrate that this strain possesses a number of beneficial and strain-specific properties desirable for a microorganism considered for application as a probiotic.
Effects of Temperature, Relative Humidity, Absolute Humidity, and Evaporation Potential on Survival of Airborne Gumboro Vaccine Virus
Authors: Zhao Yang , Aarnink Andre J. A. , Dijkman Remco , Fabri Teun , de Jong Mart C. M. , Groot Koerkamp Peter W. G. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Survival of airborne virus influences the extent of disease transmission via air. How environmental factors affect viral survival is not fully understood. We investigated the survival of a vaccine strain of Gumboro virus which was aerosolized at three temperatures (10°C, 20°C, and 30°C) and two relative humidities (RHs) (40% and 70%). The response of viral survival to four metrics (temperature, RH, absolute humidity [AH], and evaporation potential [EP]) was examined. The results show a biphasic viral survival at 10°C and 20°C, i.e., a rapid initial inactivation in a short period (2.3 min) during and after aerosolization, followed by a slow secondary inactivation during a 20-min period after aerosolization. The initial decays of aerosolized virus at 10°C (1.68 to 3.03 ln % min
−1
) and 20°C (3.05 to 3.62 ln % min
−1
) were significantly lower than those at 30°C (5.67 to 5.96 ln % min
−1
). The secondary decays at 10°C (0.03 to 0.09 ln % min
−1
) tended to be higher than those at 20°C (−0.01 to 0.01 ln % min
−1
). The initial viral survival responded to temperature and RH and potentially to EP; the secondary viral survival responded to temperature and potentially to RH. In both phases, survival of the virus was not significantly affected by AH. These findings suggest that long-distance transmission of airborne virus is more likely to occur at 20°C than at 10°C or 30°C and that current Gumboro vaccination by wet aerosolization in poultry industry is not very effective due to the fast initial decay.
Interaction Forces Drive the Environmental Transmission of Pathogenic Protozoa
Authors: Dumètre Aurélien , Aubert Dominique , Puech Pierre-Henri , Hohweyer Jeanne , Azas Nadine , Villena Isabelle 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

The protozoan parasites
Giardia duodenalis
,
Cryptosporidium
spp., and
Toxoplasma gondii
are pathogens that are resistant to a number of environmental factors and pose significant risks to public health worldwide. Their environmental transmission is closely governed by the physicochemical properties of their cysts (
Giardia
) and oocysts (
Cryptosporidium
and
Toxoplasma
), allowing their transport, retention, and survival for months in water, soil, vegetables, and mollusks, which are the main reservoirs for human infection. Importantly, the cyst/oocyst wall plays a key role in that regard by exhibiting a complex polymeric coverage that determines the charge and hydrophobic characteristics of parasites' surfaces. Interaction forces between parasites and other environmental particles may be, in a first approximation, evaluated following the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory of colloidal stability. However, due to the molecular topography and nano- to microstructure of the cyst/oocyst surface, non-DVLO hydrophobic forces together with additional steric attractive and/or repulsive forces may play a pivotal role in controlling the parasite behavior when the organism is subjected to various external conditions. Here, we review several parameters that enhance or hinder the adhesion of parasites to other particles and surfaces and address the role of fast-emerging techniques for mapping the cyst/oocyst surface, e.g., by measuring its topology and the generated interaction forces at the nano- to microscale. We discuss why characterizing these interactions could be a crucial step for managing the environmental matrices at risk of microbial pollution.
Characterization of
bla
CMY-2
Plasmids in Salmonella and Escherichia coli Isolates from Food Animals in Canada
Authors: Martin Laura C. , Weir Emily K. , Poppe Cornelis , Reid-Smith Richard J. , Boerlin Patrick 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

One hundred thirty-four
bla
CMY-2
plasmids from
Salmonella
and
Escherichia coli
strains from animals and food in Canada were characterized. Five plasmid groups were identified based on replicon type and restriction profiles. Three groups contained
E. coli
plasmids only. IncA/C plasmids included most multiresistant plasmids and all those of bovine origin.
Isolation and Characterization of Environmental Bacteria Capable of Extracellular Biosorption of Mercury
Authors: François Fabienne , Lombard Carine , Guigner Jean-Michel , Soreau Paul , Brian-Jaisson Florence , Martino Grégory , Vandervennet Manon , Garcia Daniel , Molinier Anne-Laure , Pignol David , Peduzzi Jean , Zirah Séverine , Rebuffat Sylvie 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Accumulation of toxic metals in the environment represents a public health and wildlife concern. Bacteria resistant to toxic metals constitute an attractive biomass for the development of systems to decontaminate soils, sediments, or waters. In particular, biosorption of metals within the bacterial cell wall or secreted extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) is an emerging process for the bioremediation of contaminated water. Here the isolation of bacteria from soil, effluents, and river sediments contaminated with toxic metals permitted the selection of seven bacterial isolates tolerant to mercury and associated with a mucoid phenotype indicative of the production of EPS. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy in conjunction with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry revealed that bacteria incubated in the presence of HgCl
2
sequestered mercury extracellularly as spherical or amorphous deposits. Killed bacterial biomass incubated in the presence of HgCl
2
also generated spherical extracellular mercury deposits, with a sequestration capacity (40 to 120 mg mercury per g [dry weight] of biomass) superior to that of live bacteria (1 to 2 mg mercury per g [dry weight] of biomass). The seven strains were shown to produce EPS, which were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and chemical analysis of neutral-carbohydrate, uronic acid, and protein contents. The results highlight the high potential of Hg-tolerant bacteria for applications in the bioremediation of mercury through biosorption onto the biomass surface or secreted EPS.