bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Completing the hypusine pathway in Plasmodium
Authors: Frommholz David , Kusch Peter , Blavid Robert , Scheer Hugo , Tu Jun‐Ming , Marcus Katrin , Zhao Kai‐Hong , Atemnkeng Veronica , Marciniak Jana , Kaiser Annette E. 
Published: September 2009

In searching for new targets for antimalarials we investigated the biosynthesis of hypusine present in eukaryotic initiation factor‐5A (eIF‐5A) in Plasmodium. Here, we describe the cloning and expression of deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH), which completes the modification of eIF‐5A through hydroxylation of deoxyhypusine. The dohh cDNA sequence revealed an ORF of 1236 bp encoding a protein of 412 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 46.45 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.96. Interestingly, DOHH from Plasmodium has a FASTA SCORE of only 27 compared with its human ortholog and contains several matches similar to E‐Z‐type HEAT‐like repeat proteins (IPR004155 (InterPro), PF03130 (Pfam), SM00567 (SMART) present in the phycocyanin lyase subunits of cyanobacteria. Purified DOHH protein displayed hydroxylase activity in a novel in vitro DOHH assay, but phycocyanin lyase activity was absent. dohh is present as a single‐copy gene and is transcribed in the asexual blood stages of the parasite. A signal peptide at the N‐terminus might direct the protein to a different cellular compartment. During evolution, Plasmodium falciparum acquired an apicoplast that lost its photosynthetic function. It is possible that plasmodial DOHH arose from an E/F‐type phycobilin lyase that gained a new role in hydroxylation.Structured digital abstract
MINT‐7255047: DHS (uniprotkb:P49366) enzymaticly reacts (MI:0414) with eIF‐5A (uniprotkb:Q710D1) by enzymatic studies (MI:0415)
MINT‐7255326: DOHH (uniprotkb:Q8I701) enzymaticly reacts (MI:0414) with eIF‐5A (uniprotkb:Q710D1) by enzymatic studies (MI:0415)
Sharing Ecological Knowledge: Opportunities and Barriers to Uptake
Authors: Boreux Virginie , Born Julia , Lawes Michael J. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTConserving tropical ecosystems is one of the foremost challenges of the 21st century. Lately, conservation efforts have focused on advancing conservation through dialogue and interaction with and among diverse stakeholders. Knowledge sharing, and specifically the transfer of scientific knowledge, can raise ecological awareness among stakeholders and is necessary to facilitate dialogue, yet the communication of tropical scientific research to local stakeholders is rarely effectively implemented. Such a communication gap potentially undermines the conservation and management of natural resources. The papers in this special section highlight the difficulties and benefits of sharing ecological knowledge, as well as the underlying reasons for why a research–implementation gap has arisen.
On Type Ia supernovae from the collisions of two white dwarfs
Authors: Raskin Cody , Timmes F. X. , Scannapieco Evan , Diehl Steven , Fryer Chris 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
We explore collisions between two white dwarfs as a pathway for making Type Ia supernovae (SNIa). White dwarf number densities in globular clusters allow 10–100, redshift ≲1 collisions per year, and observations by Chomiuk et al. of globular clusters in the nearby S0 galaxy NGC 7457 have detected what is likely to be a SNIa remnant. We carry out simulations of the collision between two 0.6M⊙ white dwarfs at various impact parameters and mass resolutions. For impact parameters less than half the radius of the white dwarf, we find such collisions produce ≈0.4M⊙ of56Ni, making such events potential candidates for underluminous SNIa or a new class of transients between Novae and SNIa.
Adversarialism versus legalism: Juridification and litigation in corporate governance reform
Authors: Cioffi John W. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractRecent reforms of corporate governance law and related litigation rules in the US and in Germany indicate that reports of the spread of adversarial legalism are greatly exaggerated. Politics and legislation in the US since the mid‐1990s have turned quite decisively against shareholder litigation even as corporate governance and securities law reforms have expanded the role and scope of the regulatory state. Germany's extraordinary expansion of financial and corporate governance regulation since the early 1990s exemplifies juridification. Although these reforms included some liberalization of shareholder litigation rules, the changes reflected skepticism towards private litigation and imposed new constraints on the most prevalent forms of shareholder suits. Marketization of economic relations and the era of finance capitalism have produced far more legalism than adversarialism, more regulation than judicialization, and more ex ante transparency rules than ex post litigation remedies.
From corporatism to lawyocracy? On liberalization and juridification
Authors: Van Waarden Frans , Hildebrand Youri 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn 1997 Robert Kagan questioned whether European countries had to fear the coming of American style adversarial legalism. He answered this question with a qualified “no.” Today we are no longer so sure the answer is “no,” even in a country that Kagan considered the antipole of US adversarial legalism, the Netherlands, traditionally characterized by informal and consensual conflict resolution. In the present article we chart a trend of increasing juridification and legalism, that is, more formal and legal conflict resolution, in the Netherlands between 1970 and 2008. The trend is related to major changes in economic governance institutions, which generated a shift from corporatism toward lawyocracy; from power of the associations of civil society toward power of courts, lawyers, and judges. Yet the newly dominant system of governance is modified and merged with elements of the old system, producing a specific Dutch version, which one could call “corporatist lawyocracy.” We identify two types of liberalization as major driving forces: social liberalization in the 1970s and 1980s, followed by economic liberalization in the subsequent decades. If one considers economic liberalization a product of neoliberal “Reaganomics,” the legal changes are in a way an “American export product,” although a different one than the lawyering styles of large international American law firms mentioned by Kelemen and Sibbitt in 2004.
Rapid changes in butterfly communities following the abandonment of grasslands: a case study
Authors: STEFANESCU CONSTANTÍ , PEÑUELAS JOSEP , FILELLA IOLANDA 
Published: September 2009

Abstract.  1. Abandonment of grasslands is a major threat for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe. The response of butterflies towards secondary succession has been studied in northern temperate grasslands, but always by comparing sites at different seral stages.2. Here, we present a trajectory study based on the monitoring of butterflies from a series of abandoned grasslands in northeast Spain. One additional meadow was traditionally managed for the whole 8‐year sampling period and provided a useful control. Both general changes at the community level and species population trends were documented through standardised transect counts.3. The increase in turf height was neither accompanied by an increase in butterfly diversity nor by consistent trends in body size, dispersal ability and host‐plant specialization. However, there was a significant decrease in habitat specialization, consistent with the hypothesis that richness in generalist herbivores is more dependent on biomass production than on plant richness. The number of generations decreased, in line with the hypothesis that species living in habitats subjected to greater disturbance need higher reproductive rates.4. Butterfly communities underwent substantial changes, as indicated by composition similarity and species population trends. Grassland specialists were forced to disperse from the abandoned meadows and search for refugial habitats, allowing the establishment of new populations in the contiguous managed meadow.5. Our study shows that grassland abandonment had immediate strong effects on butterflies, acting as an excellent indicator of habitat change. It also points out to the substitution of grassland specialists by common butterflies, less important for conservation purposes.
Molecular Epidemiology and Mechanisms of Carbapenem Resistance in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Rodríguez-Martínez José-Manuel , Poirel Laurent , Nordmann Patrice 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

The contributions of different mechanisms of resistance to carbapenems among a collection of imipenem- and meropenem-nonsusceptible
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates were investigated. This screening included the recently reported extended-spectrum cephalosporinases (ESACs) weakly hydrolyzing carbapenems. Eighty-seven percent of the studied isolates were resistant to imipenem. Genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases or carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinases were not identified. The main mechanism associated with imipenem resistance was the loss of outer membrane protein OprD. Identification of overexpressed ESACs and loss of OprD were observed for 65% of the isolates, all being fully resistant to imipenem. Resistance to meropenem was observed in 78% of the isolates, with all but one also being resistant to imipenem. Overexpression of the MexAB-OprM, MexXY-OprM, or MexCD-OprJ efflux systems was observed in 60% of the isolates, suggesting the contribution of efflux mechanisms in resistance to meropenem. The loss of porin OprD and the overproduction of ESACs were observed in 100% and 92% of the meropenem-resistant isolates, respectively.
P. aeruginosa
can very often accumulate different resistance mechanisms, including ESAC production, leading to carbapenem resistance.
Alcohols for Skin Antisepsis at Clinically Relevant Skin Sites
Authors: Reichel Mirja , Heisig Peter , Kohlmann Thomas , Kampf Günter 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

The antiseptic efficacy of ethanol, isopropanol, and
n
-propanol at 60%, 70%, and 89.5% (all vol/vol) was analyzed after 2, 3, or 4 min of application to the forehead, back, and abdomen of 180 volunteers by the use of a standardized swab sampling method. Results of recolonization by the aerobic skin flora of the upper arms and backs of 20 volunteers were compared 72 h after treatment with 0.5%, 1%, or 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) in 89.5%
n
-propanol. The most effective alcohol at all skin sites was
n
-propanol, with a mean log
10
reduction of 1.82 after 2 min on the forehead. Efficacy against the aerobic flora of the forehead was mainly influenced by the type of alcohol (
P
< 0.001), followed by the concentration (
P
< 0.001) and the application time (
P
= 0.006). Ethanol and isopropanol were significantly less effective (both
P
< 0.001). Alcohol supplemented with 0.5% or more CHG was significantly more effective than alcohol alone in the suppression of recolonization (
P
< 0.05). An 89.5% solution of
n
-propanol was the most effective alcohol for the reduction of populations of aerobic skin flora. Its combination with CHG is appropriate whenever recolonization of the skin must be limited. Further studies are needed to determine the most effective concentration of CHG in
n
-propanol to provide the best protection against recolonization of the skin, e.g., for catheter site care.
Noninvasive Pulmonary [
18
F]-2-Fluoro-Deoxy-
d
-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography Correlates with Bactericidal Activity of Tuberculosis Drug Treatment
Authors: Davis Stephanie L. , Nuermberger Eric L. , Um Peter K. , Vidal Camille , Jedynak Bruno , Pomper Martin G. , Bishai William R. , Jain Sanjay K. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Tools for monitoring response to tuberculosis (TB) treatment are time-consuming and resource intensive. Noninvasive biomarkers have the potential to accelerate TB drug development, but to date, little progress has been made in utilizing imaging technologies. Therefore, in this study, we used noninvasive imaging to monitor response to TB treatment. BALB/c and C3HeB/FeJ mice were aerosol infected with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
and administered bactericidal (standard and highly active) or bacteriostatic TB drug regimens. Serial pulmonary [
18
F]-2-fluoro-deoxy-
d
-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) was compared with standard microbiologic methods to monitor the response to treatment. [
18
F]FDG-PET correctly identified the bactericidal activity of the drug regimens. Imaging required fewer animals; was available in real time, as opposed to having CFU counts 4 weeks later; and could also detect TB relapse in a time frame similar to that of the standard method. Lesion-specific [
18
F]FDG-PET activity also broadly correlated with TB treatment in C3HeB/FeJ mice that develop caseating lesions. These studies demonstrate the application of noninvasive imaging to monitor TB treatment response. By reducing animal numbers, these biomarkers will allow cost-effective studies of more expensive animal models of TB. Validated markers may also be useful as “point-of-care” methods to monitor TB treatment in humans.
Nosocomial Spread of Colistin-Only-Sensitive Sequence Type 235
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Isolates Producing the Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases GES-1 and GES-5 in Spain
Authors: Viedma Esther , Juan Carlos , Acosta Joshi , Zamorano Laura , Otero Joaquín R. , Sanz Francisca , Chaves Fernando , Oliver Antonio 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

The mechanisms responsible for the increasing prevalence of colistin-only-sensitive (COS)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates in a Spanish hospital were investigated. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that 24 (50%) of the studied isolates belonged to the same clone, identified as the internationally spread sequence type 235 (ST235) through multilocus sequence typing. In addition to several mutational resistance mechanisms, an integron containing seven resistance determinants was detected. Remarkably, the extended-spectrum β-lactamase GES-1 and its Gly170Ser carbapenem-hydrolyzing derivative GES-5 were first documented to be encoded in a single integron. This work is the first to describe GES enzymes in Spain and adds them to the growing list of β-lactamases of concern (PER, VIM, and OXA) detected in ST235 clone isolates.
Comparative In Vitro Activity Profile of Oritavancin against Recent Gram-Positive Clinical Isolates
Authors: Arhin Francis F. , Draghi Deborah C. , Pillar Chris M. , Parr Thomas R. , Moeck Gregory , Sahm Daniel F. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Oritavancin activity was tested against 15,764 gram-positive isolates collected from 246 hospital centers in 25 countries between 2005 and 2008. Organisms were
Staphylococcus aureus
(
n
= 9,075), coagulase-negative staphylococci (
n
= 1,664),
Enterococcus faecalis
(
n
= 1,738),
Enterococcus faecium
(
n
= 819),
Streptococcus pyogenes
(
n
= 959),
Streptococcus agalactiae
(
n
= 415), group C, G, and F streptococci (
n
= 84), and
Streptococcus pneumoniae
(
n
= 1,010). Among the evaluated staphylococci, 56.7% were resistant to oxacillin. The vancomycin resistance rate among enterococci was 21.2%. Penicillin-resistant and -intermediate rates were 14.7% and 21.4%, respectively, among
S. pneumoniae
isolates. Among nonpneumococcal streptococci, 18.5% were nonsusceptible to erythromycin. Oritavancin showed substantial in vitro activity against all organisms tested, regardless of resistance profile. The maximum oritavancin MIC against all staphylococci tested (
n
= 10,739) was 4 μg/ml; the MIC
90
against
S. aureus
was 0.12 μg/ml. Against
E. faecalis
and
E. faecium
, oritavancin MIC
90
s were 0.06 and 0.12, respectively. Oritavancin was active against glycopeptide-resistant enterococci, including VanA strains (
n
= 486), with MIC
90
s of 0.25 and 1 μg/ml against VanA
E. faecium
and
E. faecalis
, respectively. Oritavancin showed potent activity against streptococci (
n
= 2,468); MIC
90
s for the different streptococcal species were between 0.008 and 1 μg/ml. These data are consistent with previous studies with respect to resistance rates of gram-positive isolates and demonstrate the spectrum and in vitro activity of oritavancin against a wide variety of contemporary gram-positive pathogens, regardless of resistance to currently used drugs. The data provide a foundation for interpreting oritavancin activity and potential changes in susceptibility over time once oritavancin enters into clinical use.
Specific Osmolyte Transporters Mediate Bile Tolerance in
Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Watson Debbie , Sleator Roy D. , Casey Pat G. , Hill Colin , Gahan Cormac G. M. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

The food-borne pathogenic bacterium
Listeria monocytogenes
has the potential to adapt to an array of suboptimal growth environments encountered within the host. The pathogen is relatively bile tolerant and has the capacity to survive and grow within both the small intestine and the gallbladder in murine models of oral infection. We have previously demonstrated a role for the principal carnitine transport system of
L. monocytogenes
(OpuC) in gastrointestinal survival of the pathogen (R. Sleator, J. Wouters, C. G. M. Gahan, T. Abee, and C. Hill, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67:2692-2698, 2001). However, the mechanisms by which OpuC, or indeed carnitine, protects the pathogen in this environment are unclear. In the current study, systematic analysis of strains with mutations in osmolyte transporters revealed a role for OpuC in resisting the acute toxicity of bile, with a minor role also played by BetL, a secondary betaine uptake system which also exhibits a low affinity for carnitine. In addition, the toxic effects of bile on wild-type
L. monocytogenes
cells were ameliorated when carnitine (but not betaine) was added to the medium.
lux
-promoter fusions to the promoters of the genes encoding the principal osmolyte uptake systems Gbu, BetL, and OpuC and the known bile tolerance system BilE were constructed. Promoter activity for all systems was significantly induced in the presence of bile, with the
opuC
and
bilE
promoters exhibiting the highest levels of bile-dependent expression in vitro and the
betL
and
bilE
promoters showing the highest expression levels in the intestines of orally inoculated mice. A direct comparison of all osmolyte transporter mutants in a murine oral infection model confirmed a major role for OpuC in intestinal persistence and systemic invasion and a minor role for the BetL transporter in fecal carriage. This study therefore demonstrates a previously unrecognized function for osmolyte uptake systems in bile tolerance in
L. monocytogenes
.
SgrA, a Nidogen-Binding LPXTG Surface Adhesin Implicated in Biofilm Formation, and EcbA, a Collagen Binding MSCRAMM, Are Two Novel Adhesins of Hospital-Acquired
Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Hendrickx Antoni P. A. , van Luit-Asbroek Miranda , Schapendonk Claudia M. E. , van Wamel Willem J. B. , Braat Johanna C. , Wijnands Lucas M. , Bonten Marc J. M. , Willems Rob J. L. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Hospital-acquired
Enterococcus faecium
isolates responsible for nosocomial outbreaks and invasive infections are enriched in the
orf2351
and
orf2430
genes, encoding the SgrA and EcbA LPXTG-like cell wall-anchored proteins, respectively. These two surface proteins were characterized to gain insight into their function, since they may have favored the rapid emergence of this nosocomial pathogen. We are the first to identify a surface adhesin among bacteria (SgrA) that binds to the extracellular matrix molecules nidogen 1 and nidogen 2, which are constituents of the basal lamina. EcbA is a novel
E. faecium
MSCRAMM (microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) that binds to collagen type V. In addition, both SgrA and EcbA bound to fibrinogen; however, SgrA targeted the alpha and beta chains, whereas EcbA bound to the gamma chain of fibrinogen. An
E. faecium sgrA
insertion mutant displayed reduced binding to both nidogens and fibrinogen. SgrA did not mediate binding of
E. faecium
cells to biotic materials, such as human intestinal epithelial cells, human bladder cells, and kidney cells, while this LPXTG surface adhesin is implicated in
E. faecium
biofilm formation. The
acm
and
scm
genes, encoding two other
E. faecium
MSCRAMMs, were expressed at the mRNA level together with
sgrA
during all phases of growth, whereas
ecbA
was expressed only in exponential and late exponential phase, suggesting orchestrated expression of these adhesins. Expression of these surface proteins, which bind to extracellular matrix proteins and are involved in biofilm formation (SgrA), may contribute to the pathogenesis of hospital-acquired
E. faecium
infections.
Critical Role of the Interleukin-17/Interleukin-17 Receptor Axis in Regulating Host Susceptibility to Respiratory Infection withChlamydiaSpecies
Authors: Zhou Xiaohui , Chen Qiangwei , Moore Jessica , Kolls Jay K. , Halperin Scott , Wang Jun 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTThe specific contribution of interleukin-17/interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17/IL-17R)-mediated responses in regulating host susceptibility against obligatory intracellularChlamydiainfection was investigated in C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN mice duringChlamydia muridarumrespiratory infection. We demonstrated thatChlamydiastimulated IL-17/IL-17R-associated responses in bothChlamydia-resistant C57BL/6 andChlamydia-susceptible C3H/HeN mice. However, C3H/HeN mice developed a significantly greater IL-17/IL-17R-associated response than C57BL/6 mice did. This was reflected by an increase in IL-17 mRNA expression, a higher recall IL-17 production from splenocytes upon antigen restimulation, and higher production of Th17-related cytokines (IL-23 and IL-6) and chemokines (chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 2 [CXCL1]/keratinocyte-derived chemokine [KC] and CXCL2/macrophage inflammatory protein 1 [MIP2]) in C3H/HeN mice than in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, C3H/HeN mice displayed a massive accumulation of activated and preactivated neutrophils in the airway and lung parenchyma compared to their C57BL/6 counterparts. We further demonstrated that the skewed IL-17/Th17 profile in C3H/HeN mice was predisposed by a higher basal level of IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC) expression and then further amplified by a higher inducible IL-17RA expression in lungs. Most importantly, in vivo delivery of IL-17RA antagonist that resulted in a 50% reduction in the neutrophilic infiltration in lungs was able to reverse the susceptible phenotype of C3H/HeN mice to respiratoryChlamydiainfection. Thus, our data for the first time have demonstrated a critical role for the IL-17/IL-17R axis in regulating host susceptibility toChlamydiainfection in mice.