bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recovery of Enterococcus faecalis from cheese in the oral cavity of healthy subjects
Authors: Razavi A. , Gmür R. , Imfeld T. , Zehnder M. 
Published: June 2007

Introduction:  Enterococci are rarely found in the healthy human oral cavity, yet they are strongly associated with filled root canals. The origin of these enterococci remains unknown. Our hypothesis is that they are transient food‐born colonizers under healthy conditions. This pilot study reinvestigated the prevalence of enterococci in the oral cavity of healthy volunteers, screened cheese samples for enterococci and investigated colonization of the oral cavity after ingestion of an enterocci‐positive cheese.Method:  Concentrated oral rinse samples were collected from a cohort of 50 dental students and proved negative for viable enterococci. Twenty cheese samples were obtained from local supermarkets. Enterococci were cultured and identified using standard methods.Results:  Viable enterococci were detected in one of five specimens of Swiss Tilsiter, three of five samples of French soft cheese, one of five Mozzarella samples and one of five Feta samples. Eight volunteers from the cohort consumed 10 g of a cheese with high Enterococcus faecalis load. Oral rinse samples were collected before and 1, 10 and 100 min after cheese ingestion. One minute after ingestion, a median of 5480 E. faecalis colony‐forming units was recovered from the oral rinse samples. Bacterial counts were reduced after 10 min, had dropped after 100 min to levels that were significantly (P < 0.005) different from the 1‐min and 10‐min scores and were below the detection limit after 1 week.Conclusions:  These findings suggest that colonization of the healthy oral cavity by enterococci is transitional, but at the same time add weight to our hypothesis that enterococcal root canal infections could be food‐borne.
Cultivable bacteria in infected root canals as identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing
Authors: Siqueira J. F. , Rôças I. N. , Paiva S. S. M. , Magalhães K. M. , Guimarães‐Pinto T. 
Published: June 2007

Introduction:  Traditionally, cultivable bacteria isolated from infected root canals have been identified by phenotype‐based methods. Because 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing has emerged as a more accurate and reliable tool for bacterial identification, the present study applied this approach to identify bacterial isolates recovered from the root canals of teeth with chronic apical periodontitis.Methods:  Anaerobic techniques were used for culturing; identification of the isolates was carried out by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the V5–V8 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Bacteria were found in all samples. The mean number of taxa per canal was 3.1, ranging from 2 to 8. The median number of cultivable bacterial cells in the root canals was 4.2 × 105, ranging from 2.8 × 103 to 3.3 × 107. Eighty‐seven strains belonging to 52 bacterial taxa were identified. The most prevalent taxa were Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Pseudoramibacter alactolyticus, Micromonas micros and streptococci. The following bacterial phyla were represented in this study: Firmicutes (22 taxa, 46% of the identified isolates), Actinobacteria (14 taxa, 25.3% of the isolates), Bacteroidetes (eight taxa, 13.8% of the isolates), Fusobacteria (three taxa, 9.2% of the isolates) and Proteobacteria (five taxa, 5.7% of the isolates). Some of the isolates represented unnamed species not previously cultivated and characterized. In conclusion, our findings using a combined anaerobic culture–molecular identification approach confirmed the polymicrobial nature of primary endodontic infections with dominance of anaerobic bacteria. Notably several bacteria that are difficult or impossible to identify by phenotypic means were identified, including previously uncultivated taxa, cultivated‐but‐not‐yet‐characterized taxa and newly named species.
IL‐1β inhibits IK and increases [Ca2+]i in the carotid body glomus cells and increases carotid sinus nerve firings in the rat
Authors: Shu Hai‐Feng , Wang Bai‐Ren , Wang Shi‐Rong , Yao Wei , Huang Hong‐Ping , Zhou Zhuan , Wang Xi , Fan Juan , Wang Ting , Ju Gong 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIncreasing evidence indicates that there exists a reciprocal communication between the immune system and the brain. Interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), a proinflammatory cytokine produced during immune challenge, is believed to be one of the mediators of immune‐to‐brain communication, but how it gets into the brain is unknown because of its large molecular weight and difficulty in crossing the blood–brain barrier. Our previous work has demonstrated that IL‐1 receptor type I is strongly expressed in the glomus cells of rat carotid body (CB), a well characterized polymodal chemoreceptive organ which serves not only for the detection of hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidity, but also for low temperature and blood glucose. The present study was designed to test whether IL‐1β could stimulate the CB glomus cells and alter the discharge properties in the carotid sinus nerve, the afferent nerve innervating the organ. The results from whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings and calcium imaging showed that extracellular application of IL‐1β significantly decreased the outward potassium current and triggered a transient rise in [Ca2+]i in the cultured glomus cells of rat CB. Furthermore, by using extracellular recordings and pharmacological intervention, it was found that IL‐1β stimulation of the CB in the anaesthetized rat in vivo significantly increased the discharge rate in the carotid sinus nerve, most probably mediated by ATP release. This experiment provides evidence that the CB responds to cytokine stimulation and proposes the possibility that the CB might play a role in immune‐to‐brain communication.
A test of the opponent‐process theory of motivation using lesions that selectively block morphine reward
Authors: Vargas‐Perez Hector , Ting‐A‐Kee Ryan A. , Heinmiller Andrew , Sturgess Jessica E. , Van Der Kooy Derek 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe opponent‐process theory of motivation postulates that motivational stimuli activate a rewarding process that is followed by an opposed aversive process in a homeostatic control mechanism. Thus, an acute injection of morphine in nondependent animals should evoke an acute rewarding response, followed by a later aversive response. Indeed, the tegmental pedunculopontine nucleus (TPP) mediates the rewarding effects of opiates in previously morphine‐naive animals, but not other unconditioned effects of opiates, or learning ability. The aversive opponent process for acute morphine reward was revealed using a place‐conditioning paradigm. The conditioned place aversion induced by 16‐h spontaneous morphine withdrawal from an acute morphine injection in nondependent rats was abolished by TPP lesions performed prior to drug experience. However, TPP‐lesioned rats did show conditioned aversions for an environment paired with the acute administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone, which blocks endogenous opioids. The results show that blocking the rewarding effects of morphine with TPP lesions also blocked the opponent aversive effects of acute morphine withdrawal in nondependent animals. Thus, this spontaneous withdrawal aversion (the opponent process) is induced by the acute rewarding effects of morphine and not by other unconditioned effects of morphine, the pharmacological effects of morphine or endogenous opioids being displaced from opiate receptors.
Lesions of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle impair attentional set‐shifting in the rat
Authors: Tait David S. , Brown Verity J. , Farovik Anja , Theobald David E. , Dalley Jeffrey W. , Robbins Trevor W. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRats with medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) lesions are impaired in attentional set‐shifting, when it is required to shift to a previously irrelevant perceptual dimension. The main source of noradrenergic input to the mPFC is from the locus coeruleus via the dorsal noradrenergic ascending bundle (DNAB). This study examined the effects of selective cortical noradrenaline depletion following 6‐hydroxydopamine‐induced lesions of the DNAB on attentional set‐shifting and other aspects of discrimination learning and performance. Rats learned to dig in baited bowls, and then acquired discriminations based on one of two aspects of a bowl − odour or digging medium. The task tested acquisition of novel discriminations (both intra‐ and extra‐dimensional) and reversal learning when contingencies were reversed with the same stimuli. At the conclusion of testing, the DNAB‐lesioned rats were shown to have a selective depletion of noradrenaline of ∼ 70% within the mPFC (cingulate and prelimbic cortex subregions), with no other significant changes in dopamine or 5‐hydroxytryptamine. Rats required more trials to learn new discriminations when attentional shifting was required [extra‐dimensional (ED)‐shift]. Rats with dorsal noradrenergic ascending bundle (DNAB) lesions were impaired in novel acquisitions when an ED‐shift was required, but were unimpaired in reversal learning and other aspects of discrimination learning, relative to controls. These data are consistent with other evidence implicating noradrenaline (NA) in attentional set‐shifting, and contrast with effects of manipulations of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and acetylcholine within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The findings are also relevant to recent theorizing about the functions of the coeruleo‐cortical noradrenergic system.
Restorative respiratory pathways after partial cervical spinal cord injury: role of ipsilateral phrenic afferents
Authors: Vinit Stéphane , Stamegna Jean‐Claude , Boulenguez Pascale , Gauthier Patrick , Kastner Anne 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAfter disruption of the descending respiratory pathways induced by unilateral cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, the inactivated ipsilateral (ipsi) phrenic nerve (PN) discharge may partially recover following some specific experimental procedures [such as contralateral (contra) phrenicotomy (Phx)]. This phrenic reactivation involves normally silent contra pathways decussating at the level of the phrenic nucleus, but the mechanisms of this crossed phrenic activation are still poorly understood. The present study investigates the contribution of sensory phrenic afferents to this process by comparing the acute effects of ipsi and contra Phx. We show that the phrenic discharge (recorded on intact PNs) was almost completely suppressed 0 h and 3 h after a lateral cervical SCI, but was already spontaneously reactivated after 1 week. This ipsi phrenic activity was enhanced immediately after contra Phx and was completely suppressed by an acute contra cervical section, indicating that it is triggered by crossed phrenic pathways located laterally in the contra spinal cord. Ipsi phrenic activity was also abolished immediately after ipsi Phx that interrupts phrenic sensory afferents, an effect prevented by prior acute ablation of the cervical dorsal root ganglia, indicating that crossed phrenic activation depends on excitatory phrenic sensory afferents but also putatively on inhibitory non‐phrenic afferents. On the basis of these data, we propose a new model for crossed phrenic activation after partial cervical injury, with an essential role played by ipsi‐activating phrenic sensory afferents.
Induction of CD4-Independent E7-Specific CD8
+
Memory Response by Heat Shock Fusion Protein
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Wu Bill H. , Rowse Gerry J. , Emtage Peter C. R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

Infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is strongly associated with a number of disease states, of which cervical and anal cancers represent the most drastic endpoints. Induction of T-cell-mediated immunity, particularly cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), is important in eradication of HPV-induced lesions. Studies have shown that heat shock protein fusion proteins are capable of inducing potent antigen-specific CTL activity in experimental animal models. In addition, E7-expressing tumors in C57BL/6 mice can be eradicated by treatment with HspE7, an Hsp fusion protein composed of
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG Hsp65 linked to E7 protein of HPV16. More importantly, HspE7 has also displayed significant clinical benefit in phase II clinical trials for the immunotherapy of HPV-related diseases. To delineate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of HspE7, we investigated the capability of HspE7 to induce antigen-specific protective immunity. Here, we demonstrate that HspE7 primes potent E7-specific CD8
+
T cells with cytolytic and cytokine secretion activities. These CD8
+
T cells can differentiate into memory T cells with effector functions in the absence of CD4
+
T-cell help. The HspE7-induced memory CD8
+
T cells persist for at least 17 weeks and confer protection against E7-positive murine tumor cell challenge. These results indicate that HspE7 is a promising immunotherapeutic agent for treating HPV-related disease. Moreover, the ability of HspE7 to induce memory CD8
+
T cells in the absence of CD4
+
help indicates that HspE7 fusion protein may have activity in individuals with compromised CD4
+
functions, such as those with invasive cancer and/or human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Antibodies Generated in Cats by a Lipopeptide Reproducing the Membrane-Proximal External Region of the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Transmembrane Enhance Virus Infectivity
Authors: Giannecchini Simone , D'Ursi Anna Maria , Esposito Cinzia , Scrima Mario , Zabogli Elisa , Freer Giulia , Rovero Paolo , Bendinelli Mauro 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe immunogenicity of a lipoylated peptide (lipo-P59) reproducing the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the transmembrane glycoprotein of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was investigated with cats. In the attempt to mimic the context in which MPER is located within intact virions, lipo-P59 was administered in association with membrane-like micelles. Analyses showed that in this milieu, lipo-P59 had a remarkable propensity to be positioned at the membrane interface, displayed a large number of ordered structures folded in turn helices, and was as active as lipo-P59 alone at inhibiting FIV infectivity in vitro. The antibodies developed differed from the ones previously obtained by immunizing cats with the nonlipoylated version of the peptide (G. Freer, S. Giannecchini, A. Tissot, M. F. Bachmann, P. Rovero, P. F. Serres, and M. Bendinelli, Virology 322:360-369, 2004) in epitope specificity and in the fact that they bound FIV virions. However, they too lacked virus-neutralizing activity and actually enhanced FIV infectivity for lymphoid cell cultures. It is concluded that the use of MPER-reproducing oligopeptides is not a viable approach for vaccinating against FIV.
Characterization of
Aerococcus viridans
Isolates from Swine Clinical Specimens
Authors: Martín V. , Vela A. I. , Gilbert M. , Cebolla J. , Goyache J. , Domínguez L. , Fernández-Garayzábal J. F. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

We present here the biochemical and genetic characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of 58 isolates of
Aerococcus viridans
isolated in pure culture from different clinical specimens of normally sterile body sites of pigs.
A. viridans
isolates were commonly susceptible to β-lactam antimicrobials and exhibited a great genetic heterogeneity as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing. The results indicate that
A. viridans
might be included in the list of possible etiological agents causing disease in pigs.
Prevalence of Melioidosis in the Er-Ren River Basin, Taiwan: Implications for Transmission
Authors: Su Hsun-Pi , Yang Hsiao-Wei , Chen Ya-Lei , Ferng Tien-Lin , Chou Yu-Ling , Chung Tung-Ching , Chen Chang-Hsun , Chiang Chuen-Sheue , Kuan Mei-Mei , Lin Hsi-Hsun , Chen Yao-Shen 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

An increase in melioidosis cases compared to other areas in Taiwan was observed in the Er-Ren River Basin, southwestern Taiwan, from November 2001 to August 2006. The objective of this study was to determine the association between the level of exposure to
Burkholderia pseudomallei
and the incidence rate of melioidosis and to survey the transmission modes of
B. pseudomallei
in the Er-Ren River Basin. The serosurveillance of melioidosis gave seropositivity rates of 36.6%, 21.6%, and 10.9%, respectively, for residents in regions A, B, and C within the Er-Ren Basin area. Culture and PCR-based detection of
B. pseudomallei
from soil demonstrated that the geographical distribution of this bacterium was confined to a particular site in region B. The distribution of seropositive titers was significantly associated with the incidence rate of melioidosis (120, 68, or 36 incidence cases per 100,000 population in region A, B, or C in 2005), whereas it did not correlate with the geographical distribution of
B. pseudomallei
within the soil. A survey of transmission modes showed that residents with seropositivity were linked to factors such as having confronted flooding and having walked barefoot on soil, which are potential risk factors associated with exposure to
B. pseudomallei
. Our findings indicated that the Er-Ren River Basin in Taiwan has the potential to become a high-prevalence area for melioidosis. This is the first report that documents a high prevalence of melioidosis in an area north of latitude 20°N.
Reclassification of Phenotypically Identified
Staphylococcus intermedius
Strains
Authors: Sasaki Takashi , Kikuchi Ken , Tanaka Yoshikazu , Takahashi Namiko , Kamata Shinichi , Hiramatsu Keiichi 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

To reclassify phenotypically identified
Staphylococcus intermedius
strains, which might include true
S. intermedius
strains and novel species such as
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
and
Staphylococcus delphini
, we analyzed molecular phylogenies and phenotypic characteristics of 117
S. intermedius
group (SIG) strains tentatively identified as being
S. intermedius
by the Rapid ID32 Staph assay. From phylogenetic analyses of
sodA
and
hsp60
sequences, the SIG strains were divided into three clusters, which belonged to
S. pseudintermedius
LMG 22219
T
,
S. intermedius
ATCC 29663
T
, and
S. delphini
LMG 22190
T
. All the SIG strains from dogs, cats, and humans were identified as being
S. pseudintermedius
. The wild pigeon strains, except one, were identified as being
S. intermedius
, and strains from all domestic pigeons, one wild pigeon, horses, and a mink were identified as being
S. delphini
. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis of
nuc
genes revealed that
S. delphini
strains were divided into two clusters: one was the cluster (
S. delphini
group A) that belonged to
S. delphini
LMG 22190
T
, and the other was the cluster (
S. delphini
group B) that was more related to
S. pseudintermedius
LMG 22219
T
than
S. delphini
LMG 22190
T
. The DNA-DNA hybridization results showed that
S. delphini
group B strains were distinguished from
S. delphini
group A,
S. intermedius
, and
S. pseudintermedius
strains.
S. intermedius
is distinguishable from
S. pseudintermedius
or
S. delphini
by positive arginine dihydrolase and acid production from β-gentiobiose and
d
-mannitol. However, phenotypical characteristics to differentiate
S. delphini
group A,
S. delphini
group B, and
S. pseudintermedius
were not found. In conclusion, SIG strains were reclassified into four clusters with three established and one probably novel species.
A Baculovirus-Expressed Dicistrovirus That Is Infectious to Aphids
Authors: Pal Narinder , Boyapalle Sandhya , Beckett Randy , Miller W. Allen , Bonning Bryony C. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

Detailed investigation of virus replication is facilitated by the construction of a full-length infectious clone of the viral genome. To date, this has not been achieved for members of the family
Dicistroviridae
. Here we demonstrate the construction of a baculovirus that expresses a dicistrovirus that is infectious in its natural host. We inserted a full-length cDNA clone of the genomic RNA of the dicistrovirus
Rhopalosiphum padi virus
(RhPV) into a baculovirus expression vector. Virus particles containing RhPV RNA accumulated in the nuclei of baculovirus-infected Sf21 cells expressing the recombinant RhPV clone. These virus particles were infectious in
R. padi
, a ubiquitous aphid vector of major cereal viruses. The recombinant virus was transmitted efficiently between aphids, despite the presence of 119 and 210 vector-derived bases that were stably maintained at the 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively, of the RhPV genome. The maintenance of such a nonviral sequence was surprising considering that most RNA viruses tolerate few nonviral bases beyond their natural termini. The use of a baculovirus to express a small RNA virus opens avenues for investigating replication of dicistroviruses and may allow large-scale production of these viruses for use as biopesticides.
Identification of HI-Like Loop in CELO Adenovirus Fiber for Incorporation of Receptor Binding Motifs
Authors: Logunov Denis Y. , Zubkova Olga V. , Karyagina-Zhulina Anna S. , Shuvalova Eugenia A. , Karpov Andrei P. , Shmarov Maxim M. , Tutykhina Irina L. , Alyapkina Yulia S. , Grezina Natalia M. , Zinovieva Natalia A. , Ernst Lev K. , Gintsburg Alexsandr L. , Naroditsky Boris S. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT
Vectors based on the chicken embryo lethal orphan (CELO) avian adenovirus (Ad) have two attractive properties for gene transfer applications: resistance to preformed immune responses to human Ads and the ability to grow in chicken embryos, allowing low-cost production of recombinant viruses. However, a major limitation of this technology is that CELO vectors demonstrate decreased efficiency of gene transfer into cells expressing low levels of the coxsackie-Ad receptor (CAR). In order to improve the efficacy of gene transfer into CAR-deficient cells, we modified viral tropism via genetic alteration of the CELO fiber 1 protein. The αv integrin-binding motif (RGD) was incorporated at two different sites of the fiber 1 knob domain, within an HI-like loop that we identified and at the C terminus. Recombinant fiber-modified CELO viruses were constructed containing secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and enhanced green fluorescent protein genes as reporter genes. Our data show that insertion of the RGD motif within the HI-like loop of the fiber resulted in significant enhancement of gene transfer into CAR-negative and CAR-deficient cells. In contrast, CELO vectors containing the RGD motif at the fiber 1 C terminus showed reduced transduction of all cell lines. CELO viruses modified with RGD at the HI-like loop transduced the SEAP reporter gene into rabbit mammary gland cells in vivo with an efficiency significantly greater than that of unmodified CELO vector and similar to that of Ad type 5 vector. These results illustrate the potential for efficient CELO-mediated gene transfer into a broad range of cell types through modification of the identified HI-like loop of the fiber 1 protein.