bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Genes Regulated Directly by the VirR/VirS System in
Clostridium perfringens
Authors: Okumura Kayo , Ohtani Kaori , Hayashi Hideo , Shimizu Tohru 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

Analysis of the complete sequence of the genome of
Clostridium perfringens
strain 13 resulted in identification of five genes, including
pfoA
(encoding theta toxin) and
vrr
(encoding VirR/VirS-regulated RNA), with consensus VirR-binding sequences upstream of the open reading frame (ORF), suggesting that expression of these genes may be regulated directly by the two-component VirR/VirS system. To test this possibility, we examined VirR/VirS system-mediated transcriptional regulation of three genes,
virT
,
ccp
(encoding alpha-clostripain), and
virU
, with the novel VirR-binding sequences. Northern analysis revealed that the steady-state levels (increases or decreases in the amounts of RNA expressed) of
virT
,
ccp
, and
virU
mRNAs were lower in a
virR
mutant strain than in the wild-type strain, as were the levels of the
pfoA
and
vrr
transcripts. The consensus VirR-binding sites were located similarly relative to the transcription start sites in the
virT
,
ccp
, and
virU
promoters. Mutation and overexpression analyses with
virT
and
virU
revealed that the
virT
gene product has a negative effect on expression of
pfoA
and
ccp
, whereas the
virU
gene product positively affects expression of
pfoA
,
virT
,
ccp
, and
vrr
. Nonsense and frameshift mutations in the
virT
or
virU
putative ORF did not affect the regulatory functions, suggesting that
virT
and
virU
may encode RNA regulators rather than proteins. These results suggest that a complex regulatory network, perhaps involving several regulatory RNA molecules, governs the expression of the VirR/VirS regulon in
C. perfringens
.
Molecular Types and Genetic Profiles of
Staphylococcus aureus
Strains Isolated from Bovine Intramammary Infections and Extramammary Sites
Authors: Haveri M. , Hovinen M. , Roslöf A. , Pyörälä S. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
isolates collected from sites of intramammary infection during a 10-month period and from extramammary sites (dairy cow teat skin, teat canals, and skin lesions; milking liners; and hands and nostrils of milking personnel) at two separately managed Finnish dairy herd establishments were analyzed to study the sources and reservoirs of bovine
S. aureus
intramammary infection. Selected isolates were subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing and PCR analysis for genes encoding hemolysins (
hla
to
hlg
), leukocidins (
lukED
and
lukM
), superantigens (
sea
,
sec
,
sed
,
seg
to
seo
,
seu
, and
tst
), adhesins (
fnbA
and
fnbB
), and penicillin and methicillin resistance (
blaZ
and
mecA
).
S. aureus
was found throughout the herds in 94% of the cows. Nine PFGE types were found, with the herds each having their own predominant type and sharing one type. The degree of diversity of PFGE types in herd II, which integrated foreign heifers, was higher than that in herd I. For both herds, the majority of the PFGE-typed isolates both from milk and from extramammary sites represented the predominant PFGE types. In isolates from herd I, the most prevalent genes were
hla
-
hlg
,
lukED
, and
fnbA
; in those from herd II, they were
hla
,
hld
,
hlg
,
lukED
, and
fnbA
. The other genes were pulsotype linked within the herds. The predominant PFGE types carried both
fnbA
and
fnbB
; only
fnbA
was detected in the other PFGE types. No connection between specific virulence genes and the origins of isolates was found. The results suggest that for the two herds, most
S. aureus
isolates from extramammary sites were indistinguishable from the isolates infecting the mammary gland and that those sites can thus act as origins and reservoirs of intramammary infections. However, contamination in the opposite direction cannot be excluded.
Kinetics of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Load in Different Blood Compartments of Pediatric Recipients of T-Cell-Depleted HLA-Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Baldanti Fausto , Gatti Marta , Furione Milena , Paolucci Stefania , Tinelli Carmine , Comoli Patrizia , Merli Pietro , Locatelli Franco 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels in whole-blood samples of 54 pediatric patients receiving T-cell-depleted haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in 2003 to 2007 were retrospectively compared with EBV DNA loads in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Determination of EBV DNA in whole blood missed 1 of 19 patients (5.2%), who tested positive for EBV DNA in PBMC. The analytical sensitivity of EBV DNA detection in whole-blood samples relative to that in PBMC was 94.7%. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation between DNA levels in PBMC and whole blood (
r
= 0.81;
P
< 0.001). Relative to that in PBMC, the appearance of EBV DNA in whole blood was delayed in 9/18 patients (median, 49 days; range, 6 to 226 days), while peak levels and clearance were reached simultaneously. Following peak levels, EBV DNA showed a slower decline in whole blood than in PBMC. In conclusion, (i) EBV DNA levels in PBMC were significantly correlated with those in whole blood; (ii) a differential kinetics of EBV DNA in the two blood compartments was observed; and (iii) monitoring of EBV DNA levels in whole blood appears to be a valuable alternative to PBMC in the follow-up of pediatric recipients of haploidentical T-cell-depleted HSCT.
Bioinformatic and Physical Characterizations of Genome-Scale Ordered RNA Structure in Mammalian RNA Viruses
Authors: Davis Matthew , Sagan Selena M. , Pezacki John P. , Evans David J. , Simmonds Peter 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
By the analysis of thermodynamic RNA secondary structure predictions, we previously obtained evidence for evolutionarily conserved large-scale ordering of RNA virus genomes (P. Simmonds, A. Tuplin, and D. J. Evans, RNA 10:1337-1351, 2004). Genome-scale ordered RNA structure (GORS) was widely distributed in many animal and plant viruses, much greater in extent than RNA structures required for viral translation or replication, but in mammalian viruses was associated with host persistence. To substantiate the existence of large-scale RNA structure differences between viruses, a large set of alignments of mammalian RNA viruses and rRNA sequences as controls were examined by thermodynamic methods (to calculate minimum free energy differences) and by algorithmically independent RNAz and Pfold methods. These methods produced generally concordant results and identified substantial differences in the degrees of evolutionarily conserved, sequence order-dependent RNA secondary structure between virus genera and groups. A probe hybridization accessibility assay was used to investigate the physical nature of GORS. Transcripts of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis G virus/GB virus-C (HGV/GBV-C), and murine norovirus, which are predicted to be structured, were largely inaccessible to hybridization in solution, in contrast to the almost universal binding of probes to a range of unstructured virus transcripts irrespective of G+C content. Using atomic force microscopy, HCV and HGV/GBV-C RNA was visualized as tightly compacted prolate spheroids, while under the same experimental conditions the predicted unstructured poliovirus and rubella virus RNA were pleomorphic and had extensively single-stranded RNA on deposition. Bioinformatic and physical characterization methods both identified fundamental differences in the configurations of viral genomic RNA that may modify their interactions with host cell defenses and their ability to persist.
Utilization of DC-SIGN for Entry of Feline Coronaviruses into Host Cells
Authors: Regan Andrew D. , Whittaker Gary R. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
The entry and dissemination of viruses in several families can be mediated by C-type lectins such as DC-SIGN. We showed that entry of the serotype II feline coronavirus strains feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) WSU 79-1146 and DF2 into nonpermissive mouse 3T3 cells can be rescued by the expression of human DC-SIGN (hDC-SIGN) and that infection of a permissive feline cell line (Crandall-Reese feline kidney) was markedly enhanced by the overexpression of hDC-SIGN. Treatment with mannan considerably reduced infection of feline monocyte-derived cells expressing DC-SIGN, indicating a role for FIPV infection in vivo.
Host Ethnicity and Virus Genotype Shape the Hepatitis B Virus-Specific T-Cell Repertoire
Authors: Tan Anthony Tanoto , Loggi Elisabetta , Boni Carolina , Chia Adeline , Gehring Adam J. , Sastry Konduru S. R. , Goh Vera , Fisicaro Paola , Andreone Pietro , Brander Christian , Lim Seng Gee , Ferrari Carlo , Bihl Florian , Bertoletti Antonio 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTRepertoire composition, quantity, and qualitative functional ability are the parameters that define virus-specific T-cell responses and are linked with their potential to control infection. We took advantage of the segregation of different hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in geographically and genetically distinct host populations to directly analyze the impact that host and virus variables exert on these virus-specific T-cell parameters. T-cell responses against the entire HBV proteome were analyzed in a total of 109 HBV-infected subjects of distinct ethnicities (47 of Chinese origin and 62 of Caucasian origin). We demonstrate that HBV-specific T-cell quantity is determined by the virological and clinical profiles of the patients, which outweigh any influence of race or viral diversity. In contrast, HBV-specific T-cell repertoires are divergent in the two ethnic groups, with T-cell epitopes frequently found in Caucasian patients seldom detected in Chinese patients. In conclusion, we provide a direct biological evaluation of the impact that host and virus variables exert on virus-specific T-cell responses. The discordance between HBV-specific CD8 T-cell repertoires present in Caucasian and Chinese subjects shows the ability of HLA micropolymorphisms to diversify T-cell responses and has implications for the rational development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines for worldwide use.
Role of the Hepatitis C Virus Core+1 Open Reading Frame and Corecis-Acting RNA Elements in Viral RNA Translation and Replication
Authors: Vassilaki Niki , Friebe Peter , Meuleman Philipe , Kallis Stephanie , Kaul Artur , Paranhos-Baccalà Glaucia , Leroux-Roels Geert , Mavromara Penelope , Bartenschlager Ralf 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTFour conserved RNA stem-loop structures designated SL47, SL87, SL248, and SL443 have been predicted in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core encoding region. Moreover, alternative translation products have been detected from a reading frame overlapping the core gene (core+1/ARFP/F). To study the importance of the core+1 frame and core-RNA structures for HCV replication in cell culture and in vivo, a panel of core gene silent mutations predicted to abolish core+1 translation and affecting core-RNA stem-loops were introduced into infectious-HCV genomes of the isolate JFH1. A mutation disrupting translation of all known forms of core+1 and affecting SL248 did not alter virus production in Huh7 cells and in mice xenografted with human liver tissue. However, a combination of mutations affecting core+1 at multiple codons and at the same time, SL47, SL87, and SL248, delayed RNA replication kinetics and substantially reduced virus titers. The in vivo infectivity of this mutant was impaired, and in virus genomes recovered from inoculated mice, SL87 was restored by reversion and pseudoreversion. Mutations disrupting the integrity of this stem-loop, as well as that of SL47, were detrimental for virus viability, whereas mutations disrupting SL248 and SL443 had no effect. This phenotype was not due to impaired RNA stability but to reduced RNA translation. Thus, SL47 and SL87 are important RNA elements contributing to HCV genome translation and robust replication in cell culture and in vivo.
Tod und Bestattung im Kontext religiöser Pluralität. Probleme und Möglichkeiten bei der Umsetzung buddhistischer Bestattungen in Deutschland
Authors: Grünhagen Céline 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAlthough Germany's population is largely Christian, there are many German nationals as well as various immigrants who belong to non-Christian religious communities. When different religions and cultures with their particular rites and precepts meet, they can come into conflict with one another, hindering a peaceful coexistence. Cultural and religious discrepancies occur in various situations of everyday life, especially when it comes to the issue of funerals conducted in unfamiliar conditions. The rites and customs that relate to death and dying are usually basic elements of a religious tradition. They mark the end of a lifetime and often have a big impact on afterlife or rebirth respectively. Looking at the example of Buddhists in Germany, the article points to the difficulties and limitations that arise from non-Christian funerals in the Federal Republic. It also demonstrates the consequences of these conflicts for citizens of a different faith in German society and offers possible solutions for this problem.
Internationaler Wissenschaftsaustausch um 1830. Ein Beispiel: der Heidelberger Theologe und Pädagoge F. H. C. Schwarz und die Niederlande
Authors: Schwinge Gerhard 
Published: September 2008

AbstractUsing the example of the contacts between The Netherlands and the university theologian and educationalist from Heidelberg, F. H. C. Schwarz (1766-1837), this article demonstrates that intensive personal academic exchange existed already in the early 19th century: It included the reading of scientific literature in foreign languages, book reviews in special periodicals, translation projects, visits across borders, membership of academic societies, scholarships for foreign students and sometimes even offers of chairmanships to scientists of other nations. Even though international research projects were not known at the time, academic contacts did exist and were mostly achieved through correspondence – despite the limitations – as well as travel.
Petrus Martyr d'Anghiera über die Freiheit der Indios (Epist. 806 und Dec. 7,4)
Authors: Tischer Ute 
Published: September 2008

AbstractPetrus Martyr d'Anghiera dealt twice with the ethical discussions concerning the Spanish colonization in America around 1524. A straight reading shows how this sensitive topic was presented with caution and literary skill, thereby mitigating the charge of opportunism that several authors have made.
Vom Sieg der Vernunft über das Vorurteil. Gotthold Ephraim Lessings Frühwerk ,,Die Juden"
Authors: Surall Frank 
Published: September 2008

AbstractC. F. Gellert's 1748 novel "Leben der schwedischen Gräfin von G***" portrays the moral actions of Jews as a result of good Christian conduct. In reaction, G. E. Lessing disputes this depiction in his one-act-play "Die Juden" from 1749. The recognition that a Jew could fulfill the ideals of the Enlightenment helped overcome the prejudices of Christian stage characters and of the audience, but it failed in the social circumstances of the time. Christian reception (J. D. Michaelis) understood a "noble Jew" to be a violation of the poetic principle of probability - and even for Lessing such a figure was the exception. Moses Mendelssohn, however, believed that Judaism was especially well-suited for fostering the development of certain virtues. In light of far-reaching interreligious concepts on the one hand and religiously motivated conflicts on the other, Lessing's early works reveal today the persistent value of self-critical examination concerning hidden prejudices towards religious and cultural minorities.
Linking a Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model with Three-Dimensional Eulerian Wind Field Models
Authors: Weil Jeffrey C. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
A slightly simplified form of Thomson’s Lagrangian stochastic model (LSM) is presented for dispersion applications in three-dimensional (3D) flow fields. It is found that the Lagrangian velocity of a particle in 3D inhomogeneous Gaussian turbulence can be decomposed into the local Eulerian mean velocity UEi at the particle position and a velocity perturbation u′i. The Eulerian mean wind can be predicted by 3D wind field models, whereas the u′i is obtained from Thomson’s model and depends on the turbulence field. The UEi, u′i decomposition was used earlier in a two-dimensional particle model for a canopy (by Flesch and Wilson) and in models with 3D mean winds but with u′i based on LSM forms differing from that of Thomson. This note shows that the UEi, u′i decomposition is consistent with Thomson’s LSM for general 3D flow fields and is a simpler solution that should lead to improved computational efficiency for dispersion applications.
Clinical improvement by farnesyltransferase inhibition in NK large granular lymphocyte leukemia associated with imbalanced NK receptor signaling
Authors: Epling-Burnette P. K. , Sokol Lubomir , Chen Xianhong , Bai Fanqi , Zhou Junmin , Blaskovich Michelle A. , Zou JianXiang , Painter Jeffrey S. , Edwards Todd D. , Moscinski Lynn , Yoder Jeffrey A. , Djeu Julie Y. , Sebti Said , Loughran Thomas P. , Wei Sheng 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is commonly associated with poor hematopoiesis. The first case of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) was observed in a 57-year-old woman with natural killer (NK)–LGL leukemia and transfusion-dependent anemia. Using a genetic approach, we demonstrated that killing of pulmonary endothelial cells by patient NK cells was mediated by dysregulated balance in activating and inhibitory NK-receptor signaling. Elevated pulmonary artery pressure and erythroid differentiation improved after disrupting the NK-receptor signaling pathway with 4 courses of a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, tipifarnib. Coincidental association between PAH and LGL leukemia suggest a causal relationship between the expanded lymphocyte population and these clinical manifestations. This trial is registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as NCI 6823.
In vivo genetic mutations define predominant functions of the human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus p12I protein
Authors: Fukumoto Risaku , Andresen Vibeke , Bialuk Izabela , Cecchinato Valentina , Walser Jean-Claude , Valeri Valerio W. , Nauroth Julie M. , Gessain Antoine , Nicot Christophe , Franchini Genoveffa 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1) ORF-I encodes a 99–amino acid hydrophobic membrane protein, p12I, that affects receptors in different cellular compartments. We report here that proteolytic cleavage dictates different cellular localization and functions of p12I. The removal of a noncanonical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention/retrieval signal within the amino terminus of p12I is necessary for trafficking to the Golgi apparatus and generation of a completely cleaved 8-kDa protein. The 8-kDa protein in turn traffics to the cell surface, is recruited to the immunologic synapse following T-cell receptor (TCR) ligation, and down-regulates TCR proximal signaling. The uncleaved 12-kDa form of p12I resides in the ER and interacts with the β and γc chains of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), the heavy chain of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, as well as calreticulin and calnexin. Genetic analysis of ORF-I from ex vivo samples of HTLV-1–infected patients reveals predominant amino acid substitutions within ORF-I that affect proteolytic cleavage, suggesting that ER-associated functions of p12I may contribute to the survival and proliferation of the infected T cells in the host.
Suppression of LPS-induced Interferon-γ and nitric oxide in splenic lymphocytes by select estrogen-regulated microRNAs: a novel mechanism of immune modulation
Authors: Dai Rujuan , Phillips Rebecca A. , Zhang Yan , Khan Deena , Crasta Oswald , Ahmed S. Ansar 
Published: September 2008

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs), recently identified noncoding small RNAs, are emerging as key regulators in homeostasis of the immune system. Therefore, aberrant expression of miRNAs may be linked to immune dysfunction, such as in chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. In this study, we investigated the potential role of miRNAs in estrogen-mediated regulation of innate immune responses, as indicated by up-regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced interferon-gamma (IFNγ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nitric oxide in splenic lymphocytes from estrogen-treated mice. We found that miR-146a, a negative regulator of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, was decreased in freshly isolated splenic lymphocytes from estrogen-treated mice compared with placebo controls. Increasing the activity of miR-146a significantly inhibited LPS-induced IFNγ and iNOS expression in mouse splenic lymphocytes. Further, miRNA microarray and real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that estrogen selectively up-regulates/down-regulates the expression of miRNAs in mouse splenic lymphocytes. miR-223, which is markedly enhanced by estrogen, regulates LPS-induced IFNγ, but not iNOS or nitric oxide in splenic lymphocytes. Inhibition of miR-223 activity decreased LPS-induced IFNγ in splenic lymphocytes from estrogen-treated mice. Our data are the first to demonstrate the selective regulation of miRNA expression in immune cells by estrogen and are indicative of an important role of miRNAs in estrogen-mediated immune regulation.
Winter mortality modifies the heat-mortality association the following summer
Authors: Rocklöv J. , Forsberg B. , Meister K. 
Published: September 2008

The present study aimed to investigate how the heat-related increase in deaths in summer and the extent of mortality displacement depend on influenza and other categories of mortality in the previous winter, which when low leaves a greater pool of susceptible individuals.Mortality data from Stockholm, Sweden, from 1990–2002 were stratified into a summer period and a winter period. A Poisson regression model was established for the daily mortality in the summer, with temperature and confounders as explanatory variables. In addition, indicators of total, respiratory, cardiovascular and influenza mortality of the winter period were incorporated as effect modifiers in the summer model, and lagged effects in strata defined by indicators were studied.A high rate of respiratory as well as cardiovascular mortality in winter reduced the heat effect the following summer, and influenza mortality tended to do so as well. The cumulative effect per °C increase was 0.95% below and 0.89% above a threshold (21.3°C) after a winter with low cardiovascular and respiratory mortality, but -0.23% below and 0.21% above the threshold after a winter with high cardiovascular and respiratory mortality.The current study shows that high respiratory, cardiovascular and influenza mortality in winter leads to lower temperature effects in the following summer. It also suggests that persons for whom influenza may be fatal are often also susceptible to heat and this subgroup might, therefore, not benefit as much as expected from influenza vaccinations.