bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and composition of the streptococcal and enterococcal flora of tonsils, intestines and faeces of pigs
Authors: Devriese L.A. , Hommez J. , Pot B. , Haesebrouck F. 
Published: March 2008

Streptococcus suis was the most frequent Streptococcus spp. in pig tonsils, followed by the beta‐haemolytic porcine ‘equisimilis’ecovar of Strep. dysgalactiae. The intestinal streptococcal flora was composed of Strep. bovis, Strep. hyointestinalis and Strep. suis. Many of these intestinal Strep. suis belonged to a beta‐glucuronidase‐negative biotype which is infrequent in lesions. Nearly half of the strains presumptively identified as Strep. alactolyticus produced acid from lactose. This species was not found in tonsils and intestines but was about equally prevalent as Strep. hyointestinalis in pig faeces and rectal swabs. Other streptococci were rare in this material.Enterococci were much less frequently identified than streptococci in tonsils and faeces. In intestinal samples Enterococcus faecalis, Ent. faecium, Ent. hirae and Ent. cecorum were most frequently found. In faeces Ent. faecium was the most prevalent enterococcus.The characteristics of the less well known species Strep. alactolyticus and Strep. hyointestinalis are described in detail, and guidelines for their differentiation from Strep. bovis and Strep. suis given.
Evaluation of determinative tests for pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae van Hall 1902
Authors: Young J.M. , Triggs C.M. 
Published: March 2008

The utility of 36 presumptive determinative tests for 32 pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae was investigated. A total of 395 strains was examined. Most strains of 12 of these pathovars (Ps. syringae pv. cannabina, Ps. syr. delphinii, Ps. syr. glycinea, Ps. syr. helianthi, Ps. syr. lachrymans, Ps. syr. mori, Ps. syr. morsprunorum, Ps. syr. phaseolicola, Ps. syr. ‘porri’, Ps. syr. papulans, Ps. syr. savastanoi and Ps. syr. tabaci) formed clusters when test data were compared by centroid analysis. Pseudomonas syr. syringae, Ps. syr. aptata, Ps. syr. atrofaciens, Ps. syr. dysoxyli and Ps. syr. japonica formed a single cluster, indicating their possible synonymy. Strains of Ps. syr. antirrhini and Ps. syr. tomato were indistinguishable, as were those of Ps. syr. garcae and Ps. syr. oryzae. Strains of Ps. syr. berberidis, Ps. syr. coronafaciens, Ps. syr. eriobotryae, Ps. syr. maculicola, Ps. syr. passiflorae, Ps. syr. pisi and Ps. syr. striafaciens and Ps. syr. tagetis did not form distinguishable clusters.The tests which reliably differentiated pathovars are recorded in a determinative scheme.
The effect of recovery conditions on the apparent heat resistance of Bacillus cereus spores
Authors: Gonzalez I. , Lopez M. , Mazas M. , Gonzalez J. , Bernardo A. 
Published: March 2008

The effect of recovery media and incubation temperature on the apparent heat resistance of three ATCC strains (4342, 7004 and 9818) of Bacillus cereus spores were studied. Nutrient Agar (NA), Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), Plate Count Agar (PCA) and Milk Agar (MA) as the media and temperatures in the range of 15–40°C were used to recover heated spores. Higher counts of heat injured spores were obtained on PCA and NA. The optimum subculture temperature was about 5°C below the optimum temperature for unheated spores. No significant differences in heat resistance were observed with the different recovery conditions except for strains 4342 and 9818 when MA was used as plating medium.Large differences in D‐values were found among the strains (D100=0·28 min for 7004; D100=0·99 min for 4342; D100= 4·57 min for 9818). The 7004 strain showed a sub‐population with a greater heat resistance. The z values obtained for the three strains studied under the different recovery conditions were similar (7·64°C 0·25).
A simple in vitro model for growth control of bacterial biofilms
Authors: Hodgson A.E. , Nelson S.M. , Brown M.R.W. , Gilbert P. 
Published: March 2008

The perfused biofilm fermenter was found to be unsuitable for the long‐term culture and growth rate control of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosab biofilms. In a simplified approach, biofilms of these organisms were grown within Sorbarod filter plugs which were perfused with culture medium. Pseudo‐steady states were established which were stable over several days at which the growth rate of the biofilm was reproducible, measurable and significantly slower than in broth culture. Environmental scanning electron microscopy of dissected Sorbarods demonstrated an association of cells with the surfaces of individual cellulose fibres, and growth characteristic of biofilms. Relatively high cell numbers recovered from the Sorbarod model facilitated biochemical investigations of biofilm populations and cells released spontaneously from them.SDS‐PAGE demonstrated significant differences between the protein profiles of biofilm and eluted populations, which include, in Staph. aureus, the repression of a 48 kDa protein and increased expression of a 21 kDa protein relative to planktonic controls cultured at equivalent growth rates. The paper demonstrates the suitability of the approach for the culture of biofilm samples which are suitable for biochemical analysis.
Ribotyping and plasmid profiling of Vibrio anguillarum serovar O2 and Vibrio ordalii
Authors: Tiainen T. , Pedersen K. , Larsen J.L. 
Published: March 2008

One hundred and twenty‐nine strains of Vibrio anguillarum serovar O2 and 14 strains of Vibrio ordalii were ribotyped and examined for plasmid contents. A total of 35 different ribotypes were detected. The V. anguillarum serovar O2 strains were divided into 32 different ribotypes. The V. ordalii strains showed three different ribotypes, clearly distinct from those of the V. anguillarum strains.Ribotypes were separated into seven clusters, of which one comprised the V. ordalii strains. Clustering of the strains indicated a genetic difference between North European and South European V. anguillarum O2 strains. Sero‐subgroups O2a and O2b shared ribotypes; however, three of the clusters did not include O2a strains.All V. ordalii strains had a plasmid of 32 kb. This plasmid was not detected in any of the V. anguillarum strains. Seventeen different plasmid profiles with 17 different sized plasmids were detected among the V. anguillarum strains. Most of the plasmids were small (< 6 kb) and found in several strains. Except for one South European strain, plasmids were detected only in the North European strains of V. anguillarum O2.
Physiological responses of a methylotrophic bacterium after sudden shifts from C‐limited chemostat to C‐excess batch growth conditions
Authors: Gírio F.M. , Amaral‐Collaço M.T. , Attwood M.M. 
Published: March 2008

The response of steady‐state continuous cultures of Methylobacterium sp. RXM to the addition of methanol pulses was studied. The increase of methanol concentration in the medium did not result in cell death under any of the conditions tested. When the growth rate of the steady‐state cultures was low (D= 0.046 h−1), the specific growth rate increased. When the concentration of methanol in the pulse was increased from 36 mmol l−1 to 280 mmol l−1, uncoupled growth occurred and the molar cell yield decreased. Conversely, steady‐state cultures at high growth rate (D= 0.2 h−1) showed a decrease in both specific growth rate and molar cell yield after the addition of the methanol pulses (32 and 164 mmol 1−1). For all conditions, formaldehyde and formate were excreted into the medium but the levels did not exceed 1.13 mmol 1−1 Slow‐growing cultures were characterized by cells with high derepressed specific activities of methanol dehydrogenase and low specific activities of formaldehyde and formate dehydrogenases, fast‐growing cells had lower specific activity for methanol dehydrogenase and higher activities of formaldehyde and formate dehydrogenases, resulting in the excretion of lower concentrations of formaldehyde and formate.It is concluded that slow‐growing cultures are more stable than fast‐growing cultures for low methanol concentration fluctuations, and it is expected that maximum growth yields throughout the fermentation time are better achieved under the former conditions. However, for large fluctuations in the substrate concentration, the bacterial metabolic responses were identical both for slow‐growing and fast‐growing cultures.
Biological indicators for low temperature steam and formaldehyde sterilization: investigation of the effect of change in temperature and formaldehyde concentration on spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus NCIMB 8224
Authors: Wright A.M. , Hoxey E.V. , Soper C.J. , Davies D.J.G. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA.M. WRIGHT, E.V. HOXEY, C.J. SOPER AND D.J.G. DAVIES. 1996. Five strains of Bacillus stearothermophilus have been studied to identify a spore strain to be used as a biological indicator organism for low temperature steam and formaldehyde sterilization. Three strains gave poor reproducibility of batch size and growth index and were discarded. The other two strains gave good reproducibility with a high growth index and gave rise to linear survivor curves when exposed to 5% aqueous formaldehyde. However, only NCIMB 8224 sporulates on a simpler medium and as it was the most resistant to formaldehyde, it was further studied. Tests were carried out in a modified miniclave and factors studied included temperature of the steam and formaldehyde concentration. All studies confirmed the suitability of this strain as a biological indicator organism.
Genetic impoverishment of the last black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) population in the Netherlands: detectable only with a reference from the past
Authors: LARSSON J. KARL , JANSMAN HUGH A. H. , SEGELBACHER GERNOT , HÖGLUND JACOB , KOELEWIJN HANS PETER 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe have studied a small isolated population of black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in the Netherlands to examine the impact of isolation and reduction in numbers on genetic diversity. We compared the genetic diversity in the last extant Dutch population with Dutch museum samples and three other black grouse populations (from England, Austria and Norway, respectively) representing isolated and continuous populations. We found significantly lower allelic richness, observed and expected heterozygosities in the present Dutch population compared to the continuous populations (Austria and Norway) and also to the historical Dutch population. However, using a bottleneck test on each population, signs of heterozygosity excess were only found in the likewise isolated English population despite that strong genetic drift was evident in the present Dutch population in comparison to the reference populations, as assessed both in pairwise FST and structure analyses. Simulating the effect of a population reduction on the Dutch population from 1948 onwards, using census data and with the Dutch museum samples as a model for the genetic diversity in the initial population, revealed that the loss in number of alleles and observed heterozygosity was according to genetic drift expectations and within the standard error range of the present Dutch population. Thus, the effect of the strong decline in the number of grouse on genetic diversity was only detectable when using a reference from the past. The lack of evidence for a population reduction in the present Dutch population by using the program bottleneck was attributed to a rapidly found new equilibrium as a consequence of a very small effective population size.
Haplotype reconstruction for scnp DNA: a consensus vote approach with extensive sequence data from populations of the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria)
Authors: HUANG ZU‐SHI , JI YA‐JIE , ZHANG DE‐XING 
Published: March 2008

AbstractSingle copy nuclear polymorphic (scnp) DNA is potentially a powerful molecular marker for evolutionary studies of populations. However, a practical obstacle to its employment is the general problem of haplotype determination due to the common occurrence of heterozygosity in diploid organisms. We explore here a ‘consensus vote’ (CV) approach to this question, combining statistical haplotype reconstruction and experimental verification using as an example an indel‐free scnp DNA marker from the flanking region of a microsatellite locus of the migratory locust. The raw data comprise 251‐bp sequences from 526 locust individuals (1052 chromosomes), with 71 (28.3%) polymorphic nucleotide sites (including seven triallelic sites) and 141 distinct genotypes (with frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 25.5%). Six representative statistical haplotype reconstruction algorithms are employed in our CV approach, including one parsimony method, two expectation–maximization (EM) methods and three Bayesian methods. The phases of 116 ambiguous individuals inferred by this approach are verified by molecular cloning experiments. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the CV approach compared to inferences based on individual statistical algorithms. First, it has the unique power to partition the inferrals into a reliable group and an uncertain group, thereby allowing the identification of the inferrals with greater uncertainty (12.7% of the total sample in this case). This considerably reduces subsequent efforts of experimental verification. Second, this approach is capable of handling genotype data pooled from many geographical populations, thus tolerating heterogeneity of genetic diversity among populations. Third, the performance of the CV approach is not influenced by the number of heterozygous sites in the ambiguous genotypes. Therefore, the CV approach is potentially a reliable strategy for effective haplotype determination of nuclear DNA markers. Our results also show that rare variations and rare inferrals tend to be more vulnerable to inference error, and hence deserve extra surveillance.
Effect of GPI anchor moiety on the immunogenicity of DNA plasmids encoding the 19‐kDa C‐terminal portion of Plasmodium falciparum MSP‐1
Authors: LI G. , BASAGOUDANAVAR S. H. , GOWDA D. C. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP‐1) is a widely studied malaria vaccine candidate. The C‐terminal 19‐kDa portion of MSP‐1 (MSP‐119) is of particular interest because this polypeptide moiety remains bound to the parasite even after erythrocyte invasion, while the remainder of MSP‐1 is shed during invasion. Studies have shown that antibodies against MSP‐119 inhibit merozoite invasion of erythrocytes efficiently, and that MSP‐119 produces protective immunity in mice and monkeys. To investigate the efficacy of MSP‐119 DNA vaccine and role of GPI anchor moiety in the immunogenicity of MSP‐119, we constructed expression vectors that produce MSP‐119 as either secretory or GPI‐anchored polypeptide. Both constructs efficiently expressed MSP‐119 in transfected HEK‐293 cells. While the recombinant plasmid lacking GPI anchor signal sequence expressed MSP‐119 mainly as secreted polypeptide, that containing GPI anchor signal sequence produced GPI‐anchored MSP‐119 on cell surface. In immunized mice, both constructs produced substantial levels of MSP‐119‐specific IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3, IgA and IgM antibodies. In both cases, the IgG1 level was significantly higher than other isotypes. Interestingly, the plasmid containing GPI anchor signal sequence produced significantly higher levels of IgG2a and IgG2b than the plasmid that lacks GPI signal sequence.
Experimental evidence for diel variations of the carbon isotope composition in leaf, stem and phloem sap organic matter in Ricinus communis
Authors: GESSLER ARTHUR , TCHERKEZ GUILLAUME , PEUKE ANDREAS D. , GHASHGHAIE JALEH , FARQUHAR GRAHAM D 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTCarbon isotope fractionation in metabolic processes following carboxylation of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate (RuBP) is not as well described as the discrimination during photosynthetic CO2 fixation. However, post‐carboxylation fractionation can influence the diel variation of δ13C of leaf‐exported organic matter and can cause inter‐organ differences in δ13C. To obtain a more mechanistic understanding of post‐carboxylation modification of the isotopic signal as governed by physiological and environmental controls, we combined the modelling approach of Tcherkez et al., which describes the isotopic fractionation in primary metabolism with the experimental determination of δ13C in leaf and phloem sap and root carbon pools during a full diel course. There was a strong diel variation of leaf water‐soluble organic matter and phloem sap sugars with relatively 13C depleted carbon produced and exported during the day and enriched carbon during the night. The isotopic modelling approach reproduces the experimentally determined day–night differences in δ13C of leaf‐exported carbon in Ricinus communis. These findings support the idea that patterns of transitory starch accumulation and remobilization govern the diel rhythm of δ13C in organic matter exported by leaves. Integrated over the whole 24 h day, leaf‐exported carbon was enriched in 13C as compared with the primary assimilates. This may contribute to the well‐known – yet poorly explained – relative 13C depletion of autotrophic organs compared with other plant parts. We thus emphasize the need to consider post‐carboxylation fractionations for studies that use δ13C for assessing environmental effects like water availability on ratio of mole fractions of CO2 inside and outside the leaf (e.g. tree ring studies), or for partitioning of CO2 fluxes at the ecosystem level.
Analysis of gene transcript profiling and immunobiology in Shetland sheepdogs with dermatomyositis
Authors: Wahl Jacquelyn M. , Clark Leigh Anne , Skalli Omar , Ambrus Andy , Rees Christine A. , Mansell Joanne L. , Murphy Keith E. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractDermatomyositis (DM) is a canine and human inflammatory disease of the skin and muscle that is thought to be autoimmune in nature. In dogs, DM occurs most often in the rough collie and Shetland sheepdog. Characteristic skin lesions typically develop on the face, ears, tail, and distal extremities. The severity of lesions varies and is thought to increase with stressful stimuli. Previous studies in the collie suggest that DM is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion with incomplete penetrance. The work presented here concerns gene transcripts profiling and immunobiology of DM in the Shetland sheepdog. Gene transcript profiles were generated for affected and normal skin using a canine‐specific oligonucleotide array having 49,929 probe sets. Two‐hundred and eight‐five gene transcripts, many of which are involved in immune function, were found to be differentially regulated in these tissues. Also reported are Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses which showed that staining patterns with sera from normal and affected dogs are quite similar. While our work suggests that canine DM is a disease that may be immune mediated, it did not detect the production of specific disease‐associated autoantibodies.
Prevalence and clinical signs of avipoxvirus infection in falcons from the Middle East
Authors: Tarello Walter 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe prevalence, cutaneous manifestations and concurrent clinical signs of avipoxvirus infection in 3706 falcons in two Middle Eastern countries are reported. Diagnosis was based on evidence of typical ‘dry’ skin lesions on featherless parts of the body and microscopic detection of Bollinger bodies in epithelial cells. Avipoxvirus was isolated from one representative case. Overall prevalence of cutaneous changes due to avipoxvirus infection did not differ significantly between Kuwait (2.7%) and Dubai (2.3%), although pox lesions were more prevalent on the feet of birds from Kuwait (67.4% vs. 50%) and more common on the eyelids of birds from Dubai (45.6% vs. 30.4%). Foot lesions were always present in birds with multiple infection sites. Some birds from Dubai had severe infection associated with weight loss, anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, central nervous system involvement and ultimately death.
Association of the HLA‐G 14‐bp insertion/deletion polymorphism with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Veit Tiago Degani , Vianna Priscilla , Scheibel Ilóite , Brenol Claiton , Brenol João Carlos Tavares , Xavier Ricardo Machado , Delgado‐Cañedo Andres , Gutierrez Jorge Eduardo , Brandalize Ana Paula Carneiro , Schuler‐Faccini Lavinia , Chies José Artur Bogo 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe tested the possible association of the 14‐bp polymorphism of the HLA‐G gene in the course of two inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Patients and controls were genotyped for the 14‐bp polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for the exon 8 of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐G gene and the amplified fragment was visualized in a 6% polyacrylamide gel. A total of 106 JIA patients, 265 RA patients, 356 healthy adults and 85 healthy children were genotyped for the 14‐bp polymorphism. Female JIA patients presented a higher frequency of the −14 bp allele when compared with female healthy children (0.743 and 0.500, corrected P = 0.003), which reflected in the JIA group as a whole. This increased frequency of the −14‐bp allele was observed in all JIA subtypes. In RA patients, no differences in allelic and genotypic frequencies were observed between patients and controls. No correlations were observed among genotype and disease severity or clinical manifestations. Our data suggest that the HLA‐G −14 bp allele is probably a risk factor for JIA, mainly in females. Considering the differences observed in relation to gender, we suggest that hormonal differences can interfere with the development of JIA. Considering the RA patients, our data agree with results from the literature and highlight the differences in the etiology of RA and JIA.
Studies of monkey complement: measurement of cynomolgus monkey CH50, ACH50, C4, C2 and C3
Authors: Xu Hengjie , Kitano Etsuko , Sato Yu , Kobayashi Chizuko , Firdawes Sabere , Kitamura Hajime , Fukuzawa Masahiro , Miyagawa Shuji 
Published: March 2008

Abstract:  Background:  The cynomolgus monkey is commonly used as the recipient in transplantation experiments. However, study of the complement system of cynomolgus monkeys is lacking. In the present study, the complement system of cynomolgus monkeys was compared with that of humans, by checking hemolytic titers.Methods:  Hemolytic titers of complement from cynomolgus monkeys were calculated using the same methods as are used in humans. The complement regulatory function of human decay accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) in cynomolgus monkey serum was next studied using erythrocytes from human DAF‐transgenic pigs.Results:  The results indicated relatively high values, except for C4: CH50: 211.19 ± 42.78 units/ml, ACH50: 51.47 ± 12.43 units/ml, C4: 30 170 ± 14 300 SFU/ml C2: 33831 ± 7442 SFU/ml and C3: 93612 ± 30131 SFU/ml. Western blot experiments using antibodies for human complement components revealed similarities between the cynomolgus monkey and human complement systems. Human DAF inhibited pig erythrocyte lysis from approximately 60–70% to 17% in both human and cynomolgus monkey sera, indicating an almost identical complement regulatory function.Conclusion:  The hemolytic titer of cynomolgus monkeys was greater than the titer measured in human serum. However, human DAF showed nearly the same complement regulatory function in both human and cynomolgus monkey sera.