bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cleavage of the NS2‐3 protein in the cells of cattle persistently infected with non‐cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhea virus
Authors: Kameyama Ken‐ichiro , Sakoda Yoshihiro , Matsuno Keita , Ito Asako , Tajima Motoshi , Nakamura Shigeyuki , Kida Hiroshi 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTThe NS2‐3 of BVDV is cleaved in cultured cells infected with cp BVDV but not in those infected with ncp BVDV when tested more than 10 hours post infection. However, it is not known whether cleavage of NS2‐3 occurs in vivo. In the present study, cleavage of NS2‐3 in cattle persistently infected with BVDV was investigated. All BVDV isolated from PI animals were of the ncp biotype, and NS2‐3 proteins were detected in bovine fetal muscular cells infected with these viruses. On the other hand, in the leukocytes of those PI animals, NS3 proteins, products of the cleavage of NS2‐3 proteins, were detected. In addition, the NS3 proteins were also detected in leukocytes artificially infected with ncp BVDV. These results reveal that the NS2‐3 protein of BVDV is cleaved in leukocytes. Furthermore, NS3 proteins were detected in many tissues of PI cattle, such as lymphoid tissue, brain, thyroid, lung, and kidney. These results suggest that the NS2‐3 protein of ncp BVDV cleaves in vivo.
Genetic analyses of the putative O and K antigen gene clusters of pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Authors: Okura Masatoshi , Osawa Ro , Tokunaga Akihiko , Morita Masatomo , Arakawa Eiji , Watanabe Haruo 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTPandemic V. parahaemolyticus strains have rapidly changed their serotypes, but its determinants, especially K antigen, and the genes involved in serotype have been an open question. The purpose of this study was to gain insights into these points. Although V. parahaemolyticus is known to be lacking O‐side chain on its lipopolysaccharide, and O antigens are thought to be represented by core OS, the genome sequence of V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 strain RIMD2210633 suggests that this bacterium potentially synthesizes O‐side chain. To explore possible relatedness between this O‐side chain biosynthesis gene cluster, which is similar in the serotypes of Vibrio cholerae, and of V. parahaemolyticus, we amplified both core OS and O‐side chain gene clusters of the strains belonging to various serotypes of V. parahaemolyticus by long PCR and performed PCR RFLP analyses. The results of our RFLP analyses suggest that the core OS biosynthesis gene cluster is related to the O antigens of pandemic V. parahaemolyticus and that the putative O‐side chain gene cluster is related to K antigens of pandemic V. parahaemolyticus. We then determined the sequence of these regions of a pandemic O4:K68 strain, and compared it with the corresponding sequence of RIMD2210633. In addition, PCR analysis showed the putative O4 and K68 antigen gene clusters are unique to the strains belonging to the O4 and K68 serotype respectively. The data implies that the pandemic O4:K68 V. parahaemolyticus strain emerged from the pandemic O3:K6 strain by replacement of the putative O and K antigen gene clusters.
Genetic diversity ofFrancisella tularensissubspeciesholarcticastrains isolated in Japan
Authors: Fujita Osamu , Uda Akihiko , Hotta Akitoyo , Okutani Akiko , Inoue Satoshi , Tanabayashi Kiyoshi , Yamada Akio 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTThe recently developed MLVA has high discriminatory power for the typing of individual strains or isolates ofFrancisella tularensis. In the present study, MLVA was applied to 33 JapaneseF. tularensissubspeciesholarcticastrains to examine the genetic diversity ofF. tularensisisolated. Among the seven VNTR loci analyzed, Ft‐M2, Ft‐M10, and Ft‐M20 loci showed high genetic polymorphism in Japanese strains, whereas Ft‐M3 was most variable in non‐Japanese strains. These results provide novel extended information about the genomic diversity among the strains ofF. tularensisssp.holarcticadistributed in Japan and enable determination of whether a given isolate is indigenous to Japan by examining these loci using MLVA.
Electron microscopic examination of uncultured soil‐dwelling bacteria
Authors: Amako Kazunobu , Takade Akemi , Taniai Hiroaki , Yoshida Shin‐ichi 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTBacteria living in soil collected from a rice paddy in Fukuoka, Japan, were examined by electron microscopy using a freeze‐substitution fixation method. Most of the observed bacteria could be categorized, based on the structure of the cell envelope and overall morphology, into one of five groups: (i) bacterial spore; (ii) Gram‐positive type; (iii) Gram‐negative type; (iv) Mycobacterium like; and (v) Archaea like. However, a few of the bacteria could not be readily categorized into one of these groups because they had unique cell wall structures, basically resembling those of Gram‐negative bacteria, but with the layer corresponding to the peptidoglycan layer in Gram‐negative bacteria being extremely thick, like that of the cortex of a bacterial spore. The characteristic morphological features found in many of these uncultured, soil‐dwelling cells were the nucleoid being in a condensed state and the cytoplasm being shrunken. We were able to produce similar morphologies in vitro using a Salmonella sp. by culturing under low‐temperature, low‐nutrient conditions, similar to those found in some natural environments. These unusual morphologies are therefore hypothesized to be characteristic of bacteria in resting or dormant stages.
‘LOSCS’ Lateral Offset Stacked Channel Simulations: Towards geometrical modelling of turbidite elementary channels
Authors: Labourdette Richard 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTTurbidite hydrocarbon reservoirs are complex features, that need to be described in detail and represented as clearly as possible. The morphology and internal distribution of elementary distributary channels are dependent on depositional settings, leading to diverse arrangements at different scales. Reservoir modelling usually requires a description of sedimentary heterogeneity on a scale smaller than that given by seismic resolution. This is because seismic data only display the outside geometry of their lateral stack, i.e. a turbidite fairway. Complexes of Laterally Offset Stacked Turbidite Channels (LOSCs) also require a description based on the scales of individual channel bodies. The most common representation of channels in a fairway is by stochastic object modelling; i.e. populating the observed fairway with realistic forms representing individual channels, but with no established consistency between the individual channels. On the other hand, one essential characteristic of LOSCs is that it evolves by progressive migration laterally and/or downdip. Stochastic object modelling provides an inadequate representation of this progressive evolution, and consequently, a poor rendering of the heterogeneity distribution in the reservoir. The method we propose consists of defining a realistic succession of individual channels that can accurately build the fairway observed on seismic. ‘Realism’ is defined using criteria from the shape of individual channels, and based on the amount of displacement necessary between successive episodes. Depending on seismic resolution, the system can be constrained by one or several positions of individual channels (the most recent position of the channel is often filled with shale, therefore visible on seismic and usable as a control point). The final result is a deterministic succession of channels laterally stacked to build the seismically observed envelope. Even with no calibration, the resulting architecture respects the general ‘texture’ of the complex and provides a better simulation of flow pathways than that achieved by random object modelling.
Vincristine pharmacokinetics is related to clinical outcome in children with standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Lönnerholm Gudmar , Frost Britt‐Marie , Abrahamsson Jonas , Behrendtz Mikael , Castor Anders , Forestier Erik , Heyman Mats , Uges Donald R. A. , de Graaf Siebold S. N. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryVincristine is a key drug in the treatment of childhood and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and many other childhood malignancies. Despite decades of wide clinical use, no data on the correlation between vincristine pharmacokinetics and long‐term clinical outcome have been published. We here report clinical data (median follow‐up time 10·5 years, range 7·3–12 years) for 86 children with B‐cell precursor ALL, in whom vincristine kinetics were studied on treatment day 1. The median total plasma clearance was 429 and 331 ml/min per m2 and the area under the plasma concentration‐time curve (AUC) was 4·49 and 5·40 mg/l × min in relapse and non‐relapse patients, respectively (not significant). In standard risk patients, where treatment depends more heavily on vincristine than in other subgroups, the relative risk (RR) of relapse was significantly increased for patients with clearance values above median (RR 5·2; P = 0·036), or AUC values below median (RR 5·8; P = 0·025). Our data suggest a relationship between the antileukemic effect and the systemic exposure of the drug, which warrants further studies.
Dose–response relationship for risk of non‐vertebral fracture with inhaled corticosteroids
Authors: Weatherall M. , James K. , Clay J. , Perrin K. , Masoli M. , Wijesinghe M. , Beasley R. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryObjective
To determine the strength of association between the dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and risk of non‐vertebral fracture in adults.Methods
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of case–control studies of non‐vertebral fractures in adults, in which at least two doses of ICS were reported as the dose of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) or equivalent.Results
Five case–control studies were identified, with a total of 43 783 cases and 259 936 controls. There was an association between the risk of non‐vertebral fracture and increasing dose of BDP. The random‐effects odds ratio of relative risk for a non‐vertebral fracture was 1.12 (95% confidence interval 1.00–1.26) per 1000 μg increase in the daily dose of BDP or equivalent.Conclusion
In older adults, the relative risk of non‐vertebral fractures increases by about 12% for each 1000 μg/day increase in the dose of BDP or equivalent. The magnitude of this risk was considerably less than other common risk factors for fracture in the older adult.
A comparison of phosphorus and DOC leachates from different types of leaf litter in an urban environment
Authors: WALLACE TODD A. , GANF GEORGE G. , BROOKES JUSTIN D. 
Published: June 2008

Summary1. The leaching rates of filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from five leaf litter types commonly occurring in urban environments in Mediterranean regions of Southern Australia were compared. The relative composition, bioavailability and oxygen demand of this DOC were also assessed. Four tree species were assessed, including the native river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and three introduced deciduous species, the English elm (Ulmus procera), London plane (Platanus acerifolia) and white poplar (Populus alba). Grass cuttings (mixed species) were selected as a common garden waste.2. Except for English elm, the majority of FRP and DOC was released within the first 48 h. Grass cuttings released the highest amount of FRP with white poplar releasing the most DOC. Species that released relatively high amounts of DOC (white poplar, English elm, river red gum) released relatively low amounts of FRP. Conversely, species that released relatively low amounts of DOC (grass cuttings and London plane) tended to release relatively high amounts of FRP.3. Analysis of DOC composition, combined with the differing oxygen demand and DOC depletion curves, demonstrated that there were substantial differences in the DOC leached from the leaf litter of the different species. Biochemical oxygen demand and the biodegradability of the DOC was positively correlated with the proportion of hydrophilic and hydrophobic acids present in the leachate.4. These results demonstrate that simple measurements of nutrient release per gram of leaf litter would be insufficient to predict the ecological impact on receiving waters resulting from changes in dominant vegetation. Furthermore, the use of traps to prevent particulate leaf material from entering streams may have limited potential for reducing the load of dissolved nutrients. We conclude that any changes to vegetation type which substantially alter the timing of leaf fall or the composition of leaf leachates should be avoided.
Involvement of endogenous leukotriene B4 and platelet‐activating factor in polymorphonuclear leucocyte recruitment to dermal inflammatory sites in rats
Authors: Bélanger Caroline , Elimam Hanan , Lefebvre Julie , Borgeat Pierre , Marleau Sylvie 
Published: June 2008

SummaryA critical role for leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and/or platelet‐activating factor (PAF) in regulating polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) trafficking to inflammatory sites has been reported in a number of experimental inflammatory models. In vitro, newly synthesized LTB4 and PAF were shown to act in an autocrine/paracrine or intracrine fashion to enhance intracellular arachidonic acid availability and leukotriene biosynthesis. This suggested potentially cooperative effects of these lipid mediators in regulating PMN extravasation. The present study aimed to elucidate whether endogenous LTB4 and PAF may both act to regulate plasma extravasation and PMN trafficking to inflammatory sites in experimental inflammation. With this aim, we have used selective and potent PAF and LTB4 receptor antagonist pretreatments in dermal and pulmonary inflammation models in rats. Our results show additive inhibitory effects of dual LTB4 and PAF receptor blockade in either PAF‐ or LTB4‐elicited cutaneous PMN accumulation compared to single‐drug administration. Furthermore, the combined administration of the drugs inhibited the PMN accumulation induced by the chemically unrelated soluble agonists tumour necrosis factor‐α and C5a. Finally, in a model of pulmonary inflammation induced by the intravenous injection of Sephadex beads, lung neutrophilia was reduced by 63% following the administration of LTB4 and PAF antagonists, in contrast with the lack of effect of single drug administration. Our results strongly support a role of both endogenous LTB4 and PAF in regulating PMN trafficking to inflammatory sites in various experimental conditions.
Human Langerhans’ cells and dermal‐type dendritic cells generated from CD34 stem cells express different toll‐like receptors and secrete different cytokines in response to toll‐like receptor ligands
Authors: Rozis George , Benlahrech Adel , Duraisingham Sai , Gotch Frances , Patterson Steven 
Published: June 2008

SummaryLangerhans’ cells (LC) and dermal dendritic cells (dDC) are located in the superficial and deeper layers of the skin respectively and represent the main dendritic cell (DC) populations of the skin. LC‐like and dDC‐like DC can be generated from CD34 stem cells and this system is widely used as a model for investigating these cells and in therapeutic vaccination. Here we report toll‐like receptor (TLR) expression in human LC and dDC derived from CD34 stem cells. In vitro‐generated DC expressed TLR‐1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. LC, but not dDC, expressed TLR‐5, whereas only dDC expressed TLR‐3. Maturation of LC was mediated by TLR‐2, 4 and 5 ligands, but not by a TLR‐3 ligand. dDC maturation was induced by TLR‐3 and ‐4, but not with TLR‐5 ligand and only weakly by a TLR‐2 ligand. Stimulated LC secreted interleukin (IL)‐1β, low levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and IL‐8, but not IL‐6 or IL‐10. dDC secreted TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐10, but little IL‐1β. IL‐12p70 was not produced by ligand‐stimulated dDC or LC, but was secreted by monocyte‐derived DC (mdDC) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus, in vitro‐generated LC and dDC detect different pathogen‐associated molecules and show different cytokine‐secretion profiles in response to TLR ligands.
β2‐Adrenergic receptor regulates Toll‐like receptor‐4‐induced nuclear factor‐κB activation through β‐arrestin 2
Authors: Kizaki Takako , Izawa Tetsuya , Sakurai Takuya , Haga Shukoh , Taniguchi Naoyuki , Tajiri Hisao , Watanabe Kenji , Day Noorbibi K. , Toba Kenji , Ohno Hideki 
Published: June 2008

SummaryToll‐like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in innate immunity while, β2‐adrenergic receptors (β2AR) provide the key linkages for the sympathetic nervous system to regulate the immune system. However, their role in macrophages remains uncertain. Here, we demonstrate the cross‐talk between β2AR and TLR signalling pathways. Expression of β2AR was down‐regulated by TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. To investigate the physiological consequence of this down‐regulation RAW264 cells, a macrophage cell line, were transfected with a β2AR expression vector (RAWar). Both LPS‐stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) expression and NO production were markedly suppressed in the RAWar cells. The activation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and degradation of the inhibitor of NF‐κB (IκBα) in response to LPS were markedly decreased in these cells. The level of β‐arrestin 2, which regulates β2AR signalling, was also reduced in RAW264 cells after stimulation with LPS, but not in RAWar cells. Overexpression of β‐arrestin 2 (RAWarr2) also inhibited NO production and NOS II expression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that β‐arrestin 2 interacted with cytosolic IκBα and that the level of IκBα coimmunoprecipitated by anti‐β‐arrestin 2 antibodies was decreased in the RAW264 cells but not in RAWar or RAWarr2 cells. These findings suggest that LPS‐stimulated signals suppress β2AR expression, leading to down‐regulation of β‐arrestin 2 expression, which stabilizes cytosolic IκBα and inhibits the NF‐κB activation essential for NOS II expression, probably to ensure rapid and sufficient production of NO in response to microbial attack.
Functional analysis of a tripartite stability element within the CD40 ligand 3′ untranslated region
Authors: Laughlin Jennifer , Oghlidos Sanaz , Porter Joseph F. , Matus‐Nicodemos Rodrigo , Sinquett Frank L. , Marcelli Valentina , Covey Lori R. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryWe previously identified a cis‐acting element within the 3′ untranslated region of CD40 ligand messenger RNA (mRNA) that is composed of three complex binding sites and acts to increase mRNA stability in both in vitro and in vivo systems. We now demonstrate the functional consequences of the three binding sites with respect to increasing both luciferase activity and mRNA stability in a heterologous transcript expressed in a T‐cell line. The internal region B was shown to be a bona fide stability element because its presence increased luciferase activity fourfold over the unmodified transcript and its removal from the XbaI–HaeIII region resulted in rapid degradation of the transcript. Region A contained both a binding site for a polypyrimidine‐tract‐binding protein (PTB)‐mediated complex (Complex I) and an upstream, adjacent sequence that was a negative regulator of mRNA stability. Region C bound Complex II, which contained both PTB and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteinL (hnRNPL), and was less effective as a stability element on its own compared to region B. Our findings demonstrate differential levels of activity for the three binding sites relative to the turnover of CD40 ligand mRNA, suggesting that the lack of binding of Complex I/II during the early stages of T‐cell activation contributes to the rapid degradation of the CD40 ligand mRNA transcript.
Vδ2 T‐lymphocyte responses in cord blood samples from Italy and Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Cairo Cristiana , Mancino Giorgio , Cappelli Giulia , Pauza C. David , Galli Elena , Brunetti Ercole , Colizzi Vittorio 
Published: June 2008

SummaryCord blood T lymphocytes are immature and their functional defect partially reflects a suboptimal level of costimulatory signals provided by neonatal antigen‐presenting cells. Neonatal Vδ2 T lymphocytes, a small component of cellular immunity involved in the response against bacteria, protozoa, virus‐infected cells and tumours, are also considered to be immature. Cord blood Vδ2 T lymphocytes are mostly naïve, proliferate poorly and do not produce cytokines in response to the model phosphoantigen isopentenyl pyrophosphate. We cultured cord blood mononuclear cells with the aminobisphosphonate Pamidronate or with live bacille Calmette–Guérin, and showed that both elicit a strong cord blood Vδ2 T‐cell proliferative response, inducing the expression of activation markers and promoting the differentiation from naïve to memory cells. Our results suggest that cord blood Vδ2 T cells are not inherently unresponsive and can mount strong responses to aminobisphosphonates and mycobacteria. Neonatal Vδ2 T lymphocytes may be important participants in responses to microbial infections early in life.
Generation and characterization of transgenic mice expressing a T‐cell receptor specific for the tumour‐associated antigen MDM2
Authors: Xue Shao‐An , Bendle Gavin M. , Holler Angelika , Stauss Hans J. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryT‐cell‐based antigen‐specific immunotherapy targeting tumour‐associated antigens offers the potential for cancer immunotherapy. However, the majority of identified tumour‐associated antigens are also expressed at low levels in normal tissues and mechanisms of tolerance induction are likely to affect the quality of T‐cell responses to such antigens. In this study a T‐cell receptor transgenic model was developed to determine the magnitude of T‐cell tolerance to the tumour‐associated antigen murine double minute‐2 (MDM2), a widely expressed protein that is found at elevated levels in many tumours. The analysis of transgenic mice showed that thymic deletion was responsible for purging large numbers of MDM2‐specific T cells from the repertoire. However, some T cells with specificity for MDM2 were able to escape thymic deletion and persisted in the peripheral T‐cell pool. Functional analysis revealed that these T cells displayed defects in antigen‐driven expansion. This functional impairment of the MDM2‐specific T cells was maintained following adoptive transfer of the T cells into hosts that were unable to present the T‐cell‐receptor‐recognized antigen. This study demonstrates that thymic deletion and the functional impairment of T cells present in the periphery both operate to establish T‐cell tolerance to the tumour‐associated antigen MDM2. Furthermore, the tolerant phenotype was stable and did not require continuous MDM2 peptide presentation in normal tissues.
Physicochemical and functional properties of barley β‐glucan as affected by different extraction procedures
Authors: Ahmad Asif , Anjum Faqir Muhammad , Zahoor Tahir , Nawaz Haq , Din Ahmad 
Published: June 2008

SummaryFour methods were evaluated for extraction of β‐glucan from barley. Gum pellets obtained by respective methods were examined for yield, purity and various physicochemical and functional characteristics. Highest yield and recovery was found in samples that were extracted by hot water treatment. This method also removed the maximum impurities from gum pellets and contained highest amount of soluble fibre, while alkali‐extracted sample contained highest amount of insoluble fibre. All samples contained an appreciable amount of calcium and phosphorus. Extracted pellets had good water retention and foaming capacity. A significant variation in extraction methods was observed with respect to water binding capacity and foaming capacity. However, the same level of foaming stability was observed in all extraction methods. Alkaline and acidic extraction methods adversely affect the viscosity properties of the samples. A significant affect of extraction methods was also observed on colour parameters of β‐glucan. A negative correlation exists between foaming capacity and viscosity, whereas a positive correlation observed between soluble fibre and viscosity.