bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Diagnosis of
Trypanosoma cruzi
Infection with High Correlation to the Radioimmunoprecipitation Assay
Authors: Houghton Raymond L. , Stevens Yvonne Y. , Hjerrild Kathryn , Guderian Jeff , Okamoto Masahiko , Kabir Mazbahul , Reed Steven G. , Leiby David A. , Morrow W. John W. , Lorca Myriam , Raychaudhuri Syamal 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT

The incidence of blood donors seropositive for
Trypanosoma cruzi
in North America has increased with population migration and more rigorous surveillance. The United States, considered nonendemic for
T. cruzi
, could therefore be at risk to exposure to parasite transmission through blood or organ donations. Current tests show variable reactivity, especially with Central American sera. Here we describe the development of a lateral flow immunoassay for the rapid detection of
T. cruzi
infection that has a strong correlation to the radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) “gold standard” in the United States. Such a test could have utility in small blood banks for prescreening donors, as well as in cardiac transplantation evaluation.
T. cruzi
consensus and/or RIPA-positive sera from Central and South America were evaluated in enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). These included commercial panels from Boston Biomedica, Inc. (BBI) (
n
= 14), and HemaBio (
n
= 21). Other sources included RIPA-positive sera from the American Red Cross (ARC) (
n
= 42), as well as from Chile. Sera were tested with the multiepitope recombinant TcF. All but one of the BBI samples were positive and 7 of 21 HemaBio samples and 6 of 42 ARC samples were low positive or negative. This observation indicated the need for additional antigens. To complement TcF reactivity, we tested the sera with peptides 30, 36, SAPA, and 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 His fragments of 85-kDa trans-sialidase. We identified a promising combination of the tested antigens and constructed a single recombinant protein, ITC6, that enhanced the relative sensitivity in U.S. blood donor sera compared to that of TcF. The data on its evaluation using RIPA-confirmed positive sera in EIA and lateral flow immunoassay studies are presented, along with an additional recombinant protein, ITC8.2, with two additional sequences for peptide 1 and Kmp-11. The latter, when evaluated in a dipstick assay with consensus positive sera, had a sensitivity of 99.2% and a specificity of 99.1%.
Molecular Epidemiological Investigation of a Nosocomial Outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus Infection in a Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Patient Population
Authors: Kim Sollip , Sung Heungsup , Im Ho Joon , Hong Soo-Jong , Kim Mi-Na 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
We report the first nosocomial outbreak of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in a pediatric patient population. Among 15 pediatric hMPV infections from March to May 2007, there was a nosocomial outbreak involving two patients sharing a room in a hemato-oncology ward with a patient with a community-acquired case of hMPV infection. The estimated incubation period was 7 to 9 days for a symptomatic nosocomial case. Sequencing of fusion genes of 15 isolates revealed two clusters belonging to subgroup A2 and one cluster belonging to subgroup B2. Three isolates from the outbreak had sequences identical to those of samples in the A2 cluster. There was also a separate nosocomial case represented by the B2 cluster.
Presence and Molecular Epidemiology of Virulence Factors in Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Strains Colonizing and Infecting Soldiers
Authors: Ellis Michael W. , Griffith Matthew E. , Jorgensen James H. , Hospenthal Duane R. , Mende Katrin , Patterson Jan E. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT

Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) has emerged as an important cause of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI). The understanding of the molecular epidemiology and virulence of MRSA continues to expand. From January 2005 to December 2005, we screened soldiers for MRSA nasal colonization, administered a demographic questionnaire, and monitored them prospectively for SSTI. All MRSA isolates underwent molecular analysis, which included pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and PCR for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME), and the staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
). Of the 3,447 soldiers screened, 134 (3.9%) had MRSA colonization. Of the 3,066 (89%) who completed the study, 39 developed culture-confirmed MRSA abscesses. Clone USA300 represented 53% of colonizing isolates but was responsible for 97% of the abscesses (
P
< 0.001). Unlike colonizing isolates, isolates positive for USA300, PVL, ACME, and type IV SCC
mec
were significantly associated with MRSA abscess isolates. As determined by multivariate analysis, risk factors for MRSA colonization were a history of SSTI and a history of hospitalization. Although various MRSA strains may colonize soldiers, USA300 is the most virulent when evaluated prospectively, and PVL, ACME, and type IV SCC
mec
are associated with these abscesses.
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), but Not ICAM-2 and -3, Is Important for Dendritic Cell-Mediated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmission
Authors: Wang Jian-Hua , Kwas Constance , Wu Li 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTDendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in cell-to-cell-mediated transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Interactions between intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) and their ligands facilitate DC-T-cell contact. The interaction between ICAM-1 on DCs and leukocyte function-associated molecule 1 (LFA-1) on CD4+T cells has been proposed to be important for DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. Given that DCs and T cells express multiple ICAMs and binding ligands, the relative importance of ICAMs in DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission remains to be defined. Here, we examine the role of ICAM-1, -2, and -3 in DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission to various types of target cells including primary CD4+T cells. The expression levels of ICAMs and their ligands on immature and mature DCs and various types of HIV-1 target cells were measured by flow cytometry. Blocking ICAM-1 in DCs with specific monoclonal antibodies and small interfering RNA impaired DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. DC-mediated viral transmission was significantly inhibited when both ICAM-1 on DCs and LFA-1 on CD4+T cells were blocked. However, blockade of ICAM-1 on target cells did not significantly inhibit DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. Ectopic expression and antibody blocking suggest that DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission to primary CD4+T cells is independent of ICAM-2 and ICAM-3. Taken together, our data clarified the role of ICAMs in DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission to CD4+T cells.
Components of Nuclear Domain 10 Bodies Regulate Varicella-Zoster Virus Replication
Authors: Kyratsous Christos A. , Silverstein Saul J. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTPML, Sp100, and Daxx are proteins that normally reside within nuclear domains 10 (ND10s). They associate with DNA virus genomes and repress the very early stages of the DNA virus replication cycle. Virus-encoded proteins counteract this innate antiviral response. ICP0, a herpes simplex virus (HSV) immediate-early protein, is necessary and sufficient to dissociate ND10s and target their two major components, PML and Sp100, for proteasomal degradation. In this report, we show that ORF61p, the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ortholog of ICP0, does not degrade PML and alters Sp100 levels only slightly. Furthermore, we demonstrate that other virus proteins cannot substitute for this lack of function during infection. By using short interfering RNAs, we depleted PML, Sp100, and Daxx and studied their roles in plaquing efficiency, virus protein accumulation, infectious-center titer, and virus spread. The results of these studies show that components of ND10s can accelerate VZV replication but do not ultimately control cell-associated virus titers. We conclude that while both ICP0 and ORF61p activate virus gene expression, they modulate host innate repression mechanisms in two different ways. As a result, HSV and VZV commandeer their host cells by distinct mechanisms to ensure their replication and spread.
Replication-Deficient Ebolavirus as a Vaccine Candidate
Authors: Halfmann Peter , Ebihara Hideki , Marzi Andrea , Hatta Yasuko , Watanabe Shinji , Suresh M. , Neumann Gabriele , Feldmann Heinz , Kawaoka Yoshihiro 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT

Ebolavirus causes severe hemorrhagic fever, with case fatality rates as high as 90%. Currently, no licensed vaccine is available against Ebolavirus. We previously generated a replication-deficient, biologically contained Ebolavirus, EbolaΔVP30, which lacks the essential VP30 gene, grows only in cells stably expressing this gene product, and is genetically stable. Here, we evaluated the vaccine potential of EbolaΔVP30. First, we demonstrated its safety in STAT-1-knockout mice, a susceptible animal model for Ebolavirus infection. We then tested its protective efficacy in two animal models, mice and guinea pigs. Mice immunized twice with EbolaΔVP30 were protected from a lethal infection of mouse-adapted Ebolavirus. Virus titers in the serum of vaccinated mice were significantly lower than those in nonvaccinated mice. Protection of mice immunized with EbolaΔVP30 was associated with a high antibody response to the Ebolavirus glycoprotein and the generation of an Ebolavirus NP-specific CD8
+
T-cell response. Guinea pigs immunized twice with EbolaΔVP30 were also protected from a lethal infection of guinea pig-adapted Ebolavirus. Our study demonstrates the potential of the EbolaΔVP30 virus as a new vaccine platform.
Poxvirus Host Range Protein CP77 Contains an F-Box-Like Domain That Is Necessary To Suppress NF-κB Activation by Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha but Is Independent of Its Host Range Function
Authors: Chang Shu-Jung , Hsiao Jye-Chian , Sonnberg Stephanie , Chiang Cheng-Ting , Yang Min-Hsiang , Tzou Der-Lii , Mercer Andrew A. , Chang Wen 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTTumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) activates the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway that regulates expression of many cellular factors playing important roles in innate immune responses and inflammation in infected hosts. Poxviruses employ many strategies to inhibit NF-κB activation in cells. In this report, we describe a poxvirus host range protein, CP77, which blocked NF-κB activation by TNF-α. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed that nuclear translocation of NF-κB subunit p65 protein in TNF-α-treated HeLa cells was blocked by CP77. CP77 did so without blocking IκBα phosphorylation, suggesting that upstream kinase activation was not affected by CP77. Using GST pull-down, we showed that CP77 bound to the NF-κB subunit p65 through the N-terminal six-ankyrin-repeat region in vitro. CP77 also bound to Cullin-1 and Skp1 of the SCF complex through a C-terminal 13-amino-acid F-box-like sequence. Both regions of CP77 are required to block NF-κB activation. We thus propose a model in which poxvirus CP77 suppresses NF-κB activation by two interactions: the C-terminal F-box of CP77 binding to the SCF complex and the N-terminal six ankyrins binding to the NF-κB subunit p65. In this way, CP77 attenuates innate immune response signaling in cells. Finally, we expressed CP77 or a CP77 F-box deletion protein from a vaccinia virus host range mutant (VV-hr-GFP) and showed that either protein was able to rescue the host range defect, illustrating that the F-box region, which is important for NF-κB modulation and binding to SCF complex, is not required for CP77's host range function. Consistently, knocking down the protein level of NF-κB did not relieve the growth restriction of VV-hr-GFP in HeLa cells.
A Chimeric A2 Strain of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) with the Fusion Protein of RSV Strain Line 19 Exhibits Enhanced Viral Load, Mucus, and Airway Dysfunction
Authors: Moore Martin L. , Chi Michael H. , Luongo Cindy , Lukacs Nicholas W. , Polosukhin Vasiliy V. , Huckabee Matthew M. , Newcomb Dawn C. , Buchholz Ursula J. , Crowe James E. , Goleniewska Kasia , Williams John V. , Collins Peter L. , Peebles R. Stokes 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of respiratory failure and viral death in infants. Abundant airway mucus contributes to airway obstruction in RSV disease. Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a mediator of pulmonary mucus secretion. It has been shown that infection of BALB/c mice with the RSV line 19 strain but not with the RSV A2 laboratory strain results in lung IL-13 and mucus expression. Here, we sequenced the RSV line 19 genome and compared it to the commonly used A2 and Long strains. There were six amino acid differences between the line 19 strain and both the A2 and Long RSV strains, five of which are in the fusion (F) protein. The Long strain, like the A2 strain, did not induce lung IL-13 and mucus expression in BALB/c mice. We hypothesized that the F protein of RSV line 19 is more mucogenic than the F proteins of A2 and Long. We generated recombinant, F-chimeric RSVs by replacing the F gene of A2 with the F gene of either line 19 or Long. Infection of BALB/c mice with RSV rA2 line 19F resulted in lower alpha interferon lung levels 24 h postinfection, higher lung viral load, higher lung IL-13 levels, greater airway mucin expression levels, and greater airway hyperresponsiveness than infection with rA2-A2F or rA2-LongF. We identified the F protein of RSV line 19 as a factor that plays a role in pulmonary mucin expression in the setting of RSV infection.
Kinetics of Immune Responses to Influenza Virus-Like Particles and Dose-Dependence of Protection with a Single Vaccination
Authors: Quan Fu Shi , Yoo Dae-Goon , Song Jae-Min , Clements John D. , Compans Richard W. , Kang Sang-Moo 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTThe format of influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) as a nonreplicating particulate vaccine candidate is a promising alternative to conventional egg-based vaccines. In this study, we have investigated the detailed kinetics of immune responses and protective efficacy after a single intranasal immunization with different doses of VLPs alone or in the presence of anEscherichia colimutant heat-labile enterotoxin [mLT(R192G)] or cholera toxin subunit B as adjuvants. Analysis of immune responses showed differential kinetics in a VLP antigen dose-dependent manner and dynamic changes in the ratios of antibody immunoglobulin G isotypes over the time course. Protection against lethal challenge was observed with a single immunization with influenza VLPs even without adjuvant. The addition of adjuvant showed significant antigen-sparing effects with improved protective efficacy. The protective immune responses, efficacies of protection, and antigen-sparing effects were significantly improved by a second immunization as determined by the levels of neutralizing antibodies, morbidity postchallenge, lung viral titers, and inflammatory cytokines. Our results are informative for a better understanding of the protective immunity induced by a single dose or two doses of influenza VLPs, which is dependent on antigen dosage and the presence of adjuvant, and will provide insights into designing effective vaccines based on VLPs.
Differential Modification of Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 following Virus Particle Entry
Authors: Noyce Ryan S. , Collins Susan E. , Mossman Karen L. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
Viral infection elicits the activation of numerous cellular signal transduction pathways, leading to the induction of both innate and adaptive immune responses in the host. In particular, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) has been shown to be essential for the induction of an antiviral response. Current models suggest that virus replication causes phosphorylation of C-terminal serine and threonine residues on IRF3, leading to its dimerization and translocation to the nucleus, where it activates interferon. Upon entry of replication-deficient Newcastle disease virus (NDV) particles, however, we failed to detect IRF3 dimerization or hyperphosphorylation, despite robust interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) and antiviral state induction and confirmation by small interfering RNA knockdown that IRF3 is essential for this response. To further compare the effects of various viruses and their replication status on IRF3 activation and to determine the minimal posttranslational modification required for IRF3 activation, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were employed. However, we failed to identify a minimal posttranslational modification of IRF3 that correlated with downstream biological activity, and the extent of posttranslational modification observed on IRF3 did not correlate with the degree of subsequent ISG induction. Thus, current techniques used to detect IRF3 activation are insufficient to infer its role in mediating downstream biological response induction and should be utilized with caution.
NSs Protein of Rift Valley Fever Virus Induces the Specific Degradation of the Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase
Authors: Habjan Matthias , Pichlmair Andreas , Elliott Richard M. , Överby Anna K. , Glatter Timo , Gstaiger Matthias , Superti-Furga Giulio , Unger Hermann , Weber Friedemann 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) continues to cause large outbreaks of acute febrile and often fatal illness among humans and domesticated animals in Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The high pathogenicity of this bunyavirus is mainly due to the viral protein NSs, which was shown to prevent transcriptional induction of the antivirally active type I interferons (alpha/beta interferon [IFN-α/β]). Viruses lacking the NSs gene induce synthesis of IFNs and are therefore attenuated, whereas the noninducing wild-type RVFV strains can only be inhibited by pretreatment with IFN. We demonstrate here in vitro and in vivo that a substantial part of the antiviral activity of IFN against RVFV is due to a double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). PKR-mediated virus inhibition, however, was much more pronounced for the strain Clone 13 with NSs deleted than for the NSs-expressing strain ZH548. In vivo, Clone 13 was nonpathogenic for wild-type (wt) mice but could regain pathogenicity if mice lacked the PKR gene. ZH548, in contrast, killed both wt and PKR knockout mice indiscriminately. ZH548 was largely resistant to the antiviral properties of PKR because RVFV NSs triggered the specific degradation of PKR via the proteasome. The NSs proteins of the related but less virulent sandfly fever Sicilian virus and La Crosse virus, in contrast, had no such anti-PKR activity despite being efficient suppressors of IFN induction. Our data suggest that RVFV NSs has gained an additional anti-IFN function that may explain the extraordinary pathogenicity of this virus.
The Adenoviral E1B 55-Kilodalton Protein Controls Expression of Immune Response Genes but Not p53-Dependent Transcription
Authors: Miller Daniel L. , Rickards Brenden , Mashiba Michael , Huang Wenying , Flint S. J. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
The human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E1B 55-kDa protein modulates several cellular processes, including activation of the tumor suppressor p53. Binding of the E1B protein to the activation domain of p53 inhibits p53-dependent transcription. This activity has been correlated with the transforming activity of the E1B protein, but its contribution to viral replication is not well understood. To address this issue, we used microarray hybridization methods to examine cellular gene expression in normal human fibroblasts (HFFs) infected by Ad5, the E1B 55-kDa-protein-null mutant Hr6, or a mutant carrying substitutions that impair repression of p53-dependent transcription. Comparison of the changes in cellular gene expression observed in these and our previous experiments (D. L. Miller et al., Genome Biol. 8:R58, 2007) by significance analysis of microarrays indicated excellent reproducibility. Furthermore, we again observed that Ad5 infection led to efficient reversal of the p53-dependent transcriptional program. As this same response was also induced in cells infected by the two mutants, we conclude that the E1B 55-kDa protein is not necessary to block activation of p53 in Ad5-infected cells. However, groups of cellular genes that were altered in expression specifically in the absence of the E1B protein were identified by consensus k-means clustering of the hybridization data. Statistical analysis of the enrichment of genes associated with specific functions in these clusters established that the E1B 55-kDa protein is necessary for repression of genes encoding proteins that mediate antiviral and immune defenses.
PI3K Signaling Regulates Rapamycin-Insensitive Translation Initiation Complex Formation in Vaccinia Virus-Infected Cells
Authors: Zaborowska Izabela , Walsh Derek 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
How vaccinia virus (VV) regulates assembly of the host translation initiation complex eIF4F remains unclear. Here, we show that VV activated host PI3K to stimulate downstream mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a kinase that inactivates the translational repressor 4E-BP1. However, although the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin suppressed VV-induced inactivation of 4E-BP1, it failed to inhibit eIF4F assembly. In contrast, PI3K inhibition in VV-infected cells increased the abundance of hypophosphorylated 4E-BP1 and disrupted eIF4F complex formation. PI3K signaling, therefore, plays a critical role in regulating protein production during VV infection, at least in part by controlling the abundance and activity of 4E-BP1.
Protein X of Borna Disease Virus Inhibits Apoptosis and Promotes Viral Persistence in the Central Nervous Systems of Newborn-Infected Rats
Authors: Poenisch Marion , Burger Nils , Staeheli Peter , Bauer Georg , Schneider Urs 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic member of the order
Mononegavirales
with noncytolytic replication and obligatory persistence in cultured cells and animals. Here we show that the accessory protein X of BDV represents the first mitochondrion-localized protein of an RNA virus that inhibits rather than promotes apoptosis induction. Rat C6 astroglioma cells persistently infected with wild-type BDV were significantly more resistant to death receptor-dependent and -independent apoptotic stimuli than uninfected cells or cells infected with a BDV mutant expressing reduced amounts of X. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that X colocalizes with mitochondria and expression of X from plasmid DNA rendered human 293T and mouse L929 cells resistant to apoptosis induction. A recombinant virus encoding a mutant X protein unable to associate with mitochondria (BDV-X
A6A7
) failed to block apoptosis in C6 cells. Furthermore, Lewis rats neonatally infected with BDV-X
A6A7
developed severe neurological symptoms and died around day 30 postinfection, whereas all animals infected with wild-type BDV remained healthy and became persistently infected. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) staining revealed a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells in the brain of BDV-X
A6A7
-infected animals, whereas the numbers of CD3
+
T lymphocytes were comparable to those detected in animals infected with wild-type BDV. Our data thus indicate that inhibition of apoptosis by X promotes noncytolytic viral persistence and is required for the survival of cells in the central nervous system of BDV-infected animals.