bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RING and Coiled-Coil Domains of Baculovirus IE2 Are Critical in Strong Activation of the Cytomegalovirus Major Immediate-Early Promoter in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Liu Catherine Yen-Yen , Wang Chia-Hung , Hsiao Wen-Kai , Lo Huei-Ru , Wu Carol P. , Chao Yu Chan 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT

In recent years, baculovirus has emerged as a tool for high-efficiency gene transfer into mammalian cells. However, the level of gene expression is often limited by the strength of the mammalian promoter used. Here, we show that the baculovirus RING protein IE2 is a strong, promiscuous
trans
-activator in mammalian cells, dramatically upregulating the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter in both Vero E6 and U-2OS cells. Further study of the cellular mechanism for the activation led to the discovery of a novel IE2 nuclear body structure which contains a high concentration of G-actin and closely associates with RNA polymerase II, PML, and SUMO1. IE2 mutagenesis studies indicated that the RING and coiled-coil domains of IE2 were necessary for nuclear body formation, as well as for strong activation of the CMV promoter in mammalian cells. Overall, this study shows that the IE2
trans
-activator could significantly advance the use of baculovirus in mammalian gene transfer and protein production.
Bunyamwera Orthobunyavirus S-Segment Untranslated Regions Mediate Poly(A) Tail-Independent Translation
Authors: Blakqori Gjon , van Knippenberg Ingeborg , Elliott Richard M. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT

The mRNAs of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), the prototype of the
Bunyaviridae
family, possess a 5′ cap structure but lack a 3′ poly(A) tail, a common feature of eukaryotic mRNAs that greatly enhances translation efficiency. Viral mRNAs also contain untranslated regions (UTRs) that flank the coding sequence. Using model virus-like mRNAs that harbor the
Renilla
luciferase reporter gene, we found that the 3′ UTR of the BUNV small-segment mRNA mediated efficient translation in the absence of a poly(A) tail. Viral UTRs did not increase RNA stability, and polyadenylation did not significantly enhance reporter activity. Translation of virus-like mRNAs in transfected cells was unaffected by knockdown of poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) but was markedly reduced by depletion of eukaryotic initiation factor 4G, suggesting a PABP-independent process for translation initiation. In BUNV-infected cells, translation of polyadenylated but not virus-like mRNAs was inhibited. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the viral nucleocapsid protein binds to, and colocalizes with, PABP in the cytoplasm early in infection, followed by nuclear retention of PABP. Our results suggest that BUNV corrupts PABP function in order to inhibit translation of polyadenylated cellular mRNAs while its own mRNAs are translated in a PABP-independent process.
Glycosphingolipid Composition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Particles Is a Crucial Determinant for Dendritic Cell-Mediated HIV-1
trans
-Infection
Authors: Hatch Steven C. , Archer Jacob , Gummuluru Suryaram 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
Interactions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with dendritic cells (DCs) are multifactorial and presumably require nonredundant interactions between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and molecules expressed on the DC surface that define the cellular fate of the virus particle. Surprisingly, neutralization of HIV-1 gp120-dependent binding interactions with DCs was insufficient to prevent HIV-1 attachment. Besides gp120, HIV-1 particles also incorporate host cell-derived proteins and lipids in their particle membrane. In this study, we demonstrate a crucial role for host cell-derived glycosphingolipids (GSLs) for the initial interactions of HIV-1 particles with both immature and mature DCs. Production of HIV-1 particles from virus producer cells treated with ceramide synthase inhibitor fumonisin B1 or glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) resulted in the production of virus particles that, although capable of binding previously defined HIV-1 gp120-specific attachment factors CD4, DC-SIGN, and syndecans, were attenuated in their ability to be captured by both immature and mature DCs. Furthermore, GSL-deficient HIV-1 particles were inhibited in their ability to establish productive infections in DC-T-cell cocultures. These studies provide initial evidence for the role of HIV-1 particle membrane-associated GSLs in virus invasion of DCs and also provide additional novel cellular targets, GSL biosynthetic pathways and GSL-dependent HIV-1 interactions with DCs, for development of antiviral therapy.
Human Cytomegalovirus Protein pUL38 Induces ATF4 Expression, Inhibits Persistent JNK Phosphorylation, and Suppresses Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Cell Death
Authors: Xuan Baoqin , Qian Zhikang , Torigoi Emi , Yu Dong 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a key organelle involved in sensing and responding to stressful conditions, including those resulting from infection of viruses, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Three signaling pathways collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR) are activated to resolve ER stress, but they will also lead to cell death if the stress cannot be alleviated. HCMV is able to modulate the UPR to promote its infection. The specific viral factors involved in such HCMV-mediated modulation, however, were unknown. We previously showed that HCMV protein pUL38 was required to maintain the viability of infected cells, and it blocked cell death induced by thapsigargin. Here, we report that pUL38 is an HCMV-encoded regulator to modulate the UPR. In infection, pUL38 allowed HCMV to upregulate phosphorylation of PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) and the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α), as well as induce robust accumulation of activating transcriptional factor 4 (ATF4), key components of the PERK pathway. pUL38 also allowed the virus to suppress persistent phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which was induced by the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 pathway. In isolation, pUL38 overexpression elevated eIF-2α phosphorylation, induced ATF4 accumulation, limited JNK phosphorylation, and suppressed cell death induced by both thapsigargin and tunicamycin, two drugs that induce ER stress by different mechanisms. Importantly, ATF4 overexpression and JNK inhibition significantly reduced cell death in pUL38-deficient virus infection. Thus, pUL38 targets ATF4 expression and JNK activation, and this activity appears to be critical for protecting cells from ER stress induced by HCMV infection.
A
cis
Element within
Flowering Locus T
mRNA Determines Its Mobility and Facilitates Trafficking of Heterologous Viral RNA
Authors: Li Chunyang , Zhang Ke , Zeng Xianwu , Jackson Stephen , Zhou Yu , Hong Yiguo 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT

The
Arabidopsis flowering locus T
(
FT
) gene encodes the mobile florigen essential for floral induction. While movement of the FT protein has been shown to occur within plants, systemic spread of
FT
mRNA remains to be unequivocally demonstrated. Utilizing novel RNA mobility assay vectors based on two distinct movement-defective viruses,
Potato virus X
and
Turnip crinkle virus
, and an agroinfiltration assay, we demonstrate that nontranslatable
FT
mRNA, independent of the FT protein, moves throughout
Nicotiana benthamiana
and mutant
Arabidopsis
plants and promotes systemic trafficking of viral and green fluorescence protein RNAs. Viral ectopic expression of FT induced flowering in the short-day
N. tabacum
Maryland Mammoth tobacco under long-day conditions. Recombinant
Potato virus X
bearing
FT
RNA spread and established systemic infection more quickly than the parental virus. The
cis
-acting element essential for RNA movement was mapped to the nucleotides 1 to 102 of the
FT
mRNA coding sequence. These data demonstrate that a plant self-mobile RNA molecule can mediate long-distance trafficking of heterologous RNAs and raise the possibility that
FT
RNA, along with the FT protein, may be involved in the spread of the floral stimulus throughout the plant.
CD4 T-Cell-Mediated Heterologous Immunity between Mycobacteria and Poxviruses
Authors: Mathurin Keisha S. , Martens Gregory W. , Kornfeld Hardy , Welsh Raymond M. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTThe bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) strain ofMycobacterium bovisis used in many parts of the world as a vaccine againstMycobacterium tuberculosis. Some epidemiological evidence has suggested that BCG immunization may have unpredicted effects on resistance to other pathogens. We show here in a mouse model that BCG immunization followed by antibiotic treatment to clear the host of the pathogen rendered three strains of mice partially resistant to infection with vaccinia virus (VV) but not to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). VV-challenged BCG-immune mice developed a striking splenomegaly and elevated CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses by 6 days postinfection (p.i.). However, resistance to VV infection could be seen as early as 1 to 2 days p.i. and was lost after antibody depletion of CD4 T-cell populations. BCG- but not LCMV-immune memory phenotype CD4 T cells preferentially produced gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in vivo after VV challenge. In contrast, LCMV-immune CD8 T cells preferentially produced IFN-γ in vivo in response to VV infection. In BCG-immune mice the resistance to VV infection and VV-induced CD4 T-cell IFN-γ production were ablated by cyclosporine A, which inhibits signaling through the T-cell receptor. This study therefore demonstrates CD4 T-cell-mediated heterologous immunity between a bacterium and virus. Further, it poses the question of whether BCG immunization of humans alters resistance to unrelated pathogens.
Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Nonstructural Protein NS2 Antagonizes the Activation of Beta Interferon Transcription by Interacting with RIG-I
Authors: Ling Zhenhua , Tran Kim C. , Teng Michael N. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT
A wide variety of RNA viruses have been shown to produce proteins that inhibit interferon (IFN) production and signaling. For human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the nonstructural NS1 and NS2 proteins have been shown to block IFN signaling by causing the proteasomal degradation of STAT2. In addition, recombinant RSVs lacking either NS1 or NS2 induce more IFN production than wild-type (wt) RSV in infected cells. However, the mechanisms by which the NS proteins perform this function are unknown. In this study, we focused on defining the mechanism by which NS2 inhibits the induction of IFN transcription. We find that NS2 is required for the early inhibition of IFN transcription since the infection of cells with NS2-deletion RSV resulted in a higher level of IRF3 activation at early time points postinfection compared with that of wt or NS1-deletion RSV infection. In addition, NS2 expression inhibits IFN transcription induced by both the RIG-I and TLR3 pathways. Furthermore, we show that NS2 inhibits RIG-I-mediated IFN promoter activation by binding to the N-terminal CARD of RIG-I and inhibiting its interaction with the downstream component MAVS (IPS-1, VISA, Cardif). Thus, the RSV NS2 protein is a multifunctional IFN antagonist that targets specific components of both the IFN induction and IFN signaling pathways.
BRAIDING AND ENTANGLEMENT IN SPIN NETWORKS: A COMBINATORIAL APPROACH TO TOPOLOGICAL PHASES
Authors: KÁDÁR ZOLTÁN , MARZUOLI ANNALISA , RASETTI MARIO 
Published: February 2009

The spin network quantum simulator relies on the su(2) representation ring (or its q-deformed counterpart at q = root of unity) and its basic features naturally include (multipartite) entanglement and braiding. In particular, q-deformed spin network automata are able to perform efficiently approximate calculations of topological invarians of knots and 3-manifolds. The same algebraic background is shared by 2D lattice models supporting topological phases of matter that have recently gained much interest in condensed matter physics. These developments are motivated by the possibility to store quantum information fault-tolerantly in a physical system supporting fractional statistics since a part of the associated Hilbert space is insensitive to local perturbations. Most of currently addressed approaches are framed within a "double" quantum Chern–Simons field theory, whose quantum amplitudes represent evolution histories of local lattice degrees of freedom.We propose here a novel combinatorial approach based on "state sum" models of the Turaev–Viro type associated with SU(2)q-colored triangulations of the ambient 3-manifolds. We argue that boundary 2D lattice models (as well as observables in the form of colored graphs satisfying braiding relations) could be consistently addressed. This is supported by the proof that the Hamiltonian of the Levin–Wen condensed string net model in a surface Σ coincides with the corresponding Turaev–Viro amplitude on Σ × [0,1] presented in the last section.
Age and Injury Severity
Authors: Brorsson Bengt 
Published: February 2009

This study aims at showing if and to what extent injury severity in frontal car crashes increases with the age of front seat occupants. Data on 2658 belted drivers and front seat passengers in Volvo private car series 140, 240 and 740/760, involved in frontal crashes were extracted from the Volvo Car Crash Register. The results show that the risk of injury resulting in “medical observation” does not increase systematically with age. However, the risk of fracture with any localization is more than three times higher among those aged 65-74 than in those aged 18-24, and the risk of fracture in the rib cage is nearly eleven times higher among the older than in the younger age group. It can be concluded that the incidence of specific types of injuries—as exemplified with fractures of any localization and fractures in the rib cage—increases with advancing age.
Simply osteoporosis — or multifactorial genesis for the increasing incidence of fall injuries in the elderly? The need for a scientific approach to reducing injuries
Authors: Svanström Leif 
Published: February 2009

Both the high and rising incidence of injuries in old age and a situation where accidents are looked upon as “super-human” events, impossible to prevent, call for a scientific approach to the problem. Another strong reason for stressing the scientific approach is the complex aetiological origin of injuries in the elderly. Individual factors as well as factors overrepresented in the injured population must find a developed model as site for their importance compared to agent factors and environmental factors. If not, there will be an everlasting contradiction between the discussion on monofactorial “causes” of injuries like osteoporosis, lacking physical exercise, environmental risks, etc. Still another reason is that the present serious situation with an increasing incidence of injuries in the elderly call for urgent preventive programmes as well as development of operation methods, rehabilitation methods and environmental changes. Unfortunately, in spite of the importance and magnitude of the number of injuries as a publich health problem, relative little scientific attention has been given to the area of injury control. In the paper it is concluded that there is a need for model development. These models should combine an epidemiological approach with a behavioural scientific method as well as a system-oriented model. Such models are available in occupational injury prevention and should as well be tested in prevention of injuries in the elderly.
Illness behaviour in mental ill-health in Kuwait
Authors: El-Islam M. Fakhr , Abu-Dagga Sanaa I. 
Published: February 2009

Two hundred and eight individuals were interviewed in order to study the behaviour they adopt in relation to the most common somatic and emotional symptoms of mental ill-health. Illness behaviour included ignoring, brooding, self-help and consultation of others. Older individuals tended more frequently to resort to meditation, native healers and doctors. Males consulted doctors more than females. Brooding was more frequent in well educated subjects. A group of married expatriates who left their wives in their original countries were the most likely to consult doctors. Education and marital status were the most predictive of brooding and self-help behaviour. Self-help was the most commonly adopted illness behaviour. The results are explained in terms of the social and cultural background of the individuals studied because this influences their methods of expressing distress and their action in relation to symptoms.
Social Class and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Danish Men
Authors: Møller Lars , Kristensen Tage S. , Hollnagel Hanne 
Published: February 2009

During the last 25 years, a series of epidemiological studies in North-Western Europe and U.S.A. have demonstrated a negative association between social class and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), that is, an increasing incidence the lower the social class. In studies where possible explanations of this negative gradient have been analyzed, it was concluded that the traditional individual risk factors, such as elevated blood pressure, high serum cholesterol, and smoking, could explain about one half of the differences demonstrated. In a prospective study of a cohort of 504 men from the County of Copenhagen, the participants were examined when 40 and 51 years old. At both examinations the social class of the participants was recorded in addition to a number of cardiovascular risk factors. The latter included both the traditional risk factors and some not previously analyzed in relation to social class. At the 51-year examination we found statistically significant negative associations between social class and the following risk factors: plasma fibrinogen (p < 0.001), short height (p < 0.001), smoking (p < 0.05), physical inactivity in leisure time (p < 0.01), shift work (p < 0.05), job strain (p < 0.05), living alone (p < 0.01), and having a poor social network (p < 0.05). Two factors showed a significant opposite association with social class: Type A behaviour (p < 0.001) and physical inactivity at work (p < 0.001). In the last 10-15 years, a tendency has been demonstrated in many countries towards a strengthened association between social class and cardiovascular risk factors. This tendency was not found in our cohort. It has been discussed whether some of the social inequalities observed could be due to selection, so that people with a favourable cardiovascular risk profile socially were upward mobile. We found no support for such a selection hypothesis in our study.
Suicide among young people aged 10–29 in Sweden
Authors: Hultén A. , Wasserman D. 
Published: February 2009

Suicide among young people aged 10–29 in Sweden. Hultén, A., Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Gävle Hospital, S-803 28 Gävle, Sweden and Wasserman, D., Department of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge, and Center for Suicide Research and Prevention Stockholm County Council, Karolinska Hospital, Sweden. This study analyses the incidence of suicide among children and young people aged between 10 and 29 in Sweden, during the period 1974–1986 . The study comprises 4,624 individuals whose deaths were the outcome of verified, E950-E959 ( n = 3,511) and undetermined, E980-E989 ( n = 1,113) suicides. Regression analysis of different age groups separately and all age groups combined shows that the frequency of suicide among children and young people in Sweden did not increase in this period. Nonetheless, mortality figures are high, especially for boys and young men aged 15–29. The maximum suicide-mortality rate (43.2 per 100,000) is noted for young men aged 25–29 in 1984. The male-female ratio with respect to deaths from suicide is 2.5 for the entire group, the smallest difference being in the 15–19 age group (1.7) and the largest in the 25–29 age group (2.8). Methods of committing suicide vary between the sexes and the various age groups. Boys and young men use violent methods more often, and this situation has remained stable throughout the 13-year period. Girls use non-violent methods to a greater extent, but young women aged 18–29 use violent and non-violent methods to almost the same extent. During the 13-year period studied, a change took place in the girls' and young women's choice of methods towards more violent methods in the 1980s compared with the 1970s. Regardless of sex, there are significantly (p < 0.001) fewer married and more divorced people among those committing suicide compared with corresponding age groups in the overall population.
Intravenous drug abuse in young men
Authors: Stenbacka Marlene , Allebeck Peter , Brandt Lena , Romelsjö Anders 
Published: February 2009

Intravenous drug abuse in young men: Risk factors assessed in a longitudinal perspective. Stenbacka, M. (Department of Social Medicine, Kronan Health Centre, S-172 83 Sundbyberg, Sweden). The role of family background as well as behavioural and psychological factors as risk factors for intravenous drug abuse was analysed in a longitudinal study of 8168 Swedish men conscripted for military service in 1969-70. Information about risk factors was obtained from a survey of all Swedish conscripts. Records on intravenous drug abuse, during a followup ending in 1986, were obtained from a survey of intravenous drug abusers among persons brought to the Central police arrest in Stockholm. Strong predictors of intravenous drug abuse were contact with the police or juvenile authorities (RR = 22.3 95% CI 15.1-33.0), high alcohol consumption (RR = 9.2 95% CI 6.7-12.7) and psychiatric diagnosis at conscription (RR = 6.0 95% CI 4.5-8.1) and low social class (RR = 3.6 95% CI 2.2-5.9). In multivariate analyses, these factors and indicators of deviant behaviour still carried significantly increased relative risk for intravenous drug abuse, although several of them are interrelated. Low emotional control, nervousness, sleeping problems and other nervous problems were associated with an increased relative risk in univariate but not in multivariate analyses.
Coronary risk factors in middle-aged men as related to smoking, coffee intake and physical activity
Authors: Høstmark Arne T. , Berg John , Brudal Stein , Berge Steinar R. , Kierulf Peter , Bjerkedal Tor 
Published: February 2009

Coronary risk factors in middle-aged men as related to smoking, coffee intake and physical activity. Høstmark, A. T., Berg, J., Brudal, S., Berge, S., Kierulf, P. and Bjerkedal, T. (Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Oslo, Occupational Health Service for STK-Alcatel, and Oslo Transport. Research Group, Central Laboratory, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo). The relationship between lifestyle and coronary risk factors in blood was investigated in 165 middle-aged men. Plasma fibrinogen, serum triacylglycerols (TG), and apolipoprotein B (apo B) were higher, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) lower in smokers ( n = 69) than in non-smokers ( n = 96). By linear regression analysis there was a significant positive association between degree of smoking and either total cholesterol (TC), apo B, or plasma fibrinogen, whereas smoking was inversely related to HDLc. Smoking and coffee intake were positively correlated with an atherogenic index, reflecting the balance between low and high density lipoproteins. Sedentary men (n = 59) had higher mean TC, apo B, and atherogenic index than physically active men (n = 104). Smokers used salt more often than non-smokers. Physically active men used vegetables more often than sedentary men. Combining several habits into a “badhabit” score gave a high level of significance for its association with TC, apo B, and the atherogenic index. The results indicate that lifestyle may influence several blood factors involved in atherosclerosis development.