bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First Report of the Rust Phragmidium violaceum on Pennsylvania Blackberry in California
Authors: Aime M. C. , Rossman A. Y. 
Published: October 2007

In April 2005, a rust fungus on Pennsylvania blackberry, Rubus pensilvanicus Poiret (= R. abactus Bailey), was collected in Humboldt County, CA. Although native to eastern North America, this host is an escaped cultivar that occurs in disturbed areas throughout California. Morphological and molecular data suggest that this rust is Phragmidium violaceum (Schultz) G. Winter. To confirm the identification of the specimen from California, an ~1,000-bp section of ribosomal DNA from the 28S large subunit was amplified and sequenced with rust-specific primers (M. C. Aime, unpublished data) (Genbank Accession No. EF672358). This sequence was 100% homologous to sequences of this rust species from Oregon and France. Widespread in Europe and introduced into Australasia as a biological control agent, P. violaceum has recently been reported from Oregon on Himalayan and evergreen blackberries, R. armeniacus Focke and R. laciniatus Willd. (2). Finding this rust in California about the same time as in Oregon suggests that its distribution may be widespread, possibly existing in the United States for some time. To our knowledge, this the first report from California and of the rust species on this plant host (1). The specimen from California is infected with urediniospores but lacks teliospores; it has been deposited at the U.S. National Fungus Collections as BPI 877816. References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungal Databases. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. Online publication. USDA, ARS, 2007. (2) N. Osterbauer et al. Online publication. doi:10.1094/PHP-2005-0923-01-BR. Plant Health Progress, 2005.
First Report of Summer Patch of Kentucky Bluegrass Caused by Magnaporthe poae in Colorado
Authors: Swift C. E. , Blessinger A. , Brandt N. , Tisserat N. 
Published: October 2007

The ectotrophic, root-infecting fungus Magnaporthe poae is the cause of summer patch of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). The disease is widely distributed in the mid-Atlantic Region of the United States and west to central Nebraska and Kansas (2). It also has been found in certain locations of Washington and California (2) but has not been confirmed in the Rocky Mountain Region. In August 2005 and 2006, tan patches and rings of dead turf ranging from 10 to 30 cm in diameter were observed in Kentucky bluegrass swards in Grand Junction and Greeley, CO, respectively. The sites, separated by approximately 360 km, are located west and east of the Continental Divide. A network of ectotrophic hyphae were observed on diseased root segments collected from both sites. A fungus morphologically similar to M. poae (2) was consistently isolated from these segments. DNA was extracted from mycelium of one isolate from each location and amplified by PCR with the M. poae species-specific primers MP1 and MP2 (1). A 453-bp DNA fragment was consistently amplified from DNA of both isolates, diagnostic of M. poae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of summer patch in Colorado and indicates that M. poae may be widely distributed in the central Rocky Mountain Region. References: (1) T. E. Bunting et al. Phytopathology 86:398, 1996. (2) B. B. Clarke and A. B. Gould, eds. Turfgrass Patch Diseases Caused by Ectotrophic Root-Infecting Fungi. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1993.
WT1 as a complementary marker of malignant melanoma: an immunohistochemical study of whole sections
Authors: Wilsher M , Cheerala B 
Published: October 2007

Aims:  To test the usefulness of WT1 as a diagnostic aid in melanoma diagnosis and prognostication.Methods and results:  Benign naevi, Spitz naevi, dysplastic naevi and melanoma in situ, primary epithelioid, spindle cell and desmoplastic melanoma, and metastatic melanoma biopsy specimens were collected. Primary melanoma cases were grouped using the 2003 Tumour Node Metastasis classification. Cases were examined using haematoxylin and eosin and WT1‐stained sections. The presence and pattern of WT1 expression were recorded. Benign naevi were uniformly negative with WT1. The majority of Spitz naevi expressed WT1 (83%). The dysplastic naevi/in situ group showed expression of WT1 in 35% of cases. The majority of primary epithelioid melanoma cases showed WT1 expression (88%). The prevalence of expression by each T category was similar, with T1 = 90%, T2 = 75%, T3 = 95% and T4 = 90%. All spindle cell and desmoplastic melanoma cases showed WT1 expression (100%). Ninety per cent of metastatic melanoma cases expressed WT1.Conclusions:  WT1 is a useful ancillary diagnostic tool in routine melanoma diagnosis. WT1 expression in primary melanoma is unrelated to tumour depth. Its usefulness is limited by the fact that most Spitz naevi express WT1, up to one‐third of dysplastic naevi can express WT1 and not all melanomas demonstrate its expression.
Increased Langerhans cell accumulation after mycobacterial stimuli
Authors: Miranda A , Amadeu T P , Schueler G , Alvarenga F B F , Duppré N , Ferreira H , Nery J A C , Sarno E N 
Published: October 2007

Aims:  To evaluate the role of Langerhans cells (LCs) in the local activation of leprosy lesions. LCs, acting as tolerance inducers and immune stimuli, are dendritic cells recently implicated in cutaneous homeostasis. The role of LCs in the defence against mycobacterial infection remains poorly understood.Methods and results:  The number and distribution of CD1a+ skin cells and HLA‐DR and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1 expression were analysed in leprosy skin lesions and in delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) tests. The results showed a high number of LCs in tuberculin and lepromin tests, in tuberculoid lesions and in the epidermis and dermis during type I and II reactions. In multibacillary lesions, however, the number of LCs was consistently low in comparison with other groups. Increased numbers of LCs were accompanied by marked HLA‐DR and ICAM‐1 expression, suggesting a strong relationship between these immunological events.Conclusions:  CD1a+ cells are implicated in the local immunological events taking place after mycobacterial stimuli and may account for the local activation of all types of reactional episodes in leprosy.
HER‐2/neu and p27Kip1 in progression of Fallopian tube carcinoma: an immunohistochemical and array comparative genomic hybridization study
Authors: Nowee M E , Dorsman J C , Piek J M J , Kosma V M , Hämäläinen K , Verheijen R H M , Van Diest P J 
Published: October 2007

Aims:  To determine expression of p53, HER‐2/neu and p27Kip1 in serous Fallopian tube carcinoma (FTC) in relation to stage and grade, and to investigate DNA copy number changes of HER‐2 and P27KIP1 as a potential mechanism of altered expression status.Methods and results:  Immunohistochemistry was performed on 28 serous FTCs and 10 normal Fallopian tubes. p53 protein accumulated and p27Kip1 was down‐regulated significantly in early‐stage FTCs compared with normal Fallopian tubes. HER‐2/neu overexpression was absent in normal Fallopian tubes and in all stage I FTCs (n = 6) but present in 57% (12/21) of advanced‐stage FTCs. No differences in expression between grade 2 and 3 tumours were detected. HER‐2 gain/amplification was found by array comparative genomic hybridization in 23% (3/13) of analysed FTCs and all showed overexpression. HER‐2/neu overexpression also occurred without DNA copy number changes in three other cases. For p27Kip1, expression and DNA copy number were unrelated.Conclusions:  p53 accumulation and p27Kip1 down‐regulation seem to be early events in Fallopian tube carcinogenesis. HER‐2/neu showed overexpression, caused by gain/amplification in 50%, and may be involved in progression of FTC. These data contribute to a better understanding of the molecular carcinogenesis of FTC and to possible new therapeutic approaches.
Expression of tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand and caspase‐3 in relation to grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Piekarska A , Kubiak R , Omulecka A , Szymczak W , Piekarski J 
Published: October 2007

Aim:  To assess whether the distribution of the recently described proapoptotic ligand, tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL), and the apoptosis effector, caspase‐3 alters with the degree of inflammation and fibrosis present in liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.Methods and results:  Expression of TRAIL and caspase‐3 was assessed immunohistochemically in liver biopsy specimens obtained from 89 adults with chronic hepatitis C. Expression of TRAIL in hepatocytes correlated inversely with stage of fibrosis (P = 0.001), classified according to the Scheuer score; expression of caspase‐3 in hepatocytes correlated with grade of inflammation (P = 0.012). Expression of TRAIL in hepatocytes was not correlated with grade of inflammation (P > 0.05); expression of caspase‐3 was not correlated with stage of fibrosis (P > 0.05). Maximum expression of proapoptotic TRAIL protein was observed in cases with low grade inflammation (G0) and low stage fibrosis (S1). Maximum expression of caspase‐3 in hepatocytes was observed in cases with high grade inflammation (G3–4) and high stage fibrosis (S3), but not with liver cirrhosis (S4).Conclusions:  There is a significant decrease in TRAIL expression with increasing grade of inflammation, whereas caspase‐3 expression is significantly increased with advanced fibrosis, short of cirrhosis.
Development and suppression of a population of late‐adhering macrophages in mouse malaria
Authors: LELCHUK ROSALIA , TAVERNE JANICE , AGOMO P.U. , PLAYFAIR J.H.L. 
Published: October 2007

Summary Changes in phagocytic and adherent cell numbers were compared during the course of infections of mice with Plasmodium yoelii (Py) and P. berghei (Pb) and in vaccinated mice challenged with homologous parasites.Nucleated cells in the spleen increased in number in Py‐infected mice and were maximal at the time of recovery. The number of phagocytic cells increased in parallel, as did the number of blood leucocytes. Rates of increase were accelerated in vaccinated mice. Changes in Pb‐infected mice resembled controls and blood leucocytes showed no consistent increase. In infected mice, the number of spleen and bone marrow cells which adhered to plastic rose above normal. At some stages of infection, cells which did not adhere in 24 h did so in 72 h. Such late‐adhering cells, which resembled macrophages in morphology, were most numerous at the time of recovery. They appeared to be derived from monocyte precursors which matured in culture. Sometimes cells adherent at 24 h suppressed the development of the late‐adhering population. Silica inactivated these suppressive macrophages but did not affect the precursors which developed into late‐adhering cells. It is concluded that malarial infection stimulates the production of precursors of the macrophage‐monocyte series and that their development is regulated by the presence of mature macrophages.
Species specificity of the immediate hypersensitivity to schistosomal proteolytic enzyme
Authors: SENFT A.W. , WELTMAN J.K , GOLDGRABER M.B. , EGYUD L.G. , KUNTZ R.E 
Published: October 2007

Summary An acidic proteolytic enzyme which digests host haemoglobin can be isolated and purified from schistosomes. This small glycoprotein is an allergen which sensitizes the host, as shown by immediate hypersensitivity reactions. These are specific for either Schistosoma haematobium or S. mansoni and can be demonstrated by mast cell degranulation in mice or by intradermal skin tests in monkeys.Although high levels of total IgE may be found in acute and chronic schistosomiasis, there was no evident relationship between the worm burden in monkeys and immediate hypersensitivity reactions to either purified enzyme or crude schistosomal extracts. It is suggested that an in vivo correlation between worm burden and manifestations of the allergic response may be perturbed by high titres of non‐specific IgE or other homocytotropic antibodies, thus accounting for false negative skin test reactions. Alternatively, a return to low or subnormal IgE levels may allow the restoration of the allergic response, giving rise to false positive reactions.Purified schistosomal antigens offer certain advantages over crude skin test preparations in terms of uniformity of antigen content, dosage and specificity. In addition, the enzyme may represent a species‐specific tool for new immunochemical analyses of schistosomiasis.
Immunological regulation of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. 2. Studies with Biozzi high and low responder lines of mice
Authors: HALE CHRISTINE , HOWARD J.G. 
Published: October 2007

SUMMARYSusceptibility to Leishmania tropica was studied in Biozzi‘high’(Ab/H) and‘low’(Ab/L) responder mice of Selections I and III which, although originally selected with heterologous erythrocytes and Salmonella flagellar antigens respectively, both show non‐specific separation of antibody responses. Ab/H Sel I rapidly develop large, ulcerated, progressive, non‐healing lesions (occasionally desseminating fatally) accompanied by rising serum antibody titres. Ab/L Sel I produce only small lesions, even with the largest infecting dose, which heal after 2 months with minimal antibody responses. Specific delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) levels found in both are normal and equivalent. (Ab/H × Ab/L)F1 mice behave intermediately. A smaller inter‐line difference is only detectable in Sel III with lower infecting doses. Both Ab/L and Ab/H mice given high doses develop chronic non‐healing disease. These results imply that spontaneous resolution of cutaneous L. tropica lesions during the immune phase is independent of humoral antibody. While the great resistance and slower development of lesions found in Ab/L Sel I are entirely consistent with the macrophage‘hyperactivity’characteristic of the line, attempts to demonstrate this in vitro with comparisons of infected peritoneal exudate cells have been inconclusive so far.
Bovine immune response to African trypanosomes: specific antibodies to variable surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: MUSOKE A. J. , NANTULYA V. M. , BARBET A. F. , KIRONDE F. , McGUIRE T.C. 
Published: October 2007

SUMMARYCattle were infected with two different clones of Trypanosoma hrurei (MITat 1.2 and ILTat 1.3) and antibody response was followed by radioimmunoassay. In four of the seven animals there were at least two peaks of antibody activity to the infecting clones, with the second peak much higher than the first. Specific antibodies (IgG1 and IgM but not IgG2) were eluted from the immunoabsorbent columns on which the variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) were coupled. By neutralization of infectivity tests, IgM antibodies from the first peak of antibody activity were more efficient in neutralizing trypanosomes than IgGl but the reverse was true of the antibodies isolated from the second peak. By absorption with multiple variable antigen types isolated during the course of infection, all the IgM and IgG1 in the first 3 weeks of infection were shown to be specific. It is suggested that polyclonal B cell stimulation leading to dysfunction in the control of IgM and IgG production may not be responsible for the high levels of these immunoglobulins in bovine trypanosomiasis.
Neutrophil‐mediated cytotoxicity to schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni in vitro: studies on the kinetics of complement and/or antibody‐dependent adherence and killing
Authors: INCANI R.N. , McLAREN DIANE J. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryThe capacity of rat peritoneal neutrophils to adhere to and kill schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni in vitro has been investigated. Neutrophils adhere readily to schistosomula in the presence of antibody plus complement (C) (fresh immune rat serum), antibody alone (heat‐inactivated immune rat serum) and C alone (fresh normal rat serum), but not with heat‐inactivated normal rat serum. However, schistosomular killing is only achieved with neutrophils and fIRS or MRS. In the presence of hiIRS the cells detach after 6 h without producing a significant level of parasite death. The system involving neutrophils plus fIRS is the most efficient in terms of serum dilution and the rate of schistosomular killing. The complement‐dependent antibody involved in this system belongs to the class IgG and occurs in rat serum at peak titres, 6–8 wk after a primary schistosome infection. Neutrophil adherence in the presence of MRS depends upon the generation of C3b molecules at the parasite surface via the alternative pathway of C activation. Studies on the antibody alone system indicate that the lack of significant schistosomular killing might result from the absence of factors which stimulate cell migration, since if a chemokinetic agent is introduced into the assay a 30% increase in mortality is recorded. The possible participation of neutrophils in the destruction of a primary and/or challenge infection in vivo is discussed.
An analysis of allergy, immunoglobulin E, and diagnostic skin tests in schistosomiasis
Authors: WELTMAN J. K. , SENFT A. W. 
Published: October 2007

SUMMARYFactors governing the sensitization or desensitization of basophils and mast cells are discussed. Mathematical models are proposed which illustrate the effects of rising or falling specific or non‐specific IgE titres on the tendency of these cells to degranulate. The models presented are consistent with the hypothesis that fine‐tuning of the degranulatory event is achieved by one or more of the following mechanisms: alteration of the number of IgE receptors on the mast cell membrane; displacement of specific anti‐schistosomal IgE by anti‐other‐IgE molecules; clipping or otherwise inactivating mast cell‐fixed specific IgE receptor sites so as to render these incapable of binding antigen. Mechanisms proposed may explain how a mast cell population may evolve from highly sensitive to non‐reactive allergic states during early and/or chronic periods of schistosomiasis, only to revert to highly sensitive states once again, after the disease has been overcome.
Humoral mechanisms in the immune response of insects to larvae of Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda)
Authors: LACKIE ANN M. 
Published: October 2007

SUMMARYPrevious work has shown that larvae of Hymenolepis diminuta are not encapsulated by the haemocytes of the locust, Schistocerca gregaria, but are encapsulated by haemocytes of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. The specificity of the cellular immune response in vivo, and of the agglutinating activity of the sera against vertebrate erythrocytes in vitro, is known to differ between the two species of insect. Accordingly, the sera of each of these species was tested for its agglutinating activity in vitro against a pure suspension of a known number of freshly‐hatched oncospheres of H. diminuta; it was found that serum of P. americana strongly agglutinated oncospheres while the serum of S. gregaria had no effect. The agglutinating activity of cockroach serum was only partially removed by preadsorption with either human, rat or rabbit erythrocytes, all of which are strongly agglutinated by the serum. Although the function in vivo of this agglutinating activity directed against oncospheres is not known, it is suggested that this observation—that both the haemocytes and serum of one insect species respond to the parasite whereas the serum and haemocytes of another species apparently do not—may be of some relevance to the immune recognition mechanisms of insects.
Partial purification and characterization of protection‐inducing antigens from the muscle larva of Trichinella spiralis by molecular sizing chromatography and preparative flatbed isoelectric focusing
Authors: DESPOMMIER D.D. 
Published: October 2007

SUMMARYThe soluble portion of a large particle fraction which was derived from the muscle larva of T. spiralis was subjected to molecular sizing column chromatography using Sephacryl S‐200. Five major peaks of 280 nm absorbing material were obtained. Analysis by immunoelectrophoresis revealed that each peak contained antigens, with the majority of them occurring in peaks 3,4 and 5. Preliminary studies indicated that peak 4 (mol. wt range 20 000‐10 000) contained protection‐inducing antigens. Crossed‐immunoelectrophoretic and single‐dimension electrophoretic analysis of peak 4 revealed a minimum of 10 antigens, while analytical isoelectric focusing demonstrated the presence of proteins with widely different pl, ranging from 4·0 to 9·0. Peak 4 was fractionated by preparative flatbed isoeletric focusing (PIEF) using two gradients: one from 3·5 to 9·5 and the other from 3·5 to 5·5. Fused rocket immunoelectrophoretic (FRIEP) analysis of both runs indicated that several antigens were separated from the others: one at pl 4·0 and the other at pl 9·0. The remaining antigens focused between pl 4·3 and 4·9. One hundred micrograms of whole peak 4, pl 9·0 antigen and the group of antigens at pl 4·3–4·9 were each separately injected, along with Freund's complete adjuvant, into mice. In addition, a portion of the pl 4·0 antigen was also assayed for protection. All antigenic preparations induced significant levels of protection. The pl 4·0 was further analysed on high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two sharp peaks of antigen, as detected by FRIEP, were eluted isocratically with 65% acetonitrile from a (2–18 (aliphatic) column. Both peaks of antigen showed complete cross‐reactivity on FRIEP and absorbed at 220 nm. Amino acid analysis of each HPLC peak revealed no detectable differences in composition. Each peak contained a predominance of aspartic (13 mol%) and glutamic (18 mol%) acid. This antigen did not contain significant quantities of aromatic amino acids, and absorbed strongly at 206 nm. Neither the pl 4·0 or pl 9·0 antigen stained positively with the PAS reaction.
Non‐specific immune responses in CBA/N mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: GASBARRE L.C. , FINERTY J.F. , LOUIS J. A. 
Published: October 2007

SUMMARYCBA/N mice carry a genetic defect which causes a maturational arrest of normal B lymphocyte development, and results in an inability to mount IgM antibody responses against certain T lymphocyte‐independent antigens. These mice were found to survive an experimental infection with Trypanosoma brucei two to three times longer than conventional mice. This enhanced survival does not appear to be related to the level of infection of the host since parasitaemias were similar in all strains tested. In addition, the level of non‐specific polyclonal B cell activation as assessed by the enumeration of anti‐TNP antibody‐producing cells in the spleens of infected animals was found to be similar in CBA/N, CB A/CaT6 and A/J mice. In contrast, the level of circulating immune complex‐like material was lower in CBA/N mice at a time when mice of other strains were dying from the effects of the infection. Finally, although CBA/N mice survive a T. brucei infection for a longer time interval, they exhibit a non‐specific immunosuppression similar to that seen in conventional mice.