bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insects in expanding education and entertainment in Taiwan
Authors: YANG Man‐Miao 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTaiwan, an island of approximately 36000 km2 area, includes stunning diversity in both habitat and biota because of its transitional position. Where the Tropic of Cancer cuts across the middle of the island and the east Philippine plate subducts into the Eurasia plate, the landscape and weather are extremely congenial for a highly diverse biota to develop over the years in Taiwan. Such a natural endowment has enabled diverse habitats for wildlife to evolve. Insects are especially abundant in Taiwan. For example, about 400 species of butterflies occur in Taiwan. Export of aesthetically attractive insects, such as butterflies and beetles, is an ongoing key industry in Taiwan right from the early to middle 20th century. As the economic preferences moved towards high technology with a concurrent understanding of biological diversity and the concept of conservation grew strong, use of insect materials have currently moved towards education and entertainment. Besides the exhibition of traditional methods of insect collection, several newly developed insectaria are presently integrated into Taiwanese museums, zoos, and university departments using modern technology for displaying activities of live insects. Summer camps offer plentiful opportunities for children to learn about insects. Volunteers, with appropriate research skills and extensive scientific knowledge are involved in these exhibitions. Rearing of “pet” insects is popular and, consequently, enabled the growth of some specific supply companies. Traditionally, insect resources are used in many aspects, such as in medicine and food and extraction of insect products such as silk and honey; occasionally some of the insects are useful as even game animals. Fighting crickets provide entertainment, and occasionally used in gambling as well. Insects provide diverse and abundant resources and are an excellent material deserved for better exploration in many aspects.
Status of weed biological control utilizing insects in Korea
Authors: KWON Ohseok 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIt has been only recently that the biological control of weeds by insects was practiced in Korea. Since the diverse crop farming practices in relatively small farms, it has been underestimated by the chemical control practice. The need to find alternative methods from the presence of herbicide‐resistant weeds and growing ecological concern requires immediate action to be followed. The Integrated Weed Management Laboratory at the National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology at the Rural Development Administration was set up to initiate weed biological control research. Since then, four research projects on weed biological control by insects were carried out. The target weed species were as follows: Rumex obtusifolius, Ambrosia trifida, Acalypha australis, and Monochoria vaginalis. In this review, some of the findings both published and unpublished were presented to show the status of the weed biological control by insects in Korea.
Cross-Reactivity of
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
,
Histoplasma capsulatum
, and
Cryptococcus
Species in the Commercial Platelia
Aspergillus
Enzyme Immunoassay
Authors: Xavier Melissa O. , Pasqualotto Alessandro C. , Cardoso Isabel Cristina E. , Severo Luiz Carlos 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Cross-reactivity in the Platelia
Aspergillus
enzyme immunoassay was evaluated using 120 sera from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis. At a cutoff value of 0.5, positivity rates were 50%, 67%, and 50%, respectively. The implications for these findings are discussed.
RelB Sustains IκBα Expression during Endotoxin Tolerance
Authors: Chen Xiaoping , Yoza Barbara K. , El Gazzar Mohamed , Hu Jean Y. Q. , Cousart Sue L. , McCall Charles E. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT
Transcription factors and chromatin structural modifiers induce clinically relevant epigenetic modifications of blood leukocytes during severe systemic inflammation (SSI) in humans and animals. These changes affect genes with distinct functions, as exemplified by the silencing of a set of acute proinflammatory genes and the sustained expression of a group of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory genes. This paradigm is closely mimicked in the THP-1 human promonocyte cell model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin tolerance. We previously reported that LPS-induced de novo expression of RelB is required for generating tolerance to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression. RelB represses transcription by binding with heterochromatic protein 1 α (HP1α) to the proximal promoters of IL-1β and TNF-α. In contrast, we report herein that RelB is required for sustained expression of anti-inflammatory IκBα in LPS-tolerant THP-1 cells. RelB transcription activation requires binding to the IκBα proximal promoter along with NF-κB p50 and is associated with an apparent dimer exchange with p65. We also observed that RelB induced during human SSI binds to the IκBα proximal promoter of circulating leukocytes. We conclude that RelB functions as a dual transcription regulator during LPS tolerance and human SSI by activating and repressing innate immunity genes.
Comparison of a Multiplexed Herpes Simplex Virus Type-Specific Immunoglobulin G Serology Assay to Immunoblot, Western Blot, and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays
Authors: Martins Thomas B. , Welch Ryan J. , Hill Harry R. , Litwin Christine M. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

The human herpes simplex virus (HSV) is highly pathogenic, with infections caused by two distinct antigenic types, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Differentiation of antibodies to these specific antigens can provide useful information for the diagnosis of subclinical or undiagnosed HSV-2 infections, as well as for reducing the risk of maternal transfer of HSV to the neonate. In this study, a multiplex assay capable of concurrent detection of HSV-1 and -2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies was compared to immunoblot, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Agreement of the multiplex assay was 95% or greater (
n
= 332) for both HSV-1 and -2 compared to the three assays. Sensitivities for HSV-1 ranged from 94.9 to 97.9%, with specificities of 93 to 97%. For HSV-2, the sensitivity and specificity ranges were 92.6 to 98.9% and 98.3 to 98.7%, respectively. Our studies show that the multiplexed microsphere-based assay offers a sensitive and specific alternative method for the detection HSV-1 and -2 type-specific antibodies. Advantages of the multiplex assay include multiple results per assay, the inclusion of internal controls for each specimen, and higher throughput of results.
Lymphoproliferative and Cytokine Responses to
Cryptosporidium parvum
in Patients Coinfected with
C. parvum
and Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Kaushik Kirti , Khurana Sumeeta , Wanchu Ajay , Malla Nancy 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

We compared the lymphoproliferative and cytokine responses to
Cryptosporidium parvum
in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive and -seronegative patients. The lymphoproliferative and cytokine responses (interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were assessed for 11 HIV-seropositive,
Cryptosporidium
-positive (group I) patients; 20 HIV-seropositive,
Cryptosporidium
-negative (group II) patients; 10 HIV-seronegative,
Cryptosporidium
-positive (group III) patients, including four post-renal transplant (group IIIa) and 6 presumably immunocompetent (group IIIb) patients; and 20 HIV-seronegative,
Cryptosporidium
-negative healthy individuals (group IV). No significant difference was observed in the number of patients showing positive lymphoproliferative responses in group I compared to group III (post-renal transplant [group IIIa] or immunocompetent [group IIIb]) patients, while a comparison of the median stimulation indices shows that responses were significantly lower in
Cryptosporidium
-infected, immunosuppressed (group I and IIIa) patients than in immunocompetent (group IIIb) patients. The number of patients showing positive responses and median stimulation indices was significantly higher for
Cryptosporidium
-infected (HIV-seropositive and -seronegative) individuals than for uninfected individuals, suggesting that
Cryptosporidium
induces significant in vitro lymphoproliferative responses in infected individuals. Cytokine levels, except for that of IL-5, were significantly higher in
Cryptosporidium
-infected (groups I and III) individuals than in uninfected (groups II and IV) individuals. There was no significant difference between the group I and III patients and between
Cryptosporidium
-infected immunosuppressed (group I or IIIa) and immunocompetent (group IIIb) patients.
First Case of
Mycobacterium heckeshornense
Lymphadenitis
Authors: McBride Stephen J. , Taylor Susan L. , Pandey Sushil K. , Holland David J. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium heckeshornense
is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium first characterized in 2000. It is reported to cause lung disease and tenosynovitis. We report a case of isolated massive axillary lymphadenopathy in an elderly woman, where histology showed necrotizing granulomata and
M
.
heckeshornense
was isolated as the causative organism.
Results of Use of WHO Global Salm-Surv External Quality Assurance System for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of
Salmonella
Isolates from 2000 to 2007
Authors: Hendriksen Rene S. , Seyfarth Anne Mette , Jensen Arne B. , Whichard Jean , Karlsmose Susanne , Joyce Kevin , Mikoleit Matthew , Delong Stephanie M. , Weill François-Xavier , Aidara-Kane Awa , Lo Fo Wong Danilo M. A. , Angulo Frederick J. , Wegener Henrik C. , Aarestrup Frank M. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

An international External Quality Assurance System (EQAS) for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of
Salmonella
was initiated in 2000 by the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Salm-Surv in order to enhance the capacities of national reference laboratories to obtain reliable data for surveillance purposes worldwide. Seven EQAS iterations have been conducted from 2000 to 2007. In each iteration, participating laboratories submitted susceptibility results from 10 to 15 antimicrobial agents for eight
Salmonella
isolates and an
Escherichia coli
reference strain (ATCC 25922). A total of 287 laboratories in 102 countries participated in at least one EQAS iteration. A large number of laboratories reported results for the
E. coli
ATCC 25922 reference strain which were outside the quality control ranges. Critical deviations for susceptibility testing of the
Salmonella
isolates varied from 4% in 2000 to 3% in 2007. Consistent difficulties were observed in susceptibility testing of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline. Regional variations in performance were observed, with laboratories in central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East not performing as well as those in other regions. Results from the WHO Global Salm-Surv EQAS show that most laboratories worldwide are capable of correctly performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing of
Salmonella
isolates, but they also indicate that further improvement for some laboratories is needed. In particular, further training and dissemination of information on quality control, appropriate interpretive criteria (breakpoints), and harmonization of the methodology worldwide through WHO Global Salm-Surv and other programs will contribute to the generation of comparable and reliable antimicrobial susceptibility data (D. M. A. Lo Fo Wong, R. S. Hendriksen, D. J. Mevius, K. T. Veldman, and F. M. Aarestrup, Vet. Microbiol. 115:128-139, 2006).
Association of Diarrheagenic
Escherichia coli
Pathotypes with Infection and Diarrhea among Mexican Children and Association of Atypical Enteropathogenic
E. coli
with Acute Diarrhea
Authors: Estrada-Garcia Teresa , Lopez-Saucedo Catalina , Thompson-Bonilla Rocio , Abonce Maricela , Lopez-Hernandez Daniel , Santos Jose Ignacio , Rosado Jorge L. , DuPont Herbert L. , Long Kurt Z. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Seventy-six children ≤2 years old were prospectively followed for 1 year in a peri-urban community of Mexico City to determine asymptomatic infection and acute diarrhea associated with diarrheagenic
Escherichia coli
pathotypes (DEPs). By use of a pathogen-specific multiplex PCR, DEPs were sought in 795 stool samples, of which 125 (16%) were positive for DEP; of these, 4 represented shedding episodes and 4 parasite coinfections. Most single-DEP infections (85/117) were asymptomatic (
P
< 0.001), and of the 32 DEP diarrhea episodes, 41% were associated with atypical enteropathogenic
E. coli
(aEPEC), 37.5% with enterotoxigenic
E. coli
, 9% with typical EPEC, 9% with enteroinvasive
E. coli
, and 3% with Shiga toxin-producing
E. coli
strains. Among the 76 children, 54 had at least one stool positive for DEP, of which 23 experienced a DEP-associated diarrhea episode. In the last group of children, DEP infection was significantly associated with a diarrhea episode (relative risk [RR] = 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.79 to 3.57;
P
< 0.001), with ETEC (RR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.49 to 3.54;
P
= 0.003) and aEPEC (RR = 1.92; 95% CI, 1.23 to 3.0;
P
= 0.019) being the pathotypes associated with diarrhea. aEPEC-associated diarrhea episodes were frequently in the <12-month age group (RR = 2.57; 95% CI, 1.05 to 6.27;
P
= 0.04). aEPEC infections were distributed all year round, but associated diarrheal episodes were identified from April to October, with a May-June peak (rainy season). Most ETEC infections and diarrhea episodes characteristically occurred during the summer (rainy season), with a diarrhea peak in August. Of all DEPs, only aEPEC was associated with acute diarrhea episodes lasting 7 to 12 days (
P
= 0.019). DEPs are important causes of community-acquired enteric infection and diarrhea in Mexican children.
“
Mycobacterium canettii
” Isolated from a Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patient: First Case Recognized in the United States
Authors: Somoskovi Akos , Dormandy Jillian , Mayrer Andrew R. , Carter Martin , Hooper Nancy , Salfinger Max 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

We report the first case of tuberculosis caused by “
Mycobacterium canettii
” recognized in the United States. The pathogen was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of a 30-year-old Sudanese refugee.
Mycoplasma agalactiae p40
Gene, a Novel Marker for Diagnosis of Contagious Agalactia in Sheep by Real-Time PCR: Assessment of Analytical Performance and In-House Validation Using Naturally Contaminated Milk Samples
Authors: Oravcová Katarína , López-Enríquez Lorena , Rodríguez-Lázaro David , Hernández Marta 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the capacity of the
Mycoplasma agalactiae p40
gene as a diagnostic marker for contagious agalactia in sheep by quantitative real-time PCR. The
p40
gene encodes an immunodominant adhesin that plays a key role in cytoadhesion of
M. agalactiae
. The assay was 100% specific, with an analytical sensitivity of 1 genome equivalent (GE), a quantification that is highly linear (
R
2
> 0.992) and efficient (PCR efficiency, >0.992) over a 6-log dynamic range, down to 10 GE. We evaluated the capacity of the assay to detect
Mycoplasma agalactiae
in 797 milk samples (373 raw sheep milk samples from refrigerated tanks of different farms and 424 milk samples from individual sheep of a flock positive for
M. agalactiae
). In parallel, we also tested the samples by using microbiological isolation coupled with microscopy identification and by a PCR method recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health. While our assay was able to detect 57 (15.28%) positive samples of the 373 milk samples from different farms, identification by microbiological isolation coupled with microscopy detected only 36 (9.65%) samples, and the conventional PCR detected 31 (8.31%) samples. These findings showed that our assay based on the
p40
gene is more specific and sensitive for the detection of
M. agalactiae
in actual natural samples and, thus, can be a promising alternative tool for diagnosis and epidemiological studies of
M. agalactiae
infection.
Association of Nonsynonymous Substitutions in the Intermediate Region of the
vacA
Gene of
Helicobacter pylori
with Gastric Diseases in Taiwan
Authors: Sheu Shew-Meei , Hung Kuei-Hsiang , Sheu Bor-Shyang , Yang Hsiao-Bai , Wu Jiunn-Jong 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

The amino acid sequences corresponding to the
vacA
intermediate region from 39 isolates of
Helicobacter pylori
were investigated. The substitution of a G for the third S in the i1-type cluster B sequence (QASEGITS
S
K) conferred a greater risk of gastric diseases (
P
< 0.03; Fisher's exact test). The conserved substitutions of an F for the Y in the cluster A sequence and of an M for the second N in the i1-type cluster C sequence could be a marker of VacA in the Taiwanese strains.
Detection of Multiple Pathogenic Species in Saliva Is Associated with Periodontal Infection in Adults
Authors: Paju Susanna , Pussinen Pirkko J. , Suominen-Taipale Liisa , Hyvönen Mari , Knuuttila Matti , Könönen Eija 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT
We investigated whether certain bacterial species and their combinations in saliva can be used as markers for periodontitis. In 1,198 subjects, the detection of multiple species, rather than the presence of a certain pathogen, in saliva was associated with periodontitis as determined by the number of teeth with deepened periodontal pockets.
Gardnerella vaginalis
Acute Hip Arthritis in a Renal Transplant Recipient
Authors: Sivadon-Tardy Valérie , Roux Anne-Laure , Piriou Philippe , Herrmann Jean-Louis , Gaillard Jean-Louis , Rottman Martin 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

We report the case of an acute hip septic arthritis caused by
Gardnerella vaginalis
in a 48-year-old woman under immunosuppressive therapy for kidney transplantation. After surgical resection of the hip and 6 weeks of combination antibiotic therapy, a total hip prosthesis was successfully implanted with no recurrence after 4 years.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum
Isolates from Infections of Horses
Authors: Hassan Abdulwahed Ahmed , Ülbegi-Mohyla Hivda , Kanbar Talah , Alber Jörg , Lämmler Christoph , Abdulmawjood Amir , Zschöck Michael , Weiss Reinhard 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to characterize phenotypically and genotypically seven
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum
strains obtained from infections of six horses. All seven strains showed the cultural and biochemical properties typical of
A. haemolyticum
and were susceptible to most of the antibiotics tested. The species identification could be confirmed by amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and by PCR amplification of species-specific parts of the gene encoding phospholipase D in
A. haemolyticum
. Use of the latter could possibly improve future identification of this generally human pathogenic bacterial species which, according to the present results, seems to occur also in infections of horses.
SOCS-1 Mimetics Protect Mice against Lethal Poxvirus Infection: Identification of a Novel Endogenous Antiviral System
Authors: Ahmed Chulbul M. , Dabelic Rea , Waiboci Lilian W. , Jager Lindsey D. , Heron Linda L. , Johnson Howard M. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

The suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1) protein modulates cytokine signaling by binding to and inhibiting the function of Janus kinases (JAKs), ErbB, and other tyrosine kinases. We have developed a small tyrosine kinase inhibitor peptide (Tkip) that binds to the autophosphorylation site of tyrosine kinases and inhibits activation of STAT transcription factors. We have also shown that a peptide corresponding to the kinase-inhibitory region of SOCS-1, SOCS1-KIR, similarly interacts with the activation loop of JAK2 and blocks STAT activation. Poxviruses activate cellular tyrosine kinases, such as ErbB-1 and JAK2, in the infection of cells. We used the pathogenesis of vaccinia virus in C57BL/6 mice to determine the ability of the SOCS-1 mimetics to protect mice against lethal vaccinia virus infection. Injection of mice intraperitoneally with Tkip or SOCS1-KIR containing a palmitate for cell penetration, before and at the time of intranasal challenge with 2 × 10
6
PFU of vaccinia virus, resulted in complete protection at 100 μg. Initiation of treatment 1 day postinfection resulted in 80% survival. Administration of SOCS-1 mimetics by the oral route also protected mice against lethal effects of the virus. Both SOCS1-KIR and Tkip inhibited vaccinia virus transcription and replication at early and possibly later stages of infection. Vaccinia virus-induced phosphorylation of ErbB-1 and JAK2 was inhibited by the mimetics. Protected mice mounted a strong humoral and cellular response to vaccinia virus. The use of SOCS-1 mimetics in the treatment of poxvirus infections reveals an endogenous regulatory system that previously was not known to have an antiviral function.
Nuclear Factor-κB Binds to the Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1 Promoter and Upregulates Its Expression
Authors: Johansson Pegah , Jansson Ann , Rüetschi Ulla , Rymo Lars 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT
The latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) oncogene carried by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is essential for transformation and maintenance of EBV-immortalized B cells in vitro, and it is expressed in most EBV-associated tumor types. The activation of the NF-κB pathway by LMP1 plays a critical role in the upregulation of antiapoptotic proteins. The EBV-encoded EBNA2 transactivator is required for LMP1 activation in latency III, while LMP1 itself appears to be critical for its activation in the latency II gene expression program. In both cases, additional viral and cellular transcription factors are required in mediating transcription activation of the LMP1 promoter. Using DNA affinity purification and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we showed here that members of the NF-κB transcription factor family bound to the LMP1 promoter in vitro and in vivo. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses indicated the binding of the p50-p50 homodimer and the p65-p50 heterodimer to an NF-κB site in the LMP1 promoter. Transient transfections and reporter assays showed that the LMP1 promoter is activated by exogenous expression of NF-κB factors in both B cells and epithelial cells. Exogenous expression of NF-κB factors in the EBNA2-deficient P3HR1 cell line induced LMP1 protein expression. Overall, our data are consistent with the presence of a positive regulatory circuit between NF-κB activation and LMP1 expression.