bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Beijing Genotype in Russia: in Search of Informative Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Loci
Authors: Mokrousov Igor , Narvskaya Olga , Vyazovaya Anna , Millet Julie , Otten Tatiana , Vishnevsky Boris , Rastogi Nalin 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

The Beijing genotype is a globally spread lineage of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. In Russia, these strains constitute half of the local population of
M. tuberculosis
; they are associated with multidrug resistance and show increased transmissibility. Here, we analyzed traditional and new markers for the rapid and simple genotyping of the Beijing strains. A representative sample of 120 Beijing genotype strains was selected from a local IS
6110
-restriction fragment length (RFLP) database at the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute. These strains were subjected to variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) typing using 24 loci of a newly proposed format and three hypervariable (HV) loci (QUB-3232, VNTR-3820, and VNTR-4120). Ten of the 27 VNTR loci were monomorphic, while five loci, MIRU26, QUB-26, QUB-3232, VNTR-3820, and VNTR-4120, were the most polymorphic (Hunter Gaston index, >0.5). VNTR typing allowed us to differentiate between two large IS
6110
-RFLP clusters known to be prevalent across the entire country (clusters B0/W148 and A0) and identified in 27 and 23% of strains, respectively, in the Beijing genotype database. The B0/W148 strains were grouped closely in the VNTR dendrogram and could be distinguished by a characteristic signature of the loci MIRU26 and QUB-26. Consequently, this clinically important IS
6110
-RFLP variant, B0/W148, likely presents a successful clonal group within the
M. tuberculosis
Beijing lineage that is widespread in Russia. To conclude, the IS
6110
-RFLP method and VNTR typing using a reduced set of the most polymorphic loci complement each other for the high-resolution epidemiological typing of the
M. tuberculosis
Beijing genotype strains circulating in or imported from Russia.
Urinary Tract Infections in a South American Population: Dynamic Spread of Class 1 Integrons and Multidrug Resistance by Homologous and Site-Specific Recombination
Authors: Márquez Carolina , Labbate Maurizio , Raymondo Claudia , Fernández Jimena , Gestal Alicia M. , Holley Marita , Borthagaray Graciela , Stokes H. W. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTOne hundred four bacterial strains mediating urinary tract infections in separate individuals from a Uruguayan community were isolated. Forty-six strains conferred a multidrug resistance phenotype. All 104 strains were examined for the presence of class 1, 2, and 3 integrons. Class 1 integrons were found in 21 isolates across four distinct bacterial genera. A large class 1 integron in aKlebsiella pneumoniaestrain was fully sequenced and was 29,093 bp in length. This integron probably arose by homologous recombination since it was embedded in a hybrid Tn21-like transposon backbone which comprised a Tn5036-liketnptransposition module at the IRi integron end and a Tn21 mermodule at the IRt integron end. The parent integron/transposon that contributed the Tn5036module was not related to Tn1696since the integron insertion points in the transposon backbones were 16 bases apart. Examination of the other 20 class 1 integron-containing strains revealed further evidence of genetic exchange. This included a strain that possessed a Tn5036module at the IRt end but not at the IRi end and another that possessed atnpmodule beyond IRi that was a hybrid of Tn21and Tn5051and that is presumed to have arisen by site-specific recombination. This study highlights the ability of different genetic elements to act cooperatively to spread and rearrange antibiotic resistance in a community.
Pyrazinamide Resistance among South African Multidrug-Resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Isolates
Authors: Mphahlele Matsie , Syre Heidi , Valvatne Håvard , Stavrum Ruth , Mannsåker Turid , Muthivhi Tshilidzi , Weyer Karin , Fourie P. Bernard , Grewal Harleen M. S. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Pyrazinamide is important in tuberculosis treatment, as it is bactericidal to semidormant mycobacteria not killed by other antituberculosis drugs. Pyrazinamide is also one of the cornerstone drugs retained in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). However, due to technical difficulties, routine drug susceptibility testing of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
for pyrazinamide is, in many laboratories, not performed. The objective of our study was to generate information on pyrazinamide susceptibility among South African MDR and susceptible
M. tuberculosis
isolates from pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Seventy-one MDR and 59 fully susceptible
M. tuberculosis
isolates collected during the national surveillance study (2001 to 2002, by the Medical Research Council, South Africa) were examined for pyrazinamide susceptibility by the radiometric Bactec 460 TB system, pyrazinamidase activity (by Wayne's assay), and sequencing of the
pncA
gene. The frequency of pyrazinamide resistance (by the Bactec system) among the MDR
M. tuberculosis
isolates was 37 of 71 (52.1%) and 6 of 59 (10.2%) among fully sensitive isolates. A total of 25 unique mutations in the
pncA
gene were detected. The majority of these were point mutations that resulted in amino acid substitutions. Twenty-eight isolates had identical mutations in the
pncA
gene, but could be differentiated from each other by a combination of the spoligotype patterns and 12 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit loci. A high proportion of South African MDR
M. tuberculosis
isolates were resistant to pyrazinamide, suggesting an evaluation of its role in patients treated previously for tuberculosis as well as its role in the treatment of MDR-TB.
Sequential Priming with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) DNA Vaccines, with or without Encoded Cytokines, and a Replicating Adenovirus-SIV Recombinant Followed by Protein Boosting Does Not Control a Pathogenic SIVmac251Mucosal Challenge
Authors: Demberg Thorsten , Boyer Jean D. , Malkevich Nina , Patterson L. Jean , Venzon David , Summers Ebonita L. , Kalisz Irene , Kalyanaraman V. S. , Lee Eun Mi , Weiner David B. , Robert-Guroff Marjorie 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTPreviously, combination DNA/nonreplicating adenovirus (Ad)- or poxvirus-vectored vaccines have strongly protected against SHIV89.6P, DNAs expressing cytokines have modulated immunity elicited by DNA vaccines, and replication-competent Ad-recombinant priming and protein boosting has strongly protected against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) challenge. Here we evaluated a vaccine strategy composed of these promising components. Seven rhesus macaques per group were primed twice with multigenic SIV plasmid DNA with or without interleukin-12 (IL-12) DNA or IL-15 DNA. After a multigenic replicating Ad-SIV immunization, all groups received two booster immunizations with SIV gp140 and SIV Nef protein. Four control macaques received control DNA plasmids, empty Ad vector, and adjuvant. All vaccine components were immunogenic, but the cytokine DNAs had little effect. Macaques that received IL-15-DNA exhibited higher peak anti-Nef titers, a more rapid anti-Nef anamnestic response postchallenge, and expanded CD8CMT cells 2 weeks postchallenge compared to the DNA-only group. Other immune responses were indistinguishable between groups. Overall, no protection against intrarectal challenge with SIVmac251was observed, although immunized non-Mamu-A*01 macaques as a group exhibited a statistically significant 1-log decline in acute viremia compared to non-Mamu-A*01 controls. Possible factors contributing to the poor outcome include administration of cytokine DNAs to sites different from the Ad recombinants (intramuscular and intratracheal, respectively), too few DNA priming immunizations, a suboptimal DNA delivery method, failure to ensure delivery of SIV and cytokine plasmids to the same cell, and instability and short half-life of the IL-15 component. Future experiments should address these issues to determine if this combination approach is able to control a virulent SIV challenge.
Region between the Canine Distemper Virus M and F Genes Modulates Virulence by Controlling Fusion Protein Expression
Authors: Anderson Danielle E. , von Messling Veronika 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT
Morbilliviruses, including measles and canine distemper virus (CDV), are nonsegmented, negative-stranded RNA viruses that cause severe diseases in humans and animals. The transcriptional units in their genomes are separated by untranslated regions (UTRs), which contain essential transcription and translation signals. Due to its increased length, the region between the matrix (M) protein and fusion (F) protein open reading frames is of particular interest. In measles virus, the entire F 5′ region is untranslated, while several start codons are found in most other morbilliviruses, resulting in a long F protein signal peptide (Fsp). To characterize the role of this region in morbillivirus pathogenesis, we constructed recombinant CDVs, in which either the M-F UTR was replaced with that between the nucleocapsid (N) and phosphoprotein (P) genes, or 106 Fsp residues were deleted. The Fsp deletion alone had no effect in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, substitution of the UTR was associated with a slight increase in F gene and protein expression. Animals infected with this virus either recovered completely or experienced prolonged disease and death due to neuroinvasion. The combination of both changes resulted in a virus with strongly increased F gene and protein expression and complete attenuation. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the region between the morbillivirus M and F genes modulates virulence through transcriptional control of the F gene expression.
The E8
∧
E2 Gene Product of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Represses Early Transcription and Replication but Is Dispensable for Viral Plasmid Persistence in Keratinocytes
Authors: Lace Michael J. , Anson James R. , Thomas Gregory S. , Turek Lubomir P. , Haugen Thomas H. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

A conserved E8
∧
E2 spliced mRNA is detected in keratinocytes transfected with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) plasmid DNA. Expression of HPV-16 E8
∧
E2 (16-E8
∧
E2) is independent of the major early promoter, P97, and is modulated by both specific splicing events and conserved
cis
elements in the upstream regulatory region in a manner that differs from transcriptional regulation of other early viral genes. Mutations that disrupt the predicted 16-E8
∧
E2 message also increase initial HPV-16 plasmid amplification 8- to 15-fold and major early gene (P97) transcription 4- to 5-fold over those of the wild type (wt). Expressing the 16-E8
∧
E2 gene product from the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter represses HPV-16 early gene transcription from P97 in a dose-dependent manner, as detected by RNase protection assays. When expressed from the CMV promoter, 16-E8
∧
E2 also inhibits the amplification of an HPV-16 plasmid and a heterologous simian virus 40 (SV40)
ori
plasmid that contains E2 binding sites in
cis
. In contrast, cotransfections with HPV-16 wt genomes that express physiologic levels of 16-E8
∧
E2 are sufficient to repress HPV-16 plasmid amplification but are limiting and insufficient for the repression of SV40 amplification. 16-E8
∧
E2-dependent repression of HPV-16 E1 expression is sufficient to account for this observed inhibition of initial HPV-16 plasmid amplification. Unlike with other papillomaviruses, primary human keratinocytes immortalized by the HPV-16 E8 mutant genome contain more than eightfold-higher levels of unintegrated plasmid than the wt, demonstrating that 16-E8
∧
E2 limits the viral copy number but is not required for plasmid persistence and maintenance.
Altering Avalonia: oxygen isotopes and terrane distinction in the Appalachian peri-Gondwanan realmLaboratory for Stable Isotope Science (LSIS), The University of Western Ontario, Contribution 236.
Authors: Potter Joanna , Longstaffe Frederick J. , Barr Sandra M. , Thompson Margaret D. , White Chris E. 
Published: August 2008

Distinct 18O depletion is characteristic of a large majority of the 620–550 Ma felsic igneous rocks of Avalonia in the northern Appalachian orogen. Neoproterozoic rocks in the Boston Avalon terrane have the lowest δ18OWR values (≥–3.1‰), followed by the Mira terrane in Cape Breton Island and the Caledonia terrane in New Brunswick (≥–1.2‰), the Avalon terrane in Newfoundland (≥+2.8‰), and the Antigonish Highlands in Nova Scotia (≥+5.3‰). In contrast, this depletion of 18O is observed in very few of the Paleozoic felsic igneous rocks from these Avalonian terranes, and also in very few of the Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic felsic igneous rocks from the inboard Ganderian terranes. The low-18O character of the Neoproterozoic igneous rocks is related to regional pervasive, post-magmatic alteration by predominantly meteoric-hydrothermal fluids (δ18OH2O ∼–6‰ to –4‰) at 200–450 °C. The alteration likely occurred during late Neoproterozoic transtensional extension of Avalonia. Large-scale fluid infiltration and circulation within the Avalonian crust accompanied this extension with development of pull-apart sedimentary basins and extension-related magmatism that were the prelude to Cambrian submergence of Avalonia. This regional 18O depletion provides a geochemical fingerprint by which Avalonia can be distinguished from other peri-Gondwanan terranes. These data suggest that Avalonia existed as a composite terrane on the Gondwanan margin in the Neoproterozoic, separate from Ganderia.
Tick vitellogenin receptor reveals critical role in oocyte development and transovarial transmission ofBabesiaparasite
Authors: Boldbaatar Damdinsuren , Battsetseg Badgar , Matsuo Tomohide , Hatta Takeshi , Umemiya-Shirafuji Rika , Xuan Xuenan , Fujisaki Kozo 
Published: August 2008

A cDNA encoding the vitellogenin receptor of the ixodid tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (HlVgR) was cloned and characterized. The full-length cDNA is 5631 bp, including an intact ORF encoding an expected protein with 1782 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the HlVgR cDNA revealed two ligand-binding domains with four class A cysteine-rich repeats in the first domain and eight in the second domain similar to those of insect VgRs. The immunoblot analysis detected ~197 kDa protein in both tick ovary and egg. The developmental expression profile demonstrated that HlVgR mRNA exists throughout the ovarian development, and the transcriptional level is especially high in the previtellogenic period. Immuno electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that the localization of HlVgR is detected on the external surface of oocyte plasma membrane. RNAi showed that eggs of HlVgR dsRNA-injected adult ticks had not developed into fully mature oocytes and laid abnormal eggs. The Babesia parasite DNA was not detected in the eggs of HlVgR dsRNA-injected tick that fed on Babesia gibsoni infected dog, whereas it was detected in the eggs of PBS-injected ticks and noninjected ticks. Expression of HlVgR was increased by the vitellogenic hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. These results indicate that HlVgR, which is produced by the developing oocytes, is essential for Vg uptake, egg development in the H. longicornis tick, and transovarial transmission of Babesia parasites.
Pacific Climate Change and ENSO Activity in the Mid-Holocene
Authors: Chiang J. C. H. , Fang Y. , Chang P. 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
The authors argue that a reduction to the stochastic forcing of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) wrought by Pacific-wide climate changes in response to mid-Holocene (6000 BP) orbital forcing is a viable hypothesis for the observed reduction of ENSO activity during that time. This conclusion is based on comprehensive analysis of an intermediate coupled model that achieves significant reduction to ENSO variance in response to mid-Holocene orbital forcing. The model’s excellent simulation of the tropical Pacific interannual variability lends credibility to the results.
Idealized simulations demonstrate that the mid-Holocene influence is communicated to the tropical Pacific largely via climate changes outside of the tropical Pacific, rather than from insolation changes directly on the tropical Pacific. This is particularly true for changes to the ENSO, but also with changes to the cold tongue annual cycle. Previously proposed mechanisms for teleconnected mid-Holocene ENSO changes, including forcing of ENSO by a strengthened Asian summer monsoon and an increase in the annual cycle forcing on the tropical Pacific leading to a reduction in ENSO activity by frequency entrainment, do not appear to occur in these simulations. Rather, the authors show that the modeled mid-Holocene climate exhibits a pronounced reduction in Pacific meridional mode activity that has been recently shown to be a forcing on ENSO, though the reasons for this reduction are still to be explained.
The contrasting nature of the results compared to previous studies highlights the effect of the prevailing ENSO paradigm on this problem. By showing that an externally forced ENSO model is equally capable of explaining mid-Holocene ENSO reduction as its nonlinear, weakly chaotic counterpart, it is demonstrated that the mid-Holocene ENSO data point cannot yet discriminate between these two paradigms of ENSO.
Investigation of a Severe Downburst Storm near Phoenix, Arizona, as Seen by a Mobile Doppler Radar and the KIWA WSR-88D
Authors: Vasiloff Steven V. , Howard Kenneth W. 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
A Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radar (SMART-R) was deployed near Phoenix, Arizona, during the summer of 2004. The goal was to capture a severe microburst at close range to understand the low-altitude wind structure and evolution. During the evening of 27 July, a severe storm formed along the Estrella Mountains south of Phoenix and moved south of the SMART-R as well as the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in Phoenix (KIWA). Several microburst–downburst pulses were observed by radar and a surface wind gust of 67 mi h−1 was reported. The radar data illustrate the finescale structure of the microburst pulses, with the SMART-R’s higher-resolution data showing Doppler velocities 3–4 m s−1 greater than the KIWA radar. SMART-R wind shear values were 2–3 times greater with the finer resolution of the SMART-R revealing smaller features in the surface outflow wind structure. Asymmetric outflow may have been a factor as well in the different divergence values. The evolution of the outflow was very rapid with the 5-min KIWA scan intervals being too course to sample the detailed evolution. The SMART-R scans were at 3–5-min intervals and also had difficulty resolving the event. The storm environment displayed characteristics of both moderate-to-high-reflectivity microbursts, typical of the high plains of Colorado.
A proteomic study of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Dai Y , Hu C , Huang Y , Huang HY , Liu J , Lv T 
Published: August 2008

Our objective was to analyze the changes in the protein expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Peripheral blood was obtained from patients with SLE and healthy controls. 2-D gel electrophoresis was performed, and gels were silver-stained. Differentially expressed protein spots were detected, some of which were identified by MALDI-TOF spectrometry. Match rates of 71% ± 4% and 72% ± 4% were gotten for control and patient gels, respectively. 791 ± 17 spots were detected for control gels and 781 ± 17 for patient gels. Eleven protein spots were up-regulated, and 9 protein spots were down-regulated in patients with SLE. Five differentially expressed proteins were identified as immunoglobulin J chain, apolipoprotein A-IV precursor, calprotectin L1H and zinc finger protein subfamily 1A (all up-regulated) and glutathione S-transferase (down-regulated), some of which had previously been shown to play a potential role in the pathogenesis of SLE. We conclude there are significant changes in the 2-D maps of PBMCs in patients with SLE and applying this proteomic approach may be a useful way to gain novel insights into SLE.
Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis with Jaccoud’s arthropathy and valvular heart disease: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Amano H , Furuhata N , Tamura N , Tokano Y , Takasaki Y 
Published: August 2008

We describe a female Japanese patient with concomitant hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, Jaccoud’s arthropathy and valvular heart disease. In 1996, she developed arthritis with swelling of both proximal interphalangeal joints and urticarial vasculitis on both arms that was resolved by administration of glucocorticoid (prednisolone 30 mg/day). Tests for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor gave negative results. The findings of a skin biopsy examination were consistent with ‘leukocytoclastic vasculitis’. During 10 years of observation, the patient manifested polyarthritis leading to progressive deformity of the joints of the hands and feet (without loss of cartilage or erosion of bone), persistent urticaria exacerbated by cold and accompanied by hypocomplementemia and progressive cardiac valvular disease with mitral valve regurgitation. There are only three reports described previously documenting five patients with this rare combination of manifestations.
Severe clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus in the first year of life
Authors: Zulian F , Pluchinotta FR , Martini G , Da Dalt L , Zacchello G 
Published: August 2008

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) very rarely occurs before the age of 5. Herein we describe the clinical features of infantile SLE (iSLE) with onset during the first year of life. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of iSLE patients followed at the Department of Pediatrics of Padua were analyzed. They were combined with those collected from the literature by performing a systematic literature search on PubMed using the following keywords: SLE, infant, laboratory, therapy, and outcome. A total of 13 patients with iSLE, 2 from our Institution and 11 from the literature, are included in this review. Seven (53.8%) were females and 6 were males (46.2%). The age at disease onset ranged from 6 weeks to 11 months. In comparison with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE), iSLE showed a higher prevalence of positive family history for autoimmune diseases, systemic symptoms at presentation, internal organs involvement, and shorter time between symptoms onset and diagnosis. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were present in the majority of the patients at diagnosis, whereas leukopenia was rarely observed. The overall prognosis in iSLE was very poor: 5/13 infants died between 2 and 31 months after the onset, and 5/13 had severe disease course with residual organ damage. SLE can start as early as during the first year of life and is more severe than in the later age groups.
The association of periodontal disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Gadsby Roger 
Published: August 2008

Background: Evidence for a link between periodontal disease and several systemic diseases is growing rapidly. Current evidence suggests that periodontitis is associated with an increased likelihood of coronary heart disease and diabetes Scope: A consensus group reviewed published data on the contributory role of periodontal disease to overall health. Particular consideration was given to a role for periodontal disease in cardiovascular disease and in diabetes Conclusions: Further research is needed to define the population-attributable risk of periodontal disease to cardiovascular diseases and to diabetes control and progression. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2008; 8: 188—189.