bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serological Differentiation of Infections with Dengue Virus Serotypes 1 to 4 by Using Recombinant Antigens
Authors: Ludolfs Diana , Schilling Stefan , Altenschmidt Jan , Schmitz Herbert 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

The B domains of dengue virus serotypes 1 to 4 were expressed in
Escherichia coli
. The purified proteins were applied to immunoblot strips to detect serotype-specific antibodies in paired serum samples from 41 patients with primary and secondary dengue infections. A close correlation between the results obtained with the immunoblot strips and by type-specific reverse transcription-PCR (T. Laue, P. Emmerich, and H. Schmitz, J. Clin. Microbiol.
37:
2543-2547, 1999) was observed.
Development of a Hexaplex PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Virulence and Regulatory Genes in
Vibrio cholerae
and
Vibrio mimicus
Authors: Singh D. V. , Isac Sree Renjini , Colwell R. R. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

We have developed a hexaplex PCR assay for rapid detection of the virulence and regulatory genes for cholera toxin enzymatic subunit A (
ctxA
), zonula occludens toxin (
zot
), accessory cholera enterotoxin (
ace
), toxin-coregulated pilus (
tcpA
), outer membrane protein (
ompU
), and central regulatory protein ToxR (
toxR
) in
Vibrio cholerae
and
Vibrio mimicus
. This hexaplex PCR proved successful in screening pathogenic-toxigenic and nonpathogenic-nontoxigenic
V. cholerae
and
V. mimicus
strains from both clinical and environmental sources.
5′ Exonuclease Assay for Detection of Serogroup Y
Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Probert William S. , Bystrom Susan L. , Khashe Shideh , Schrader Kimmi N. , Wong Jane D. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

The incidence of serogroup Y meningococcal disease has increased recently in the United States. Here, we describe the development of a 5′ exonuclease assay for the detection of serogroup Y
Neisseria meningitidis
and demonstrate the usefulness of this assay for resolving serogroup identification of strains that are resistant to conventional serogrouping and for the nonculture identification of serogroup Y meningococcal disease.
Evaluation of Methods To Increase the Sensitivity and Timeliness of Detection of
Streptococcus agalactiae
in Pregnant Women
Authors: Overman Sue B. , Eley Douglas D. , Jacobs Barry E. , Ribes Julie A. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT
Direct culture of rectovaginal specimens on Granada agar was compared to culture on sheep blood agar plate (SBAP) and AccuProbe detection of group B streptococcus from overnight LIM broth enhancement cultures (LIM-SBAP). Both broth-enhanced methods demonstrated excellent sensitivity (97.5% for LIM-SBAP and 93.5% for AccuProbe), while Granada agar demonstrated a sensitivity of only 40.3%.
Impact of Modified Nonmeningeal
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Interpretive Criteria (NCCLS M100-S12) on the Susceptibility Patterns of Five Parenteral Cephalosporins: Report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (1997 to 2001)
Authors: Jones Ronald N. , Mutnick Alan H. , Varnam David J. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

The revised interpretive criteria for
Streptococcus pneumoniae
recently published in the NCCLS M100-S12 informational supplement provide two sets of breakpoints for some cephalosporins: one set for meningeal infection isolates and a new set for nonmeningeal infection isolates. The net effect of these changes was to increase the reported rates of susceptibility of
S. pneumoniae
to the more active parenteral cephalosporins, such as cefepime, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone, by 9.1 to 13.0%, bringing their in vitro rates much closer to those of amoxicillin (modified in an earlier NCCLS publication). These revised breakpoints will assist the rational prescribing of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of pneumococcal infections for specific types of infection and establish a greater correlation with clinical outcomes.
Expanded-Spectrum Cephalosporin-Resistant
Salmonella
Strains in Romania
Authors: Miriagou Vivi , Filip Roxana , Coman Gabriela , Tzouvelekis Leonidas S. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

Thirteen
Salmonella enterica
serotype Typhimurium and one
Salmonella enterica
serotype Heidelberg strain resistant to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins were isolated from October 2000 to February 2001 from infants with gastroenteritis in Iasi, Romania. In all but one serotype Typhimurium isolate, resistance was due to the production of a CMY-2 cephalosporinase encoded by a nonconjugative plasmid. The remaining isolate produced an SHV-5-type β-lactamase. Typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis indicated that the CMY-2-producing serotype Typhimurium isolates were related.
Nasal Swab versus Nasopharyngeal Aspirate for Isolation of Respiratory Viruses
Authors: Heikkinen Terho , Marttila Jane , Salmi Aimo A. , Ruuskanen Olli 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT
To determine the usefulness of nasal swabs as a simple method for detection of respiratory viruses, we compared nasal swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates obtained at the same time from the opposite nostrils of 230 children with upper respiratory infection. The sensitivity of nasal swabs was comparable to that of nasopharyngeal aspirates for the detection of all major respiratory viruses except respiratory syncytial virus.
Assessment of the Nasopharyngeal Bacterial Flora of Rhesus Macaques:
Moraxella
,
Neisseria
,
Haemophilus
, and Other Genera
Authors: Bowers Lisa C. , Purcell Jeanette E. , Plauché Gail B. , Denoel Philippe A. , Lobet Yves , Philipp Mario T. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

The nasopharyngeal bacterial flora of healthy rhesus macaques was surveyed for the presence of
Neisseria
and
Haemophilus
species, as well as
Moraxella catarrhalis
.
M. catarrhalis
was found both in healthy rhesus macaques and in possibly immunocompromised rhesus macaques. Several
Haemophilus
spp. that are part of the normal nasopharyngeal bacterial flora of humans were found in many animals; these
Haemophilus
species included
H. parahaemolyticus
,
H. segnis,
and
H. parainfluenzae
. While
Haemophilus influenzae
was not identified, it is possible that the identification of
H. influenzae
types may have been thwarted by the growth of less fastidious species. A number of animals harbored
Neisseria
spp. such as
N. sicca
. However,
Neisseria meningitidis
was not found. In summary, it appears as though the rhesus macaque may be used as a model for
M. catarrhalis
infections. Moreover, in view of the susceptibility of macaques to organisms of the
Haemophilus
and
Neisseria
genera, it is possible that these animals may also accurately model nontypeable
H. influenzae
and
N. meningitidis
infections.
Real-Time Fluorescence-Based PCR for Detection of Malaria Parasites
Authors: Lee May-Ann , Tan Chiew-Hoon , Aw Lay-Tin , Tang Choon-Siang , Singh Mulkit , Lee Sze-Hee , Chia Hwee-Pin , Yap Eric P. H. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT
A fluorescence-based real-time 5′ nuclease PCR capable of detecting all four human malaria parasites was developed to screen large numbers of samples during an outbreak to prevent further transmission of malaria. The effectiveness of antimalarial therapy for malaria patients can be monitored by determining the reduction of parasitemia by this method.
Quantification of Hepatitis C Virus in Human Liver and Serum Samples by Using LightCycler Reverse Transcriptase PCR
Authors: White Peter A. , Pan Yong , Freeman Anthony J. , Marinos George , Ffrench Rosemary A. , Lloyd Andrew R. , Rawlinson William D. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

A highly sensitive, non-probe-based, real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR was developed for viral load measurements in both serum and liver samples from patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. With synthetic RNA, the linearity of the approach was conserved over a wide range of HCV copy numbers. There was a strong correlation between hepatic and serum viral load measurements (
r
= 0.689,
P
= 0.004,
n
= 15), indicating that the level of viremia reflected the amount of virus present in the liver.
In Vitro Susceptibilities of the
Bacteroides fragilis
Group Species: Change in Isolation Rates Significantly Affects Overall Susceptibility Data
Authors: Aldridge Kenneth E. , O'Brien Megan 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

A comparison of antimicrobial susceptibility data of species of the
Bacteroides fragilis
group for 1989-1990 and 1998-1999 studies showed statistically significant increases or decreases in in vitro activity. Overall significant increases in resistance were noted for ampicillin-sulbactam and clindamycin, while significant decreases in resistance were noted for ertapenem and cefoxitin. Susceptibilities to piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem, meropenem, and trovafloxacin remained virtually the same for the two studies. Importantly, a change in the rates of isolation of the various species showed the
B. fragilis
species comprised 58% of the isolates in 1989 to 1990 and 45% of the isolates in 1998 to 1999. This change in rates of isolation of
B. fragilis
versus non-
B. fragilis
species had an overall effect on susceptibility data.
Practical and Sensitive Screening Strategy for Detection of Influenza Virus
Authors: Newton Duane W. , Mellen Cindy F. , Baxter Barbara D. , Atmar Robert L. , Menegus Marilyn A. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the performance of Directigen FluA combined with a 3-day flu screening culture for the detection of influenza virus. This abbreviated protocol was a useful and effective tool and resulted in a substantial reduction in time, effort, and money spent, while not compromising sensitivity of influenza virus detection.
High Rate of Transmission of Penicillin-Resistant
Streptococcus pneumoniae
between Parents and Children
Authors: Hoshino Kazuhiko , Watanabe Hiroshi , Sugita Rinya , Asoh Norichika , Ntabaguzi Simon Angelo , Watanabe Kiwao , Oishi Kazunori , Nagatake Tsuyoshi 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

Transmission of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
between children and their parents was evaluated in 29 pairs from 25 families. The serotypes of 35 pneumococcal isolates from 18 (62.1%) of 29 child-parent pairs were identical. Of the 35 isolates, 23 showed intermediate resistance and 10 were fully resistant to penicillin G. PCR indicated that all 35 strains had at least one alteration in penicillin-binding protein genes
pbp1a
,
pbp2x
, and
pbp2b
and 33 strains had macrolide resistance genes
mef
(A) and/or
erm
(B). As a result, the PCR patterns of 16 of 18 pairs were identical. Molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that 12 pairs were indistinguishable, 3 pairs were closely related, 2 pairs were possibly related, and only one pair was different. Our data indicate the presence of a high rate of transmission of penicillin-resistant
S. pneumoniae
between children and their parents.
PCR-Based Detection of
Bacillus anthracis
in Formalin-Fixed Tissue from a Patient Receiving Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Levine Steven M. , Perez-Perez Guillermo , Olivares Asalia , Yee Herman , Hanna Bruce A. , Blaser Martin J. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

We demonstrate that
Bacillus anthracis
may be detected from a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimen, even after the patient has received antibiotic treatment. Although traditional PCR methods may not be sufficiently sensitive for anthrax detection in such patients, cycle numbers can be increased or PCR can be repeated by using an aliquot from a previous PCR as the template.
Outbreak of Nosocomial Hepatitis C Virus Infection Resolved by Genetic Analysis of HCV RNA
Authors: Bruguera Miguel , Saiz Juan-Carlos , Franco Sandra , Giménez-Barcons Mireia , Sánchez-Tapias José María , Fabregas Silvia , Vega Roser , Camps Neus , Domínguez Angela , Salleras Lluis 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT
In July 2000, symptomatic acute hepatitis C was diagnosed in five patients who had attended the emergency room of a municipal hospital on the same day, about 6 weeks before. Investigation of the remaining 65 patients visited at the emergency room on that day disclosed that 8 patients had a positive anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) test and 4 of them had biochemical evidence of acute anicteric hepatitis. HCV RNA was detected in 12 of the 13 anti-HCV-positive patients. Phylogenetic analysis of the nonstructural 5A (NS5A) and E2 regions showed that 10 patients, including all 9 with acute hepatitis, were infected with a closely related HCV strain, while the remaining 2 patients harbored unrelated strains. Flushing of intravenous catheters with heparin retrieved from a multidose heparin solution in saline was carried out for all the patients involved in the hepatitis outbreak but in only 1 of 23 (4%) matched controls recruited among HCV-noninfected patients attending the emergency room on the same day, and this was the only significant difference concerning risk factors for HCV infection between patients and controls. Thus, accidental contamination of a multidose heparin solution with blood from an unrecognized HCV carrier was identified as the source of this nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis C.
Immune Responses of Sheep to Quadrivalent Double Emulsion Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccines: Rate of Development of Immunity and Variations among Other Ruminants
Authors: Patil Prasanna K. , Bayry Jagadeesh , Ramakrishna Chitimalla , Hugar Basavesh , Misra Laxmi D. , Prabhudas Krishnamsetty , Natarajan C. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

Despite representing the majority of the world's foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-susceptible livestock, sheep and goats have generally been neglected with regard to their epidemiological role in the spread of FMD. In the present investigations, FMD virus quadrivalent double emulsion (Montanide ISA 206) vaccines were tested in sheep. The oil adjuvant elicited a better immune response at any time than did aluminum hydroxide gel vaccine, and the response developed quicker. The animals maintained their neutralizing antibody titers at >3 log
10
for the duration of the trial (90 days). Sheep were found to be late responders to serotypes A, C, and Asia-1; a clear upward shift in titer was observed at 60 days postvaccination. However, development of the immune response to serotype O in sheep was superior to that in cattle and goats.
Characteristics of Rare or Recently Described
Corynebacterium
Species Recovered from Human Clinical Material in Canada
Authors: Bernard K. A. , Munro C. , Wiebe D. , Ongsansoy E. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

Nineteen new
Corynebacterium
species or taxa described since 1995 have been associated with human disease. We report the characteristics of 72 strains identified as or most closely resembling 14 of these newer, medically relevant
Corynebacterium
species or taxa, as well as describe in brief an isolate of
Corynebacterium bovis
, a rare pathogen for humans. The bacteria studied in this report were nearly all derived from human clinical specimens and were identified by a polyphasic approach. Most were characterized by nearly full 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Some isolates were recovered from previously unreported sources and exhibited unusual phenotypes or represented the first isolates found outside Europe. Products of fermentation, with emphasis on the presence or absence of propionic acid, were also studied in order to provide an additional characteristic with which to differentiate among phenotypically similar species.
Detection of Cell Wall Galactomannoprotein Afmp1p in Culture Supernatants of
Aspergillus fumigatus
and in Sera of Aspergillosis Patients
Authors: Woo Patrick C. Y. , Chan Che-Man , Leung Andy S. P. , Lau Susanna K. P. , Che Xiao-Yan , Wong Samson S. Y. , Cao Liang , Yuen Kwok-Yung 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

Mannoproteins are important and abundant structural components of fungal cell walls. The
AFMP1
gene encodes a cell wall galactomannoprotein of
Aspergillus fumigatus
. In the present study, we show that Afmp1p is secreted into the cell culture supernatant at a level that can be detected by Western blotting. A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed with antibodies against Afmp1p was capable of detecting this protein from the cell culture supernatant of
A. fumigatus
. The anti-Afmp1p antibody is specific since it fails to react with any protein from lysates of
Aspergillus flavus
,
Aspergillus niger
,
Aspergillus terreus
,
Penicillium marneffei
,
Candida albicans
,
Cryptococcus neoformans
,
Blastomyces dermatitidis
, and
Histoplasma capsulatum
by Western blotting. In addition, this Afmp1p antigen-based ELISA is also specific for
A. fumigatus
since the cell culture supernatants of the other eight fungi gave negative results. Finally, a clinical evaluation of sera from invasive aspergillosis patients indicates that 8 of 15 (53%) patients are Afmp1p antigen test positive. Furthermore, an Afmp1p antibody test was performed with these serum specimens. The combined antibody and antigen tests for invasive aspergillosis carry a sensitivity of 86.7% (13 of 15). The specificities of the tests are high since none of the 138 control sera, including 100 from normal blood donors, 20 from patients with penicilliosis marneffei, 6 from patients with candidemia, 8 from patients with typhoid fever, and 4 from patients with melioidosis, was positive by either test. In conclusion, the combined Afmp1p antibody and antigen tests are highly sensitive and specific for
A. fumigatus
invasive aspergillosis.
Simple Microdilution Test for Detection of Metallo-β-Lactamase Production in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Migliavacca Roberta , Docquier Jean-Denis , Mugnaioli Claudia , Amicosante Gianfranco , Daturi Rossana , Lee Kyungwon , Rossolini Gian Maria , Pagani Laura 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

A microdilution test measuring imipenem MICs in the presence or absence of a mixture of EDTA plus 1,10-phenanthroline was developed and tested on 190
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates, including 18 VIM- and 4 IMP-type metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producers. The chelator mixture reduced by fourfold or more the imipenem MICs for MBL producers, while a lower effect or no effect was usually observed with MBL nonproducers.
Late Prosthetic Hip Joint Infection withActinomyces israeliiin an Intravenous Drug User: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Zaman Rana , Abbas Mujahed , Burd Eileen 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACTLate infections withActinomyces israeliihave been described for prosthetic hip joints but not in association with intravenous drug use. We present a case of a 43-year-old intravenous drug user who developedA. israeliiinfection in connection with a hip prosthesis 11 years after implantation, and we review four previously reported cases ofActinomycesprosthetic joint infections.
Differential Regulation of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis ch-IAP1 by v-
rel
and the Proto-Oncogene c-
rel
Authors: Kralova Jarmila , Liss Andrew S. , Bargmann William , Pendleton Cullen , Varadarajan Janani , Ulug Emin , Bose, Henry R. 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

The v-
rel
oncogene encoded by reticuloendotheliosis virus is the acutely transforming member of the Rel/NF-κB family of transcription factors. v-Rel is a truncated and mutated form of c-Rel and transforms cells by inducing the aberrant expression of genes regulated by Rel/NF-κB proteins. The expression of ch-IAP1, a member of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis family, is highly elevated in cells expressing v-Rel and contributes to the immortalization of cells transformed by this oncoprotein. In this study we demonstrate that the elevated expression of ch-IAP1 in v-Rel-expressing cells is due to an increased rate of transcription. The ch-IAP1 promoter was isolated, and four Rel/NF-κB binding sites were identified upstream of the transcription start site. Two κB sites proximal to the transcription start site were required for v-Rel to activate the ch-IAP1 promoter. While c-Rel also utilized these sites, a third more-distal κB site was required for its full activation of the ch-IAP1 promoter. Differences in the transactivation domains of v-Rel and c-Rel are responsible for their different abilities to utilize these sites and account for their differential activation of the ch-IAP1 promoter. Although c-Rel was a more potent activator of the ch-IAP1 promoter than v-Rel in transient reporter assays, cells stably overexpressing c-Rel failed to maintain high levels of ch-IAP1 expression. The reduction of ch-IAP1 expression in these cells correlated with the efficient regulation of c-Rel by IκBα. The ability of v-Rel to escape IκBα regulation allows for the gradual and sustained elevation of ch-IAP1 expression directly contributing to the transforming properties of v-Rel.
Covariation in the Capsid Protein of Hibiscus Chlorotic Ringspot Virus Induced by Serial Passaging in a Host That Restricts Movement Leads to Avirulence in Its Systemic Host
Authors: Liang Xiao-Zhen , Lee Bernett T. K. , Wong Sek-Man 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

Hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus (HCRSV) from naturally infected
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
L. loses virulence in its experimental systemic host
Hibiscus cannabinus
L. (kenaf) after serial passages in a local lesion host
Chenopodium quinoa
. Here we report the genetic changes responsible for the loss of virulence at the molecular level. A remarkable covariation of eight site-specific amino acids was found in the HCRSV capsid protein (CP) after serial passages in
C. quinoa
: Val
49
→Ile, Ile
95
→Val, Lys
270
→Arg, Gly
272
→Asp, Tyr
274
→His, Ala
311
→Asp, Asp
334
→Ala, and Ala
335
→Thr. Covariation of at least three of the eight amino acids, Val
49
, Ile
95
, and Lys
270
, caused the virus to become avirulent in kenaf. Interestingly, the nature of the covariation was consistent and reproducible at each serial passage. These data indicate that the nonsynonymous substitutions of amino acids in the HCRSV CP after serial passages in
C. quinoa
are not likely to be random events but may be due to host-associated positive selection or accelerated genetic drift. The observed interdependence among the three amino acids leading to avirulence in kenaf may have implications for structural or functional relationships in this virus-host interaction.
T-Cell Receptor:CD3 Down-Regulation Is a Selected In Vivo Function of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Nef but Is Not Sufficient for Effective Viral Replication in Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Münch Jan , Janardhan Ajit , Stolte Nicole , Stahl-Hennig Christiane , ten Haaft Peter , Heeney Jonathan L. , Swigut Tomek , Kirchhoff Frank , Skowronski Jacek 
Published: November 2002

ABSTRACT

We investigated the function of severely truncated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Nef proteins (tNef) in vitro and in vivo. These variants emerged in rhesus monkeys infected with SIVmac239 containing a 152-bp deletion in the
nef
-unique region and have been suggested to enhance SIV virulence (E. T. Sawai, M. S. Hamza, M. Ye, K. E. Shaw, and P. A. Luciw, J. Virol. 74:2038-2045, 2000). We found that the tNef proteins were unable to down-regulate the cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I proteins, CD4, and CD28 and neither stimulated SIV replication nor enhanced virion infectivity. The tNef proteins did efficiently down-regulate T-cell receptor (TCR):CD3 cell surface expression. Nevertheless, the SIVmac239
tnef
variants were strongly attenuated in six infected juvenile rhesus macaques. Thus, while the ability of SIV Nef to down-modulate TCR:CD3 cell surface expression apparently confers a selective advantage in vivo, it is insufficient for efficient viral replication in infected macaques. Additional mutations elsewhere in SIVmac239
tnef
genomes are required for a virulent phenotype.