bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of High Titers of Antibody against
Helicobacter
Cysteine-Rich Proteins A, B, C, and E in
Helicobacter pylori
-Infected Individuals
Authors: Mittl Peer R. E. , Lüthy Lucas , Reinhardt Christoph , Joller Hellen 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACT

The family of
Helicobacter
cysteine-rich proteins (Hcp) constitutes one of the largest protein families that are specific for proteobacteria from the delta/epsilon subgroup. Most of the proteins belonging to this family have so far only been recognized on the genome level. To investigate the expression of Hcp proteins in vivo we analyzed titers of antibody against HcpA (HP0211), HcpB (HP0336), HcpC (HP1098), and HcpE (HP0235) in sera from 30
Helicobacter pylori
-positive individuals and in a control group of six
H. pylori
-negative individuals. Significantly higher titers of antibody were observed for
H
.
pylori
-positive individuals (
P
< 0.00005). The highest and lowest titers were observed for HcpC (Δ mean = 1.06) and HcpB (Δ mean = 0.333), respectively. There is a clear correlation among anti-HcpA, -HcpC, and -HcpE immunoglobulin G titers in
H
.
pylori
-positive individuals (correlation > 0.7), but there is only a weak correlation for HcpB (correlation < 0.4). These results confirm that Hcp proteins are expressed by
H. pylori
under natural environmental conditions and that these proteins are recognized by the immune system of the host. The observed correlations are in agreement with the expected distribution of Hcp proteins among
H. pylori
strains. HcpA, HcpC, and HcpE are present in the genomes of strains 26695 and J99, whereas HcpB is absent from most strains. Since Hcp proteins are specific for
H. pylori
, immunological assays including Hcp proteins might be of value to detect
H. pylori
infection and perhaps to distinguish among different groups of
H
.
pylori
-positive patients.
Adrenomedullin Expression by Gastric Epithelial Cells in Response to Infection
Authors: Allaker Robert P. , Kapas Supriya 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACTMany surface epithelial cells express adrenomedullin, a multifunctional peptide found in a wide number of body and cell systems. Recently, we and others have proposed that adrenomedullin has an important novel role in host defense. This peptide has many properties in common with other cationic antimicrobial peptides, including the human β-defensins. Upon exposure of human gastric epithelial cells to viable cells of invasive or noninvasive strains ofHelicobacter pylori,Escherichia coli,Salmonella enterica, orStreptococcus bovis, a significant increase in adrenomedullin secretion from these cells was demonstrated. Adrenomedullin gene expression was also increased in response to these microorganisms. Similar observations were noted when these cells were incubated with proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and lipopolysaccharide. In cultured cells and an animal infection model, increased adrenomedullin peptide and gene expression was demonstrated when exposed toE. coliorMycobacterium paratuberculosis, respectively. The data suggest there is a strong association between epithelial infection, inflammation, and adrenomedullin expression, which may have clinical relevance. The regulation of adrenomedullin expression may have therapeutic applications, such as improving or enhancing mucosal immunity.
Infection withMycobacterium bovisBCG Diverts Traffic of Myelin Oligodendroglial Glycoprotein Autoantigen-Specific T Cells Away from the Central Nervous System and Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Sewell Diane L. , Reinke Emily K. , Co Dominic O. , Hogan Laura H. , Fritz Robert B. , Sandor Matyas , Fabry Zsuzsa 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACTInfectious agents have been proposed to influence susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. We induced a Th1-mediated central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice with an ongoing infection withMycobacterium bovisstrain bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to study this possibility. C57BL/6 mice infected with live BCG for 6 weeks were immunized with myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein peptide (MOG35-55) to induce EAE. The clinical severity of EAE was reduced in BCG-infected mice in a BCG dose-dependent manner. Inflammatory-cell infiltration and demyelination of the spinal cord were significantly lessened in BCG-infected animals compared with uninfected EAE controls. ELISPOT and gamma interferon intracellular cytokine analysis of the frequency of antigen-specific CD4+T cells in the CNS and in BCG-induced granulomas and adoptive transfer of MOG35-55-specific green fluorescent protein-expressing cells into BCG-infected animals indicated that nervous tissue-specific (MOG35-55) CD4+T cells accumulate in the BCG-induced granuloma sites. These data suggest a novel mechanism for infection-mediated modulation of autoimmunity. We demonstrate that redirected trafficking of activated CNS antigen-specific CD4+T cells to local inflammatory sites induced by BCG infection modulates the initiation and progression of a Th1-mediated CNS autoimmune disease.
Detection of Immunoglobulin M Antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus by Class Capture Enzyme Immunoassay
Authors: Yu C. , Engle R. E. , Bryan J. P. , Emerson S. U. , Purcell R. H. 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACT
The measurement of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) has been essential for understanding the epidemiology of hepatitis E. Studies to determine the prevalence of HEV infections require a reliable serologic assay that is sensitive and specific. It is also important to distinguish the acute from the convalescent phase of an infection; this usually requires the detection of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) class of antibody. Few enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) that measure IgM anti-HEV have been described, and most have utilized the sandwich method. The present study describes an EIA that detects IgM anti-HEV by antibody class capture methodology. The assay was validated by using serum and/or plasma panels from experimentally infected nonhuman primates. It was used to demonstrate an anamnestic response and the reappearance of IgM anti-HEV in a chimpanzee experimentally challenged with HEV at two different times 45 months apart. The class capture method was more sensitive than the sandwich EIA when used to test clinical samples from two hepatitis E epidemics in Pakistan; it also had the advantage of distinguishing IgM anti-HEV in the presence of high titers of IgG anti-HEV.
Gamma Interferon Responses Induced by a Panel of Recombinant and Purified Mycobacterial Antigens in Healthy, Non-Mycobacterium bovisBCG-Vaccinated Malawian Young Adults
Authors: Black Gillian F. , Weir Rosemary E. , Chaguluka Steven D. , Warndorff David , Crampin Amelia C. , Mwaungulu Lorren , Sichali Lifted , Floyd Sian , Bliss Lyn , Jarman Elizabeth , Donovan Linda , Andersen Peter , Britton Warwick , Hewinson Glyn , Huygen Kris , Paulsen Jens , Singh Mahavir , Prestidge Ross , Fine Paul E. M. , Dockrell Hazel M. 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACTWe have previously shown that young adults living in a rural area of northern Malawi showed greater gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses to purified protein derivatives (PPD) prepared from environmental mycobacteria than to PPD fromMycobacterium tuberculosis. In order to define the mycobacterial species to which individuals living in a rural African population have been exposed and sensitized, we tested T-cell recognition of recombinant and purified antigens fromM. tuberculosis(38 kDa, MPT64, and ESAT-6),M. bovis(MPB70),M. bovisBCG (Ag85), andM. leprae(65 kDa, 35 kDa, and 18 kDa) in >600 non-M. bovisBCG-vaccinated young adults in the Karonga District of northern Malawi. IFN-γ was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in day 6 supernatants of diluted whole-blood cultures. The recombinantM. leprae35-kDa and 18-kDa and purified nativeM. bovisBCG Ag85 antigens induced the highest percentages of responders, though both leprosy and bovine tuberculosis are now rare in this population. TheM. tuberculosisantigens ESAT-6 and MPT64 and theM. bovisantigen MPB70 induced the lowest percentages of responders. One of the subjects subsequently developed extrapulmonary tuberculosis; this individual had a 15-mm-diameter reaction to the Mantoux test and responded toM. tuberculosisPPD, Ag85, MPT64, and ESAT-6 but not to any of the leprosy antigens. We conclude that in this rural African population, exposure toM. tuberculosisorM. bovisis much less frequent than exposure to environmental mycobacteria such asM. avium, which have antigens homologous to theM. leprae35-kDa and 18-kDa antigens.M. tuberculosisESAT-6 showed the strongest association with the size of the Mantoux skin test induration, suggesting that among the threeM. tuberculosisantigens tested it provided the best indication of exposure to, or infection with,M. tuberculosis.
Efficiency of a Pneumococcal Opsonophagocytic Killing Assay Improved by Multiplexing and by Coloring Colonies
Authors: Kim Kyung Hyo , Yu Jigui , Nahm Moon H. 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACT

For evaluating pneumococcal vaccines, the opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPKA) is useful as a supplement to the pneumococcal antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, evaluations of pneumococcal vaccines require the determination of antibody responses to 7 to 11 serotypes, and the OPKA is tedious to perform and requires more serum than the ELISA. Consequently, the OPKA is infrequently used for evaluating pneumococcal vaccines. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a simple multiplexed (double-serotype) OPKA by using antibiotic-resistant pneumococci for nine serotypes. Serotype 6B, 9V, 19A, and 23F strains were made streptomycin resistant, and serotype 4, 6A, 14, 18C, and 19F strains were made optochin resistant. The multiplexed OPKA was the same as the single-serotype OPKA except for two changes. First, the target bacteria were a mixture of one streptomycin-resistant strain and one optochin-resistant strain. Second, the surviving bacteria of each serotype were enumerated by plating on Todd-Hewitt agar plates with yeast extract and an agar overlay containing the appropriate antibiotics and 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. The performance of the multiplexed OPKA was evaluated by analyzing 28 serum samples from adults immunized with a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine by using the single-serotype OPKA and the multiplexed OPKA. The multiplexed OPKA was specific for the desired serotypes. The multiplexed and conventional OPKAs had comparable assay sensitivities and produced results that were highly correlated (

r
2

values ranging from 0.92 to 0.98) for all nine serotypes. A simple modification of the conventional OPKA produces a multiplexed assay that greatly reduces effort, reagents, and the necessary amount of serum.
Comparison of Capture Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Nonstructural Protein NS1 Serotype-Specific IgG ELISA for Differentiation of Primary and Secondary Dengue Virus Infections
Authors: Shu Pei-Yun , Chen Li-Kuang , Chang Shu-Fen , Yueh Yi-Yun , Chow Ling , Chien Li-Jung , Chin Chuan , Lin Ting-Hsiang , Huang Jyh-Hsiung 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACT
We have found that NS1 serotype-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used to differentiate primary and secondary dengue virus infections. This is due to the fact that the NS1-specific IgG antibody cannot be detected before day 9 of illness for primary infection, so the NS1-specific IgG antibodies measured in acute-phase sera must come from previous infection. Comparison of NS1 serotype-specific IgG ELISA with envelope- and membrane-specific capture IgM and IgG ELISA in the differentiation of primary and secondary dengue virus infections showed good correlation (95.90% agreement). Most important, we have found that the serotype of the dengue virus from the majority of patients with primary infection could be correctly identified when convalescent-phase or postinfection sera were analyzed by NS1 serotype-specific IgG ELISA. These findings suggested that NS1 serotype-specific IgG ELISA could be reliably applied for serodiagnosis and seroepidemiological study of dengue virus infection.
Levels of Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 1α (MIP-1α) and MIP-1β in Intervillous Blood Plasma Samples from Women with Placental Malaria and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Chaisavaneeyakorn Sujittra , Moore Julie M. , Mirel Lisa , Othoro Caroline , Otieno Juliana , Chaiyaroj Sansanee C. , Shi Ya Ping , Nahlen Bernard L. , Lal Altaf A. , Udhayakumar Venkatachalam 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACTMacrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and MIP-1β play an important role in modulating immune responses. To understand their importance in immunity to placental malaria (PM) and in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-PM coinfection, we investigated levels of these chemokines in the placental intervillous blood plasma (IVB plasma) and cord blood plasma of HIV-negative PM-negative, HIV-negative PM-positive, HIV-positive PM-negative, and HIV-positive PM-positive women. Compared to HIV-negative PM-negative women, the MIP-1β concentration in IVB plasma was significantly elevated in HIV-negative PM-positive women and HIV-positive PM-positive women, but it was unaltered in HIV-positive PM-negative women. Also, PM-infected women, irrespective of their HIV status, had significantly higher levels of MIP-1β than HIV-positive PM-negative women. The MIP-1α level was not altered in association with either infection. The IVB plasma levels of MIP-1α and MIP-1β positively correlated with the cord blood plasma levels of these chemokines. As with IVB plasma, only cord plasma from PM-infected mothers had significantly elevated levels of MIP-1β compared to PM-negative mothers, irrespective of their HIV infection status. MIP-1β and MIP-1α levels in PM-positive women were positively associated with parasite density and malaria pigment levels. Regardless of HIV serostatus, the IVB MIP-1β level was significantly lower in women with PM-associated anemia. In summary, an elevated level of MIP-1β was associated with PM. HIV infection did not significantly alter these two chemokine levels in IVB plasma.
Epitope Mapping of the
Brucella melitensis
BP26 Immunogenic Protein: Usefulness for Diagnosis of Sheep Brucellosis
Authors: Seco-Mediavilla Patricia , Verger Jean-Michel , Grayon Maggy , Cloeckaert Axel , Marín Clara M. , Zygmunt Michel S. , Fernández-Lago Luis , Vizcaíno Nieves 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACT

Sequencing of
bp26
, the gene encoding the
Brucella
sp. immunogenic BP26 periplasmic protein, was performed in the reference strains of
Brucella abortus
,
B. suis
, and
B. ovis
. The three
bp26
sequences were almost identical to that published for
B. melitensis
16M
bp26
, and only minor nucleotide substitutions, without modifying the amino acid sequence, were observed between species. The
bp26
genes of the seven
B. abortus
biovar reference strains and
B. abortus
S19 and RB51 vaccine strains were also sequenced. Again, only minor differences were found. Surprisingly, the
bp26
nucleotide sequence for
B. abortus
S19 was almost identical to that found for
B. melitensis
16M and differed from the sequence described previously by others (O. L. Rossetti, A. I. Arese, M. L. Boschiroli, and S. L. Cravero, J. Clin. Microbiol. 34:165-169, 1996) for the same
B. abortus
strain. The epitope mapping of BP26, performed by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant DNA techniques, allowed the identification of an immunodominant region of the protein interesting for the diagnosis of
B. melitensis
and
B. ovis
infection in sheep. A recombinant fusion protein containing this region of BP26 reacted indeed, in Western blotting, as the entire recombinant BP26 against sera from
B. melitensis-
or
B. ovis
-infected sheep while it avoided false-positive reactions observed with sera from
Brucella
-free sheep when using the entire recombinant BP26. Thus, use of this recombinant fusion protein instead the entire recombinant BP26 could improve the specific serological diagnosis of
B. melitensis
or
B. ovis
infection in sheep.
Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Sera of Blood Donors and of Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Gonçales Fernando Lopes , Pereira Josiane Silveira Felix , da Silva Claudia , Thomaz Glaucimari Roberto , Pavan Maria Helena Postal , Fais Viviane Cristina , Magna Luis Alberto , Gonçales Neiva Sellan Lopes 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACT
With the use of PCR, we searched for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum samples from 415 HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive patients: 150 were blood donors, 106 had only hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and 159 had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (of which 88 were HCV positive and 71 were HCV negative). HBV DNA was detected in 4% of blood donors, 3.4% of HIV- and HCV-positive patients, and 24% of HCV-positive patients.
Unexplained Discontinuity in the U.S. Radiosonde Temperature Data. Part I: Troposphere
Authors: Eskridge Robert E. , Luers James K. , Redder C. R. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract
Inhomogeneities in U.S. radiosonde data that used the VIZ and Vaisala RS80 cannot be explained by radiation errors, which can be removed by the heat balance models. WMO intercomparision data, modeling results, temperature time series, and 1200 minus 0000 UTC temperature differences are examined to show that there appears to be an error in the U.S. RS80/RSN93 temperature correction software.
Radiosonde soundings taken at U.S. stations that launch Vaisala RS80 radiosondes, which are integrated within the National Weather Service (NWS) Microcomputer Automatic Radio-Theodolite (Micro-ART) system, should not be used in climate studies since there is a large systematic error of unknown origin in the temperature data. This paper is the first of two and is primarily concerned with the midtroposphere. The second paper discusses the large unexplained 0000 and 1200 UTC differences in the stratosphere.
Nonlinear Modes of North American Winter Climate Variability Derived from a General Circulation Model Simulation
Authors: Wu Aiming , Hsieh William W. , Zwiers Francis W. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract
Nonlinear principal component analysis (NLPCA), via a neural network (NN) approach, was applied to an ensemble of six 47-yr simulations conducted by the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (CCCma) second-generation atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM2). Each simulation was forced with the observed sea surface temperature [from the Global Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature dataset (GISST)] from January 1948 to November 1994. The NLPCA modes reveal nonlinear structures in both the winter 500-mb geopotential height (Z500) anomalies and surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies over North America, with asymmetric spatial anomaly patterns during the opposite phases of an NLPCA mode. Only during its negative phase is the first NLPCA mode related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); the positive phase is related to a weakened jet stream. Spatial patterns of the NLPCA mode for the Z500 anomalies generally agree with those for the SAT anomalies.
Nonlinear canonical correlation analysis (NLCCA), also via an NN approach, was then applied to the midlatitude winter GCM data and the observed SST of the tropical Pacific. Nonlinearity was detected in both the forcing field (SST) and the response field (Z500 or SAT) at zero time lag. The leading NLCCA mode for the SST anomalies is a nonlinear ENSO mode, with a 30°–40° eastward shift of the positive SST anomalies during El Niño relative to the negative SST anomalies during La Niña. The leading NLCCA mode for the Z500 anomaly field is a nonlinear Pacific–North American (PNA) teleconnection pattern. The ray path of the Rossby waves induced during El Niño is 10°–15° east of that induced during La Niña. The nonlinear atmospheric response to ENSO is also found in the leading NLCCA mode for the SAT anomalies.
The North Atlantic Oscillation, Surface Current Velocities, and SST Changes in the Subpolar North Atlantic
Authors: Flatau Maria K. , Talley Lynne , Niiler Pearn P. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract
Changes in surface circulation in the subpolar North Atlantic are documented for the recent interannual switch in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index from positive values in the early 1990s to negative values in 1995/96. Data from Lagrangian drifters, which were deployed in the North Atlantic from 1992 to 1998, were used to compute the mean and varying surface currents. NCEP winds were used to calculate the Ekman component, allowing isolation of the geostrophic currents. The mean Ekman velocities are considerably smaller than the mean total velocities that resemble historical analyses. The northeastward flow of the North Atlantic Current is organized into three strong cores associated with topography: along the eastern boundary in Rockall Trough, in the Iceland Basin (the subpolar front), and on the western flank of the Reykjanes Ridge (Irminger Current). The last is isolated in this Eulerian mean from the rest of the North Atlantic Current by a region of weak velocities on the east side of the Reykjanes Ridge.
The drifter results during the two different NAO periods are compared with geostrophic flow changes calculated from the NASA/Pathfinder monthly gridded sea surface height (SSH) variability products and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) SST data. During the positive NAO years the northeastward flow in the North Atlantic Current appeared stronger and the circulation in the cyclonic gyre in the Irminger Basin became more intense. This was consistent with the geostrophic velocities calculated from altimetry data and surface temperature changes from AVHRR SST data, which show that during the positive NAO years, with stronger westerlies, the subpolar front was sharper and located farther east. SST gradients intensified in the North Atlantic Current, Irminger Basin, and east of the Shetland Islands during the positive NAO phase, associated with stronger currents. SST differences between positive and negative NAO years were consistent with changes in air–sea heat flux and the eastward shift of the subpolar front. SST advection, as diagnosed from the drifters, likely acted to reduce the SST differences.
On Butterflies: Stories and Fables for Children from the 17th Century to the Present Day
Authors: Perrot Jean 
Published: July 2003

The flutter of a swooping butterfly. The feverish rush of readers as they move from poem to poem, text to text, as if from flower to flower, pursuing a personal pleasure guided by the law of desire and by reasons that reason has no knowledge of. In the Dictionnaire universel of 1690 Antoine Furetière illustrated the word with the following remark: ‘On dit proverbialement qu'un homme court après les papillons quand il s'amuse à des bagatelles’ (The proverb has it that a man is chasing butterflies when he takes pleasure in trivial things). We are also familiar with the words of Jean de La Fontaine, who did not mince epigrams when, four years earlier, he addressed his old friend thus:Toi qui crois tout savoir, merveilleux Furetière. (p. 646)(You who think you know it all, marvellous Furetière.)
Production of Powder-Coated Towpregs and Composites
Authors: Nunes J. P. , Silva J. F. , Marques A. T. , Crainic N. , Cabral-Fonseca S. 
Published: July 2003

An efficient and cost-effective dry coating process was developed to deposit polymer powders on continuous fibers and produce thermoplastic matrix towpregs to be processed into composites. The technological solutions used in the coating line construction and the influence of the processing parameters on manufactured glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GF/PP) towpregs are detailed in this paper. Composites were produced from characterized (GF/PP) towpregs using hot plate compression molding. The mechanical properties determined on the composites are compared with theoretical values predicted by the Classical Lamination Theory (CLT) using the experimentally determined raw material contents and tensile properties.