Publications

TitleAbstractYear
Filter
PMID(sorted ascending)
Filter
pulmonary bacterial pathogens in cystic fibrosis patients and antibiotic therapy: a tool for the health workers.cystic fibrosis is the most common and best known genetic disease involving a defect in transepithelial cl- transport by mutations in the cf gene on chromosome 7, which codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (cftr). the most serious symptoms are observed in the lungs, augmenting the risk of bacterial infection. the objective of this review was to describe the bacterial pathogens colonizing patients with cystic fibrosis. a systematic search was conducted using t ...200818992146
study of a bordetella hinzii isolate from a laboratory mouse.bordetella hinzii isolated from the trachea and lungs of a laboratory mouse with a respiratory infection was identified based on its phenotypic and genetic traits. the mouse showed sneezing with a chattering sound but without nasal discharge, and histopathologic examination revealed rhinitis, tracheitis, and bronchopneumonia. the isolate was a gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, short rod-shaped organism that produced alkali from malonate. the results of biochemical identification, an ...200819004369
hiv/aids education: still an important issue for veterinarians.human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) is a significant cause of immunosuppression that puts infected individuals at higher risk for developing severe complications from zoonotic infections and other animal-related hazards. the number of people living with hiv grows each year, assuring that veterinary practitioners will have clients and/or employees who are afflicted with hiv/aids. veterinarians need to better understand hiv/aids for many reasons: to dispel ...200819006969
comparative analysis of selected methods for the assessment of antimicrobial and membrane-permeabilizing activity: a case study for lactoferricin derived peptides.growing concerns about bacterial resistance to antibiotics have prompted the development of alternative therapies like those based on cationic antimicrobial peptides (aps). these compounds not only are bactericidal by themselves but also enhance the activity of antibiotics. studies focused on the systematic characterization of aps are hampered by the lack of standard guidelines for testing these compounds. we investigated whether the information provided by methods commonly used for the biologic ...200819014450
boolean network simulations for life scientists.modern life sciences research increasingly relies on computational solutions, from large scale data analyses to theoretical modeling. within the theoretical models boolean networks occupy an increasing role as they are eminently suited at mapping biological observations and hypotheses into a mathematical formalism. the conceptual underpinnings of boolean modeling are very accessible even without a background in quantitative sciences, yet it allows life scientists to describe and explore a wide r ...200819014577
immunodominance in mouse and human cd4+ t-cell responses specific for the bordetella pertussis virulence factor p.69 pertactin.p.69 pertactin (p.69 prn), an adhesion molecule from the causative agent of pertussis, bordetella pertussis, is present in cellular and most acellular vaccines that are currently used worldwide. although both humoral immunity and cellular immunity directed against p.69 prn have been implicated in protective immune mechanisms, the identities of cd4(+) t-cell epitopes on the p.69 prn protein remain unknown. here, a single i-a(d)-restricted b. pertussis conserved cd4(+) t-cell epitope at the n term ...200919015250
neutrophil recruitment to the lungs during bacterial pneumonia. 200819015252
neutrophil recruitment to the lungs during bacterial pneumonia. 200819015252
post-assembly modification of bordetella bronchiseptica o polysaccharide by a novel periplasmic enzyme encoded by wbme.bordetella bronchiseptica is a pathogen of humans and animals that colonizes the respiratory tract. it produces a lipopolysaccharide o antigen that contains a homopolymer of 2,3-dideoxy-2,3-diacetamido-l-galacturonic acid (l-galnac3naca). some of these sugars are found in the uronamide form (l-galnac3nacan), and there is no discernible pattern in the distribution of amides along the chain. a b. bronchiseptica wbme mutant expresses an o polysaccharide unusually rich in uronamides. the wbme protei ...200919015265
on the physiology and pathophysiology of antimicrobial peptides.antimicrobial peptides (amp) are a heterogeneous group of molecules involved in the nonspecific immune responses of a variety of organisms ranging from prokaryotes to mammals, including humans. amp have various physical and biological properties, yet the most common feature is their antimicrobial effect. the majority of amp disrupt the integrity of microbial cells by 1 of 3 known mechanisms--the barrel-stave pore model, the thoroidal pore model, or the carpet model. results of growing numbers of ...200819015736
on the physiology and pathophysiology of antimicrobial peptides.antimicrobial peptides (amp) are a heterogeneous group of molecules involved in the nonspecific immune responses of a variety of organisms ranging from prokaryotes to mammals, including humans. amp have various physical and biological properties, yet the most common feature is their antimicrobial effect. the majority of amp disrupt the integrity of microbial cells by 1 of 3 known mechanisms--the barrel-stave pore model, the thoroidal pore model, or the carpet model. results of growing numbers of ...200819015736
genome-wide survey of prokaryotic serine proteases: analysis of distribution and domain architectures of five serine protease families in prokaryotes.serine proteases are one of the most abundant groups of proteolytic enzymes found in all the kingdoms of life. while studies have established significant roles for many prokaryotic serine proteases in several physiological processes, such as those associated with metabolism, cell signalling, defense response and development, functional associations for a large number of prokaryotic serine proteases are relatively unknown. current analysis is aimed at understanding the distribution and probable b ...200819019219
bordetella bsp22 forms a filamentous type iii secretion system tip complex and is immunoprotective in vitro and in vivo.type iii secretion system (t3ss) tip complexes serve as adaptors that bridge the t3ss needle and the pore-forming translocation apparatus. in this report we demonstrate that bsp22, the most abundantly secreted substrate of the bordetella t3ss, self-polymerizes to form the bordetella bronchiseptica tip complex. bsp22 is required for both t3ss-mediated cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells and haemoglobin release from erythrocytes. bacterial two-hybrid analysis and protein pull-down assays demonst ...200919040642
porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (prrsv) in gb pig herds: farm characteristics associated with heterogeneity in seroprevalence.the between- and within-herd variability of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (prrsv) antibodies were investigated in a cross-sectional study of 103 british pig herds conducted 2003-2004. fifty pigs from each farm were tested for anti-prrsv antibodies using elisa. a binomial logistic model was used to investigate management risks for farms with and without pigs with prrsv antibodies and multilevel statistical models were used to investigate variability in pigs' log elisa irpc ( ...200819040719
modulation of the nf-kappab pathway by bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin.filamentous hemagglutinin (fha) is a cell-associated and secreted adhesin produced by bordetella pertussis with pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory activity in host cells. given the importance of the nf-kappab transcription factor family in these host cell responses, we examined the effect of fha on nf-kappab activation in macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells, both of which are relevant cell types during natural infection.200819043589
efficacy and safety of five injectable anesthetic regimens for chronic blood collection from the anterior vena cava of guinea pigs.despite several published methods of inducing surgical anesthesia in guinea pigs, viable methods of anesthesia for blood collection from the vena cava are inadequate. we compared 5 anesthesia regimens and their efficacy in inducing anesthesia for blood sampling in guinea pigs: ketamine-xylazine (30 and 2.5 mg/kg) administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intraperitoneally; pentobarbital (37 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally; and medetomidine (0.5 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly. p ...200819049255
evaluation of an immunochromatographic assay kit for rapid identification of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in clinical isolates.we evaluated a new immunochromatographic assay (ica) using mouse monoclonal anti-mpt64 antibody for rapid discrimination between mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria in clinical isolates. a study with mycobacteria and other organisms showed excellent sensitivity (approximately equal 99%) and specificity (100%) and an appropriate detection limit (10(5) cfu/ml) when tested with m. tuberculosis h37rv. this ica can simplify the identification of m. tuberculosis in clinical labo ...200919052177
evaluation of an immunochromatographic assay kit for rapid identification of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in clinical isolates.we evaluated a new immunochromatographic assay (ica) using mouse monoclonal anti-mpt64 antibody for rapid discrimination between mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria in clinical isolates. a study with mycobacteria and other organisms showed excellent sensitivity (approximately equal 99%) and specificity (100%) and an appropriate detection limit (10(5) cfu/ml) when tested with m. tuberculosis h37rv. this ica can simplify the identification of m. tuberculosis in clinical labo ...200919052177
the piglet as a model for b cell and immune system development.the ability to identify factors responsible for disease in all species depends on the ability to separate those factors which are environmental from those that are intrinsic. this is particularly important for studies on the development of the adaptive immune response of neonates. studies on laboratory rodents or primates have been ambiguous because neither the effect of environmental nor maternal factors on the newborn can be controlled in mammals that: (i) transmit potential maternal immunoreg ...200919056129
the piglet as a model for b cell and immune system development.the ability to identify factors responsible for disease in all species depends on the ability to separate those factors which are environmental from those that are intrinsic. this is particularly important for studies on the development of the adaptive immune response of neonates. studies on laboratory rodents or primates have been ambiguous because neither the effect of environmental nor maternal factors on the newborn can be controlled in mammals that: (i) transmit potential maternal immunoreg ...200919056129
improved prediction of malaria degradomes by supervised learning with svm and profile kernel.the spread of drug resistance through malaria parasite populations calls for the development of new therapeutic strategies. however, the seemingly promising genomics-driven target identification paradigm is hampered by the weak annotation coverage. to identify potentially important yet uncharacterized proteins, we apply support vector machines using profile kernels, a supervised discriminative machine learning technique for remote homology detection, as a complement to the traditional alignment ...200919057851
improved prediction of malaria degradomes by supervised learning with svm and profile kernel.the spread of drug resistance through malaria parasite populations calls for the development of new therapeutic strategies. however, the seemingly promising genomics-driven target identification paradigm is hampered by the weak annotation coverage. to identify potentially important yet uncharacterized proteins, we apply support vector machines using profile kernels, a supervised discriminative machine learning technique for remote homology detection, as a complement to the traditional alignment ...200919057851
the effect of the nonionic block copolymer pluronic p85 on gene expression in mouse muscle and antigen-presenting cells.dna vaccines can be greatly improved by polymer agents that simultaneously increase transgene expression and activate immunity. we describe here pluronic p85 (p85), a triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide (eo) and propylene oxide (po) eo(26)-po(40)-eo(26). using a mouse model we demonstrate that co-administration of a bacterial plasmid dna with p85 in a skeletal muscle greatly increases gene expression in the injection site and distant organs, especially the draining lymph nodes and spleen. the r ...200919064283
the effect of the nonionic block copolymer pluronic p85 on gene expression in mouse muscle and antigen-presenting cells.dna vaccines can be greatly improved by polymer agents that simultaneously increase transgene expression and activate immunity. we describe here pluronic p85 (p85), a triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide (eo) and propylene oxide (po) eo(26)-po(40)-eo(26). using a mouse model we demonstrate that co-administration of a bacterial plasmid dna with p85 in a skeletal muscle greatly increases gene expression in the injection site and distant organs, especially the draining lymph nodes and spleen. the r ...200919064283
active and passive immunizations with bordetella colonization factor a protect mice against respiratory challenge with bordetella bronchiseptica.bordetella colonization factor a (bcfa) is an outer membrane immunogenic protein, which is critical for efficient colonization of the murine respiratory tract. these properties of bcfa prompted us to examine its utility in inducing a protective immune response against bordetella bronchiseptica in a mouse model of intranasal infection. mice vaccinated with bcfa demonstrated reduced pathology in the lungs and harbored lower bacterial burdens in the respiratory tract. immunization with bcfa led to ...200919064638
safety and efficacy of neonatal vaccination.newborns have an immature immune system that renders them at high risk for infection while simultaneously reducing responses to most vaccines, thereby posing challenges in protecting this vulnerable population. nevertheless, certain vaccines, such as bcg and hepatitis b vaccine, do demonstrate safety and some efficacy at birth, providing proof of principal that certain antigen-adjuvant combinations are able to elicit protective neonatal responses. moreover, birth is a major point of healthcare c ...200919089811
the genome sequence of the fish pathogen aliivibrio salmonicida strain lfi1238 shows extensive evidence of gene decay.the fish pathogen aliivibrio salmonicida is the causative agent of cold-water vibriosis in marine aquaculture. the gram-negative bacterium causes tissue degradation, hemolysis and sepsis in vivo.200819099551
role of neutrophils in response to bordetella pertussis infection in mice.pertussis is an acute respiratory disease caused by the bacterium bordetella pertussis, for which humans are the only known reservoir. during infection, b. pertussis releases several toxins, including pertussis toxin (pt) and adenylate cyclase toxin (act), which have both been shown to play roles in promoting bacterial growth during early infection in a mouse model. furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that pt and act affect neutrophil chemotaxis and/or function, thereby altering th ...200919103765
role of neutrophils in response to bordetella pertussis infection in mice.pertussis is an acute respiratory disease caused by the bacterium bordetella pertussis, for which humans are the only known reservoir. during infection, b. pertussis releases several toxins, including pertussis toxin (pt) and adenylate cyclase toxin (act), which have both been shown to play roles in promoting bacterial growth during early infection in a mouse model. furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that pt and act affect neutrophil chemotaxis and/or function, thereby altering th ...200919103765
isolation of bordetella avium and novel bordetella strain from patients with respiratory disease.bordetella avium is thought to be strictly an avian pathogen. however, 16s rrna gene sequencing identified 2 isolates from 2 humans with respiratory disease as b. avium and a novel b. avium-like strain. thus, b. avium and b. avium-like organisms are rare opportunistic human pathogens.200919116056
temporal signaling and differential expression of bordetella iron transport systems: the role of ferrimones and positive regulators.the bacterial respiratory pathogens bordetella pertussis and bordetella bronchiseptica employ multiple alternative iron acquisition pathways to adapt to changes in the mammalian host environment during infection. the alcaligin, enterobactin, and heme utilization pathways are differentially expressed in response to the cognate iron source availability by a mechanism involving substrate-inducible positive regulators. as inducers, the iron sources function as chemical signals termed ferrimones. fer ...200919130264
the petit rat (pet/pet), a new semilethal mutant dwarf rat with thymic and testicular anomalies.the petit rat (pet/pet) is a recently discovered semilethal mutant dwarf. the neonatal pet/pet rats had a low body weight and small thymus and testis. during the first 3 d after birth, 50% of the male and 80% of the female pet/pet pups were lost or found dead. surviving pet/pet rats showed marked retardation of postnatal growth, and their body weights were 41% (female rats) and 32% (male rats) of those of normal rats at the adult stage. the pet/pet rats exhibited proportional dwarfism, and their ...200819149412
role of cold shock proteins in growth of listeria monocytogenes under cold and osmotic stress conditions.the gram-positive bacterium listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen of both public health and food safety significance. it possesses three small, highly homologous protein members of the cold shock protein (csp) family. we used gene expression analysis and a set of mutants with single, double, and triple deletions of the csp genes to evaluate the roles of cspa, cspb, and cspd in the cold and osmotic (nacl) stress adaptation responses of l. monocytogenes. all three csps are dispensable fo ...200919151183
isolation, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence genes of pasteurella multocida strains from swine in china.a total of 233 isolates of pasteurella multocida were obtained from 2,912 cases of clinical respiratory disease in pigs in china, giving an isolation rate of 8.0%. serogroup a p. multocida isolates were isolated from 92 cases (39.5%), and serogroup d isolates were isolated from 128 cases (54.9%); 12 isolates (5.2%) were untypeable. p. multocida was the fourth most frequent pathogenic bacterium recovered from the respiratory tract, after streptococcus suis, haemophilus parasuis, and escherichia c ...200919158260
pseudogene accumulation in the evolutionary histories of salmonella enterica serovars paratyphi a and typhi.of the > 2000 serovars of salmonella enterica subspecies i, most cause self-limiting gastrointestinal disease in a wide range of mammalian hosts. however, s. enterica serovars typhi and paratyphi a are restricted to the human host and cause the similar systemic diseases typhoid and paratyphoid fever. genome sequence similarity between paratyphi a and typhi has been attributed to convergent evolution via relatively recent recombination of a quarter of their genomes. the accumulation of pseudogene ...200919159446
inefficient toll-like receptor-4 stimulation enables bordetella parapertussis to avoid host immunity.the recognition of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (lps) by host toll-like receptor (tlr)4 is a crucial step in developing protective immunity against several gram negative bacterial pathogens. bordetella bronchiseptica and b. pertussis stimulate robust tlr4 responses that are required to control the infection, but a close relative, b. parapertussis, poorly stimulates this receptor, and tlr4 deficiency does not affect its course of infection. this led us to hypothesize that inefficient tlr4 stimula ...200919169359
demonstration of 1-year duration of immunity for attenuated bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines in dogs.three groups of healthy dogs with low antibody titers to bordetella bronchiseptica (bb), canine parainfluenza virus (cpi), and canine adenovirus type 2 (cav-2) were used in this study. one group was vaccinated with a single dose of monovalent attenuated bb vaccine and one group with a trivalent vaccine containing attenuated bb, cpi, and cav-2; dogs were vaccinated intranasally with a single dose of the respective vaccines. the third group served as unvaccinated controls. all vaccinated dogs subs ...200819177330
virulence factor secretion and translocation by bordetella species.here we review the bordetella virulence secretome with an emphasis on factors that translocate into target cells. recent advances in understanding the functions of adenylate cyclase toxin, a type 1 secretion system (t1ss) substrate, and pertussis toxin, a type iv secretion system (t4ss) substrate, are briefly described and a compilation of additional secretion systems and secreted factors is provided. particular attention is devoted to the bsc type iii secretion system (t3ss) and controversies s ...200919186097
the vitamin d connection to pediatric infections and immune function.over the past 20 y, a resurgence in vitamin d deficiency and nutritional rickets has been reported throughout the world, including the united states. inadequate serum vitamin d concentrations have also been associated with complications from other health problems, including tuberculosis, cancer (prostate, breast, and colon), multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. these findings support the concept of vitamin d possessing important pleiotropic actions outside of calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism ...200919190532
relapsing peritonitis caused by bordetella bronchiseptica in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient: a case report.bordetella (b) bronchiseptica is a common veterinary pathogen, but has rarely been implicated in human infections. most patients with b. bronchiseptica infections are compromised clinically such as in patients with a malignancy, aids, malnutrition, or chronic renal failure. we experienced a case of relapsing peritonitis caused by b. bronchiseptica associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (capd). a 56-yr-old male, treated with capd due to end stage renal disease (esrd), was admit ...200919194556
minimum contradiction matrices in whole genome phylogenies.minimum contradiction matrices are a useful complement to distance-based phylogenies. a minimum contradiction matrix represents phylogenetic information under the form of an ordered distance matrix y(i) (,) (j) (n). a matrix element corresponds to the distance from a reference vertex n to the path (i, j). for an x-tree or a split network, the minimum contradiction matrix is a robinson matrix. it therefore fulfills all the inequalities defining perfect order: y(i) (,) (j) (n) >or= y(i) (,) (k) (n ...200819204821
natural-host animal models indicate functional interchangeability between the filamentous haemagglutinins of bordetella pertussis and bordetella bronchiseptica and reveal a role for the mature c-terminal domain, but not the rgd motif, during infection.bacteria of the bordetella genus cause respiratory tract infections. both broad host range (e.g. bordetella bronchiseptica) and human-adapted (e.g. bordetella pertussis) strains produce a surface-exposed and secreted protein called filamentous haemagglutinin (fha) that functions in adherence and immunomodulation. previous studies using b. pertussis and cultured mammalian cells identified several fha domains with potential roles in host cell interactions, including an arg-gly-asp (rgd) triplet th ...200919220744
species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of gram-negative aerobic bacteria in hospitalized cancer patients.nosocomial infections pose significant threats to hospitalized patients, especially the immunocompromised ones, such as cancer patients.200919228413
evolution of acute infections and the invasion-persistence trade-off.we seek to understand the conditions favoring the evolution of acute, highly transmissible infections. most work on the life-history evolution of pathogens has focused on the transmission-virulence trade-off. here we focus on a distinct trade-off that operates, even among avirulent pathogens, between a pathogen's speed of invasion and its ability to persist in a finite host population. other authors have shown how this invasion-persistence trade-off can lead to intermediate pathogen attack rates ...200919231966
contribution of bordetella bronchiseptica filamentous hemagglutinin and pertactin to respiratory disease in swine.bordetella bronchiseptica is pervasive in swine populations and plays multiple roles in respiratory disease. most studies addressing virulence factors of b. bronchiseptica are based on isolates derived from hosts other than pigs. two well-studied virulence factors implicated in the adhesion process are filamentous hemagglutinin (fha) and pertactin (prn). we hypothesized that both fha and prn would serve critical roles in the adhesion process and be necessary for colonization of the swine respira ...200919237531
euthanasia of neonatal rats with carbon dioxide.exposure to co(2) is a common method used to euthanize rodents in biomedical research and rodent production. the purpose of this study was to determine the length of co(2) exposure required to euthanize neonatal rats (0 to 10 d old). multiple groups of rats were exposed to 100% co(2) for 5 to 60 min. after co(2) exposure, rats were placed in room air for 20 min to allow for possible recovery. no difference was found in comparing 1 inbred strain and 1 outbred stock of rats. time to death varied i ...200919245746
anthrax edema toxin induces maturation of dendritic cells and enhances chemotaxis towards macrophage inflammatory protein 3beta.bacillus anthracis secretes two bipartite toxins, edema toxin (et) and lethal toxin (lt), which impair immune responses and contribute directly to the pathology associated with the disease anthrax. edema factor, the catalytic subunit of et, is an adenylate cyclase that impairs host defenses by raising cellular cyclic amp (camp) levels. synthetic camp analogues and compounds that raise intracellular camp levels lead to phenotypic and functional changes in dendritic cells (dcs). here, we demonstra ...200919273556
structural and functional similarities between a ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco)-like protein from bacillus subtilis and photosynthetic rubisco.the sequences classified as genes for various ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (rubp) carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco)-like proteins (rlps) are widely distributed among bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota. in the phylogenic tree constructed with these sequences, rubiscos and rlps are grouped into four separate clades, forms i-iv. in rubisco enzymes encoded by form i, ii, and iii sequences, 19 conserved amino acid residues are essential for co(2) fixation; however, 1-11 of these 19 residues are substituted ...200919279009
characterization of wbpb, wbpe, and wbpd and reconstitution of a pathway for the biosynthesis of udp-2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-d-mannuronic acid in pseudomonas aeruginosa.the lipopolysaccharide of pseudomonas aeruginosa pao1 contains an unusual sugar, 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-d-mannuronic acid (d-mannac3naca). wbpb, wbpe, and wbpd are thought to encode oxidase, transaminase, and n-acetyltransferase enzymes. to characterize their functions, recombinant proteins were overexpressed and purified from heterologous hosts. activities of his(6)-wbpb and his(6)-wbpe were detected only when both proteins were combined in the same reaction. using a direct maldi-tof mass ...200919282284
the complete genome and proteome of laribacter hongkongensis reveal potential mechanisms for adaptations to different temperatures and habitats.laribacter hongkongensis is a newly discovered gram-negative bacillus of the neisseriaceae family associated with freshwater fish-borne gastroenteritis and traveler's diarrhea. the complete genome sequence of l. hongkongensis hlhk9, recovered from an immunocompetent patient with severe gastroenteritis, consists of a 3,169-kb chromosome with g+c content of 62.35%. genome analysis reveals different mechanisms potentially important for its adaptation to diverse habitats of human and freshwater fish ...200919283063
il-17 and anti-bacterial immunity: protection versus tissue damage.il-17 can impact health in a variety of ways. it is protective for some pathogens but it is also associated with tissue damaging inflammation. by examining the role of il-17 in a variety of bacterial infections the mechanisms by which this cytokine mediates both protection and damage can be dissected. a key element in understanding the role of this cytokine is determining where and when it is acting. dissecting its essential protective role from its immunopathologic role will allow for improved ...200919283706
dissecting the bacterial type vi secretion system by a genome wide in silico analysis: what can be learned from available microbial genomic resources?the availability of hundreds of bacterial genomes allowed a comparative genomic study of the type vi secretion system (t6ss), recently discovered as being involved in pathogenesis. by combining comparative and phylogenetic approaches using more than 500 prokaryotic genomes, we characterized the global t6ss genetic structure in terms of conservation, evolution and genomic organization.200919284603
role of hrpa in biofilm formation of neisseria meningitidis and regulation of the hrpbas transcripts.two-partner secretion systems of gram-negative organisms are utilized in adherence, invasion, and biofilm formation. the hrpab proteins of neisseria meningitidis are members of a two-partner secretion system, and hrpa is established as being important to adherence and intracellular escape. this study set out to determine the expression pattern of members of the hrpbas putative operon and to find a functional role for the hrpa protein. the upregulation of these genes was found in situations of an ...200919289515
constitutive and regulated expression vectors to construct polyphosphate deficient bacteria.inorganic polyphosphate (polyp), a polymer of tens or hundreds of phosphate residues linked by atp-like bonds, is found in all organisms and performs a wide variety of functions. polyp is synthesized in bacterial cells by the actions of polyphosphate kinases (ppk1 and ppk2) and degraded by an exopolyphosphatase (ppx). bacterial cells with polyp deficiencies are impaired in many structural and important cellular functions such as motility, quorum sensing, biofilm formation and virulence. knockout ...200919323822
genomic evidence for the evolution of streptococcus equi: host restriction, increased virulence, and genetic exchange with human pathogens.the continued evolution of bacterial pathogens has major implications for both human and animal disease, but the exchange of genetic material between host-restricted pathogens is rarely considered. streptococcus equi subspecies equi (s. equi) is a host-restricted pathogen of horses that has evolved from the zoonotic pathogen streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (s. zooepidemicus). these pathogens share approximately 80% genome sequence identity with the important human pathogen streptococ ...200919325880
identification of a novel lipopolysaccharide core biosynthesis gene cluster in bordetella pertussis, and influence of core structure and lipid a glucosamine substitution on endotoxic activity.lipopolysaccharide (lps), also known as endotoxin, is one of the main constituents of the gram-negative bacterial outer membrane. whereas the lipid a portion of lps is generally considered the main determinant for endotoxic activity, the oligosaccharide moiety plays an important role in immune evasion and the interaction with professional antigen-presenting cells. here we describe a novel four-gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of the bordetella pertussis core oligosaccharide. by insertio ...200919364841
genomic analysis of the adenylate cyclase-hemolysin c-terminal region of bordetella pertussis, bordetella parapertussis and bordetella bronchiseptica.adenylate cyclase-hemolysin plays an important role in the virulence of bordetella pertussis, bordetella parapertussis and bordetella bronchiseptica species. its c-terminal region carries protective epitopes and receptor binding site for human cells. genomic analyses of this region indicate no polymorphism in b. pertussis and b. parapertussis regions, but substantial variability in b. bronchiseptica that might be linked to the various niches of this species.200919379809
expression levels of immune markers in actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infected pigs and their relation to breed and clinical symptoms.in pigs little is known about the role of innate immune defence in bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, despite their major role in pig production. in the present study we characterized and compared in vitro and in vivo activation of immune markers of different pig breeds 7 days before, and 4 and 21 days after an experimental aerosol infection with actinobacillus (a.) pleuropneumoniae.200919383119
successful management of rabbit anesthesia through the use of nasotracheal intubation.although nasotracheal intubation in the rabbit has been briefly described, scientific assessment of the procedure has not been reported. in this report we describe nasotracheal intubation performed in 38 male new zealand white rabbits (3.0 to 5.5 kg) used for a vascular patch study. the rabbits were placed under general anesthesia twice, with 2 mo between the initial and final intubations. rabbits were intubated by the oral or nasotracheal route and compared. previous literature dismissed nasotr ...200919383213
ralstonia pickettii-induced ataxia in immunodeficient mice.we report here the characterization of an asymmetric ataxia syndrome (head tilt and circling, with death in the most severe cases) demonstrated by profoundly immunodeficient mice housed at the institut curie spf facility. the immune system of the affected mice had been genetically modified so that they were deficient in both b and t cells. extensive bacteriologic, parasitic, serologic, and histopathologic analysis of the affected animals and their healthy controls led us to identify ralstonia pi ...200919389312
sequence-based prediction of type iii secreted proteins.the type iii secretion system (ttss) is a key mechanism for host cell interaction used by a variety of bacterial pathogens and symbionts of plants and animals including humans. the ttss represents a molecular syringe with which the bacteria deliver effector proteins directly into the host cell cytosol. despite the importance of the ttss for bacterial pathogenesis, recognition and targeting of type iii secreted proteins has up until now been poorly understood. several hypotheses are discussed, in ...200919390696
purification of legiobactin and importance of this siderophore in lung infection by legionella pneumophila.when cultured in a low-iron medium, legionella pneumophila secretes a siderophore (legiobactin) that is both reactive in the chrome azurol s (cas) assay and capable of stimulating the growth of iron-starved legionellae. using anion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography (hplc), we purified legiobactin from culture supernatants of a virulent strain of l. pneumophila. in the process, we detected the ferrated form of legiobactin as well as other cas-reactive substances. purified legiobactin h ...200919398549
microwave-assisted sample preparation for rapid and sensitive analysis of h. pylori lipid a applicable to a single colony.the lipid a of gram-negative bacteria plays a major role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections. lipid a diversity is observed both in the number and length of fatty-acid side chains and in the presence of terminal phosphate residues and associated modifications. in this report, we describe a new sample preparation method based on microwave-assisted enzymatic digestion and detergent-free mild hydrolysis, in conjunction with a maldi-time-of-flight (tof)/tof analysis, to determine the structu ...200919401599
emergence of quinolone-resistant bordetella pertussis in japan.six bordetella pertussis strains isolated from children in japan from 2004 to 2006 showed high-level resistance to nalidixic acid (nal; mic, >256 microg/ml) and decreased susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones. all of the nal-resistant strains had the same d87g mutation in gyra.200919414571
making the cut: central roles of intramembrane proteolysis in pathogenic microorganisms.proteolysis in cellular membranes to liberate effector domains from their transmembrane anchors is a well-studied regulatory mechanism in animal biology and disease. by contrast, the function of intramembrane proteases in unicellular organisms has received little attention. recent progress has now established that intramembrane proteases execute pivotal roles in a range of pathogens, from regulating mycobacterium tuberculosis envelope composition, cholera toxin production, bacterial adherence an ...200919421188
antibody-mediated immunity to the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen coxiella burnetii is fc receptor- and complement-independent.the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen coxiella burnetii causes the zoonosis q fever. the intracellular niche of c. burnetii has led to the assumption that cell-mediated immunity is the most important immune component for protection against this pathogen. however, passive immunization with immune serum can protect naïve animals from challenge with virulent c. burnetii, indicating a role for antibody (ab) in protection. the mechanism of this ab-mediated protection is unknown. therefore, we ...200919426498
bordetella bronchiseptica aroa mutant as a live vaccine vehicle for heterologous porcine circovirus type 2 major capsid protein expression.porcine circovirus type 2 (pcv2) infections cause important respiratory diseases in the pig industry and are associated with many bacterial, mycoplasmal, and viral complications. in this study, a heterologous pcv2 major capsid protein (mcp) was expressed in the bordetella bronchiseptica aroa mutant strain (bbs-mcp) and used as a live vaccine vehicle. mice and pigs were immunized with live bbs-mcp via the intranasal route. the antibodies against mcp were induced successfully in the serum as deter ...200919428194
molecular determinants of the interaction between clostridium perfringens enterotoxin fragments and claudin-3.clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (cpe) binds to the extracellular loop 2 of a subset of claudins, e.g. claudin-3. here, the molecular mechanism of the cpe-claudin interaction was analyzed. using peptide arrays, recombinant cpe-(116-319) bound to loop 2 peptides of mouse claudin-3, -6, -7, -9, and -14 but not of 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10-13, 15, 16, 18-20, and 22. substitution peptide mapping identified the central motif (148)npl(150)vp, supposed to represent a turn region in the loop 2, as essential ...200919429681
genomic and genetic analyses of diversity and plant interactions of pseudomonas fluorescens.pseudomonas fluorescens are common soil bacteria that can improve plant health through nutrient cycling, pathogen antagonism and induction of plant defenses. the genome sequences of strains sbw25 and pf0-1 were determined and compared to each other and with p. fluorescens pf-5. a functional genomic in vivo expression technology (ivet) screen provided insight into genes used by p. fluorescens in its natural environment and an improved understanding of the ecological significance of diversity with ...200919432983
[characterization of attenuated salmonella c500 strain with a delta asd mutant and use as an asd+ balanced-lethal host-vector system].salmonella enterica serovar choleraesuis strain c500 is a live, attenuated vaccine that has been used in china for over 40 years to prevent piglet paratyphoid. the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of attenuated salmonella enterica serovar choleraesuis c500 strain with a delta asd mutant as an effective live vaccine vector by the asd+ balanced-lethal host-vector system. here, we compared the characteristics of s. enterica serovar choleraesuis delta asdc500 strain with the par ...200919441223
porcine abortion outbreak associated with toxoplasma gondii in jeju island, korea.this report deals with the acute onset of an abortion outbreak and high sow mortality in one pig herd consisted of 1,200 pigs and 120 sows on jeju island, korea. affected pregnant sows showed clinical signs, including high fever, gradual anorexia, vomiting, depression, recumbency, prostration, abortion, and a few deaths. four dead sows, five aborted fetuses from the same litter, and 17 sera collected from sows infected or normal were submitted to the pathology division of the national veterinary ...200919461210
comparison of side effects between buprenorphine and meloxicam used postoperatively in dutch belted rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus).one of the challenges facing veterinarians and investigators who use rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) as a surgical model in biomedical research is choosing an appropriate and efficacious postoperative analgesic without systemic complications and side effects. the objective of this study was to evaluate the gastrointestinal side effects associated with the postoperative use of buprenorphine in dutch belted rabbits. we also evaluated the analgesic meloxicam as an alternative to opioid administrati ...200919476717
new yeast recombineering tools for bacteria.recombineering with saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful methodology that can be used to clone multiple unmarked pieces of dna to generate complex constructs with high efficiency. here, we introduce two new tools that utilize the native recombination enzymes of s. cerevisiae to facilitate the manipulation of dna. first, yeast recombineering was used to make directed nested deletions in a bacteria-yeast shuttle plasmid using only one or two single stranded oligomers, thus obviating the need for ...200919477196
comparative genomic characterization of francisella tularensis strains belonging to low and high virulence subspecies.tularemia is a geographically widespread, severely debilitating, and occasionally lethal disease in humans. it is caused by infection by a gram-negative bacterium, francisella tularensis. in order to better understand its potency as an etiological agent as well as its potential as a biological weapon, we have completed draft assemblies and report the first complete genomic characterization of five strains belonging to the following different francisella subspecies (subsp.): the f. tularensis sub ...200919478886
bordetella bronchiseptica infection in cats. abcd guidelines on prevention and management.overview: bordetella bronchiseptica is a gram-negative bacterium that colonises the respiratory tract of mammals and is considered to be a primary pathogen of domestic cats. it is sensible to consider b bronchiseptica as a rare cause of zoonotic infections. the bacterium is susceptible to common disinfectants. infection: the bacterium is shed in oral and nasal secretions of infected cats. dogs with respiratory disease are an infection risk for cats. the microorganism colonises the ciliated epith ...200919481041
vibriobactin antibodies: a vaccine strategy.a new target strategy in the development of bacterial vaccines, the induction of antibodies to microbial outer membrane ferrisiderophore complexes, is explored. a vibriobactin (vib) analogue, with a thiol tether, 1-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-5,9-bis[[(4s,5r)-2-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-methyl-4-oxazolyl]carbonyl]-14-(3-mercaptopropanoyl)-1,5,9,14-tetraazatetradecane, was synthesized and linked to ovalbumin (ova) and bovine serum albumin (bsa). the antigenicity of the vib microbial iron che ...200919492834
clinical and laboratory evidence for neisseria meningitidis biofilms.neisseria meningitidis is the etiologic agent of meningococcal meningitis. carriage of the organism is approximately 10% while active disease occurs at a rate of 1:100,000. recent publications demonstrate that n. meningitidis has the ability to form biofilms on glass, plastic or cultured human bronchial epithelial cells. microcolony-like structures are also observed in histological sections from patients with active meningococcal disease. this review investigates the possible role of meningococc ...200919492966
annotating enzymes of uncertain function: the deacylation of d-amino acids by members of the amidohydrolase superfamily.the catalytic activities of three members of the amidohydrolase superfamily were discovered using amino acid substrate libraries. bb3285 from bordetella bronchiseptica, gox1177 from gluconobacter oxidans, and sco4986 from streptomyces coelicolor are currently annotated as d-aminoacylases or n-acetyl-d-glutamate deacetylases. these three enzymes are 22-34% identical to one another in amino acid sequence. substrate libraries containing nearly all combinations of n-formyl-d-xaa, n-acetyl-d-xaa, n-s ...200919518059
spontaneous pathology of the common marmoset (callithrix jacchus) and tamarins (saguinus oedipus, saguinus mystax).marmosets and tamarins are increasingly used in research, but their pathology remains poorly defined compared with old world primates.200919522731
evidence for horizontal gene transfer of two antigenically distinct o antigens in bordetella bronchiseptica.host immunity is a major driving force of antigenic diversity, resulting in pathogens that can evade immunity induced by closely related strains. here we show that two bordetella bronchiseptica strains, rb50 and 1289, express two antigenically distinct o-antigen serotypes (o1 and o2, respectively). when 18 additional b. bronchiseptica strains were serotyped, all were found to express either the o1 or o2 serotype. comparative genomic hybridization and pcr screening showed that the expression of e ...200919528223
respiratory disease associated with bordetella bronchiseptica in a hoffmann's two-toed sloth (choloepus hoffmanni).a 2-yr-old female captive-born hoffmann's two-toed sloth (choloepus hoffmanni) presented with respiratory disease. a severe inspiratory dyspnea with nasal congestion was observed with open-mouthed breathing and bilateral mucopurulent nasal exudate. despite initial treatment with broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy and anti-inflammatory and supportive care, the dyspnea persisted. the animal was anesthetized for bronchoscopy to obtain a deep tracheal sample. based on culture of bordetella bronchi ...200919569489
septic arthritis due to roseomonas gilardii in an immunocompetent adolescent.the genus roseomonas comprises groups of slow-growing, gram-negative coccobacilli, which only infrequently cause infection in humans. when identified, they are associated with immunocompromised adults, often causing bacteraemia. due to their rarity, members of this genus can be overlooked or misidentified using automated laboratory identification systems. we report on an immunocompetent adolescent patient who developed septic arthritis due to roseomonas gilardii following surgery for a sports in ...200919574413
th17 cells at the crossroads of innate and adaptive immunity against infectious diseases at the mucosa.t helper type 17 (th17) cells are a distinct lineage of t cells that produce the effector molecules il-17, il-17f, il-21, and il-22. although the role of th17 cells in autoimmunity is well documented, there is growing evidence that the th17 lineage and other interleukin (il)-17-producing cells are critical for host defense against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections at mucosal surfaces. here we summarize recent progress in our understanding of the function of il-17-producing cells as a bridg ...200919587639
role of the type iii secretion system in a hypervirulent lineage of bordetella bronchiseptica.despite the fact that closely related bacteria can cause different levels of disease, the genetic changes that cause some isolates to be more pathogenic than others are generally not well understood. we use a combination of approaches to determine which factors contribute to the increased virulence of a bordetella bronchiseptica lineage. a strain isolated from a host with b. bronchiseptica-induced disease, strain 1289, was 60-fold more virulent in mice than one isolated from an asymptomatically ...200919596779
the roles of antimicrobial peptides in innate host defense.antimicrobial peptides (amps) are multi-functional peptides whose fundamental biological role in vivo has been proposed to be the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms, including gram-positive and -negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. genes encoding these peptides are expressed in a variety of cells in the host, including circulating phagocytic cells and mucosal epithelial cells, demonstrating a wide range of utility in the innate immune system. expression of these genes is tightly regulate ...200919601838
genomic island excisions in bordetella petrii.among the members of the genus bordetella b. petrii is unique, since it is the only species isolated from the environment, while the pathogenic bordetellae are obligately associated with host organisms. another feature distinguishing b. petrii from the other sequenced bordetellae is the presence of a large number of mobile genetic elements including several large genomic regions with typical characteristics of genomic islands collectively known as integrative and conjugative elements (ices). the ...200919615092
the physiologic responses of dutch belted rabbits infected with inhalational anthrax.bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a category a priority pathogen that causes extensive damage in humans. for this reason, b. anthracis has been the focus of numerous studies using various animal models. in this study, we explored physiologic parameters in dutch belted rabbits with inhalation anthrax to characterize the disease progression in this model. to this end, we infected dutch belted rabbits with 100 ld(50) b. anthracis ames spores by nasal instillation and continuous ...200919619416
in vitro antibacterial activity of acyl-lysyl oligomers against helicobacter pylori.the gastric pathogen helicobacter pylori has developed resistance to virtually all current antibiotics; thus, there is a pressing need to develop new anti-h. pylori therapies. the goal of this work was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of oligo-acyl-lysyl (oak) antimicrobial peptidomimetics to determine if they might represent alternatives to conventional antibiotic treatment of h. pylori infection. a total of five oak sequences were screened for growth-inhibitory and/or bactericidal effects ...200919620333
a live attenuated bordetella pertussis candidate vaccine does not cause disseminating infection in gamma interferon receptor knockout mice.bordetella pertussis is the cause of whooping cough and responsible for 300,000 infant deaths per annum. current vaccines require 6 months to confer optimal immunity on infants, the population at highest risk. recently, an attenuated strain of b. pertussis (bpze1) has been developed to be used as a low-cost, live, intranasal, single-dose vaccine for newborns. preclinical proof of concept has been established; however, it is necessary to evaluate the safety of bpze1, especially in immunodeficient ...200919625486
the pgaabcd locus of acinetobacter baumannii encodes the production of poly-beta-1-6-n-acetylglucosamine, which is critical for biofilm formation.we found that acinetobacter baumannii contains a pgaabcd locus that encodes proteins that synthesize cell-associated poly-beta-(1-6)-n-acetylglucosamine (pnag). both a mutant with an in-frame deletion of the pga locus (s1deltapga) and a transcomplemented strain (s1deltapga-c) of a. baumannii were constructed, and the pnag production by these strains was compared using an immunoblot assay. deleting the pga locus resulted in an a. baumannii strain without pnag, and transcomplementation of the s1de ...200919633088
rapid real-time pcr assays for detection of klebsiella pneumoniae with the rmpa or maga genes associated with the hypermucoviscosity phenotype: screening of nonhuman primates.the relationship of mucoviscosity-associated (maga) and/or regulator of mucoid phenotype (rmpa) genes to the klebsiella pneumoniae hypermucoviscosity (hmv) phenotype has been reported. we previously demonstrated that rmpa+ k. pneumoniae can cause serious disease in african green monkeys and isolated rmpa+ and maga+ hmv k. pneumoniae from other species of non-human primates. to rapidly screen african green monkeys/non-human primates for these infections, we developed three real-time pcr assays. t ...200919644019
the bordetella type iii secretion system effector btea contains a conserved n-terminal motif that guides bacterial virulence factors to lipid rafts.the bordetella type iii secretion system (t3ss) effector protein btea is necessary and sufficient for rapid cytotoxicity in a wide range of mammalian cells. we show that btea is highly conserved and functionally interchangeable between bordetella bronchiseptica, bordetella pertussis and bordetella parapertussis. the identification of btea sequences required for cytotoxicity allowed the construction of non-cytotoxic mutants for localization studies. btea derivatives were targeted to lipid rafts a ...200919650828
klebsiella pneumoniae triggers a cytotoxic effect on airway epithelial cells.klebsiella pneumoniae is a capsulated gram negative bacterial pathogen and a frequent cause of nosocomial infections. despite its clinical relevance, little is known about the features of the interaction between k. pneumoniae and lung epithelial cells on a cellular level, neither about the role of capsule polysaccharide, one of its best characterised virulence factors, in this interaction.200919650888
microbial contaminations of laboratory mice and rats in taiwan from 2004 to 2007.limited data are available on the pathogen status of contemporary rodent colonies in taiwan. here we summarized the rodent pathogen diagnostic records of the taiwan national laboratory animal center during a 4-y period that representing approximately 10% of the rodent colonies in taiwan. demand for pathogen diagnostic service increased continuously from 2004 to 2007, with a 20% increase each year. in 2007, more than 20% of the mouse colonies were positive for mouse parvovirus, mouse hepatitis vi ...200919653946
salmonella flagellins are potent adjuvants for intranasally administered whole inactivated influenza vaccine.bacterial flagellins are potent inducers of innate immune responses in the mouse lung because they bind to tlr5 expressed on the apical surfaces of airway epithelial cells. tlr engagement leads to the initiation of a signaling cascade that results in a pro-inflammatory response with subsequent up-regulation of several cytokines and leads to adaptive immune responses. we examined the ability of two soluble flagellins, a monomeric flagellin expressed in escherichia coli and a highly purified polym ...201019654062
salmonella flagellins are potent adjuvants for intranasally administered whole inactivated influenza vaccine.bacterial flagellins are potent inducers of innate immune responses in the mouse lung because they bind to tlr5 expressed on the apical surfaces of airway epithelial cells. tlr engagement leads to the initiation of a signaling cascade that results in a pro-inflammatory response with subsequent up-regulation of several cytokines and leads to adaptive immune responses. we examined the ability of two soluble flagellins, a monomeric flagellin expressed in escherichia coli and a highly purified polym ...201019654062
microarray and functional analysis of growth phase-dependent gene regulation in bordetella bronchiseptica.growth phase-dependent gene regulation has recently been demonstrated to occur in bordetella pertussis, with many transcripts, including known virulence factors, significantly decreasing during the transition from logarithmic to stationary-phase growth. given that b. pertussis is thought to have derived from a bordetella bronchiseptica-like ancestor, we hypothesized that growth phase-dependent gene regulation would also occur in b. bronchiseptica. microarray analysis revealed and quantitative re ...200919667046
cxcr2-dependent mucosal neutrophil influx protects against colitis-associated diarrhea caused by an attaching/effacing lesion-forming bacterial pathogen.enteropathogenic escherichia coli (epec) is a major cause of diarrheal disease in young children, yet symptoms and duration are highly variable for unknown reasons. citrobacter rodentium, a murine model pathogen that shares important functional features with epec, colonizes mice in colon and cecum and causes inflammation, but typically little or no diarrhea. we conducted genome-wide microarray studies to define mechanisms of host defense and disease in c. rodentium infection. a significant fract ...200919675161
efflux-mediated drug resistance in bacteria: an update.drug efflux pumps play a key role in drug resistance and also serve other functions in bacteria. there has been a growing list of multidrug and drug-specific efflux pumps characterized from bacteria of human, animal, plant and environmental origins. these pumps are mostly encoded on the chromosome, although they can also be plasmid-encoded. a previous article in this journal provided a comprehensive review regarding efflux-mediated drug resistance in bacteria. in the past 5 years, significant pr ...200919678712
norepinephrine represses the expression of toxa and the siderophore genes in pseudomonas aeruginosa.among the different extracellular virulence factors produced by pseudomonas aeruginosa are exotoxin a (eta) and the pyoverdine and pyochelin siderophores. production of eta and the siderophores requires the function of the iron-starvation sigma factor pvds, the transcriptional activator rega, and the arac-activator pchr. iron represses the production of eta and the siderophores by repressing the expression of pvds, rega, and pchr. pvds regulates the expression of the eta gene, toxa, rega, and th ...200919686346
Refresh
firstprev
...11121314151617181920...
nextlast
Displaying items 1501 - 1600 of 2471