Publications

differences among children, adolescents and adults with severe leptospirosis: a comparative analysis.	leptospirosis is a zoonosis of global importance caused by leptospira interrogans. the aim of this study was to compare the data between children, adolescents and adults with leptospirosis. this is a retrospective study including a total of 373 consecutive patients with leptospirosis, admitted to tertiary hospitals in northeast of brazil, from may 1985 to august 2010. the patients were divided into two groups (age ≤21 years and >21 years). the adults were 304 (81.5%) of the population, with a me ...	2014	25120294
serologic survey for cross-species pathogens in urban coyotes (canis latrans), colorado, usa.	abstract as coyotes (canis latrans) adapt to living in urban environments, the opportunity for cross-species transmission of pathogens may increase. we investigated the prevalence of antibodies to pathogens that are either zoonotic or affect multiple animal species in urban coyotes in the denver metropolitan area, colorado, usa, in 2012. we assayed for antibodies to canine parvovirus-2, canine distemper virus, rabies virus, toxoplasma gondii, yersinia pestis, and serotypes of leptospira interrog ...	2014	25121408
a comprehensive insight into bacterial virulence in drinking water using 454 pyrosequencing and illumina high-throughput sequencing.	in order to comprehensively investigate bacterial virulence in drinking water, 454 pyrosequencing and illumina high-throughput sequencing were used to detect potential pathogenic bacteria and virulence factors (vfs) in a full-scale drinking water treatment and distribution system. 16s rrna gene pyrosequencing revealed high bacterial diversity in the drinking water (441-586 operational taxonomic units). bacterial diversity decreased after chlorine disinfection, but increased after pipeline distri ...	2014	25129220
role of toll-like receptors in helicobacter pylori infection and immunity.	the gram-negative bacterium helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) infects the stomachs of approximately half of the world's population. although infection induces an immune response that contributes to chronic gastric inflammation, the response is not sufficient to eliminate the bacterium. h. pylori infection causes peptic ulcers, gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. disease outcome is linked to the severity of the host inflammatory response. gastric epithelial cells represen ...	2014	25133016
human leptospirosis trends: northeast thailand, 2001-2012.	the objective of this study was to determine the changing trend of leptospirosis over time in thailand using two prospective hospital-based studies conducted amongst adult patients with acute undifferentiated fever (aufi) admitted to maharat nakhon ratchasima hospital, nakhon ratchasima province, thailand between july 2001 to december 2002 and between july 2011 to december 2012. during the first period, leptospirosis (98 patients, 40%) and scrub typhus (59 patients, 24.1%) were the two major cau ...	2014	25141000
isolation and characterization of two novel plasmids from pathogenic leptospira interrogans serogroup canicola serovar canicola strain gui44.	previous genomic analysis of pathogenic leptospira has identified two circular chromosomes but no plasmid. this study aims to investigate potential extrachromosomal elements of l.interrogans serovar canicola strain gui44.	2014	25144555
leptospira interrogans induces uterine inflammatory responses and abnormal expression of extracellular matrix proteins in dogs.	leptospira interrogans (l. interrogans), a worldwide zoonosis, infect humans and animals. in dogs, four syndromes caused by leptospirosis have been identified: icteric, hemorrhagic, uremic (stuttgart disease) and reproductive (abortion and premature or weak pups), and also it caused inflammation. extracellular matrix (ecm) is a complex mixture of matrix molecules that is crucial to the reproduction. both inflammatory response and ecm are closed relative to reproductive. the aim of this study was ...	2014	25153777
making proteomics data accessible and reusable: current state of proteomics databases and repositories.	compared to other data-intensive disciplines such as genomics, public deposition and storage of ms-based proteomics, data are still less developed due to, among other reasons, the inherent complexity of the data and the variety of data types and experimental workflows. in order to address this need, several public repositories for ms proteomics experiments have been developed, each with different purposes in mind. the most established resources are the global proteome machine database (gpmdb), p ...	2015	25158685
mammalian gut immunity.	the mammalian intestinal tract is the largest immune organ in the body and comprises cells from non-hemopoietic (epithelia, paneth cells, goblet cells) and hemopoietic (macrophages, dendritic cells, t-cells) origin, and is also a dwelling for trillions of microbes collectively known as the microbiota. the homeostasis of this large microbial biomass is prerequisite to maintain host health by maximizing beneficial symbiotic relationships and minimizing the risks of living in such close proximity. ...	2014	25163502
small intestinal intussusception in five dogs with acute renal failure and suspected leptospirosis (l. australis).	this case series describes 5 dogs with small intestinal intussusception and acute kidney injury due to infection with leptospira interrogans serovar australis.	2009	25164636
microbe-specific unconventional t cells induce human neutrophil differentiation into antigen cross-presenting cells.	the early immune response to microbes is dominated by the recruitment of neutrophils whose primary function is to clear invading pathogens. however, there is emerging evidence that neutrophils play additional effector and regulatory roles. the present study demonstrates that human neutrophils assume ag cross-presenting functions and suggests a plausible scenario for the local generation of apc-like neutrophils through the mobilization of unconventional t cells in response to microbial metabolite ...	2014	25165152
seroprevalence of bovine leptospiral antibodies by microscopic agglutination test in southeast of iran.	to evaluate serological findings of bovine leptospirosis which is a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution caused by leptospira interrogans.	2014	25182718
a homolog of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from riemerella anatipestifer is an extracellular protein and exhibits biological activity.	riemerella anatipestifer is the causative agent of septicemia anserum exsudativa in ducks. its pathogenesis and virulence factors are still unclear. the glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), an anchorless and multifunctional protein on the surface of several pathogenic microorganisms, is involved in virulence and adhesion. whether homologs of gapdh exist, and display similar characteristics in r. anatipestifer (ragapdh) has not been determined. in our research, the ...	2014	25183032
interpretation of microscopic agglutination test for leptospirosis diagnosis and seroprevalence.	determination of antibody titer by microscopic agglutination test (mat) has been used as a tool for leptospirosis diagnosis. four fold or greater rise in antibody titers between acute and convalescent sera suggests recent leptospira infection. in addition, results obtained by mat have been used to predict infecting serovars. however, cross reactivity among various leptospira serovars have been reported when patient sera were tested with a battery of leptospira serovars. this study demonstrates c ...	2014	25183074
a rare case of weil's disease with alveolar haemorrhage.	leptospirosis, a disease of protean manifestations occurs sporadically throughout the year with a peak seasonal incidence during the rainy season mimicking other febrile viral illness. in the rare case, the disease leads to renal and hepatic involvement with hemorrhage which may be associated with multisystem organ dysfunction in form of pulmonary, cardiac and central nervous system, when it is known as weil's disease. rarely haemorrhagic manifestations are assosciated. early diagnosis is import ...	2014	25183149
evolution of the f0f1 atp synthase complex in light of the patchy distribution of different bioenergetic pathways across prokaryotes.	bacteria and archaea are characterized by an amazing metabolic diversity, which allows them to persist in diverse and often extreme habitats. apart from oxygenic photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, well-studied processes from chloroplasts and mitochondria of plants and animals, prokaryotes utilize various chemo- or lithotrophic modes, such as anoxygenic photosynthesis, iron oxidation and reduction, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis. most bioenergetic pathways have a similar general ...	2014	25188293
leptospirosis in sub-saharan africa: a systematic review.	leptospirosis is an emerging zoonotic infection worldwide, possibly due to climate change and demographic shifts. it is regarded as endemic in sub-saharan africa; however, for most countries scarce epidemiological data, if any, exist. the primary objectives were to describe the prevalence of leptospirosis in countries in sub-saharan africa, and to develop options for prevention and control in the future.	2014	25197035
viability of leptospira isolates from a human outbreak in thailand in various water types, ph, and temperature conditions.	leptospira spp. isolated from patients during a multiyear outbreak in thailand were genotyped using multilocus sequence typing and a majority were identified as st34, especially in earlier years. we tested whether st34 isolates were better adapted to survive in various ph levels, temperatures, and water sources. motility and growth were monitored over a 12-week period. early year st34 isolates did not appear to have a significant fitness advantage over non-st34, however, this may have been becau ...	2014	25200260
comparative subproteome analysis of three representative leptospira interrogans vaccine strains reveals cross-reactive antigens and novel virulence determinants.	pathogenic leptospira spp. causes leptospirosis in china and throughout the world. here, we have sequenced two l. interrogans moderately virulent vaccine strains jdl03 (serovar canicola) and jdl10 (serovar hebdomadis) used in china. we selected a subproteomic approach to identify surface-exposed proteins including omps and extracellular proteins of these two strains plus a highly virulent vaccine strain 56601 (serovar lai). comparative surface-exposed proteome among the three strains indicated 8 ...	2015	25201075
sage: string-overlap assembly of genomes.	de novo genome assembly of next-generation sequencing data is one of the most important current problems in bioinformatics, essential in many biological applications. in spite of significant amount of work in this area, better solutions are still very much needed.	2014	25225118
kinetic and structural characterization of a typical two-cysteine peroxiredoxin from leptospira interrogans exhibiting redox sensitivity.	little is known about the mechanisms by which leptospira interrogans, the causative agent of leptospirosis, copes with oxidative stress at the time it establishes persistent infection within its human host. we report the molecular cloning of a gene encoding a 2-cys peroxiredoxin (linahpc) from this bacterium. after bioinformatic analysis we found that linahpc contains the characteristic ggig and yf motifs present in peroxiredoxins that are sensitive to overoxidation (mainly eukaryotic proteins). ...	2014	25236736
rat sightings in new york city are associated with neighborhood sociodemographics, housing characteristics, and proximity to open public space.	rats are ubiquitous in urban environments and, as established reservoirs for infectious pathogens, present a control priority for public health agencies. new york city (nyc) harbors one of the largest rat populations in the united states, but surprising little study has been undertaken to define rat ecology across varied features of this urban landscape. more importantly, factors that may contribute to increased encounters between rats and humans have rarely been explored. using city-wide record ...	2014	25237595
leptospira mayottensis sp. nov., a pathogenic species of the genus leptospira isolated from humans.	a group of strains representing species of the genus leptospira, isolated from patients with leptospirosis in mayotte (indian ocean), were previously found to be considerably divergent from other known species of the genus leptospira. this was inferred from sequence analysis of rrs (16s rrna) and other genetic loci and suggests that they belong to a novel species. two strains from each serogroup currently identified within this novel species were studied. spirochaete, aerobic, motile, helix-shap ...	2014	25249563
maintenance of leptospira species in leptospira vanaporn wuthiekanun agar.	the maintenance of leptospira species in liquid or semisolid medium is time-consuming and at risk of contamination due to the needs of routine subculture and dark field microscopy. using leptospira vanaporn wuthiekanun (lvw) agar, we maintained 100 pathogenic leptospira isolates for 12 months without the need for subculture and confirmed the viability of all isolates by the naked eye.	2014	25253789
murine lung injury caused by leptospira interrogans glycolipoprotein, a specific na/k-atpase inhibitor.	leptospiral glycolipoprotein (glp) is a potent and specific na/k-atpase inhibitor. severe pulmonary form of leptospirosis is characterized by edema, inflammation and intra-alveolar hemorrhage having a dismal prognosis. resolution of edema and inflammation determines the outcome of lung injury. na/k-atpase activity is responsible for edema clearance. this enzyme works as a cell receptor that triggers activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk) intracellular signaling pathway. therefore, ...	2014	25265888
risk of infection and associated influenza-like disease among abattoir workers due to two leptospira species.	the aims of this study were to determine the annual incidence of infection with leptospira interrogans serovar pomona and/or leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo and its association with influenza-like illness (ili) in meat workers in new zealand. sera were collected twice, 50-61 weeks apart, from 592 workers at eight abattoirs slaughtering sheep (n = 4), cattle (n = 2) and deer (n = 2), and tested by the microscopic agglutination test for hardjo and pomona. forty-nine (8·3%) participants ei ...	2015	25266854
identification of cell-binding adhesins of leptospira interrogans.	leptospirosis is a globally distributed bacterial infectious disease caused by pathogenic members of the genus leptospira. infection can lead to illness ranging from mild and non-specific to severe, with jaundice, kidney and liver dysfunction, and widespread endothelial damage. the adhesion of pathogenic leptospira species (spp.), the causative agent of leptospirosis, to host tissue components is necessary for infection and pathogenesis. while it is well-established that extracellular matrix (ec ...	2014	25275630
liver involvement in systemic infection.	the liver is often involved in systemic infections, resulting in various types of abnormal liver function test results. in particular, hyperbilirubinemia in the range of 2-10 mg/dl is often seen in patients with sepsis, and several mechanisms for this phenomenon have been proposed. in this review, we summarize how the liver is involved in various systemic infections that are not considered to be primarily hepatotropic. in most patients with systemic infections, treatment for the invading microbe ...	2014	25276279
how to find rna thermometers.	temperature is one of the decisive signals that a mammalian pathogen has entered its warm-blooded host. among the many ways to register temperature changes, bacteria often use temperature-modulated structures in the untranslated region of mrnas. in this article, we describe how such rna thermometers (rnats) have been discovered one by one upstream of heat shock and virulence genes in the past, and how next-generation sequencing approaches are able to reveal novel temperature-responsive rna struc ...	2014	25279353
renal failure, hepatitis and myocarditis in a previously healthy man.		2014	25285107
structure of homoserine o-acetyltransferase from staphylococcus aureus: the first gram-positive ortholog structure.	homoserine o-acetyltransferase (hta) catalyzes the formation of l-o-acetyl-homoserine from l-homoserine through the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl-coa. this is the first committed step required for the biosynthesis of methionine in many fungi, gram-positive bacteria and some gram-negative bacteria. the structure of hta from staphylococcus aureus (sahta) has been determined to a resolution of 2.45 å. the structure belongs to the α/β-hydrolase superfamily, consisting of two distinct domai ...	2014	25286936
atcc 43642 replaces atcc 23581 as the type strain of leptospira interrogans (stimson 1907) wenyon 1926. opinion 91. judicial commission of the international committee on systematics of prokaryotes.	the judicial commission affirms that, according to information presented to it, the type strain of leptospira interrogans (stimson 1907) wenyon 1926 designated on the approved lists of bacterial names (atcc 23581) has been shown not to represent an authentic culture of strain rga (a member of the serovar icterohaemorrhagiae) and atcc 43642, derived from an authentic strain of strain rga, a member of the serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, is designated the type strain of leptospira interrogans (stimson ...	2014	25288661
abortion in cattle due to infection with staphylococcus lugdunensis.	an aborted fetus of 7 months gestation, the associated placenta, and a single blood sample from the dam were submitted for diagnostic investigation to the diagnostic laboratory of the lombardy and emilia-romagna experimental zooprophylactic institute in parma, italy. the serum was negative for neospora caninum, coxiella burnetii, chlamydophila abortus, bovine herpesvirus 1 (bhv-1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (bvdv), brucella abortus, and brucella melitensis. fetal tissues and placental cotyledo ...	2014	25292193
interlaboratory and between-specimen comparisons of diagnostic tests for leptospirosis in sheep and cattle.	a study was performed to investigate interlaboratory test agreement between a research and a commercial veterinary diagnostic laboratory on blood and urine samples, and to investigate test agreement between blood, urine, and kidney samples (research laboratory) for leptospirosis diagnosis. samples were sourced from 399 sheep and 146 beef cattle from a local abattoir. interlaboratory agreement for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qpcr) results on urine samples was almost perfect ...	2014	25292194
apoptosis in hep-2 cells infected with ureaplasma diversum.	bacterial pathogens have many strategies for infecting and persisting in host cells. adhesion, invasion and intracellular life are important features in the biology of mollicutes. the intracellular location of ureaplasma diversum may trigger disturbances in the host cell. this includes activation or inhibition of pro and anti-apoptotic factors, which facilitate the development of host damage. the aim of the present study was to associate u. diversum infection in hep-2 cells and apoptosis inducti ...	2014	25299837
l,l-diaminopimelate aminotransferase (dapl): a putative target for the development of narrow-spectrum antibacterial compounds.	despite the urgent need for sustained development of novel antibacterial compounds to combat the drastic rise in antibiotic resistant and emerging bacterial infections, only a few clinically relevant antibacterial drugs have been recently developed. one of the bottlenecks impeding the development of novel antibacterial compounds is the identification of new enzymatic targets. the nutritionally essential amino acid anabolic pathways, for example lysine biosynthesis, provide an opportunity to expl ...	2014	25309529
detection of zoonotic pathogens and characterization of novel viruses carried by commensal rattus norvegicus in new york city.	norway rats (rattus norvegicus) are globally distributed and concentrate in urban environments, where they live and feed in closer proximity to human populations than most other mammals. despite the potential role of rats as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases, the microbial diversity present in urban rat populations remains unexplored. in this study, we used targeted molecular assays to detect known bacterial, viral, and protozoan human pathogens and unbiased high-throughput sequencing to identify ...	2014	25316698
pasteurella pneumotropica evades the human complement system by acquisition of the complement regulators factor h and c4bp.	pasteurella pneumotropica is an opportunist gram negative bacterium responsible for rodent pasteurellosis that affects upper respiratory, reproductive and digestive tracts of mammals. in animal care facilities the presence of p. pneumotropica causes severe to lethal infection in immunodeficient mice, being also a potential source for human contamination. indeed, occupational exposure is one of the main causes of human infection by p. pneumotropica. the clinical presentation of the disease includ ...	2014	25347183
leptospirosis from water sources.	leptospirosis outbreaks have been associated with many common water events including water consumption, water sports, environmental disasters, and occupational exposure. the ability of leptospires to survive in moist environments makes them a high-risk agent for infection following contact with any contaminated water source. water treatment processes reduce the likelihood of leptospirosis or other microbial agents causing infection provided that they do not malfunction and the distribution netwo ...	2014	25348115
serological and molecular survey of leptospira spp. among cart horses from an endemic area of human leptospirosis in curitiba, southern brazil.	cart horses are a re-emerging population employed to carry recyclable material in cities.	2014	25351539
epidemiological investigation of a human leptospirosis case reported in a suburban area near marseille.	leptospirosis has been re-emerging in both developed and developing countries, including in europe, where the phenomenon has notably been associated with urban transmission. in this work, we describe an epidemiological investigation that demonstrated a case of human infection due to peri-urban transmission of leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae in southeastern france.	2014	25356349
post-translational modification of lipl32 during leptospira interrogans infection.	leptospirosis, a re-emerging disease of global importance caused by pathogenic leptospira spp., is considered the world's most widespread zoonotic disease. rats serve as asymptomatic carriers of pathogenic leptospira and are critical for disease spread. in such reservoir hosts, leptospires colonize the kidney, are shed in the urine, persist in fresh water and gain access to a new mammalian host through breaches in the skin.	2014	25356675
proteomic features predict seroreactivity against leptospiral antigens in leptospirosis patients.	with increasing efficiency, accuracy, and speed we can access complete genome sequences from thousands of infectious microorganisms; however, the ability to predict antigenic targets of the immune system based on amino acid sequence alone is still needed. here we use a leptospira interrogans microarray expressing 91% (3359) of all leptospiral predicted orfs (3667) and make an empirical accounting of all antibody reactive antigens recognized in sera from naturally infected humans; 191 antigens el ...	2014	25358092
proteomic features predict seroreactivity against leptospiral antigens in leptospirosis patients.	with increasing efficiency, accuracy, and speed we can access complete genome sequences from thousands of infectious microorganisms; however, the ability to predict antigenic targets of the immune system based on amino acid sequence alone is still needed. here we use a leptospira interrogans microarray expressing 91% (3359) of all leptospiral predicted orfs (3667) and make an empirical accounting of all antibody reactive antigens recognized in sera from naturally infected humans; 191 antigens el ...	2014	25358092
serologic evidence for selected infectious diseases in marsican brown bears (ursus arctos marsicanus) in italy (2004-09).	we tested 30 serum samples collected during 2004-09 from 22 free-ranging marsican brown bears (ursus arctos marsicanus) in the national park of abruzzo, lazio, and molise, italy, for antibodies against canine distemper virus (cdv), canine adenovirus type 2 (cav-2), canine parvovirus type 2 (cpv-2), brucella spp., and eight leptospira interrogans sensu lato serovars. antibody to cdv was detected in 11 samples (37%); only two bears (10%) had detectable cav-2 and brucella spp. antibodies; three bea ...	2015	25375945
sensitive real-time pcr detection of pathogenic leptospira spp. and a comparison of nucleic acid amplification methods for the diagnosis of leptospirosis.	bacteria of the genus leptospira, the causative agents of leptospirosis, are categorized into pathogenic and non-pathogenic species. however, the benefit of using a clinical diagnostic that is specific for pathogenic species remains unclear. in this study, we present the development of a real-time pcr (rtpcr) for the detection of pathogenic leptospira (the pathogenic rtpcr), and we perform a comparison of the pathogenic rtpcr with a published assay that detects all leptospira species [the undiff ...	2014	25379890
risk factors associated with prevalence of antibodies to leptospira interrogans in a metapopulation of black-tailed prairie dogs in mexico.	interest in the study of infectious diseases of wildlife has grown in recent decades and now focuses on understanding host-parasite dynamics and factors involved in disease occurrence. the black-tailed prairie dog (cynomys ludovicianus) is a useful species for this type of investigation because it lives in heterogeneous landscapes where human activities take place, and its populations are structured as a metapopulation. our goal was to determine if colony area, density, and proximity to human se ...	2015	25380365
serologic, trace element, and fecal parasite survey of free-ranging, female mule deer (odocoileus hemionus) in eastern washington, usa.	blood and fecal samples collected from 97 free-ranging mule deer (odocoileus hemionus), from four distinct herds during the spring of 2000 or 2001 in eastern washington, us, were tested for exposure to selected pathogens, concentrations of trace elements, and presence of parasites in feces. antibodies were detected to the following: leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava (4%), leptospira interrogans serovar canicola (1%), leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa (13%), bovine viral diarrh ...	2015	25380366
the leptospiral outer membrane.	the outer membrane (om) is the front line of leptospiral interactions with their environment and the mammalian host. unlike most invasive spirochetes, pathogenic leptospires must be able to survive in both free-living and host-adapted states. as organisms move from one set of environmental conditions to another, the om must cope with a series of conflicting challenges. for example, the om must be porous enough to allow nutrient uptake, yet robust enough to defend the cell against noxious substan ...	2015	25388136
solution structure of a bacterial immunoglobulin-like domain of the outer membrane protein (ligb) from leptospira.	leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (lig) proteins are surface proteins expressed in pathogenic strains of leptospira. ligb, an outer membrane protein containing tandem repeats of bacterial ig-like (big) domains and a no-repeat tail, has been identified as a virulence factor involved in adhesion of pathogenic leptospira interrogans to host cells. a big domain of ligb, ligbcen2r, was reported previously to bind the gbd domain of fibronectin, suggesting its important role in leptospiral infections. in ...	2015	25393078
association between footwear use and neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.	the control of neglected tropical diseases (ntds) has primarily focused on preventive chemotherapy and case management. less attention has been placed on the role of ensuring access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene and personal preventive measures in reducing exposure to infection. our aim was to assess whether footwear use was associated with a lower risk of selected ntds.	2014	25393620
direct detection and differentiation of pathogenic leptospira species using a multi-gene targeted real time pcr approach.	leptospirosis is a growing public and veterinary health concern caused by pathogenic species of leptospira. rapid and reliable laboratory tests for the direct detection of leptospiral infections in animals are in high demand not only to improve diagnosis but also for understanding the epidemiology of the disease. in this work we describe a novel and simple taqman-based multi-gene targeted real-time pcr approach able to detect and differentiate leptospira interrogans, l. kirschneri, l. borgpetere ...	2014	25398140
staphylococcus aureus manganese transport protein c (mntc) is an extracellular matrix- and plasminogen-binding protein.	infections caused by staphylococcus aureus--particularly nosocomial infections--represent a great concern. usually, the early stage of pathogenesis consists on asymptomatic nasopharynx colonization, which could result in dissemination to other mucosal niches or invasion of sterile sites, such as blood. this pathogenic route depends on scavenging of nutrients as well as binding to and disrupting extracellular matrix (ecm). manganese transport protein c (mntc), a conserved manganese-binding protei ...	2014	25409527
kinetics of leptospira interrogans infection in hamsters after intradermal and subcutaneous challenge.	leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by highly motile, helically shaped bacteria that penetrate the skin and mucous membranes through lesions or abrasions, and rapidly disseminate throughout the body. although the intraperitoneal route of infection is widely used to experimentally inoculate hamsters, this challenge route does not represent a natural route of infection.	2014	25411782
characterization of recombinant flagellin b protein from leptospira interrogans.	symptoms of the early phase leptospirosis often are non-specific and can be a major problem in making a diagnosis of febrile illnesses. rapid diagnosis of leptospirosis is of extreme importance, because antibiotic treatment provides greatest benefit when administered in early stage of the disease. recombinant flagellin b (flab) gene (flab) of leptospira interrogans serovar autumnalis strain akiyami a was heterologously expressed and purified. the 35 kda recombinant flab was 99% similar to the re ...	2014	25417509
the passive diffusion of leptospira interrogans.	motivated by recent experimental measurements, the passive diffusion of the bacterium leptospira interrogans is investigated theoretically. by approximating the cell shape as a straight helix and using the slender-body-theory approximation of stokesian hydrodynamics, the resistance matrix of leptospira is first determined numerically. the passive diffusion of the helical cell is then obtained computationally using a langevin formulation which is sampled in time in a manner consistent with the ex ...	2014	25426593
genotypes of leptospira spp. strains isolated from dogs in buenos aires, argentina.	leptospirosis is an infectious disease of wide global distribution, which is endemic in argentina. the objective of this study was to obtain the genetic profiles of leptospira spp. strains isolated from clinical cases of dogs in the province of buenos aires by the multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (mlva). eight isolated canine strains were genotyped by mlva, obtaining the identical profile of leptospira interrogans serovar canicola hond utrecht iv in the strains named dogy an ...	2014	25444128
comparative genomic analysis of eight leptospira strains from japan and the philippines revealing the existence of four putative novel genomic islands/islets in l. interrogans serovar lai strain 56601.	leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases worldwide and can be considered an emerging health problem to both human and animal. despite the importance of the disease, complete genome sequences are currently available for only three leptospira interrogans strains: 56601, fiocruz l1-130, and ipav. therefore, intra- and inter-species comparative genomic analyses of leptospira are limited. here, to advance current knowledge of the genomic differences within leptospira species, nex ...	2014	25449997
iron metabolism in hamsters experimentally infected with leptospira interrogans serovar pomona: influence on disease pathogenesis.	the aim of this study was to analyze the classic iron markers associated to the storage process in hamsters experimentally infected by leptospira interrogans serovar pomona. four groups with six hamsters each were used; two were negative controls (c7 and c14) and two were composed by infected animals (t7 and t14). blood samples were collected on the seventh (c7 and t7) and fourteenth days (c14 and t14) post-inoculation. iron availability was determined in sera samples through the assessment of i ...	2014	25449998
efficacy of cefepime, ertapenem and norfloxacin against leptospirosis and for the clearance of pathogens in a hamster model.	animals and humans with severe leptospirosis may require empirical treatment. although many antibiotics are active against multiple leptospira serovars in vitro, their efficacy in vivo is limited. we evaluated the efficacy of cefepime (daily dose: 2, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg), ertapenem (daily dose: 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) and norfloxacin (daily dose: 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) for the treatment of leptospirosis and the ability to clear leptospira in target organs (liver, kidney, lung, heart, and spleen) in ...	2014	25450882
pathogenic landscape of transboundary zoonotic diseases in the mexico-us border along the rio grande.	transboundary zoonotic diseases, several of which are vector borne, can maintain a dynamic focus and have pathogens circulating in geographic regions encircling multiple geopolitical boundaries. global change is intensifying transboundary problems, including the spatial variation of the risk and incidence of zoonotic diseases. the complexity of these challenges can be greater in areas where rivers delineate international boundaries and encompass transitions between ecozones. the rio grande serve ...	2014	25453027
carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester labeling method to study the interaction between leptospira and macrophages.	leptospirosis, which is caused by pathogenic species of the genus leptospira, has emerged as one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases in the world. the exact mechanism of pathogenesis remains unknown, and the interaction between leptospira and macrophages is not well understood. in this study, we report that carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (cfda-se) can efficiently label different leptospira interrogans strains without affecting bacterial motility, viability, or virulence. fo ...	2014	25455022
travel-related leptospirosis in japan: a report on a series of five imported cases diagnosed at the national center for global health and medicine.	leptospirosis is one of the most common travel-related infections. we report 5 cases of travel-related leptospirosis who presented at our clinic between january 2008 and december 2013. patients were included in the study if they presented with a clinical profile that was compatible with the disease within 21 days of their return from traveling, which were laboratory-diagnosed as leptospirosis by blood culture, rise in antibody titers in paired sera using the microscopic agglutination test (mat), ...	2015	25459082
chpk and mazf of the toxin-antitoxin modules are involved in the virulence of leptospira interrogans during infection.	pathogenic leptospira species are the causative agents of leptospirosis, a global zoonotic infectious disease. toxin-antitoxin (ta) modules have been confirmed as stress-response elements that induce prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-growth arrest or death, but their role in the virulence of leptospira has not been reported. here, we confirmed that all the tested leptospiral strains had the chpik and mazef ta modules with highly-conserved sequences. the transcription and expression of the chpi, ch ...	2015	25461800
predominance of leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava dna in vaginal fluid of mares suggests sexual transmission of leptospirosis.	the purpose of the present study was to detect the presence of dna of pathogenic leptospira sp. in vaginal fluids of mares regarding a possible role of the sexual transmission. a total of 134 breeding mares from four troops were studied and sampling was conducted from vaginal fluids and urine for culture and pcr; and blood for serology. from the 134 serum samples tested, 59 (44%) were seroreactive, and serovar bratislava was the most frequent (54.2%). none positive culture was obtained, but lept ...	2014	25465903
identification of immunodominant antigens in canine leptospirosis by multi-antigen print immunoassay (mapia).	the microscopic agglutination test (mat), the standard method for serological diagnosis of leptospirosis, may present limitations regarding its sensitivity. current studies suggest that leptospira immunoglobulin-like (lig) proteins and lipl32 are of particular interest as serodiagnostic markers since they are present only in pathogenic species of the leptospira genus. the purpose of this study was to identify leptospiral immunodominant proteins that are recognized by canine sera from diseased do ...	2014	25466383
[leptospirosis and thrombocytopenia].	leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the spirochete leptospira interrogans. the spectrum of symptoms reported in leptospirosis is extremely broad. thrombocytopenia is common during the acute phase of leptospirosis but its pathophysiological mechanism remains not well defined.	2015	25467300
live imaging of bioluminescent leptospira interrogans in mice reveals renal colonization as a stealth escape from the blood defenses and antibiotics.	leptospira (l.) interrogans are bacteria responsible for a worldwide reemerging zoonosis. some animals asymptomatically carry l. interrogans in their kidneys and excrete bacteria in their urine, which contaminates the environment. humans are infected through skin contact with leptospires and develop mild to severe leptospirosis. previous attempts to construct fluorescent or bioluminescent leptospires, which would permit in vivo visualization and investigation of host defense mechanisms during in ...	2014	25474719
cross-protection between experimental anti-leptospirosis bacterins.	we investigated the existence of cross-protection between two anti-leptospirosis monovalent experimental bacterins produced with two strains of leptospira serogroup pomona: fromm strain of serovar kennewicky, isolated from pigs in the united states, and strain gr6 of serovar pomona isolated from pigs in brazil. both were added of aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant. experimental bacterins were tested with the hamster potency test in order to assess protection provided against the disease and again ...	2014	25477946
leptospirosis: the microscopic danger in paradise.	leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection endemic in hawai'i. this review discusses the incidence of documented human cases in hawai'i and current recommendations for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of leptospirosis.	2014	25478298
using a top predator as a sentinel for environmental contamination with pathogenic bacteria: the iberian wolf and leptospires.	the iberian wolf (canis lupus) is the top predator in the iberian environments in which it lives, feeding on a wide range of species, thus encountering a wide range of disease agents. therefore, the wolf can serve as sentinel of environmental contamination with pathogens. we investigated the exposure of free-living wolves to 14 serovars of leptospira interrogans sensu lato. kidney samples from 49 wolves collected from 2010-2013 in northwestern spain were analysed by culture, direct immunofluores ...	2014	25494467
thermal control of virulence factors in bacteria: a hot topic.	pathogenic bacteria sense environmental cues, including the local temperature, to control the production of key virulence factors. thermal regulation can be achieved at the level of dna, rna or protein and although many virulence factors are subject to thermal regulation, the exact mechanisms of control are yet to be elucidated in many instances. understanding how virulence factors are regulated by temperature presents a significant challenge, as gene expression and protein production are often ...	2014	25494856
how water molecules affect the catalytic activity of hydrolases--a xanes study of the local structures of peptide deformylase.	peptide deformylase (pdf) is a prokaryotic enzyme that catalyzes the deformylation of nascent peptides generated during protein synthesis and water molecules play a key role in these hydrolases. using x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (xanes) and ab initio calculations we accurately probe the local atomic environment of the metal ion binding in the active site of pdf at different ph values and with different metal ions. this new approach is an effective way to monitor existing correlations ...	2014	25503313
update on refseq microbial genomes resources.	ncbi refseq genome collection http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome represents all three major domains of life: eukarya, bacteria and archaea as well as viruses. prokaryotic genome sequences are the most rapidly growing part of the collection. during the year of 2014 more than 10,000 microbial genome assemblies have been publicly released bringing the total number of prokaryotic genomes close to 30,000. we continue to improve the quality and usability of the microbial genome resources by providing ...	2014	25510495
update on refseq microbial genomes resources.	ncbi refseq genome collection http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome represents all three major domains of life: eukarya, bacteria and archaea as well as viruses. prokaryotic genome sequences are the most rapidly growing part of the collection. during the year of 2014 more than 10,000 microbial genome assemblies have been publicly released bringing the total number of prokaryotic genomes close to 30,000. we continue to improve the quality and usability of the microbial genome resources by providing ...	2014	25510495
a facile and sensitive method for quantification of cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in mammalian organs: basal levels of eight cnmps and identification of 2',3'-cimp.	a sensitive, versatile and economical method to extract and quantify cyclic nucleotide monophosphates (cnmps) using lc-ms/ms, including both 3',5'-cnmps and 2',3'-cnmps, in mammalian tissues and cellular systems has been developed. problems, such as matrix effects from complex biological samples, are addressed and have been optimized. this protocol allows for comparison of multiple cnmps in the same system and was used to examine the relationship between tissue levels of cnmps in a panel of rat ...	2014	25513747
risk factors for new infection with leptospira in meat workers in new zealand.	to evaluate risk factors for new infection with leptospira interrogans sv pomona and leptospira borgpetersenii sv hardjo in meat workers.	2015	25520373
chagas' disease: an emergent urban zoonosis. the caracas valley (venezuela) as an epidemiological model.	the unprecedented emergence of important public health and veterinary zoonoses is usually a result of exponential population growth and globalization of human activities. i characterized chagas' disease as an emergent zoonosis in the caracas valley (venezuela) due to the following findings: the presence of reservoirs (didelphis marsupialis, rattus rattus) and vectors (panstrongylus geniculatus, panstrongylus rufotuberculatus) infected with trypanosoma cruzi in urbanized or marginalized areas; th ...	2014	25520950
rapid and sensitive detection of bartonella bacilliformis in experimentally infected sand flies by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) of the pap31 gene.	carrion' disease, caused by bartonella bacilliformis, remains truly neglected due to its focal geographical nature. a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, including asymptomatic bacteremia, and lack of a sensitive diagnostic test can potentially lead to a spread of the disease into non-endemic regions where competent sand fly vectors may be present. a reliable test capable of detecting b. bacilliformis is urgently needed. our objective is to develop a loop-mediated isothermal amplification ...	2014	25522230
dimeric structure of the bacterial extracellular foldase prsa.	secretion of proteins into the membrane-cell wall space is essential for cell wall biosynthesis and pathogenicity in gram-positive bacteria. folding and maturation of many secreted proteins depend on a single extracellular foldase, the prsa protein. prsa is a 30-kda protein, lipid anchored to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. the crystal structure of bacillus subtilis prsa reveals a central catalytic parvulin-type prolyl isomerase domain, which is inserted into a larger composite nc domain ...	2014	25525259
dimeric structure of the bacterial extracellular foldase prsa.	secretion of proteins into the membrane-cell wall space is essential for cell wall biosynthesis and pathogenicity in gram-positive bacteria. folding and maturation of many secreted proteins depend on a single extracellular foldase, the prsa protein. prsa is a 30-kda protein, lipid anchored to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. the crystal structure of bacillus subtilis prsa reveals a central catalytic parvulin-type prolyl isomerase domain, which is inserted into a larger composite nc domain ...	2014	25525259
recombinant antigens rlipl21, rloa22, rlipl32 and rligacon4-8 for serological diagnosis of leptospirosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in dogs.	animal leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the united states and around the world. in a previous study, we applied four recombinant antigens, rlipl21, rloa22, rlipl32 and rligacon4-8 of leptospira interrogans (l. interrogans) for the serological diagnosis of equine leptospirosis (ye et al, serodiagnosis of equine leptospirosis by elisa using four recombinant protein markers, clin. vaccine. immunol. 21:478-483). in this study, the same four recombinant antigens were evalu ...	2014	25526513
multiple circulating infections can mimic the early stages of viral hemorrhagic fevers and possible human exposure to filoviruses in sierra leone prior to the 2014 outbreak.	lassa fever (lf) is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever caused by lassa virus (lasv). the lf program at the kenema government hospital (kgh) in eastern sierra leone currently provides diagnostic services and clinical care for more than 500 suspected lf cases per year. nearly two-thirds of suspected lf patients presenting to the lf ward test negative for either lasv antigen or anti-lasv immunoglobulin m (igm), and therefore are considered to have a non-lassa febrile illness (nlfi). the nlfi patients ...	2015	25531344
pathogenic leptospira species acquire factor h and vitronectin via the surface protein lcpa.	upon infection, pathogenic leptospira species bind several complement regulators in order to overcome host innate immunity. we previously characterized a 20-kda leptospiral surface protein which interacts with c4b binding protein (c4bp): leptospiral complement regulator-acquiring protein a (lcpa). here we show that lcpa also interacts with human factor h (fh), which remains functionally active once bound to the protein. antibodies directed against short consensus repeat 20 (scr20) inhibited bind ...	2014	25534939
pathogenic leptospira species acquire factor h and vitronectin via the surface protein lcpa.	upon infection, pathogenic leptospira species bind several complement regulators in order to overcome host innate immunity. we previously characterized a 20-kda leptospiral surface protein which interacts with c4b binding protein (c4bp): leptospiral complement regulator-acquiring protein a (lcpa). here we show that lcpa also interacts with human factor h (fh), which remains functionally active once bound to the protein. antibodies directed against short consensus repeat 20 (scr20) inhibited bind ...	2014	25534939
evolutionary meandering of intermolecular interactions along the drift barrier.	many cellular functions depend on highly specific intermolecular interactions, for example transcription factors and their dna binding sites, micrornas and their rna binding sites, the interfaces between heterodimeric protein molecules, the stems in rna molecules, and kinases and their response regulators in signal-transduction systems. despite the need for complementarity between interacting partners, such pairwise systems seem to be capable of high levels of evolutionary divergence, even when ...	2014	25535374
evolutionary meandering of intermolecular interactions along the drift barrier.	many cellular functions depend on highly specific intermolecular interactions, for example transcription factors and their dna binding sites, micrornas and their rna binding sites, the interfaces between heterodimeric protein molecules, the stems in rna molecules, and kinases and their response regulators in signal-transduction systems. despite the need for complementarity between interacting partners, such pairwise systems seem to be capable of high levels of evolutionary divergence, even when ...	2014	25535374
interaction between leptospiral lipopolysaccharide and toll-like receptor 2 in pig fibroblast cell line, and inhibitory effect of antibody against leptospiral lipopolysaccharide on interaction.	leptospiral lipopolysaccharide (l-lps) has shown potency in activating toll-like receptor 2 (tlr2) in pig fibroblasts (pefs_ncc1), and causes the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. however, the stimulation by l-lps was weak eliciting the function of tlr2 sufficiently in pig innate immunity responses during leptospira infection. in this study, the immune response of pig embryonic fibroblast cell line (pefs_sv40) was investigated and was found to be the high immune response, thus tlr2 is the ...	2015	25557825
current and past strategies for bacterial culture in clinical microbiology.	a pure bacterial culture remains essential for the study of its virulence, its antibiotic susceptibility, and its genome sequence in order to facilitate the understanding and treatment of caused diseases. the first culture conditions empirically varied incubation time, nutrients, atmosphere, and temperature; culture was then gradually abandoned in favor of molecular methods. the rebirth of culture in clinical microbiology was prompted by microbiologists specializing in intracellular bacteria. th ...	2015	25567228
detection of mycobacteria, mycobacterium avium subspecies, and mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by a novel tetraplex real-time pcr assay.	mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, mycobacterium avium, and many other nontuberculous mycobacteria are worldwide distributed microorganisms of major medical and veterinary importance. considering the growing epidemiologic significance of wildlife-livestock-human interrelation, developing rapid detection tools of high specificity and sensitivity is vital to assess their presence and accelerate the process of diagnosing mycobacteriosis. here we describe the development and evaluation of a novel t ...	2015	25588660
multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis and clinical characterization of leptospira interrogans canine isolates.	canine leptospirosis occurs worldwide; however, information on the relationship between leptospira serotypes/genotypes and virulence in dogs remains limited. we investigated the molecular characteristics of leptospira interrogans canine isolates belonging to three serogroups using multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (mlva) and the effects of each serotype/genotype on the clinical characteristics of leptospirosis in dogs. mlva using 11 loci of the three major l. interrogans sero ...	2015	25596122
identification and characterization of a putative chemotaxis protein, chey, from the oral pathogen campylobacter rectus.	campylobacter rectus is an understudied oral bacterium that contributes to periodontitis. processes that contribute to the disease-causing capabilities of pathogens, such as chemotaxis, are largely unknown in c. rectus. the aim of this study was to better understand c. rectus chemotaxis, by examining the c. rectus genome for the presence of a chey gene. chey proteins play a part in chemotaxis by acting as two-component response regulators. significantly, chey proteins from several pathogens, inc ...	2014	25598863
seroprevalence and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission of leptospira interrogans in transhumant farming systems in mexico.	a number of recent reports emphasize the risk of zoonotic diseases and the high degree of prevalence of asymptomatic animals infected with leptospira interrogans. this report sought to assess the prevalence of antibodies to certain serovars of l. interrogans, and to describe the association between seropositivity and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission in a mountainous region of mexico. overall seroprevalence to l. interrogans was 54·5% (95% confidence interval 48·3-60·7); the ...	2015	25600318
a new regulatory mechanism for bacterial lipoic acid synthesis.	lipoic acid, an essential enzyme cofactor, is required in three domains of life. in the past 60 years since its discovery, most of the pathway for lipoic acid synthesis and metabolism has been elucidated. however, genetic control of lipoic acid synthesis remains unclear. here, we report integrative evidence that bacterial camp-dependent signaling is linked to lipoic acid synthesis in shewanella species, the certain of unique marine-borne bacteria with special ability of metal reduction. physiolo ...	2015	25611823
severe leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae infection with hepato-renal-pulmonary involvement treated with corticosteroids.	the traditional concept of immediate antibiotic treatment in suspected leptospirosis seems to be especially important for patients up to day 4 of clinical illness. as immune mechanisms probably play a crucial role in advanced leptospirosis with presumed pulmonary hemorrhages, patients might benefit from corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents beside antibiotics.	2014	25614810
orientia, rickettsia, and leptospira pathogens as causes of cns infections in laos: a prospective study.	scrub typhus (caused by orientia tsutsugamushi), murine typhus (caused by rickettsia typhi), and leptospirosis are common causes of febrile illness in asia; meningitis and meningoencephalitis are severe complications. however, scarce data exist for the burden of these pathogens in patients with cns disease in endemic countries. laos is representative of vast economically poor rural areas in asia with little medical information to guide public health policy. we assessed whether these pathogens ar ...	2015	25617190
tickborne relapsing fever, bitterroot valley, montana, usa.	in july 2013, a resident of the bitterroot valley in western montana, usa, contracted tickborne relapsing fever caused by an infection with the spirochete borrelia hermsii. the patient's travel history and activities before onset of illness indicated a possible exposure on his residential property on the eastern side of the valley. an onsite investigation of the potential exposure site found the vector, ornithodoros hermsi ticks, and 1 chipmunk infected with spirochetes, which on the basis of mu ...	2015	25625502
the use of halloysite clay and carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes for recombinant lipl32 antigen delivery enhanced the igg response.	we studied the feasibility of using halloysite clay nanotubes (hnts) and carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cooh-mwcnts) as antigen carriers to improve immune responses against a recombinant lipl32 protein (rlipl32). immunisation using the hnts or cooh-mwcnts significantly increased the rlipl32-specific igg antibody titres (p < 0.05) of golden syrian hamsters. none of the vaccines tested conferred protection against a challenge using a virulent leptospira interrogans strain. ...	2015	25626458
novel leptospira interrogans protein lsa32 is expressed during infection and binds laminin and plasminogen.	pathogenic leptospira is the aetiological agent of leptospirosis, a life-threatening disease of human and veterinary concern. the quest for novel antigens that could mediate host-pathogen interactions is being pursued. owing to their location, these antigens have the potential to elicit numerous activities, including immune response and adhesion. this study focuses on a hypothetical protein of leptospira, encoded by the gene lic11089, and its three derived fragments: the n-terminal, intermediate ...	2015	25627443
hideyo noguchi (1876-1928): distinguished bacteriologist.		2014	25631898