Publications

campylobacter concisus - a new player in intestinal disease.	over the last decade campylobacter concisus, a highly fastidious member of the campylobacter genus has been described as an emergent pathogen of the human intestinal tract. historically, c. concisus was associated with the human oral cavity and has been linked with periodontal lesions, including gingivitis and periodontitis, although currently its role as an oral pathogen remains contentious. evidence to support the role of c. concisus in acute intestinal disease has come from studies that have ...	2012	22919596
nutrient acquisition and metabolism by campylobacter jejuni.	the gastrointestinal pathogen campylobacter jejuni is able to colonize numerous different hosts and compete against the gut microbiota. to do this, it must be able to efficiently acquire sufficient nutrients from its environment to support its survival and rapid growth in the intestine. however, despite almost 50 years of research, many aspects as to how c. jejuni accomplishes this feat remain poorly understood. c. jejuni lacks many of the common metabolic pathways necessary for the use of gluco ...	2012	22919597
campylobacter polysaccharide capsules: virulence and vaccines.	campylobacter jejuni remains a major cause of bacterial diarrhea worldwide and is associated with numerous sequelae, including guillain barré syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, reactive arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. c. jejuni is unusual for an intestinal pathogen in its ability to coat its surface with a polysaccharide capsule (cps). these capsular polysaccharides vary in sugar composition and linkage, especially those involving heptoses of unusual configuration and o-methyl phosph ...	2012	22919599
glycoconjugates play a key role in campylobacter jejuni infection: interactions between host and pathogen.	glycan based interactions between host and pathogen are critical in many bacterial and viral diseases. glycan interactions range from initial receptor based adherence to protecting the infective agent from the host's immune response through molecular mimicry. campylobacter jejuni is an ideal model for studying the role of glycans in host-pathogen interactions, as well as the role of bacterial surface glycoconjugates in infection. using glycan array analysis, c. jejuni has been shown to interact ...	2012	22919601
phase variable expression of capsular polysaccharide modifications allows campylobacter jejuni to avoid bacteriophage infection in chickens.	bacteriophages are estimated to be the most abundant entities on earth and can be found in every niche where their bacterial hosts reside. the initial interaction between phages and campylobacter jejuni, a common colonizer of poultry intestines and a major source of foodborne bacterial gastroenteritis in humans, is not well understood. recently, we isolated and characterized a phage f336 resistant variant of c. jejuni nctc11168 called 11168r. comparisons of 11168r with the wildtype lead to the i ...	2012	22919603
transcriptome complexity and riboregulation in the human pathogen helicobacter pylori.	the gram-negative epsilonproteobacterium helicobacter pylori is considered as one of the major human pathogens and many studies have focused on its virulence mechanisms as well as genomic diversity. in contrast, only very little is known about post-transcriptional regulation and small regulatory rnas (srnas) in this spiral-shaped microaerophilic bacterium. considering the absence of the common rna chaperone hfq, which is a key-player in post-transcriptional regulation in enterobacteria, h. pylor ...	2012	22919606
defense and adaptation: the complex inter-relationship between campylobacter jejuni and mucus.	mucus colonization is an essential early step toward establishing successful infection and disease by mucosal pathogens. there is an emerging literature implicating specific mucin sub-types and mucin modifications in protecting the host from campylobacter jejuni infection. however, mucosal pathogens have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to breach the mucus layer and c. jejuni in particular appears to harbor specific adaptations to better colonize intestinal mucus. for example, components of mucu ...	2012	22919607
nontypeable haemophilus influenzae: the role of n-acetyl-5-neuraminic acid in biology.	nontypeable haemophilus influenzae (nthi) is an exclusive human pathogen, which has evolved a number of unique mechanisms to survive within the human environment. an important part of this is the ability of the organism to take up and incorporate sialic acid into its surface structures. this protects the organism against host adaptive and innate immune factor as well as serving as a mechanism for sustaining itself within biofilms. recent evidence suggests that this also may be the source of the ...	2012	22919611
the 30th anniversary of campylobacter, helicobacter, and related organisms workshops-what have we learned in three decades?	as we commemorate the 30(th) anniversary of the campylobacter, helicobacter, and related organisms (chro) workshops with this special frontiers edition, we look back upon three decades of research and provide some highlights from the 16(th) international chro meeting. although theodor escherich himself provided drawings of campylobacters back in the 1880s, campylobacter jejuni was not identified until the 1950s. helicobacter pylori was first described to be the causative agent of stomach ulcers ...	2012	22919612
a fluoroquinolone resistance associated mutation in gyra affects dna supercoiling in campylobacter jejuni.	the prevalence of fluoroquinolone (fq)-resistant campylobacter has become a concern for public health. to facilitate the control of fq-resistant (fq(r)) campylobacter, it is necessary to understand the impact of fq(r) on the fitness of campylobacter in its natural hosts as understanding fitness will help to determine and predict the persistence of fq(r)campylobacter. previously it was shown that acquisition of resistance to fq antimicrobials enhanced the in vivo fitness of fq(r)campylobacter. in ...	2012	22919613
luxs and quorum-sensing in campylobacter.	several intercellular bacterial communication mechanisms have been identified in a broad range of bacterial species. these systems, collectively termed quorum-sensing systems, have been demonstrated to play significant roles in a variety of bacterial processes including motility, biofilm formation, expression of virulence genes, and animal colonization. campylobacter jejuni is known to possess a luxs/ autoinducer-2 (ai-2) mediated system that have been partially characterized over the last decad ...	2012	22919614
host epithelial cell invasion by campylobacter jejuni: trigger or zipper mechanism?	campylobacter jejuni, a spiral-shaped gram-negative pathogen, is a highly frequent cause of gastrointestinal foodborne illness in humans worldwide. clinical outcome of c. jejuni infections ranges from mild to severe diarrheal disease, and some other complications including reactive arthritis and guillain-barré syndrome. this review article highlights various c. jejuni pathogenicity factors, host cell determinants, and proposed signaling mechanisms involved in human host cell invasion and their p ...	2012	22919617
outer membrane biogenesis in escherichia coli, neisseria meningitidis, and helicobacter pylori: paradigm deviations in h. pylori.	the bacterial pathogen helicobacter pylori is capable of colonizing the gastric mucosa of the human stomach using a variety of factors associated with or secreted from its outer membrane (om). lipopolysaccharide (lps) and numerous om proteins have been shown to be involved in adhesion and immune stimulation/evasion. many of these factors are essential for colonization and/or pathogenesis in a variety of animal models. despite this wide array of potential targets present on the bacterial surface, ...	2012	22919621
polynucleotide phosphorylase has an impact on cell biology of campylobacter jejuni.	polynucleotide phosphorylase (pnpase), encoded by the pnp gene, is known to degrade mrna, mediating post-transcriptional regulation and may affect cellular functions. the role of pnpase is pleiotropic. as orthologs of the two major ribonucleases (rnase e and rnase ii) of escherichia coli are missing in the campylobacter jejuni genome, in the current study the focus has been on the c. jejuni ortholog of pnpase. the effect of pnpase mutation on c. jejuni phenotypes and proteome was investigated. t ...	2012	22919622
the campylobacter jejuni ciac virulence protein is secreted from the flagellum and delivered to the cytosol of host cells.	campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. acute c. jejuni-mediated disease (campylobacteriosis) involves c. jejuni invasion of host epithelial cells using adhesins (e.g., cadf and flpa) and secreted proteins [e.g., the campylobacter invasion antigens (cia)]. the genes encoding the cia proteins are up-regulated upon co-culture of c. jejuni with epithelial cells. one of the cia proteins, ciac, is required for maximal invasion of host cells by c. jejuni. previo ...	2012	22919623
haemophilus influenzae and oxidative stress.	haemophilus influenzae is a commensal of the human upper respiratory tract. h. influenzae can, however, move out of its commensal niche and cause multiple respiratory tract diseases. such diseases include otitis media in young children, as well as exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and bronchitis. during the course of colonization and infection, h. influenzae must withstand oxidative stress generated by multiple reactive oxygen species produ ...	2012	22919631
the iron-regulated staphylococcal lipoproteins.	lipoproteins fulfill diverse roles in antibiotic resistance, adhesion, protein secretion, signaling and sensing, and many also serve as the substrate binding protein (sbp) partner to abc transporters for the acquisition of a diverse array of nutrients including peptides, sugars, and scarcely abundant metals. in the staphylococci, the iron-regulated sbps are significantly upregulated during iron starvation and function to sequester and deliver iron into the bacterial cell, enabling staphylococci ...	2012	22919632
antimicrobial activities of isothiocyanates against campylobacter jejuni isolates.	food-borne human infection with campylobacter jejuni is a medical concern in both industrialized and developing countries. efficient eradication of c. jejuni reservoirs within live animals and processed foods is limited by the development of antimicrobial resistances and by practical problems related to the use of conventional antibiotics in food processes. we have investigated the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of two phytochemicals, allyl-isothiocyanate (aitc), and benzyl isothiocy ...	2012	22919644
a framework for assessing the concordance of molecular typing methods and the true strain phylogeny of campylobacter jejuni and c. coli using draft genome sequence data.	tracking of sources of sporadic cases of campylobacteriosis remains challenging, as commonly used molecular typing methods have limited ability to unambiguously link genetically related strains. genomics has become increasingly prominent in the public health response to enteric pathogens as methods enable characterization of pathogens at an unprecedented level of resolution. however, the cost of sequencing and expertise required for bioinformatic analyses remains prohibitive, and these comprehen ...	2012	22919648
exoribonucleases as modulators of virulence in pathogenic bacteria.		2012	22919656
detection of shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using chicken egg yolk igy antibodies.	enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli (ehec), a subset of shiga toxin producing e. coli (stec) is associated with a spectrum of diseases that includes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and a life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome (hus). regardless of serotype, shiga toxins (stx1 and/or stx2) are uniformly expressed by all ehec, and so exploitable targets for laboratory diagnosis of these pathogens. in this study, a sandwich elisa for determination of shiga toxin (stx) was developed using anti-stx2b ...	2012	22919675
serologic host response to helicobacter pylori and campylobacter jejuni in socially housed rhesus macaques (macaca mulatta).		2012	22920270
identification of cj1051c as a major determinant for the restriction barrier of campylobacter jejuni strain nctc11168.	campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of human diarrheal illness in the world, and research on it has benefitted greatly by the completion of several genome sequences and the development of molecular biology tools. however, many hurdles remain for a full understanding of this unique bacterial pathogen. one of the most commonly used strains for genetic work with c. jejuni is nctc11168. while this strain is readily transformable with dna for genomic recombination, transformation with plasmids is ...	2012	22923403
survival and germination of bacillus cereus spores without outgrowth or enterotoxin production during in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal transit.	to study the gastrointestinal survival and enterotoxin production of the food-borne pathogen bacillus cereus, an in vitro simulation experiment was developed to mimic gastrointestinal passage in 5 phases: (i) the mouth, (ii) the stomach, with gradual ph decrease and fractional emptying, (iii) the duodenum, with high concentrations of bile and digestive enzymes, (iv) dialysis to ensure bile reabsorption, and (v) the ileum, with competing human intestinal bacteria. four different b. cereus strains ...	2012	22923409
relevance of anxiety in clinical practice of guillain-barre syndrome: a cohort study.	illness is often associated with anxiety, but few data exist about the prognostic significance of this phenomenon. to address this issue, we assessed whether patient anxiety is associated with subsequent need for intubation in guillain-barré syndrome (gbs).	2012	22923622
iron and ph-responsive ftrabcd ferrous iron utilization system of bordetella species.	a putative operon encoding an uncharacterized ferrous iron transport (ftrabcd) system was previously identified in cdna microarray studies. in growth studies using buffered medium at ph values ranging from ph 6.0 to 7.6, bordetella pertussis and bordetella bronchiseptica ftrabcd system mutants showed dramatic reductions in growth yields under iron-restricted conditions at ph 6.0, but had no growth defects at ph 7.6. supplementation of culture medium with 2 mm ascorbate reductant was inhibitory t ...	2012	22924881
chemoenzymatic synthesis of an isoprenoid phosphate tool for the analysis of complex bacterial oligosaccharide biosynthesis.	undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (upps) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the production of bactoprenols, which act as membrane anchors for the assembly of complex bacterial oligosaccharides. one of the major hurdles in understanding the assembly of oligosaccharide assembly is a lack of chemical tools to study this process, since bactoprenols and the resulting isoprenoid-linked oligosaccharides lack handles or chromophores for use in pathway analysis. here we describe the isolation of a new upps ...	2012	22925763
the yfe and feo transporters are involved in microaerobic growth and virulence of yersinia pestis in bubonic plague.	the yfe/sit and feo transport systems are important for the growth of a variety of bacteria. in yersinia pestis, single mutations in either yfe or feo result in reduced growth under static (limited aeration), iron-chelated conditions, while a yfe feo double mutant has a more severe growth defect. these growth defects were not observed when bacteria were grown under aerobic conditions or in strains capable of producing the siderophore yersiniabactin (ybt) and the putative ferrous transporter fetm ...	2012	22927049
analysis of evolutionary patterns of genes in campylobacter jejuni and c. coli.		2012	22929701
comparison of different sampling strategies and laboratory methods for the detection of c. jejuni and c. coli from broiler flocks at primary production.	the objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of different combinations of sample type, transport medium and culture methods for the recovery of campylobacter jejuni and c. coli from broiler flocks at primary production. boot swabs moistened with one of four different transport media [maximum recovery diluent (n=120), exeter broth (ex) (n=120), buffered peptone water (n=120) and modified semi-solid cary-blair (n=120)], caecal samples (n=40) and faecal samples (n=120) from 40 broiler ...	2013	22931208
the role of bacterial enhancer binding proteins as specialized activators of σ54-dependent transcription.	bacterial enhancer binding proteins (bebps) are transcriptional activators that assemble as hexameric rings in their active forms and utilize atp hydrolysis to remodel the conformation of rna polymerase containing the alternative sigma factor σ(54). we present a comprehensive and detailed summary of recent advances in our understanding of how these specialized molecular machines function. the review is structured by introducing each of the three domains in turn: the central catalytic domain, the ...	2012	22933558
ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and areflexia: what would you think?	we present here a case of carcinomatous meningitis presenting as miller fisher syndrome (mfs). there are four further cases described in the literature with evidence of tumour invasion within the central nervous system (cns) shown either in cerebrospinal fluid examination or on histology. there are further five cases described in which an association between cancer and a miller fisher phenotype has been shown. some of these have identified antiganglioside antibodies in the serum and, in one case ...	2012	22934206
interdisciplinary approaches to understanding disease emergence: the past, present, and future drivers of nipah virus emergence.	emerging infectious diseases (eids) pose a significant threat to human health, economic stability, and biodiversity. despite this, the mechanisms underlying disease emergence are still not fully understood, and control measures rely heavily on mitigating the impact of eids after they have emerged. here, we highlight the emergence of a zoonotic henipavirus, nipah virus, to demonstrate the interdisciplinary and macroecological approaches necessary to understand eid emergence. previous work suggest ...	2012	22936052
interdisciplinary approaches to understanding disease emergence: the past, present, and future drivers of nipah virus emergence.	emerging infectious diseases (eids) pose a significant threat to human health, economic stability, and biodiversity. despite this, the mechanisms underlying disease emergence are still not fully understood, and control measures rely heavily on mitigating the impact of eids after they have emerged. here, we highlight the emergence of a zoonotic henipavirus, nipah virus, to demonstrate the interdisciplinary and macroecological approaches necessary to understand eid emergence. previous work suggest ...	2012	22936052
clinical approach to the diagnostic evaluation of hereditary and acquired neuromuscular diseases.	for diagnostic evaluation of a neuromuscular disease, the clinician must be able to obtain a relevant patient and family history and perform focused general, musculoskeletal, neurologic, and functional physical examinations to direct further diagnostic evaluations. laboratory studies for hereditary neuromuscular diseases include the relevant molecular genetic studies. the electromyogram and nerve-conduction studies remain an extension of the physical examination, and help to guide further diagno ...	2012	22938875
double-stranded endonuclease activity in bacillus halodurans clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (crispr)-associated cas2 protein.	the crispr (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) system is a prokaryotic rna-based adaptive immune system against extrachromosomal genetic elements. cas2 is a universally conserved core crispr-associated protein required for the acquisition of new spacers for crispr adaptation. it was previously characterized as an endoribonuclease with preference for single-stranded (ss)rna. here, we show using crystallography, mutagenesis, and isothermal titration calorimetry that the bac ...	2012	22942283
dna replication and strand asymmetry in prokaryotic and mitochondrial genomes.	different patterns of strand asymmetry have been documented in a variety of prokaryotic genomes as well as mitochondrial genomes. because different replication mechanisms often lead to different patterns of strand asymmetry, much can be learned of replication mechanisms by examining strand asymmetry. here i summarize the diverse patterns of strand asymmetry among different taxonomic groups to suggest that (1) the single-origin replication may not be universal among bacterial species as the endos ...	2012	22942672
gastrointestinal lymphomas: morphology, immunophenotype and molecular features.	primary gastrointestinal lymphoma comprises 10-15% of all non-hodgkin lymphomas and encompasses 30-40% of the total extranodal lymphomas. approximately 60-75% of cases occur in the stomach, and then the small bowel, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum. lymphoid neoplasms may consist of mature b, t and less commonly extranodal nk/t cells. of these, the two most frequently encountered histologic subtypes are extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (malt lymphoma), where h ...	2012	22943012
occurrence of ε-proteobacterial species in rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) reared in intensive and rural farms.	in order to investigate the occurrence of campylobacter, helicobacter and arcobacter species in caecal contents of rabbits reared in intensive and rural farms, a total of 87 samples from animals belonging to 29 farms were analysed by both cultural and pcr analyses. pcr analysis directly from faecal samples detected 100% positive samples for campylobacter genus, 3.4% for helicobacter genus and none for arcobacter genus. 83 out of 87 animals (95.4%) and all the 29 farms were positive for campyloba ...	2013	22944072
beyond growth: novel functions for bacterial cell wall hydrolases.	the peptidoglycan cell wall maintains turgor pressure and cell shape of most bacteria. cell wall hydrolases are essential, together with synthases, for growth and daughter cell separation. recent work in diverse organisms has uncovered new cell wall hydrolases that act autonomously or on neighboring cells to modulate invasion of prey cells, cell shape, innate immune detection, intercellular communication, and competitor lysis. the hydrolases involved in these processes catalyze the cleavage of b ...	2012	22944244
campylobacter spp. recovered from the upper oconee river watershed, georgia in a 4-year study.	waterways should be considered in the migration routes of campylobacter, and the genus has been isolated from several water sources. inferences on migration routes can be made from tracking genetic types in populations found in specific habitats and testing how they are linked to other types. water samples were taken over a 4-year period from waterways in the upper oconee river watershed, georgia, to recover isolates of thermophilic campylobacter. the isolates were typed by multilocus sequence t ...	2013	22945232
a novel link between campylobacter jejuni bacteriophage defence, virulence and guillain-barré syndrome.	guillain-barré syndrome (gbs) is a post-infectious disease in which the human peripheral nervous system is affected after infection by specific pathogenic bacteria, including campylobacter jejuni. gbs is suggested to be provoked by molecular mimicry between sialylated lipooligosaccharide (los) structures on the cell envelope of these bacteria and ganglioside epitopes on the human peripheral nerves, resulting in autoimmune-driven nerve destruction. earlier, the c. jejuni sialyltransferase (cst-ii ...	2013	22945471
structure of anabolic ornithine carbamoyltransferase from campylobacter jejuni at 2.7 å resolution.	anabolic ornithine transcarbamoylase (aotc) catalyzes the reaction between carbamoyl phosphate (cp) and l-ornithine (orn) to form l-citrulline and phosphate in the urea cycle and l-arginine biosynthesis. the crystal structure of unliganded aotc from campylobacter jejuni (cje aotc) was determined at 2.7 å resolution and refined to an r(work) of 20.3% and an r(free) of 24.0%. cje aotc is a trimer that forms a head-to-head pseudohexamer in the asymmetric unit. each monomer is composed of an n-termi ...	2012	22949186
reproductive clonality of pathogens: a perspective on pathogenic viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasitic protozoa.	we propose that clonal evolution in micropathogens be defined as restrained recombination on an evolutionary scale, with genetic exchange scarce enough to not break the prevalent pattern of clonal population structure, a definition already widely used for all kinds of pathogens, although not clearly formulated by many scientists and rejected by others. the two main manifestations of clonal evolution are strong linkage disequilibrium (ld) and widespread genetic clustering ("near-clading"). we hyp ...	2012	22949662
identification of a putative glycosyltransferase responsible for the transfer of pseudaminic acid onto the polar flagellin of aeromonas caviae sch3n.	motility in aeromonas caviae, in a liquid environment (in broth culture), is mediated by a single polar flagellum encoded by the fla genes. the polar flagellum filament of a. caviae is composed of two flagellin subunits, flaa and flab, which undergo o-linked glycosylation with six to eight pseudaminic acid glycans linked to serine and threonine residues in their central region. the flm genetic locus in a. caviae is required for flagellin glycosylation and the addition of pseudaminic acid (pse) o ...	2012	22950021
recovery of arcobacter spp. from nonlivestock species.	the genus arcobacter encompasses campylobacter-like organisms that grow in air at 25 degrees c. arcobacter has been detected or isolated from clinically healthy livestock as well as aborted fetuses and has been presumptively identified as either campylobacter or leptospira, based on its growth in selective semisolid media. because reports from nonlivestock species are limited, this study examined nine presumptive isolates of arcobacter spp. from an alpaca (vicugna pacos), black rhinoceros (dicer ...	2011	22950328
campylobacter jejuni type vi secretion system: roles in adaptation to deoxycholic acid, host cell adherence, invasion, and in vivo colonization.	the recently identified type vi secretion system (t6ss) of proteobacteria has been shown to promote pathogenicity, competitive advantage over competing microorganisms, and adaptation to environmental perturbation. by detailed phenotypic characterization of loss-of-function mutants, in silico, in vitro and in vivo analyses, we provide evidence that the enteric pathogen, campylobacter jejuni, possesses a functional t6ss and that the secretion system exerts pleiotropic effects on two crucial proces ...	2012	22952616
guillain-barré syndrome-related campylobacter jejuni in bangladesh: ganglioside mimicry and cross-reactive antibodies.	campylobacter jejuni is the predominant antecedent infection in guillain-barré syndrome (gbs). molecular mimicry and cross-reactive immune responses to c. jejuni lipo-oligosaccharides (los) precipitate the development of gbs, although this mechanism has not been established in patients from developing countries. we determined the carbohydrate mimicry between c. jejuni los and gangliosides, and the cross-reactive antibody response in patients with gbs in bangladesh.	2012	22952833
indolent b-cell lymphomas associated with hcv infection: clinical and virological features and role of antiviral therapy.	the association between hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection and b-cell non-hodgkin's lymphomas (nhl) has been demonstrated by epidemiological studies, in particular in highly endemic geographical areas such as italy, japan, and southern parts of united states. in these countries, together with diffuse large b-cell lymphomas, marginal zone lymphomas are the histotypes most frequently associated with hcv infection; in italy around 20-30% cases of marginal zone lymphomas are hcv positive. recently, a ...	2012	22956970
global ecology and epidemiology of borrelia garinii spirochetes.	lyme borreliosis (lb) is a tick-transmitted infectious disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.). in europe, three different borrelia species are the main causative agents of lb: b. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), borrelia afzelii, and borrelia garinii. the latter depends heavily on birds as its main reservoir hosts. in fact, birds can act both as biological carriers of borrelia and transporters of infected ticks. the seasonal migration of many bird species not only aid in the ...	2011	22957111
rodents on pig and chicken farms - a potential threat to human and animal health.	rodents can cause major problems through spreading various diseases to animals and humans. the two main species of rodents most commonly found on farms around the world are the house mouse (mus musculus) and the brown rat (rattus norvegicus). both species are omnivorous and can breed year-round under favourable conditions. this review describes the occurrence of pathogens in rodents on specialist pig and chicken farms, which are usually closed units with a high level of bio-security. however, wi ...	2012	22957130
toll-like receptor 4 mediates intrauterine growth restriction after systemic campylobacter rectus infection in mice.	campylobacter rectus is associated with fetal exposure and low birthweight in humans. c. rectus also invades placental tissues and induces fetal intrauterine growth restriction (iugr) in mice, along with overexpression of toll-like receptors (tlr4), suggesting that tlr4 may mediate placental immunity and iugr in mice. to test this hypothesis we examined the effect of in vitro tlr4 neutralization on trophoblastic proinflammatory activity and studied the iugr phenotype in a congenic tlr4-mutant mo ...	2012	22958386
outcome of infection of c57bl/6 il-10(-/-) mice with campylobacter jejuni strains is correlated with genome content of open reading frames up- and down-regulated in vivo.	human campylobacter jejuni infection can result in an asymptomatic carrier state, watery or bloody diarrhea, bacteremia, meningitis, or autoimmune neurological sequelae. infection outcomes of c57bl/6 il-10(-/-) mice orally infected with twenty-two phylogenetically diverse c. jejuni strains were evaluated to correlate colonization and disease phenotypes with genetic composition of the strains. variation between strains was observed in colonization, timing of development of clinical signs, and occ ...	2012	22960579
outcome of infection of c57bl/6 il-10(-/-) mice with campylobacter jejuni strains is correlated with genome content of open reading frames up- and down-regulated in vivo.	human campylobacter jejuni infection can result in an asymptomatic carrier state, watery or bloody diarrhea, bacteremia, meningitis, or autoimmune neurological sequelae. infection outcomes of c57bl/6 il-10(-/-) mice orally infected with twenty-two phylogenetically diverse c. jejuni strains were evaluated to correlate colonization and disease phenotypes with genetic composition of the strains. variation between strains was observed in colonization, timing of development of clinical signs, and occ ...	2012	22960579
leptospiral outer membrane protein microarray, a novel approach to identification of host ligand-binding proteins.	leptospirosis is a zoonosis with worldwide distribution caused by pathogenic spirochetes belonging to the genus leptospira. the leptospiral life cycle involves transmission via freshwater and colonization of the renal tubules of their reservoir hosts. infection requires adherence to cell surfaces and extracellular matrix components of host tissues. these host-pathogen interactions involve outer membrane proteins (omps) expressed on the bacterial surface. in this study, we developed an leptospira ...	2012	22961849
hyperosmotic stress response of campylobacter jejuni.	the diarrheal pathogen campylobacter jejuni and other gastrointestinal bacteria encounter changes in osmolarity in the environment, through exposure to food processing, and upon entering host organisms, where osmotic adaptation can be associated with virulence. in this study, growth profiles, transcriptomics, and phenotypic, mutant, and single-cell analyses were used to explore the effects of hyperosmotic stress exposure on c. jejuni. increased growth inhibition correlated with increased osmotic ...	2012	22961853
a novel component of the rhodobacter sphaeroides fla1 flagellum is essential for motor rotation.	here we describe a novel component essential for flagellar rotation in rhodobacter sphaeroides. this protein is encoded by motf (rsp_0067), the first gene of a predicted transcriptional unit which contains two hypothetical genes. sequence analysis indicated that motf is a bitopic membrane-spanning protein. protease sensitivity assays and green fluorescent protein (gfp) fusions confirmed this prediction and allowed us to conclude that the c terminus of motf is located in the periplasmic space. wi ...	2012	22961858
the challenge of regulating agricultural ceftiofur use to slow the emergence of resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins.		2012	22961892
high prevalence and species diversity of helicobacter spp. detected in wild house mice.	pcr diagnostics detected 100% prevalence of helicobacter in 425 wild house mice (mus musculus) from across central europe. of seven species identified, the five most frequent were helicobacter rodentium (78%), h. typhlonius (53%), h. hepaticus (41%), h. bilis (30%), and h. muridarum (1%). double infections were more common (42%) than single (30%) and triple (21%) infections. wild house mice could be considered potential reservoirs of helicobacter strains for both humans and other vertebrates.	2012	22961895
production of organic acids by probiotic lactobacilli can be used to reduce pathogen load in poultry.	probiotic lactobacillus can be used to reduce the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in food animals, and therefore reduce the risk of foodborne illness to consumers. as a model system, we examined the mechanism of protection conferred by lactobacillus species to inhibit c. jejuni growth in vitro and reduce colonization in broiler chickens. possible mechanisms for the reduction of pathogens by lactobacilli include: 1) stimulation of adaptive immunity; 2) alteration of the cecal microbiome; and, ...	2012	22962594
survival of escherichia coli, enterococci and campylobacter jejuni in canada goose faeces on pasture.	freshly excreted canada goose faeces pose a public health risk as they contain pathogenic microorganisms. accordingly, a study was carried out on the growth and survival of resident indicator bacteria (enterococci and escherichia coli) and inoculated campylobacter jejuni in freshly excreted faeces over summer and winter. canada goose faeces were collected, mixed thoroughly and inoculated with 10⁸ g⁻¹ c. jejuni. the faeces were mixed again before making the canada goose dropping. the simulated go ...	2012	22963647
methyl eugenol: its occurrence, distribution, and role in nature, especially in relation to insect behavior and pollination.	this review discusses the occurrence and distribution (within a plant) of methyl eugenol in different plant species (> 450) from 80 families spanning many plant orders, as well as various roles this chemical plays in nature, especially in the interactions between tephritid fruit flies and plants.	2012	22963669
campylobacter jejuni outer membrane vesicles play an important role in bacterial interactions with human intestinal epithelial cells.	campylobacter jejuni is the most prevalent cause of food-borne gastroenteritis in the developed world; however, the molecular basis of pathogenesis is unclear. secretion of virulence factors is a key mechanism by which enteric bacterial pathogens interact with host cells to enhance survival and/or damage the host. however, c. jejuni lacks the virulence-associated secretion systems possessed by other enteric pathogens. many bacterial pathogens utilize outer membrane vesicles (omvs) for delivery o ...	2012	22966047
surveillance for guillain-barré syndrome after influenza vaccination among the medicare population, 2009-2010.	we implemented active surveillance for guillain-barré syndrome (gbs) following seasonal or h1n1 influenza vaccination among the medicare population during the 2009-2010 influenza season.	2012	22970693
specific metal recognition in nickel trafficking.	nickel is an essential metal for a number of bacterial species that have developed systems for acquiring, delivering, and incorporating the metal into target enzymes and controlling the levels of nickel in cells to prevent toxic effects. as with other transition metals, these trafficking systems must be able to distinguish between the desired metal and other transition metal ions with similar physical and chemical properties. because there are few enzymes (targets) that require nickel for activi ...	2012	22970729
genetics of borrelia burgdorferi.	the spirochetes in the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies group cycle in nature between tick vectors and vertebrate hosts. the current assemblage of b. burgdorferi sensu lato, of which three species cause lyme disease in humans, originated from a rapid species radiation that occurred near the origin of the clade. all of these species share a unique genome structure that is highly segmented and predominantly composed of linear replicons. one of the circular plasmids is a prophage that ex ...	2012	22974303
neurologic symptoms associated with cattle farming in the agricultural health study.	infection with campylobacter jejuni, a bacterium carried by poultry and livestock, is the most frequently identified antecedent to the autoimmune neurologic condition guillain-barré syndrome. we used agricultural health study data to assess whether cattle farming was associated with prevalence of neurologic symptoms.	2012	22975665
the isolation and characterization of campylobacter jejuni bacteriophages from free range and indoor poultry.	six hundred and sixty one samples - primarily fresh chicken faeces - were processed to isolate wild type campylobacter jejuni bacteriophages, via overlay agar methods using c. jejuni nctc 12662. the aims of this study were to isolate and purify bacteriophages and then test for their ability to lyse field strains of c. jejuni in vitro. of all samples processed, 130 were positive for bacteriophages. a distinct difference was observed between samples from different poultry enterprises. no bacteriop ...	2013	22980913
quantification of bacterial indicators and zoonotic pathogens in dairy wastewater ponds.	zoonotic pathogens in land-applied dairy wastewaters are a potential health risk. the occurrence and abundance of 10 pathogens and 3 fecal indicators were determined by quantitative real-time pcr (qpcr) in samples from 30 dairy wastewaters from southern idaho. samples tested positive for campylobacter jejuni, stx(1)- and eaea-positive escherichia coli, listeria monocytogenes, mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and salmonella enterica, with mean recoveries of genomic dna corresponding t ...	2012	22983964
an enhanced technique combining pre-enrichment and passive filtration increases the isolation efficiency of campylobacter jejuni and campylobacter coli from water and animal fecal samples.	improved isolation techniques from environmental water and animal samples are vital to understanding campylobacter epidemiology. in this study, the efficiency of selective enrichment in bolton broth (bb) followed by plating on charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (ccda) (conventional method) was compared with an approach combining bb enrichment and passive filtration (membrane method) adapted from a method previously developed for testing of broiler meat, in the isolation of thermophilic camp ...	2012	22985716
campylobacter sequence typing databases: applications and future prospects.	human campylobacteriosis, caused by the zoonotic bacteria campylobacter jejuni and campylobacter coli, remains a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. for many countries the implementation of effective interventions to reduce the burden of this disease is a high priority. nucleotide sequence-based typing, including multilocus sequence typing (mlst) and antigen gene sequence typing (agst), has provided unified, comprehensive, and portable campylobacter isolate characterization, with curated d ...	2012	22986295
crystal structure of the campylobacter jejuni cj0090 protein reveals a novel variant of the immunoglobulin fold among bacterial lipoproteins.	bacterial lipoproteins play an important role in bacterial pathogenesis and physiology. the genome of campylobacter jejuni, a major foodborn pathogen, is predicted to contain over 20 lipoproteins. however, the functions of the majority of c. jejuni lipoproteins remain unknown. the cj0090 protein is encoded by a lipoprotein operon composed of cj0089, cj0090, and cj0091. here, we report the crystal structure of cj0090 at 1.9 å resolution, revealing a novel variant of the immunoglobulin fold with β ...	2012	22987763
domain organization of the polymerizing mannosyltransferases involved in synthesis of the escherichia coli o8 and o9a lipopolysaccharide o-antigens.	the escherichia coli o9a and o8 polymannose o-polysaccharides (o-pss) serve as model systems for the biosynthesis of bacterial polysaccharides by atp-binding cassette transporter-dependent pathways. both o-pss contain a conserved primer-adaptor domain at the reducing terminus and a serotype-specific repeat unit domain. the repeat unit domain is polymerized by the serotype-specific wbda mannosyltransferase. in serotype o9a, wbda is a bifunctional α-(1→2)-, α-(1→3)-mannosyltransferase, and its cou ...	2012	22989876
insight into the bacterial gut microbiome of the north american moose (alces alces).	the work presented here provides the first intensive insight into the bacterial populations in the digestive tract of the north american moose (alces alces). eight free-range moose on natural pasture were sampled, producing eight rumen samples and six colon samples. second generation (g2) phylochips were used to determine the presence of hundreds of operational taxonomic units (otus), representing multiple closely related species/strains (>97% identity), found in the rumen and colon of the moose ...	2012	22992344
antimicrobial-resistant bacteria: an unrecognized work-related risk in food animal production.	the occupations involved in food animal production have long been recognized to carry significant health risks for workers, with special attention to injuries. however, risk of pathogen exposure in these occupations has been less extensively considered. pathogens are a food safety issue and are known to be present throughout the food animal production chain. workers employed at farms and slaughterhouses are at risk of pathogen exposure and bacterial infections. the industrialization of animal fa ...	2012	22993711
hydrogen-bonded networks along and bifurcation of the e-pathway in quinol:fumarate reductase.	the e-pathway of transmembrane proton transfer has been demonstrated previously to be essential for catalysis by the diheme-containing quinol:fumarate reductase (qfr) of wolinella succinogenes. two constituents of this pathway, glu-c180 and heme b(d) ring c (b(d)-c-) propionate, have been validated experimentally. here, we identify further constituents of the e-pathway by analysis of molecular dynamics simulations. the redox state of heme groups has a crucial effect on the connectivity patterns ...	2012	22995503
chronic exposure to the cytolethal distending toxins of gram-negative bacteria promotes genomic instability and altered dna damage response.	epidemiological evidence links chronic bacterial infections to the increased incidence of certain types of cancer but the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria contribute to tumour initiation and progression are still poorly characterized. here we show that chronic exposure to the genotoxin cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) of gram-negative bacteria promotes genomic instability and acquisition of phenotypic properties of malignancy in fibroblasts and colon epithelial cells. cells grown for more ...	2012	22998585
chronic exposure to the cytolethal distending toxins of gram-negative bacteria promotes genomic instability and altered dna damage response.	epidemiological evidence links chronic bacterial infections to the increased incidence of certain types of cancer but the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria contribute to tumour initiation and progression are still poorly characterized. here we show that chronic exposure to the genotoxin cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) of gram-negative bacteria promotes genomic instability and acquisition of phenotypic properties of malignancy in fibroblasts and colon epithelial cells. cells grown for more ...	2012	22998585
bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis associated with ulcerative colitis.	a 25-year-old japanese man showed symptoms of common cold and digestive problems for 1 month. he later developed hypoesthesia ascending from the lower extremities and consulted the emergency outpatient department with the chief complaint of generalised dysesthesia. because of a history of ulcerative colitis, his condition was initially treated as acute aggravation of the disease; however, after admission, his consciousness level gradually deteriorated. physical findings showed weakened tendon re ...	2012	23001109
structural insights from random mutagenesis of campylobacter jejuni oligosaccharyltransferase pglb.	protein glycosylation is of fundamental importance in many biological systems. the discovery of n-glycosylation in bacteria and the functional expression of the n-oligosaccharyltransferase pglb of campylobacter jejuni in escherichia coli enabled the production of engineered glycoproteins and the study of the underlying molecular mechanisms. a particularly promising application for protein glycosylation in recombinant bacteria is the production of potent conjugate vaccines where polysaccharide an ...	2012	23006740
inhibitors of b-cell receptor signaling for patients with b-cell malignancies.	the b-cell receptor (bcr) complex and its associated protein tyrosine kinases play a critical role in the development, proliferation, and survival of normal or malignant b cells. regulated activity of the bcr complex promotes the expansion of selected b cells and the deletion of unwanted or self-reactive ones. compounds that inhibit various components of this pathway, including spleen tyrosine kinase, bruton's tyrosine kinase, and phosphoinositol-3 kinase, have been developed. we summarize the r ...	2012	23006944
current understanding of lifestyle and environmental factors and risk of non-hodgkin lymphoma: an epidemiological update.	the incidence rates of non-hodgkin lymphoma (nhl) have steadily increased over the last several decades in the united states, and the temporal trends in incidence can only be partially explained by the hiv epidemic. in 1992, an international workshop sponsored by the united states national cancer institute concluded that there was an "emerging epidemic" of nhl and emphasized the need to investigate the factors responsible for the increasing incidence of this disease. over the past two decades, n ...	2012	23008714
immune development and intestinal microbiota in celiac disease.	celiac disease (cd) is an immune-mediated enteropathy, triggered by dietary wheat gluten and similar proteins of barley and rye in genetically susceptible individuals. the etiology of this disorder is complex, involving both environmental and genetic factors. the major genetic risk factor for cd is represented by hla-dq genes, which account for approximately 40% of the genetic risk; however, only a small percentage of carriers develop the disease. gluten is the main environmental factor responsi ...	2012	23008734
oxidative stress resistance genes contribute to the pathogenic potential of the anaerobic protozoan parasite, entamoeba histolytica.	the protozoan parasite, entamoeba histolytica, invades the host colon causing significant tissue destruction and inflammation. upon host infection, the parasite is confronted with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ros/rns) that cause large-scale changes in gene expression profiles, which likely support the parasite's adaptation to the host environment. we have previously identified oxidative and nitrosative stress responsive genes using whole-genome expression profiling. functional studies o ...	2012	23009748
cell signaling, post-translational protein modifications and nmr spectroscopy.	post-translationally modified proteins make up the majority of the proteome and establish, to a large part, the impressive level of functional diversity in higher, multi-cellular organisms. most eukaryotic post-translational protein modifications (ptms) denote reversible, covalent additions of small chemical entities such as phosphate-, acyl-, alkyl- and glycosyl-groups onto selected subsets of modifiable amino acids. in turn, these modifications induce highly specific changes in the chemical en ...	2012	23011410
draft genome sequences of two campylobacter jejuni clinical isolates, nw and d2600.	the campylobacter jejuni human clinical isolates nw and d2600 colonized c57bl/6 interleukin-10-deficient (il-10(-/-)) mice without inducing a robust inflammatory response (j. a. bell et al., bmc microbiol. 9:57, 2009). we announce draft genome sequences of nw and d2600 to facilitate comparisons with strains that induce gastrointestinal inflammation in this mouse model.	2012	23012285
the htra protease from streptococcus pneumoniae digests both denatured proteins and the competence-stimulating peptide.	the htra protease of streptococcus pneumoniae functions both in a general stress response role and as an error sensor that specifically represses genetic competence when the overall level of biosynthetic errors in cellular proteins is low. however, the mechanism through which htra inhibits development of competence has been unknown. we found that htra digested the pneumococcal competence-stimulating peptide (csp) and constituted the primary extracytoplasmic csp-degrading activity in cultures of ...	2012	23012372
crystal structure of hutz, a heme storage protein from vibrio cholerae: a structural mismatch observed in the region of high sequence conservation.	hutz is the sole heme storage protein identified in the pathogenic bacterium vibrio cholerae and is required for optimal heme utilization. however, no heme oxygenase activity has been observed with this protein. thus far, hutz's structure and heme-binding mechanism are unknown.	2012	23013214
chemo-enzymatic modification of poly-n-acetyllactosamine (lacnac) oligomers and n,n-diacetyllactosamine (lacdinac) based on galactose oxidase treatment.	the importance of glycans in biological systems is highlighted by their various functions in physiological and pathological processes. many glycan epitopes on glycoproteins and glycolipids are based on n-acetyllactosamine units (lacnac; galβ1,4glcnac) and often present on extended poly-lacnac glycans ([galβ1,4glcnac](n)). poly-lacnac itself has been identified as a binding motif of galectins, an important class of lectins with functions in immune response and tumorigenesis. therefore, the synthe ...	2012	23015818
movers and shakers: influence of bacteriophages in shaping the mammalian gut microbiota.	the human intestinal microbiota is one of the most densely populated ecosystems on earth, containing up to 10 ( 13) bacteria/g and in some respects can be considered an organ itself given its role in human health. bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant replicating entities on the planet and thrive wherever their bacterial hosts exist. they undoubtedly influence the dominant microbial populations in many ecosystems including the human intestine. within this setting, lysogeny appears to be ...	2013	23022738
the vagal innervation of the gut and immune homeostasis.	the central nervous system interacts dynamically with the immune system to modulate inflammation through humoral and neural pathways. recently, in animal models of sepsis, the vagus nerve (vn) has been proposed to play a crucial role in the regulation of the immune response, also referred to as the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. the vn, through release of acetylcholine, dampens immune cell activation by interacting with α-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. recent evidence suggests that ...	2012	23023166
the vagal innervation of the gut and immune homeostasis.	the central nervous system interacts dynamically with the immune system to modulate inflammation through humoral and neural pathways. recently, in animal models of sepsis, the vagus nerve (vn) has been proposed to play a crucial role in the regulation of the immune response, also referred to as the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. the vn, through release of acetylcholine, dampens immune cell activation by interacting with α-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. recent evidence suggests that ...	2012	23023166
chromosomal tet(o)-harboring regions in campylobacter coli isolates from turkeys and swine.	in turkey-derived campylobacter coli isolates of a unique lineage (cluster ii), the tetracycline resistance determinant tet(o) was chromosomal and was part of a gene cassette (transposon) interrupting a campylobacter jejuni-associated putative citrate transporter gene. in contrast, the swine-derived c. coli strain 6461 harbored a chromosomal tet(o) in a different genomic location.	2012	23023744
a single-cell genome for thiovulum sp.	we determined a significant fraction of the genome sequence of a representative of thiovulum, the uncultivated genus of colorless sulfur epsilonproteobacteria, by analyzing the genome sequences of four individual cells collected from phototrophic mats from elkhorn slough, california. these cells were isolated utilizing a microfluidic laser-tweezing system, and their genomes were amplified by multiple-displacement amplification prior to sequencing. thiovulum is a gradient bacterium found at oxic- ...	2012	23023751
a universal method for the identification of bacteria based on general pcr primers.	the universal method (um) described here will allow the detection of any bacterial rdna leading to the identification of that bacterium. the method should allow prompt and accurate identification of bacteria. the principle of the method is simple; when a pure pcr product of the 16s gene is obtained, sequenced, and aligned against bacterial dna data base, then the bacterium can be identified. confirmation of identity may follow. in this work, several general 16s primers were designed, mixed and a ...	2011	23024404
genome-wide metabolic (re-) annotation of kluyveromyces lactis.	even before having its genome sequence published in 2004, kluyveromyces lactis had long been considered a model organism for studies in genetics and physiology. research on kluyveromyces lactis is quite advanced and this yeast species is one of the few with which it is possible to perform formal genetic analysis. nevertheless, until now, no complete metabolic functional annotation has been performed to the proteins encoded in the kluyveromyces lactis genome.	2012	23025710
thiol peroxidase is an important component of streptococcus pneumoniae in oxygenated environments.	streptococcus pneumoniae is an aerotolerant gram-positive bacterium that causes an array of diseases, including pneumonia, otitis media, and meningitis. during aerobic growth, s. pneumoniae produces high levels of h(2)o(2). since s. pneumoniae lacks catalase, the question of how it controls h(2)o(2) levels is of critical importance. the psa locus encodes an abc mn(2+)-permease complex (psabca) and a putative thiol peroxidase, tpxd. this study shows that tpxd encodes a functional thiol peroxidase ...	2012	23027531
phase variable o antigen biosynthetic genes control expression of the major protective antigen and bacteriophage receptor in vibrio cholerae o1.	the vibrio cholerae lipopolysaccharide o1 antigen is a major target of bacteriophages and the human immune system and is of critical importance for vaccine design. we used an o1-specific lytic bacteriophage as a tool to probe the capacity of v. cholerae to alter its o1 antigen and identified a novel mechanism by which this organism can modulate o antigen expression and exhibit intra-strain heterogeneity. we identified two phase variable genes required for o1 antigen biosynthesis, mana and wbel. ...	2012	23028317
the non-flagellar type iii secretion system evolved from the bacterial flagellum and diversified into host-cell adapted systems.	type 3 secretion systems (t3sss) are essential components of two complex bacterial machineries: the flagellum, which drives cell motility, and the non-flagellar t3ss (nf-t3ss), which delivers effectors into eukaryotic cells. yet the origin, specialization, and diversification of these machineries remained unclear. we developed computational tools to identify homologous components of the two systems and to discriminate between them. our analysis of >1,000 genomes identified 921 t3sss, including 2 ...	2012	23028376
case-control study of the etiology of infant diarrheal disease in 14 districts in madagascar.	acute diarrhea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. its microbiological causes and clinico-epidemiological aspects were examined during the rainy seasons from 2008 to 2009 in 14 districts in madagascar.	2012	23028555