Publications

evaluating pathogenic dementia variants in posterior cortical atrophy.	posterior cortical atrophy (pca) is an understudied visual impairment syndrome most often due to "posterior alzheimer's disease (ad)" pathology. case studies detected mutations in psen1, psen2, grn, mapt, and prnp in subjects with clinical pca. to detect the frequency and spectrum of mutations in known dementia genes in pca, we screened 124 european-american subjects with clinical pca (n = 67) or posterior ad neuropathology (n = 57) for variants in genes implicated in ad, frontotemporal dementia ...	2015	26507310
analysis of codon usage patterns in herbaceous peony (paeonia lactiflora pall.) based on transcriptome data.	codon usage bias, which exists in many genomes, is mainly determined by mutation and selection. to elucidate the genetic features and evolutionary history of herbaceous peony (paeonia lactiflora), a well-known symbol of prosperity in china, we examined synonymous codon usage in 24,216 reconstructed genes from the p. lactiflora transcriptome. the mean gc content was 44.4%, indicating that the nucleotide content of p. lactiflora genes is slightly at rich and gc poor. the p. lactiflora genome has a ...	2015	26506393
public health impact of strain specific immunity to borrelia burgdorferi.	lyme disease, caused by borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne infection in the united states. although humans can be infected by at least 16 different strains of b. burgdorferi, the overwhelming majority of infections are due to only four strains. it was recently demonstrated that patients who are treated for early lyme disease develop immunity to the specific strain of b. burgdorferi that caused their infection. the aim of this study is to estimate the reduction in cases of lyme d ...	2015	26503011
preferential production of g-csf by a protein-like lactobacillus rhamnosus gr-1 secretory factor through activating tlr2-dependent signaling events without activation of jnks.	different species and strains of probiotic bacteria confer distinct immunological responses on immune cells. lactobacillus rhamnosus gr-1 (gr-1) is a probiotic bacterial strain found in both the intestinal and urogenital tracts, and has immunomodulatory effects on several cell types including macrophages. however, detailed immunological responses and the signaling mechanism involved in the response are largely unknown.	2015	26502905
do citation trends reflect epidemiologic patterns? assessing mrsa, emerging and re-emerging pathogens, 1963-2014.	a rapid rise in pubmed citations on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) occurred after 2000, but the relationship of trends in citation to epidemiologic trends for infectious disease is not known.	2015	26502873
surveillance for borrelia burgdorferi in ixodes ticks and small rodents in british columbia.	to determine the prevalence of borrelia burgdorferi in british columbian ticks, fieldwork was conducted over a 2-year period. in all, 893 ticks (ixodes pacificus, i. angustus, i. soricis, ixodes spp., and dermacentor andersoni) of different life stages were retrieved from 483 small rodents (peromyscus maniculatus, perognathus parvus, and reithrodontomys megalotis). b. burgdorferi dna was detected in 5 out of 359 tick pools, and 41 out of 483 mice were serologically confirmed to have antibodies a ...	2015	26502354
investigating reports of complex regional pain syndrome: an analysis of hpv-16/18-adjuvanted vaccine post-licensure data.	complex regional pain syndrome (crps) is a chronic pain disorder that typically follows trauma or surgery. suspected crps reported after vaccination with human papillomavirus (hpv) vaccines led to temporary suspension of proactive recommendation of hpv vaccination in japan. we investigated the potential crps signal in relation to hpv-16/18-adjuvanted vaccine (cervarix®) by database review of crps cases with independent expert confirmation; a disproportionality analysis and analyses of temporalit ...	2015	26501109
crossing of the epithelial barriers by bacillus anthracis: the known and the unknown.	anthrax, caused by bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive spore-forming bacterium, is initiated by the entry of spores into the host body. there are three types of human infection: cutaneous, inhalational, and gastrointestinal. for each form, b. anthracis spores need to cross the cutaneous, respiratory or digestive epithelial barriers, respectively, as a first obligate step to establish infection. anthrax is a toxi-infection: an association of toxemia and rapidly spreading infection progressing to ...	2015	26500645
escherichia coli lipoprotein binds human plasminogen via an intramolecular domain.	escherichia coli lipoprotein (lpp) is a major cellular component that exists in two distinct states, bound-form and free-form. bound-form lpp is known to interact with the periplasmic bacterial cell wall, while free-form lpp is localized to the bacterial cell surface. a function for surface-exposed lpp has yet to be determined. we hypothesized that the presence of c-terminal lysinses in the surface-exposed region of lpp would facilitate binding to the host zymogen plasminogen (plg), a protease c ...	2015	26500634
lyme disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis - a pediatric case report.		2015	26498846
absence of borrelia burgdorferi in the myocardium of subjects with normal left ventricular systolic function: a study using pcr and electron microscopy.	several studies have demonstrated the presence of the borrelia burgdorferi (bb) genome in the myocardium of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (dcm). to further support a causal relationship between the presence of bb in the heart muscle and the development of dcm, demonstration of the absence of bb in the myocardium of subjects with normal left ventricular (lv) systolic function is needed.	2016	26498214
vesiculobullous and hemorrhagic erythema migrans: uncommon variants of a common disease.	the diagnosis of lyme disease relies on the accurate diagnosis of erythema chronicum migrans (ecm) because serologic tests, culture, and polymerase chain reactions are often inaccurate. although ecm is classically associated with a targetoid rash, there are many variants of this lesion. these variants of ecm are often initially diagnosed as cellulitis or spider bite reactions and treated with oral antibiotics. inappropriate treatment further delays the diagnosis of lyme disease, leading to late ...	2016	26498075
annually recurring erythema annulare centrifugum: a case report.	erythema annulare centrifugum is a rare cutaneous disease characterized by erythematous and violaceous annular plaques that usually involved the thighs and the legs. the eruption may be associated with an underlying disease and its accompanying characteristic symptoms. for these reasons, a full physical examination should be conducted to exclude underlying disorders. annually recurring erythema annulare centrifugum is a rare and peculiar variant of erythema annulare centrifugum with the same cli ...	2015	26496986
vector-borne diseases in stray dogs in peninsular malaysia and molecular detection of anaplasma and ehrlichia spp. from rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae) ticks.	little data are available on the prevalence and transmission of vector-borne diseases in stray dogs in peninsular malaysia. this study was designed to determine the occurrence of vector-borne pathogens in malaysian stray dogs using serological and molecular approaches. in total, 48 dog blood samples were subjected to serological analysis using snap 4dx kit (idexx laboratories, westbrook, me). the presence of ehrlichia and anaplasma dna in the dog blood samples and rhipicephalus sanguineus (latre ...	2016	26494821
quantification of borrelia burgdorferi membrane proteins in human serum: a new concept for detection of bacterial infection.	the borrelia burgdorferi spirochete is the causative agent of lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the united states. the low abundance of bacterial proteins in human serum during infection imposes a challenge for early proteomic detection of lyme disease. to address this challenge, we propose to detect membrane proteins released from bacteria due to disruption of their plasma membrane triggered by the innate immune system. these membrane proteins can be separated from the bulk of ...	2015	26491962
dengue virus infection of aedes aegypti requires a putative cysteine rich venom protein.	dengue virus (denv) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes serious human disease and mortality worldwide. there is no specific antiviral therapy or vaccine for denv infection. alterations in gene expression during denv infection of the mosquito and the impact of these changes on virus infection are important events to investigate in hopes of creating new treatments and vaccines. we previously identified 203 genes that were ≥5-fold differentially upregulated during flavivirus infection of the ...	2015	26491875
vaccination with the variable tick protein of the relapsing fever spirochete borrelia hermsii protects mice from infection by tick-bite.	tick-borne relapsing fevers of humans are caused by spirochetes that must adapt to both warm-blooded vertebrates and cold-blooded ticks. in western north america, most human cases of relapsing fever are caused by borrelia hermsii, which cycles in nature between its tick vector ornithodoros hermsi and small mammals such as tree squirrels and chipmunks. these spirochetes alter their outer surface by switching off one of the bloodstream-associated variable major proteins (vmps) they produce in mamm ...	2015	26490040
sexual transmission of lyme disease: challenging the tickborne disease paradigm.	lyme disease caused by the spirochete borrelia burgdorferi has become a major worldwide epidemic. in this article, we explore the clinical, epidemiological and experimental evidence for sexual transmission of lyme disease in animal models and humans. although the likelihood of sexual transmission of the lyme spirochete remains speculative, the possibility of lyme disease transmission via intimate human contact merits further study.	2015	26489537
use of in vivo expression technology for the identification of putative host adaptation factors of the lyme disease spirochete.	the causative agent of lyme disease, borrelia burgdorferi, is an obligate parasite that requires either a tick vector or a mammalian host for survival. identification of the bacterial genes that are specifically expressed during infection of the mammalian host could provide targets for novel therapeutics and vaccines. in vivo expression technology (ivet) is a reporter-based promoter trap system that utilizes selectable markers to identify promoters of bacterial host-specific genes. using previou ...	2015	26488479
no geographic correlation between lyme disease and death due to 4 neurodegenerative disorders, united states, 2001-2010.	associations between lyme disease and certain neurodegenerative diseases have been proposed, but supportive evidence for an association is lacking. similar geographic distributions would be expected if 2 conditions were etiologically linked. thus, we compared the distribution of lyme disease cases in the united states with the distributions of deaths due to alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als), multiple sclerosis (ms), and parkinson disease; no geographic correlations were iden ...	2015	26488307
isolated optic disc tuberculosis.	we present a healthy male subject who developed progressive visual loss in the left eye initially diagnosed as optic neuritis. upon suspicion of infectious etiology, testing was positive for tuberculosis. there were no signs or symptoms of active systemic tuberculosis infection. the patient responded swiftly to antimycobacterial therapy with return of vision and resolution of disc swelling. positive purified protein derivative skin test, negative chest radiograph, negative systemic workup, negat ...	2015	26483675
arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in a weimaraner.	arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (arvc) was diagnosed postmortem in a weimaraner dog. syncope, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death in this patient combined with the histopathological fatty tissue infiltration affecting the right ventricular myocardium are consistent with previous reports of arvc in non-boxer dogs. arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy has not been previously reported in weimaraners.	2015	26483577
rna helicase important for listeria monocytogenes hemolytic activity and virulence factor expression.	rna helicases have been shown to be important for the function of rna molecules at several levels, although their putative involvement in microbial pathogenesis has remained elusive. we have previously shown that listeria monocytogenes dexd-box rna helicases are important for bacterial growth, motility, ribosomal maturation, and rrna processing. we assessed the importance of the rna helicase lmo0866 (here named csha) for expression of virulence traits. we observed a reduction in hemolytic activi ...	2015	26483402
rna helicase important for listeria monocytogenes hemolytic activity and virulence factor expression.	rna helicases have been shown to be important for the function of rna molecules at several levels, although their putative involvement in microbial pathogenesis has remained elusive. we have previously shown that listeria monocytogenes dexd-box rna helicases are important for bacterial growth, motility, ribosomal maturation, and rrna processing. we assessed the importance of the rna helicase lmo0866 (here named csha) for expression of virulence traits. we observed a reduction in hemolytic activi ...	2015	26483402
flagellar motility of the pathogenic spirochetes.	bacterial pathogens are often classified by their toxicity and invasiveness. the invasiveness of a given bacterium is determined by how capable the bacterium is at invading a broad range of tissues in its host. of mammalian pathogens, some of the most invasive come from a group of bacteria known as the spirochetes, which cause diseases, such as syphilis, lyme disease, relapsing fever and leptospirosis. most of the spirochetes are characterized by their distinct shapes and unique motility. they a ...	2015	26481969
the salt-sensitive structure and zinc inhibition of borrelia burgdorferi protease bbhtra.	htra serine proteases are highly conserved and essential atp-independent proteases with chaperone activity. bacteria express a variable number of htra homologues that contribute to the virulence and pathogenicity of bacterial pathogens. lyme disease spirochetes possess a single htra protease homologue, borrelia burgdorferi htra (bbhtra). previous studies established that, like the human orthologue htra1, bbhtra is proteolytically active against numerous extracellular proteins in vitro. in this s ...	2016	26480895
hopping down the main street: eastern grey kangaroos at home in an urban matrix.	most urban mammals are small. however, one of the largest marsupials, the eastern grey kangaroo macropus giganteus, occurs in some urban areas. in 2007, we embarked on a longitudinal study of this species in the seaside town of anglesea in southern victoria, australia. we have captured and tagged 360 individuals to date, fitting each adult with a collar displaying its name. we have monitored survival, reproduction and movements by resighting, recapture and radio-tracking, augmented by citizen sc ...	2014	26480041
digital dermatitis in dairy cows: a review of risk factors and potential sources of between-animal variation in susceptibility.	digital dermatitis (dd) is a bacterial disease that primarily affects the skin on the heels of cattle. it is a major cause of lameness in dairy cows and a significant problem for the dairy industry in many countries, causing reduced animal welfare and economic loss. a wide range of infection levels has been found on infected farms, prompting investigations into both farm level and animal level risk factors for dd occurrence. there also appears to be individual variation between animals in suscep ...	2015	26479371
correction: the borrelia burgdorferi rela/spot homolog and stringent response regulate survival in the tick vector and global gene expression during starvation.		2015	26474045
lyme borreliosis--the utility of improved real-time pcr assay in the detection of borrelia burgdorferi infections.	infections of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato reveal clinical manifestations affecting numerous organs and tissues. the standard diagnostic procedure of these infections is quite simple if a positive history of tick exposure or typical erythema migrans appears. lack of unequivocal clinical symptoms creates the necessity for further evaluation with laboratory tests.	2015	26469112
frequency of borrelia in morphea lesion by polymerase chain reaction in northeast of iran.	the etiology of morphea is still unknown. borrelia spp. as a causative agent of morphea has been discussed since 1985, but the relationship remains uncertain.	2015	26468360
iron acquisition mechanisms: promising target against mycobacterium tuberculosis.	continuous deployment of antitubercular drugs in treating tuberculosis (tb) caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis (mtb) has led to the emergence of drug resistance resulting in cross-resistance to many unrelated drugs, a phenomenon termed as multi-drug resistance (mdr-tb). despite reasonable documentation of major factors which contribute to mdr mechanisms, it appears unavoidable to consider novel mechanisms combating mdr. the ability of pathogenic mtb, to sense and become accustomed to changes i ...	2015	26464608
the role of domestic dogs and cats in the zoonotic cycles of ticks and pathogens. preliminary studies in the wrocław agglomeration (sw poland).	the collection of 729 tick specimens (ixodes ricinus, 88.6%; ixodes hexagonus, 9.2%; dermacentor reticulatus, 2.2%) removed from 373 dogs and 78 cats, along with 201 ticks from vegetation (i. ricinus, 75.6%; d. reticulatus, 24.4%), allows one to say that pets play an important role in maintaining tick life cycles in different urban area. it shows the lack of statistical differences between tick intensity in high-impact anthropogenic areas (hiaa), low-impact anthropogenic areas (liaa) and mixed a ...	2015	26464069
why is there still no human vaccine against lyme borreliosis?	lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, is a complex illness that can be difficult to diagnose but easy to treat in most early cases, yet difficult in its latest stage. every year, infections with borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes cause thousands of new cases of illness around the world, including people with a normal immunological reaction. prevention in the form of vaccines is difficult due to e.g. very high variability of borrelia antigen proteins, which precludes the construction of an ...	2015	26462328
identification and the preliminary in vitro characterization of iris homologue from salivary glands of ixodes persulcatus schulze.	ixodes ricinus immunosuppressor (iris) is a tick salivary gland protein derived from i. ricinus. in this study, iris homolog was identified in the salivary glands of ixodes persulcatus, which is the specific vector of the lyme disease agent in japan. the homolog was named ipis-1. to investigate the function of ipis-1, we prepared a recombinant ipis-1 expressed in cos-7 cells as a rabbit igg fc-fused protein (ipis-1-ig). cell proliferation assay and ifn-γ elisa showed that ipis-1-ig inhibits the ...	2016	26460162
prevalence and spectrum of residual symptoms in lyme neuroborreliosis after pharmacological treatment: a systematic review.	controversy exists about residual symptoms after pharmacological treatment of lyme neuroborreliosis. reports of disabling long-term sequels lead to concerns in patients and health care providers. we systematically reviewed the available evidence from studies reporting treatment of lyme neuroborreliosis to assess the prevalence and spectrum of residual symptoms after treatment. a literature search was performed in three databases and three clinical trial registers to find eligible studies reporti ...	2016	26459093
brachyspira suanatina sp. nov., an enteropathogenic intestinal spirochaete isolated from pigs and mallards: genomic and phenotypic characteristics.	the genus brachyspira currently encompasses seven valid species that colonize the intestines of mammals and birds. in a previous study a group of strongly haemolytic isolates from pigs and mallards was provisionally described as a new species within genus brachyspira, "b. suanatina", and enteropathogenic properties were demonstrated in a porcine challenge model.	2015	26458507
the plasmodium falciparum blood stages acquire factor h family proteins to evade destruction by human complement.	the acquisition of regulatory proteins is a means of blood-borne pathogens to avoid destruction by the human complement. we recently showed that the gametes of the human malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum bind factor h (fh) from the blood meal of the mosquito vector to assure successful sexual reproduction, which takes places in the mosquito midgut. while these findings provided a first glimpse of a complex mechanism used by plasmodium to control the host immune attack, it is hitherto not kn ...	2015	26457721
the plasmodium falciparum blood stages acquire factor h family proteins to evade destruction by human complement.	the acquisition of regulatory proteins is a means of blood-borne pathogens to avoid destruction by the human complement. we recently showed that the gametes of the human malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum bind factor h (fh) from the blood meal of the mosquito vector to assure successful sexual reproduction, which takes places in the mosquito midgut. while these findings provided a first glimpse of a complex mechanism used by plasmodium to control the host immune attack, it is hitherto not kn ...	2015	26457721
in vitro evaluation of antibacterial activity of phytochemicals and micronutrients against borrelia burgdorferi and borrelia garinii.	little is known about the effects of phytochemicals against borrelia sp. causing lyme disease. current therapeutic approach to this disease is limited to antibiotics. this study examined the anti-borreliae efficacy of several plant-derived compounds and micronutrients.	2015	26457476
understanding luminal microorganisms and their potential effectiveness in treating intestinal inflammation.	the human intestine contains 10 bacteria, which outnumber the mammalian cells 10-fold. certain other commensal or infectious agents, like helminthic parasites, become members of this microbial ecosystem, especially in populations living under less hygienic conditions. intestinal microbes, also called the microbiome or microbiota, shape the host immune reactivity to self and nonself throughout life. changes in microbiome composition may impair the maturation of immune regulatory pathways and pred ...	2016	26457381
extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the lung: evolution from an underlying reactive lymphoproliferative disorder.	extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (enmzl) of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (malt) is a problematic and sometimes controversial diagnosis. while commonly seen in the stomach in the setting of chronic helicobacter pylori infection, other extranodal sites, such as the lung, may also present with disease. enmzl is clinically and morphologically heterogeneous; however, regardless of presentation, the etiology lies in the accumulation of lymphoid tissue in non-traditional sites. this phenomenon is ...	2015	26457231
a fast cross-validation method for alignment of electron tomography images based on beer-lambert law.	in electron tomography, accurate alignment of tilt series is an essential step in attaining high-resolution 3d reconstructions. nevertheless, quantitative assessment of alignment quality has remained a challenging issue, even though many alignment methods have been reported. here, we report a fast and accurate method, tomoaligneval, based on the beer-lambert law, for the evaluation of alignment quality. our method is able to globally estimate the alignment accuracy by measuring the goodness of l ...	2015	26455556
emerging tick-borne infections in mainland china: an increasing public health threat.	since the beginning of the 1980s, 33 emerging tick-borne agents have been identified in mainland china, including eight species of spotted fever group rickettsiae, seven species in the family anaplasmataceae, six genospecies in the complex borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 11 species of babesia, and the virus causing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. in this review we have mapped the geographical distributions of human cases of infection. 15 of the 33 emerging tick-borne agents have be ...	2015	26453241
molecular detection of anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from romania.	red foxes (vulpes vulpes) are one of the most widespread wild carnivores in the world, being recognized to harbor and transmit a wide range of vector-borne diseases. anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato are zoonotic tick-borne pathogens causing emerging diseases. wild animals play an essential role in the transmission of diseases and pathogens maintenance in nature. epidemiological studies regarding the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in red foxes are of public health ...	2015	26449360
development of a multiantigen panel for improved detection of borrelia burgdorferi infection in early lyme disease.	the current standard for laboratory diagnosis of lyme disease in the united states is serologic detection of antibodies against borrelia burgdorferi. the centers for disease control and prevention recommends a two-tiered testing algorithm; however, this scheme has limited sensitivity for detecting early lyme disease. thus, there is a need to improve diagnostics for lyme disease at the early stage, when antibiotic treatment is highly efficacious. we examined novel and established antigen markers ...	2015	26447113
the diversity and prevalence of hard ticks attacking human hosts in eastern siberia (russian federation) with first description of invasion of non-endemic tick species.	hard ticks are the vectors of many pathogens including tick-borne encephalitis virus and the lyme disease agent borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. in eastern siberia, ixodes persulcatus, dermacentor nuttalli, dermacentor silvarum and haemaphysalis concinna are regarded as aggressive to humans. recently, significant changes in world tick fauna have been reported and this affects the spread of tick-borne pathogens. we studied the current species diversity, population structure and prevalence of tick ...	2016	26443685
impact of the pla protease substrate α2-antiplasmin on the progression of primary pneumonic plague.	many pathogens usurp the host hemostatic system during infection to promote pathogenesis. yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, expresses the plasminogen activator protease pla, which has been shown in vitro to target and cleave multiple proteins within the fibrinolytic pathway, including the plasmin inhibitor α2-antiplasmin (a2ap). it is not known, however, if pla inactivates a2ap in vivo; the role of a2ap during respiratory y. pestis infection is not known either. here, we show that ...	2015	26438794
outer surface protein ospc is an antiphagocytic factor that protects borrelia burgdorferi from phagocytosis by macrophages.	outer surface protein c (ospc) is one of the major lipoproteins expressed on the surface of borrelia burgdorferi during tick feeding and the early phase of mammalian infection. ospc is required for b. burgdorferi to establish infection in both immunocompetent and scid mice and has been proposed to facilitate evasion of innate immune defenses. however, the exact biological function of ospc remains elusive. in this study, we showed that the ospc-deficient spirochete could not establish infection i ...	2015	26438793
long-term survival of borrelia burgdorferi lacking the hibernation promotion factor homolog in the unfed tick vector.	borrelia burgdorferi, a causative agent of lyme borreliosis, is a zoonotic pathogen that survives in nutrient-limited environments within a tick, prior to transmission to its mammalian host. survival under these prolonged nutrient-limited conditions is thought to be similar to survival during stationary phase, which is characterized by growth cessation and decreased protein production. multiple ribosome-associated proteins are implicated in stationary-phase survival of escherichia coli. these pr ...	2015	26438790
vesicular erythema migrans: an atypical and easily misdiagnosed form of lyme disease.	erythema migrans is the initial sign in the majority of patients infected with borrelia, the genus of spirochetes that causes lyme disease. early identification and treatment decrease the risk of progression to later stages of disease. although a "bull's eye" appearance owing to lesional clearing is considered classic for erythema migrans, this feature is surprisingly often lacking among patients in the united states. furthermore, cutaneous lyme disease can exhibit a wide range of morphologic va ...	2015	26437159
serum c3 enhances complement receptor 3-mediated phagocytosis of borrelia burgdorferi.		2015	26435692
molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens in ixodid ticks collected from hunted wild animals in tuscany, italy.	to determine the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in feeding ticks removed from hunted wild animals.	2015	26433656
avian migrants facilitate invasions of neotropical ticks and tick-borne pathogens into the united states.	migratory birds have the potential to transport exotic vectors and pathogens of human and animal health importance across vast distances. we systematically examined birds that recently migrated to the united states from the neotropics for ticks. we screened both ticks and birds for tick-borne pathogens, including rickettsia species and borrelia burgdorferi. over two spring seasons (2013 and 2014), 3.56% of birds (n = 3,844) representing 42.35% of the species examined (n = 85) were infested by ti ...	2015	26431964
buried treasure: evolutionary perspectives on microbial iron piracy.	host-pathogen interactions provide valuable systems for the study of evolutionary genetics and natural selection. the sequestration of essential iron has emerged as a crucial innate defense system termed nutritional immunity, leading pathogens to evolve mechanisms of 'iron piracy' to scavenge this metal from host proteins. this battle for iron carries numerous consequences not only for host-pathogen evolution but also microbial community interactions. here we highlight recent and potential futur ...	2015	26431675
no observed effect of landscape fragmentation on pathogen infection prevalence in blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern united states.	pathogen prevalence within blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis say, 1821) tends to vary across sites and geographic regions, but the underlying causes of this variation are not well understood. efforts to understand the ecology of lyme disease have led to the proposition that sites with higher host diversity will result in lower disease risk due to an increase in the abundance of inefficient reservoir species relative to the abundance of species that are highly competent reservoirs. although th ...	2015	26430734
the intersection of microbiome and host at the skin interface: genomic- and metagenomic-based insights.	the past two decades have been marked by a surge in research to understand the microbial communities that live in association with the human body, in part stimulated by affordable, high-throughput dna sequencing technology. in the context of the skin, this perspective focuses on the current state of genomic- and metagenomic-based host-microbe research and future challenges and opportunities to move the field forward. these include elucidating nonbacterial components of the skin microbiome (i.e., ...	2015	26430162
neuroborreliosis mimicking leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in a patient with breast cancer: a case report.	leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is a serious complication of advanced cancer. various clinical manifestations may present, such as headache, nausea, seizures, cranial neuropathies. in this article, we report the case of a 65-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer who was admitted to hospital suffering from facial palsy, which was suspected to be caused by leptomeningeal tumor infiltration. magnetic resonance imaging (mri) scans of the head and spine showed meningeal enhancement of the facial ...	2014	26425601
typical evanescent and atypical persistent polymorphic cutaneous rash in an adult brazilian with still's disease: a case report and review of the literature.	adult onset still's disease (aosd) is a systemic auto-inflammatory condition of unknown etiology, characterized by high fever, an evanescent, salmon-pink maculopapular skin rash, arthralgia or arthritis and leukocytosis. aosd can also present with atypical cutaneous manifestations, such as persistent pruritic coalescent papules or plaques and linear lesions that have highly distinctive pathological features and are usually associated with severe disease. herein, we present a 31-year-old brazilia ...	2015	26423534
adaptor protein-3-mediated trafficking of tlr2 ligands controls specificity of inflammatory responses but not adaptor complex assembly.	innate immune engagement results in the activation of host defenses that produce microbe-specific inflammatory responses. a long-standing interest in the field of innate immunity is to understand how varied host responses are generated through the signaling of just a limited number of receptors. recently, intracellular trafficking and compartmental partitioning have been identified as mechanisms that provide signaling specificity for receptors by regulating signaling platform assembly. we show t ...	2015	26423153
serological survey of bartonella spp., borrelia burgdorferi, brucella spp., coxiella burnetii, francisella tularensis, leptospira spp., echinococcus, hanta-, tbe- and xmr-virus infection in employees of two forestry enterprises in north rhine-westphalia, germany, 2011-2013.	we initiated a survey to collect basic data on the frequency and regional distribution of various zoonoses in 722 employees of forestry enterprises in the german state of north rhine-westphalia (nrw) from 2011 to 2013. exposures associated with seropositivity were identified to give insight into the possible risk factors for infection with each pathogen. 41.2% of participants were found to be seropositive for anti-bartonella igg, 30.6% for anti-borrelia burgdorferi igg, 14.2% for anti-leptospira ...	2015	26422407
persister mechanisms in borrelia burgdorferi: implications for improved intervention.		2015	26421273
similarities in murine infection and immune response to borrelia bissettii and borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto.	in 1982, borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) was identified as the aetiological agent of lyme disease. since then an increasing number of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) species have been isolated in the united states. to date, many of these species remain understudied despite mounting evidence associating them with human illness. borrelia bissettii is a spirochaete closely related to b. burgdorferi that has been loosely associated with human illness. using an experimental murine infect ...	2015	26419825
ikaros mediates the dna methylation-independent silencing of mcj/dnajc15 gene expression in macrophages.	mcj (dnajc15) is a mitochondrial protein that regulates the mitochondrial metabolic status of macrophages and their response to inflammatory stimuli. cpg island methylation in cancer cells constitutes the only mechanism identified for the regulation of mcj gene expression. however, whether dna methylation or transcriptional regulation mechanisms are involved in the physiological control of this gene expression in non-tumor cells remains unknown. we now demonstrate a mechanism of regulation of mc ...	2015	26419808
the bidirectional relationship between sleep and immunity against infections.	sleep is considered an important modulator of the immune response. thus, a lack of sleep can weaken immunity, increasing organism susceptibility to infection. for instance, shorter sleep durations are associated with a rise in suffering from the common cold. the function of sleep in altering immune responses must be determined to understand how sleep deprivation increases the susceptibility to viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. there are several explanations for greater susceptibility t ...	2015	26417606
lyme disease presenting as a spontaneous knee effusion.	musculoskeletal complaints, which are frequently associated with lyme disease, often prompt patients to see a physician. in particular, transient episodes of spontaneous knee effusion are common early in the progression of lyme disease, and, if left untreated, 60% of patients diagnosed with the disease develop lyme arthritis. this disease is easily treated with antibiotics; therefore, inclusion of lyme disease in the differential diagnosis as a potential cause of a spontaneous knee effusion can ...	2015	26416616
blood-borne candidatus borrelia algerica in a patient with prolonged fever in oran, algeria.	to improve the knowledge base of borrelia in north africa, we tested 257 blood samples collected from febrile patients in oran, algeria, between january and december 2012 for borrelia species using flagellin gene polymerase chain reaction sequencing. a sequence indicative of a new borrelia sp. named candidatus borrelia algerica was detected in one blood sample. further multispacer sequence typing indicated this borrelia sp. had 97% similarity with borrelia crocidurae, borrelia duttonii, and borr ...	2015	26416117
lyme borreliosis: reviewing potential vaccines, clinical aspects and health economics.	lyme borreliosis (lb) is a multisystem infectious disease with a growing burden in many parts of north america, asia and europe. persistent infection of lb can usually be treated effectively with antibiotic therapy, but it may be followed by post-treatment lyme disease syndrome. therefore, it is important to begin with treatment in the early phase of the disease. vaccination shows potential as the most effective way of preventing lb and reducing its burden in these continents. it is concluded th ...	2015	26414102
a case of clozapine-induced myocarditis in a young patient with bipolar disorder.	we present a case of drug-induced myocarditis manifesting as acute heart failure in a young patient with bipolar disorder being treated for depression. the case describes a 20-year-old man being treated in the psychiatry ward for worsening depression when he started complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. his list of medications included clozapine, lithium, lorazepam, and haloperidol. the main findings on physical examination were tachycardia, low-grade fever, crackles in both lung ba ...	2015	26413355
seroprevalence of borrelia burgdorferi in occupationally exposed persons in the belgrade area, serbia.	lyme disease (ld) is a natural focal zoonotic disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi, which is mainly transmitted through infected ixodes ricinus tick bites. the presence and abundance of ticks in various habitats, the infectivity rate, as well as prolonged human exposure to ticks are factors that may affect the infection risk as well as the incidence of ld. in recent years, 20% to 25% of ticks infected with different borrelial species, as well as about 5,300 citizens with ld, have been register ...	2015	26413064
strain-specific antibodies reduce co-feeding transmission of the lyme disease pathogen, borrelia afzelii.	vector-borne pathogens use a diversity of strategies to evade the vertebrate immune system. co-feeding transmission is a potential immune evasion strategy because the vector-borne pathogen minimizes the time spent in the vertebrate host. we tested whether the lyme disease pathogen, borrelia afzelii, can use co-feeding transmission to escape the acquired immune response in the vertebrate host. we induced a strain-specific, protective antibody response by immunizing mice with one of two variants o ...	2016	26411486
recent study on canine vector-borne zoonoses in southern slovakia - serologic survey.	over the last decade a significant spread of canine vector borne diseases has been recorded in central europe. the aim of the study described here, was to collect current data on the occurrence and distribution of three major canine vector-borne pathogens in the veterinary clinical practice by a newly-developed commercial elisa test for the detection of dirofilaria immitis antigen as well as specific circulating antibodies to anaplasma phagocytophilum and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. circula ...	2015	26408601
prevalence of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ixodes ricinus ticks collected from southern poland.	in 2008-2011 ticks were collected from southern poland. out of 6336 individuals collected and identified as ixodes ricinus, 768 (2 larvae, 84 nymphs, 417 females, 265 males) were included in molecular study. the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and types of genospecies of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks. the polymerase chain reaction (pcr) was applied to detect the presence of pathogens in ticks. subsequently the amplified dna was digested with tasi enzyme. the infect ...	2015	26408589
coexistence of borrelia burgdorferi s.l. genospecies within ixodes ricinus ticks from central and eastern poland.	the purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence and coinfection rates of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genotypes in ixodes ricinus (l.) ticks sampled from diverse localities in central and eastern regions of poland. in years 2009-2011, questing nymphs and adults of i. ricinus were collected using a flagging method at 18 localities representing distinct ecosystem types: urban green areas, suburban forests and rural woodlands. molecular detection of b. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies was base ...	2015	26408587
hepatocyte growth factor in cerebrospinal fluid differentiates community-acquired or nosocomial septic meningitis from other causes of pleocytosis.	due to anatomical restrictions, the inflammatory response to intracerebral bacterial infections exposes swollen brain tissues to pressure and ischemia, resulting in life-threatening damage. rapid diagnosis and immediate empirical antibiotic therapy is highly important. however, diagnosing meningitis in patients after neurosurgery is complicated, due to brain tissue damage and changes in cerebrospinal fluid (csf) caused by surgery. hepatocyte growth factor (hgf) is a local, acute-phase protein wi ...	2015	26408034
structural and functional analysis of bb0689 from borrelia burgdorferi, a member of the bacterial cap superfamily.	spirochete borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of lyme disease and is transmitted from infected ixodes ticks to a mammalian host after a tick bite. the outer surface protein bb0689 from b. burgdorferi is up-regulated when the tick feeds, which indicates a potential role for bb0689 in lyme disease pathogenesis. we have determined the crystal structure of bb0689, which revealed that the protein belongs to the cap superfamily. though the cap domain is widespread in all three cellular domain ...	2015	26407658
pathogens vectored by the tick, dermacentor reticulatus, in endemic regions and zones of expansion in poland.	dermacentor reticulatus plays an important role in the maintenance of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance in the environment. currently two isolated populations of d. reticulatus are present in poland--western and eastern. the range of the eastern population covers endemic areas in eastern poland but this population is expanding westwards creating an expansion zone in the centre of the country. the expansion zone in western poland is occupied by the recently discovered western populat ...	2015	26403456
abundance of questing ticks and molecular evidence for pathogens in ticks in three parks of emilia-romagna region of northern italy.	infectious and parasitic diseases transmitted by ticks, such as lyme diseases, granulocytic anaplasmosis and piroplasmosis, have been frequently reported in europe, with increasing attention to them as an emerging zoonotic problem. the presented study was performed to assess the distribution and the density of questing ticks in three regional parks of emilia-romagna region of northern italy, and to seek molecular evidence of potential human pathogens in tick populations.	2015	26403115
peroxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid in the course of lyme arthritis.	the objective of the study was measurement of serum arachidonic acid level as well as the product of its peroxidation - 8-isopgf2α, and the activity of phospholipase a2 and paf-acetylhydrolase that participate in releasing 8-isopgf2α from glycerol skeleton, and the potential designation of their role in the pathomechanism of lyme disease (ld).	2015	26403109
human infection with ehrlichia muris-like pathogen, united states, 2007-2013(1).	an ehrlichia muris-like (eml) pathogen was detected among 4 patients in minnesota and wisconsin during 2009. we characterized additional cases clinically and epidemiologically. during 2004-2013, blood samples from 75,077 patients from all 50 united states were tested by pcr from the groel gene for ehrlichia spp. and anaplasma phagocytophilum. during 2007-2013, samples from 69 (0.1%) patients were positive for the eml pathogen; patients were from 5 states: indiana (1), michigan (1), minnesota (33 ...	2015	26402378
herpes simplex virus type 1 and other pathogens are key causative factors in sporadic alzheimer's disease.	this review focuses on research in epidemiology, neuropathology, molecular biology, and genetics regarding the hypothesis that pathogens interact with susceptibility genes and are causative in sporadic alzheimer's disease (ad). sporadic ad is a complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease with evidence indicating coexisting multi-pathogen and inflammatory etiologies. there are significant associations between ad and various pathogens, including herpes simplex virus type 1 (hsv-1), cytomegalo ...	2015	26401998
severe sepsis caused by california serogroup orthobunyavirus.		2015	26401906
epidemiology of lyme disease, nova scotia, canada, 2002-2013.	ixodes scapularis ticks, which transmit borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of lyme disease (ld), are endemic to at least 6 regions of nova scotia, canada. to assess the epidemiology and prevalence of ld in nova scotia, we analyzed data from 329 persons with ld reported in nova scotia during 2002-2013. most patients reported symptoms of early localized infection with rash (89.7%), influenza-like illness (69.6%), or both; clinician-diagnosed erythema migrans was documented for 53.2%. in a s ...	2015	26401788
acute flaccid paralysis associated with novel enterovirus c105.	an outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis among children in the united states during summer 2014 was tentatively associated with enterovirus d68 infection. this syndrome in a child in fall 2014 was associated with enterovirus c105 infection. the presence of this virus strain in north america may pose a diagnostic challenge.	2015	26401731
tick abundances in south london parks and the potential risk for lyme borreliosis to the general public.	tick abundances and prevalences of infection with borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of lyme disease, were investigated in four south london parks. a total of 360 transects were sampled using three methods of collection (blanket, leggings and flags) simultaneously. no ticks were found on wimbledon common or at hampton court, but 1118 ixodes ricinus (ixodida: ixodidae) ticks were collected at richmond and bushy parks. at richmond park, lower canopy humidity [odds ratio (or) 0.94 ...	2015	26400641
ixodes ricinus and its endosymbiont midichloria mitochondrii: a comparative proteomic analysis of salivary glands and ovaries.	hard ticks are hematophagous arthropods that act as vectors of numerous pathogenic microorganisms of high relevance in human and veterinary medicine. ixodes ricinus is one of the most important tick species in europe, due to its role of vector of pathogenic bacteria such as borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum, of viruses such as tick borne encephalitis virus and of protozoans as babesia spp. in addition to these pathogens, i. ricinus harbors a symbiotic bacterium, midichloria mito ...	2015	26398775
communicable diseases prioritized according to their public health relevance, sweden, 2013.	to establish strategic priorities for the public health agency of sweden we prioritized pathogens according to their public health relevance in sweden in order to guide resource allocation. we then compared the outcome to ongoing surveillance. we used a modified prioritization method developed at the robert koch institute in germany. in a delphi process experts scored pathogens according to ten variables. we ranked the pathogens according to the total score and divided them into four priority gr ...	2015	26397699
using nation-wide health insurance claims data to augment lyme disease surveillance.	lyme disease (ld) is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in north america. to improve ld surveillance, we explored claims data as an adjunct data source for monitoring trends in lyme disease incidence.	2015	26393537
prevalence of anaplasma phagocytophilum and babesia microti in ixodes scapularis from a newly established lyme disease endemic area, the thousand islands region of ontario, canada.	blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis) are vectors for several important human diseases, including lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (hga), and human babesiosis, caused by borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesia microti, respectively. the continued northward range expansion of blacklegged ticks and associated pathogens is an increasing public health concern in canada. the thousand islands region of eastern ontario has recently been identified as a new endemic area ...	2015	26393476
lipoproteins/peptides are sepsis-inducing toxins from bacteria that can be neutralized by synthetic anti-endotoxin peptides.	sepsis, a life-threatening syndrome with increasing incidence worldwide, is triggered by an overwhelming inflammation induced by microbial toxins released into the bloodstream during infection. a well-known sepsis-inducing factor is the membrane constituent of gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharide (lps), signalling via toll-like receptor-4. although sepsis is caused in more than 50% cases by gram-positive and mycoplasma cells, the causative compounds are still poorly described. in contradic ...	2015	26390973
an update on the hazards and risks of forensic anthropology, part ii: field and laboratory considerations.	this paper focuses on potential hazards and risks to forensic anthropologists while working in the field and laboratory in north america. much has changed since galloway and snodgrass published their seminal article addressing these issues. the increased number of forensic practitioners combined with new information about potential hazards calls for an updated review of these pathogens and chemicals. discussion of pathogen hazards (brucella, borrelia burgdorferi, yersinia pestis, clostridium tet ...	2016	26389711
exploratory spatial analysis of lyme disease in texas -what can we learn from the reported cases?	lyme disease (ld) is a tick-borne zoonotic illness caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi. texas is considered a non-endemic state for ld and the spatial distribution of the state's reported ld cases is unknown.	2015	26386670
poultry body temperature contributes to invasion control through reduced expression of salmonella pathogenicity island 1 genes in salmonella enterica serovars typhimurium and enteritidis.	salmonella enterica serovars typhimurium (s. typhimurium) and enteritidis (s. enteritidis) are foodborne pathogens, and outbreaks are often associated with poultry products. chickens are typically asymptomatic when colonized by these serovars; however, the factors contributing to this observation are uncharacterized. whereas symptomatic mammals have a body temperature between 37°c and 39°c, chickens have a body temperature of 41°c to 42°c. here, in vivo experiments using chicks demonstrated that ...	2015	26386070
long-term assessment of post-treatment symptoms in patients with culture-confirmed early lyme disease.	lyme disease patients with erythema migrans are said to have post-treatment lyme disease symptoms (ptlds) if there is persistence of subjective symptoms for at least 6 months following antibiotic treatment and resolution of the skin lesion. the purpose of this study was to characterize ptlds in patients with culture-confirmed early lyme disease followed for >10 years.	2015	26385994
can oral infection be a risk factor for alzheimer's disease?	alzheimer's disease (ad) is a scourge of longevity that will drain enormous resources from public health budgets in the future. currently, there is no diagnostic biomarker and/or treatment for this most common form of dementia in humans. ad can be of early familial-onset or sporadic with a late-onset. apart from the two main hallmarks, amyloid-beta and neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation is a characteristic feature of ad neuropathology. inflammation may be caused by a local central nervous sys ...	2015	26385886
abiotic predictors and annual seasonal dynamics of ixodes ricinus, the major disease vector of central europe.	abiotic conditions provide cues that drive tick questing activity. defining these cues is critical in predicting biting risk, and in forecasting climate change impacts on tick populations. this is particularly important for ixodes ricinus nymphs, the vector of numerous pathogens affecting humans.	2015	26385470
cross-reactive acquired immunity influences transmission success of the lyme disease pathogen, borrelia afzelii.	cross-reactive acquired immunity in the vertebrate host induces indirect competition between strains of a given pathogen species and is critical for understanding the ecology of mixed infections. in vector-borne diseases, cross-reactive antibodies can reduce pathogen transmission at the vector-to-host and the host-to-vector lifecycle transition. the highly polymorphic, immunodominant, outer surface protein c (ospc) of the tick-borne spirochete bacterium borrelia afzelii induces a strong antibody ...	2015	26384476
fever and cardiac arrest in a patient with a left ventricular assist device.	a 68-year-old avid deer hunter with ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent left ventricular assist device (lvad) implantation for destination therapy two years ago. he was living an active lifestyle, tracking deer and fishing in a midwestern forest in november. his wife removed an engorged tick on his thorax. a few days later, he experienced fever, confusion, and ataxia and was hospitalized with septic shock and ventricular fibrillation. the lvad site had no signs of trauma, drainage, warmth, or tend ...	2015	26380334
nervous system lyme disease, chronic lyme disease, and none of the above.	lyme borreliosis, infection with the tick-borne spirochete borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, causes nervous system involvement in 10-15 % of identified infected individuals. not unlike the other well-known spirochetosis, syphilis, infection can be protracted, but is microbiologically curable in virtually all patients, regardless of disease duration. diagnosis relies on 2-tier serologic testing, which after the first 4-6 weeks of infection is both highly sensitive and specific. after this early, a ...	2016	26377699
evaluation of selected borrelia burgdorferi lp54 plasmid-encoded gene products expressed during mammalian infection as antigens to improve serodiagnostic testing for early lyme disease.	laboratory testing for the diagnosis of lyme disease is performed primarily by serologic assays and is accurate for detection beyond the acute stage of the infection. serodiagnostic assays to detect the early stages of infection, however, are limited in their sensitivity, and improvement is warranted. we analyzed a series of borrelia burgdorferi proteins known to be induced within feeding ticks and/or during mammalian infection for their utility as serodiagnostic markers against a comprehensive ...	2015	26376927