Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted descending) Filter |
|---|
| Vaccination recommendations for Germany. | Vaccination is an effective means of preventing infectious diseases. In Germany, the Standing Vaccination Committee at the Robert Koch Institute (Ständige Impfkommission, STIKO) issues recommendations on vaccination to prevent the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases in the nation's population. | 2011 | 22163258 |
| Genomes and Virulence Factors of Novel Bacterial Pathogens Causing Bleaching Disease in the Marine Red Alga Delisea pulchra. | Nautella sp. R11, a member of the marine Roseobacter clade, causes a bleaching disease in the temperate-marine red macroalga, Delisea pulchra. To begin to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning the ability of Nautella sp. R11 to colonize, invade and induce bleaching of D. pulchra, we sequenced and analyzed its genome. The genome encodes several factors such as adhesion mechanisms, systems for the transport of algal metabolites, enzymes that confer resistance to oxidative stress, cytolys ... | 2011 | 22162749 |
| aerosolized vaccine as an unexpected source of false-positive bordetella pertussis pcr results. | when 13 of 13 nasal wash specimens from a single pediatrician's office tested positive for low quantities of bordetella pertussis dna, we suspected prelaboratory contamination. investigation revealed that pentacel and adacel vaccines contain high copy numbers of b. pertussis dna, which can be aerosolized, causing false-positive b. pertussis pcr results. | 2011 | 22162551 |
| Rapid Identification of Mycobacteria and Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a Single Multiplex PCR and DNA Sequencing. | Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health problem for which rapid diagnosis is critical to both treatment and control. This report describes a multiplex PCR method, the Mycobacterial IDentification and Drug Resistance Screen (MID-DRS) assay, which allows for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) and the simultaneous amplification of targets for sequencing-based drug resistance ((R)) screening of rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. Additionally, the same multip ... | 2011 | 22162548 |
| the major facilitator superfamily-type protein lbtc promotes the utilization of the legiobactin siderophore by legionella pneumophila. | the gram-negative bacterium legionella pneumophila elaborates the siderophore legiobactin. we previously showed that cytoplasmic lbta helps mediate legiobactin synthesis, inner membrane lbtb promotes export of legiobactin, and outer membrane lbtu acts as the ferrisiderophore receptor. rt-pcr analyses now identified lbtc as an iron-repressed gene that is the final gene in an operon containing lbta and lbtb. in silico analysis predicted that lbtc is an inner membrane protein that belongs to the ... | 2011 | 22160401 |
| phenotypic modulation of the bvg+ phase is not required for pathogenesis and transmission of bordetella bronchiseptica in swine. | the majority of virulence gene expression in bordetella is regulated by a two-component sensory transduction system encoded by the bvg locus. in response to environmental cues, the bvgas regulatory system controls expression of a spectrum of phenotypic phases transitioning between a virulent (bvg(+)) phase and a non-virulent (bvg(-)) phase, a process referred to as phenotypic modulation. we hypothesized that the ability of b. bronchiseptica to undergo phenotypic modulation is required at one or ... | 2011 | 22158743 |
| Minor pseudopilin self-assembly primes type II secretion pseudopilus elongation. | In Gram-negative bacteria, type II secretion systems (T2SS) assemble inner membrane proteins of the major pseudopilin PulG (GspG) family into periplasmic filaments, which could drive protein secretion in a piston-like manner. Three minor pseudopilins PulI, PulJ and PulK are essential for protein secretion in the Klebsiella oxytoca T2SS, but their molecular function is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that together these proteins prime pseudopilus assembly, without actively controlling its length or ... | 2011 | 22157749 |
| Minor pseudopilin self-assembly primes type II secretion pseudopilus elongation. | In Gram-negative bacteria, type II secretion systems (T2SS) assemble inner membrane proteins of the major pseudopilin PulG (GspG) family into periplasmic filaments, which could drive protein secretion in a piston-like manner. Three minor pseudopilins PulI, PulJ and PulK are essential for protein secretion in the Klebsiella oxytoca T2SS, but their molecular function is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that together these proteins prime pseudopilus assembly, without actively controlling its length or ... | 2011 | 22157749 |
| patterns of bordetella parapertussis respiratory illnesses: 2008-2010. | clinical specimens from 9 states during 2008-2010 were tested by pcr for bordetella pertussis and bordetella parapertussis. of the positive samples, 13.99% were identified as b. parapertussis. it was concluded that b. parapertussis infections are more common than previously realized and contribute to cases thought to be vaccine failures. | 2011 | 22156857 |
| Structure-based redesign of an edema toxin inhibitor. | Edema factor (EF) toxin of Bacillus anthracis (NIAID category A), and several other toxins from NIAID category B Biodefense target bacteria are adenylyl cyclases or adenylyl cyclase agonists that catalyze the conversion of ATP to 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). We previously identified compound 1 (3-[(9-oxo-9H-fluorene-1-carbonyl)-amino]-benzoic acid), that inhibits EF activity in cultured mammalian cells, and reduces diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) at an ... | 2012 | 22154558 |
| Structure-based redesign of an edema toxin inhibitor. | Edema factor (EF) toxin of Bacillus anthracis (NIAID category A), and several other toxins from NIAID category B Biodefense target bacteria are adenylyl cyclases or adenylyl cyclase agonists that catalyze the conversion of ATP to 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). We previously identified compound 1 (3-[(9-oxo-9H-fluorene-1-carbonyl)-amino]-benzoic acid), that inhibits EF activity in cultured mammalian cells, and reduces diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) at an ... | 2012 | 22154558 |
| galline ex-fabp is an antibacterial siderocalin and a lysophosphatidic acid sensor functioning through dual ligand specificities. | galline ex-fabp was identified as another candidate antibacterial, catecholate siderophore binding lipocalin (siderocalin) based on structural parallels with the family archetype, mammalian siderocalin. binding assays show that ex-fabp retains iron in a siderophore-dependent manner in both hypertrophic and dedifferentiated chondrocytes, where ex-fabp expression is induced after treatment with proinflammatory agents, and specifically binds ferric complexes of enterobactin, parabactin, bacillibact ... | 2011 | 22153502 |
| histamine h4 receptor optimizes t regulatory cell frequency and facilitates anti-inflammatory responses within the central nervous system. | histamine is a biogenic amine that mediates multiple physiological processes, including immunomodulatory effects in allergic and inflammatory reactions, and also plays a key regulatory role in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, the autoimmune model of multiple sclerosis. the pleiotropic effects of histamine are mediated by four g protein-coupled receptors, as follows: hrh1/h(1)r, hrh2/h(2)r, hrh3/h(3)r, and hrh4/h(4)r. h(4)r expression is primarily restricted to hematopoietic cells, and it ... | 2011 | 22147765 |
| histamine h4 receptor optimizes t regulatory cell frequency and facilitates anti-inflammatory responses within the central nervous system. | histamine is a biogenic amine that mediates multiple physiological processes, including immunomodulatory effects in allergic and inflammatory reactions, and also plays a key regulatory role in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, the autoimmune model of multiple sclerosis. the pleiotropic effects of histamine are mediated by four g protein-coupled receptors, as follows: hrh1/h(1)r, hrh2/h(2)r, hrh3/h(3)r, and hrh4/h(4)r. h(4)r expression is primarily restricted to hematopoietic cells, and it ... | 2011 | 22147765 |
| Computational and Biochemical Analysis of the Xanthomonas Effector AvrBs2 and Its Role in the Modulation of Xanthomonas Type Three Effector Delivery. | Effectors of the bacterial type III secretion system provide invaluable molecular probes to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of plant immunity and pathogen virulence. In this report, we focus on the AvrBs2 effector protein from the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (Xe), the causal agent of bacterial spot disease of tomato and pepper. Employing homology-based structural analysis, we generate a three-dimensional structural model for the AvrBs2 protein and identify catalytic sites in ... | 2011 | 22144898 |
| roles of il-17 in an experimental legionella pneumonia model. | interleukin (il)-17 is a key factor in t helper type (th) 17 lineage host responses and plays critical roles in immunological control of a variety of infectious diseases. although legionella pneumophila, an intracellular bacterium found widely in the environment, often causes a serious and life-threatening pneumonia in humans, the contribution of il-17 to immune function during legionella pneumonia is unknown. in the present study, we used an experimental legionella pneumonia infection to clarif ... | 2011 | 22144493 |
| role of cd11b/cd18 in the process of intoxication by the adenylate cyclase toxin of bordetella pertussis. | the adenylate cyclase toxin (act) of bordetella pertussis does not require a receptor to generate intracellular cyclic amp (camp) in a broad range of cell types. to intoxicate cells, act binds to the cell surface, translocates its catalytic domain across the cell membrane, and converts intracellular atp to camp. in cells that express the integrin cd11b/cd18 (cr3), act is more potent than in cr3-negative cells. we find, however, that the maximum levels of camp accumulation inside cr3-positive and ... | 2011 | 22144488 |
| targeting the wolbachia cell division protein ftsz as a new approach for antifilarial therapy. | the use of antibiotics targeting the obligate bacterial endosymbiont wolbachia of filarial parasites has been validated as an approach for controlling filarial infection in animals and humans. availability of genomic sequences for the wolbachia (wbm) present in the human filarial parasite brugia malayi has enabled genome-wide searching for new potential drug targets. in the present study, we investigated the cell division machinery of wbm and determined that it possesses the essential cell divis ... | 2011 | 22140592 |
| Identification of Anaplasma marginale Type IV Secretion System Effector Proteins. | Anaplasma marginale, an obligate intracellular alphaproteobacterium in the order Rickettsiales, is a tick-borne pathogen and the leading cause of anaplasmosis in cattle worldwide. Complete genome sequencing of A. marginale revealed that it has a type IV secretion system (T4SS). The T4SS is one of seven known types of secretion systems utilized by bacteria, with the type III and IV secretion systems particularly prevalent among pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. The T4SS is predicted to play an i ... | 2011 | 22140462 |
| Modulation of the Host Interferon Response and ISGylation Pathway by B. pertussis Filamentous Hemagglutinin. | Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) is a surface-associated and secreted protein that serves as a crucial adherence factor, and displays immunomodulatory activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In order to appreciate more fully the role of secreted FHA in pathogenesis, we analyzed FHA-induced changes in genome-wide transcript abundance in human PBMCs. Among the 683 known unique genes with greater than 3-fold change in transcript abundance following FHA trea ... | 2011 | 22140447 |
| Life-threatening respiratory tract disease with human bocavirus-1 infection in a four-year-old child. | The disease spectrum associated with human bocavirus-1 infection remains to be fully defined. We report a case of bocavirus-1-associated bronchiolitis, leading to severe respiratory failure and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a four-year-old child, and suggest blood testing for human bocavirus-1 in children with severe respiratory tract infection. | 2011 | 22135260 |
| Two-partner secretion of gram-negative bacteria: A single ß-barrel protein enables transport across the outer membrane. | The mechanisms of protein secretion by pathogenic bacteria remain poorly understood. In Gram-negative bacteria, the two-partner secretion (TPS) pathway exports large, mostly virulence-related TpsA proteins across the outer membrane via their dedicated TpsB transporters. TpsB transporters belong to the ubiquitous Omp85 superfamily, whose members are involved in protein translocation across, or integration into, cellular membranes. The FHA/FhaC pair of Bordetella pertussis is a model TPS system. W ... | 2011 | 22134917 |
| A Prospective Evaluation of an Australian Pertussis Toxin IgG and IgA Enzyme Immunoassay. | Background:Serological diagnosis of recent pertussis infection is an important part of both clinical assessment and epidemiological documentation of this disease. Standardisation of serological testing and interpretation remains challenging despite international efforts to improve this. Currently, IgG-anti-Pertussis Toxin (PT) is recommended as the most accurate serological test in Europe and USA, while Australia predominantly relies on measurement of IgA Bordetella pertussis antibody responses. ... | 2011 | 22131356 |
| anti-n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis with serum anti-thyroid antibodies and igm antibodies against epstein-barr virus viral capsid antigen: a case report and one year follow-up. | abstract: | 2011 | 22126669 |
| structural changes in the lacrimal sac epithelium and associated lymphoid tissue during experimental dacryocystitis. | to examine structural changes in the lacrimal sac epithelium and associated lymphoid tissue of rabbits with experimentally induced dacryocystitis. | 2011 | 22125403 |
| streptococcus suis capsular polysaccharide inhibits phagocytosis through destabilization of lipid microdomains and prevents lactosylceramide-dependent recognition. | streptococcus suis type 2 is a major swine pathogen and a zoonotic agent, causing meningitis both in swine and humans. s. suis infects the host through the respiratory route, reaches the bloodstream and persists until breaching into the central nervous system. the capsular polysaccharide (cps) of s. suis type 2 is considered a key virulence factor of the bacteria. though cps allows s. suis to adhere to the membrane of cells of the immune system, it provides protection against phagocytosis. in fa ... | 2011 | 22124659 |
| GraXSR Interact With The VraFG ABC Transporter to Form a Five-Component System Required for Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide Sensing and Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. | The GraSR two-component system (TCS) controls cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) resistance in S. aureus through the synthesis of enzymes that increase bacterial cell surface positive charges, by D-alanylation of teichoic acids and lysylination of phosphatidylglycerol, leading to electrostatic repulsion of CAMPs. The GraS histidine kinase belongs to the « intramembrane-sensing kinases » subfamily, with a structure featuring a short amino-terminal sensing domain, and two transmembrane helices ... | 2011 | 22123691 |
| the structure of serratia marcescens lip, a membrane-bound component of the type vi secretion system. | lip is a membrane-bound lipoprotein and a core component of the type vi secretion system found in gram-negative bacteria. the structure of a lip construct (residues 29-176) from serratia marcescens (smlip) has been determined at 1.92 å resolution. experimental phases were derived using a single-wavelength anomalous dispersion approach on a sample cocrystallized with iodide. the membrane localization of the native protein was confirmed. the structure is that of the globular domain lacking only th ... | 2011 | 22120744 |
| Therapeutic Dosing of Fingolimod (FTY720) Prevents Cell Infiltration, Rapidly Suppresses Ocular Inflammation, and Maintains the Blood-Ocular Barrier. | Fingolimod (FTY720) is an FDA-approved therapeutic drug with efficacy demonstrated in experimental models of multiple sclerosis and in phase III human multiple sclerosis trials. Fingolimod prevents T-cell migration to inflammatory sites by decreasing expression of the sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor normally required for egress from secondary lymphoid tissue. As a preclinical model of human uveitis, experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis permits assessment of immunotherapeutic efficacy. Murine e ... | 2011 | 22119714 |
| Therapeutic Dosing of Fingolimod (FTY720) Prevents Cell Infiltration, Rapidly Suppresses Ocular Inflammation, and Maintains the Blood-Ocular Barrier. | Fingolimod (FTY720) is an FDA-approved therapeutic drug with efficacy demonstrated in experimental models of multiple sclerosis and in phase III human multiple sclerosis trials. Fingolimod prevents T-cell migration to inflammatory sites by decreasing expression of the sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor normally required for egress from secondary lymphoid tissue. As a preclinical model of human uveitis, experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis permits assessment of immunotherapeutic efficacy. Murine e ... | 2011 | 22119714 |
| Comparative Study of Different Sources of Pertussis Toxin (PT) as Coating Antigens in IgG Anti-PT Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays. | In an effort to improve the reliability and reproducibility of serological assays for Bordetella pertussis, a collaborative study was conducted to compare four different sources of pertussis toxin (PT) as coating antigens in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-PT enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four sources of PT were used as coating antigens in the IgG anti-PT ELISA in four different testing laboratories (labs A to D) to determine whether the different antigen preparations and different ... | 2012 | 22116688 |
| Comparison of the Idaho Technology FilmArray System to Real-Time PCR for Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Children. | The FilmArray Respiratory Panel (RP) multiplexed nucleic acid amplification test (Idaho Technology, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT) was compared to laboratory-developed real-time PCR assays for the detection of various respiratory viruses and certain bacterial pathogens. A total of 215 frozen archived pediatric respiratory specimens previously characterized as either negative or positive for one or more pathogens by real-time PCR were examined using the FilmArray RP system. Overall agreement between t ... | 2011 | 22116144 |
| modelling the impact of extended vaccination strategies on the epidemiology of pertussis. | the aim of this study was to investigate the optimal pertussis booster vaccination strategy for the netherlands. a realistic age-structured deterministic model was designed. assuming a steady-state situation and correcting for underreporting, the model was calibrated using notification data from the period 1996-2000. several sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the impact of different assumptions for parameters surrounded by uncertainty (e.g. duration of protection after natural infect ... | 2011 | 22115361 |
| modelling the impact of extended vaccination strategies on the epidemiology of pertussis. | the aim of this study was to investigate the optimal pertussis booster vaccination strategy for the netherlands. a realistic age-structured deterministic model was designed. assuming a steady-state situation and correcting for underreporting, the model was calibrated using notification data from the period 1996-2000. several sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the impact of different assumptions for parameters surrounded by uncertainty (e.g. duration of protection after natural infect ... | 2011 | 22115361 |
| Primary vaccination with the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in infants in Mali and Nigeria: a randomized controlled trial. | ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is still the leading cause of death among children in Africa, and pneumococcal serotypes 1 and 5 are frequently isolated from African children with invasive pneumococcal disease below the age of 5 years. The immunogenicity, safety and reactogenicity of 3-dose primary vaccination with the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) were evaluated in infants in Mali and Nigeria. METHODS: In an open, randomized, c ... | 2011 | 22112189 |
| is adolescent pertussis vaccination preferable to natural booster infections? | pertussis is still poorly controlled in both adolescents and adults. as a result, an adolescent pertussis booster vaccine dose has already been implemented or decided on in many countries. the reasons for this have been twofold: a worrying increase of infections in the target group of adolescents and a wish to prevent serious pertussis disease among young yet unvaccinated, and partly vaccinated, infants. currently, it is still too early to evaluate the effect of the late booster on the circulati ... | 2011 | 22111856 |
| horizontal gene transfer in histophilus somni and its role in the evolution of pathogenic strain 2336, as determined by comparative genomic analyses. | abstract: background: pneumonia and myocarditis are the most commonly reported diseases due to histophilus somni, an opportunistic pathogen of the reproductive and respiratory tracts of cattle. thus far only a few genes involved in metabolic and virulence functions have been identified and characterized in h. somni using traditional methods. analyses of the genome sequences of several pasteurellaceae species have provided insights into their biology and evolution. in view of the economic and ec ... | 2011 | 22111657 |
| serum iga responses against pertussis proteins in infected and dutch wp or ap vaccinated children: an additional role in pertussis diagnostics. | whooping cough is a respiratory disease caused by bordetella pertussis, which induces mucosal iga antibodies that appear to be relevant in protection. serum iga responses are measured after pertussis infection and might provide an additional role in pertussis diagnostics. however, the possible interfering role for pertussis vaccinations in the induction of serum iga antibodies is largely unknown. | 2011 | 22110718 |
| induction of tolerance via the sublingual route: mechanisms and applications. | the clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (slit) with natural allergen extracts has been established in ige-dependent respiratory allergies to grass or tree pollens, as well as house dust mites. sublingual vaccines have an excellent safety record, documented with approximately 2 billion doses administered, as of today, in humans. the oral immune system comprises various antigen-presenting cells, including langerhans cells, as well as myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (dcs) with a ... | 2011 | 22110534 |
| induction of tolerance via the sublingual route: mechanisms and applications. | the clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (slit) with natural allergen extracts has been established in ige-dependent respiratory allergies to grass or tree pollens, as well as house dust mites. sublingual vaccines have an excellent safety record, documented with approximately 2 billion doses administered, as of today, in humans. the oral immune system comprises various antigen-presenting cells, including langerhans cells, as well as myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (dcs) with a ... | 2011 | 22110534 |
| natural killer (nk) cells in antibacterial innate immunity: angels or devils? | natural killer (nk) cells were first described as immune leukocytes that could kill tumor cells and soon after were reported to kill virus-infected cells. in the mid-1980s, 10 years after their discovery, nk cells were also demonstrated to contribute to the fight against bacterial infection, particularly because of crosstalk with other leukocytes. a wide variety of immune cells are now recognized to interact with nk cells through the production of cytokines such as interleukin (il)-2, il-12, il- ... | 2011 | 22105606 |
| natural killer (nk) cells in antibacterial innate immunity: angels or devils? | natural killer (nk) cells were first described as immune leukocytes that could kill tumor cells and soon after were reported to kill virus-infected cells. in the mid-1980s, 10 years after their discovery, nk cells were also demonstrated to contribute to the fight against bacterial infection, particularly because of crosstalk with other leukocytes. a wide variety of immune cells are now recognized to interact with nk cells through the production of cytokines such as interleukin (il)-2, il-12, il- ... | 2011 | 22105606 |
| bordetella pertussis igg and iga antibodies seroprevalence among 1-35 y-old population: the role of subclinical pertussis infection. | objective: to determine age-dependent pertussis specific igg and iga antibodies seroprevalence in apparently healthy subjects. methods: a total of 595 healthy 1-35-y-old individuals divided into 5 different age groups were selected from sari district. antipertussis igg and iga antibodies levels were measured quantitatively by elisa method. positive sera for iga and also igg titer ≥150 were considered for recent p ... | 2011 | 22105235 |
| Anthrax edema toxin impairs protein clearance in mice. | Anthrax edema toxin (ET) of Bacillus anthracis is composed of the receptor-binding component protective antigen (PA) and of the adenylyl cyclase catalytic moiety, edema factor (EF). Uptake of ET into cells raises intracellular concentrations of the secondary messenger cAMP, thereby impairing or activating host cell functions. We report here on a new consequence of ET action in vivo. We show that in mouse models of toxemia and infection, serum PA concentrations were significantly higher in the pr ... | 2011 | 22104108 |
| The diagnosis of pertussis: which method to choose? | Despite the introduction of routine vaccination against pertussis for more than a half century, leading to a drastic decline in the number of reported cases, pertussis continues to be an important respiratory disease afflicting unvaccinated infants and previously vaccinated children as well as adults in whom immunity has waned. The diagnosis of pertussis is challenging and accurate laboratory identification of Bordetella infections remains problematic. Common laboratory diagnostic methods used f ... | 2011 | 22103249 |
| the cita/citb two-component system regulating citrate fermentation in escherichia coli and its relation to the dcus/dcur system in vivo. | citrate fermentation by escherichia coli requires the function of the citrate/succinate antiporter citt (citt gene) and of citrate lyase (citcdefxg genes). earlier experiments suggested that the two-component system cita/citb, consisting of the membrane-bound sensor kinase cita and the response regulator citb, stimulates the expression of the genes in the presence of citrate, similar to cita/citb of klebsiella pneumoniae. in this study, the expression of a chromosomal citc-lacz gene fusion was s ... | 2011 | 22101843 |
| nci, nhlbi/pbmtc first international conference on late effects after pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation: persistent immune deficiency in pediatric transplant survivors. | defective immune reconstitution is a major barrier to successful hematopoietic cell transplantation (hct), and has important implications in the pediatric population. there are many factors that affect immune recovery, including stem cell source and graft-versus-host disease (gvhd). complete assessment of immune recovery, including t and b lymphocyte evaluation, innate immunity, and response to neoantigens, may provide insight as to infection risk and optimal time for immunizations. the increasi ... | 2011 | 22100979 |
| nci, nhlbi/pbmtc first international conference on late effects after pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation: persistent immune deficiency in pediatric transplant survivors. | defective immune reconstitution is a major barrier to successful hematopoietic cell transplantation (hct), and has important implications in the pediatric population. there are many factors that affect immune recovery, including stem cell source and graft-versus-host disease (gvhd). complete assessment of immune recovery, including t and b lymphocyte evaluation, innate immunity, and response to neoantigens, may provide insight as to infection risk and optimal time for immunizations. the increasi ... | 2011 | 22100979 |
| inhibitors of membranous adenylyl cyclases. | membranous adenylyl cyclases (macs) constitute a family of nine isoforms with different expression patterns. studies with mac gene knockout mice provide evidence for the notion that ac isoforms play distinct (patho)physiological roles. consequently, there is substantial interest in the development of isoform-selective mac inhibitors. here, we review the current literature on mac inhibitors. structurally diverse inhibitors targeting the catalytic site and allosteric sites (e.g. the diterpene site ... | 2011 | 22100304 |
| inhibitors of membranous adenylyl cyclases. | membranous adenylyl cyclases (macs) constitute a family of nine isoforms with different expression patterns. studies with mac gene knockout mice provide evidence for the notion that ac isoforms play distinct (patho)physiological roles. consequently, there is substantial interest in the development of isoform-selective mac inhibitors. here, we review the current literature on mac inhibitors. structurally diverse inhibitors targeting the catalytic site and allosteric sites (e.g. the diterpene site ... | 2011 | 22100304 |
| serosurvey of bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens among deployed u.s. service members. | respiratory illnesses can cause substantial morbidity during military deployments. bordetella pertussis, chlamydia pneumoniae, mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (rsv) are hypothesized causes. | 2011 | 22099233 |
| characterization of bordetella holmesii isolates from patients with pertussis-like illness in the netherlands. | bordetella holmesii is a recently described human pathogen mainly isolated from blood. however, in the us and canada, b. holmesii has also been cultured from the nasopharynx of patients with pertussis-like symptoms. to the best of our knowledge, respiratory isolates from europe have not been characterized. here, we report the isolation and characterization of b. holmesii from dutch patients with pertussis-like illness. species determination was confirmed by 16s rrna gene sequencing and detection ... | 2011 | 22098551 |
| the decline and resurgence of pertussis in the us. | although the resurgence of pertussis in nations with long-standing vaccination programs has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of current immunization policy, the epidemiology of resurgence remains poorly understood. we analyzed pertussis notifications in us states obtained from the national notifiable disease surveillance system from 1951 to 2010 to explore the timing, spatial pattern and consistency of resurgence across the country. here we show that resurgence occurred at differe ... | 2011 | 22094341 |
| chiz levels modulate cell division process in mycobacteria. | we have previously shown that expression of chiz (rv2719c), encoding a cell wall hydrolase, is upregulated in response to dna damaging agents and exposure to cephalexin. furthermore, increased levels of chiz lead to decreased viability, loss of membrane integrity and defects in ftsz-gfp localization and cell division. we now show that chiz n'-terminal 110 amino acid region, containing the cell wall hydrolase activity, is sufficient to modulate ftsz-gfp localization. further, we found that ftsz-g ... | 2011 | 22094151 |
| Molecular typing of Bordetella parapertussis isolates circulating in Pakistan. | Although a whole-cell pertussis vaccine was introduced in Pakistan in 1980, little is known about the pertussis prevalence and circulating strains in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to analyze Bordetella parapertussis isolates circulating between 2005 and 2009 in Pakistan and to compare them with those found in other countries during different periods. A total of 59 (7.35%) B. parapertussis isolates from 802 subjects (median age, 3 years) from Pakistan, with pertussis-like symptoms were inve ... | 2011 | 22092564 |
| [development and optimization of an in-house pcr method for molecular diagnosis of pertussis]. | pertussis (whooping cough), caused by bordetella pertussis is a severe, acute contagious disease of the respiratory system and it affects mostly children and also susceptible individuals of all ages. although the conventional culture method used for diagnosis is highly specific, it has a lower sensitivity. therefore, there is a need for a sensitive, specific and rapid method for diagnosis of pertussis. polymerase chain reaction (pcr), introduced recently as a new approach for diagnosis of pertus ... | 2011 | 22090294 |
| serum microrna expression profile distinguishes enterovirus 71 and coxsackievirus 16 infections in patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. | altered circulating microrna (mirna) profiles have been noted in patients with microbial infections. we compared host serum mirna levels in patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease (hfmd) caused by enterovirus 71 (ev71) and coxsackievirus 16 (cva16) as well as in other microbial infections and in healthy individuals. among 664 different mirnas analyzed using a mirna array, 102 were up-regulated and 26 were down-regulated in sera of patients with enteroviral infections. expression levels of ten ... | 2011 | 22087245 |
| tdap vaccine: current indications for adolescent and adult patients in the united states. | despite the availability of a tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (tdap) vaccine in the united states since 2005, the vaccine remains underutilized and perhaps misunderstood by many physicians. pertussis continues to be a major public health problem, with adults being the primary source of infectious transmission to unprotected infants. consequently, the centers for disease control and prevention's advisory committee on immunization practices has expanded the indic ... | 2011 | 22086895 |
| vaccine-preventable diseases and their impact on latin american children. | a joint meeting of the latin american society of pediatric infectious diseases, the dominican society of pediatrics and the dominican society of vaccinology was held in the dominican republic. this report highlights the most relevant issues that were presented and discussed about vaccine-preventable diseases, their epidemiology and impact in latin american children, the need to move forward and expand national immunization programs and the economical and political obstacles to introduce ?new? va ... | 2011 | 22085169 |
| the neisseria meningitidis znud zinc receptor contributes to interactions with epithelial cells and supports heme utilization when expressed in escherichia coli. | neisseria meningitidis employs redundant heme acquisition mechanisms, including tonb receptor-dependent and receptor-independent uptakes. the tonb-dependent zinc receptor znud shares significant sequence similarity to huma, a heme receptor of moraxella catarrhalis, and contains conserved motifs found in many heme utilization proteins. we present data showing that, when expressed in escherichia coli, znud allowed heme capture on the cell surface and supported the heme-dependent growth of an e. co ... | 2011 | 22083713 |
| Low resolution structure and dynamics of a colicin-receptor complex determined by neutron scattering. | Proteins that translocate across cell membranes need to overcome a significant hydrophobic barrier. This is usually accomplished via specialized protein complexes, which provide a polar transmembrane pore. Exceptions to this include bacterial toxins, which insert into and cross the lipid bilayer itself. We are studying the mechanism by which large antibacterial proteins enter Escherichia coli via specific outer membrane proteins. Here we describe the use of neutron scattering to investigate the ... | 2012 | 22081604 |
| Low resolution structure and dynamics of a colicin-receptor complex determined by neutron scattering. | Proteins that translocate across cell membranes need to overcome a significant hydrophobic barrier. This is usually accomplished via specialized protein complexes, which provide a polar transmembrane pore. Exceptions to this include bacterial toxins, which insert into and cross the lipid bilayer itself. We are studying the mechanism by which large antibacterial proteins enter Escherichia coli via specific outer membrane proteins. Here we describe the use of neutron scattering to investigate the ... | 2012 | 22081604 |
| the myriad roles of cyclic amp in microbial pathogens: from signal to sword. | all organisms must sense and respond to their external environments, and this signal transduction often involves second messengers such as cyclic nucleotides. one such nucleotide is cyclic amp, a universal second messenger that is used by diverse forms of life, including mammals, fungi, protozoa and bacteria. in this review, we discuss the many roles of camp in bacterial, fungal and protozoan pathogens and its contributions to microbial pathogenesis. these roles include the coordination of intra ... | 2011 | 22080930 |
| use of data linkage to investigate the aetiology of acute lower respiratory infection hospitalisations in children. | aim: to document the aetiology of acute lower respiratory infection (alri) hospitalisations in western australian children by linking population-based laboratory data with hospital morbidity data. methods: data from all alri hospitalisations and laboratory records related to respiratory pathogens between 2000 and 2005 were extracted and linked through a population-based record linkage system. the proportion of specimens that were positive for each respiratory viral or bacterial pathogen was do ... | 2011 | 22077532 |
| intravenous neuromyelitis optica autoantibody in mice targets aquaporin-4 in peripheral organs and area postrema. | the pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica (nmo) involves binding of igg autoantibodies (nmo-igg) to aquaporin-4 (aqp4) on astrocytes in the central nervous system (cns). we studied the in vivo processing in mice of a recombinant monoclonal human nmo-igg that binds strongly to mouse aqp4. following intravenous administration, serum [nmo-igg] decreased with t(½) ∼18 hours in wildtype mice and ∼41 hours in aqp4 knockout mice. nmo-igg was localized to aqp4-expressing cell membranes in kidney (collect ... | 2011 | 22076159 |
| protein domain of unknown function 3233 is a translocation domain of autotransporter secretory mechanism in gamma proteobacteria. | vibrio cholerae, the enteropathogenic gram negative bacteria is one of the main causative agents of waterborne diseases like cholera. about 1/3(rd) of the organism's genome is uncharacterised with many protein coding genes lacking structure and functional information. these proteins form significant fraction of the genome and are crucial in understanding the organism's complete functional makeup. in this study we report the general structure and function of a family of hypothetical proteins, dom ... | 2011 | 22073138 |
| g(i/o) protein-dependent and -independent actions of pertussis toxin (ptx). | pertussis toxin (ptx) is a typical a-b toxin. the a-protomer (s1 subunit) exhibits adp-ribosyltransferase activity. the b-oligomer consists of four subunits (s2 to s5) and binds extracellular molecules that allow the toxin to enter the cells. the a-protomer adp-ribosylates the α subunits of heterotrimeric g(i/o) proteins, resulting in the receptors being uncoupled from the g(i/o) proteins. the b-oligomer binds proteins expressed on the cell surface, such as toll-like receptor 4, and activates an ... | 2011 | 22069745 |
| t cell targeting by anthrax toxins: two faces of the same coin. | bacillus anthracis, similar to other bacterial pathogens, has evolved effective immune evasion strategies to prolong its survival in the host, thus ensuring the unchecked spread of the infection. this function is subserved by lethal (lt) and edema (et) toxins, two exotoxins produced by vegetative anthrax bacilli following germination of the spores. the structure of these toxins and the mechanism of cell intoxication are topics covered by other reviews in this issue. here we shall discuss how b. ... | 2011 | 22069732 |
| emergence of anthrax edema toxin as a master manipulator of macrophage and b cell functions. | anthrax edema toxin (et), a powerful adenylyl cyclase, is an important virulence factor of bacillus anthracis. until recently, only a modest amount of research was performed to understand the role this toxin plays in the organism's immune evasion strategy. a new wave of studies have begun to elucidate the effects this toxin has on a variety of host cells. while efforts have been made to illuminate the effect et has on cells of the adaptive immune system, such as t cells, the greatest focus has b ... | 2010 | 22069663 |
| ab toxins: a paradigm switch from deadly to desirable. | to ensure their survival, a number of bacterial and plant species have evolved a common strategy to capture energy from other biological systems. being imperfect pathogens, organisms synthesizing multi-subunit ab toxins are responsible for the mortality of millions of people and animals annually. vaccination against these organisms and their toxins has proved rather ineffective in providing long-term protection from disease. in response to the debilitating effects of ab toxins on epithelial cell ... | 2010 | 22069653 |
| toxins and secretion systems of photorhabdus luminescens. | photorhabdus luminescens is a nematode-symbiotic, gram negative, bioluminescent bacterium, belonging to the family of enterobacteriaceae. recent studies show the importance of this bacterium as an alternative source of insecticides, as well as an emerging human pathogen. various toxins have been identified and characterized in this bacterium. these toxins are classified into four major groups: the toxin complexes (tcs), the photorhabdus insect related (pir) proteins, the "makes caterpillars flop ... | 2010 | 22069636 |
| serine protease autotransporters of enterobacteriaceae (spates): biogenesis and function. | serine protease autotransporters of enterobacteriaceae (spates) constitute a large family of proteases secreted by escherichia coli and shigella. spates exhibit two distinct proteolytic activities. first, a c-terminal catalytic site triggers an intra-molecular cleavage that releases the n-terminal portion of these proteins in the extracellular medium. second, the secreted n-terminal domains of spates are themselves proteases; each contains a canonical serine-protease catalytic site. some of thes ... | 2010 | 22069633 |
| toxins-useful biochemical tools for leukocyte research. | leukocytes are a heterogeneous group of cells that display differences in anatomic localization, cell surface phenotype, and function. the different subtypes include e.g., granulocytes, monocytes, dendritic cells, t cells, b cells and nk cells. these different cell types represent the cellular component of innate and adaptive immunity. using certain toxins such as pertussis toxin, cholera toxin or clostridium difficile toxin, the regulatory functions of ga(i), gas and small gtpases of the rho fa ... | 2010 | 22069594 |
| pasteurella multocida toxin activates various heterotrimeric g proteins by deamidation. | pasteurella multocida produces a 146-kda protein toxin (pasteurella multocida toxin, pmt), which stimulates diverse cellular signal transduction pathways by activating heterotrimeric g proteins. pmt deamidates a conserved glutamine residue of the a-subunit of heterotrimeric g proteins that is essential for gtp-hydrolysis, thereby arresting the g protein in the active state. the toxin substrates are ga(q) ga(13) and the ga(i)-family proteins. activation of these a-subunits causes stimulation of p ... | 2010 | 22069582 |
| gangliosides block aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin (ltxa)-mediated hemolysis. | aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is an oral pathogen and etiologic agent of localized aggressive periodontitis. the bacterium is also a cardiovascular pathogen causing infective endocarditis. a. actinomycetemcomitans produces leukotoxin (ltxa), an important virulence factor that targets white blood cells (wbcs) and plays a role in immune evasion during disease. the functional receptor for ltxa on wbcs is leukocyte function antigen-1 (lfa-1), a ß-2 integrin that is modified with n-linked car ... | 2010 | 22069577 |
| mast cells cultured from il-3-treated mice show impaired responses to bacterial antigen stimulation. | this study exploits the biological activity of interleukin (il)-3 to generate high yields of peritoneal mast cells ex vivo in order to examine pro-inflammatory immune responses in ex-vivo culture. | 2012 | 22068549 |
| Attenuated Bordetella pertussis BPZE1 as a live vehicle for heterologous vaccine antigens delivery through the nasal route. | Whereas the great majority of the current vaccines are delivered through the parenteral route, mucosal administration has been increasingly considered for controlling infection and preventing disease. Mucosal vaccination can trigger both humoral and cell-mediated protection, not only at the targeted mucosal surface, but also systemically. In this regard, nasal vaccination has shown great potential. The live attenuated strain of Bordetella pertussis, BPZE1, is particularly attractive and promisin ... | 2011 | 22067832 |
| BpsR Modulates Bordetella Biofilm Formation by Negatively Regulating the Expression of the Bps Polysaccharide. | Bordetella bacteria are Gram-negative respiratory pathogens of animals, birds, and humans. A hallmark feature of some Bordetella species is their ability to efficiently survive in the respiratory tract even after vaccination. Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella pertussis form biofilms on abiotic surfaces and in the mouse respiratory tract. The Bps exopolysaccharide is one of the critical determinants for biofilm formation and the survival of Bordetella in the murine respiratory tract. In or ... | 2012 | 22056934 |
| FtsZ-ZapA-ZapB Interactome of Escherichia coli. | Bacterial cell division relies on the formation and contraction of the Z ring, coordinated and regulated by a dynamic protein complex called the divisome. The cell division factor ZapA interacts directly with FtsZ and thereby increases FtsZ protofilament association and Z-ring stability. Here, we investigated ZapB interaction with ZapA and its effect on Z-ring formation and FtsZ protofilament bundling. The combination of the ftsZ84 allele that encodes an FtsZ variant that polymerizes inefficient ... | 2012 | 22056926 |
| plasticity in mast cell responses during bacterial infections. | mast cells (mcs) have been implicated in orchestrating the host's early innate immune and adaptive immune responses in several models of acute bacterial infections. most of this activity results in early clearance of the bacteria and timely resolution of infection. however, during chronic infections because of the prolonged nature of mc-bacterial interactions, the role of the mc in determining the fate of infection is markedly more complex. depending on the nature of the pathogen, severity of in ... | 2011 | 22055570 |
| plasticity in mast cell responses during bacterial infections. | mast cells (mcs) have been implicated in orchestrating the host's early innate immune and adaptive immune responses in several models of acute bacterial infections. most of this activity results in early clearance of the bacteria and timely resolution of infection. however, during chronic infections because of the prolonged nature of mc-bacterial interactions, the role of the mc in determining the fate of infection is markedly more complex. depending on the nature of the pathogen, severity of in ... | 2011 | 22055570 |
| investigation of the antiallergic activity of olopatadine on rhinitis induced by intranasal instillation of antigen in sensitized rats using thermography. | the main symptoms of allergic rhinitis (ar) are sneezing, rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction. it was reported that the nasal skin temperature after intranasal administration of histamine or grass pollen rose. in patients with ar, the levels of nerve growth factor (ngf) and vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf) have increased in nasal fluids and mucosa. | 2011 | 22053310 |
| Fatal Outcomes in Family Transmission of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. | Background. Mycoplasma pneumoniae continues to be a significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia and, on rare occasions, manifests as fulminant disease that leads to mortality, even in healthy individuals. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study on members of a family who were quarantined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2002 for respiratory failure and death of a 15-year-old brother (sibling 1) and a 13-year-old sister (sibling 2). Collected airway, cerebrospinal fl ... | 2012 | 22052890 |
| Fatal Outcomes in Family Transmission of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. | Background. Mycoplasma pneumoniae continues to be a significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia and, on rare occasions, manifests as fulminant disease that leads to mortality, even in healthy individuals. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study on members of a family who were quarantined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2002 for respiratory failure and death of a 15-year-old brother (sibling 1) and a 13-year-old sister (sibling 2). Collected airway, cerebrospinal fl ... | 2012 | 22052890 |
| BapC autotransporter protein of Bordetella pertussis is an adhesion factor. | Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, attaches to mucosal surfaces in upper respiratory tract, where it produces, a variety of surface-associated and secreted molecules. Among various secreted products, some of the proteins belonging to autotransporter family; pertactin (Prn), bordetella resistance to killing (BrkA) and a newly identified member, bordetella autotransporter protein-C (BapC), are investigated in this study for their adherence potential to various respiratory ... | 2011 | 22052409 |
| Analysis of the expression, secretion and translocation of the Salmonella enterica type III secretion system effector SteA. | Many Gram-negative pathogens possess virulence-related type III secretion systems. Salmonella enterica uses two of these systems, encoded on the pathogenicity islands SPI-1 and SPI-2, respectively, to translocate more than 30 effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells. SteA is one of the few effectors that can be translocated by both systems. We investigated the conditions affecting the synthesis of this effector, its secretion to culture media and its translocation into host cells. Whereas st ... | 2011 | 22046414 |
| extensive recombination events and horizontal gene transfer shaped the legionella pneumophila genomes. | legionella pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen of environmental protozoa. when humans inhale contaminated aerosols this bacterium may cause a severe pneumonia called legionnaires' disease. despite the abundance of dozens of legionella species in aquatic reservoirs, the vast majority of human disease is caused by a single serogroup (sg) of a single species, namely l. pneumophila sg1. to get further insights into genome dynamics and evolution of sg1 strains, we sequenced strains lorraine and ... | 2011 | 22044686 |
| helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin a and apoptosis. | abstract: vaca, the vacuolating cytotoxin a of helicobacter pylori, induces apoptosis in epithelial cells of the gastic mucosa and in leukocytes. vaca is released by the bacteria as a protein of 88 kda. at the outer surface of host cells, it binds to the sphingomyelin of lipid rafts. at least partially, binding to the cells is facilitated by different receptor proteins. vaca is internalized by a clathrin-independent mechanism and initially accumulates in gpi-anchored proteins-enriched early endo ... | 2011 | 22044628 |
| Hybrid modeling framework for process analytical technology: Application to Bordetella pertussis cultures. | In the process analytical technology (PAT) initiative, the application of sensors technology and modeling methods is promoted. The emphasis is on Quality by Design, online monitoring, and closed-loop control with the general aim of building in product quality into manufacturing operations. As a result, online high-throughput process analyzers find increasing application and therewith high amounts of highly correlated data become available online. In this study, an hybrid chemometric/mathematical ... | 2011 | 22042645 |
| filmarray, an automated nested multiplex pcr system for multi-pathogen detection: development and application to respiratory tract infection. | the ideal clinical diagnostic system should deliver rapid, sensitive, specific and reproducible results while minimizing the requirements for specialized laboratory facilities and skilled technicians. we describe an integrated diagnostic platform, the "filmarray", which fully automates the detection and identification of multiple organisms from a single sample in about one hour. an unprocessed biologic/clinical sample is subjected to nucleic acid purification, reverse transcription, a high-order ... | 2011 | 22039434 |
| unbinding forces of single pertussis toxin-antibody complexes measured by atomic force spectroscopy correlate with their dissociation rates determined by surface plasmon resonance. | an inactivated form of pertussis toxin (ptx) is the primary component of currently available acellular vaccines against bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough. the ptx analyzed here is purified at industrial scale and is subsequently inactivated using glutaraldehyde. the influence of this treatment on antibody recognition is of crucial importance and is analyzed in this study. surface plasmon resonance (spr) experiments using ptx and its inactivated form (toxoid) with 10 dif ... | 2011 | 22038817 |
| Membrane and core periplasmic Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulence Type IV secretion system components localize to multiple sites around the bacterial perimeter during lateral attachment to plant cells. | Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) transfer DNA and/or proteins into recipient cells. Here we performed immunofluorescence deconvolution microscopy to localize the assembled T4SS by detection of its native components VirB1, VirB2, VirB4, VirB5, VirB7, VirB8, VirB9, VirB10, and VirB11 in the C58 nopaline strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, following induction of virulence (vir) gene expression. These different proteins represent T4SS components spanning the inner membrane, periplasm, or outer memb ... | 2011 | 22027007 |
| Alternative Spermidine Biosynthetic Route Is Critical for Growth of Campylobacter jejuni and Is the Dominant Polyamine Pathway in Human Gut Microbiota. | The availability of fully sequenced bacterial genomes has revealed that many species known to synthesize the polyamine spermidine lack the spermidine biosynthetic enzymes S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase. We found that such species possess orthologues of the sym-norspermidine biosynthetic enzymes carboxynorspermidine dehydrogenase and carboxynorspermidine decarboxylase. By deleting these genes in the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, we found that the carboxynor ... | 2011 | 22025614 |
| neuroprotective effect of combination therapy of glatiramer acetate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate in neuroinflammation. | multiple sclerosis (ms) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. however, studies of ms and the animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (eae), indicate that neuronal pathology is the principle cause of clinical disability. thus, there is need to develop new therapeutic strategies that not only address immunomodulation but also neuroprotection. here we show that the combination therapy of glatiramer acetate (ga), an immunomodulatory ms therapeutic, and ... | 2011 | 22022398 |
| functional analysis of the cytoskeleton protein mreb from chlamydophila pneumoniae. | in rod-shaped bacteria, the bacterial actin ortholog mreb is considered to organize the incorporation of cell wall precursors into the side-wall, whereas the tubulin homologue ftsz is known to tether incorporation of cell wall building blocks at the developing septum. for intracellular bacteria, there is no need to compensate osmotic pressure by means of a cell wall, and peptidoglycan has not been reliably detected in chlamydiaceae. surprisingly, a nearly complete pathway for the biosynthesis of ... | 2011 | 22022378 |
| Homodimerization and binding of specific domains to the target DNA are essential requirements for HlyU to regulate expression of the virulence gene rtxA1, encoding the repeat-in-toxin protein in the human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus. | The virulence gene rtxA1, encoding the repeat-in-toxin protein, plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of Vibrio vulnificus infections. Expression of this gene is controlled by the HlyU regulator by direct contact of the DNA upstream of the rtxA1 toxin operon acting as a derepressor of the H-NS protein. The crystal structure suggests that HlyU forms a homodimer in vitro. However, knowledge of the biological implications of these findings in vivo is limited. In this work, we endeavored to di ... | 2011 | 22020641 |
| Roles of DNA Sequence and Sigma A Factor in Transcription of the vraSR Operon. | Cell wall damage in Staphylococcus aureus induces a rapid genome-wide response, referred to as the cell wall stress stimulon. This response is mediated by a two-component system, the vancomycin resistance-associated sensor/regulator (VraSR). The response regulator protein VraR is a transcription factor. Here, we demonstrate that two VraR binding sites in the vraSR operon control region are involved in the regulation of the vraSR operon. The sites are centered at the -60 and -35 nucleotide positi ... | 2012 | 22020638 |
| gaussia princeps luciferase as a reporter for transcriptional activity, protein secretion, and protein-protein interactions in salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium. | gaussia princeps luciferase (gluc) is widely used as a reporter in eukaryotes, but data about its applicability in bacteria are very limited. here we show that a codon-optimized gluc gene can be efficiently expressed in salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium. to test different gluc variants as transcriptional reporters, we used the siia promoter of salmonella pathogenicity island 4 (spi-4) driving expression of either an episomal or a chromosomally integrated gluc gene. most reliable results we ... | 2012 | 22020521 |
| Tolerogen-induced interferon-producing killer dendritic cells (IKDCs) protect against EAE. | Natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) have been shown to link the innate and adaptive immune systems. Likewise, a new innate cell subset, interferon-producing killer DCs (IKDCs), shares phenotypic and functional characteristics with both DCs and NK cells. Here, we show IKDCs play an essential role in the resolution of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) upon treatment with the tolerizing agent, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), genetically fused to reovirus pro ... | 2011 | 22018711 |
| proteomic and biochemical analyses reveal the activation of unfolded protein response, erk-1/2 and ribosomal protein s6 signaling in experimental autoimmune myocarditis rat model. | to investigate the molecular and cellular pathogenesis underlying myocarditis, we used an experimental autoimmune myocarditis (eam)-induced heart failure rat model that represents t cell mediated postinflammatory heart disorders. | 2011 | 22014063 |