Publications

multifunctional and redundant roles of borrelia burgdorferi outer surface proteins in tissue adhesion, colonization, and complement evasion.	borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of lyme disease in the u.s., with at least 25,000 cases reported to the cdc each year. b. burgdorferi is thought to enter and exit the bloodstream to achieve rapid dissemination to distal tissue sites during infection. travel through the bloodstream requires evasion of immune surveillance and pathogen clearance in the host, a process at which b. burgdorferi is adept. b. burgdorferi encodes greater than 19 adhesive outer surface proteins many of which h ...	2016	27818662
identification and molecular survey of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in sika deer (cervus nippon) from jilin province, north-eastern china.	lyme disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) is a common disease of domestic animals and wildlife worldwide. sika deer is first-grade state-protected wildlife animals in china and have economic consequences for humans. it is reported that sika deer may serve as an important reservoir host for several species of b. burgdorferi s.l. and may transmit these species to humans and animals. however, little is known about the presence of borrelia pathogens in sika deer in china. in this ...	2017	27818123
functional and genomic architecture of borrelia burgdorferi-induced cytokine responses in humans.	despite the importance of immune variation for the symptoms and outcome of lyme disease, the factors influencing cytokine production during infection with the causal pathogen borrelia burgdorferi remain poorly understood. borrelia infection-induced monocyte- and t cell-derived cytokines were profiled in peripheral blood from two healthy human cohorts of western europeans from the human functional genomics project. both non-genetic and genetic host factors were found to influence borrelia-induced ...	2016	27818078
phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer of both prophage and heterologous dna by ϕbb-1, a bacteriophage of borrelia burgdorferi.	horizontal gene transfer (hgt) in borrelia burgdorferi, the lyme disease agent, is likely mediated by bacteriophage. studies of the b. burgdorferi phage, ϕbb-1 and its role in hgt have been hindered by the lack of an assay for readily characterizing phage-mediated dna movement (transduction). here we describe an in vitro assay in which a clone of b. burgdorferi strain ca-11.2a encoding kanamycin resistance on a ϕbb-1 prophage is co-cultured with different clones encoding gentamicin resistance on ...	2016	27811049
does lyme disease exist in australia?	there is no convincing evidence that classic lyme disease occurs in australia, nor is there evidence that the causative agent, borrelia burgdorferi, is found in australian animals or ticks. lyme disease, however, can be acquired overseas but diagnosed in australia; most people presenting with laboratory-confirmed lyme disease in australia were infected in europe. despite the lack of evidence that lyme disease can be acquired in australia, growing numbers of patients, their supporters, and some p ...	2016	27809728
mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the sigmoid colon discovered on routine screening colonoscopy in patient with hepatitis c and helicobacter pylori infection.	mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (malt) lymphoma is predominantly found in the stomach. rarely, it is found in the proximal colon and even less so in the sigmoid colon. we present a rare case of primary sigmoid colon malt lymphoma in a patient with concomitant helicobacter pylori and hepatitis c infection. we also review current imaging, staging, and therapeutic modalities. to our knowledge, this is the first sigmoid colon malt lymphoma reported in the united states.	2016	27807552
validation of droplet digital pcr for the detection and absolute quantification of borrelia dna in ixodes scapularis ticks.	we evaluated the qx200 droplet digital pcr (ddpcr™, bio-rad) system and protocols for the detection of the tick-borne pathogens borrelia burgdorferi and borrelia miyamotoi in ixodes scapularis nymphs and adults collected from north truro, massachusetts. preliminary screening by nested pcr determined positive infection levels of 60% for b. burgdorferi in these ticks. to investigate the utility of ddpcr as a screening tool and to calculate the absolute number of bacterial genome copies in an infec ...	2017	27806739
delayed onset of a spinal epidural hematoma after facet joint injection.	the treatment of chronic back pain is a challenging problem. facet joint infiltration is an established treatment for chronic low back pain caused by arthrosis of the lumbar facet joints. due to the increasing number of patients with chronic low back pain, this therapy has become more frequent. we treated a 51-year-old male patient, who developed an epidural hematoma 2 months after infiltration therapy. our case shows that even a delayed onset of spinal epidural hematoma is possible and should b ...	2016	27803810
emerging infectious diseases - 1970s.	forty years ago is not ancient history in the medical field. however, being an eye witness to the emergence of three new infectious diseases in the northeastern united states in the 1970s left a deep impression on this author. i will relate a small portion of the amazing events that caught the attention of the medical establishment and the general public in a roughly 5-year period of medical discovery.	2016	27802859
lyme disease.		2016	27802470
lyme disease.		2016	27802469
major neutrophilia observed in acute phase of human leptospirosis is not associated with increased expression of granulocyte cell activation markers.	it has long been known that pathogenic leptospira can mobilize the immune system but the specific contribution of neutrophils to control the infectious challenge remains to be clarified. we herein analyzed the phenotype of circulating neutrophils of patients with leptospirosis and healthy controls for the expression of toll-like receptor (tlr) type 2 (tlr2, to sense the leptospiral lps) and several activation markers: interleukin 8 chemokine receptor cd182 (cxcr2), cd11b of the integrin/opsonin ...	2016	27802348
evolutionary switches between two serine codon sets are driven by selection.	serine is the only amino acid that is encoded by two disjoint codon sets so that a tandem substitution of two nucleotides is required to switch between the two sets. previously published evidence suggests that, for the most evolutionarily conserved serines, the codon set switch occurs by simultaneous substitution of two nucleotides. here we report a genome-wide reconstruction of the evolution of serine codons in triplets of closely related species from diverse prokaryotes and eukaryotes. the res ...	2016	27799560
borrelia burgdorferi chey2 is dispensable for chemotaxis or motility but crucial for the infectious life cycle of the spirochete.	the requirements for bacterial chemotaxis and motility range from dispensable to crucial for host colonization. even though more than 50% of all sequenced prokaryotic genomes possess at least one chemotaxis signaling system, many of those genomes contain multiple copies of a chemotaxis gene. however, the functions of most of those additional genes are unknown. most motile bacteria possess at least one chey response regulator that is typically dedicated to the control of motility and which is usu ...	2017	27799336
antibody response to lyme disease spirochetes in the context of vlse-mediated immune evasion.	lyme disease (ld), the most prevalent tick-borne illness in north america, is caused by borrelia burgdorferi the long-term survival of b. burgdorferi spirochetes in the mammalian host is achieved though vlse-mediated antigenic variation. it is mathematically predicted that a highly variable surface antigen prolongs bacterial infection sufficiently to exhaust the immune response directed toward invariant surface antigens. if the prediction is correct, it is expected that the antibody response to ...	2017	27799330
prevalence of serological response to borrelia burgdorferi in farmers from eastern and central poland.	lyme borreliosis (lyme disease) caused by the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochete is the most common tick-borne infection manifested by a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms. in poland, the preventive health care does not comprise individual farmers as it is practiced in foresters. the objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure of polish farmers to infection with b. burgdorferi, based on serological screening test and epidemiological investigation. a total of 3,597 farmers were e ...	2017	27796648
molecular and cellular mechanisms of antitumor immune response activation by dendritic cells.	dendritic cells (dcs) play a crucial role in the initiation and regulation of the antitumor immune response. already , dc-based antitumor vaccines have been thoroughly explored both in animal tumor models and in clinical trials. dc-based vaccines are commonly produced from dc progenitors isolated from peripheral blood or bone marrow by culturing in the presence of cytokines, followed by loading the dcs with tumor-specific antigens, such as dna, rna, viral vectors, or a tumor cell lysate. however ...	2016	27795841
identification of a new lipoprotein export signal in gram-negative bacteria.	bacteria of the phylum bacteroidetes, including commensal organisms and opportunistic pathogens, harbor abundant surface-exposed multiprotein membrane complexes (sus-like systems) involved in carbohydrate acquisition. these complexes have been mostly linked to commensalism, and in some instances, they have also been shown to play a role in pathogenesis. sus-like systems are mainly composed of lipoproteins anchored to the outer membrane and facing the external milieu. this lipoprotein localizatio ...	2016	27795390
infection with the lyme disease pathogen suppresses innate immunity in mice with diet-induced obesity.	obesity is a major global public health concern. immune responses implicated in obesity also control certain infections. we investigated the effects of high-fat diet-induced obesity (dio) on infection with the lyme disease bacterium borrelia burgdorferi in mice. dio was associated with systemic suppression of neutrophil- and macrophage-based innate immune responses. these included bacterial uptake and cytokine production, and systemic, progressive impairment of bacterial clearance, and increased ...	2017	27794208
mog-igg in nmo and related disorders: a multicenter study of 50 patients. part 2: epidemiology, clinical presentation, radiological and laboratory features, treatment responses, and long-term outcome.	a subset of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (nmosd) has been shown to be seropositive for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (mog-igg).	2016	27793206
measurement of serum c-reactive protein concentration for discriminating between suppurative arthritis and osteoarthritis in dogs.	in a dog with joint pain, it is important to determine whether it has suppurative joint disease, characterized by exudation of neutrophils in the synovial fluid, or not, as this affects choice of diagnostic tests and treatments. the aim of this study was to evaluate whether measurement of serum c-reactive protein (crp) concentration could be used to discriminate between dogs with suppurative arthritis and osteoarthritis (oa). furthermore, the concentrations of serum and synovial fluid interleuki ...	2016	27793205
lipoproteins attenuate tlr2 and tlr4 activation by bacteria and bacterial ligands with differences in affinity and kinetics.	the small intestine is a specialized compartment were close interactions take place between host, microbes, food antigens and dietary fatty acids. dietary fats get absorbed by epithelial cells and processed into a range of lipoprotein particles after which they are basolaterally secreted and collected in the lymphatics. in contrast to the colon, the small intestine is covered only by a thin mucus coat that allows for intimate interactions between host-cells and microbes. lipoproteins have long b ...	2016	27793087
motility and ultrastructure of spirochaeta thermophila.	we analyze here for the first time the swimming behavior of a thermophilic, strictly anaerobic spirochete, namely spirochaeta thermophila using high temperature light microscopy. our data show that s. thermophila very rapidly can change its morphology during swimming, resulting in cells appearing nearly linear, in cells possessing three different spiral forms, and in cells being linear at one end and spiral at the other end. in addition cells can rapidly bend by up to 180°, with their ends comin ...	2016	27790206
morgellons disease: a filamentous borrelial dermatitis.	morgellons disease (md) is a dermopathy characterized by multicolored filaments that lie under, are embedded in, or project from skin. although md was initially considered to be a delusional disorder, recent studies have demonstrated that the dermopathy is associated with tickborne infection, that the filaments are composed of keratin and collagen, and that they result from proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in epithelial tissue. culture, histopathological and molecular evidence of s ...	2016	27789971
the pcr and nested pcr detection of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma phagocytophilum and babesia microti in dermacentor reticulatus f. collected in a new location in poland (trzciel, western poland).	the study was performed in the trzciel forest districts which is located in the west part of poland. the scots pine is the main tree species creating forest landscape there. dermacentor reticulatus, usually found in wet, boggy and damp habitat, in this case was discovered in fresh mixed coniferous forest and fresh coniferous forest. in central europe the dermacentor reticulatus is after ixodes ricinus the second most important vector for tick-borne diseases in europe. the ticks were collected by ...	2016	27787203
gram-negative bacterial molecules associate with alzheimer disease pathology.	we determined whether gram-negative bacterial molecules are associated with alzheimer disease (ad) neuropathology given that previous studies demonstrate gram-negative escherichia coli bacteria can form extracellular amyloid and gram-negative bacteria have been reported as the predominant bacteria found in normal human brains.	2016	27784770
properdin: a tightly regulated critical inflammatory modulator.	the complement alternative pathway is a powerful arm of the innate immune system that enhances diverse inflammatory responses in the human host. key to the effects of the alternative pathway is properdin, a serum glycoprotein that can both initiate and positively regulate alternative pathway activity. properdin is produced by many different leukocyte subsets and circulates as cyclic oligomers of monomeric subunits. while the formation of non-physiological aggregates in purified properdin prepara ...	2016	27782331
the role of catheter angiography in the diagnosis of central nervous system vasculitis.	central nervous system vasculitis (cnsv) is a rare disorder, the pathophysiology of which is not fully understood. it involves a combination of inflammation and thrombosis. cnsv is most commonly associated with headache, gradual changes in mental status, and focal neurological symptoms. diagnosis requires the effective use of history, laboratory testing, imaging, and biopsy. catheter angiography can be a powerful tool in the diagnosis when common and low-frequency angiographic manifestations of ...	2016	27781050
laboratory evaluation of vocal fold paralysis and paresis.	this study aimed to assess the value of comprehensive laboratory evaluation in patients with vocal fold paralysis or paresis.	2017	27777055
scleroderma and dentistry: two case reports.	scleroderma is a chronic connective tissue disorder with unknown etiology. it is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in the connective tissues causing vascular disturbances which can result in tissue hypoxia. these changes are manifested as atrophy of the skin and/or mucosa, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, and internal organs. such changes can be classified into two types, namely, morphea (localized) and diffuse (systemic). morphea can manifest itself as hemifacial atroph ...	2016	27776552
inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 autoantibodies in paraneoplastic and non-paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy.	recently, we described a novel autoantibody, anti-sj/itpr1-igg, that targets the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (itpr1) in patients with cerebellar ataxia. however, itpr1 is expressed not only by purkinje cells but also in the anterior horn of the spinal cord, in the substantia gelatinosa and in the motor, sensory (including the dorsal root ganglia) and autonomic peripheral nervous system, suggesting that the clinical spectrum associated with autoimmunity to itpr1 may be broader th ...	2016	27776522
antibiotic treatment for chronic lyme disease-say no to the dress.		2016	27775763
close encounters of lymphoid cells and bacteria.	during infections, the first reaction of the host against microbial pathogens is carried out by innate immune cells, which recognize conserved structures on pathogens, called pathogen-associated molecular patterns. afterward, some of these innate cells can phagocytose and destroy the pathogens, secreting cytokines that would modulate the immune response to the challenge. this rapid response is normally followed by the adaptive immunity, more specific and essential for a complete pathogen clearan ...	2016	27774092
exposure and preventive behaviours toward ticks and lyme disease in canada: results from a first national survey.	lyme disease (ld) risk is increasing in canada. in 2014, the government of canada launched a national communication campaign to raise awareness and promote the adoption of individual preventive behaviours toward ticks and ld. the objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the adoption of ld preventive behaviours and the exposure to tick bites of canadians in the five main targeted regions (british columbia, prairie provinces, ontario, quebec and the atlantic provinces). a national sur ...	2017	27771334
brazilian borreliosis with special emphasis on humans and horses.	borreliosis caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a cosmopolitan zoonosis studied worldwide; it is called lyme disease in many countries of the northern hemisphere and lyme-like or baggio-yoshinari syndrome in brazil. however, despite the increasing number of suspect cases, this disease is still neglected in brazil by the medical and veterinary communities. brazilian lyme-like borreliosis likely involves capybaras as reservoirs and amblyomma and rhipicephalus ticks as vectors. thus, domes ...	2016	27769883
brazilian borreliosis with special emphasis on humans and horses.	borreliosis caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a cosmopolitan zoonosis studied worldwide; it is called lyme disease in many countries of the northern hemisphere and lyme-like or baggio-yoshinari syndrome in brazil. however, despite the increasing number of suspect cases, this disease is still neglected in brazil by the medical and veterinary communities. brazilian lyme-like borreliosis likely involves capybaras as reservoirs and amblyomma and rhipicephalus ticks as vectors. thus, domes ...	2016	27769883
brucella infection associated with complete atrioventricular block.	the clinical spectrum of brucella infection is quite diverse and characterized by multi-system involvement. patients present with myocarditis, endocarditis, or pericarditis. infective endocarditis is the most common cardiovascular complication in patients with brucellosis. although conduction abnormalities are seen in cases with endocarditis, they are reported very rarely in the setting of cardiac brucella infection.	2016	27761286
cerebrospinal fluid cytokines in lyme neuroborreliosis.	lyme neuroborreliosis (lnb) is one of the manifestations of lyme disease. although it is known that immune reaction of lnb patients is dominated by th1 and th2 responses and patients have elevated numbers of b cells in their cerebrospinal fluid (csf), not all the cells involved in inflammation and cytokine secretion have been characterized. the current diagnostics of lnb is based on intrathecal production of antibodies. in recent years, the measurement of chemokine cxcl13 concentration from the ...	2016	27756335
controversies in persistent (chronic) lyme disease.	the centers for disease control and prevention estimates that more than 300 000 new cases of lyme disease occur each year in the united states and that 10% to 20% of these patients will remain symptomatic despite receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy. many elements of the disease are poorly understood and have generated considerable controversy. this paper discusses the medical controversies related to posttreatment manifestations and their potential impact on infusion nurses.	2016	27755213
hemifacial spasm from lyme disease: antibiotic treatment points to the cause.	a wide range of etiologies can cause hemifacial spasm (hfs), including infection. in this case report, a 44-year-old woman developed hfs and was explored surgically 7 years later. no abnormalities were found. afterward, treatment of a surgical wound infection with an oral cephalosporin resulted in a temporary hfs remission that had never occurred previously. this antibiotic experience prompted further workup for an underlying infection, which ultimately led to diagnosis of lyme disease. presenta ...	2017	27755133
actin-dependent regulation of borrelia burgdorferi phagocytosis by macrophages.	the spirochete borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of lyme disease, a multisystemic disorder affecting primarily skin, nervous system, and joints. if an infection with borrelia proceeds unchecked, the disease can also enter a chronic stage, leading to the development of neuroborreliosis or cardiac arrhythmia. successful elimination of b. burgdorferi by the host immune system is thus decisive for the positive outcome of a respective infection. accordingly, host immune cells such as macrop ...	2017	27744511
the effect of climate change on skin disease in north america.	global temperatures continue to rise, reaching new records almost every year this decade. although the causes are debated, climate change is a reality. consequences of climate change include melting of the arctic ice cap, rising of sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns, and increased severe weather events. this article updates dermatologists about the effects of climate change on the epidemiology and geographic ranges of selected skin diseases in north america. although globalization, tr ...	2017	27742170
primary b-cell mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the hard palate and parotid gland: report of one case and review of the literature.	a 61-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with an ulcerated palate mass and swelling of the right parotid gland. incisional biopsy from the hard palate revealed an extranodal marginal zone b-cell lymphoma, also called mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (malt) lymphoma. final diagnosis was malt lymphoma of the parotid gland with concomitant involvement of an extremely seldom site of involvement: the hard palate. to our knowledge, this report illustrates the first case of malt lymphoma of th ...	2016	27738485
the influence of red deer space use on the distribution of ixodes ricinus ticks in the landscape.	many wingless ectoparasites have a limited capacity for active movement and are therefore primarily dependent on hitchhiking on their hosts for transportation. the distribution of the tick ixodes ricinus is expected to depend mainly on transportation by hosts and tick subsequent survival in areas where they drop off. in europe, the most important hosts of adult female i. ricinus are cervids. the extensive space use of large hosts provides a much larger dispersal potential for i. ricinus than tha ...	2016	27737695
findings of research misconduct.		2011	27737213
stored canine whole blood units: what is the real risk of bacterial contamination?	bacterial contamination of whole blood (wb) units can result in transfusion-transmitted infection, but the extent of the risk has not been established and may be underestimated in veterinary medicine.	2016	27734567
enhanced protective immunogenicity of homodimeric borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein c.	lyme borreliosis is caused by tick-transmitted spirochetes of the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group and is the most common vector-borne disease in the united states and europe. outer surface protein c (ospc) is a 23-kda outer surface lipoprotein expressed during spirochete transmission from the tick to the vertebrate host. in a previous study, we found that immunization with a recombinant disulfide-bridged dimeric form of ospc (d-ospc) stimulates increased antibody responses relative to immu ...	2017	27733423
morgellons disease: a myth or reality?		2016	27730047
a rare case of unilateral eosinophilic fasciitis associated with ipsilateral extragenital lichen sclerosus.	eosinophilic fasciitis, also known as shulman's syndrome, is a fibrosing scleroderma-like syndrome, which is a distinct entity. a 55-year-old man, presented with progressive skin darkening, thickening, and tightening over the left lower limb since 6 months. dermatological examination revealed a hyperpigmented indurated area on the left thigh, extending to the anterior aspect of the left leg. a well-defined hypopigmented indurated plaque was present over the left iliac region. histopathology and ...	2016	27730034
hide and seek: how lyme disease spirochetes overcome complement attack.	overcoming the first line of the innate immune system is a general hallmark of pathogenic microbes to avoid recognition and to enter the human host. in particular, spirochetes belonging to the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex have developed various means to counter the immune response and to successfully survive in diverse host environments for a prolonged period of time. in regard to complement resistance, borrelia utilize a plethora of immune evasion strategies involves capturing of hos ...	2016	27725820
microfluidics-based point-of-care test for serodiagnosis of lyme disease.	currently, diagnostic testing for lyme disease is done by determination of the serologic responses to borrelia burgdorferi antigens, with the exception of the early localized phase of disease where diagnosis must be done clinically. here, we describe the use of microfluidics technology to develop a multiplexed rapid lab-on-a-chip point of care (poc) assay for the serologic diagnosis of human lyme disease. following elisa screening of 12 candidate antigens, we tested 8 on a microfluidic diagnosti ...	2016	27725740
borrelia burgdorferi dna absent, multiple rickettsia spp. dna present in ticks collected from a teaching forest in north central florida.	tick-borne diseases are an emerging public health threat in the united states. in florida, there has been public attention directed towards the possibility of locally acquired borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative agent of lyme disease, in association with the lone star tick. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ticks and the pathogens they carry and potentially transmit, such as b. burgdorferi, in a highly utilized teaching and research forest in north central fl ...	2017	27720381
epidemiology of lyme neuroborreliosis.	lyme disease is caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. according to the centers for disease control and prevention, it is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness and the fifth most common disease in the national notifiable diseases surveillance system. if left untreated, infection disseminates to the nervous system. the nonhuman primate model of lyme disease of the nervous system, or lyme neuroborreliosis, ...	2016	27719999
tick-borne encephalitis: what travelers should know when visiting an endemic country.	tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) is an acute febrile illness with neurological manifestations that is prevalent in forested areas of moderate climate in europe and asia. tbe virus is transmitted by ticks and rarely by unpasteurized milk and dairy products. the disease burden is attributed mainly to resulting long-term disability, especially in individuals over 50 y of age. currently, there is no causative treatment, but a very effective vaccination is available with a good safety profile. the vacci ...	2016	27715427
technical and clinical validation of three commercial real-time pcr kits for the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis in cerebrospinal fluid on three different real-time pcr platforms.	this study reports the evaluation of the technical and clinical validation of the o-diaborburg kit (dia), borrelia burgdorferi pcr kit, isex (gene), and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato real-tm (sac) for the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis in cerebrospinal fluid based on both borrelia dna and csf samples from patients with clinical suspicion of neuroborreliosis. this validation study was done by analysing the kits on the rotorgene q (rgq), cfx96, and lightcycler480 (lc480). for all kits, the linear ...	2017	27714590
a case of lyme disease with cardiac involvement in the netherlands.		1984	27709480
host-seeking phenology of ixodes pacificus (acari: ixodidae) nymphs in northwestern california in relation to calendar week, woodland type, and weather conditions.	local knowledge of when humans are at elevated risk for exposure to tick vectors of human disease agents is required both for the effective use of personal protection measures to avoid tick bites and for implementation of control measures to suppress host-seeking ticks. here, we used previously published data on the seasonal density of host-seeking ixodes pacificus cooley and kohls nymphs, the primary vectors of lyme disease spirochetes in the far western usa, collected across a broad habitat an ...	2016	27707985
homogeneous inflammatory gene profiles induced in human dermal fibroblasts in response to the three main species of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.	in lyme borreliosis, the skin is the key site for bacterial inoculation by the infected tick and for cutaneous manifestations. we previously showed that different strains of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto isolated from tick and from different clinical stages of the lyme borreliosis (erythema migrans, and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans) elicited a very similar transcriptional response in normal human dermal fibroblasts. in this study, using whole transcriptome microarray chips, we aimed ...	2016	27706261
rna-seq of borrelia burgdorferi in multiple phases of growth reveals insights into the dynamics of gene expression, transcriptome architecture, and noncoding rnas.	borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of lyme disease, differentially expresses numerous genes and proteins as it cycles between mammalian hosts and tick vectors. insights on regulatory mechanisms have been provided by earlier studies that examined b. burgdorferi gene expression patterns during cultivation. however, prior studies examined bacteria at only a single time point of cultivation, providing only a snapshot of what is likely a dynamic transcriptional program driving b. burgdorferi adaptations ...	2016	27706236
molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in humans with tick bites and erythema migrans, in the netherlands.	tick-borne diseases are the most prevalent vector-borne diseases in europe. knowledge on the incidence and clinical presentation of other tick-borne diseases than lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis is minimal, despite the high human exposure to these pathogens through tick bites. using molecular detection techniques, the frequency of tick-borne infections after exposure through tick bites was estimated.	2016	27706159
impact of white-tailed deer on the spread of borrelia burgdorferi.	there is a public perception that the white-tailed deer odocoileus virginianus (artiodactyla: cervidae) is the main reservoir supporting the maintenance and spread of the causative agent of lyme disease, borrelia burgdorferi. this study examines the pathogen prevalence rate of borrelia in adult ixodes scapularis (ixodida: ixodidae), the black-legged tick, collected from white-tailed deer and compares it with pathogen prevalence rates in adult ticks gathered by dragging vegetation in two contiguo ...	2017	27699814
escherichia coli braun lipoprotein (blp) exhibits endotoxemia - like pathology in swiss albino mice.	the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (lps) promotes sepsis, but bacterial peptides also promote inflammation leading to sepsis. we found, intraperitoneal administration of live or heat inactivated e. coli je5505 lacking the abundant outer membrane protein, braun lipoprotein (blp), was less toxic than e. coli dh5α possessing blp in swiss albino mice. injection of blp free of lps purified from e. coli dh5α induced massive infiltration of leukocytes in lungs and liver. blp activated human polymorphonuc ...	2016	27698491
a novel glycan modifies the flagellar filament proteins of the oral bacterium treponema denticola.	while protein glycosylation has been reported in several spirochetes including the syphilis bacterium treponema pallidum and lyme disease pathogen borrelia burgdorferi, the pertinent glycan structures and their roles remain uncharacterized. herein, a novel glycan with an unusual chemical composition and structure in the oral spirochete treponema denticola, a keystone pathogen of periodontitis was reported. the identified glycan of mass 450.2 da is composed of a monoacetylated nonulosonic acid (n ...	2017	27696564
the putative walker a and walker b motifs of rrp2 are required for the growth of borrelia burgdorferi.	rrp2 encodes a putative bacterial enhancer binding protein (bebp) in borrelia burgdorferi. point mutation (g239c) of rrp2 abolishes the transcriptional activation of σ(54) -dependent rpos. in contrast to canonical bebps that are dispensable for bacterial growth, rrp2 is essential for borrelial growth in bsk medium. it has been believed that rrp2's atpase activity is not required for cell growth, but experimental evidence supporting this notion has been lacking. in particular, it has remained unc ...	2017	27696536
climate change and the epidemiology of selected tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases: update from the international society of dermatology climate change task force.	climate change refers to variation in the climate of a specific region or globally over time. a change has been reported in the epidemiology of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases in recent decades. investigators have postulated that this effect may be associated with climate change. we reviewed the english-language literature describing changes in the epidemiology of specific tick- and mosquito-borne diseases, including the tick-borne diseases of lyme disease, tularemia, crimean-congo hemorrhagic ...	2017	27696381
a 27-year-old man with right-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria.		2016	27695601
borrelia burgdorferi induces tlr2-mediated migration of activated dendritic cells in an ex vivo human skin model.	borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted into the skin of the host where it encounters and interacts with two dendritic cell (dc) subsets; langerhans cells (lcs) and dermal dcs (ddcs). these cells recognize pathogens via pattern recognition receptors, mature and migrate out of the skin into draining lymph nodes, where they orchestrate adaptive immune responses. in order to investigate the response of skin dcs during the early immunopathogenesis of lyme borreliosis, we injected b. burgdorferi intrader ...	2016	27695100
diversity takes shape: understanding the mechanistic and adaptive basis of bacterial morphology.	the modern age of metagenomics has delivered unprecedented volumes of data describing the genetic and metabolic diversity of bacterial communities, but it has failed to provide information about coincident cellular morphologies. much like metabolic and biosynthetic capabilities, morphology comprises a critical component of bacterial fitness, molded by natural selection into the many elaborate shapes observed across the bacterial domain. in this essay, we discuss the diversity of bacterial morpho ...	2016	27695035
presence of borrelia turdi and borrelia valaisiana (spirochaetales: spirochaetaceae) in ticks removed from birds in the north of spain, 2009-2011.	the genus borrelia includes species responsible for severe human diseases such as lyme disease. birds are involved in their epidemiology as dispersers of infected ticks (ixodida: ixodidae) and as reservoirs or amplifiers of the bacterium. herein, the presence of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) johnson, schmid, hyde, steigerwalt & brenner in 336 ticks collected from birds in the north of spain from 2009 to 2011 was investigated. nucleic acid extracts from 174 ixodes frontalis (panzer), 108 ...	2016	27694146
a borrelia afzelii infection increases larval tick burden on myodes glareolus (rodentia: cricetidae) and nymphal body weight of ixodes ricinus (acari: ixodidae).	several microorganisms have been shown to manipulate their host or vector to enhance their own transmission. here we examined whether an infection with borrelia afzelii affects its transmission between its bank vole (myodes glareolus, schreber, 1780) host and tick vector. captive-bred bank voles were inoculated with b. afzelii or control medium, after which host preference of ixodes ricinus l. nymphs was determined in a y-tube olfactometer. thereafter, infected and uninfected bank voles were pla ...	2016	27694145
demonstration of the ability of a canine lyme vaccine to reduce the incidence of histological synovial lesions following experimentally-induced canine lyme borreliosis.	lyme disease in dogs can be effectively prevented by vaccination against antigens expressed by the spirochete borrelia burgdorferi during transmission by the tick vector ixodes sp. lyme vaccine efficacy has traditionally been based on indicators of infection following wild-caught tick challenge whereas most other types of vaccine are required to demonstrate protection from clinical signs of disease. in this vaccination-challenge study we sought to demonstrate the ability of a nonadjuvanted, oute ...	2016	27692092
the occurrence of ixodes ricinus ticks and important tick-borne pathogens in areas with high tick-borne encephalitis prevalence in different altitudinal levels of the czech republic part ii. ixodes ricinus ticks and genospecies of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex.	three years long research study (2011-2013) on population density of ixodes ricinus and the infection rate of the pathogens that they transmit was conducted in four topographically distant areas in the czech republic. in the previous decade (2001-2010) thirteen loci with increased incidence of tick borne encephalitis cases were defined, suggesting the permanent interaction of human population with ticks and indicating the landmarks for study of the presence of other tick borne pathogens. the wor ...	2016	27690476
delirious mania associated with autoimmune gastrothyroidal syndrome of a mid-life female: the role of hashimoto encephalopathy and a 3-year follow-up including serum autoantibody levels.	we report the case study of a 57-year-old caucasian female with steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (sreat), commonly termed hashimoto encephalopathy (he). this presentation includes one of the longest lasting follow-up studies of he considering the neuropsychiatric symptoms (here delirium, mania, and eeg-slowing) and their relation to serum autoantibody levels. antithyroid-peroxidase autoantibodies, the hallmark of autoimmune thyroiditis, were found in the s ...	2016	27688922
generalized morphea following radiotherapy for an intracranial tumor.	morphea is a localized scleroderma variety which can be circumscribed or generalized and is characterized by sclerotic plaques developing on trunk and limbs. surgery and radiation have been implicated as etiological factors for the development of morphea. majority of the radiation-induced morphea cases have occurred in patients with breast cancer. the affected areas have been generally restricted to the area of radiation and nearby surrounding area in most of the reported cases. we hereby report ...	2016	27688464
anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of antibiotics and their use in dermatology.	antibiotics (antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic) are class of drugs which result in either killing or inhibiting growth and multiplication of infectious organisms. antibiotics are commonly prescribed by all specialties for treatment of infections. however, antibiotics have hitherto immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties and can be exploited for various noninfectious dermatoses. dermatologists routinely prescribe antibiotics in treatment of various noninfectious disorders. thi ...	2016	27688434
comparison of vector efficiency of ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) from the northeast and upper midwest of the united states for the lyme disease spirochete borrelia mayonii.	borrelia mayonii, a recently recognized species within the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, has been detected in host-seeking ixodes scapularis say ticks and found to be associated with lyme disease in the upper midwest. this spirochete has, to date, not been documented from the northeast, but we previously demonstrated that i. scapularis ticks originating from connecticut are capable of serving as a vector of b. mayonii in this follow-up study, we compared the vector efficiency for b. m ...	2016	27688271
efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for lyme neuroborreliosis in children: a systematic review.	many aspects of pharmacological treatment of lyme neuroborreliosis in children, such as choice of drug, dosage, and duration are subject to intense debates, leading to uncertainties in patients' parents and healthcare providers alike. to assess the available evidence for pharmacological treatment for children with lyme neuroborreliosis we conducted a systematic review.	2016	27686962
lyme disease in modern ireland: the importance of home imaging.		2016	27685494
measurement of soluble biomarkers by flow cytometry.	microparticle based flow cytometric assays for determination of the level of soluble biomarkers are widely used in several research applications and in some diagnostic setups. the major advantages of these multiplex systems are that they can measure a large number of analytes (up to 500) at the same time reducing assay time, costs and sample volume. most of these assays are based on antigen-antibody interactions and work as traditional immunoassays, but nucleic acid alterations - by using specia ...	2013	27683429
the structure of treponema pallidum tp0751 (pallilysin) reveals a non-canonical lipocalin fold that mediates adhesion to extracellular matrix components and interactions with host cells.	syphilis is a chronic disease caused by the bacterium treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. treponema pallidum disseminates widely throughout the host and extravasates from the vasculature, a process that is at least partially dependent upon the ability of t. pallidum to interact with host extracellular matrix (ecm) components. defining the molecular basis for the interaction between t. pallidum and the host is complicated by the intractability of t. pallidum to in vitro culturing and genetic mani ...	2016	27683203
metabolic interactions in the gastrointestinal tract (git): host, commensal, probiotics, and bacteriophage influences.	life on this planet has been intricately associated with bacterial activity at all levels of evolution and bacteria represent the earliest form of autonomous existence. plants such as those from the leguminosae family that form root nodules while harboring nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria are a primordial example of symbiotic existence. similarly, cooperative activities between bacteria and animals can also be observed in multiple domains, including the most inhospitable geographical regions of the ...	2015	27682125
coinfection of chlamydiae and other bacteria in reactive arthritis and spondyloarthritis: need for future research.	reactive (inflammatory) arthritis has been known for many years to follow genital infection with the intracellular bacterial pathogen chlamydia trachomatis in some individuals. recent studies from several groups have demonstrated that a related bacterium, the respiratory pathogen chlamydia pneumoniae, can elicit a similar arthritis. studies of these organisms, and of a set of gastrointestinal pathogens also associated with engendering inflammatory arthritis, have been relatively extensive. howev ...	2016	27681924
chlamydia-like organisms (clos) in finnish ixodes ricinus ticks and human skin.	ticks carry several human pathogenic microbes including borreliae and flavivirus causing tick-born encephalitis. ticks can also carry dna of chlamydia-like organisms (clos). the purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of clos in ticks and skin biopsies taken from individuals with suspected tick bite. dna from clos was detected by pan-chlamydiales-pcr in 40% of adult ticks from southwestern finland. the estimated minimal infection rate for nymphs and larvae (studied in pools) was ...	2016	27681922
differentiated thp-1 cells exposed to pathogenic and nonpathogenic borrelia species demonstrate minimal differences in production of four inflammatory cytokines.	tick-borne borreliae include lyme disease and relapsing fever agents, and they are transmitted primarily by ixodid (hard) and argasid (soft) tick vectors, respectively. tick-host interactions during feeding are complex, with host immune responses influenced by biological differences in tick feeding and individual differences within and between host species. one of the first encounters for spirochetes entering vertebrate host skin is with local antigen-presenting cells, regardless of whether the ...	2016	27680384
poster 362 osmotic demyelination in lyme disease: a case report.		2016	27673115
lyme disease: the promise of big data, companion diagnostics and precision medicine.	lyme disease caused by the spirochete borrelia burgdorferi has become a major worldwide epidemic. recent studies based on big data registries show that >300,000 people are diagnosed with lyme disease each year in the usa, and up to two-thirds of individuals infected with b. burgdorferi will fail conventional 30-year-old antibiotic therapy for lyme disease. in addition, animal and human evidence suggests that sexual transmission of the lyme spirochete may occur. improved companion diagnostic test ...	2016	27672336
definition and management of varicella zoster virus-associated meningoradiculitis: a case report.	the varicella zoster virus affects the central or peripheral nervous systems upon reactivation, especially when cell-mediated immunity is impaired. among varicella zoster virus-related neurological syndromes, meningoradiculitis is an ill-defined condition for which clear management guidelines are still lacking. zoster paresis is usually considered to be a varicella zoster virus-peripheral nervous system complication and treated with oral antiviral therapy. yet in the literature, the few reported ...	2016	27670683
a quantitative synthesis of the role of birds in carrying ticks and tick-borne pathogens in north america.	birds play a central role in the ecology of tick-borne pathogens. they expand tick populations and pathogens across vast distances and serve as reservoirs that maintain and amplify transmission locally. research into the role of birds for supporting ticks and tick-borne pathogens has largely been descriptive and focused in small areas. to expand inference beyond these studies, we conducted a quantitative review at the scale of north america to identify avian life history correlates of tick infes ...	2016	27670413
spirochaete flagella hook proteins self-catalyse a lysinoalanine covalent crosslink for motility.	spirochaetes are bacteria responsible for several serious diseases, including lyme disease (borrelia burgdorferi), syphilis (treponema pallidum) and leptospirosis (leptospira interrogans), and contribute to periodontal diseases (treponema denticola)(1). these spirochaetes employ an unusual form of flagella-based motility necessary for pathogenicity; indeed, spirochaete flagella (periplasmic flagella) reside and rotate within the periplasmic space(2-11). the universal joint or hook that links the ...	2016	27670115
enhanced protective antibody to a mutant meningococcal factor h-binding protein with low-factor h binding.	meningococcal factor h-binding protein (fhbp) is an antigen in 2 serogroup b meningococcal vaccines. fhbp specifically binds human and some nonhuman primate complement fh. to investigate the effect of binding of fh to fhbp on protective antibody responses, we immunized infant rhesus macaques with either a control recombinant fhbp antigen that bound macaque fh or a mutant antigen with 2 amino acid substitutions and >250-fold lower affinity for fh. the mutant antigen elicited 3-fold higher serum i ...	2016	27668287
b-1 cell heterogeneity and the regulation of natural and antigen-induced igm production.	a small subset of b cells, termed b-1 cells, with developmental origins, phenotypes, and functions that are distinct from those of conventional b cells exist in mice. it contributes the vast majority of spontaneously produced "natural" igm. natural igm is constitutively produced, even in the absence of microbiota, and fulfills many distinct functions in tissue homeostasis and host defense. b-1 cells also respond with igm production to innate signals and pathogen exposure, while maintaining stead ...	2016	27667991
identification and functional characterization of a pyrokinin neuropeptide receptor in the lyme disease vector, ixodes scapularis.	pyrokinin-related peptides are pleiotropic factors that are defined by their conserved c-terminal sequence fxprl-nh2. the pyrokinin nomenclature derives from their originally identified myotropic actions and, as seen in some family members, a blocked amino terminus with pyroglutamate. the black-legged tick, ixodes scapularis, is well known as a vector of lyme disease and various other illnesses; however, in comparison to blood-feeding insects, knowledge on its physiology (along with other ixodid ...	2016	27667704
evidence of rapid changes in lyme disease awareness in canada.	lyme disease (ld) is emerging in canada. a key preventive strategy is promoting the adoption by the general public of personal preventive behaviors regarding tick bites. the aim of this study was to measure the changes in public awareness toward ticks and ld before and after the launch of a national communication campaign in canada using data from two surveys conducted in march and december 2014. the results show a significant increase in awareness of ld after compared to before the campaign, bu ...	2016	27665265
nested coevolutionary networks shape the ecological relationships of ticks, hosts, and the lyme disease bacteria of the borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) complex.	the bacteria of the borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) (bbg) complex constitute a group of tick-transmitted pathogens that are linked to many vertebrate and tick species. the ecological relationships between the pathogens, the ticks and the vertebrate carriers have not been analysed. the aim of this study was to quantitatively analyse these interactions by creating a network based on a large dataset of associations. specifically, we examined the relative positions of partners in the network, the phylog ...	2016	27662832
first molecular evidence of [i]borrelia burgdorferi[/i] sensu lato in goats, sheep, cattle and camels in tunisia.	borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) are tick-transmitted spirochaetes of veterinary and human importance. molecular epidemiology data on ruminants are still lacking in most countries of the world. therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the rate of b. burgdorferi s.l. infection in ruminants from tunisia. a total of 1,021 ruminants (303 goats, 260 sheep, 232 cattle and 226 camels) from different bioclimatic areas in tunisia were investigated for the presence of b. burgdorferi s.l. dna ...	2016	27660865
students' attitudes to tick risks.	the ever-increasing number of patients with tick-borne diseases resulted in the presented study investigating the awareness, attitudes and knowledge among students about the threats arising from tick bites and preventive anti-tick practices.	2016	27660864
chagas cardiomyopathy in new orleans and the southeastern united states.	chagas disease (cd), caused by trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6-7 million people worldwide annually, primarily in central and south america, and >300,000 people in the united states. cd consists of acute and chronic stages. hallmarks of acute cd include fever, myalgia, diaphoresis, hepatosplenomegaly, and myocarditis. symptoms of chronic cd include pathologic involvement of the heart, esophagus, and colon. myocardial involvement is identifiable by electrocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance ima ...	2016	27660581
structure-based reverse vaccinology failed in the case of hiv because it disregarded accepted immunological theory.	two types of reverse vaccinology (rv) should be distinguished: genome-based rv for bacterial vaccines and structure-based rv for viral vaccines. structure-based rv consists in trying to generate a vaccine by first determining the crystallographic structure of a complex between a viral epitope and a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (nmab) and then reconstructing the epitope by reverse molecular engineering outside the context of the native viral protein. it is based on the unwarranted assumption ...	2016	27657055
severe babesia microti infection in an immunocompetent host in pennsylvania.	babesiosis, due to infection by a tick-borne protozoan (predominantly babesia microti in north america), is an emerging health risk that is expanding into new areas and may be unfamiliar to clinicians in locations not previously considered endemic. manifestations of infection can range from asymptomatic to life threatening, with severe disease more likely in those who have had a splenectomy, are immunocompromised, have chronic medical conditions, or are over 50 years of age. in this article, we ...	2016	27656660
the nucleotide excision repair pathway protects borrelia burgdorferi from nitrosative stress in ixodes scapularis ticks.	the lyme disease spirochete borrelia burgdorferi encounters a wide range of environmental conditions as it cycles between ticks of the genus ixodes and its various mammalian hosts. reactive oxygen species (ros) and reactive nitrogen species (rns) are potent antimicrobial molecules generated during the innate immune response to infection, however, it is unclear whether ros and rns pose a significant challenge to b. burgdorferi in vivo. in this study, we screened a library of b. burgdorferi strain ...	2016	27656169