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platelet factor 4 binds to bacteria-inducing antibodies cross-reacting with the major antigen in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.a clinically important adverse drug reaction, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (hit), is induced by antibodies specific for complexes of the chemokine platelet factor 4 (pf4) and the polyanion heparin. even heparin-naive patients can generate anti-pf4/heparin igg as early as day 4 of heparin treatment, suggesting preimmunization by antigens mimicking pf4/heparin complexes. these antibodies probably result from bacterial infections, as (1) pf4 bound charge-dependently to various bacteria, (2) hum ...201020959601
false-negative pcr result due to gene polymorphism: the example of neisseria meningitidis.early treatment of meningococcal meningitis is mandatory but may negate the cerebrospinal fluid culture. etiological diagnosis then mainly relies on pcr. here, we report a case of false-negative results for real-time pcr for a neisseria meningitidis serogroup b isolate with a polymorphism in the ctra gene.201020962143
qualitative and quantitative assessment of meningococcal antigens to evaluate the potential strain coverage of protein-based vaccines.a unique multicomponent vaccine against serogroup b meningococci incorporates the novel genome-derived proteins fhbp, nhba, and nada that may vary in sequence and level of expression. measuring the effectiveness of such vaccines, using the accepted correlate of protection against invasive meningococcal disease, could require performing the serum bactericidal assay (sba) against many diverse strains for each geographic region. this approach is impractical, especially for infants, where serum volu ...201020962280
a novel interpretation of structural dot plots of genomes derived from the analysis of two strains of neisseria meningitidis.neisseria meningitidis is the agent of invasive meningococcal disease, including cerebral meningitis and septicemia. because the diseases caused by different clonal groups (sequence types) have their own epidemiological characteristics, it is important to understand the differences among the genomes of the n. meningitidis clonal groups. to this end, a novel interpretation of a structural dot plot of genomes was devised and applied; exact nucleotide matches between the genomes of n. meningitidis ...201020970744
mapping of the neisseria meningitidis nada cell-binding site: relevance of predicted {alpha}-helices in the nh2-terminal and dimeric coiled-coil regions.nada is a trimeric autotransporter protein of neisseria meningitidis belonging to the group of oligomeric coiled-coil adhesins. it is implicated in the colonization of the human upper respiratory tract by hypervirulent serogroup b n. meningitidis strains and is part of a multiantigen anti-serogroup b vaccine. structure prediction indicates that nada is made by a cooh-terminal membrane anchor (also necessary for autotranslocation to the bacterial surface), an intermediate elongated coiled-coil-ri ...201020971901
lipoproteins of bacterial pathogens.bacterial lipoproteins are a set of membrane proteins with many different functions. due to this broad-ranging functionality, these proteins have a considerable significance in many phenomena, from cellular physiology through cell division and virulence. here we give a general overview of lipoprotein biogenesis and highlight examples of the roles of lipoproteins in bacterial disease caused by a selection of medically relevant gram-negative and gram-positive pathogens: mycobacterium tuberculosis, ...201020974828
postoperative bacteremia in periodontal flap surgery, with and without prophylactic antibiotic administration: a comparative study.many a times in clinical periodontology, the decision whether to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics or not, is perplexing.the present study was conducted to compare the bacteremias induced after periodontal flap surgeries with and without prophylactic antibiotics.201020922074
investigating the candidacy of lps-based glycoconjugates to prevent invasive meningococcal disease: immunology of glycoconjugates with high carbohydrate loading.we investigated the immune responses of rabbits that were immunised with lipopolysaccharide (lps)-based glycoconjugates by measuring the reactivity of the derived sera to a panel of selected wild-type and mutant strains of neisseria meningitidis. in all cases, high titers of antibodies capable of recognising lps elaborating the identical structure as presented on the immunising glycoconjugate were obtained, and in most cases the derived sera also recognised heterologous strains including wild-ty ...201020922476
genetic shifts of neisseria meningitidis serogroup b antigens and the quest for a broadly cross-protective vaccine.serogroup b neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of meningococcal disease in developed countries. there is currently no vaccine offering wide-ranging protection. development of a serogroup b polysaccharide-based vaccine has been hindered by potential risks of autoantibodies that cross-react with glycosylated host antigens. a number of subcapsular vaccine candidates, including outer membrane proteins (omps), are therefore being investigated. the availability of several meningococcal genome ...201020923270
microbiology of cysts/abscesses of bartholin's gland: review of empirical antibiotic therapy against microbial culture.bartholin's glands are prone to obstruction at their opening into the vestibule, forming cysts which could be infected to become gland abscess. in our unit, treatment of bartholin's abscess is usually surgical. in addition to surgical treatment, antimicrobial agents are often administered before microbial culture results are known. in this study, we aimed to determine the most common pathogens in bartholin's glands abscess in our local population so that empiric antimicrobial therapy, if require ...201020925614
cephalosporin resistance in neisseria gonorrhoeae.gonorrhea, a disease of public health importance, not only leads to high incidence of acute infections and complications but also plays a major role in facilitating human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) acquisition and transmission. one of the major public health needs for gonorrhea control is appropriate, effective treatment. however, treatment options for gonorrhea are diminishing as neisseria gonorrhoeae have developed resistance to several antimicrobial drugs such as sulfonamides, penicillin, t ...201020927291
investigation of supragingival plaque microbiota in different caries status of chinese preschool children by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.this study aimed to detect differences in the richness of total supragingival plaque microbiota as well as the species composition of oral streptococci involved in the different stages of dental caries. forty-five plaque samples were collected from caries-moderate (cm, 4 ≤ dmfs ≤ 6), caries-susceptible (cs, dmfs ≥ 10), and age-matched caries-free children separately. total dna was isolated directly from each sample, and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (pcr-dgge) ...201020927511
cervicovaginal shedding of hiv type 1 is related to genital tract inflammation independent of changes in vaginal microbiota.we examined the relationship of proinflammatory vaginal cytokines and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (slpi) with genital hiv-1 shedding after controlling for genital coinfections. fifty-seven hiv-1-infected women in seattle, wa (n = 38) and rochester, ny (n = 19) were followed every 3-4 months for a total of 391 visits. at each visit, plasma and cervicovaginal lavage (cvl) were tested for hiv-1 rna using qpcr. vaginal samples were tested for bacterial vaginosis, yeast, hydrogen peroxide- ...201020929397
community outbreak of group b meningococcal disease in southwest france--december 2008 to september 2009.between december 2008 and september 2009, 11 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (imd) group b were reported in a 20 km diameter area in the département landes, france. two of them presented with purpura fulminans and one of them died. the strain responsible for this community outbreak was of the clonal complex st-269.the incidence rate for imd group b was 3 per 100,000 inhabitants in landes from week 40 in 2008 to week 40 in 2009; it was the highest in france during that period. the number ...201020929645
infections of people with complement deficiencies and patients who have undergone splenectomy.the complement system comprises several fluid-phase and membrane-associated proteins. under physiological conditions, activation of the fluid-phase components of complement is maintained under tight control and complement activation occurs primarily on surfaces recognized as "nonself" in an attempt to minimize damage to bystander host cells. membrane complement components act to limit complement activation on host cells or to facilitate uptake of antigens or microbes "tagged" with complement fra ...201020930072
dna biosensor for detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae causing sexually transmitted disease.a sequence-specific electrochemical sexually transmitted disease (std) sensor based on self-assembled monolayer of thiolated dna probe specific to target opa gene for detection of gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted disease has been fabricated. 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (mch) has been used as a blocking agent to facilitate oligos "stand" up at the surface, a configuration favoring subsequent dna hybridization and to repel non-specific adsorption of undesired dna. the results of differential pulse volt ...201020932863
proteome analysis of neisseria meningitidis serogroup strains c associated with outbreaks in china.during 2003-2005, an outbreak of meningitis due to neisseria meningitidis serogroup c occurred in china. with the aim to find strain clues result in the final epidemics, the ancestral strain 053442, a clinical isolate, and a carrier strain 053426 with different gene type were analyzed.201020934111
biochemical characterizations of escherichia coli-expressed protective antigen ag473 of neisseria meningitides group b.polysaccharide-based vaccines against neisseria meningitidis (nm) serogroups a, c, y and w135 have been available since 1970, but similar vaccine candidates developed for nm group b (nmb) have not been successful due to both poor immunogenicity and their potential immunological cross-reactivity with human neurological tissue. in previous reports, a protective antigen and vaccine candidate, ag473, was identified using proteomics and nmb-specific bactericidal monoclonal antibody. to initiate human ...201020937316
human airway epithelial cell responses to neisseria lactamica and purified porin via toll-like receptor 2-dependent signaling.the human airway epithelium is constantly exposed to microbial products from colonizing organisms. regulation of toll-like receptor (tlr) expression and specific interactions with bacterial ligands is thought to mitigate exacerbation of inflammatory processes induced by the commensal flora in these cells. the genus neisseria comprises pathogenic and commensal organisms that colonize the human nasopharynx. neisseria lactamica is not associated with disease, but n. meningitidis occasionally invade ...201020937766
appropriation of the mind protein-interaction motif by the dimeric interface of the bacterial cell division regulator mine.mine is required for the dynamic oscillation of min proteins that restricts formation of the cytokinetic septum to the midpoint of the cell in gram negative bacteria. critical for this oscillation is mind-binding by mine to stimulate mind atp hydrolysis, a function that had been assigned to the first ∼30 residues in mine. previous models based on the structure of an autonomously folded dimeric c-terminal fragment suggested that the n-terminal domain is freely accessible for interactions with min ...201020937912
azithromycin in the treatment of infection with neisseria gonorrhoeae.the efficacy of azithromycin as sole antimicrobial treatment for infection with neisseria gonorrhoeae is reviewed. aggregate cure rates for urethral and endocervical infection were 520/539 (96.5%; 95% ci 94.3% to 97.6%) for a 1 g dose from nine studies and 392/396 (99%; 95% ci 97.5% to 99.6%) for a 2 g dose from two studies. azithromycin cured 46/47 (97.9%) cases of oropharyngeal infection and 34/35 (97.1%) cases of rectal infection evaluated within the clinical trials. reports of in vitro resis ...201020940153
european surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in neisseria gonorrhoeae.to perform a european sentinel surveillance study for antimicrobial resistance (amr) in neisseria gonorrhoeae as part of the european surveillance of sexually transmitted infections programme.201020940154
corneal perforation requiring corneal grafting: a rare complication of gonococcal eye infection.the authors present a case of severe gonococcal conjunctivitis associated with corneal perforation of the right eye in a 25-year-old homosexual man. inpatient management and corneal grafting were required. the authors demonstrate that neisseria gonorrhoea should be considered in the presence of purulent conjunctival discharge with a white patch on the cornea or reduced vision. regardless of whether a patient has genital symptoms, they should be referred urgently to an ophthalmologist to ensure a ...201020940157
genotypes and antimicrobial-resistant phenotypes of neisseria gonorrhoeae in portugal (2004-2009).to determine the antibiotic phenotype and mast-genotype distribution of neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in portugal between 2004 and 2009, and to evaluate specific associations between mast-genotypes and sexual orientation, age and antibiotic resistance.201020940158
emergence, spread and characteristics of neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with in vitro decreased susceptibility and resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins in sweden.neisseria gonorrhoeae has developed resistance to most antimicrobials used for treatment. worryingly, treatment failures with oral extended-spectrum cephalosporins (escs) have been reported, especially in the who western pacific region, and susceptibility to all escs (oral and injectable), the last remaining treatment options in many settings, is decreasing globally.201020940159
positive predictive value of the becton dickinson viper system and the probetec gc q x assay, in extracted mode, for detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae.performance of the new becton dickinson probetec gc q(x) assay on the bd viper platform was evaluated to ascertain whether confirmatory testing is required in our clinical setting.201020940160
culture confirmation of gonococcal infection by recall of subjects found to be positive by nucleic acid amplification tests in general practice.to evaluate a routine notification of general practitioners to recall nucleic acid amplification test (naat)-positive subjects for culture of neisseria gonorrhoeae to confirm gonococcal infection in the community.201020940162
alterations of the pilq gene in neisseria gonorrhoeae are unlikely contributors to decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime in clinical gonococcal strains.gonorrhoea remains a global public health problem and the treatment options are diminishing through the emergence of gonococci resistant to most antimicrobials. previous in vitro studies have indicated a role for neisseria gonorrhoeae pilq alterations in conferring resistance to antimicrobials, including penicillin. in this study, we investigated whether pilq polymorphisms were associated with decreased susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (escs) in clinical gonococcal strains.201020940180
structure of the extracellular portion of cd46 provides insights into its interactions with complement proteins and pathogens.the human membrane cofactor protein (mcp, cd46) is a central component of the innate immune system. cd46 protects autologous cells from complement attack by binding to complement proteins c3b and c4b and serving as a cofactor for their cleavage. recent data show that cd46 also plays a role in mediating acquired immune responses, and in triggering autophagy. in addition to these physiologic functions, a significant number of pathogens, including select adenoviruses, measles virus, human herpes vi ...201020941397
monitoring antimicrobial susceptibility of neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from bangladesh during 1997-2006: emergence and pattern of drug-resistant isolates.gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (stis) in developing countries, and the emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents in neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major obstacle in the control of gonorrhoea. periodical monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility of n. gonorrhoeae is essential for the early detection of emergence of drug resistance. in total, 1,767 gonococcal strains isolated from males and females (general population and those with high-risk behaviour) fro ...201020941895
[neisseria gonorrhoeae]. 201020942031
the structure of the first representative of pfam family pf09836 reveals a two-domain organization and suggests involvement in transcriptional regulation.proteins with the duf2063 domain constitute a new pfam family, pf09836. the crystal structure of a member of this family, ngo1945 from neisseria gonorrhoeae, has been determined and reveals that the n-terminal duf2063 domain is likely to be a dna-binding domain. in conjunction with the rest of the protein, ngo1945 is likely to be involved in transcriptional regulation, which is consistent with genomic neighborhood analysis. of the 216 currently known proteins that contain a duf2063 domain, the m ...201020944208
toll-like receptor 2 induces mucosal homing receptor expression and iga production by human b cells.there is a need for developing vaccines that elicit mucosal immunity. although oral or nasal vaccination methods would be ideal, current strategies have yielded mixed success. toll-like receptor 2 (tlr2) ligands are effective adjuvants and are currently used in the haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. induction of humoral immunity in the mucosa is critical for effective vaccination; thus, we sought to determine the effects of tlr2 ligands on human mucosal b cell differentiation. we demonstrate ...201020947433
anti-bacterial activity of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: comparative in vitro study of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, mefloquine, and azithromycin.intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (sp) is recommended for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in sub-saharan africa. increasing drug resistance necessitates the urgent evaluation of alternative drugs. currently, the most promising candidates in clinical development are mefloquine and azithromycin. besides the anti-malarial activity, sp is also a potent antibiotic and incurs significant anti-microbial activity when given as iptp - though systematic cl ...201021029476
[association of human papillomavirus infection with other microbial pathogens in gynecology].to investigate correlation between screening assay of human papillomavirus (hpv) and microbial pathogens in gynecology.201021029592
phosphoryl moieties of lipid a from neisseria meningitidis and n. gonorrhoeae lipooligosaccharides play an important role in activation of both myd88- and trif-dependent tlr4-md-2 signaling pathways.we have previously shown that the lipooligosaccharide (los) from neisseria meningitidis and n. gonorrhoeae engages the tlr4-md-2 complex. in this study, we report that los from different meningococcal and gonococcal strains have different potencies to activate nf-κb through tlr4-md-2 and that the relative activation can be correlated with ion abundances in maldi-tof mass spectrometry that are indicative of the number of phosphoryl substituents on the lipid a (la) component of the los. the loss f ...201021037101
effect of factor h-binding protein sequence variation on factor h binding and survival of neisseria meningitidis in human blood.binding of the complement inhibitor factor h (fh) to the surface of neisseria meningitidis is critical for evasion of innate host defenses. the meningococcal vaccine candidate factor h-binding protein (fhbp) serves as an fh ligand. we prepared 16 recombinant fhbp natural sequence variants. by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa), the variants from a new zealand epidemic strain (fhbp id 14) and from an endemic united kingdom strain (id 15) showed 10-fold lower fh binding than a reference fhb ...201021041484
the fbpabc operon is required for ton-independent utilization of xenosiderophores by neisseria gonorrhoeae strain fa19.neisseria gonorrhoeae produces no known siderophores but can employ host-derived, iron-binding proteins, including transferrin and lactoferrin, as iron sources. given the propensity of this pathogen to hijack rather than synthesize iron-sequestering molecules, we hypothesized that the ability to use siderophores produced by other bacteria, or xenosiderophores, may also play a role in the survival of the gonococcus. among a panel of diverse siderophores, only the catecholate xenosiderophores ente ...201021041493
male circumcision for hiv prevention: current research and programmatic issues.randomized controlled trials in sub-saharan africa have shown that adult male circumcision reduces the risk of hiv acquisition in men by about 60%. in this article, we review recent data on the association of male circumcision and hiv/sexually transmitted infection in men and women. this includes a summary of data showing some evidence of an effect of male circumcision against genital ulcer disease, hsv-2 infection, human papillomavirus and trichomonas vaginalis, but not chlamydia trachomatis or ...201021042054
plasmid-mediated penicillin and tetracycline resistance among neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in south africa: prevalence, detection and typing using a novel molecular assay.background:: to detect and type plasmids responsible for penicillin and tetracycline resistance in neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates using a novel duplex polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assay. methods:: a duplex pcr assay, to detect and type penicillinase-producing n. gonorrhoeae (ppng), and plasmid-mediated tetracycline resistant n. gonorrhoeae (trng), was developed on the basis of published single assays. gonococcal isolate surveillance project control strains were used in assay development and t ...201021042234
n. meningitidis 1681 is a member of the fino family of rna chaperones.the conjugative transfer of f-like plasmids between bacteria is regulated by the plasmid-encoded rna chaperone, fino, which facilitates sense - antisense rna interactions to regulate plasmid gene expression. fino was thought to adopt a unique structure, however many putative homologs have been identified in microbial genomes and are considered members of the fino_conjugation_repressor superfamily. we were interested in determining whether other members were also able to bind rna and promote dupl ...201021045552
immunizations in adolescents--an update.the past decade has brought a series of new vaccines targeted specifically to adolescents. recommended vaccinations for adolescents now offer protection against human papillomavirus, neisseria meningitidis, pertussis, and influenza. as the vaccine schedule is ever changing, it is critical that health care providers be up to date and implement current recommendations. in this article, we discuss the major vaccines targeted at adolescents, issues unique to vaccinating adolescents, and strategies f ...201021047023
epithelial cell secretions from the human female reproductive tract inhibit sexually transmitted pathogens and candida albicans but not lactobacillus.female reproductive tract (frt) epithelial cells protect against potential pathogens and sexually transmitted infections. the purpose of this study was to determine if epithelial cells from the upper frt secrete antimicrobials that inhibit reproductive tract pathogens that threaten women's health. apical secretions from primary cultures of fallopian tube, uterine, cervical, and ectocervical epithelial cells were incubated with neisseria gonorrhoeae, candida albicans (yeast and hyphal forms), hum ...201021048705
obtaining valid laboratory data in clinical trials conducted in resource diverse settings: lessons learned from a microbicide phase iii clinical trial.over the last decade several phase iii microbicides trials have been conducted in developing countries. however, laboratories in resource constrained settings do not always have the experience, infrastructure, and the capacity to deliver laboratory data meeting the high standards of clinical trials. this paper describes the design and outcomes of a laboratory quality assurance program which was implemented during a phase iii clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of the candidate microbicide cel ...201021048963
the human host defense peptide ll-37 interacts with neisseria meningitidis capsular polysaccharides and inhibits inflammatory mediators release.capsular polysaccharides (cps) are a major virulence factor in meningococcal infections and form the basis for serogroup designation and protective vaccines. our work has identified meningococcal cps as a pro-inflammatory ligand that functions through tlr2 and tlr4-md2-dependent activation. we hypothesized that human cationic host defense peptides interact with cps and influence its biologic activity. accordingly, the interaction of meningococcal cps with the human-derived cationic peptide ll-37 ...201021049021
infectious disease immunohistochemistry in placentas from hiv-positive and hiv-negative patients.abstract few studies have evaluated the infectious etiology of placental inflammation in hiv-positive patients. we examined a cohort of placentas from 73 hiv-positive and 41 hiv-negative patients to gain a better understanding of the spectrum of placental inflammatory lesions. bacterial and viral immunohistochemistry (ihc) was run on a subset of placentas (12 hiv-positive and 7 hiv-negative) with the greatest amount of inflammation. although few histologic differences were seen between the hiv-p ...201021054157
the epidemiology of meningococcal disease in india.to undertake a review of the literature on the epidemiology of meningococcal disease in india, with a view to informing future control policies.201021054695
the c-terminal domain of the mutl homolog from neisseria gonorrhoeae forms an inverted homodimer.the mismatch repair (mmr) pathway serves to maintain the integrity of the genome by removing mispaired bases from the newly synthesized strand. in e. coli, muts, mutl and muth coordinate to discriminate the daughter strand through a mechanism involving lack of methylation on the new strand. this facilitates the creation of a nick by muth in the daughter strand to initiate mismatch repair. many bacteria and eukaryotes, including humans, do not possess a homolog of muth. although the exact strateg ...201021060849
vaccine offers meningitis hope. 201021068797
meningococcal carriage by age: a systematic review and meta-analysis.neisseria meningitidis is an important cause of meningitis and septicaemia, but most infected individuals experience a period of asymptomatic carriage rather than disease. previous studies have shown that carriage rates vary by age and setting; however, few have assessed carriage across all ages. we aimed to estimate the age-specific prevalence of meningococcal carriage.201021075057
atypical presentation of fatal meningococcemia: peritonitis and paradoxical centrifugal purpura fulminans of late onset. 201021075588
xercd-mediated site-specific recombination leads to loss of the 57-kilobase gonococcal genetic island.most strains of neisseria gonorrhoeae carry the 57-kb gonococcal genetic island (ggi), as do a few strains of neisseria meningitidis. the ggi is inserted into the chromosome at the dif site (difa) and is flanked by a partial repeat of the dif site (difb). since dif is a sequence recognized by the site-specific recombinases xerc and xerd and the ggi shows evidence of horizontal acquisition, we hypothesized that the ggi may be acquired or lost by xercd-mediated site-specific recombination. we show ...201021075927
screening methods for chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in sexually transmitted infection clinics: what do patients prefer?to meet the need for services at sexually transmitted infection (sti) clinics, self-obtained vaginal (sov) swabs or first-catch urine (fcu) samples collected at a clinic visit have been proposed as an alternative approach for chlamydia trachomatis (ct) and neisseria gonorrhoeae (gc) screening. the purpose of this clinic-based survey was to determine if non-invasive clinic-based sov swabs and fcu samples for ct and gc screening are acceptable replacements for a traditional provider visit.201021076139
parapharyngeal cerebrospinal fluid collection: an unusual complication of temporal bone fracture.we present an unusual case of parapharyngeal cerebrospinal fluid collection causing upper airway obstruction following a temporal bone fracture.201021078219
real-time impedance analysis of host cell response to meningococcal infection.measuring cell proliferation and cell death during bacterial infection involves performing end-point assays that represent the response at a single time point. a new technology from roche applied science and acea biosciences allows continuous monitoring of cells in real-time using specialized cell culture microplates containing micro-electrodes. the xcelligence system enables continuous measurement and quantification of cell adhesion, proliferation, spreading, cell death and detachment, thus cre ...201021078346
synthesis of a single-molecule l-rhamnose-containing three-component vaccine and evaluation of antigenicity in the presence of anti-l-rhamnose antibodies.carbohydrates are generally considered to be poorly immunogenic. therefore, new approaches for enhancing their immunogenicity are important for the development of carbohydrates as vaccine components. we hypothesized that conjugation of an l-rhamnose (rha) moiety to a carbohydrate antigen would enhance the antigenicity of the antigen in mice possessing anti-rha antibodies via an antibody-dependent antigen uptake mechanism. to explore this hypothesis, we synthesized a single-molecule three-compone ...201021080675
comparative proteomic analysis of biofilm and planktonic cells of neisseria meningitidis.neisseria meningitidis is a commensal of the human nasopharynx occasionally causing invasive disease. in vitro biofilms have been employed to model meningococcal carriage. a proteomic analysis of meningococcal biofilms was conducted and metabolic changes related to oxygen and nutrient limitation and upregulation of proteins involved in ros defense were observed. the upregulated mntc which protects against ros was shown to be required for meningococcal biofilm formation, but not for planktonic gr ...201021082762
microbiota of deciduous endodontic infections analysed by mda and checkerboard dna-dna hybridization.to evaluate the microbiota of endodontic infections in deciduous teeth by checkerboard dna-dna hybridization after uniform amplification of dna in samples by multiple displacement amplification (mda).201021083570
multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis of neisseria gonorrhoeae.the prevalence of neisseria gonorrhoeae in the netherlands has increased in recent years. a multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (mlva) was developed to assess the molecular epidemiology of n. gonorrhoeae and to elucidate transmission networks in high-risk groups in amsterdam. the mlva was evaluated using 5 variable-number tandem repeat (vntr) loci with various degrees of polymorphism that were amplified in 2 multiplex pcrs and were then separated and sized on an automated seque ...201021084524
occupational transmission of neisseria meningitidis --- california, 2009.neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis . the case-fatality rate for meningococcal disease is 10%--14%; survivors can experience brain damage, hearing loss, limb loss, and learning disabilities . on december 11, 2009, the california department of public health (cdph) initiated an investigation of two secondary cases of meningococcal disease in a police officer and a respiratory therapist following occupational contact with an unconscious adult. this report de ...201021085089
visualisation and quantification of intracellular interactions of neisseria meningitidis and human α-actinin by confocal imaging.the opc protein of neisseria meningitidis (nm, meningococcus) is a surface-expressed integral outer membrane protein, which can act as an adhesin and an effective invasin for human epithelial and endothelial cells. we have identified endothelial surface-located integrins as major receptors for opc, a process which requires opc to first bind to integrin ligands such as vitronectin and via these to the cell-expressed receptors(1). this process leads to bacterial invasion of endothelial cells(2). m ...201021085092
prevalence of neisseria gonorrhoeae and chlamydia trachomatis infection in men attending std clinics in brazil.the study aimed to assess the prevalence of neisseria gonorrhoeae and chlamydia trachomatis infections and identify demographic, behavioral and clinical factors correlated with such infections in men attending six sexually transmitted disease clinics in brazil.201021085857
inhibition of adhesion of neisseria meningitidis to human epithelial cells by berry juice polyphenolic fractions.the adhesion of pathogens to host tissues is the requirement for the initiation of the majority of infectious diseases. it was shown recently that the binding of neisseria meningitidis pili to immobilized human epithelial cells is inhibited by molecular size fractions (10-100 kda) of berry juices. additionally, the isolated meningococcal pili bound to polyphenolic fractions of berry juices. the present study investigated the antiadhesive effects of berry juice polyphenolics against living mening ...201021086548
assessments of skin and tongue microcirculation reveals major changes in porcine sepsis.to examine the relation between central hemodynamics, clinical severity and microvascular findings in tongue and skin during sepsis.201021087397
neisseria meningitidis lipid a mutant lpss function as lps antagonists in humans by inhibiting tlr 4-dependent cytokine production.lipopolysaccharide is a major constituent of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria and important in the induction of pro-inflammatory responses. recently, novel lps species derived from neisseria meningitidis h44/76 by insertional inactivation of the lpxl1 and lpxl2 genes have been created with a lipid a portion consisting of five (penta-acylated lpxl1) or four (tetra-acylated lpxl2) fatty acids connected to the glucosamine backbone instead of six fatty acids in the wild-type lps. we show ...201021088052
annual report of the australian meningococcal surveillance programme, 2009.in 2009 there were 233 laboratory-confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease (imd) analysed by the national neisseria network, australia, a nationwide network of reference laboratories. one hundred and thirty-five isolates of neisseria meningitidis from invasive cases of meningococcal disease were available for which the phenotypes (serogroup, serotype and serosub-type) and/or genotype and antibiotic susceptibility were determined. an additional 98 cases were confirmed by non-culture-base ...201021090184
penicillin-resistant neisseria meningitidis bacteraemia, kimberley region, march 2010.a 4-year-old fully immunised male presented to a regional hospital in the west kimberley with fever and lethargy. blood cultures yielded serogroup b neisseria meningitidis, resistant to benzylpenicillin (minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) 1.0 mg/l). the patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and made a complete recovery. although invasive n. meningitidis isolates with reduced penicillin susceptibility are not uncommon in australia, this is the first report of a benzylpenicillin-res ...201021090191
independent evolution of the core and accessory gene sets in the genus neisseria: insights gained from the genome of neisseria lactamica isolate 020-06.the genus neisseria contains two important yet very different pathogens, n. meningitidis and n. gonorrhoeae, in addition to non-pathogenic species, of which n. lactamica is the best characterized. genomic comparisons of these three bacteria will provide insights into the mechanisms and evolution of pathogenesis in this group of organisms, which are applicable to understanding these processes more generally.201021092259
high prevalence of hiv-1, hiv-2 and other sexually transmitted infections among women attending two sexual health clinics in bissau, guinea-bissau, west africa.the objective was to examine the prevalence of hiv-1, hiv-2 and 10 other sexually transmitted infections (stis), and to explore the relationship between hiv and those stis in women attending two sexual health clinics in bissau, guinea-bissau. in all, 711 women with urogenital problems were included. clinical examination was performed and hiv-1, hiv-2, human t-cell lymphotropic virus (htlv)-1, htlv-2 and syphilis were diagnosed by serology. trichomonas vaginalis was examined using wet mount micro ...201021097735
molecular analysis of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from ontario, canada.surveillance of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance and the molecular characterization of the mechanisms underlying these resistance phenotypes are essential in order to establish correct empirical therapies, as well as to describe the emergence of new mechanisms in local bacterial populations. to address these goals, 149 isolates were collected over a 1-month period (october-november 2008) at the ontario public health laboratory, toronto, canada, and susceptibility profiles (8 antibiotics) were ...201021098249
home compared with clinic-based screening for sexually transmitted infections: a randomized controlled trial.to determine whether home-based screening for sexually transmitted infections results in a higher sexually transmitted infection screening rate compared with clinic-based screening in participants using long-acting reversible contraception.201021099596
rate of and risks for regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 in adolescents and young women.to describe the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (cin) 2 in a prospective study of adolescents and young women, and to examine the behavioral and biologic factors associated with regression and progression.201021099605
genetic, structural, and antigenic analyses of glycan diversity in the o-linked protein glycosylation systems of human neisseria species.bacterial capsular polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides are well-established ligands of innate and adaptive immune effectors and often exhibit structural and antigenic variability. although many surface-localized glycoproteins have been identified in bacterial pathogens and symbionts, it not clear if and how selection impacts associated glycoform structure. here, a systematic approach was devised to correlate gene repertoire with protein-associated glycoform structure in neisseria species imp ...201020363948
tmj ankylosis after neonatal septic arthritis: literature review and two case reports.ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (tmj) can be a result of several causes such as trauma, degenerative changes, infection, and space-occupying lesion. when occurring during early childhood, it can result in severe functional disability and facial deformity. septic arthritis is an uncommon disease associated with systemic and local factors being most commonly caused by staphylococcus aureus, neisseria gonorrhoeae, and haemophilus influenzae. this paper presents two unusual cases of tmj ank ...201020369268
whole cell vaccination for meningococcus: lessons from an idea for which time has gone.endotoxin in vaccines has long been recognized as a cause of adverse events and is generally regarded as a contaminant. however there are now a number of vaccine candidates that contain endotoxin as either antigen or adjuvant, particularly vaccines for neisseria meningitidis based on native outer membrane vesicles (nomv). vaccines containing meningococcal endotoxin are not new. from 1907 to 1939 approximately 400,000 individuals were immunized with whole cell vaccines against meningococcus. we r ...201020372072
characterization of fhbp, nhba (gna2132), nada, pora, and sequence type in group b meningococcal case isolates collected in england and wales during january 2008 and potential coverage of an investigational group b meningococcal vaccine.invasive disease caused by meningococcal capsular groups a, c, w-135, and y is now preventable by means of glycoconjugate vaccines that target their respective polysaccharide capsules. the capsule of group b meningococci (menb) is poorly immunogenic and may induce autoimmunity. vaccines based on the major immunodominant surface porin, pora, are effective against clonal epidemics but, thus far, have a limited scope of coverage against the wider menb population at large. in an alternative approach ...201020375242
nucleic acid amplification tests for diagnosis of neisseria gonorrhoeae and chlamydia trachomatis rectal infections.it is uncertain which methods for the diagnosis of rectal gonococcal and chlamydial infection are optimal. this study evaluated the performance of culture and nucleic acid amplification tests (naats) for rectal chlamydial and gonococcal diagnosis. from july 2003 until february 2007, 441 rectal test sets were collected from individuals attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic and three hiv clinics who gave a history of anal intercourse or were women at high risk for neisseria gonorrhoeae o ...201020335410
investigating the candidacy of lps-based glycoconjugates to prevent invasive meningococcal disease: chemical strategies to prepare glycoconjugates with good carbohydrate loading.in previous studies protective antibodies that could facilitate bactericidal killing of neisseria meningitidis (nm) serogroup b strains were derived from immunisation with glycoconjugates prepared from o-deacylated lipopolysaccharide (lps-oh) via direct reductive amination between the reducing end of the oligosaccharide molecule, created by treatment with alkaline phosphatase, and amino functionalities on the crm(197) carrier protein. these glycoconjugates proved difficult to prepare because the ...201020340043
infection with neisseria meningitidis serogroup y revealing systemic lupus erythematosus. 201020667940
performance of the abbott realtime ct/ng for detection of chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae.a multicenter clinical study was conducted to evaluate the performance characteristics of the abbott realtime ct/ng assay, a multiplex real-time pcr assay, for simultaneous detection of chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae. the specimens were collected from a total of 3,832 male and female subjects at 16 geographically diverse sites. specimens included male and female urine samples, male urethral swabs, female endocervical swabs, and self-collected and clinician-collected vaginal swab ...201020668135
the influence of genomics and proteomics on the development of potential vaccines against meningococcal infection.abstract : there is a particular need for an effective vaccine against life-threatening meningitis and septicemia caused by neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup b strains. vaccine strategies incorporating capsular polysaccharide have proved effective against other meningococcal serogroups, but are not applicable to serogroup b. attention has therefore focused on the subcapsular outer membrane protein antigens as potential vaccine components. the sequencing of genomes from three serog ...201020670394
accuracy of the api campy system, the vitek 2 neisseria-haemophilus (nh) card and the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) for the identification of campylobacter and related organisms.abstract biochemical identification of campylobacter and related organisms is not always specific and may lead to diagnostic errors. the api campy, the vitek 2 system and matrix-assisted desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) are commercially available methods that are routinely used for the identification of these microorganisms. in the present study, we used 224 clinical isolates and 10 reference strains previously identified by multiple pcr assays, whole-cell pr ...201020673261
vaccination with peptide mimotopes produces antibodies recognizing bacterial capsular polysaccharides.a phage display peptide library was screened using a panel of antibodies to the capsular polysaccharides of streptococcus agalactiae and neisseria meningitidis. mimotopes npdhprvptfma (2-8), lipfhkhphhrg (3-2) and eqeiftnitdrv (g3) showing the highest binding capacity and strongest elisa reaction were selected for immunization experiments. these mimotopes were either synthesised as oligodeoxynucleotides for dna immunization or map (multiple antigen peptide) for peptide immunization. mimotope-dna ...201020674874
draft genome sequences of two neisseria meningitidis serogroup c clinical isolates.neisseria meningitidis is a human-specific pathogen known for its capability to cause sepsis and meningitis. here we report the availability of 2 draft genome sequences obtained from patients infected during the same epidemic outbreak. both bacterial isolates belong to serogroup c, but their genome sequences show local and remarkable differences compared with each other or with the reference genome of strain fam18.201020675487
genome sequencing reveals widespread virulence gene exchange among human neisseria species.commensal bacteria comprise a large part of the microbial world, playing important roles in human development, health and disease. however, little is known about the genomic content of commensals or how related they are to their pathogenic counterparts. the genus neisseria, containing both commensal and pathogenic species, provides an excellent opportunity to study these issues. we undertook a comprehensive sequencing and analysis of human commensal and pathogenic neisseria genomes. commensals h ...201020676376
bar-coded pyrosequencing of 16s rrna gene amplicons reveals changes in ileal porcine bacterial communities due to high dietary zinc intake.feeding high levels of zinc oxide to piglets significantly increased the relative abundance of ileal weissella spp., leuconostoc spp., and streptococcus spp., reduced the occurrence of sarcina spp. and neisseria spp., and led to numerical increases of all gram-negative facultative anaerobic genera. high dietary zinc oxide intake has a major impact on the porcine ileal bacterial composition.201020709843
comparative genome biology of a serogroup b carriage and disease strain supports a polygenic nature of meningococcal virulence.neisseria meningitidis serogroup b strains are responsible for most meningococcal cases in the industrialized countries, and strains belonging to the clonal complex st-41/44 are among the most prevalent serogroup b strains in carriage and disease. here, we report the first genome and transcriptome comparison of a serogroup b carriage strain from the clonal complex st-41/44 to the serogroup b disease strain mc58 from the clonal complex st-32. both genomes are highly colinear, with only three majo ...201020709895
neisseria lactamica selectively induces mitogenic proliferation of the naive b cell pool via cell surface ig.neisseria lactamica is a commensal bacteria that colonizes the human upper respiratory tract mucosa during early childhood. in contrast to the closely related opportunistic pathogen neisseria meningitidis, there is an absence of adaptive cell-mediated immunity to n. lactamica during the peak age of carriage. instead, outer membrane vesicles derived from n. lactamica mediate a b cell-dependent proliferative response in mucosal mononuclear cells that is associated with the production of polyclonal ...201020709949
the diheme cytochrome c(4) from vibrio cholerae is a natural electron donor to the respiratory cbb(3) oxygen reductase.the respiratory chain of vibrio cholerae contains three bd-type quinol oxygen reductases as well as one cbb(3) oxygen reductase. the cbb(3) oxygen reductase has been previously isolated and characterized; however, the natural mobile electron donor(s) that shuttles electrons between the bc(1) complex and the cbb(3) oxygen reductase is not known. the most likely candidates are the diheme cytochrome c(4) and monoheme cytochrome c(5), which have been previously shown to be present in the periplasm o ...201020715760
efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin in uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory disease: the monalisa study.to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin versus levofloxacin plus metronidazole in uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory disease (upid) in asia.201020716255
in silico cd4+ t-cell epitope prediction and hla distribution analysis for the potential proteins of neisseria meningitidis serogroup b--a clue for vaccine development.neisseria meningitidis, an exclusive human pathogen, is a major cause of mortality due to meningococcal meningitis and sepsis in many developing countries. three meningococcal serogroup b proteins, i.e. t-cell stimulating protein a (tspa), autotransporter a (auta), and iga-specific serine endopeptidase (iga1) elicits cd4+ t-cell response and may enhance the effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines by acting as protective immunogens. a very limited data on t-helper cell epitopes in menb proteins i ...201020716448
comparison of long-term humoral memory development after immunisation against neisseria meningitidis b or diphtheria toxoid.since genome sequence data became available there has been a marked increase in number of protein antigens that have been suggested as prospective vaccine components against neisseria meningitidis b (menb). few studies have addressed the mechanisms by which meningococcal vaccines generate and sustain immunological memory. the goal of this study was to compare the b-cell response (antibody-secreting cells [asc], memory b cell and igg) evoked by a menb vaccine (va-mengoc-bc(®)) with the b-cell res ...201020719254
evaluation of the cobas 4800 ct/ng test for detecting chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae.to investigate the performance of the fully automated cobas 4800 ct/ng test for detection of chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae.201020719957
suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in macrophages by commensal bacteria preferentially stimulating toll-like receptor 4.protection from primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (hiv-1) infection has not yet been accomplished by vaccines inducing hiv-1-specific acquired immunity. nevertheless, it has been reported that a small subgroup of women remain resistant to hiv-1 infection under natural conditions. if similar conditions can be induced in uninfected individuals, it will contribute the first line of protection against hiv-1 infection, and also improve the effects of anti-hiv-1 vaccines. we reasoned that in ...201020719993
[isolated gonococcal tenosynovitis. case report and review of literature].isolated gonococcal tenosynovitis is rare, and is part of disseminated gonococcal infection. it is due to blood-borne contamination of the flexor tendon sheath. one to 3% of gonococcal mucosal infections develop disseminated infections. tenosynovitis is present in two-thirds of cases, sometimes in association with arthritis and skin rash. we report a case of a 26-year-old man with isolated gonococcal tenosynovitis of the thumb, with no other medical history, occurring 15 days after unprotected s ...201020727809
immunity against neisseria meningitidis serogroup c in the dutch population before and after introduction of the meningococcal c conjugate vaccine.in 2002 a meningococcal serogroup c (menc) conjugate vaccine, with tetanus toxoid as carrier protein, was introduced in the netherlands as a single-dose at 14 months of age. a catch-up campaign was performed targeting all individuals aged 14 months to 18 years. we determined the menc-specific immunity before and after introduction of the menc conjugate (mencc) vaccine.201020730091
[meningitis and encephalitis in poland in 2008].in poland, 2 475 cases of neuroinfections were reported in 2008, of which 979 had bacterial aetiology, 1 122--viral aetiology, and 374--other or unknown origin. the etiological agent was determined in 555 (56%) cases of bacterial neuroinfections. among them neisseria meningitidis was found in 220 cases, haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) in 23 cases and streptococcus pneumoniae in 151 cases. an increasing trend in meningococcal infections incidence has been observed in 2008, and a substantial d ...201020731220
a phase 1 study of a group b meningococcal native outer membrane vesicle vaccine made from a strain with deleted lpxl2 and synx and stable expression of opca.this phase 1 clinical trial assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a native outer membrane vesicle (nomv) vaccine prepared from a lpxl2(-) synx(-) mutant of strain 44/76 with opca expression stabilized. thirty-four volunteers were assigned to one of the three dose groups (25 mcg, 25 mcg with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant, and 50 mcg) to receive three intramuscular injections at 0, 6 and 24 weeks. specific local and systemic adverse events (aes) were solicited by diary and at visits on days 1, 2 ...201020732470
characteristics and dissemination of mosaic penicillin-binding protein 2-harboring multidrug-resistant neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with reduced cephalosporin susceptibility in northern taiwan.among 254 neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from a sexually transmitted infection (sti) clinic in northern taiwan, 69 isolates were found to contain the mosaic pena (ma) gene and were associated with elevated cefixime and ceftriaxone mics. most of these ma gene-harboring isolates were also resistant to penicillin (71.4%) and ciprofloxacin (100%) and were from men who have sex with men (msm) or from bisexual men (81.2%). three major sequence types (st835, st2180, and st2253) constituted 55.7% of the ...201020733036
[febrile algo-eruptive illness in a french foreign legionnaire returning from djibouti: gonococcal arthritis].a french foreign legionnaire returning from djibouti developed feverish polyarthritis with acral purpura. diagnostic workup demonstrated gonococcemia contracted during unprotected fellatio. based on this case report, diagnostic and therapeutic management is described.201020734587
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