Publications

the class a macrophage scavenger receptor is a major pattern recognition receptor for neisseria meningitidis which is independent of lipopolysaccharide and not required for secretory responses.	macrophages (mphi) play a key role in the pathogenesis of invasive meningococcal infections. the roles of two pattern recognition molecules, the mphi scavenger receptor (sr-a) and toll-like receptor 4 (tlr-4), have been investigated using bone marrow culture-derived mphi (bmmphi). surprisingly, a comparison of bmmphi from wild-type and sr-a knockout (sr-a(-/-)) mice showed that nonopsonic phagocytosis of meningococci was mediated almost exclusively via sr-a. previous studies have demonstrated on ...	2002	12228258
assessment of the nasopharyngeal bacterial flora of rhesus macaques: moraxella, neisseria, haemophilus, and other genera.	the nasopharyngeal bacterial flora of healthy rhesus macaques was surveyed for the presence of neisseria and haemophilus species, as well as moraxella catarrhalis. m. catarrhalis was found both in healthy rhesus macaques and in possibly immunocompromised rhesus macaques. several haemophilus spp. that are part of the normal nasopharyngeal bacterial flora of humans were found in many animals; these haemophilus species included h. parahaemolyticus, h. segnis, and h. parainfluenzae. while haemophilu ...	2002	12409426
sulphonamide resistant commensal neisseria with alterations in the dihydropteroate synthase can be isolated from carriers not exposed to sulphonamides.	development of sulphonamide resistance in neisseria meningitidis has been suggested to involve horizontal dna-transfer from a commensal neisseria species. in this study, we isolated commensal neisseria from throat specimens and examined the isolates with respect to sulphonamide resistance.	2002	12435277
mosaic-like structure of penicillin-binding protein 2 gene (pena) in clinical isolates of neisseria gonorrhoeae with reduced susceptibility to cefixime.	neisseria gonorrhoeae strains with reduced susceptibility to cefixime (mics, 0.25 to 0.5 micro g/ml) were isolated from male urethritis patients in tokyo, japan, in 2000 and 2001. the resistance to cephems including cefixime and penicillin was transferred to a susceptible recipient, n. gonorrhoeae atcc 19424, by transformation of the penicillin-binding protein 2 gene (pena) that had been amplified by pcr from a strain with reduced susceptibility to cefixime (mic, 0.5 micro g/ml). the sequences o ...	2002	12435671
innate immune responses of human neonatal cells to bacteria from the normal gastrointestinal flora.	the hygiene hypothesis postulates that the prevalence of allergy has increased due to decreased microbial stimulation early in life, leading to delayed maturation of the immune system. the aim of this study was to examine the cytokine pattern produced from cord blood mononuclear cells relative to adult cells after stimulation with bacterial strains from the normal flora. mononuclear cells from cord and adult blood samples were stimulated with the following bacteria: bifidobacterium adolescentis, ...	2002	12438343
identification of haemophilus influenzae serotypes by standard slide agglutination serotyping and pcr-based capsule typing.	to resolve discrepancies in slide agglutination serotyping (sast) results from state health departments and the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc), we characterized 141 of 751 invasive haemophilus influenzae isolates that were identified in the united states from january 1998 to december 1999 through an active, laboratory-based, surveillance program coordinated by the cdc. we found discrepancies between the results of sast performed at state health departments and those of pcr caps ...	2003	12517878
evaluation of the specificities of five dna amplification methods for the detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae.	the intragenus specificities of five molecular diagnostic methods for neisseria gonorrhoeae were determined. three assays were considered suboptimal. molecular detection of n. gonorrhoeae from sites where other neisseria spp. commonly occur or from any site in low-prevalence settings should be confirmed by a test targeting a different genetic locus.	2003	12574295
the moraxella catarrhalis immunoglobulin d-binding protein mid has conserved sequences and is regulated by a mechanism corresponding to phase variation.	the prevalence of the moraxella catarrhalis immunoglobulin d (igd)-binding outer membrane protein mid and its gene was determined in 91 clinical isolates and in 7 culture collection strains. eighty-four percent of the clinical moraxella strains expressed mid-dependent igd binding. the mid gene was detected in all strains as revealed by homology of the signal peptide sequence and a conserved area in the 3' end of the gene. when mid proteins from five different strains were compared, an identity o ...	2003	12644500
role of endo-1,4-beta-glucanases from neisseria sicca sb in synergistic degradation of cellulose acetate.	an enzyme hydrolyzing beta-1,4 bonds in cellulose acetate was purified 10.5-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity from a culture supernatant of neisseria sicca sb, which assimilate cellulose acetate as the sole carbon and energy source. the enzyme was an endo-1,4-beta-glucanase, to judge from the substrate specificity and hydrolysis products of cellooligosaccharides, we named it endo-1,4-beta-glucanase i (eg i). its molecular mass was 50 kda, 9 kda larger than eg ii from this strain, and its isoel ...	2003	12728982
detection of helicobacter pylori in gastric mucosa of patients with gastroduodenal diseases by pcr-restriction analysis using the rna polymerase gene (rpob).	a novel pcr restriction analysis method using the rna polymerase beta-subunit- coding gene (rpob) was employed to both detect and identify helicobacter pylori in biopsy specimens and culture isolates. the rpob dnas (458 bp) were specifically amplified by pcr with the helicobacter-specific primers (hf and hr). based on the determined rpob sequences of the culture isolates, an h. pylori-specific restriction site, tru9i, was found. h. pylori can be identified by observing two discernible dna fragme ...	2003	12843100
infective discitis with neisseria sicca/subflava in a previously healthy adult.	a case report of neisseria sicca/subflava discitis in a healthy elderly female.	2003	14504620
use of real-time pcr to resolve slide agglutination discrepancies in serogroup identification of neisseria meningitidis.	neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and septicemia in children and young adults in the united states. rapid and reliable identification of n. meningitidis serogroups is crucial for judicious and expedient response to cases of meningococcal disease, including decisions about vaccination campaigns. from 1997 to 2002, 1,298 n. meningitidis isolates, collected in the united states through the active bacterial core surveillance (abcs), were tested by slide agglutination ...	2004	14715772
vaccine potential of the neisseria meningitidis 2086 lipoprotein.	a novel antigen that induces cross-reactive bactericidal antibodies against a number of neisseria meningitidis strains is described. this antigen, a approximately 28-kda lipoprotein called lp2086, was first observed within a complex mixture of soluble outer membrane proteins (somps) following a series of fractionation, protein purification, and proteomics steps. approximately 95 different neisserial isolates tested positive by western blotting and pcr screening methods for the presence of the pr ...	2004	15039331
effect of amoxicillin use on oral microbiota in young children.	dental plaque samples from 40 children were screened for the presence of bacteria resistant to amoxicillin. fifteen children had used amoxicillin and 25 had not used any antibiotic in the 3 months prior to sample collection. all (100%) of the children harbored amoxicillin-resistant oral bacteria. the median percentage of the total cultivable oral microbiota resistant to amoxicillin was 2.4% (range, 0.1 to 14.3%) in children without amoxicillin use and 10.9% (range, 0.8 to 97.3%) in children with ...	2004	15273096
molecular detection of coxiella burnetii in the sera of patients with q fever endocarditis or vascular infection.	in the absence of a specific diagnosis based on serology, chronic q fever is inevitably fatal. however, diagnosis is often delayed because the test is not widely available. to shorten the diagnostic delay, we adapted a nested-pcr assay with serum as a template and the lightcycler as a thermal cycler, termed lcn-pcr. we retrospectively and prospectively applied this method to samples from 48 patients diagnosed with q fever endocarditis or vascular infection and to samples from 100 controls with e ...	2004	15528674
[anticoagulation with bemiparina after intracerebral hemorrhage as complication of bacterial endocarditis on metallic prosthetic valve].	we present the case of a patient with an intracerebral hemorrhage as complication of an infectious endocarditis (ei) produced by neisseria sicca on a prosthetic mitral valve. the patient was anticoagulated previously with acenocumarol as prophylaxis of thrombosis of the prosthetic valve. he was diagnosed as having ie and later he presented neurological symptoms as consequence of several intracerebral hemorrhagic foci. we decided to continue the anticoagulation with sodium heparin followed of bem ...	2004	15538906
abstracts of the 27th annual meeting of the society of general internal medicine. chicago, illinois, usa, 12-15 may, 2004.		2004	15107043
pcr detection of bacteria on cardiac valves of patients with treated bacterial endocarditis.	we used broad-range pcr amplification and sequencing to detect and identify bacterial dna in 156 valves of patients treated for infective endocarditis (ie). bacterial dna was found more frequently in patients who underwent valve replacement while on antibiotic treatment for ie (60%) than in patients who had completed antibiotic treatment for ie (37%; p = 0.02). we found specific bacterial dna in valves removed from 11 of 30 patients who had completed antibiotic treatment for ie. six had no histo ...	2005	15634966
mycobacterium fortuitum infection after a brown bear bite.		2005	15695734
a novel pora-based real-time pcr for detection of meningococcal carriage.	real-time pcr based on the capsule transfer gene (ctra) is a significant aid in the diagnosis of meningococcal infection but fails to detect a high proportion (60 %) of non-groupable strains associated with nasopharyngeal carriage. this study aimed to design a novel real-time (taqman) pcr that would detect more strains of meningococci and be suitable for large-scale carriage studies. primer and probe sequences were based on the meningococcal pora gene and designed specifically to exclude the hig ...	2005	15824424
evaluation of conventional and real-time pcr assays using two targets for confirmation of results of the cobas amplicor chlamydia trachomatis/neisseria gonorrhoeae test for detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical samples.	two conventional pcr-enzyme immunoassays (pcr-eias) and two real-time pcr assays (lightcycler system; roche diagnostics) were evaluated as confirmation assays with cppb and 16s rrna genes as targets. of 765 male and female genitourinary and nasopharyngeal specimens positive for neisseria gonorrhoeae in the cobas amplicor chlamydia trachomatis/neisseria gonorrhoeae pcr test (roche diagnostics), 229 (30%) were confirmed positive; 13 of these (5.7%) were lacking the cppb gene. of the 534 samples (7 ...	2005	15872247
evaluation of pcr-based assay for diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in human serum samples.	a nested pcr assay was developed for the detection of spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae in serum samples. the assay was based on specific primers derived from the rickettsial outer membrane protein b gene (rompb) of rickettsia conorii. an sfg rickettsia-specific signal is obtained from r. akari, r. japonica, r. sibirica, and r. conorii. other bacterial species tested did not generate any signal, attesting to the specificity of the assay. as few as seven copies of the rompb gene of r. conorii ...	2005	15939751
mode of action on deacetylation of acetylated methyl glycoside by cellulose acetate esterase from neisseria sicca sb.	the regioselective deacetylation of purified cellulose acetate esterase from neisseria sicca sb was investigated on methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-o-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside and 2,3,4,6-tetra-o-acetyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside. the substrates were used as model compounds of cellulose acetate in order to estimate the mechanism for deacetylation of cellulose acetate by the enzyme. the enzyme rapidly deacetylated at position c-3 of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-o-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside to accumulate 2,4,6- ...	2005	16041133
a case of polymicrobial endocarditis caused by anaerobic organisms in an injection drug user.	endocarditis is a serious complication of injection drug use most commonly caused by staphylococcus aureus. we report a case of tricuspid valve polymicrobial bacterial endocarditis in an injection drug user from 3 oral anaerobes: actinomyces odontolytica, veillonella species, and prevotella melaninogenica. the patient was believed to have acquired these organisms from his habit of licking the needle in order to gauge the strength of the cocaine prior to injection. the patient was successfully tr ...	2005	16191149
contribution of systematic serological testing in diagnosis of infective endocarditis.	despite progress with diagnostic criteria, the type and timing of laboratory tests used to diagnose infective endocarditis (ie) have not been standardized. this is especially true with serological testing. patients with suspected ie were evaluated by a standard diagnostic protocol. this protocol mandated an evaluation of the patients according to the modified duke criteria and used a battery of laboratory investigations, including three sets of blood cultures and systematic serological testing f ...	2005	16207989
specific and sensitive detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens by real-time pcr.	early diagnosis of neisseria gonorrhoeae infections is important with regard to patients' health and infectivity. we report the development of a specific and sensitive taqman assay for the detection of n. gonorrhoeae in clinical samples. the target sequence is a 76-bp fragment of the 5' untranslated region of the opa genes that encode opacity proteins. a panel of 448 well-defined n. gonorrhoeae isolates was used to evaluate and optimize the assay. the method employs two minor-groove binding prob ...	2005	16272500
the laboratory diagnosis of neisseria gonorrhoeae.	the present article describes the laboratory diagnosis of neisseria gonorrhoeae by culturing of the organism from different types of clinical specimens followed by confirmatory tests. the success of culture methods requires good quality collection and transport of clinical specimens. the present guide describes the media requirements and cultural conditions for n gonorrhoeae growth and the characteristics for a presumptive identification of n gonorrhoeae. confirmatory tests include biochemical t ...	2005	18159523
severe infective endocarditis due to neisseria sicca: case report and review of literature.	we report a case of infective endocarditis (ie) caused by an unusual micro-organism in a previously healthy young man. our patient presented with meningo-encephalitis and embolic signs due to ie caused by neisseria sicca. risk factors for ie due to neisseria sicca, such as intravenous drug use and pre-existing heart disease were absent. the patient recovered well after mitral valve surgery and antimicrobial therapy. ie due to neisseria spp. is associated with embolic manifestations and valve des ...	2006	17240741
nucleic acid amplification testing for neisseria gonorrhoeae: an ongoing challenge.	nucleic acid amplification tests (naats) for the detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae became available in the early 1990s. although offering several advantages over traditional detection methods, n. gonorrhoeae naats do have some limitations. these include cost, risk of carryover contamination, inhibition, and inability to provide antibiotic resistance data. in addition, there are sequence-related limitations that are unique to n. gonorrhoeae naats. in particular, false-positive results are a majo ...	2006	16436629
variations in gene organization and dna uptake signal sequence in the folp region between commensal and pathogenic neisseria species.	horizontal gene transfer is an important source of genetic variation among neisseria species and has contributed to the spread of resistance to penicillin and sulfonamide drugs in the pathogen neisseria meningitidis. sulfonamide resistance in neisseria meningitidis is mediated by altered chromosomal folp genes. at least some folp alleles conferring resistance have been horizontally acquired from other species, presumably from commensal neisseriae. in this work, the dna sequence surrounding folp ...	2006	16503987
molecular characterization of subject-specific oral microflora during initial colonization of enamel.	the initial microbial colonization of tooth surfaces is a repeatable and selective process, with certain bacterial species predominating in the nascent biofilm. characterization of the initial microflora is the first step in understanding interactions among community members that shape ensuing biofilm development. using molecular methods and a retrievable enamel chip model, we characterized the microbial diversity of early dental biofilms in three subjects. a total of 531 16s rrna gene sequences ...	2006	16597990
the majority of genes in the pathogenic neisseria species are present in non-pathogenic neisseria lactamica, including those designated as 'virulence genes'.	neisseria meningitidis causes the life-threatening diseases meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal septicemia. neisseria gonorrhoeae is closely related to the meningococcus, but is the cause of the very different infection, gonorrhea. a number of genes have been implicated in the virulence of these related yet distinct pathogens, but the genes that define and differentiate the species and their behaviours have not been established. further, a related species, neisseria lactamica is not assoc ...	2006	16734888
a fast real-time polymerase chain reaction method for sensitive and specific detection of the neisseria gonorrhoeae pora pseudogene.	ever since the advent of molecular methods, the diagnostics of neisseria gonorrhoeae has been troubled by false negative and false positive results compared with culture. commensal neisseria species and neisseria meningitidis are closely related to n. gonorrhoeae and may cross-react when using molecular tests comprising too-low specificity. we have devised a real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr), including an internal amplification control, that targets the n. gonorrhoeae pora pseudogene. dn ...	2006	17065426
rapid detection and identification of metallo-beta-lactamase-encoding genes by multiplex real-time pcr assay and melt curve analysis.	metallo-beta-lactamase enzymes (mbetal) are encoded by transferable genes, which appear to spread rapidly among gram-negative bacteria. the objective of this study was to develop a multiplex real-time pcr assay followed by a melt curve step for rapid detection and identification of genes encoding mbetal-type enzymes based on the amplicon melting peak. the reference sequences of all genes encoding imp and vim types, spm-1, gim-1, and sim-1 were downloaded from genbank, and primers were designed t ...	2007	17093019
rapid detection and identification of metallo-beta-lactamase-encoding genes by multiplex real-time pcr assay and melt curve analysis.	metallo-beta-lactamase enzymes (mbetal) are encoded by transferable genes, which appear to spread rapidly among gram-negative bacteria. the objective of this study was to develop a multiplex real-time pcr assay followed by a melt curve step for rapid detection and identification of genes encoding mbetal-type enzymes based on the amplicon melting peak. the reference sequences of all genes encoding imp and vim types, spm-1, gim-1, and sim-1 were downloaded from genbank, and primers were designed t ...	2007	17093019
characteristics of the m2000 automated sample preparation and multiplex real-time pcr system for detection of chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae.	we evaluated a new real-time pcr-based prototype assay for the detection of chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae developed by abbott molecular inc. this assay is designed to be performed on an abbott m2000 real-time instrument system, which consists of an m2000sp instrument for sample preparation and an m2000rt instrument for real-time pcr amplification and detection. the limit of detection of this prototype assay was determined to be 20 copies of target dna for both c. trachomatis an ...	2007	17202273
microbiological evaluation of the new vitek 2 neisseria-haemophilus identification card.	vitek 2 is an automated identification system for diverse bacterial and fungal species. a new card (the neisseria-haemophilus [nh] card) for the identification of neisseria spp., haemophilus spp., and other fastidious gram-negative or gram-variable microorganisms has been developed, but its performance in a routine clinical laboratory has not yet been evaluated. in this study, a total of 188 bacterial strains belonging to the genera actinobacillus, campylobacter, capnocytophaga, cardiobacterium, ...	2007	17728469
physiological ecology of stenoxybacter acetivorans, an obligate microaerophile in termite guts.	stenoxybacter acetivorans is a newly described, obligately microaerophilic beta-proteobacterium that is abundant in the acetate-rich hindgut of reticulitermes. here we tested the hypotheses that cells are located in the hypoxic, peripheral region of reticulitermes flavipes hindguts and use acetate to fuel their o(2)-consuming respiratory activity in situ. physical fractionation of r. flavipes guts, followed by limited-cycle pcr with s. acetivorans-specific 16s rrna gene primers, indicated that c ...	2007	17827335
neisseria sicca meningitis following intracranial hemorrhage and ventriculostomy tube placement.	a normal component of the flora of the oropharynx, neisseria sicca was first isolated in 1906 and has since been reported as a rare cause of various human infections including endocarditis, pneumonia, sinusitis, sepsis, and urethritis. we report the case of a 44-year-old african-american female with a history of hypertension who presented with complaints of right frontal headache, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. a computed tomography scan of the patient's brain showed a large subarachnoid hem ...	2007	17904282
liver abscess due to neisseria sicca after repeated transcatheter arterial embolization.	neisseria sicca is rarely associated with clinical infections and to the authors' knowledge this organism has not been reported as a causative agent of infected biloma (liver abscess). a case of a diabetic man with infected biloma due to n. sicca after repeated transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma is reported. the patient was successfully treated with intravenous cefotaxime and metronidazole. the biochemical profile and 16s rrna gene partial sequencing results of the ...	2007	17965360
decontamination effects of low-temperature plasma generated by corona discharge. part ii: new insights.	the second part of our paper presents the results of experiments with the decontamination of surfaces by low-temperature plasma generated by corona discharge in air at atmospheric pressure. a simple device is described and the effects of the corona discharge on model microorganisms, viz. the yeast candida albicans, gram-negative bacteria escherichia coli, enterobacter aerogenes, neisseria sicca, stenotrophomonas maltophilia, gram-positive bacteria deinococcus radiodurans, enterococcus faecium, s ...	2007	18225640
treatment of allergic diseases: application to clinical practice of a new concept of mutual substitutions of antibody molecules on the surface of mast cells.		2007	20525152
multicenter evaluation of the new vitek 2 neisseria-haemophilus identification card.	the new neisseria-haemophilus identification (nh) card for vitek 2 was compared with 16s rrna gene sequencing (16s) as the reference method for accurate identification of neisseria spp., haemophilus spp., and other fastidious gram-negative bacteria. testing was performed on the vitek 2 xl system with modified software at three clinical trial laboratories. reproducibility was determined with nine atcc quality control strains tested 20 times over a minimum of 10 days at all three sites. a challeng ...	2008	18579712
roles of alpha and beta carbonic anhydrases of helicobacter pylori in the urease-dependent response to acidity and in colonization of the murine gastric mucosa.	carbon dioxide occupies a central position in the physiology of helicobacter pylori owing to its capnophilic nature, the large amounts of carbon dioxide produced by urease-mediated urea hydrolysis, and the constant bicarbonate supply in the stomach. carbonic anhydrases (ca) catalyze the interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate and are involved in functions such as co(2) transport or trapping and ph homeostasis. h. pylori encodes a periplasmic alpha-ca (alpha-ca-hp) and a cytoplasmic bet ...	2008	18025096
roles of alpha and beta carbonic anhydrases of helicobacter pylori in the urease-dependent response to acidity and in colonization of the murine gastric mucosa.	carbon dioxide occupies a central position in the physiology of helicobacter pylori owing to its capnophilic nature, the large amounts of carbon dioxide produced by urease-mediated urea hydrolysis, and the constant bicarbonate supply in the stomach. carbonic anhydrases (ca) catalyze the interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate and are involved in functions such as co(2) transport or trapping and ph homeostasis. h. pylori encodes a periplasmic alpha-ca (alpha-ca-hp) and a cytoplasmic bet ...	2008	18025096
[protease activity of microflora in the oral cavity of patients with periodontitis].	microbial spectrum and non-specific as well as specific iga1 protease activity of isolated microorganisms were investigated in gingival liquid of patients with periodontitis. microorganisms from the gingival liqud of these patients belonged to conditional-pathogenic obligate and facultatively anaerobic bacteria. 24 strains of microorganisms have been identified. nonspecific proteolytic activity was found in the following microorganisms: actinomyces israelii, actinomyces naeslundii, aerococcus vi ...	2008	19205430
structural characterization of an oligosaccharide made by neisseria sicca.	neisseria sicca 4320 expresses two carbohydrate-containing components with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis mobilities that resemble those of lipooligosaccharide and lipopolysaccharide. using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization--time of flight and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, we characterized a disaccharide carbohydrate repeating unit expressed by this strain. gas chromatography identified the sugars composing the unit as rhamnose and n-acetyl-d-glu ...	2009	19270085
endocarditis due to neisseria bacilliformis in a patient with a bicuspid aortic valve.	we report a case of endocarditis due to the rod-shaped neisseria species neisseria bacilliformis. the phenotypic characterization of this recently characterized bacteria is difficult, and the identification requires the sequencing of the 16s rrna gene. the resolution of the disease was complete after appropriate antibiotic therapy, and surgery was not required.	2009	19386832
neisseria sicca/subflava bacteremia presenting as cutaneous nodules in an immunocompromised host.	neisseria sicca/subflava are generally considered commensal inhabitants of the human oropharynx. we describe a case of disseminated n. sicca/subflava infection in an immunocompromised 15-year-old male presenting with cutaneous erythematous nodules. our report adds to the growing evidence that these bacteria can cause disseminated infections, and describes a cutaneous manifestation of disseminated disease with n. sicca/subflava.	2009	19483662
single-residue changes in the c-terminal disulfide-bonded loop of the pseudomonas aeruginosa type iv pilin influence pilus assembly and twitching motility.	pila, the major pilin subunit of pseudomonas aeruginosa type iv pili (t4p), is a principal structural component. pila has a conserved c-terminal disulfide-bonded loop (dsl) that has been implicated as the pilus adhesinotope. structural studies have suggested that dsl is involved in intersubunit interactions within the pilus fiber. pila mutants with single-residue substitutions, insertions, or deletions in the dsl were tested for pilin stability, pilus assembly, and t4p function. mutation of eith ...	2009	19717595
biochemical and genomic analysis of the denitrification pathway within the genus neisseria.	since neisseria gonorrhoeae and neisseria meningitidis are obligate human pathogens, a comparison with commensal species of the same genus could reveal differences important in pathogenesis. the recent completion of commensal neisseria genome draft assemblies allowed us to perform a comparison of the genes involved in the catalysis, assembly and regulation of the denitrification pathway, which has been implicated in the virulence of several bacteria. all species contained a highly conserved nitr ...	2009	19762442
[neisseria sicca].		2009	19915756
identification of meningococcal genes necessary for colonization of human upper airway tissue.	neisseria meningitidis is an exclusively human pathogen that has evolved primarily to colonize the nasopharynx rather than to cause systemic disease. colonization is the most frequent outcome following meningococcal infection and a prerequisite for invasive disease. the mechanism of colonization involves attachment of the organism to epithelial cells via bacterial type iv pili (tfp), but subsequent events during colonization remain largely unknown. we analyzed 576 n. meningitidis mutants for the ...	2009	18936183
identification of meningococcal genes necessary for colonization of human upper airway tissue.	neisseria meningitidis is an exclusively human pathogen that has evolved primarily to colonize the nasopharynx rather than to cause systemic disease. colonization is the most frequent outcome following meningococcal infection and a prerequisite for invasive disease. the mechanism of colonization involves attachment of the organism to epithelial cells via bacterial type iv pili (tfp), but subsequent events during colonization remain largely unknown. we analyzed 576 n. meningitidis mutants for the ...	2009	18936183
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.	2010	21092259
development of a rapid automated influenza a, influenza b, and respiratory syncytial virus a/b multiplex real-time rt-pcr assay and its use during the 2009 h1n1 swine-origin influenza virus epidemic in milwaukee, wisconsin.	rapid, semiautomated, and fully automated multiplex real-time rt-pcr assays were developed and validated for the detection of influenza (flu) a, flu b, and respiratory syncytial virus (rsv) from nasopharyngeal specimens. the assays can detect human h1n1, h3n2, and swine-origin (s-oiv) h1n1 flu a viruses and were effectively used to distinguish flu a infections (of all subtypes) from flu b and rsv infections during the current s-oiv outbreak in milwaukee, wi. the analytical limits of detection we ...	2010	19959800
characterization of slackia exigua isolated from human wound infections, including abscesses of intestinal origin.	eleven clinical strains isolated from infected wound specimens were subjected to polyphasic taxonomic analysis. sequence analysis of the 16s rrna gene showed that all 11 strains were phylogenetically related to slackia exigua. additionally, conventional and biochemical tests of 6 of the 11 strains were performed as supplementary methods to obtain phenotypic identification by comparison with the phenotypes of the relevant type strains. s. exigua has been considered an oral bacterial species in th ...	2010	20107092
conjugative plasmids of neisseria gonorrhoeae.	many clinical isolates of the human pathogen neisseria gonorrhoeae contain conjugative plasmids. the host range of these plasmids is limited to neisseria species, but presence of a tetracycline (tetm) determinant inserted in several of these plasmids is an important cause of the rapid spread of tetracycline resistance. previously plasmids with different backbones (dutch and american type backbones) and with and without different tetm determinants (dutch and american type tetm determinants) have ...	2010	20376355
identification of a siderophore utilization locus in nontypeable haemophilus influenzae.	haemophilus influenzae has an absolute aerobic growth requirement for either heme, or iron in the presence of protoporphyrin ix. both iron and heme in the mammalian host are strictly limited in their availability to invading microorganisms. many bacterial species overcome iron limitation in their environment by the synthesis and secretion of small iron binding molecules termed siderophores, which bind iron and deliver it into the bacterial cell via specific siderophore receptor proteins on the b ...	2010	20398325
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 ...	2010	20676376
prevalence of chlamydia infection among women visiting a gynaecology outpatient department: evaluation of an in-house pcr assay for detection of chlamydia trachomatis.	screening women for chlamydia trachomatis infection in developing countries is highly desirable because of asymptomatic infection. the existing diagnostic methods in developing countries are not effective and their sensitivity fall below 45.0% which leads to further spread of infection. there is an urgent need for improved and cost effective diagnostic tests that will reduce the burden of sexually transmitted infections in the developing world.	2010	20822551
functional analysis of the carbohydrate-binding module of an esterase from neisseria sicca sb involved in the degradation of cellulose acetate.	an esterase gene from neisseria sicca sb encoding caea, which catalyzes the deacetylation of cellulose acetate, was cloned. caea contained a putative catalytic domain of carbohydrate esterase family 1 and a carbohydrate-binding module (cbm) family 2. we constructed two derivatives, with and without the cbm of caea. binding assay indicated that the cbm of caea had an affinity for cellulose.	2010	20834142
isolation and identification of microbes associated with mobile phones in dammam in eastern saudi arabia.	this study was conducted to determine microbial contamination of mobile phones in the city of dammam, in the eastern region of saudi arabia, and identify the most important microbial species associated with these phones in order to take the necessary remedial measures.	2010	22022665
The Repeat-In-Toxin (RTX) Family Member TosA Mediates Adherence of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli and Survival during Bacteremia.	Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are responsible for the majority of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) and represent the most common bacterial infection in adults. UPEC utilize a wide range of virulence factors to colonize the host, including the novel repeat-in-toxin (RTX) protein TosA, which is specifically expressed in the host urinary tract and contributes significantly to the virulence and survival of UPEC. tosA, found in strains within the B2 phylogenetic subgroup of E. col ...	2011	22083710
Neisseria sicca endocarditis requiring mitral valve replacement in a previously healthy adolescent.	Infective endocarditis due to Neisseria sicca, a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract, is rarely reported but associated with embolic phenomena and large vegetations often requiring surgical intervention. We report a previously healthy 12-year-old girl who presented with prolonged fever and altered mental status. The patient developed rapidly progressive respiratory insufficiency and cardiovascular instability, and echocardiography demonstrated a large vegetation on the mitral valve. ...	2011	21975499
integrated analysis of three bacterial conjunctivitis trials of besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension, 0.6%: etiology of bacterial conjunctivitis and antibacterial susceptibility profile.	the purpose of this paper is to report on the bacterial species isolated from patients with bacterial conjunctivitis participating in three clinical trials of besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension, 0.6%, and their in vitro antibacterial susceptibility profiles.	2011	22034556
Population structure in the Neisseria, and the biological significance of fuzzy species.	Phenotypic and genetic variation in bacteria can take bewilderingly complex forms even within a single genus. One of the most intriguing examples of this is the genus Neisseria, which comprises both pathogens and commensals colonizing a variety of body sites and host species, and causing a range of disease. Complex relatedness among both named species and previously identified lineages of Neisseria makes it challenging to study their evolution. Using the largest publicly available collection of ...	2011	22072450
Population structure in the Neisseria, and the biological significance of fuzzy species.	Phenotypic and genetic variation in bacteria can take bewilderingly complex forms even within a single genus. One of the most intriguing examples of this is the genus Neisseria, which comprises both pathogens and commensals colonizing a variety of body sites and host species, and causing a range of disease. Complex relatedness among both named species and previously identified lineages of Neisseria makes it challenging to study their evolution. Using the largest publicly available collection of ...	2011	22072450
a novel immunity system for bacterial nucleic acid degrading toxins and its recruitment in various eukaryotic and dna viral systems.	the use of nucleases as toxins for defense, offense or addiction of selfish elements is widely encountered across all life forms. using sensitive sequence profile analysis methods, we characterize a novel superfamily (the sukh superfamily) that unites a diverse group of proteins including smi1/knr4, pgs2, fbxo3, skip16, syd, herpesviral us22, irs1 and trs1, and their bacterial homologs. using contextual analysis we present evidence that the bacterial members of this superfamily are potential imm ...	2011	21306995
first report of performance of the versant ct/gc dna 1.0 assay (kpcr) for detection of chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae.	we evaluated the analytical, work flow, and clinical performance of the versant ct/gc dna 1.0 assay (versant ct/gc assay, where "ct" represents chlamydia trachomatis and "gc" represents neisseria gonorrhoeae). the assay simultaneously detects chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria gonorrhoeae in swab and first-catch urine (fcu) specimens. the limit of detection (lod) was determined to be 342 copies/ml for c. trachomatis and 137 copies/ml for gc. the versant ct/gc assay detected 15 c. trachomatis se ...	2011	21307209
molecular and virulence characteristics of an outer membrane-associated rtx exoprotein in pasteurella pneumotropica.	pasteurella pneumotropica is a ubiquitous bacterium that is frequently isolated from laboratory rodents and causes various clinical symptoms in immunodeficient animals. currently two rtx toxins, pnxia and pnxiia, which are similar to hemolysin-like high-molecular-weight exoproteins are known in this species. in this study, we identified and analyzed a further rtx toxin named pnxiiia and the corresponding type i secretion system.	2011	21410992
microbiology of animal bite wound infections.	the microbiology of animal bite wound infections in humans is often polymicrobial, with a broad mixture of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. bacteria recovered from infected bite wounds are most often reflective of the oral flora of the biting animal, which can also be influenced by the microbiome of their ingested prey and other foods. bacteria may also originate from the victim's own skin or the physical environment at the time of injury. our review has focused on bite wound infections in ...	2011	21482724
evaluation of a single tube multiplex real-time pcr for differentiation of the mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in clinical specimens.	members of the mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (mtbc) differ in virulence attributes, drug resistance patterns, and host preferences. the rapid differentiation of these species to determine zoonotic or human sources of tuberculosis disease or to direct treatment can benefit both public health and patient management. commercially available assays cannot differentiate these species and published assays have not been evaluated directly on clinical specimens. a real-time pcr assay for the differe ...	2011	21593269
evaluation of six commercial nucleic acid amplification tests for the detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae and other neisseria species.	molecular detection of neisseria gonorrhoeae in extragenital samples may result in false positive results due to cross reaction with commensal neisseria species or neisseria meningitidis. this study examined 450 characterised clinical culture isolates, comprising 216 n. gonorrhoeae and 234 neisseria species (n=218) and other closely related bacteria (n=16), with six commercial nucleic acid amplification tests (naats) including gen-probe aptima combo 2 and aptima gc; roche cobas amplicor ct/ng an ...	2011	21813721
bacterial carbonic anhydrases as drug targets: toward novel antibiotics?	carbonic anhydrases (cas, ec 4.2.1.1) are metalloenzymes which catalyze the hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and protons. many pathogenic bacteria encode such enzymes belonging to the a-, ß-, and/or ?-ca families. in the last decade, the a-cas from neisseria spp. and helicobacter pylori as well as the ß-class enzymes from escherichia coli, h. pylori,mycobacterium tuberculosis, brucella spp., streptococcus pneumoniae, salmonella enterica, and haemophilus influenzae have been cloned and ...	2011	21779249
incorporation of real-time pcr into routine public health surveillance of culture negative bacterial meningitis in s+úo paulo, brazil.	real-time (rt)-pcr increases diagnostic yield for bacterial meningitis and is ideal for incorporation into routine surveillance in a developing country. we validated a multiplex rt-pcr assay for streptococcus pneumoniae, neisseria meningitidis, and haemophilus influenzae in brazil. risk factors for being culture-negative, rt-pcr positive were determined. the sensitivity of rt-pcr in cerebrospinal fluid (csf) was 100% (95% confidence limits, 96.0%-100%) for n. meningitidis, 97.8% (85.5%-99.9%) fo ...	2011	21731621
emerging roles for the ro 60-kda autoantigen in noncoding rna metabolism.	all cells contain an enormous variety of ribonucleoprotein (rnp) complexes that function in diverse processes. although the mechanisms by which many of these rnps contribute to cell metabolism are well understood, the roles of others are only now beginning to be revealed. a member of this latter category, the ro 60-kda protein and its associated noncoding y rnas, was discovered because the protein component is a frequent target of the autoimmune response in patients with the rheumatic diseases s ...	2011	21823229
Development of a Multiplex PCR Assay for Detection and Genogrouping of Neisseria meningitidis.	Neisseria meningitidis is a leading pathogen of epidemic bacterial meningitis and fulminant sepsis worldwide. Twelve different N. meningitidis serogroups have been identified to date based on antigenic differences in the capsular polysaccharide. However, more than 90% of human cases of N. meningitidis meningitis are the result of infection with just five serogroups, A, B, C, W135, and Y. Efficient methods of detection and genogrouping of N. meningitidis isolates are needed, therefore, in order t ...	2012	22090406
neonatal early-onset sepsis evaluations among well-appearing infants: projected impact of changes in cdc gbs guidelines.	to determine (a) the proportion of asymptomatic infants born at ≥35 weeks gestation evaluated for early-onset sepsis (eos) and exposed to postnatal antibiotics; (b) reasons for and outcomes of the evaluations, and (c) anticipated changes when applying the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) 2010 guidelines to this study population.	2012	22814941
neonatal early-onset sepsis evaluations among well-appearing infants: projected impact of changes in cdc gbs guidelines.	to determine (a) the proportion of asymptomatic infants born at ≥35 weeks gestation evaluated for early-onset sepsis (eos) and exposed to postnatal antibiotics; (b) reasons for and outcomes of the evaluations, and (c) anticipated changes when applying the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) 2010 guidelines to this study population.	2012	22814941
bacterial diversity in oral samples of children in niger with acute noma, acute necrotizing gingivitis, and healthy controls.	noma is a gangrenous disease that leads to severe disfigurement of the face with high morbidity and mortality, but its etiology remains unknown. young children in developing countries are almost exclusively affected. the purpose of the study was to record and compare bacterial diversity in oral samples from children with or without acute noma or acute necrotizing gingivitis from a defined geographical region in niger by culture-independent molecular methods.	2012	22413030
predictive parameters for a diagnostic bone marrow biopsy specimen in the work-up of fever of unknown origin.	to determine the role of bone marrow biopsy (bmbx), performed in association with comprehensive blood and imaging tests, in the evaluation of patients with fever of unknown origin (fuo).	2012	22226833
effects of high hydrostatic pressure on bacterial growth on human ossicles explanted from cholesteatoma patients.	high hydrostatic pressure (hhp) treatment can eliminate cholesteatoma cells from explanted human ossicles prior to re-insertion. we analyzed the effects of hhp treatment on the microbial flora on ossicles and on the planktonic and biofilm states of selected isolates.	2012	22291908
antibacterial screening of secreted compounds produced by the phase i variant of photorhabdus luminescens.	in this study, antibacterial activity of metabolites secreted by the phase i variant of photorhabdus luminescens was investigated. bioactivity of these metabolites was screened against 28 different bacterial species and strains. bacterial sensitivity was determined by a modified-version of the kirby-bauer disk diffusion susceptibility method, whereas the phase i variant's culture permeate was utilized as the "antibacterial" agent. this investigation demonstrates that 11 of the 28 bacterial speci ...	2012	24293735
microbiological analysis of a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial comparing moxifloxacin and clindamycin in the treatment of odontogenic infiltrates and abscesses.	the objective of this study was to identify the oral pathogens found in odontogenic infections, to determine their susceptibilities to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (amc), clindamycin (cli), doxycycline (dox), levofloxacin (lvx), moxifloxacin (mxf), and penicillin (pen), and to search for associations between specific pathogens and types of infection. swabs from patients enrolled in a randomized, double-blind phase ii trial comparing mxf with cli for the treatment of odontogenic abscesses or infla ...	2012	22354306
emergence of multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant and untreatable gonorrhea.	the new superbug neisseria gonorrhoeae has retained resistance to antimicrobials previously recommended for first-line treatment and has now demonstrated its capacity to develop resistance to the extended-spectrum cephalosporin, ceftriaxone, the last remaining option for first-line empiric treatment of gonorrhea. an era of untreatable gonorrhea may be approaching, which represents an exceedingly serious public health problem. herein, we review the evolution, origin and spread of antimicrobial re ...	2012	23231489
a genomic approach to bacterial taxonomy: an examination and proposed reclassification of species within the genus neisseria.	in common with other bacterial taxa, members of the genus neisseria are classified using a range of phenotypic and biochemical approaches, which are not entirely satisfactory in assigning isolates to species groups. recently, there has been increasing interest in using nucleotide sequences for bacterial typing and taxonomy, but to date, no broadly accepted alternative to conventional methods is available. here, the taxonomic relationships of 55 representative members of the genus neisseria have ...	2012	22422752
evolutionary and genomic insights into meningococcal biology.	epidemic disease caused by neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, has been recognized for two centuries, but remains incompletely controlled and understood. there have been dramatic reductions in serogroup a and c meningococcal disease following the introduction of protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, but there is currently no comprehensive vaccine against serogroup b meningococci. genetic analyses of meningococcal populations have provided many insights into the biology, evolution and ...	2012	22827308
bacterial flora concurrent with helicobacter pylori in the stomach of patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases.	to investigate the non-helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) bacterial flora concurrent with h. pylori infection.	2012	22468090
using high throughput sequencing to explore the biodiversity in oral bacterial communities.	high throughput sequencing of 16s ribosomal rna gene amplicons is a cost-effective method for characterization of oral bacterial communities. however, before undertaking large-scale studies, it is necessary to understand the technique-associated limitations and intrinsic variability of the oral ecosystem. in this work we evaluated bias in species representation using an in vitro-assembled mock community of oral bacteria. we then characterized the bacterial communities in saliva and buccal mucosa ...	2012	22520388
genome sequence analyses show that neisseria oralis is the same species as 'neisseria mucosa var. heidelbergensis'.	phylogenies generated from whole genome sequence (wgs) data provide definitive means of bacterial isolate characterization for typing and taxonomy. the species status of strains recently defined with conventional taxonomic approaches as representing neisseria oralis was examined by the analysis of sequences derived from wgs data, specifically: (i) 53 neisseria ribosomal protein subunit (rps) genes (ribosomal multi-locus sequence typing, rmlst); and (ii) 246 neisseria core genes (core genome mlst ...	2013	24097834
neisseria gonorrhoeae false-positive result obtained from a pharyngeal swab by using the roche cobas 4800 ct/ng assay in new zealand in 2012.	the roche cobas 4800 ct/ng assay is a commonly used commercial system for screening for neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, and previous studies have shown the method to be highly sensitive and specific for urogenital samples. we present the first confirmed clinical n. gonorrhoeae false-positive result using the cobas 4800 ng assay, obtained from testing a pharyngeal swab sample and caused by cross-reaction with a commensal neisseria strain.	2013	23486711
utility of specimens positive for neisseria gonorrhoeae by the aptima combo 2 assay for assessment of strain diversity and antibiotic resistance.	in our jurisdiction, the aptima combo 2 assay (gen-probe, inc.) is used to detect neisseria gonorrhoeae from specimens collected at clinics for sexually transmitted infections (sti) and from select community patients. in addition, swabs are also collected for n. gonorrhoeae culture, susceptibility testing, and sequence typing (st). since only a small proportion of samples from provincial cases undergo culture, the available trends in antimicrobial susceptibility and predominant strain types may ...	2013	24108603
molecular epidemiology of selected sexually transmitted infections.	neisseria gonorrhoeae (ng), chlamydia trachomatis (ct), trichomonas vaginalis (tv) and mycoplasma genitalium (mg) are established pathogens for human genital tract. however, the role of ureaplasma urealyticum (uu) and ureaplasma parvum (up) in genital pathology is poorly unerstood. a prospective study to investigate the prevalence of above infections was performed on a cohort of 1,718 consecutive patients attending a genitourinary medicine (gum) clinic. a previously published in-house real-time ...	2013	24046809
sigma factor rpon (σ54) regulates pile transcription in commensal neisseria elongata.	human-adapted neisseria includes two pathogens, neisseria gonorrhoeae and neisseria meningitidis, and at least 13 species of commensals that colonize many of the same niches as the pathogens. the type iv pilus plays an important role in the biology of pathogenic neisseria. in these species, sigma factor rpod (σ(70)), integration host factor, and repressors regf and crga regulate transcription of pile, the gene encoding the pilus structural subunit. the type iv pilus is also a strictly conserved ...	2013	23899162
neisseria infection of rhesus macaques as a model to study colonization, transmission, persistence, and horizontal gene transfer.	the strict tropism of many pathogens for man hampers the development of animal models that recapitulate important microbe-host interactions. we developed a rhesus macaque model for studying neisseria-host interactions using neisseria species indigenous to the animal. we report that neisseria are common inhabitants of the rhesus macaque. neisseria isolated from the rhesus macaque recolonize animals after laboratory passage, persist in the animals for at least 72 d, and are transmitted between ani ...	2013	23382234
native-valve tricuspid endocarditis due to neisseria sicca with bilateral pulmonary embolism.		2013	24007771
[spondylodiscitis associated to neisseria sicca endocarditis].		2013	23414682
fatal neisseria sicca endocarditis.		2013	23297179
genetic distribution of noncapsular meningococcal group b vaccine antigens in neisseria lactamica.	the poor immunogenicity of the meningococcal serogroup b (menb) capsule has led to the development of vaccines targeting subcapsular antigens, in particular the immunodominant and diverse outer membrane porin, pora. these vaccines are largely strain specific; however, they offer limited protection against the diverse menb-associated diseases observed in many industrialized nations. to broaden the scope of its protection, the multicomponent vaccine (4cmenb) incorporates a pora-containing outer me ...	2013	23803905