Publications

the borrelia afzelii outer membrane protein bapko_0422 binds human factor-h and is predicted to form a membrane-spanning β-barrel.	the deep evolutionary history of the spirochetes places their branch point early in the evolution of the diderms, before the divergence of the present day proteobacteria. as a spirochete, the morphology of the borrelia cell envelope shares characteristics of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. a thin layer of peptidoglycan, tightly associated with the cytoplasmic membrane, is surrounded by a more labile outer membrane (om). this om is rich in lipoproteins but with few known integral m ...	2015	26181365
experimental transmission of karshi (mammalian tick-borne flavivirus group) virus by ornithodoros ticks >2,900 days after initial virus exposure supports the role of soft ticks as a long-term maintenance mechanism for certain flaviviruses.	members of the mammalian tick-borne flavivirus group, including tick-borne encephalitis virus, are responsible for at least 10,000 clinical cases of tick-borne encephalitis each year. to attempt to explain the long-term maintenance of members of this group, we followed ornithodoros parkeri, o. sonrai, and o. tartakovskyi for >2,900 days after they had been exposed to karshi virus, a member of the mammalian tick-borne flavivirus group.	2015	26285211
molecular detection of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens from ticks collected from ruminants in four south african provinces.	ticks carry and transmit a remarkable array of pathogens including bacteria, protozoa and viruses, which may be of veterinary and/or of medical significance. with little to no information regarding the presence of tick-borne zoonotic pathogens or their known vectors in southern africa, the aim of our study was to screen for anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, coxiella burnetii, rickettsia species and ehrlichia ruminantium in ticks collected and identified from ruminants in the easte ...	2015	26227797
translation elongation factor tuf of acinetobacter baumannii is a plasminogen-binding protein.	acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen, causing a variety of opportunistic infections of the skin, soft tissues and wounds, urinary tract infections, secondary meningitis, pneumonia and bacteremia. over 63% of a. baumannii infections occurring in the united states are caused by multidrug resistant isolates, and pan-resistant isolates have begun to emerge that are resistant to all clinically relevant antibiotics. the complement system represents the first line of defense agai ...	2015	26230848
flexible linker modulates glycosaminoglycan affinity of decorin binding protein a.	decorin binding protein a (dbpa) is a glycosaminoglycan (gag)-binding adhesin found on the surface of the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi (b. burgdorferi), the causative agent of lyme disease. dbpa facilitates bacterial adherence to extracellular matrices of human tissues and is crucial during the early stage of the infection process. interestingly, dbpa from different strains (b31, n40, and pbr) show significant differences in gag affinities, but the structural basis for the differences is not c ...	2015	26223367
frontiers in research on biodiversity and disease.	global losses of biodiversity have galvanised efforts to understand how changes to communities affect ecological processes, including transmission of infectious pathogens. here, we review recent research on diversity-disease relationships and identify future priorities. growing evidence from experimental, observational and modelling studies indicates that biodiversity changes alter infection for a range of pathogens and through diverse mechanisms. drawing upon lessons from the community ecology ...	2015	26261049
detection, identification and genotyping of borrellia spp. in rodents in slovenia by pcr and culture.	borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the agent of lyme borreliosis, is mainly maintained in natural foci through the transmission cycles of competent tick vectors (ixodes sp.) and a vertebrate reservoir. specific rodents have been identified as the principal reservoir of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in europe. borrelia miyamotoi is the only relapsing fever spirochete transmitted by the same tick. the aim of the present study was to perform an epidemiological survey to determine the presence of b. ...	2015	26253121
pediatric acute longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis secondary to neuroborreliosis.	lyme neuroborreliosis has several different clinical manifestations in children, of which facial nerve palsies, meningitis and radiculopathies are the most common. transverse myelitis (tm) secondary to lyme disease has been reported in rare occasions, typically presenting with severe weakness, sensory abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction. we present the case of a 16-year-old male who developed acute left peripheral facial palsy and longitudinal extensive tm secondary to lyme disease. remarkab ...	2015	26351447
association of immune response to endothelial cell growth factor with early disseminated and late manifestations of lyme disease but not posttreatment lyme disease syndrome.	endothelial cell growth factor has been recently proposed as a potential autoantigen in manifestations of lyme disease that are thought to involve immune-mediated mechanisms. our findings indicate that a humoral immune response to this protein is not associated with posttreatment lyme disease syndrome.	2015	26219695
serological signature of tick-borne pathogens in scandinavian brown bears over two decades.	anthropogenic disturbances are changing the geographic distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases. over the last few decades, the tick ixodes ricinus has expanded its range and abundance considerably in northern europe. concurrently, the incidence of tick-borne diseases, such as lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis, has increased in the human populations of the scandinavian countries.	2015	26215889
mini-review: strategies for variation and evolution of bacterial antigens.	across the eubacteria, antigenic variation has emerged as a strategy to evade host immunity. however, phenotypic variation in some of these antigens also allows the bacteria to exploit variable host niches as well. the specific mechanisms are not shared-derived characters although there is considerable convergent evolution and numerous commonalities reflecting considerations of natural selection and biochemical restraints. unlike in viruses, mechanisms of antigenic variation in most bacteria inv ...	2015	26288700
comparison of effectiveness of cefovecin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin for the treatment of experimentally induced early lyme borreliosis in dogs.	while koch's postulates have been fulfilled for lyme disease; causing transient fever, anorexia and arthritis in young dogs; treatment of sero-positive dogs, especially asymptomatic animals, remains a topic of debate. to complicate this matter the currently recommended antibiotic treatments of lyme disease in dogs caused by borrelia burgdorferi require daily oral administrations for 31 days or longer, which makes non-compliance a concern. additionally, there is no approved veterinary antimicrobi ...	2015	26205247
identification of the minimal cytolytic unit for streptolysin s and an expansion of the toxin family.	streptolysin s (sls) is a cytolytic virulence factor produced by the human pathogen streptococcus pyogenes and other streptococcus species. related "sls-like" toxins have been characterized in select strains of clostridium and listeria, with homologous clusters bioinformatically identified in a variety of other species. sls is a member of the thiazole/oxazole-modified microcin (tomm) family of natural products. the structure of sls has yet to be deciphered and many questions remain regarding its ...	2015	26204951
heterogeneity of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto population and its involvement in borrelia pathogenicity: study on murine model with specific emphasis on the skin interface.	lyme disease is a multisystemic disorder caused by b. burgdorferi sl. the molecular basis for specific organ involvement is poorly understood. the skin plays a central role in the development of lyme disease as the entry site of b. burgdorferi in which specific clones are selected before dissemination. we compared the skin inflammatory response (antimicrobial peptides, cytokines and chemokines) elicited by spirochete populations recovered from patients presenting different clinical manifestation ...	2015	26197047
annexin a2 is a target of autoimmune t and b cell responses associated with synovial fibroblast proliferation in patients with antibiotic-refractory lyme arthritis.	in this study, autoantibody responses to annexin a2 were found in 11-15% of 278 patients with lyme disease, including in those with erythema migrans (em), an early sign of the illness, and in those with antibiotic-responsive or antibiotic-refractory lyme arthritis (la), a late disease manifestation. in contrast, robust t cell reactivity to annexin a2 peptides was found only in patients with responsive or refractory la. in la patients, annexin a2 protein levels, which were higher in the refractor ...	2015	26187145
generation of mammalian host-adapted leptospira interrogans by cultivation in peritoneal dialysis membrane chamber implantation in rats.	leptospira interrogans can infect a myriad of mammalian hosts, including humans (bharti et al., 2003; ko et al., 2009). following acquisition by a suitable host, leptospires disseminate via the bloodstream to multiple tissues, including the kidneys, where they adhere to and colonize the proximal convoluted renal tubules (athanazio et al., 2008). infected hosts shed large number of spirochetes in their urine and the leptospires can survive in different environmental conditions before transmission ...	2015	26258158
modulation of host immunity by tick saliva.	next generation sequencing and proteomics have helped to comprehensively characterize gene expression in tick salivary glands at both the transcriptome and the proteome level. functional data are, however, lacking. given that tick salivary secretions are critical to the success of the tick transmission lifecycle and, as a consequence, for host colonization by the pathogens they spread, we thoroughly review here the literature on the known interactions between tick saliva (or tick salivary gland ...	2015	26189360
salmonella infection drives promiscuous b cell activation followed by extrafollicular affinity maturation.	the b cell response to salmonella typhimurium (stm) occurs massively at extrafollicular sites, without notable germinal centers (gcs). little is known in terms of its specificity. to expand the knowledge of antigen targets, we screened plasmablast (pb)-derived monoclonal antibodies (mabs) for salmonella specificity, using elisa, flow cytometry, and antigen microarray. only a small fraction (0.5%-2%) of the response appeared to be salmonella-specific. yet, infection of mice with limited b cell re ...	2015	26187411
an e-mail interview with prof. jeremy s. gray.		2015	26629462
comparative evaluation of 2 g single dose versus conventional dose azithromycin in uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections.	uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (usssis) are a common clinical problem. majority are caused by staphylococci and streptococci. different oral antibiotics are used for usssi, with comparable efficacy but varying treatment duration, cost, and adverse event profile. azithromycin is used in usssi in adults conventionally in a dose of 500 mg once for 5 days. the extensive tissue distribution of the drug and its long elimination half-life prompted us to explore whether a single 2 g do ...	2015	26288467
subjective health complaints are not associated with tick bites or antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in blood donors in western norway: a cross-sectional study.	there is controversy about chronic health consequences of tick-borne infections, especially lyme borreliosis. this study aims to assess whether general function, physical fitness and subjective health complaints are associated with tick bites or antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in blood donors.	2015	26169496
symptoms of degeneration of the pyramidal tracts in conventional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging in a young woman with primary lateral sclerosis.	primary lateral sclerosis (pls) is one of the forms of motor neuron disease (mnd), affecting only upper motor neurons. the diagnosis of pls should be made on different diagnostic criteria, for example, pringle or gordon, but it is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. there are no characteristic findings in standard laboratory and electrophysiological assessment. we present details of a 31-year-old woman who had suffered from progressive paraparesis with right-side predominance. conventional mri of ...	2015	26119443
digital dermatitis in dairy cows: a review of risk factors and potential sources of between-animal variation in susceptibility.	digital dermatitis (dd) is a bacterial disease that primarily affects the skin on the heels of cattle. it is a major cause of lameness in dairy cows and a significant problem for the dairy industry in many countries, causing reduced animal welfare and economic loss. a wide range of infection levels has been found on infected farms, prompting investigations into both farm level and animal level risk factors for dd occurrence. there also appears to be individual variation between animals in suscep ...	2015	26479371
β-glucuronidase, a regulator of lyme arthritis severity, modulates lysosomal trafficking and mmp-9 secretion in response to inflammatory stimuli.	the lysosomal enzyme β-glucuronidase (gusb) is a key regulator of lyme-associated and k/b×n-induced arthritis severity. the luminal enzymes present in lysosomes provide essential catabolic functions for the homeostatic degradation of a variety of macromolecules. in addition to this essential catabolic function, lysosomes play important roles in the inflammatory response following infection. secretory lysosomes and related vesicles can participate in the inflammatory response through fusion with ...	2015	26170381
coupling of diversification and ph adaptation during the evolution of terrestrial thaumarchaeota.	the thaumarchaeota is an abundant and ubiquitous phylum of archaea that plays a major role in the global nitrogen cycle. previous analyses of the ammonia monooxygenase gene amoa suggest that ph is an important driver of niche specialization in these organisms. although the ecological distribution and ecophysiology of extant thaumarchaeota have been studied extensively, the evolutionary rise of these prokaryotes to ecological dominance in many habitats remains poorly understood. to characterize p ...	2015	26170282
detection and categorization of bacteria habitats using shallow linguistic analysis.	information regarding bacteria biotopes is important for several research areas including health sciences, microbiology, and food processing and preservation. one of the challenges for scientists in these domains is the huge amount of information buried in the text of electronic resources. developing methods to automatically extract bacteria habitat relations from the text of these electronic resources is crucial for facilitating research in these areas.	2015	26201262
glia in the cytokine-mediated onset of depression: fine tuning the immune response.	major depressive disorder (mdd) is a mood disorder of multifactorial origin affecting millions of people worldwide. the alarming estimated rates of prevalence and relapse make it a global public health concern. moreover, the current setback of available antidepressants in the clinical setting is discouraging. therefore, efforts to eradicate depression should be directed towards understanding the pathomechanisms involved in the hope of finding cost-effective treatment alternatives. the pathophysi ...	2015	26217190
interferon-α curbs production of interleukin-22 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to live borrelia burgdorferi.	cytokine networks initiated by means of innate immunity are regarded as a major determinant of host defence in response to acute infection by bacteria including borrelia burgdorferi. herein, we demonstrate that interferon (ifn)-α, either endogenously produced after exposure of cells to toll-like receptor-9-activating cpg oligonucleotides or provided as recombinant cytokine, weakens activation of the anti-bacterial interleukin (il)-1/il-22 axis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed ...	2015	26152778
human granulocytic anaplasmosis in the united states from 2008 to 2012: a summary of national surveillance data.	human granulocytic anaplasmosis is an acute, febrile illness transmitted by the ticks ixodes scapularis and ixodes pacificus in the united states. we present a summary of passive surveillance data for cases of anaplasmosis with onset during 2008-2012. the overall reported incidence rate (ir) was 6.3 cases per million person-years. cases were reported from 38 states and from new york city, with the highest incidence in minnesota (ir = 97), wisconsin (ir = 79), and rhode island (ir = 51). thirty-s ...	2015	25870428
comparative metagenomic profiling of symbiotic bacterial communities associated with ixodes persulcatus, ixodes pavlovskyi and dermacentor reticulatus ticks.	ixodes persulcatus, ixodes pavlovskyi, and dermacentor reticulatus ticks inhabiting western siberia are responsible for the transmission of a number of etiological agents that cause human and animal tick-borne diseases. because these ticks are abundant in the suburbs of large cities, agricultural areas, and popular tourist sites and frequently attack people and livestock, data regarding the microbiomes of these organisms are required. using metagenomic 16s profiling, we evaluate bacterial commun ...	2015	26154300
investigating reports of complex regional pain syndrome: an analysis of hpv-16/18-adjuvanted vaccine post-licensure data.	complex regional pain syndrome (crps) is a chronic pain disorder that typically follows trauma or surgery. suspected crps reported after vaccination with human papillomavirus (hpv) vaccines led to temporary suspension of proactive recommendation of hpv vaccination in japan. we investigated the potential crps signal in relation to hpv-16/18-adjuvanted vaccine (cervarix®) by database review of crps cases with independent expert confirmation; a disproportionality analysis and analyses of temporalit ...	2015	26501109
seroprevalence of borrelia burgdorferi in occupationally exposed persons in the belgrade area, serbia.	lyme disease (ld) is a natural focal zoonotic disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi, which is mainly transmitted through infected ixodes ricinus tick bites. the presence and abundance of ticks in various habitats, the infectivity rate, as well as prolonged human exposure to ticks are factors that may affect the infection risk as well as the incidence of ld. in recent years, 20% to 25% of ticks infected with different borrelial species, as well as about 5,300 citizens with ld, have been register ...	2015	26413064
borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of lyme disease, forms drug-tolerant persister cells.	borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of lyme disease, which affects an estimated 300,000 people annually in the united states. when treated early, the disease usually resolves, but when left untreated, it can result in symptoms such as arthritis and encephalopathy. treatment of the late-stage disease may require multiple courses of antibiotic therapy. given that antibiotic resistance has not been observed for b. burgdorferi, the reason for the recalcitrance of late-stage disease to antibi ...	2015	26014929
ileal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting with small bowel obstruction: a case report.	extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (malt lymphoma) of the gastrointestinal tract commonly involves the stomach in the setting of concurrent helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) infection. primary ileal malt lymphoma is rare, and has not been associated with a specific infectious disease. we report a case of a 58-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with constipation and abdominal distension, and signs of an obstructing mass on computed tomography ...	2015	26178711
borrelia burgdorferi reva significantly affects pathogenicity and host response in the mouse model of lyme disease.	the lyme disease spirochete, borrelia burgdorferi, expresses reva and numerous outer surface lipoproteins during mammalian infection. as an adhesin that promotes bacterial interaction with fibronectin, reva is poised to interact with the extracellular matrix of the host. to further define the role(s) of reva during mammalian infection, we created a mutant that is unable to produce reva. the mutant was still infectious to mice, although it was significantly less well able to infect cardiac tissue ...	2015	26150536
bb0744 affects tissue tropism and spatial distribution of borrelia burgdorferi.	borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of lyme disease, produces a variety of proteins that promote survival and colonization in both the ixodes species vector and various mammalian hosts. we initially identified bb0744 (also known as p83/100) by screening for b. burgdorferi strain b31 proteins that bind to α1β1 integrin and hypothesized that, given the presence of a signal peptide, bb0744 may be a surface-exposed protein. in contrast to this expectation, localization studies suggested that b ...	2015	26150534
c6 peptide-based multiplex phosphorescence analysis (phosphan) for serologic confirmation of lyme borreliosis.	a single-tier immunoassay using the c6 peptide of vlse (c6) from borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (bb) has been proposed as a potential alternative to conventional two-tier testing for the serologic diagnosis of lyme disease in the united states and europe.	2015	26147441
comprehensive diagnostics in a case of hereditary diffuse leukodystrophy with spheroids.	hereditary diffuse leukodystrophy with spheroids is a rare type of leukoencephalopathy. mutations in the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor have recently been identified to be the cause of this microgliopathy. clinical and radiological presentation can often misguide physicians during the diagnosis of patients with this underdiagnosed disease.	2015	26141177
eicosanoid storm in infection and inflammation.	controlled immune responses to infection and injury involve complex molecular signalling networks with coordinated and often opposing actions. eicosanoids and related bioactive lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids constitute a major bioactive lipid network that is among the most complex and challenging pathways to map in a physiological context. eicosanoid signalling, similar to cytokine signalling and inflammasome formation, has primarily been viewed as a pro-inflammatory co ...	2015	26139350
intestinal pseudoobstruction caused by chronic lyme neuroborreliosis. a case report.	chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction is often classified as idiopathic. the condition is associated with poor quality of life and high morbidity, and treatment options are often unsatisfactory. a case of chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction in a 66-year-old woman, presenting with back and abdominal pain, urinary retention and severe constipation is described. the patient lived in an area in which lyme disease is endemic and had been bitten by ixodes ticks. intrathecal synthesis of anti-borrelia ...	2015	26130639
epidemiological situation of lyme borreliosis in belgium, 2003 to 2012.	some studies show that the incidence of lyme borreliosis is increasing in different european countries. in order to evaluate if this is also the case in belgium, different data sources were consulted to describe the epidemiology of lyme borreliosis in the country during the last decade.	2015	26146553
mechanistic insights into metal ion activation and operator recognition by the ferric uptake regulator.	ferric uptake regulator (fur) plays a key role in the iron homeostasis of prokaryotes, such as bacterial pathogens, but the molecular mechanisms and structural basis of fur-dna binding remain incompletely understood. here, we report high-resolution structures of magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense msr-1 fur in four different states: apo-fur, holo-fur, the fur-feoab1 operator complex and the fur-pseudomonas aeruginosa fur box complex. apo-fur is a transition metal ion-independent dimer whose binding ...	2015	26134419
anti-nmda receptor encephalitis during pregnancy: a case report.	anti-n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (anti-mmdar) encephalitis is an immune-mediated encephalitis mainly affecting young women.we describe the case of a 21-year-old woman who developed a classical form of anti-nmdar encephalitis during the 10th week of gestation. the patient had been treated with methylpredinsolone and intravenous immunoglobulins. birth history of the child was normal, with normal apgar score. the clinical symptoms of the patient have improved after a few months.this rare occurren ...	2015	26131809
suppression of long-lived humoral immunity following borrelia burgdorferi infection.	lyme disease caused by infection with borrelia burgdorferi is an emerging infectious disease and already by far the most common vector-borne disease in the u.s. similar to many other infections, infection with b. burgdorferi results in strong antibody response induction, which can be used clinically as a diagnostic measure of prior exposure. however, clinical studies have shown a sometimes-precipitous decline of such antibodies shortly following antibiotic treatment, revealing a potential defici ...	2015	26136236
detection of lyme disease and q fever agents in wild rodents in central italy.	the maintenance of tick-borne disease agents in the environment strictly depends on the relationship between tick vectors and their hosts, which act as reservoirs for these pathogens. a pilot study aimed to investigate wild rodents as reservoirs for zoonotic tick-borne pathogens (borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), coxiella burnetii, francisella tularensis, and anaplasma phagocytophilum) was carried out in an area of gran sasso e monti della laga national park (abruzzi region, central italy) ...	2015	26134933
rna of enterococcus faecalis strain ec-12 is a major component inducing interleukin-12 production from human monocytic cells.	interleukin-12 (il-12) is an important cytokine for the immunomodulatory effects of lactic acid bacteria (lab). using murine immune cells, we previously reported that the rna of enterococcus faecalis ec-12, a lab strain exerting probiotic-like beneficial effects, is the major il-12-inducing immunogenic component. however, it was recently revealed that bacterial rna can be a ligand for toll-like receptor (tlr) 13, which is only expressed in mice. because tlr13 is not expressed in humans, the immu ...	2015	26083838
peromyscus mice as a model for studying natural variation.	the deer mouse (genus peromyscus) is the most abundant mammal in north america, and it occupies almost every type of terrestrial habitat. it is not surprising therefore that the natural history of peromyscus is among the best studied of any small mammal. for decades, the deer mouse has contributed to our understanding of population genetics, disease ecology, longevity, endocrinology and behavior. over a century's worth of detailed descriptive studies of peromyscus in the wild, coupled with emerg ...	2015	26083802
test of 259 serums from patients with arthritis or neurological symptoms confirmed existence of lyme disease in hainan province, china.	indirect fluorescent-antibody test (ifa), western blot (wb) and nested-pcr were applied to identify the borrelia burgdorferi in human serum samples in hainan province. a total of 259 serum samples were collected from sanya peoples' hospital, hainan province. these samples were examined for the presence of b. burgdorferi serologically and etiologically by the two tier tests (ifa and wb) and nested-pcr. 43 in total of 259 serum samples were tested positive by ifa assay, the positive rate was 16.6% ...	2015	26309619
evaluation of borrelia burgdorferi bbhtra protease as a vaccine candidate for lyme borreliosis in mice.	borrelia burgdorferi synthesizes an htra protease (bbhtra) which is a surface-exposed, conserved protein within lyme disease spirochetes with activity toward chex and bmpd of borrelia spp, as well as aggrecan, fibronectin and proteoglycans found in skin, joints and neural tissues of vertebrates. an antibody response against bbhtra is observed in lyme disease patients and in experimentally infected laboratory mice and rabbits. given the surface location of bbhtra on b. burgdorferi and its ability ...	2015	26076465
infectious uveitis.	infectious uveitis is one of the most common and visually devastating causes of uveitis in the us and worldwide. this review provides a summary of the identification, treatment, and complications associated with certain forms of viral, bacterial, fungal, helminthic, and parasitic uveitis. in particular, this article reviews the literature on identification and treatment of acute retinal necrosis due to herpes simplex virus, varicella virus, and cytomegalovirus. while no agreed-upon treatment has ...	2015	26618074
different ecological niches for ticks of public health significance in canada.	tick-borne diseases are a growing public health concern as their incidence and range have increased in recent decades. lyme disease is an emerging infectious disease in canada due to northward expansion of the geographic range of ixodes scapularis, the principal tick vector for the lyme disease agent borrelia burgdorferi, into central and eastern canada. in this study the geographical distributions of ixodid ticks, including i. scapularis, and environmental factors associated with their occurren ...	2015	26131550
cr3 and dectin-1 collaborate in macrophage cytokine response through association on lipid rafts and activation of syk-jnk-ap-1 pathway.	collaboration between heterogeneous pattern recognition receptors (prrs) leading to synergistic coordination of immune response is important for the host to fight against invading pathogens. although complement receptor 3 (cr3) and dectin-1 are major prrs to detect fungi, crosstalk between these two receptors in antifungal immunity is largely undefined. here we took advantage of histoplasma capsulatum which is known to interact with both cr3 and dectin-1 and specific particulate ligands to study ...	2015	26132276
disruption of bbe02 by insertion of a luciferase gene increases transformation efficiency of borrelia burgdorferi and allows live imaging in lyme disease susceptible c3h mice.	lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in north america and europe. the causative agent, borrelia burgdorferi persists in the white-footed mouse. infection with b. burgdorferi can cause acute to persistent multisystemic lyme disease in humans. some disease manifestations are also exhibited in the mouse model of lyme disease. genetic manipulation of b. burgdorferi remains difficult. first, b. burgdorferi contains a large number of endogenous plasmids with unique sequences encoding ...	2015	26069970
serological and molecular analysis of feline vector-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis using species-specific peptides and pcr.	with the exception of bartonella spp. or cytauxzoon felis, feline vector-borne pathogens (fvbp) have been less frequently studied in north america and are generally under-appreciated as a clinical entity in cats, as compared to dogs or people. this study investigated selected fvbp seroreactivity and pcr prevalence in cats using archived samples.	2015	26062723
role of innate t cells in anti-bacterial immunity.	innate t cells are a heterogeneous group of αβ and γδ t cells that respond rapidly (<2 h) upon activation. these innate t cells also share a non mhc class i or ii restriction requirement for antigen recognition. three major populations within the innate t cell group are recognized, namely, invariant nkt cells, mucosal associated invariant t cells, and gamma delta t cells. these cells recognize foreign/self-lipid presented by non-classical mhc molecules, such as cd1d, mr1, and cd1a. they are acti ...	2015	26124758
disorders of the lower cranial nerves.	lesions of the lower cranial nerves (lcn) are due to numerous causes, which need to be differentiated to optimize management and outcome. this review aims at summarizing and discussing diseases affecting lcn. review of publications dealing with disorders of the lcn in humans. affection of multiple lcn is much more frequent than the affection of a single lcn. lcn may be affected solely or together with more proximal cranial nerves, with central nervous system disease, or with nonneurological diso ...	2015	26167022
the increasing risk of lyme disease in canada.	there is an increasing risk of lyme disease in canada due to range expansion of the tick vector, ixodes scapularis. the objectives of this article are to i) raise public awareness with the help of veterinarians on the emerging and expanding risk of lyme disease across canada, ii) review the key clinical features of lyme disease in dogs, and iii) provide recommendations for veterinarians on the management of lyme disease in dogs.	2015	26130829
lose biodiversity, gain disease.		2015	26124103
optimization of mutation pressure in relation to properties of protein-coding sequences in bacterial genomes.	most mutations are deleterious and require energetically costly repairs. therefore, it seems that any minimization of mutation rate is beneficial. on the other hand, mutations generate genetic diversity indispensable for evolution and adaptation of organisms to changing environmental conditions. thus, it is expected that a spontaneous mutational pressure should be an optimal compromise between these two extremes. in order to study the optimization of the pressure, we compared mutational transiti ...	2015	26121655
amblyomma americanum as a bridging vector for human infection with francisella tularensis.	the γ-proteobacterium francisella tularensis causes seasonal tick-transmitted tularemia outbreaks in natural rabbit hosts and incidental infections in humans in the south-central united states. although dermacentor variabilis is considered a primary vector for f. tularensis, amblyomma americanum is the most abundant tick species in this endemic region. a systematic study of f. tularensis colonization of a. americanum was undertaken to better understand its potential to serve as an overwintering ...	2015	26121137
role of group 1 cd1-restricted t cells in infectious disease.	the evolutionarily conserved cd1 family of antigen-presenting molecules presents lipid antigens rather than peptide antigens to t cells. cd1 molecules, unlike classical mhc molecules, display limited polymorphism, making cd1-restricted lipid antigens attractive vaccine targets that could be recognized in a genetically diverse human population. group 1 cd1 (cd1a, cd1b, and cd1c)-restricted t cells have been implicated to play critical roles in a variety of autoimmune and infectious diseases. in t ...	2015	26175733
stable expression of lentiviral antigens by quality-controlled recombinant mycobacterium bovis bcg vectors.	the well-established safety profile of the tuberculosis vaccine strain, mycobacterium bovis bacille calmette-guérin (bcg), makes it an attractive vehicle for heterologous expression of antigens from clinically relevant pathogens. however, successful generation of recombinant bcg strains possessing consistent insert expression has encountered challenges in stability. here, we describe a method for the development of large recombinant bcg accession lots which stably express the lentiviral antigens ...	2015	25924766
the context of host competence: a role for plasticity in host-parasite dynamics.	even apparently similar hosts can respond differently to the same parasites. some individuals or specific groups of individuals disproportionately affect disease dynamics. understanding the sources of among-host heterogeneity in the ability to transmit parasites would improve disease management. a major source of host variation might be phenotypic plasticity - the tendency for phenotypes to change across different environments. plasticity might be as important as, or even more important than, ge ...	2015	26048486
non-clinical safety evaluation of repeated intramuscular administration of the as15 immunostimulant combined with various antigens in rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys.	combination of tumor antigens with immunostimulants is a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. we assessed animal model toxicity of as15 combined with various tumor antigens: wt1 (rabbits), or p501, dher2 and recprame (cynomolgus monkeys), administered in seven or 20 dose regimens versus a saline control. clinical and ophthalmological examinations, followed by extensive post-mortem pathological examinations, were performed on all animals. blood hematology and biochemistry parameters were a ...	2015	26032931
non-clinical safety evaluation of repeated intramuscular administration of the as15 immunostimulant combined with various antigens in rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys.	combination of tumor antigens with immunostimulants is a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. we assessed animal model toxicity of as15 combined with various tumor antigens: wt1 (rabbits), or p501, dher2 and recprame (cynomolgus monkeys), administered in seven or 20 dose regimens versus a saline control. clinical and ophthalmological examinations, followed by extensive post-mortem pathological examinations, were performed on all animals. blood hematology and biochemistry parameters were a ...	2015	26032931
abundance and infection rates of ixodes scapularis nymphs collected from residential properties in lyme disease-endemic areas of connecticut, maryland, and new york.		2015	26047204
borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in humans in a rural area of paraná state, brazil.	this study describes the detection of borrelia garinii and borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) in brazilian individuals using pcr and dna sequencing. our results suggest that these species are emerging pathogens in this country, and additional studies are necessary to determine the epidemiological characteristics of this disease in brazil.	2015	26273276
study of a cohort of 1,886 persons to determine changes in antibody reactivity to borrelia burgdorferi 3 months after a tick bite.	lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi. the most frequent clinical manifestation is a rash called erythema migrans. changes in antibody reactivity to b. burgdorferi 3 months after a tick bite are measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas). one assay is based on native purified flagellum antigen (igg), and the other assay is based on a recombinant antigen called c6 (igg or igm). paired samples were taken at the time of a tick bite and ...	2015	25994550
vaccination with the ospa- and ospb-negative borrelia burgdorferi strain 50772 provides significant protection against canine lyme disease.	beagles received placebo or ospa- and ospb-negative borrelia burgdorferi before a tick challenge. a total of 28 (41%) ticks and skin biopsy specimens from each control dog (n = 10) contained b. burgdorferi. in contrast, 12 (19%) ticks recovered from the vaccine recipients (n = 10) were infected (p = 0.0077), and 5 dogs yielded spirochetes from the skin biopsy specimens (p = 0.0325). in addition, 9 (90%) placebo recipients and 4 (40%) vaccine recipients developed joint abnormalities (p = 0.0573). ...	2015	25972405
natural killer t cells in multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.	multiple sclerosis (ms) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes demyelination of neurons in the central nervous system. traditional therapies for ms have involved anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs with significant side effects that often only provide short-term relief. a more desirable outcome of immunotherapy would be to protect against disease before its clinical manifestation or to halt disease after its initiation. one attractive approach to accomplish this goal would be to ...	2015	26032048
the ecological foundations of transmission potential and vector-borne disease in urban landscapes.	urban transmission of arthropod-vectored disease has increased in recent decades. understanding and managing transmission potential in urban landscapes requires integration of sociological and ecological processes that regulate vector population dynamics, feeding behavior, and vector-pathogen interactions in these unique ecosystems. vectorial capacity is a key metric for generating predictive understanding about transmission potential in systems with obligate vector transmission. this review eva ...	2015	26549921
efficient detection of pathogenic leptospires using 16s ribosomal rna.	pathogenic leptospira species cause a prevalent yet neglected zoonotic disease with mild to life-threatening complications in a variety of susceptible animals and humans. diagnosis of leptospirosis, which primarily relies on antiquated serotyping methods, is particularly challenging due to presentation of non-specific symptoms shared by other febrile illnesses, often leading to misdiagnosis. initiation of antimicrobial therapy during early infection to prevent more serious complications of disse ...	2015	26091292
integrated genomics of crohn's disease risk variant identifies a role for clec12a in antibacterial autophagy.	the polymorphism atg16l1 t300a, associated with increased risk of crohn's disease, impairs pathogen defense mechanisms including selective autophagy, but specific pathway interactions altered by the risk allele remain unknown. here, we use perturbational profiling of human peripheral blood cells to reveal that clec12a is regulated in an atg16l1-t300a-dependent manner. antibacterial autophagy is impaired in clec12a-deficient cells, and this effect is exacerbated in the presence of the atg16l1(∗)3 ...	2015	26095365
balo's concentric sclerosis mimicking cerebral tuberculoma.	balo's concentric sclerosis (bcs) is considered a rare variant of multiple sclerosis, which often mimics an intracranial neoplasm or abscess. we report the case of a 21-year-old woman presenting with bcs while undergoing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. initial brain magnetic resonance imaging (mri) findings were similar to those for cerebral tuberculoma, multiple metastases, or abscesses. however, the pathognomonic concentric sclerosis characteristic of bcs was seen on mri. the antemortem ...	2015	26113796
moraxella catarrhalis binds plasminogen to evade host innate immunity.	several bacterial species recruit the complement regulators c4b-binding protein, factor h, and vitronectin, resulting in resistance against the bactericidal activity of human serum. it was recently demonstrated that bacteria also bind plasminogen, which is converted to plasmin that degrades c3b and c5. in this study, we found that a series of clinical isolates (n = 58) of the respiratory pathogen moraxella catarrhalis, which is commonly isolated from preschool children and adults with chronic ob ...	2015	26099590
major emerging vector-borne zoonotic diseases of public health importance in canada.	in canada, the emergence of vector-borne diseases may occur via international movement and subsequent establishment of vectors and pathogens, or via northward spread from endemic areas in the usa. re-emergence of endemic vector-borne diseases may occur due to climate-driven changes to their geographic range and ecology. lyme disease, west nile virus (wnv), and other vector-borne diseases were identified as priority emerging non-enteric zoonoses in canada in a prioritization exercise conducted by ...	2015	26954882
laboratory diagnosis of lyme disease: advances and challenges.	the majority of laboratory tests performed for the diagnosis of lyme disease are based on detection of the antibody responses against b burgdorferi in serum. the sensitivity of antibody-based tests increases with the duration of the infection. patients early in their illness are more likely to have a negative result. there is a need to simplify the testing algorithm for lyme disease, improving sensitivity in early disease while still maintaining high specificity and providing information about t ...	2015	25999225
human granulocytic anaplasmosis.	human granulocytic anaplasmosis, a deer tick-transmitted rickettsial infection caused by anaplasma phagocytophilum, is a common cause of undifferentiated fever in the northeast and upper midwest united states. patients are often initially diagnosed with a mild viral infection, and illness readily resolves in most cases. however, as many as 3% develop life-threatening complications and nearly 1% die from the infection. although coinfections with borrelia burgdorferi and babesia microti occur, the ...	2015	25999228
bacterial iron-sulfur cluster sensors in mammalian pathogens.	iron-sulfur clusters act as important cofactors for a number of transcriptional regulators in bacteria, including many mammalian pathogens. the sensitivity of iron-sulfur clusters to iron availability, oxygen tension, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species enables bacteria to use such regulators to adapt their gene expression profiles rapidly in response to changing environmental conditions. in this review, we discuss how the [4fe-4s] or [2fe-2s] cluster-containing regulators fnr, wbl, aconita ...	2015	25738802
cerebral toxocariasis: silent progression to neurodegenerative disorders?	toxocara canis and t. cati are highly prevalent nematode infections of the intestines of dogs and cats. in paratenic hosts, larvae do not mature in the intestine but instead migrate through the somatic tissues and organs of the body. the presence of these migrating larvae can contribute to pathology. toxocara larvae can invade the brains of humans, and while case descriptions of cerebral toxocariasis are historically rare, improved diagnosis and greater awareness have contributed to increased de ...	2015	26062575
response to esteve-gassent et al.: flab sequences obtained from texas pcr products are identical to the positive control strain borrelia burgdorferi b31.	feria-arroyo et al. had reported previously that, based on pcr analysis, 45% of ixodes scapularis ticks collected in texas and mexico were infected with the lyme disease spirochete borrelia burgdorferi (parasit. vectors 2014, 7:199). however, our analyses of their initial data (parasit. vectors 2014, 7:467) and a recent response by esteve-gassent et al. (parasit. vectors 2015, 8:129) provide evidence that the positive pcr results obtained from both ribosomal rna intergenic sequences and the flag ...	2015	26050617
hypothesis: cryptosporidium genetic diversity mirrors national disease notification rate.	cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease affecting many people worldwide. disease incidence is often unknown and surveillance of human cryptosporidiosis is installed in only a handful of developed countries. a genetic marker that mirrors disease incidence is potentially a powerful tool for monitoring the two primary human infected species of cryptosporidium.	2015	26048280
whole genome capture of vector-borne pathogens from mixed dna samples: a case study of borrelia burgdorferi.	rapid and accurate retrieval of whole genome sequences of human pathogens from disease vectors or animal reservoirs will enable fine-resolution studies of pathogen epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics. however, next generation sequencing technologies have not yet been fully harnessed for the study of vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens, due to the difficulty of obtaining high-quality pathogen sequence data directly from field specimens with a high ratio of host to pathogen dna.	2015	26048573
eco-epidemiology of borrelia miyamotoi and lyme borreliosis spirochetes in a popular hunting and recreational forest area in hungary.	borrelia miyamotoi, the newly discovered human pathogenic relapsing fever spirochete, and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato are maintained in natural rodent populations. the aim of this study was to investigate the natural cycle of b. miyamotoi and b. burgdorferi s.l. in a forest habitat with intensive hunting, forestry work and recreational activity in southern hungary.	2015	26048373
cloning and characterization of surface-localized α-enolase of streptococcus iniae, an effective protective antigen in mice.	streptococcus iniae is a major fish pathogen that can also cause human bacteremia, cellulitis and meningitis. screening for and identification of protective antigens plays an important role in developing therapies against s. iniae infections. in this study, we indicated that the α-enolase of s. iniae was not only distributed in the cytoplasm and associated to cell walls, but was also secreted to the bacterial cell surface. the functional identity of the purified recombinant α-enolase protein was ...	2015	26121302
invariant natural killer t cells and their ligands: focus on multiple sclerosis.	invariant natural killer t (inkt) cells are an innate population of t cells identified by the expression of an invariant t-cell receptor and reactivity to lipid-based antigens complexed with cd1d. they account for a small percentage of lymphocytes, but are extremely potent and play central roles in immunity to infection, in some cancers, and in autoimmunity. the list of relevant stimulatory lipids and glycolipid antigens now includes a range of endogenous self-antigens including the myelin-deriv ...	2015	25976210
inhibition of the endosymbiont "candidatus midichloria mitochondrii" during 16s rrna gene profiling reveals potential pathogens in ixodes ticks from australia.	the australian paralysis tick (ixodes holocyclus) is of significant medical and veterinary importance as a cause of dermatological and neurological disease, yet there is currently limited information about the bacterial communities harboured by these ticks and the risk of infectious disease transmission to humans and domestic animals. ongoing controversy about the presence of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (the aetiological agent of lyme disease) in australia increases the need to accurately id ...	2015	26108374
physical features of intracellular proteins that moonlight on the cell surface.	moonlighting proteins comprise a subset of multifunctional proteins that perform two or more biochemical functions that are not due to gene fusions, multiple splice variants, proteolytic fragments, or promiscuous enzyme activities. the project described herein focuses on a sub-set of moonlighting proteins that have a canonical biochemical function inside the cell and perform a second biochemical function on the cell surface in at least one species. the goal of this project is to consider the bio ...	2015	26110848
factors affecting larval tick feeding success: host, density and time.	ectoparasites rely on blood-feeding to sustain activity, support development and produce offspring. blood-feeding is also a route for transmission of diverse vector-borne pathogens. the likelihood of successfully feeding is thus an important aspect of ectoparasite population dynamics and pathogen transmission. factors that affect blood-feeding include ectoparasite density, host defenses, and ages of the host and ectoparasite. how these factors interact to affect feeding success is not well under ...	2015	26104393
mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: risk factor for childhood stroke.		2015	27335969
cross-reactive epitopes in borrelia burgdorferi p66.	epitope mapping of the p66 outer membrane protein of borrelia burgdorferi revealed that the protein contains numerous cross-reactive linear epitopes recognized by serum antibody in the majority of individuals tested, regardless of lyme disease history, limiting the usefulness of this antigen in lyme disease serodiagnostic assays.	2015	25972406
glycolysis for microbiome generation.	for a generation of microbiologists who study pathogenesis in the context of the human microbiome, understanding the diversity of bacterial metabolism is essential. in this chapter, i briefly describe how and why i became, and remain, interested in metabolism. i then will describe and compare some of the strategies used by bacteria to consume sugars as one example of metabolic diversity. i will end with a plea to embrace metabolism in the endeavor to understand pathogenesis.	2015	26185089
association between periodontitis and alzheimer's disease.	alzheimer's disease (ad) is a neurodegenerative disease which significantly increases with age. its onset can be either early or late. ad is characterized by the salient inflammatory features, microglial activation, and increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines which contribute to the inflammatory status of the central nervous system (cns). whereas, periodontitis is a common oral infection associated with the gram negative anaerobic bacteria. periodontitis can be marked as a "low-grade syste ...	2015	26199919
chronic lyme disease.	chronic lyme disease is a poorly defined diagnosis that is usually given to patients with prolonged, unexplained symptoms or with alternative medical diagnoses. data do not support the proposition that chronic, treatment-refractory infection with borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for the many conditions that get labeled as chronic lyme disease. prolonged symptoms after successful treatment of lyme disease are uncommon, but in rare cases may be severe. prolonged courses of antibiotics neither p ...	2015	25999227
sinus pause in association with lyme carditis.	lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the united states. it is caused by the spirochete borrelia burgdorferi. cardiac involvement is seen in 4% to 10% of patients with lyme disease. the principal manifestation of lyme carditis is self-limited conduction system disease, with predominant involvement of the atrioventricular node. on rare occasions, lyme carditis patients present with other conduction system disorders such as bundle branch block, intraventricular conduction delay, ...	2015	26175640
diagnosis and treatment of lyme arthritis.	in the united states, lyme arthritis is the most common feature of late-stage borrelia burgdorferi infection, usually beginning months after the initial bite. in some, earlier phases are asymptomatic and arthritis is the presenting manifestation. patients with lyme arthritis have intermittent or persistent attacks of joint swelling and pain in 1 or a few large joints. serologic testing is the mainstay of diagnosis. synovial fluid polymerase chain reaction for b burgdorferi dna is often positive ...	2015	25999223
tick bites in the lyme light.		2015	26175558
isolated and bilateral simultaneous facial palsy disclosing early human immunodeficiency virus infection.	bilateral lower motor neuron type facial palsy is an unusual neurological disorder. there are few reports that associate it with the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection on initial presentation. a 51-year-old married woman, who was previously healthy and had no risk of hiv infection, presented solely with bilateral simultaneous facial palsy. a positive hiv serology test was confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. following a short course of oral prednisolone, the patient ...	2015	26106247
babesiosis.	babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites that are transmitted by ticks, or less commonly through blood transfusion or transplacentally. human babesiosis was first recognized in a splenectomized patient in europe but most cases have been reported from the northeastern and upper midwestern united states in people with an intact spleen and no history of immune impairment. cases are reported in asia, africa, australia, europe, and south america. babesiosis shares many clinical f ...	2015	25999229
oligoarthritis caused by borrelia bavariensis, austria, 2014.	a case of lyme oligoarthritis occurred in an 11-year-old boy in vienna, austria. dna of borrelia bavariensis was detected by pcr in 2 aspirates obtained from different joints. complete recovery was achieved after a 4-week course with amoxicillin. lyme arthritis must be considered in patients from europe who have persisting joint effusions.	2015	25992945