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This page shows you the 20 most read items in the past 30 days within this specialty in the MedWorm directory.

Antibodies against a Tick Protein, Salp15, Protect Mice from the Lyme Disease Agent.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Traditionally, vaccines directly target a pathogen or microbial toxin. Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is a tick-borne illness for which a human vaccine is not currently available. B. burgdorferi binds a tick salivary protein, Salp15, during transmission from the vector, and this interaction facilitates infection of mice. We now show that Salp15 antiserum significantly protected mice from B. burgdorferi infection. Salp15 antiserum also markedly enhanced the protective capacity of antibodies against B. burgdorferi antigens, such as OspA or OspC. Mice actively immunized with Salp15 were also significantly p...
Source: Cell Host and Microbe - November 18, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Dai J, Wang P, Adusumilli S, Booth CJ, Narasimhan S, Anguita J, Fikrig E Tags: Cell Host Microbe Source Type: journals

Characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. isolated from US West Coast public marine beachesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions This is the first report of MRSA and MRCoNS isolated from marine water and intertidal beach sand. The MLST types and antibiotic carriage of five MRSA isolates were similar to hospital MRSA isolates rather than US community-acquired MRSA isolates. Our results suggest that public marine beaches may be a reservoir for transmission of MRSA to beach visitors as well as an ecosystem for exchange of antibiotic resistance genes among staphylococci and related genera. (Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy)
Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy - November 10, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Soge, O. O., Meschke, J. S., No, D. B., Roberts, M. C. Tags: Original research Source Type: journals

Zyvox® Annual Appraisal of Potency and Spectrum program: linezolid surveillance program results for 2008Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, the activity of linezolid remained uniform and stable across the sampled geographic regions studied when compared to the 2006 to 2007 results. Documented LZD-R remains rare (only 0.13% overall but highest for CoNS [0.41%] and enterococci [0.69%]) among the 24 countries sampled for the 6 different pathogen groups. Rates of clindamycin resistance and the frequency of MRSA varied by geographic region and between nations; therefore, like oxazolidinones, it requires continued surveillance for changing resistance patterns. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease - November 13, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ronald N. Jones, James E. Ross, Jan M. Bell, Uchino Utsuki, Ikeda Fumiaki, Intetsu Kobayashi, John D. Turnidge Tags: Antimicrobial Susceptibility Studies Source Type: journals

A variant of the Southern German clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is predominant in CroatiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Clin Microbiol Infect The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and molecular epidemiology of clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates recovered in 24 hospitals in 20 cities in Croatia from October to December 2004. A total of 1815 consecutive S. aureus isolates were recovered, 248 of which were MRSA. The MRSA isolates were analysed using spa typing, multilocus sequence typing and SCCmec typing. Furthermore, the presence of Panton[ndash]Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes was determined as a genetic marker for community-associated MRSA. The MRSA prevalen...
Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection - November 11, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: A. Budimir, R. H. Deurenberg, Z. Bo[scaron]njak, E. E. Stobberingh, H. Cetkovic, S. Kalenic Source Type: journals

Effects of daptomycin in combination with other antimicrobial agents: a review of in vitro and animal model studiesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This review summarizes the in vitro and animal model data available on antibiotic combinations with daptomycin. The majority of studies focus on the clinically relevant combinations of daptomycin with rifampicin or with gentamicin. These studies demonstrate that daptomycin does not adversely affect the activity of other antimicrobial agents that may be administered concomitantly. Overall, additive or indifferent effects with daptomycin combinations were observed; however, synergy was observed for certain isolates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci when exposed to daptomycin and rifampicin. Unexpected synergy was demonstra...
Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy - November 10, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Steenbergen, J. N., Mohr, J. F., Thorne, G. M. Tags: Review Source Type: journals

Recurrent Skin Abscesses Caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Producing Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen, and a frequent cause of community-acquired, as well as hospital-acquired, infections. The most common infections caused by S. aureus are those involving the skin and soft tissues (furuncles, cellulitis, and impetigo) and, less commonly, infections at deeper sites (bones, joints, and heart valves). Frequently, S. aureus produces toxin-mediated diseases, such as toxic shock syndrome, caused by the elaboration of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, and food poisoning, caused by staphylococcal enterotoxins (). Another important toxin is Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which kills ne...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - November 2, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: N. Van Gasse, A. Jeurissen, J. Van Schaeren, J.-P. Ursi, P. Borgers Source Type: news

Microbiology Conferences and MeetingsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Microbiology Conference ListAny conference missing from this list? Please send detailsMicrobiology conferences 2009October 2009October 5 - 9, 2009. 3rd ASM Conference on Salmonella: Biology, Pathogenesis & PreventionAix-en-Provence, France Further informationSuggested reading: Foodborne Pathogens: Microbiology and Molecular BiologyOctober 13 - 17, 2009. Legionella 2009Paris, France Further informationThe 7th International Conference in this series, Legionella 2009, will address a wide range of current research and trends related to Legionella. Sessions will be dedicated to epidemiology and clinical aspects; pathogenesis an...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 22, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Microbiology Symposium Microbiology Short Course microbiology meeting Microbiology Meetings 2010 Microbiology Symposia 2010 Microbiology Workshop microbiology conference Source Type: blogs

Anaerobic Parasitic ProtozoaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Anaerobic parasitic protozoa cause medically and economically important diseases such as dysentery, sexually transmitted infections, and gastroenteritis that affect millions of people worldwide annually. Recently the genomes of the three key anaerobic protozoa, Trichomonas, Giardia and Entamoeba, have been determined. The availability of these genomic data and the use of post-genomic analyses have provided fascinating new insights into the biology of these important parasites. They will be important for the design of novel anti-protozoan drugs and the development of effective vaccines.from Anaerobic Parasitic Protozoa: Gen...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - November 5, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Anaerobic protozoa Gastroenteritis Anti-protozoan drugs Parasitic protozoa Dysentery Trichomonas Entamoeba Giardia Source Type: blogs

Influenza pandemicEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the last 100 years there have been three major influenza pandemics: Spanish Flu in 1918, Asian Flu in 1957 and Hong Kong Flu in 1968. These claimed the lives of approximately 50 million, 2 million and 1 million people respectively. Added to this is the annual death toll of 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide with a further 3 to 4 million people suffering severe illness. These statistics make influenza an extremely important pathogen. In 1997 the alarming emergence of a new, highly pathogenic subtype, H5N1, which has a 50% mortality rate, provided a major impetus for renewed influenza research. However the battle against...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 12, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Hong Kong Flu Spanish Flu World Health Organization Asian Flu H5N1 H1N1 Source Type: blogs

Influenza non-structural protein 1Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of influenza virus is a potent antagonist of the cellular antiviral interferon (IFN) response. It is a multifunctional protein with two domains, a dsRNA binding domain (RBD) and an effector domain (ED) which interacts with various cellular proteins. Although, initially sequestration of dsRNA was considered the primary mechanism for countering IFN, subsequent studies have shown that the interactions of ED with various cellular proteins are likely involved. NS1 is shown to be a virulence determinant, especially in the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses that are currently a threat for another i...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 12, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Influenza virus Interferon NS1 protein H5N1 viruses Influenza virus strains Source Type: blogs

Infectious Diseases and Famous People Who Succumbed to ThemEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article examines seven illnesses — tuberculosis, influenza, infectious diarrhea, syphilis, bacterial pneumonia, bacterial sepsis, and malaria, and the individuals throughout history who contracted and died from them. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - November 2, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Alice S. Weissfeld Source Type: news

Aspergillus biotechnologyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Species within the genus Aspergillus have a large chemical repertoire. Commodity products produced in Aspergillus cell 'factories' include citric, gluconic, itaconic and kojic acid. The use of Aspergillus niger in citric acid production dates back to 1917. Citric acid is one of the most widely used food ingredients. It also has found use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as an acidulant and for aiding in the dissolution of active ingredients. Other technical applications of citric acid are as a hardener in adhesive and for retarding the setting of concrete. Citric acid is a true 'bulk chemical' with an estimate...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: biotechnology Source Type: blogs

Aspergillus infectionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Aspergillus fumigatus and other species capable of growing at 37°C are opportunistic pathogens. About 40 of the 250 species of Aspergillus have been reported as human pathogens but the majority of cases are associated with just one species: A. fumigatus. The respiratory system is the normal portal of entry. The animal diseases caused by Aspergillus infection are all lumped together under the term 'aspergillosis.' Aspergillosis is a 'big umbrella' term, with an accompanying enormous literature. It refers to all infections caused by Aspergillus, including both veterinary and human disease, and ranging from localized and...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Allergies Aspergillosis Localized mycoses Invasive mycoses Source Type: blogs

Anaerobic Parasitic ProtozoaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Anaerobic parasitic protozoa cause medically and economically important diseases such as dysentery, sexually transmitted infections, and gastroenteritis that affect millions of people worldwide annually. Recently the genomes of the three key anaerobic protozoa, Trichomonas, Giardia and Entamoeba, have been determined. The availability of these genomic data and the use of post-genomic analyses have provided fascinating new insights into the biology of these important parasites. They will be important for the design of novel anti-protozoan drugs and the development of effective vaccines.A new book on Anaerobic Parasitic Prot...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - July 21, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: parasitology books parasitic infections parasites Trichomonas Entamoeba new book Giardia Blastocystis Source Type: blogs

Dengue virus evolutionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The evolutionary path of dengue virus differs in several important aspects from its flavivirus cousins, though dengue retains many of the same clinical characteristics such as production of severe fever, myalgias, headache, hepatitis, encephalitis and haemorrhage. The phylogeny of the flaviviruses sheds little light on the origin of DENV because the closest relatives include mosquito-borne viruses that occur in several continents. However, as described by Vasilakis, more detailed phylogenetic studies of DENV suggest an Asian origin, where sylvatic cycles between non-human primates and Aedes mosquitoes arose. Unlike the oth...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 6, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: dengue Sylvatic cycle dengue virus Source Type: blogs

Dengue virus epidemiologyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The spread of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes through the slave trade and later through the movement of ships and goods during the Second World War facilitated the global expansion of dengue virus. The first descriptions of dengue fever characterized the eighteenth-century pandemic of dengue infection as described in 1780 by Benjamin Rush during a large outbreak of dengue fever in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the USA. Dengue was thought to have been introduced in the USA as a consequence of the rum and slave trade between Africa and Caribbean ports. Dengue outbreaks occurred throughout the USA, the Caribbean and South America d...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 6, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Dengue pandemics Aedes aegypti Dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane Haemorrhagic fever dengue virus Source Type: blogs

An Overview of the Genus AspergillusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Aspergillus is the name used for a genus of moulds that reproduce only by asexual means. The morphology of the conidiophore, the structure that bears asexual spores, is the most important taxonomic character used in Aspergillus taxonomy. Aspergillus species are common and widespread. They are among the most successful groups of moulds with important roles in natural ecosystems and the human economy. Among scientists working on Aspergillus, there is a continuing fascination with their biotechnological potential. In addition to producing numerous useful extracellular enzymes and organic acids, these moulds also pro...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: aspergillus Genus Aspergillus Source Type: blogs

Aspergillus and diseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Aerosolized Aspergillus spores are found nearly everywhere so we are routinely and almost constantly exposed to them. Such exposure is a normal part of the human condition and generally poses no adverse health effects. Nevertheless, Aspergillus can and does cause animal disease in three major ways: through the production of mycotoxins; through induction of allergenic responses; and through localized or systemic infections. With the latter two categories, the immune status of the host is pivotal. Allergies and asthma are thought to be caused by an active host immune response against the presence of fungal spores or hyphae. ...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - October 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Aspergillus Asthma Aspergillus Allergies Source Type: blogs

Flaviviruses: Translation and Processing of the Virus PolyproteinEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Positive strand RNA viruses, including flaviviruses, generally utilize the translational machinery of the host to synthesize viral proteins either in a cap-dependent or cap-independent manner to produce polyprotein precursors which are then processed into mature proteins. Polyprotein processing is accomplished by the concerted action of host and viral proteases. While some viruses, such as the hepatitis C virus code for more than one protease to perform distinct functions, flaviviruses code for a novel two-component serine protease which participates in early and late stages of the viral life cycle.from R. Padmanabhan and ...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - September 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: dengue flavivirus Flaviviruses dengue fever dengue virus Source Type: blogs

Medical mycologyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In recent years the development of new molecular biology tools and the elucidation of whole genome sequences have revolutionized research in medical mycology. Such advances have led to the development of faster, more reliable diagnostic techniques for medically important pathogens such as Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans. In addition they have led to a major breakthrough in the approach for the generation of novel anti-fungal agents. In a recent book on Medical Mycology a panel of expert international mycologists critically review the most important areas. Topics include: gene expression ...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - April 1, 2008 Category: Microbiology Source Type: blogs