The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue via MedWorm.com

Reviewers of Volumer 202

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:26:53 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 12, Page 1931-1938, 15 December 2010. The Journal of Infectious Diseases thanks its many reviewers for their valuable advice and criticism. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Hyr1 Protein and β‐Glucan Conjugates as Anti‐Candida Vaccines

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:25:25 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 12, Page 1930, 15 December 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Genetic Associations of Variants in Genes Encoding HIV‐Dependency Factors Required for HIV‐1 Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:22:41 +0100

Conclusions. This study independently verifies the influence of NCOR2 and IDH1 on HIV transmission, and its findings suggest that variation in these genes affects susceptibility to HIV infection in exposed individuals. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Dynamic—and Challenging—Concept

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:06:06 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Anthrax Lethal and Edema Toxins Produce Different Patterns of Cardiovascular and Renal Dysfunction and Synergistically Decrease Survival in Canines

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:33:45 +0100

Conclusion. Shock with ETx or LeTx may require differing supportive therapies, whereas toxin antagonists should likely target both toxins. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Latent Tuberculosis Detection by Interferon γ Release Assay during Pregnancy Predicts Active Tuberculosis and Mortality in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1–Infected Women and Their Children

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:33:36 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. We evaluated the prognostic usefulness of interferon γ release assays (IGRAs) for active tuberculosis and mortality in Kenyan human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1)–infected women and their infants. Methods. Prevalence and correlates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis–specific T‐SPOT.TB IGRA positivity were determined during pregnancy in a historical cohort of HIV‐1–infected women. Hazard ratios, adjusted for baseline maternal CD4 cell count (aHRCD4), were calculated for associations between IGRA positivity and risk of active tuberculosis and mortality over 2‐year postpartum follow‐up among women and their infants. Results. Of 333 women tested, 52 (15.6%) had indete...

Bacterial Vaginosis Assessed by Gram Stain and Diminished Colonization Resistance to Incident Gonococcal, Chlamydial, and Trichomonal Genital Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:32:45 +0100

Conclusion. BV microbiota as gauged by Gram stain is associated with a significantly elevated risk for acquisition of trichomonal, gonococcal, and/or chlamydial genital infection. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Host Attachment, Invasion, and Stimulation of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Campylobacter concisus and Other Non–Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacter Species

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:06:01 +0100

Conclusions. These findings demonstrate that C. concisus and other non–C. jejuni Campylobacter species may play a role in initiating gastrointestinal diseases. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Variability in the Lipooligosaccharide Structure and Endotoxicity among Bordetella pertussis Strains

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:49 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Bordetella endotoxins show remarkable structural variability both among each other and in comparison to other gram‐negative bacteria. Here we demonstrate that, in contrast to the common Bordetella pertussis laboratory strain and Tohama I derivative BP338, lipooligosaccharide from mouse challenge strain 18‐323 is a poor inducer of inflammatory cytokines in human and murine macrophages, is greatly impaired in Toll‐like receptor 4–mediated activation of nuclear factor–κB in transfected HEK‐293 cells, and functions as a Toll‐like receptor 4 antagonist. Comparison of lipid A and lipooligosaccharide structures of B. pertussis strains BP338 and 18‐323 revealed that 18‐323 (1) lacks the abili...

Type 2 Vaccine‐Derived Poliovirus from Patients with Acute Flaccid Paralysis in China: Current Immunization Strategy Effectively Prevented Its Sustained Transmission

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:46 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. In China, 5 patients with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) associated with type 2 vaccine‐derived poliovirus (VDPV) were identified by an AFP surveillance system from 1996 through 2009. A maximum‐likelihood tree shows that all 5 Chinese VDPVs were independent. These 5 VDPVs were 100–216 d old according to the number of synonymous substitutions per synonymous site and 176–292 d old according to the number of substitutions per site. This result indicates limited virus replication since the administration of the initiating oral polio vaccine (OPV) dose, which is consistent with the rapid evolution rate of poliovirus genomes. The above‐mentioned VDPVs have important implications in the global polio e...

Viral Escape in Cerebrospinal Fluid—An Achilles Heel of HIV Therapy?

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:36 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

HIV‐1 Viral Escape in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Subjects on Suppressive Antiretroviral Treatment

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:31 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. Occasional cases of viral escape in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) despite suppression of plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) RNA have been reported. We investigated CSF viral escape in subjects treated with commonly used antiretroviral therapy regimens in relation to intrathecal immune activation and central nervous system penetration effectiveness (CPE) rank. Methods. Sixty‐nine neurologically asymptomatic subjects treated with antiretroviral therapy >6 months and plasma HIV‐1 RNA (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

The Large Intestine as a Major Reservoir for Simian Immunodeficiency Virus in Macaques with Long‐Term, Nonprogressing Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:30 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Although patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection who are receiving antiretroviral therapy and those with long‐term, nonprogressive infection (LTNPs) usually have undetectable viremia, virus persists in tissue reservoirs throughout infection. However, the distribution and magnitude of viral persistence and replication in tissues has not been adequately examined. Here, we used the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) macaque model to quantify and compare viral RNA and DNA in the small (jejunum) and large (colon) intestine of LTNPs. In LTNPs with chronic infection, the colon had consistently higher viral levels than did the jejunum. The colon also had higher percentages of viral target...

Cytomegalovirus Viruria and DNAemia in Healthy Seropositive Women

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:18 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Viruria and DNAemia patterns were investigated in 205 seroimmune women enrolled in a prospective cytomegalovirus (CMV) reinfection study. CMV DNA was detected at least once in urine and blood specimens from 83% and 52% of patients, respectively. At baseline, 39% of patients had viruria, and 24% had DNAemia. Intermittent viruria and viremia was observed throughout the study. There were no differences in baseline CMV positivity by polymerase chain reaction or in longitudinal DNAemia and viruria between the women with and without serological evidence of reinfection. In young seropositive women, CMV DNAemia and viruria are common, which suggests that naturally acquired immunity to CMV does not alter sheddin...

Murine Cecal Patch M Cells Transport Infectious Prions In Vivo

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:17 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. We show that following oral inoculation, prions bind to ileal Peyer patch and cecal patch microfold cells (M cells) in vivo. Furthermore, we show evidence that the cecum acts a biological sump holding large concentrations of prions for relatively long periods, thus increasing the exposure time of cecal patch M cells. Our results show a critical initial step in the translocation of prions from the intestinal lumen of mammals in vivo, which is a precursor to infection. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Characterization of the Meiosis‐Specific Recombinase Dmc1 of Pneumocystis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:40:03 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The life cycle of Pneumocystis, which causes life‐threatening pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients, remains poorly defined. In the present study, we have identified and characterized an orthologue of dmc1, a gene specific for meiotic recombination in yeast, in 3 species of Pneumocystis. dmc1 is a single‐copy gene that is transcribed as ∼1.2‐kb messenger RNA, which encodes a protein of 336–337 amino acids. Pneumocystis Dmc1 was 61%–70% identical to those from yeast. Confocal microscopy results indicated that the expression of Dmc1 is primarily confined to the cyst form of Pneumocystis. By sequence analysis of 2 single‐copy regions of the human Pneumocystis jirovecii genome, we can infer m...

A Paradoxical Role for Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of West Nile Virus

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:39:53 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are key in innate immunity, but their role in viral pathogenesis is incompletely understood. In infection due to West Nile virus (WNV), we found that expression of 2 PMN‐attracting chemokines, Cxcl1 and Cxcl2, was rapidly and dramatically elevated in macrophages. PMNs are rapidly recruited to the site of WNV infection in mice and support efficient replication of WNV. Mice depleted of PMNs after WNV inoculation developed higher viremia and experienced earlier death, compared with the control group, which suggest a protective role for PMNs. In contrast, when PMNs were depleted prior to infection with WNV, and in mice deficient in Cxcr2 (a chemokine receptor gene), vir...

Comparative Analysis of Virulence and Toxin Expression of Global Community‐Associated Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:38:56 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The current pandemic of community‐associated methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) skin infections is caused by several genetically unrelated clones. Here, we analyzed virulence of globally occurring CA‐MRSA strains in a rabbit skin infection model. We used rabbits because neutrophils from this animal species have relatively high sensitivity to Panton‐Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a toxin epidemiologically correlated with many CA‐MRSA infections. Virulence in the rabbit model correlated with in vitro neutrophil lysis and transcript levels of phenol‐soluble modulin α and α‐toxin, but not PVL genes. Furthermore, abscesses caused by USA300 and its PVL‐negative progenitor U...

Variability in the 2′‐5′‐Oligoadenylate Synthetase Gene Cluster Is Associated with Human Predisposition to Tick‐Borne Encephalitis Virus–Induced Disease

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:38:46 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The 2′‐5′‐oligoadenylate synthetase (2′‐5′‐OAS) family members are interferon‐induced antiviral proteins. Twenty‐three single nucleotide polymorphisms located within the OAS1, OAS2, OAS3, and OASL genes were analyzed in 142 patients with Russian tick‐borne encephalitis. Statistically significant differences in genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies for 3 OAS2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1293762, rs15895, and rs1732778) and 2 OAS3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2285932 and rs2072136) were detected between patients with central nervous system disease and both those with fever and/or meningitis and the control group. The data suggest a possible association between thes...

Cervical Human Papillomavirus Prevalence in 5 Continents: Meta‐Analysis of 1 Million Women with Normal Cytological Findings

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:02:21 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. Baseline information on human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and type distribution is highly desirable to evaluate the impact of prophylactic HPV vaccines in the near future. Methods. A meta‐analysis was performed of studies published between 1995 and 2009 that used polymerase chain reaction or Hybrid Capture 2 for HPV detection in women with normal cytological findings. Results. The analysis included 194 studies comprising 1,016,719 women with normal cytological findings. The estimated global HPV prevalence was 11.7% (95% confidence interval, 11.6%–11.7%). Sub‐Saharan Africa (24.0%), Eastern Europe (21.4%), and Latin America (16.1%) showed the highest prevalences. Age‐spec...

Direct and Indirect Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination Delivered to Children at School Preceding an Epidemic Caused by 3 New Influenza Virus Variants

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:05:29 +0100

Conclusions. LAIV delivered to elementary‐school children before an epidemic caused by 3 new variant influenza viruses generated significant cross‐protection for the recipients and indirect (herd) protection for the community. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00138294. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

A Paradigm for the Control of Influenza

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:17:03 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Efficacy of Whole‐Cell Killed Bacterial Vaccines in Preventing Pneumonia and Death during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:16:40 +0100

Conclusions. Despite significant methodological problems, the systematic biases in these studies do not exclude the possibilities that whole‐cell inactivated pneumococcal vaccines may confer cross‐protection to multiple pneumococcal serotypes and that bacterial vaccines may play a role in preventing influenza‐associated pneumonia. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Dynamic Coinfection with Multiple Viral Subtypes in Acute Hepatitis C

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:41:02 +0100

Conclusions. This well‐sampled cohort with acute HCV infection was characterized by dynamic coinfection with multiple viral subtypes, representing a highly complex virologic landscape extremely early in infection. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Both CD31+ and CD31− Naive CD4+ T Cells Are Persistent HIV Type 1–Infected Reservoirs in Individuals Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:20:55 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. Naive T cell recovery is critical for successful immune reconstitution after antiretroviral therapy (ART), but the relative contribution of CD31+ and CD31− naive T cells to immune reconstitution and viral persistence is unknown. Methods. In a cross‐sectional (n = 94) and longitudinal (n = 10) study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients before and after ART, we examined the ratio of CD31+ to CD31− naive CD4+ T cells. In the longitudinal cohort we then quantified the concentration of HIV‐1 DNA in each cell subset and performed single‐genome amplification of virus from memory and naive T cells. Results. Patients receiving ART had a higher proportio...

Staphylococcal Superantigens Cause Lethal Pulmonary Disease in Rabbits

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:20:31 +0100

Conclusions. Superantigens contribute to lethal pulmonary illnesses due to CA‐MRSA; preexisting immunity to superantigens prevents lethality. Administration of high‐affinity Vβ‐TCR with specificity for SEB to nonimmune animals protects from lethal pulmonary illness resulting from SEB+ CA‐MRSA and SEB. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Circulating Antibody‐Secreting Cells during Acute Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Adults

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:20:28 +0100

Conclusions. The kinetics of ASC circulation during acute mucosal viral infections was more prolonged than that we had observed after a single intramuscular injection with inactivated influenza vaccine in a study reported elsewhere. The association between the duration of virus shedding and the persistence of detectable viral‐specific ASCs suggests that ongoing antigen persistence induces a prolonged temporal pattern of ASC generation. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Inactivated Seasonal Influenza Vaccines Increase Serum Antibodies to the Neuraminidase of Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 Virus in an Age‐Dependent Manner

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:20:27 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Levels of preexisting antibodies to the hemagglutinin of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 (hereafter pandemic H1N1) virus positively correlate with age. The impact of contemporary seasonal influenza vaccines on establishing immunity to other pandemic H1N1 proteins is unknown. We measured serum antibodies to the neuraminidase (NA) of pandemic H1N1 in adults prior to and after vaccination with seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines. Serum antibodies to pandemic H1N1 NA were observed in all age groups; however, vaccination elevated levels of pandemic H1N1 NA antibodies predominately in elderly individuals (age, ⩾60 years). Therefore, contemporary seasonal vaccines likely contribute to reduction...

Adjuvanted Intranasal Norwalk Virus‐Like Particle Vaccine Elicits Antibodies and Antibody‐Secreting Cells That Express Homing Receptors for Mucosal and Peripheral Lymphoid Tissues

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:20:05 +0100

Conclusions. The intranasal monovalent adjuvanted Norwalk VLP vaccine was well tolerated and highly immunogenic and is a candidate for additional study. Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00806962. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

A Norovirus Vaccine on the Horizon?

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:19:57 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Immune Responses to Helicobacter pylori Infection in Bangladeshi Children during Their First Two Years of Life and the Association between Maternal Antibodies and Onset of Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:19:49 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. A birth cohort of 238 children in Bangladesh was monitored during the initial 2 years of life to analyze immune responses against Helicobacter pylori in relation to infection and spontaneous eradication and to evaluate a possible association between maternal antibodies and protection against early onset of infection. Methods. H. pylori infection was determined by a stool antigen test and serologic testing. Immune responses were analyzed in depth in 50 children. Results and conclusions. Of the stool antigen–positive children, 90% developed ⩾4‐fold increased antibody levels against H. pylori in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, 73% developed increases in serum IgG levels, and 81% dev...

Mediators of Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Differentially Affect Immune Restoration Disease Associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV Patients Beginning Antiretroviral Therapy

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:00:42 +0100

Conclusions. Perturbations of the innate immune response to M. tuberculosis before and during ART may contribute to the immunopathology of TB‐IRIS, whereas elevated IL‐18 alone suggests adaptive immune responses predominate in ART‐TB. These findings may have implications for therapy in TB‐IRIS. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Variants in Paired Enrollment and Follow‐up Cervical Samples: Implications for a Proper Understanding of Type‐Specific Persistent Infections

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:58:39 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Prospective studies of the persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) variants are rare and typically small. We sequenced HPV‐16 variants in longitudinal pairs of specimens from 86 women enrolled in the ASCUS‐LSIL Triage Study. A change of variants was identified in 4 women (4.7% [95% confidence interval, 1.3%‐11.5%]). Among women with intervening HPV results ($n=60$), a variant switch occurred in 2 of 11 who had evidence of intervening negativity for HPV‐16, compared with 1 of 49 who consistently tested positive ($P=.11$). These results suggest the possibility that rare misclassification of transient infections as persistent infections occurs in natural history studies of type‐specific HPV inf...

Molecular Analysis of Household Transmission of Giardia lamblia in a Region of High Endemicity in Peru

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:58:38 +0100

Conclusions. In a region of high endemicity where infected dogs and humans constantly commingle, different genotypes of Giardia are almost always found in dogs and humans, suggesting that zoonotic transmission is very uncommon. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

IL28B Polymorphism Does Not Determine Outcomes of Hepatitis B Virus or HIV Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:58:29 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. An IL28B haplotype strongly determines the outcome of natural and interferon‐α treated hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To assess whether the polymorphism marking the haplotype (rs12979860) also affects other interferon‐α responsive chronic viral illnesses, namely hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infections, we genotyped 226 individuals with HBV persistence, 384 with HBV recovery, and 2548 with or at high risk for HIV infection. The C/C genotype of rs12979860 was not associated with HBV recovery (odds ratio, 0.99), resistance to HIV infection (odds ratio, 0.97), or HIV disease progression ($P> .05$). This IL28B single‐nucleotide polymorphism affects the imm...

Comparative Metagenomic Study of Alterations to the Intestinal Microbiota and Risk of Nosocomial Clostridum difficile–Associated Disease

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:43:22 +0100

This study investigated the relationship between hospital exposures, intestinal microbiota, and subsequent risk of Clostridium difficile–associated disease (CDAD), with use of a nested case‐control design. The study included 599 patients, hospitalized from September 2006 through May 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, from whom fecal samples were obtained within 72 h after admission; 25 developed CDAD, and 50 matched controls were selected for analysis. Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and antibiotic use were associated with CDAD. Fecal specimens were evaluated by 16S ribosomal RNA microarray to characterize bacteria in the intestinal microbiota during the at‐risk period. Probe intensities were higher for Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria in the patients with CDAD, compared ...

Listeria monocytogenes Induces T Cell Receptor Unresponsiveness through Pore‐Forming Toxin Listeriolysin O

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:04:40 +0100

Conclusion. These findings provide important insights into how bacterial toxins silence adaptive immune responses and thus enable prolonged survival of the pathogen in the host. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis–Specific Cellular Immune Profiles Suggest Bacillary Persistence Decades after Spontaneous Cure in Untreated Tuberculosis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:04:28 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Individuals with self‐healed tuberculosis from the preantibiotic era offer a unique insight into the natural history of and protective immunity to tuberculosis. In 27 such persons whose tuberculosis self‐healed >50 years earlier, circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen–specific interferon γ (IFN‐γ)– and interleukin 2 (IL‐2)–secreting T cells were detected ex vivo in 16 and 19 individuals, respectively. The M. tuberculosis–specific T cell cytokine profile was dominated by effector memory T cells that secrete both IFN‐γ and IL‐2 and included T cells that secrete only IFN‐γ or IL‐2, suggesting persistence of antigen secreted by viable bacilli. Of 10 individuals with no M....

Circulating Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Acutely Infected Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4 Are Normal in Number and Phenotype

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:23:13 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection in Egypt provides a unique opportunity to study the innate immune response to symptomatic acute HCV infection. We investigated whether plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are activated as a result of HCV infection. We demonstrate that, even during symptomatic acute infection, circulating pDCs maintained a similar precursor frequency and resting phenotype, compared with pDCs in healthy individuals. Moreover, stimulation with a Toll‐like receptor 9 agonist resulted in an intact inflammatory response. These data support the growing consensus that pDCs are not directly activated by HCV and therefore are viable targets for immunotherapy througho...

In Vitro Genetic Analysis of an Erythrocyte Determinant of Malaria Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:23:12 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Invasion of erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum is an obligatory step in the life cycle of the parasite. A major challenge is the unambiguous identification and characterization of host receptors. Because erythrocytes lack nuclei, direct genetic analyses have been limited. In this work, we combined an in vitro erythrocyte culture system, which supports P. falciparum invasion and growth, with lentiviral transduction to knock down gene expression. We genetically demonstrate, in an isogenic background, that glycophorin A is required for efficient strain‐specific parasite invasion. We establish the feasibility of in vitro systematic functional analysis of essential erythrocyte determinants of malaria an...

High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bocavirus in Daycare: Is Otitis Media a Confounder?

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:03:46 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 10, Page 1617, 15 November 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Reply to Longtin et al

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:03:44 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 10, Page 1617-1618, 15 November 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

A Randomized Factorial Trial Comparing 4 Treatment Regimens in Treatment‐Naive HIV‐Infected Persons with AIDS and/or a CD4 Cell Count

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 07:12:28 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. Few randomized trials comparing antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens have been conducted in resource‐limited settings. Methods. In the Republic of South Africa, antiretroviral‐naive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected individuals >14 years old with a CD4 cell count (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Profound Lack of Interleukin (IL)–12/IL‐23p40 in Neonates Born Early in Gestation Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Sepsis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:01:56 +0100

Conclusion. To our knowledge, this study is the first detailed analysis of multiple TLR function in neonates born extremely premature. Although attenuation of proinflammatory pathways may protect against tissue‐damaging immunity early in life, this previously unrecognized p40 immune deficiency appears to result in considerably increased susceptibility to infection in human preterm newborns. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Murine Model of Clostridium difficile Infection with Aged Gnotobiotic C57BL/6 Mice and a BI/NAP1 Strain

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:00:30 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The increased incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in older adults (age, ⩾65 years) corresponds with the emergence of the BI/NAP1 strain, making elucidation of the host immune response extremely important. We therefore infected germ‐free C57BL/6 mice aged 7–14 months with a BI/NAP1 strain and monitored the mice for response. Infected mice were moribund 48–72 h after infection and developed gross and histological cecitis and colitis and elevated concentrations of keratinocyte chemoattractant, interleukin 1β, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor and decreased levels of interferon γ, interleukin 12 p40, interleukin 12 p70, and inte...

RG7128 Alone or in Combination with Pegylated Interferon‐α2a and Ribavirin Prevents Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Replication and Selection of Resistant Variants in HCV‐Infected Patients

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:42:55 +0100

Conclusions. The requirement for a predominant S282T mutant quasispecies, its low replication capacity, and the low‐level resistance it confers probably contribute to the lack of RG7128 resistance observed in HCV‐infected patients. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Rescue of Severely Immunocompromised HIV‐Positive Persons

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:42:54 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Colistin‐Tobramycin Combinations Are Superior to Monotherapy Concerning the Killing of Biofilm Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:42:38 +0100

Conclusion. Colistin‐tobramycin combinations are more efficient than respective single antibiotics for killing P. aeruginosa in biofilms in vitro, and they significantly reduced P. aeruginosa cell counts in a rat lung infection model and in patients with cystic fibrosis. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Mutations in agr Do Not Persist in Natural Populations of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:42:27 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Staphylococcus aureus organisms vary in the function of the staphylococcal virulence regulator gene agr. To test for a relationship between agr and transmission in S. aureus, we determined the prevalence and genetic basis of agr dysfunction among nosocomial methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in an area of MRSA endemicity. Identical inactivating agr mutations were not detected in epidemiologically unlinked clones within or between hospitals. Additionally, most agr mutants had single mutations, indicating that they were short lived. Collectively, the results suggest that agr dysfunction is adaptive for survival in the infected host but that it may be counteradaptive outside infected host tissues. (S...

Differences in HIV Burden and Immune Activation within the Gut of HIV‐Positive Patients Receiving Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:44:52 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. The gut is a major reservoir for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). We hypothesized that distinct immune environments within the gut may support varying levels of HIV. Methods. In 8 HIV‐1‐positive adults who were receiving ART and had CD4+ T cell counts of >200 cells/μL and plasma viral loads of (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Accelerated Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule among Drug Users: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:41:28 +0100

Conclusion. The accelerated vaccination schedule improves hepatitis B vaccination adherence among IDUs. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus–Related Virus Prevalence in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Chronic Immunomodulatory Conditions

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:41:21 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. We investigated the prevalence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus‐related virus (XMRV) among 293 participants seen at academic hospitals in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants were recruited from the following 5 groups of patients: chronic fatigue syndrome ($n=32$), human immunodeficiency virus infection ($n=43$), rheumatoid arthritis ($n=97$), hematopoietic stem‐cell or solid organ transplant ($n=26$), or a general cohort of patients presenting for medical care ($n=95$). XMRV DNA was not detected in any participant samples. We found no association between XMRV and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or chronic immunomodulatory conditions. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue...

Current Status of Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus–Related Retrovirus in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Prostate Cancer: Reach for a Scorecard, Not a Prescription Pad

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:41:20 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Failure to Detect Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus–Related Virus in Blood of Individuals at High Risk of Blood‐Borne Viral Infections

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:41:18 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. A xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV) has recently been reported in association with prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome, with a prevalence of up to 3.7% in the healthy population. We looked for XMRV in 230 patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 or hepatitis C infection. XMRV was undetectable in plasma or peripheral blood mononuclear cells by polymerase chain reaction targeting XMRV gag or env. T cell responses to XMRV Gag were undetectable in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by ex vivo gamma interferon enzyme‐linked immunospot assay. In our cohorts, XMRV was not enriched in patients with blood‐borne or sexually transmitted infections from the United Kingdom...

Poor Clinical Outcome for Meningitis Caused by Haemophilus influenzae Serotype A Strains Containing the IS1016‐bexA Deletion

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:08:09 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Since the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines, meningitis caused by serotypes other than Hib has gained in importance. We conducted active hospital‐based surveillance for meningitis over an 11‐year period in Salvador, Brazil. H. influenzae isolates were serotyped and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing to identify strains with a specific deletion (IS1016) in the bexA gene (IS1016‐bexA). We identified 43 meningitis cases caused by non–type b H. influenzae: 28 (65%) were caused by type a (Hia), 9 (21%) were caused by noncapsulated strains, and 3 (7%) each were caused by types e and f. Hia isolates clustere...

A Novel Histological Grading Scheme for Placental Malaria Applied in Areas of High and Low Malaria Transmission

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 07:05:17 +0100

Conclusions. This semiquantitative pathological grading scheme is simple to implement and captures information that is associated with outcomes in Asia and Africa; therefore, it should facilitate the comparison and standardization of results among clinical trials across areas of differing endemicity. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

A 2009 Varicella Outbreak in a Connecticut Residential Facility for Adults with Intellectual Disability

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:23:24 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. We investigated a varicella outbreak in a residential facility for adults with intellectual disabilities. A case of varicella was defined as a generalized maculopapular rash that developed in a facility resident or employee. Immunoglobulin M testing was conducted on serologic samples, and polymerase chain reaction testing was performed on environmental and skin lesion samples. Eleven cases were identified among 70 residents and 2 among ∼145 staff. An unrecognized case of herpes zoster was the likely source. Case patients first entered any residential facility at a younger age than non‐case residents (9.5 vs 15.0 years; $P< .01$). Varicella zoster virus DNA was detected 2 months after the outbreak in...

Measles in the United States during the Postelimination Era

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:23:17 +0100

Conclusions. The United States maintained measles elimination from 2001 through 2008 because of sustained high vaccination coverage. Challenges to maintaining elimination include large outbreaks of measles in highly traveled developed countries, frequent international travel, and clusters of US residents who remain unvaccinated because of personal belief exemptions. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Elevated Cervical White Blood Cell Infiltrate Is Associated with Genital HIV Detection in a Longitudinal Cohort of Antiretroviral Therapy–Adherent Women

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:04:31 +0100

Conclusions. Despite antiretroviral therapy adherence and clinically suppressed plasma viremia, HIV was intermittently detected in genital secretions and was associated with subclinical inflammation and cells trafficking to the cervical mucosa. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Factors Associated with Prevalent Abnormal Anal Cytology in a Large Cohort of HIV‐Infected Adults in the United States

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:25:48 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. The prevalence of and risk factors for abnormal anal cytology among men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have not been extensively investigated. Methods. The Study to Understand the Natural History of HIV and AIDS in the Era of Effective Therapy (SUN study) is a prospective cohort study of HIV‐infected patients in 4 US cities. Baseline questionnaires were administered and anal samples for cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) detection and genotyping were collected. Results. Among 471 men and 150 women (median age, 41 years), 78% of participants were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy, 41% had a CD4+ cell count of ⩾500 cells/μL, and 71% ha...

Therapeutic Recombinant Murine Activated Protein C Attenuates Pulmonary Coagulopathy and Improves Survival in Murine Pneumococcal Pneumonia

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:25:23 +0100

Conclusions. Rm‐APC inhibits pulmonary activation of coagulation and, when added to antibiotic therapy, improves survival in murine pneumococcal pneumonia. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Efficacy of CMX001 against Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in Mice and Correlations with Drug Distribution Studies

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:04:13 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. CMX001, an orally active lipid conjugate of cidofovir, is 50 times more active in vitro against herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication than acyclovir or cidofovir. These studies compared the efficacy of CMX001 to acyclovir in BALB/c mice inoculated intranasally with HSV types 1 or 2. CMX001 was effective in reducing mortality using doses of 5 to 1.25 mg/kg administered orally once daily, even when treatments were delayed 48–72 h post viral inoculation. Organ samples obtained from mice treated with CMX001 had titers 3–5 log10 plaque‐forming units per gram of tissue lower than samples obtained from mice treated with acyclovir, including 5 different regions of the brain. Detectable concentrations of ...

Antiretroviral Adherence and Development of Drug Resistance Are the Strongest Predictors of Genital HIV‐1 Shedding among Women Initiating Treatment

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:35:41 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Persistent genital human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) shedding among women receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) may present a transmission risk. We investigated the associations between genital HIV‐1 suppression after ART initiation and adherence, resistance, pretreatment CD4 cell count, and hormonal contraceptive use. First‐line ART was initiated in 102 women. Plasma and genital HIV‐1 RNA levels were measured at months 0, 3, and 6. Adherence was a strong and consistent predictor of genital HIV‐1 suppression ($P< .001$), whereas genotypic resistance was associated with higher vaginal HIV‐1 RNA level at month 6 ($P=.04$). These results emphasize the importance of adherence to optim...

Class I HLA‐A*7401 Is Associated with Protection from HIV‐1 Acquisition and Disease Progression in Mbeya, Tanzania

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:35:26 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Here we explore associations between HLA variation and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) acquisition and disease progression in a community cohort in Mbeya, Tanzania, a region that, despite harboring high rates of HIV‐1 infection, remains understudied. African‐specific allele HLA‐A*74:01 was associated with decreased risk of infection (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.80; $P=.011$) and with protection from CD4+ cell counts (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Early Proinflammatory Cytokines and C‐Reactive Protein Trends as Predictors of Outcome in Invasive Aspergillosis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:04:56 +0100

Conclusions. High initial IL‐8 and persistently elevated IL‐6, IL‐8, and CRP levels after initiation of treatment may be early predictors of adverse outcome in invasive aspergillosis. Cytokine and CRP profiles could be used for early identification of patients with a poor response to antifungal treatment who may benefit from more‐aggressive antimicrobial regimens. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Changes in Blood B Cell Phenotypes and Epstein‐Barr Virus Load in Chronically Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Patients before and after Antiretroviral Therapy

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:04:12 +0100

Conclusions. Because transitional‐like B cells persist concomitantly with high EBV load after highly active antiretroviral therapy, we suggest that this population might be an alternative EBV reservoir in patients with chronic HIV infection who have strongly reduced numbers of memory B cells. The consequences of EBV infection of immature B cells are discussed with regard to B cell maturation and a higher prevalence of B cell lymphoma in HIV‐infected patients. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Hepatitis B Virus Kinetics under Antiviral Therapy Sheds Light on Differences in Hepatitis B e Antigen Positive and Negative Infections

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:28:49 +0100

Conclusions. These results reveal the dual role played by the immune response in maintaining lower viral levels and inducing faster turnover of infected cells, the latter of which may be responsible for the more aggressive nature of HBeAg‐negative infection. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Natural Killer Cells That Respond to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV‐1) Peptides Are Associated with Control of HIV‐1 Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:28:45 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–specific natural killer (CD3− cells), CD4, and CD8 T cellular responses were determined in 79 HIV‐1–infected women in response to HIV‐1 peptide pools (Gag, Pol, Nef, Reg, and Env) with use of a whole‐blood intracellular cytokine staining assay that measures interferon–γ and/or interleukin–2. HIV‐specific CD3− cell responses to any region (Env and Reg predominantly targeted) were associated with lower viral load (P = .031) and higher CD4 T cell count (P = .015). Env‐specific CD3− cell responses were stronger in women who had both Gag CD4 and CD8 T cell responses and, in turn, was associated with lower viral load (P = .005). CD3− ce...

CXCL16 Contributes to Neutrophil Recruitment to Cerebrospinal Fluid in Pneumococcal Meningitis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:28:43 +0100

In this study, we analyzed the expression and function of CXCL16 in pneumococcal meningitis. CXCL16 was found to be up‐regulated in RAW264.7 macrophages (but not in neutrophils and endothelial cells) upon pneumococcal stimulation, in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients, and in the brains as well as the cerebrospinal fluid of mice with pneumococcal meningitis. CXCL16 up‐regulation in vivo was dependent on Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2/TLR4 and MyD88 signaling. Neutralization of CXCL16 in animals before intracisternal pneumococcal infection (using anti‐CXCL16 antibodies) resulted in reduced cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. In vitro, murine neutrophils expressed the CXCL16 receptor CXCR6 and showed dose‐dependant migration toward a CXCL16 gradient. Thus, this study implicates CXCL16 as...

A Single Dose of Unadjuvanted Novel 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Is Immunogenic and Well Tolerated in Young and Elderly Adults

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:28:36 +0100

Conclusions. This large phase‐2 trial demonstrated that a single 7.5‐μg dose of a monovalent unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine induced protective HI antibody levels in adults of all ages, including very elderly adults. Trial registration. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00958126 (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Tissue Factor–Dependent Procoagulant Activity of Subtilase Cytotoxin, a Potent AB5 Toxin Produced by Shiga Toxigenic Escherichia coli

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:26:28 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB), produced by certain virulent Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli strains, causes hemolytic uremic syndrome–like pathology in mice, including extensive microvascular thrombosis. SubAB acts by specifically cleaving the essential endoplasmic reticulum chaperone binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP). BiP has been reported to inhibit the activation of tissue factor (TF), the major initiator of extrinsic coagulation. We hypothesized that the apparent prothrombotic effect of SubAB in vivo may involve the stimulation of TF‐dependent procoagulant activity. TF‐dependent procoagulant activity, TF messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, and BiP cleavage were therefore examined in human macrophag...

West Nile Fever Characteristics among Viremic Persons Identified through Blood Donor Screening

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:26:26 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) of blood donors provides opportunities for identifying West Nile virus (WNV)–infected persons before symptoms develop and for characterizing subsequent illness. From June 2003 through 2008, the American Red Cross performed follow‐up interviews with and additional laboratory testing for 1436 donors whose donations had initial test results that were reactive for WNV RNA; 821 of the donors were subsequently confirmed to have WNV infection, and the remainder were unconfirmed or determined to have false‐positive results. Symptoms attributed to WNV infection were determined by comparing symptom frequency among 576 donors identified with early WNV infection (immunoglobulin M an...

Improved Prediction of HIV‐1 Coreceptor Usage with Sequence Information from the Second Hypervariable Loop of gp120

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:26:13 +0100

Conclusions. The ability of the V2 loop to improve coreceptor usage prediction has been shown in a large data set. Utilization of this information can lead to considerable improvements in the prediction of coreceptor use both on clonal data sets and on clinically derived data sets. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Enhanced Molecular Typing of Treponema pallidum: Geographical Distribution of Strain Types and Association with Neurosyphilis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 07:04:38 +0100

Conclusion. We describe an enhanced T. pallidum strain typing system that shows biological and clinical relevance. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Artemisinin‐Induced Dormancy in Plasmodium falciparum: Duration, Recovery Rates, and Implications in Treatment Failure

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 07:05:08 +0100

Conclusions. These results imply that artemisinin‐induced arrest of growth occurs readily in laboratory‐treated parasites and may be a key factor in P. falciparum malaria treatment failure. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Effectiveness of Public Health Measures in Mitigating Pandemic Influenza Spread: A Prospective Sero‐Epidemiological Cohort Study

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:38:02 +0100

Conclusions. Public health measures are effective in limiting influenza transmission in closed environments. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

The Stringent Response Is Required for Full Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Guinea Pigs

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:15:05 +0100

In this study, we investigated the virulence of a rel‐deficient M. tuberculosis mutant in the guinea pig model. Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to study the effect of (p)ppGpp deficiency on expression of key cytokine and chemokine genes in guinea pig lungs. The rel‐deficient mutant showed impaired initial growth and survival relative to the wild‐type strain. Loss of Rel was associated with the striking absence of tubercle lesions grossly and of caseous granulomas histologically. The attenuated phenotype of the rel‐deficient mutant was not associated with increased expression of genes encoding the proinflammatory cytokines interferon‐γ and tumor necrosis factor α in the lungs 28 days after infection. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Dise...

Sex and Geographic Patterns of Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection in a Nationally Representative Population‐Based Sample in Uganda

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:14:58 +0100

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that HHV8 seropositivity in Uganda may be influenced by cofactors correlated with small‐area geography, age, sex, and education. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Waking the Sleeping Beauty

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:14:56 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Schistosomal‐Derived Lysophosphatidylcholine Are Involved in Eosinophil Activation and Recruitment through Toll‐Like Receptor–2–Dependent Mechanisms

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:14:55 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Parasite‐derived lipids may play important roles in host‐pathogen interactions and escape mechanisms. Herein, we evaluated the role of schistosomal‐derived lipids in Toll‐like receptor (TLR)–2 and eosinophil activation in Schistosoma mansoni infection. Mice lacking TLR2 exhibited reduced liver eosinophilic granuloma, compared with that of wild‐type animals, following S. mansoni infection. Decreased eosinophil accumulation and eosinophil lipid body (lipid droplet) formation, at least partially due to reduced production of eotaxin, interleukin (IL)‐5, and IL‐13 in S. mansoni–infected TLR2−/− mice, compared with the corresponding production in wild‐type mice, was noted. Although no ...

Hepatitis E Virus Infections among US Military Personnel Deployed to Afghanistan

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:14:52 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Hepatitis E Seroprevalence and Seroconversion among US Military Service Members Deployed to Afghanistan

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:14:47 +0100

Conclusions. Although subpopulations may be at higher risk for HEV exposure during deployment, the risk among US service members deployed to Afghanistan in this study was low. Previously implemented and current preventive measures in theater appear to have been adequate. With future deployments to new areas or changes in military operations in areas of risk, continued surveillance for HEV infection in the military will be warranted. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Effect on Virulence and Pathogenicity of H5N1 Influenza A Virus through Truncations of NS1 eIF4GI Binding Domain

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:04:05 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. To study the effect of NS1 eIF4GI binding domain on virulence and pathogenicity of H5N1 influenza A virus, 5 recombinant H5N1 viruses encoding eIF4GI binding domain–truncated NS1 proteins and parental NS1 (NS1‐wt) were generated by an 8‐plasmid–based reverse genetics system. The results indicated that the recombinants with the addition of 5‐amino acid and the deletion position of 85–89 in NS1‐wt were attenuated in replication in vitro and in vivo, compared with the recombinant wild‐type virus rNS1‐wt, whereas the deletion position 85–94 or the entire eIF4GI binding domain in NS1‐wt displayed a significantly attenuated phenotype in chicken and mice. We also showed that the eIF4GI bi...

Transcriptome Analysis Indicates an Enhanced Activation of Adaptive and Innate Immunity by Chlamydia‐Infected Murine Epithelial Cells Treated with Interferon γ

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:43:35 +0100

Conclusions. Our results show that IFN‐γ is a key cytokine that primes epithelial cells to activate adaptive and innate immunity and to express antichlamydial effector genes both intracellularly and extracellularly. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Effectiveness of Antiviral Treatment in Human Influenza A(H5N1) Infections: Analysis of a Global Patient Registry

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 07:04:15 +0100

Conclusions. H5N1 causes high mortality, especially when untreated. Oseltamivir significantly reduces mortality when started up to 6–8 days after symptom onset and appears to benefit all age groups. Prompt diagnosis and early therapeutic intervention should be considered for H5N1 disease. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

A Superantigen Interacts with Leishmanial Infection in Antigen‐Presenting Cells to Regulate Cytokine Commitment of Responding CD4 T Cells

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:18:38 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Germ‐line retroviral insertions in vertebrate genomes are implicated in the modulation of host immune responses. We demonstrate that CBA/J mice, which carry the proviral integrants mammary tumor virus locus 6 (Mtv6) and mammary tumor virus locus 7 (Mtv7), are less resistant to infection with the protozoan pathogen Leishmania major compared with closely related but Mtv6‐negative and Mtv7‐negative CBA/CaJ mice. Although both strains generated comparable L. major–specific CD4 T cell frequencies, T cells from CBA/J mice made much less interferon γ (IFN‐γ). L. major–infected CBA/CaJ dendritic cells primed L. major–specific and allospecific IFN‐γ–producing CD4 T cells better in vivo and i...

Has Oseltamivir Been Shown to Be Effective for Treatment of H5N1 Influenza?

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:18:31 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Influenza Enhances Susceptibility to Natural Acquisition of and Disease Due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in Ferrets

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:04:15 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The role of respiratory viruses in the transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae is poorly understood. Key questions, such as which serotypes are most fit for transmission and disease and whether influenza virus alters these parameters in a serotype‐specific manner, have not been adequately studied. In a novel model of transmission in ferrets, we demonstrated that pneumococcal transmission and disease were enhanced if donors had previously been infected with influenza virus. Bacterial titers in nasal wash, the incidence of mucosal and invasive disease, and the percentage of contacts that were infected all increased. In contact ferrets, viral infection increased their susceptibility to S. pneumoniae acq...

Evaluation of Immunological Cross‐Reactivity between Clade A9 High‐Risk Human Papillomavirus Types on the Basis of E6‐Specific CD4+ Memory T Cell Responses

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:46:34 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. CD4+ T cell responses against the E6 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and 5 closely related members of clade A9 (HPV31, 33, 35, 52, and 58) were charted in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from healthy subjects and patients who underwent HPV16 E6/E7‐specific vaccination. Initial analyses with overlapping peptide arrays showed that approximately one‐half of the responding subjects displayed reactivity against corresponding E6 peptides from ⩾2 HPV types. This suggested immunological cross‐reactivity and complicated retrospective evaluation of the infection history of the healthy subjects. Importantly, further dissection of the response by means of enriched and clonal T c...

Pediatric Epstein‐Barr Virus Carriers With or Without Tonsillar Enlargement May Substantially Contribute to Spreading of the Virus

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:04:01 +0100

Conclusions. Pediatric EBV carriers—in particular, those with TE—may considerably contribute to the spreading of EBV in industrialized countries. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Serological Correlate of Protection against Norovirus‐Induced Gastroenteritis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:03:14 +0100

Conclusions. Blocking antibodies correlate with protection against clinical NV gastroenteritis. This knowledge will help guide the evaluation of new vaccine strategies and the elucidation of the nature of immunity to the virus. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00138476. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Mice Lacking Both TNF and IL‐1 Receptors Exhibit Reduced Lung Inflammation and Delay in Onset of Death following Infection with a Highly Virulent H5N1 Virus

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:03:08 +0100

Conclusions. The combined signaling from the TNF or IL‐1 receptors promotes maximal lung inflammation that may contribute to the severity of disease caused by H5N1 virus infection. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Detection of Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus–Related Virus in Normal and Tumor Tissue of Patients from the Southern United States with Prostate Cancer Is Dependent on Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction Conditions

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:53:46 +0100

Conclusions. XMRV is detectable in normal and tumor prostate tissue from patients with prostate cancer, independent of R462Q. The presence of XMRV in normal tissue suggests that infection may precede cancer onset. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Maternal Human Leukocyte Antigen A*2301 Is Associated with Increased Mother‐to‐Child HIV‐1 Transmission

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:04:47 +0100

We examined associations between maternal human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and vertical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) transmission in a perinatal cohort of 277 HIV‐infected women in Nairobi. HLA class I genes were amplified by using sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probes, and analyses were performed using logistic regression. Maternal HLA‐A*2301 was associated with increased transmission risk before and after adjusting for maternal viral load (unadjusted: odds ratio [OR], 3.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–7.27; $P=.005$; $P_{\mathrm{corr}\,}=0.04$; adjusted: OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.26–7.51; $P=.01$; $P_{\mathrm{corr}\,}$ is not significant). That maternal HLA‐A*2301 was associated with transmission independent of plasma HIV‐1 RNA levels suggests that HLA may...

Biological Determinants of Immune Reconstitution in HIV‐Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy: The Role of Interleukin 7 and Interleukin 7 Receptor α and Microbial Translocation

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:20:17 +0100

Conclusion. Both the extent of immune depletion prior to ART and IL‐7Rα haplotype 2 are important determinants of time to CD4+ T cell recovery to counts of >500 cells/μL. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Development of Genital Warts after Incident Detection of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Young Men

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:20:13 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Determining the rate at which men develop genital warts after infection with alpha genus human papillomavirus (HPV) types will provide important information for the design of prevention strategies. We conducted a cohort study of 18–21‐year‐old men who underwent triannual genital examinations. The 24‐month cumulative genital wart incidence was 57.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.1%–79.1%) among 46 men with incident detection of HPV‐6 or HPV‐11 infection, 2.0% (95% CI, 0.5%–7.9%) among 161 men with incident detection of infection with other HPV types, and 0.7% (95% CI, 0.2%–2.8%) among 331 men who tested negative for HPV. Our results suggest that genital warts are common after HPV‐...

Interferon γ Responses to Mycobacterial Antigens Protect against Subsequent HIV‐Associated Tuberculosis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:20:07 +0100

Conclusions. Baseline IFN‐γ responses to ESAT‐6 and WCL were associated with protection from subsequent tuberculosis among HIV‐infected subjects with childhood BCG immunization in a region of high tuberculosis prevalence. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00052195. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Safety and Immunogenicity of the Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in HIV‐1–Infected Men

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:19:57 +0100

Conclusions. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine appears safe and highly immunogenic in HIV‐1–infected men. Efficacy studies in HIV‐1–infected men are warranted. Clinical trials registration. NCT 00513526. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Influence of a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism at the Main Ribavirin Transporter Gene on the Rapid Virological Response to Pegylated Interferon–Ribavirin Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:19:42 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) is the main protein involved in ribavirin cellular uptake. Polymorphisms at the ENT1 gene may influence ribavirin activity as part of hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. A retrospective study was conducted in 109 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients who were infected with HCV genotypes 1 or 4 who had received pegylated interferon (pegIFN)‐ribavirin. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the ENT1 gene were examined using TaqMan 5′‐nuclease assays. In the study population, allelic frequencies at rs760370 were as follows: A3 (43 [39%] of 109 patients), AG (50 [46%] of 109 patients), and GG (16 [15%] of 109 patients). Achievement of ...

Toll‐Like Receptor 4 Polymorphism and Its Association with Symptomatic Neurocysticercosis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:04:50 +0100

Conclusions. TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms are associated with the development of symptomatic NCC, probably by modulating the Th1/Th2 axis. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Why Are there Seizures in Neurocysticercosis: Is It in the Genes?

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:16:12 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Does Hand Hygiene Reduce Influenza Transmission?

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:29:52 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 7, Page 1146-1147, 1 October 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Reply to Snyder

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:29:00 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 7, Page 1147-1148, 1 October 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Revaccination with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine to Polysaccharide Vaccine among HIV‐Infected Adults

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:05:23 +0100

Conclusions. Among persons with HIV infection, revaccination with PCV was only transiently more immunogenic than PPV, and responses were inferior to those in HIV‐uninfected subjects with primary vaccination. Pneumococcal vaccines with more robust and sustained immunogenicity are needed for HIV‐infected adults. Clinical trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00622843. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

The Membrane Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Acts as a Dominant Immunogen Revealed by a Clustering Region of Novel Functionally and Structurally Defined Cytotoxic T‐Lymphocyte Epitopes

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:38:23 +0100

Conclusions. The M protein of SARS‐CoV holds dominant cellular immunogenicity. This, together with previous reports of a strong humoral response against the M protein, may help to further explain the immunogenicity of SARS and serves as potential targets for SARS‐CoV vaccine design. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Priming the Immune System for Heart Disease: A Perspective on Group A Streptococci

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:28:18 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Although immune responses against group A streptococci and the heart have been correlated with antibodies and T cell responses against cardiac myosin, there is no unifying hypothesis about carditis caused globally by many different serotypes. Our study identified disease‐specific epitopes of human cardiac myosin in the development of rheumatic carditis in humans. We found that immune responses to cardiac myosin were similar in rheumatic carditis among a small sample of worldwide populations, in which immunoglobulin G targeted human cardiac myosin epitopes in the S2 subfragment hinge region within S2 peptides containing amino acid residues 842–992 and 1164–1272. An analysis of rheumatic carditis in...

Inferring the Serotype Associated with Dengue Virus Infections on the Basis of Pre‐ and Postinfection Neutralizing Antibody Titers

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:04:02 +0100

Conclusions. A statistical model based on both pre‐ and postinfection PRNT values can be used to infer the serotype associated with DENV infections in prospective studies and vaccine trials. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Identification of an Atypical Strain of Toxoplasma gondii as the Cause of a Waterborne Outbreak of Toxoplasmosis in Santa Isabel do Ivai, Brazil

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:12:22 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Multilocus DNA sequencing has identified a nonarchetypal strain of Toxoplasma gondii as the causal agent of a waterborne outbreak in Brazil in 2001. The strain, isolated from a water supply epidemiologically linked to the outbreak, was virulent to mice, and it has previously been identified as BrI. Using a serologic assay that detects strain‐specific antibodies, we found that 13 (65%) of 20 individuals who were immunoglobulin (Ig) M positive during the outbreak possessed the same serotype as mice infected with the purported epidemic strain. The remaining 7 individuals, plus additional IgM‐negative, IgG‐positive individuals, possessed 1 of 4 novel serotypes, the most common of which matched the ser...

A Sustained Hospital Outbreak of Vancomycin‐Resistant Enterococcus faecium Bacteremia due to Emergence of vanB E. faecium Sequence Type 203

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:21:56 +0100

Conclusions. The application of multilocus sequence typing has uncovered the emergence of an epidemic clone of E. faecium ST203 that appears to have acquired the vanB locus and has caused a sustained outbreak of VRE bacteremia. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Helicobacter pylori–Induced Loss of the Inhibitor‐of‐Apoptosis Protein Survivin Is Linked to Gastritis and Death of Human Gastric Cells

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:04:30 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Helicobacter pylori infects the human stomach and modifies signaling pathways that affect gastric epithelial cell proliferation and viability. Chronic exposure to this pathogen contributes to the onset of gastric atrophy, an early event in the genesis of gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection. Susceptibility to H. pylori–induced cell death ultimately depends on the presence of protective host cell factors. Although expression of the inhibitor‐of‐apoptosis protein survivin in adults is frequently linked to the development of cancer, evidence indicating that the protein is present in normal gastric mucosa is also available. Thus, we investigated in human gastric tissue samples and cell l...

Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of the RTS,S/AS01E Malaria Candidate Vaccine When Integrated in the Expanded Program of Immunization

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:17:30 +0100

Conclusion. RTS,S/AS01E integrated in the EPI showed a favorable safety and immunogenicity evaluation. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00436007. GlaxoSmithKline study ID number: 106369 (Malaria‐050). (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Influenza Virus–Cytokine‐Protease Cycle in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Hyperpermeability in Severe Influenza

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:04:14 +0100

Conclusions. The influenza virus–cytokine‐protease cycle is one of the key mechanisms of vascular hyperpermeability in severe influenza. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Metallomic Analysis of Macrophages Infected with Histoplasma capsulatum Reveals a Fundamental Role for Zinc in Host Defenses

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:41:49 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum evades the innate and adaptive immune responses and thrives within resting macrophages. Cytokines that induce antimicrobial activity, such as granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), inhibit H. capsulatum growth in macrophages. Conversely, interleukin 4 inhibits the killing of intracellular pathogens. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we examined alterations in the metal homeostasis of murine H. capsulatum–infected macrophages that were exposed to activating cytokines. Decreases in the levels of iron (Fe2+ and Fe3+) and zinc (Zn2+) were observed in infected, GM‐CSF–treated macrophages compared with those in infected...

Residual Antimalarial Concentrations before Treatment in Patients with Malaria from Cambodia: Indication of Drug Pressure

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 07:04:31 +0100

Conclusions. The findings demonstrate that there is high drug pressure and that many people still seek treatment in the private and informal sector, where appropriate treatment is not guaranteed. Promotion of comprehensive behavioral change, communication, community‐based mobilization, and advocacy are vital to contain the emergence and spread of parasite resistance against new antimalarials. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Survival of Hepatitis C Virus in Syringes: Implication for Transmission among Injection Drug Users

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:19:09 +0100

Conclusions. The high prevalence of HCV among injection drug users may be partly due to the resilience of the virus and the syringe type. Our findings may be used to guide prevention strategies. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

The Beginning of a New Era in Understanding Hepatitis C Virus Prevention

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:19:05 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Activation of Plasminogen by Staphylokinase Reduces the Severity of Staphylococcus aureus Systemic Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:07:26 +0100

Conclusions. The results suggest that expression of SAK followed by activation of plg alleviates the course of S. aureus sepsis. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Adaptive Differentiation of Plasmodium falciparum Populations Inferred from Single‐Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Conferring Drug Resistance and from Neutral SNPs

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:07:23 +0100

Conclusion. These data further validate the utility of geographic differentiation for identifying loci under strong positive selection, such as drug resistance loci. This study also provides frequencies of molecular makers of resistance in some overlooked populations. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Crucial Role of the Central Leptin Receptor in Murine Trypanosoma cruzi (Brazil Strain) Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:07:18 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Mice carrying a defective leptin receptor gene (db/db mice) are metabolically challenged and upon infection with Trypanosoma cruzi (Brazil strain) suffer high mortality. In genetically modified db/db mice, (NSE‐Rb db/db mice), central leptin signaling is reconstituted only in the brain, which is sufficient to correct the metabolic defects. NSE‐Rb db/db mice were infected with T. cruzi to determine the impact of the lack of leptin signaling on infection in the absence of metabolic dysregulation. Parasitemia levels, mortality rates, and tissue parasitism were statistically significantly increased in infected db/db mice compared with those in infected NSE‐Rb db/db and FVB wild‐type mice. There was ...

Targeting of Alpha‐Hemolysin by Active or Passive Immunization Decreases Severity of USA300 Skin Infection in a Mouse Model

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:10:22 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Community‐associated methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) infections are predominantly those affecting skin and soft tissues. Although progress has been made, our knowledge of the molecules that contribute to the pathogenesis of CA‐MRSA skin infections is incomplete. We tested the hypothesis that alpha‐hemolysin (Hla) contributes to the severity of USA300 skin infections in mice and determined whether vaccination against Hla reduces disease severity. Isogenic hla‐negative (Δhla) strains caused skin lesions in a mouse infection model that were significantly smaller than those caused by wild‐type USA300 and Newman strains. Moreover, infection due to wild‐type strains prod...

Reply to Tarchini

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:24:45 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 6, Page 979-980, 15 September 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Asymptomatic Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Shedding—Potential Pitfalls of Broader Testing and Aggressive Suppression

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:24:43 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 6, Page 979, 15 September 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Kaposi Sarcoma (KS)–Associated Herpesvirus MicroRNA Sequence Analysis and KS Risk in a European AIDS‐KS Case Control Study

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:05:06 +0100

Conclusions. Patients with KS were more likely to have detectable viral loads than were controls without disease. Despite high conservation in KSHV miRNA‐encoded sequences, polymorphisms were observed, including some that have been reported elsewhere. Some polymorphisms could affect mature miRNA processing and appear to be associated with KS risk. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Staphylococcus aureus Small‐Colony Variants Are Adapted Phenotypes for Intracellular Persistence

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:42:42 +0100

Conclusion. S. aureus intracellular persistence via the development of an adapted subpopulation of SCVs most likely represents an important strategy of S. aureus to hide within the host cells, which could be a reservoir for chronic infections. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Multiple Infections with Seasonal Influenza A Virus Induce Cross‐Protective Immunity against A(H1N1) Pandemic Influenza Virus in a Ferret Model

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:42:39 +0100

Conclusion. These data suggest the reduced incidence and severity of infection with A(H1N1)pdm virus in the adult population during the 2009–2010 influenza season may be a result of previous exposure to seasonal influenza A viruses. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

A Subtype of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cystic Fibrosis Epidemic Strain Exhibits Enhanced Virulence in a Murine Model of Acute Respiratory Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:05:49 +0100

Conclusions. LES isolates display widely variable pathogenic characteristics. LES431, associated with transmission to the non‐CF parent of a CF patient, represents a “hypervirulent” subtype more adapted to acute infections than chronic infections. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

School Opening Dates Predict Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Outbreaks in the United States

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:22:38 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. The opening of schools in the late summer of 2009 may have triggered the fall wave of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in the United States. We found that an elevated percentage of outpatient visits for influenza‐like illness occurred an average of 14 days after schools opened in the fall of 2009. The timing of these events was highly correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.62; $P< .001$). This result provides evidence that transmission in schools catalyzes community‐wide transmission. School opening dates can be useful for future pandemic planning, and influenza mitigation strategies should be targeted at school populations before the influenza season. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases ...

Mycobacterium tuberculosis MT2816 Encodes a Key Stress‐Response Regulator

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:05:18 +0100

Conclusions. The protein encoded by MT2816/Rv2745c is important for the pathogen’s response to stress conditions that mimic in vivo growth and it is subject to complex regulation. The MT2816/Rv2745c encoded protein likely functions by protecting intracellular redox potential and by inducing the expression of trehalose, a constituent of M. tuberculosis cell walls that is important for defense against cell‐surface and oxidative stress. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Prevalence, Correlates, and Viral Dynamics of Hepatitis Delta among Injection Drug Users

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:27:39 +0100

Conclusions. The temporal increase in HDV prevalence among those with chronic HBV infection is troubling; understanding this change should be a priority to prevent the burden from increasing. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Hepatitis Delta: Seek and Ye Shall Find

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:27:37 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Pig Liver Sausage as a Source of Hepatitis E Virus Transmission to Humans

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:04:56 +0100

Conclusion. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis of HEV infection through ingestion of raw figatellu. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Hidden Danger: The Raw Facts about Hepatitis E Virus

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:27:03 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Intestinal Antimicrobial Gene Expression: Impact of Micronutrients in Malnourished Adults during a Randomized Trial

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:27:01 +0100

Conclusions. Micronutrient supplementation was associated with up‐regulation of HD5 only in malnourished adults. Interactions between antimicrobial gene expression and nutritional status may help to explain the increased risk of infection in individuals with malnutrition. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Characteristics of Autochthonous Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Solid‐Organ Transplant Recipients in France

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:26:49 +0100

Conclusion. Immunocompromised patients should avoid eating insufficiently cooked game meat or pork products so as to reduce the risk of HEV infection and chronic liver disease. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Fetal Immune Activation to Malaria Antigens Enhances Susceptibility to In Vitro HIV Infection in Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:06:31 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Mother‐to‐child‐transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant cause of new HIV infections in many countries. To examine whether fetal immune activation as a consequence of prenatal exposure to parasitic antigens increases the risk of MTCT, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) from Kenyan and North American newborns were examined for relative susceptibility to HIV infection in vitro. Kenyan CBMCs were 3‐fold more likely to be infected with HIV than were North American CBMCs ($P=.03$). Kenyan CBMCs with recall responses to malaria antigens demonstrated enhanced susceptibility to HIV when compared with Kenyan CBMCs lacking recall responses to malaria ($P=.03$). CD4...

Proteome‐wide Anti–Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Anti‐HIV Antibody Profiling for Predicting and Monitoring the Response to HCV Therapy in HIV‐Coinfected Patients

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:04:41 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. We quantified antibody responses to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteome that are associated with sustained virologic response (SVR) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV–coinfected patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Analysis of pre‐ and posttreatment samples revealed significant decreases in the combined anti‐core, anti‐E1, and anti‐NS4 HCV antibody titers in those with SVRs but not in those who experienced relapse or who did not respond. Furthermore, anti–HIV p24 antibody titers inversely correlated with treatment response. These results suggest that profiling anti‐HCV antibody is useful for monitoring HCV therapy, especially in discriminating between those who...

Coinfection with Haemophilus influenzae Promotes Pneumococcal Biofilm Formation during Experimental Otitis Media and Impedes the Progression of Pneumococcal Disease

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:03:04 +0100

Conclusions. Based on these data, we conclude that coinfection with H. influenzae facilitates pneumococcal biofilm formation and persistence on the middle ear mucosal surface. This enhanced biofilm persistence correlates with delayed emergence of opaque colony variants within the bacterial population and a resulting decrease in systemic infection. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Reply to Itaya et al

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:18:47 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 5, Page 816-818, 1 September 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

No Evidence of an Association between the APOBEC3B Deletion Polymorphism and Susceptibility to HIV Infection and AIDS in Japanese and Indian Populations

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:18:45 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 202, Issue 5, Page 815-816, 1 September 2010. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Genetic and Household Determinants of Predisposition to Human Hookworm Infection in a Brazilian Community

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:04:59 +0100

Conclusions. Predisposition to human hookworm infection in this area results from a combination of host genetics and consistent differences in exposure, with the latter explained by household and environmental factors. Unmeasured individual‐specific differences in exposure did not contribute to predisposition. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Impact of Interferon‐Ribavirin Treatment on Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Protease Quasispecies Diversity in HIV‐ and HCV‐Coinfected Patients

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:05:59 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection for whom prior treatment of HCV with interferon‐ribavirin has failed may require subsequent treatment with new HCV protease inhibitors (PIs). We evaluated the diversity of HCV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) in 26 HCV‐ and HIV‐coinfected patients receiving stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) who were treated with interferon‐ribavirin. Plasma HCV RNA clonal analysis was performed. There was greater baseline NS3 diversity in patients with nonresponse or relapse than in those with sustained virologic response. Interferon‐ribavirin treatment did not result in significant changes in HCV protease gene diversity or...

Are Host Genetics the Predominant Determinant of Persistent Nasal Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in Humans?

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:07:06 +0100

Conclusion. Host genetic factors appeared to be the predominant determinant for S. aureus persistent nasal carriage in humans. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Characterization of Antibodies Induced by Vaccination with Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoproteins

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:07:04 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2 were used with MF59 adjuvant as a candidate vaccine for a phase 1 safety and immunogenicity trial. Ten of 41 vaccinee serum samples displayed a neutralization titer of ⩾1:20 against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)–HCV pseudotype, 15 of 36 serum samples tested had a neutralization titer of ⩾1:400 against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–HCV pseudotype, and 10 of 36 serum samples tested had a neutralization titer of ⩾1:20 against cell culture–grown HCV genotype 1a. Neutralizing serum samples had increased affinity levels and displayed >2‐fold higher specific activity levels to well‐characterized epitopes on E1/E2, especially to th...

Adult Hospitalizations for Laboratory‐Positive Influenza during the 2005–2006 through 2007–2008 Seasons in the United States

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:06:53 +0100

Conclusions. Rates varied by season, age, geographic location, and type/subtype of circulating influenza viruses. Influenza‐associated hospitalization surveillance is essential for assessing the relative severity of influenza seasons over time and the burden of influenza‐associated complications. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Paucity of Initial Cerebrospinal Fluid Inflammation in Cryptococcal Meningitis Is Associated with Subsequent Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:06:37 +0100

Conclusions. Patients who subsequently develop CM‐related IRIS exhibit less initial CSF inflammation at the time of CM diagnosis, compared with those who do not develop IRIS. The inflammatory CSF cytokine profiles observed at time of IRIS can distinguish IRIS from CM relapse. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Association of Profoundly Impaired Immune Competence in H1N1v‐Infected Patients with a Severe or Fatal Clinical Course

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:06:25 +0100

Conclusions. Our results show a strict association between host immune competence and the severity of the clinical course of H1N1v infection. By monitoring host functional response, patients with an enhanced risk of developing influenza‐associated severe complications could be identified in a timely manner. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Multiple‐Cohort Genetic Association Study Reveals CXCR6 as a New Chemokine Receptor Involved in Long‐Term Nonprogression to AIDS

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:24:28 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. The compilation of previous genomewide association studies of AIDS shows a major polymorphism in the HCP5 gene associated with both control of the viral load and long‐term nonprogression (LTNP) to AIDS. Methods. To look for genetic variants that affect LTNP without necessary control of the viral load, we reanalyzed the genomewide data of the unique LTNP Genomics of Resistance to Immunodeficiency Virus (GRIV) cohort by excluding “elite controller” patients, who were controlling the viral load at very low levels ( (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Increased Pulmonary Pressures and Myocardial Wall Stress in Children with Severe Malaria

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:06:14 +0100

Conclusion. Children with severe malaria have increased pulmonary pressures and myocardial wall stress. These complications are consistent with NO depletion from intravascular hemolysis, and they indicate that the pathophysiologic cascade from intravascular hemolysis to NO depletion and its cardiopulmonary effects is activated in children with severe malaria. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

AIDS Clinical Trials Group 5197: A Placebo‐Controlled Trial of Immunization of HIV‐1–Infected Persons with a Replication‐Deficient Adenovirus Type 5 Vaccine Expressing the HIV‐1 Core Protein

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:01:18 +0100

Conclusion. The vaccine was generally safe and well tolerated. Despite a trend favoring viral suppression among vaccine recipients, differences in HIV‐1 RNA levels did not meet the prespecified level of significance. Induction of HIV‐1 gag‐specific CD4 cells correlated with control of viral replication in vivo. Future immunogenicity studies should require a substantially higher immunogenicity threshold before an ATI is contemplated. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Return of Chloroquine‐Susceptible Falciparum Malaria in Malawi Was a Reexpansion of Diverse Susceptible Parasites

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:01:13 +0100

In this study, we trace the origins of chloroquine‐resistant and chloroquine‐susceptible parasites in Malawi by sequencing the P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) and by genotyping microsatellites flanking this gene in isolates from infections that occurred in Malawi from 1992 through 2005. Malaria parasites from 2005 harbored the expected wild‐type pfcrt haplotype associated with chloroquine susceptibility and have maintained high levels of diversity without linkage disequilibrium, which suggests that the return of chloroquine susceptibility is not the result of a back mutation in a formerly resistant parasite or a new selective sweep. Chloroquine‐susceptible parasites that predominate in Malawi likely represent a reexpansion of the susceptible parasites ...