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This page shows you the latest news and research items in this category.

Surface display of a Legionella DGR target protein [Microbiology]
Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) are a unique family of retroelements that confer selective advantages to their hosts by facilitating localized DNA sequence evolution through a specialized error-prone reverse transcription process. We characterized a DGR in Legionella pneumophila, an opportunistic human pathogen that causes Legionnaires disease. The L. pneumophila DGR is found... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - May 14, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Arambula, D., Wong, W., Medhekar, B. A., Guo, H., Gingery, M., Czornyj, E., Liu, M., Dey, S., Ghosh, P., Miller, J. F. Tags: Biological Sciences Source Type: research

Epigenetics: Legionella makes its mark on histones
Nature Reviews Genetics 14, 370 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrg3498 Author: Christina Tobin Kåhrström Post-translational modification of histones has a key role in the epigenetic regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, which can be manipulated by pathogens to promote their own survival. Rolando et al. now report that a newly identified Legionella pneumophila methyltransferase generates a unique histone (Source: Nature Reviews Genetics)
Source: Nature Reviews Genetics - May 9, 2013 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Christina Tobin Kåhrström Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

Bacterial pathogenesis: Legionella makes its mark on histones
Nature Reviews Microbiology 11, 359 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrmicro3034 Author: Christina Tobin Kåhrström A newly identified Legionella pneumophila methyltransferase generates a novel histone modification that represses host gene expression and enhances intracellular replication of the bacterium. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - May 8, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Christina Tobin Kåhrström Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

Photodistributed neutrophilic dermatosis in a woman with Legionella pneumonitis
(Source: International Journal of Dermatology)
Source: International Journal of Dermatology - April 28, 2013 Category: Dermatology Authors: Ane Jaka, Anna Tuneu, Nerea Ormaechea, José Zubizarreta, Elena del Alcazar Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research

Quicker checks for safer water
Raman test can discriminate between different strains of Escherichia coli and Legionella (Source: Chemistry World | Latest News)
Source: Chemistry World | Latest News - April 24, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Rebecca Brodie Source Type: research

Fast immunosensing technique to detect Legionella pneumophila in different natural and anthropogenic environments: comparative and collaborative trials
Conclusion: Results demonstrate the applicability of this immunosensing technique to the rapid, simple, and efficient detection of Legionella pneumophila in water samples. This test is not based on microbial growth, so it could be used as a rapid screening technique for the detection of L. pneumophila in waters, maintaining the performance of conventional culture for isolation of the pathogen and related studies. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)
Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles - April 22, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Begoña BedrinaSonia MaciánInmaculada SolísRoberto Fernández-LafuenteEva BaldrichGuillermo Rodríguez Source Type: research

L. pneumophila Zinc Metallo-PLCs PlcA, PlcB, and PlcC/CegC1 [Lipids]
Legionella pneumophila is a water-borne bacterium that causes pneumonia in humans. PlcA and PlcB are two previously defined L. pneumophila proteins with homology to the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) of Pseudomonas fluorescens. Additionally, we found that Lpg0012 shows similarity to PLCs and has been shown to be a Dot/Icm-injected effector, CegC1, which is designated here as PlcC. It remained unclear, however, whether these L. pneumophila proteins exhibit PLC activity. PlcC expressed in Escherichia coli hydrolyzed a broad phospholipid spectrum, including PC, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidy...
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry - April 19, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Aurass, P., Schlegel, M., Metwally, O., Harding, C. R., Schroeder, G. N., Frankel, G., Flieger, A. Tags: Microbiology Source Type: research

Structure of the Legionella effector AnkX reveals the mechanism of phosphocholine transfer by the FIC domain
The EMBO Journal. doi:10.1038/emboj.2013.82 Authors: Valérie Campanacci, Shaeri Mukherjee, Craig R Roy & Jacqueline Cherfils (Source: The EMBO Journal AOP)
Source: The EMBO Journal AOP - April 9, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Valérie CampanacciShaeri MukherjeeCraig R RoyJacqueline Cherfils Tags: ankyrin repeats FIC domain Legionella phosphocholination Rab GTPase Article Source Type: research

Application of three uniplex polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of atypical bacteria in asthmatic patients in Kuwait
Highlights: ► We looked into the role of infection by atypical bacteria in asthma. ► A fast and sensitive molecular method (PCR) was used for the detection of three bacteria in asthmatic patients in Kuwait. ► A high detection rate of Mycoplasma pneumonia in the airway of adult with chronic asthma was found. ► No significant detection was found with Chlamydia pneumonia or Legionella pneumophila. ► The possibility of M. pneumonia infection should be considered in cases of acute and sever exacerbation and in difficult to treat asthmatics.Abstract: Background: Respiratory infections are known to exacerbate wheezing i...
Source: Journal of Infection and Public Health - April 1, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Jafar A. Qasem, Beder N. Al-Khalaf, Abdullah A. Qasem, Abid H. Ghulam, Gusan Bidass Source Type: research

The characterization and certification of a quantitative reference material for Legionella detection and quantification by qPCR
ConclusionsThis LDA method allowed for the direct quantification of the amount of Legionella DNA per tube in genomic units (GU) and the determination of the associated uncertainties. This method could be used for the certification of all types of microbiological standards for qPCR. Significance and Impact of the StudyThe use of this primary standard will improve the accuracy of Legionella qPCR measurements and the overall consistency of these measurements among different laboratories. The extensive use of this certified reference material (CRM) has been integrated in the French standard NF T90‐471 (April 2010) and in the...
Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology - March 11, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: M. Baume, L. Garrelly, J.P. Facon, S. Bouton, P.O. Fraisse, C. Yardin, M. Reyrolle, S. Jarraud Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Isolation of Pathogen-Containing Vacuoles
Dictyostelium discoideum cells are “professional phagocytes,” as they ingest a large variety of bacteria, yeast, and inert particles. Several bacterial pathogens are able to survive intracellularly within specialized vacuoles of D. discoideum by interfering with host signaling pathways. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these evolutionary conserved processes we have established a method for the isolation of pathogen-containing vacuoles (PCVs). The isolation protocol describes the infection of D. discoideum cells with the intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila, loading of the lysoso...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Microbiology - March 6, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news

Immunomagnetic Purification of Fluorescent Legionella-Containing Vacuoles
Protozoa are natural reservoirs of the environmental bacterium Legionella pneumophila. Upon inhalation of Legionella-laden aerosols, the amoeba-resistant bacteria replicate within human alveolar macrophages causing the severe pneumonia “Legionnaires’ disease.” Within host cells, including Dictyostelium discoideum, L. pneumophila establishes a custom-tailored compartment, the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). LCV formation requires the bacterial Icm/Dot type IV secretion system and involves a plethora of “effector” proteins, some of which specifically decorate the LCV membrane. This unique f...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Microbiology - March 6, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news

Detection limits of Legionella pneumophila in environmental samples after co-culture with Acanthamoeba polyphaga
Conclusions: Co-culture with amoebae is a useful, sensitive and reliable technique to enrich L. pneumophila in environmental samples that contain only low amounts of bacterial cells. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)
Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles - February 26, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Lisa ConzaSimona CasatiValeria Gaia Source Type: research

The characterisation and certification of a quantitative reference material for Legionella detection and quantification by qPCR
ConclusionsThis LDA method allowed for the direct quantification of the amount of Legionella DNA per tube in genomic units (GU) and the determination of the associated uncertainties. This method could be used for the certification of all types of microbiological standards for qPCR. Significance and Impact of the StudyThe use of this primary standard will improve the accuracy of Legionella qPCR measurements and the overall consistency of these measurements among different laboratories. The extensive use of this certified reference material (CRM) has been integrated in the French standard NF T90‐471 (April 2010) and in the...
Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology - February 25, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: M Baume, L Garrelly, J. P Facon, S Bouton, P. O Fraisse, C Yardin, M Reyrolle, S Jarraud Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

New crystal forms of NTPDase1 from the bacterium Legionella pneumophila
Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) are a large class of nucleotidases that hydrolyze the (γ/β)- and (β/α)-anhydride bonds of nucleoside triphosphates and diphosphates, respectively. NTPDases are found throughout the eukaryotic domain. In addition, a very small number of members can be found in bacteria, most of which live as parasites of eukaryotic hosts. NTPDases of intracellular and extracellular parasites are emerging as important regulators for the survival of the parasite. To deepen the knowledge of the structure and function of this enzyme class, recombinant production of the NTPDase1 from the...
Source: Acta Crystallographica Section F - February 22, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Zebisch, M.Schäfer, P.Lauble, P.Sträter, N. Tags: NTPDase CD39 apyrase nucleotidase S-SAD crystallization communications Source Type: research

Type-IVB effectors secretion signal [Microbiology]
Legionella and Coxiella are intracellular pathogens that use the virulence-related Icm/Dot type-IVB secretion system to translocate effector proteins into host cells during infection. These effectors were previously shown to contain a C-terminal secretion signal required for their translocation. In this research, we implemented a hidden semi-Markov model to characterize the... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - February 19, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Lifshitz, Z., Burstein, D., Peeri, M., Zusman, T., Schwartz, K., Shuman, H. A., Pupko, T., Segal, G. Tags: PNAS Plus Source Type: research

A bacterial protein promotes the recognition of the Legionella pneumophila vacuole by autophagy.
Abstract Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is an intracellular bacterium of human alveolar macrophages that causes Legionnaires' disease. In contrast to humans, most inbred mouse strains are restrictive to L. pneumophila replication. We demonstrate that autophagy targets L. pneumophila vacuoles to lysosomes and that this process requires ubiquitination of L. pneumophila vacuoles and the subsequent binding of the autophagic adaptor p62/SQSTM1 to ubiquitinated vacuoles. The L. pneumophila legA9 encodes for an ankyrin-containing protein with unknown role. We show that the legA9 mutant replicate in wild-type mice...
Source: European Journal of Immunology - February 19, 2013 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Khweek AA, Caution K, Akhter A, Abdulrahman BA, Tazi M, Hassan H, Majumdar N, Doran A, Guirado E, Schlesinger LS, Shuman H, Amer AO Tags: Eur J Immunol Source Type: research

CDC: Breakdowns in handling of Legionnaires' outbreak at VA hospital
A CDC report reveals breakdowns at a Pennsylvania VA hospital dealing with a Legionnaires' disease outbreak (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - February 5, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

CDC report reveals breakdowns in handling of deadly outbreak at VA hospital
A CDC report reveals breakdowns at a Pennsylvania VA hospital dealing with a Legionnaires' disease outbreak (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - February 5, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Could DNA uptake be a side effect of bacterial adhesion and twitching motility?
Abstract DNA acquisition promotes the spread of resistance to antibiotics and virulence among bacteria. It is also linked to several natural phenomena including recombination, genome dynamics, adaptation and speciation. Horizontal DNA transfer between bacteria occurs via conjugation, transduction or competence for natural transformation by DNA uptake. Among these, competence is the only mechanism of transformation initiated and entirely controlled by the chromosome of the recipient bacteria. While the molecular mechanisms allowing the uptake of extracellular DNA are increasingly characterized, the function of compe...
Source: Archives of Microbiology - February 5, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Bakkali M Tags: Arch Microbiol Source Type: research

Type IV secretion machinery: molecular architecture and function.
Abstract Bacteria have evolved several secretion machineries to bring about transport of various virulence factors, nutrients, nucleic acids and cell-surface appendages that are essential for their pathogenesis. T4S (Type IV secretion) systems are versatile secretion systems found in various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and in few archaea. They are large multisubunit translocons secreting a diverse array of substrates varying in size and nature from monomeric proteins to nucleoprotein complexes. T4S systems have evolved from conjugation machineries and are implicated in antibiotic resistance gene transf...
Source: Biochemical Society Transactions - February 1, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Chandran V Tags: Biochem Soc Trans Source Type: research

Identification of Legionella Effectors Using Bioinformatic Approaches
Legionella pneumophila the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, actively manipulates host cell processes to establish a replication niche inside host cells. The establishment of its replication niche requires a functional Icm/Dot type IV secretion system which translocates about 300 effector proteins into host cells during infection. Many of these effectors were first identified as effector candidates by several bioinformatic approaches, and these predicted effectors were later examined experimentally for translocation and a large number of which were validated as effector proteins. Here, I summarized the bioinf...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - February 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Methods to Study Legionella Transcriptome In Vitro and In Vivo
The study of transcriptome responses can provide insight into the regulatory pathways and genetic factors that contribute to a specific phenotype. For bacterial pathogens, it can identify putative new virulence systems and shed light on the mechanisms underlying the regulation of virulence factors. Microarrays have been previously used to study gene regulation in Legionella pneumophila. In the past few years a sharp reduction of the costs associated with microarray experiments together with the availability of relatively inexpensive custom-designed commercial microarrays has made microarray technology an accessible tool fo...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - February 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

cDNA Library Construction for Next-Generation Sequencing to Determine the Transcriptional Landscape of Legionella pneumophila
The adaptation of Legionella pneumophila to the different conditions it encounters in the environment and in the host is governed by a complex regulatory system. Current knowledge of these regulatory networks and the transcriptome responses of L. pneumophila is mainly based on microarray analysis and limited to transcriptional products of annotated protein-coding genes. The application of the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology allows now genome-wide strand-specific sequencing and accurate determination of all expressed regions of the genome to reveal the complete transcriptional network and the dynamic interplay o...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - February 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Human Susceptibility to Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular pathogen that is an important cause of pneumonia. Although host factors that may predispose to acquisition of Legionnaire’s Disease (LD) include comorbid illnesses (e.g., diabetes, chronic lung disease), age, male sex, and smoking, many individuals have no identifiable risk factors. Some studies suggest that genetic factors may enhance susceptibility to LD. In this chapter we discuss current techniques and scientific methods to identify genetic susceptibility factors. These genetic studies provide insight into the human immune response to intracellular pathogens a...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - February 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

The Guinea Pig Model of Legionnaires’ Disease
The guinea pig pneumonia model mimics Legionnaires’ disease as seen in immunocompromised humans, with high untreated fatality rates and as such lends itself to studies of experimental chemotherapy. Guinea pig infection is also used to assess relative virulence of different Legionella bacterial strains, and has also been used to study host immune defenses. Here I describe the method used to produce Legionella sp. pneumonia in the guinea pig using the intratracheal infection technique. This method uses directly observed intratracheal injection of a bacterial suspension, requiring surgical exposure of the trachea. (Sour...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - February 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Assessment of Legionella-Specific Immunity in Mice
Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease in humans. Mice have proved to be valuable model organisms to study the pathogenesis of this intracellular bacterium, as well as immune responses against it. In this chapter we describe a selection of mouse infection protocols to study the innate and adaptive immune responses raised after an infection with Legionella. Included are protocols for systemic and pulmonary infections, surgical collection of organs as well as determination of cell composition, cytokines, and antibody titers therein. Furthermore, we describe an immun...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - February 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Analyzing Caspase-1 Activation During Legionella pneumophila Infection in Macrophages
Caspase-1 is a critical factor in the innate immune response to Legionella pneumophila. The development of methods for analyzing caspase-1 activation pathways and downstream caspase-1-associated activities has helped in understanding the regulation of this protease and the signaling components involved. Here we outline methods for directly detecting active caspase-1, measuring caspase-1 activities and analyzing components involved in the regulation of caspase-1 during L. pneumophila infection in macrophages. (Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases)
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - February 1, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

A bacterial protein promotes the recognition of the Legionella pneumophila vacuole by autophagy
Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is an intracellular bacterium of human alveolar macrophages that causes Legionnaires’ disease. In contrast to humans, most inbred mouse strains are restrictive to L. pneumophila replication. We demonstrate that autophagy targets L. pneumophila vacuoles to lysosomes and that this process requires ubiquitination of L. pneumophila vacuoles and the subsequent binding of the autophagic adaptor p62/SQSTM1 to ubiquitinated vacuoles. The L. pneumophila legA9 encodes for an ankyrin‐containing protein with unknown role. We show that the legA9 mutant replicate in wild‐type mice and their ...
Source: European Journal of Immunology - February 1, 2013 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Arwa Abu Khweek, Kyle Caution, Anwari Akhter, Basant A. Abdulrahman, Mia Tazi, Hoda Hassan, Neal Majumdar, Andrew Doran, Evelyn Guirado, Larry S. Schlesinger, Howard Shuman, Amal O. Amer Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research

Legionnaires' deaths hospital had cut water treatment programme to save money
A hospital facing a £100,000 plus fine over an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease which killed two people had cut their water treatment programme to save money, a court heard. (Source: Telegraph Health)
Source: Telegraph Health - January 30, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Legionella-mediated activation of caspase-11 [Immunology]
A flagellin-independent caspase-1 activation pathway that does not require NAIP5 or NRLC4 is induced by the intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila. Here we demonstrate that this pathway requires caspase-11. Treatment of macrophages with LPS up-regulated the host components required for this caspase-11 activation pathway. Activation by Legionella differed from caspase-11 activation... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - January 29, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Case, C. L., Kohler, L. J., Lima, J. B., Strowig, T., de Zoete, M. R., Flavell, R. A., Zamboni, D. S., Roy, C. R. Tags: Biological Sciences Source Type: research

Inflammasome activation restricts Legionella pneumophila replication in primary microglial cells through flagellin detection
In this study, we decided to use L. pneumophila to investigate the presence and the functionality of this inflammasome in primary murine microglial cells. We show that microglial cells detect L. pneumophila infection in a flagellin‐dependent manner leading to caspase‐1‐mediated bacterial growth restriction, infected cell death and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and IL18. Overall, our data demonstrate that microglial cells have a functional Naip5‐NLRC4 inflammasome likely to be important to monitor and clear CNS infections by flagellated bacteria. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2013 Wiley Pe...
Source: Glia - January 28, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Yvan Jamilloux, Roberto Pierini, Mathieu Querenet, Carole Juruj, Anne‐Laure Fauchais, Marie‐Odile Jauberteau, Sophie Jarraud, Gérard Lina, Jérôme Etienne, Craig R. Roy, Thomas Henry, Nathalie Davoust‐Nataf, Florence Ader Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Molecular diversity and high virulence of Legionella pneumophila strains isolated from biofilms developed within a warm spring of a thermal spa
Conclusion: The characteristics of Legionella pneumophila Lp1 strains isolated from the warm spring are in agreement with their presence in biofilms and their probable long-term persistence in this ecosystem. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)
Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles - January 28, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Zineddine ChaabnaFrançoise ForeyMonique ReyrolleSophie JarraudDanièle AtlanDominique FontvieilleChristophe Gilbert Source Type: research

Prospective study of carmustine wafers in combination with 6-month metronomic temozolomide and radiation therapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: preliminary results.
Conclusions Overall, this treatment schedule produced promising results in terms of PFS without a marked increase in toxicities as compared with the Stupp regimen. However, the gain in median survival using this schedule was less clear. Only prospective comparative trials will determine whether these preliminary results will translate into a long-term survival advantage with an acceptable toxicity profile. PMID: 23350777 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Neurosurgery)
Source: Journal of Neurosurgery - January 25, 2013 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Salmaggi A, Milanesi I, Silvani A, Gaviani P, Marchetti M, Fariselli L, Solero CL, Maccagnano C, Casali C, Guzzetti S, Pollo B, Ciusani E, Dimeco F Tags: J Neurosurg Source Type: research

Pathogen genetics: Screening to resolve redundancy
Nature Reviews Genetics 14, 79 (2013). doi:10.1038/nrg3421 Author: Louisa Flintoft Identifying pathogenicity genes can be difficult because redundancy means that perturbing the function of a single pathogen gene often fails to result in a phenotype. This paper describes a method called insertional mutagenesis and depletion (iMAD), in which pathogenic Legionella pneumophila bacteria are first (Source: Nature Reviews Genetics)
Source: Nature Reviews Genetics - January 16, 2013 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Louisa Flintoft Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research

Method development for genomic Legionella pneumophcila DNA quantification by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Abstract The development of a method for the quantification of Legionella pneumophila genomic deoxyribonucleic acid is considered. The method is based on the quantification by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) of the mass fraction of phosphorus, stoichiometrically presented in the DNA molecules. Through the DNA sequencing data, it was possible to convert the ICP-MS analysis results into DNA Genome Units. Legionella pneumophila DNA samples were analyzed using ICP-Sector Field MS and ICP-Quadroupole-MS with Collision Reaction Cell (CRC). Spectrophotometric measurements of the absorbance at 260 nm ...
Source: Analytical Biochemistry - January 15, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Leclerc O, Fraisse PO, Labarraque G, Oster C, Pichaut JP, Baume M, Jarraud S, Fisicaro P, Vaslin-Reimann S Tags: Anal Biochem Source Type: research

Video: VA hospital keeps tainted water secret from patients
The bacteria that causes Legionnaires disease was found in Pittsburgh VA hospital's water system, but that knowledge was kept hidden from patients. And, as Elaine Quijano reports, the discovery is raising the question of what patients have the right to know. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - January 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Pa. VA hospital knew of Legionella problem before patient's death
Hospital had been aware Legionella bacteria was in water system for almost a year, but was not legally obligated to notify patients (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - January 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Spherical Nucleic Acid Enhanced FO-SPR DNA Melting for Detection of Mutations in Legionella pneumophila
Analytical ChemistryDOI: 10.1021/ac303008f (Source: Analytical Chemistry)
Source: Analytical Chemistry - January 11, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Karel Knez, Kris P. F. Janssen, Dragana Spasic, Priscilla Declerck, Louise Vanysacker, Carla Denis, Dinh T. Tran and Jeroen Lammertyn Source Type: research

VA hospital under investigation for deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak
CBS News investigates an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at a VA hospital in Pittsburgh. CBS News' Elaine Quijano reports. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - January 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Do Seasonal Changes and Climate Influence the Etiology of Community Acquired Pneumonia?
CONCLUSIONS: In our area, Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common etiological agent in winter with low temperatures; in summer, with high temperatures, the most frequent was Legionella pneumophila. PMID: 23305778 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archivos de Bronconeumologia)
Source: Archivos de Bronconeumologia - January 7, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Herrera-Lara S, Fernández-Fabrellas E, Cervera-Juan A, Blanquer-Olivas R Tags: Arch Bronconeumol Source Type: research

Involvement of Minerals in Adherence of Legionella pneumophila to Surfaces.
In this study, we studied influence of minerals on bacterial adherence. For the first time, to our knowledge, this report shows that calcium and magnesium in a less extent, enhances the adherence of Legionella to surfaces compared to the bacteria behavior in distilled water. Treatment with proteinase K of live cells showed that surface proteins do not seem to play a crucial role in bacteria adherence to surfaces. Our results represent a first step in understanding effect of ions on Legionella adherence to surfaces. Such field of research could be helpful to better understand biofilm colonization by this bacterium to improv...
Source: Current Microbiology - January 6, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Koubar M, Rodier MH, Frère J Tags: Curr Microbiol Source Type: research

Mechanism of Rab1b deactivation by the Legionella pneumophila GAP LepB
EMBO Reports. doi:10.1038/embor.2012.211 Authors: Emerich Mihai Gazdag, Alexandra Streller, Ina Haneburger, Hubert Hilbi, Ingrid R Vetter, Roger S Goody & Aymelt Itzen (Source: EMBO Reports AOP)
Source: EMBO Reports AOP - January 4, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Emerich Mihai GazdagAlexandra StrellerIna HaneburgerHubert HilbiIngrid R VetterRoger S GoodyAymelt Itzen Tags: vesicular trafficking Legionnaires' disease GTPase pathogen vacuole Scientific Report Source Type: research

Mechanisms of Cu+ Transport ATPases [Molecular Biophysics]
Cu+-ATPases are membrane proteins that couple the hydrolysis of ATP to the efflux of cytoplasmic Cu+. In cells, soluble chaperone proteins bind and distribute cytoplasmic Cu+, delivering the ion to the transmembrane metal-binding sites in the ATPase. The structure of Legionella pneumophila Cu+-ATPase (Gourdon, P., Liu, X. Y., Skjørringe, T., Morth, J. P., Møller, L. B., Pedersen, B. P., and Nissen, P. (2011) Nature 475, 59–64) shows that a kinked transmembrane segment forms a “platform” exposed to the cytoplasm. In addition, neighboring invariant Met, Asp, and Glu are located at the “entrance” of the ion path. ...
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry - January 4, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Padilla–Benavides, T., McCann, C. J., Arguello, J. M. Tags: Membrane Biology Source Type: research

Regulatory Control of Temporally Expressed Integration Host Factor in Legionella pneumophila.
Abstract Legionella pneumophila, an intracellular parasite of protozoa, possesses a distinct dimorphic life cycle that alternates between the vegetative replicative form and the resilient but highly infectious cyst form. Previously, temporally expressed heterodimeric IHF was shown to be required for differentiation into the cyst form. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms controlling the expression of IHF have not been identified. Microplate kinetic assays with GFP reporter promoter fusion constructs in wild-type, Δihf, ΔrpoS and ΔletA mutant strain backgrounds were employed to assess differences in express...
Source: Microbiology - January 3, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Pitre CA, Tanner JR, Patel P, Brassinga AK Tags: Microbiology Source Type: research

Ocular penetration of topical antibiotics: study on the penetration of chloramphenicol, tobramycin and netilmicin into the anterior chamber after topical administration
ConclusionsTobramycin and netilmicin do not reach detectable concentrations, and so their use in the prophylaxis and treatment of post‐operative infections does not seem to be rational. CAF after multiple administrations, reaches concentrations that are effective against Haemophilus influenzae and parainfluenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis, Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus pneumoniae. This means that CAF can be rationally used in the prophylaxis and the treatment of infections supported by sensitive germs. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology)
Source: Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - January 1, 2013 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Carlo Cagini, Francesco Piccinelli, Marco Lupidi, Marco Messina, Alessio Cerqualglia, Silvia Manes, Tito Fiore, Roberto M Pellegrino Tags: Clinical Science Source Type: research

GenColors-based comparative genome databases for small eukaryotic genomes
Many sequence data repositories can give a quick and easily accessible overview on genomes and their annotations. Less widespread is the possibility to compare related genomes with each other in a common database environment. We have previously described the GenColors database system (http://gencolors.fli-leibniz.de) and its applications to a number of bacterial genomes such as Borrelia, Legionella, Leptospira and Treponema. This system has an emphasis on genome comparison. It combines data from related genomes and provides the user with an extensive set of visualization and analysis tools. Eukaryote genomes are normally l...
Source: Nucleic Acids Research - December 18, 2012 Category: Research Authors: Felder, M., Romualdi, A., Petzold, A., Platzer, M., Suhnel, J., Glockner, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Adalimumab: Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 pneumonia in an elderly patient: case report
(Source: Reactions)
Source: Reactions - December 17, 2012 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short communication Source Type: research

Erratum to: Protozoa and human macrophages infection by Legionella pneumophila environmental strains belonging to different serogroups.
PMID: 23242465 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives of Microbiology)
Source: Archives of Microbiology - December 15, 2012 Category: Microbiology Authors: Messi P, Bargellini A, Anacarso I, Marchesi I, de Niederhäusern S, Bondi M Tags: Arch Microbiol Source Type: research

VA under scrutiny after Legionnaires' deaths
Twenty-nine patients at the Veterans Administration hospital in Pittsburgh have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease since January 2011, raising questions about the institution's safety practices. (Source: CNN.com - Health)
Source: CNN.com - Health - December 14, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news