Microbiology and ImmunologyThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

This page shows you the latest items in this publication.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

206 records returned

Protective effects of affinity-purified antibody and truncated vaccines against Pseudomonas aeruginosa V-antigen in neutropenic miceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Virulent P. aeruginosa strains express PcrV, one of the translocational components of the type III secretion system. PcrV has been reported to be a protective antigen against lethal P. aeruginosa infection. The PcrV region, which contributes to protective immunity against P. aeruginosa infection, was investigated by using genetically engineered, truncated PcrV proteins and affinity-purified anti-PcrV antibodies against the truncated PcrV proteins. The efficacy of active and passive immunization against PcrV was tested in mice with cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression by intraabdominal challenge of P. aeruginosa. Acti...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - October 23, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Kiyoshi Moriyama, Jeanine P. Wiener-Kronish, Teiji Sawa Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

A novel DNA vaccine containing multiple TB-specific epitopes cast in a natural structure elicits enhanced Th1 immunity compared with BCGEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Vaccination is expected to make a major contribution to the goal of eliminating tuberculosis worldwide by 2050. Because the protection afforded by the currently available tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, is insufficient, new vaccine strategies are urgently needed. Protective immunity against MTB depends on generation of a Th1-type cellular immune response characterized by secretion of IFN-[gamma] from antigen-specific T cells. Epitope-driven vaccines are created from sub-sequences of proteins (epitopes) derived by scanning the protein sequences of pathogens and selecting epitopes with patterns of amino acids which permit binding...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - September 24, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Haifeng Gao, Kang Li, Shanshan Yu, Sidong Xiong Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Mechanisms of action of acriflavine: electron microscopic study of cell wall changes induced in Staphylococcus aureus by acriflavineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The antimicrobial action of acriflavine, a quaternary ammonium compound, on Staphylococcus aureus was studied by electron microscopic observation. The bactericidal activity of acriflavine was dose-dependent over the 4 hr of exposure time. Scanning electron micrographs showed a wavy wrinkled cell surface following treatment with acriflavine. Transmission electron micrographs showed thickened cell walls following treatment with acriflavine. Acriflavine-induced cell wall thickness seemed to affect both the peripheral and cross walls, but was reversible after treatment removal. These findings indicate that cell wall thickness ...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - August 24, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Mako Kawai, Jun-ichi Yamagishi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Enhanced immune response to pneumococcal infection in malnourished mice nasally treated with heat-killed Lactobacillus caseiEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The present study analyzed whether nasal administration of viable and non-viable Lactobacillus casei CRL 431 to immunocompromised mice was capable of increasing resistance against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Weaned mice were malnourished after consuming a PFD for 21 days. Malnourished mice were fed a BCD for 7 days or BCD for 7 days with viable or non-viable L. casei nasal treatments on day 6 and day 7 (BCD+LcV and BCD+LcN, respectively). The MNC group received PFD whereas the WNC mice consumed BCD. MNC mice showed greater lung colonization, more severe lung injuries, impaired leukocyte recruitment and reduced antibodies and...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - August 20, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Julio Villena, Natalia Barbieri, Susana Salva, Matías Herrera, Susana Alvarez Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

N-linked glycan-dependent interaction of CD63 with CXCR4 at the Golgi apparatus induces downregulation of CXCR4Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Efficient downregulation of CXCR4 cell surface expression by introduction of the CD63 gene has previously been reported by us. In the present study, it was found that CD63 and its mutant efficiently interact with CXCR4 in live cells and that CD63-induced downregulation and interaction are significantly abrogated by the N-linked glycosylation inhibitor, TM. Furthermore, the downregulation and interaction were clearly attenuated by alternation of all three N-linked glycosylation sites in CD63. Either CD63 or CD63[Delta]N formed a complex with CXCR4 at the Golgi apparatus and the late endosomes, while CD63 GD mutants lost the...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - August 10, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Takeshi Yoshida, Hirotaka Ebina, Yoshio Koyanagi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Archetype JC virus efficiently propagates in kidney-derived cells stably expressing HIV-1 TatEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Pathogenic JCV with rearranged regulatory regions (PML-type) causes PML, a demyelinating disease, in the brains of immunocompromised patients. On the other hand, archetype JCV persistently infecting the kidney is thought to be converted to PML-type virus during JCV replication in the infected host under immunosuppressed conditions. In addition, Tat protein, encoded by HIV-1, markedly enhances the expression of a reporter gene under control of the JCV late promoter. In order to examine the influence of Tat on JCV propagation, we used kidney-derived COS-7 cells, which only permit archetype JCV, and established COS-tat cells,...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - August 10, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Souichi Nukuzuma, Masanori Kameoka, Shigeki Sugiura, Kazuo Nakamichi, Chiyoko Nukuzuma, Isao Miyoshi, Tsutomu Takegami Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Covalent bonded Gag multimers in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 particlesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The oligomerization of HIV-1 Gag and Gag-Pol proteins, which are assembled at the plasma membrane, leads to viral budding. The budding generally places the viral components under non-reducing conditions. Here the effects of non-reducing conditions on Gag structures and viral RNA protection were examined. Using different reducing conditions and SDS-PAGE, it was shown that oligomerized Gag possesses intermolecular covalent bonds under non-reducing conditions. In addition, it was demonstrated that the mature viral core contains a large amount of covalent bonded Gag multimers, as does the immature core. Viral genomic RNA becom...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - August 10, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yoshinori Kitagawa, Masae Maeda-Sato, Keiko Tanaka, Minoru Tobiume, Hirofumi Sawa, Hideki Hasegawa, Asato Kojima, William W. Hall, Takeshi Kurata, Tetsutaro Sata, Hidehiro Takahashi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Characterization of integrons and antimicrobial resistance genes in clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from Palestinian hospitalsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study various types of antibiotic resistance genes have been identified in Gram-negative bacteria from Palestinian hospitals, many of which are reported in the Middle East area for the first time. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - August 10, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Amjad I. A. Hussein, Ashraf M. Ahmed, Maiko Sato, Tadashi Shimamoto Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Dynamics of fecal microbiota in hospitalized elderly fed probiotic LKM512 yogurtEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The comprehensive dynamics of intestinal microbiota including uncultured bacteria in response to probiotic consumption have not been well studied. The aims of this study were twofold: firstly to analyze the impact on intestinal microbiota of yogurt fermented by Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis LKM512, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LKM1759, and Streptococcus thermophilus LKM1742 (LKM512 yogurt) and placebo fermented by these lactic acid bacterial strains without LKM512; and secondly to investigate the changes in intestinal microbiota that influence the concentration of PA, one of the beneficial metabolit...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - July 23, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Mitsuharu Matsumoto, Mitsuo Sakamoto, Yoshimi Benno Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Study of human metapneumovirus-associated lower respiratory tract infections in Egyptian adultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There is a deficiency in the data concerning the role of hMPV in lower respiratory tract infections in adults, and until now there has been no data available regarding the prevalence of hMPV in adults in our region. In the present study the association of hMPV with varieties of lower respiratory tract disorders in immunocompetent adult patients, either alone or with bacterial pathogens, has been highlighted. Eighty-eight patients were included in the study. They included 46 males and 42 females with an age range of 38[ndash]65 years. Patients presented with lower respiratory tract infections associated with acute exacerbat...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - July 12, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Maysaa El Sayed Zaki, Douaa Raafat, Amal Abd El-Metaal, Mona Ismail Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages specific for Campylobacter jejuniEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, six C. jejuni-specific bacteriophages (CPS1[ndash]6) were isolated by the spot-on-the-lawn technique from chicken samples in Korea and characterized for potential use as biocontrol agents. All isolated bacteriophages exhibited a high specificity, being able to lyse only C. jejuni, but not other Gram[ndash]negative bacteria, including C. coli, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Gram[ndash]positive bacteria. Bacteriophages contain an icosahedral head and a contractile tail sheath in transmission electron microscopy, and possess ds-DNA with an average genome size of approximately 145 kb; therefore, all bact...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - July 12, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Sunyoung Hwang, Jiae Yun, Kwang-Pyo Kim, Sunggi Heu, Seungdon Lee, Sangryeol Ryu Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Differential response of Vibrio cholerae planktonic and biofilm cells to autoinducer 2 deficiencyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The formation of biofilm communities enhances the persistence of Vibrio cholerae in aquatic environments. Biofilm production is repressed by the quorum-sensing regulator HapR in response to the accumulation of CAI-1 and AI-2. CAI-1 is the strongest input signal activating HapR, whereas the role of AI-2 remains ill-defined. In the present study, we show that a V. cholerae luxS (AI-2-defective) mutant made increased biofilm. Interestingly, cells in the biofilm were more responsive to AI-2 deficiency than cells from the planktonic population. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 28, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Syed A. Ali, Jorge A. Benitez Tags: Note Source Type: journals

Antiviral treatments reduce severity of diabetes in Ljungan virus-infected CD-1 mice and delay onset in diabetes-prone BB ratsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The effects of LV in two different species, CD-1 mice, without a genetic disposition for diabetes, and BB rats prone to T1D were examined. Male CD-1 mice that had been exposed to LV in utero developed a type 2-like diabetes with increased blood glucose, insulin levels and epididymal fat at the age of 10[ndash]15 weeks. Combination therapy including LV-antiserum and an antiviral drug, Pleconaril, significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose and insulin and the amount of abdominal fat. In BB rats, LV has been found in both prediabetic- and diabetic diabetes-prone rats, as well as in diabetes-resistant rats. To evaluate ...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 28, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Rebecka Holmberg, William Klitz, Martin Blixt, Per-Olof Berggren, Lisa Juntti-Berggren, Bo Niklasson Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Adrenomedullin treatment reduces intestinal inflammation and maintains epithelial barrier function in mice administered dextran sulphate sodiumEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Hyperactivation and hyperpermeability of the intestinal epithelium is a hallmark of IBD. AM has been shown to reduce the severity of colitis in the acetic acid and TNBS-induced colitis model, however the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of AM against the colitis has not been clarified. Here, we show that the protective capability of AM is associated with suppression of inflammation and maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier function. In the DSS-induced colitis model, intra-rectal AM-treated mice showed a reduction in loss of body weight and severity of colitis. AM-treatment suppressed phosphorylation of STAT1 ...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 22, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Shinya Ashizuka, Kyoko Inagaki-Ohara, Kenji Kuwasako, Johji Kato, Haruhiko Inatsu, Kazuo Kitamura Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

A host-vector system for molecular study of the intracellular growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in phagocytic cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study it has been shown that, in contrast with M. smegmatis strain mc2155 which has been widely used for molecular analysis, M. smegmatis strain J15cs is able to survive even at day 6 post-infection in a murine macrophage cell line, J774. The survivability of J15cs was found to depend on the culture medium used for the bacteria prior to infection. Bacteria precultured on nutrient agar medium showed a high survivability and a characteristic cell wall ultrastructure. A plasmid vector, pYT923hyg, was developed from an Escherichia coli- mycobacterium shuttle vector pYT923 (previously constructed in our laboratory) to o...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 22, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Mari Nomoto, Midori Ogawa, Kazumasa Fukuda, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Hatsumi Taniguchi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Evolution of HIV-1 in a patient population failing multiple-drug therapyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
To understand the evolutionary pathway of the multi-drug-resistant virus HIV-1 under drug-induced selection pressure, plasma from seven patients from baseline to different intervals post-treatment failure were used in RT-PCR protocols. Multiple clones were sequenced for each time point. Drug-resistant mutations were detected in five patients. Phylogenetic analysis showed that at different time points, viral sequences clustered separately and formed independent lineages. Genetic diversity decreased from 1.59 to 0.55, whereas non-synonymous/synonymous mutation ratios increased from 0.067 to 0.118, respectively. These data su...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 15, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Shaolin Hong, Jingjiang Cao, Ya-ting Tu Tags: Notes Source Type: journals

Change of specific T cells in an emerging neonatal infectious disease induced by a bacterial superantigenEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We present three diagnostic categories of NTED. Fifty patients (66.7%) were included in the category 'definitive NTED'. It is important to demonstrate an increase of V[beta]2+ T cells in the following phase in cases of 'probable NTED' or 'possible NTED'. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 15, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Naoto Takahashi, Hidehito Kato, Ken'ichi Imanishi, Takehiro Ohki, Ritei Uehara, Mariko Y. Momoi, Hiroshi Nishida, Takehiko Uchiyama Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Inhibitory effect of serotonin antagonists on JC virus propagation in a carrier culture of human neuroblastoma cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Human polyomavirus, JCV, causes fatal demyelinating disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). It has been shown that 5HT2AR acts as a cellular receptor for JCV on human glial cells. In the current study, we examined the inhibitory effects of 5HT2AR antagonists, ketanserin and ritanserin, both on JCV infection and on propagation by using human neuroblastoma cells IMR-32 and JCI, which continuously produce JCV. Transcriptional analysis revealed that 5HT2AR was constitutively expressed in JCI cells. Treatments with 5HT2AR antagonists led to a significant reduction in the titers of progeny viruses and the popu...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 15, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Souichi Nukuzuma, Kazuo Nakamichi, Chiyoko Nukuzuma, Tsutomu Takegami Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 on the ability of Candida albicans to infect cells and induce inflammationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, L. reuteri RC-14 alone and together with L. rhamnosus GR-1 have the potential to inhibit the yeast growth and their CFS may up-regulate IL-8 and IP-10 secretion by VK2/E6E7 cells, which could possibly have played an important role in helping to clear VVC in vivo. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 15, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Rafael C.R. Martinez, Shannon L. Seney, Kelly L. Summers, Auro Nomizo, Elaine C.P. De Martinis, Gregor Reid Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Development of a broadly reactive nested reverse transcription-PCR assay to detect murine noroviruses, and investigation of the prevalence of murine noroviruses in laboratory mice in JapanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A broadly reactive nested RT-PCR assay to detect MNV was developed and subsequently used to investigate the prevalence of MNV in laboratory mice in Japan. MNV were detected in 8 (22%) of 37 murine stool specimens by second-round PCR, although no positive band was obtained from any specimen by first-round PCR. Genetic analysis of the second round PCR products showed that MNV sequences detected in this study were closely matched (97.2 [sim] 99.1%) to that of MNV-3 (DQ223042). This is the first report demonstrating the prevalence of MNV in Japan. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 2, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Masaaki Kitajima, Tomoichiro Oka, Yukinobu Tohya, Hiroyuki Katayama, Naokazu Takeda, Kazuhiko Katayama Tags: Notes Source Type: journals

Human leukocyte antigen profile in HIV-1 infected individuals and AIDS patients from Chongqing, ChinaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we performed 4-digit resolution HLA-A, B, DRB1 genotyping of 759 HIV-1 seropositive individuals using PCR-SSO methods. Six alleles were found at more than 10% high frequency: A*1101, A*0201, A*2402, B*4601, B*4001 and DRB1*0901. The most common 2- and 3-locus haplotypes were A*0201-B*4601, A*1101-B*4001, A*1101-B*4601, A*3303/1-B*5801, A*0201-B*4601-DRB1*0901, A*1101-B*4601-DRB1*0901 and A*3303/1-B*5801-DRB1*0301. 690 HIV-1 seropositive individuals with records of CD4 counts were divided into two groups: an AIDS patient group comprising 216 subjects with AIDS-defining symptoms and CD4 counts below 200 cells/...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - June 2, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Xia Huang, Hua Ling, Liangui Feng, Xianbin Ding, Quanhua Zhou, Mei Han, Wei Mao, Hongyan Xiong Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Classification of OprD sequence and correlation with antimicrobial activity of carbapenem agents in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates collected in JapanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A total of 99 clinical isolates of metallo-ß-lactamase-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected in Japan between 1998 and 2001 were studied for their susceptibilities to carbapenem agents and corresponding oprD gene mutations. The OprD sequence of each strain was grouped into two major classes, based on the pattern of alterations. Eighty strains (80.8%) were so-called 'full length type', whose OprD proteins were fully encoded. The remaining 19 strains (19.2%) were so-called 'defective type', which possessed deletions or major alterations that might cause conformational changes in the OprD porin protein. The changes in 'd...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - May 31, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yumiko Sanbongi, Atsuyuki Shimizu, Takahisa Suzuki, Hiroshi Nagaso, Takashi Ida, Kazunori Maebashi, Naomasa Gotoh Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Characterization of the orf1-tolQRA operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The tol-pal genes play important roles in maintaining outer membrane integrity, transmembrane transportation, and cell division in Gram-negative bacteria. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important human opportunistic pathogen, the tol-oprL genes are organized uniquely in three operons, orf1-tolQRA, tolB and oprL-orf2, and are regulated by iron availability. Similarity between TolQRA and the iron transport system ExbBD-TonB also exists in P. aeruginosa and they can replace each other imperfectly. It is of importance to investigate the regulation and functions of this membrane complex. In the present study, we characterized th...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - May 31, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yang Wei, Zhidong Li, Bang Chen, Haihua Liang, Kangmin Duan Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Interleukin-1 deficiency in combination with macrophage depletion increases susceptibility to Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We evaluated the role of IL-1 during Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia by intravenously injecting P. aeruginosa strain D4 into IL-1-deficient and WT mice. The two strains showed equivalent mortality rates. However, when the mice were pretreated with cyclophosphamide, bacteremia-induced mortality was significantly greater in the IL-1-deficient mice than in the WT mice (P < 0.01). We then investigated the role of neutrophils and macrophages in protecting IL-1-deficient mice from bacteremia by administering anti-Gr-1 antibody or liposomes containing dichloromethylene diphosphonate, respectively. After P. aeruginosa inoculatio...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Tetsuya Horino, Tetsuya Matsumoto, Hiroki Ishikawa, Soichiro Kimura, Masashi Uramatsu, Masaaki Tanabe, Kazuhiro Tateda, Shuichi Miyazaki, Yukihiko Aramaki, Yoichiro Iwakura, Masaki Yoshida, Shoichi Onodera, Keizo Yamaguchi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Differentiated implication of Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri TMC0356 to immune responses of murine Peyer's patchEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri TMC0356 were examined for their potential to alter the immune responses of murine PP cells in vitro and in vivo. Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri TMC0356 characteristically stimulated the production of IL-12, IL-6, IFN-[gamma] and IgA from isolated PP cells in vitro. Anatomical analysis indicated uptake of these bacteria by the PP tissue after giving orally in mice. Isolated PP cells exposed to Lactobacillus GG in vivo secreted more IFN-[gamma], IL-6 and total IgA, whereas those exposed to L. gasseri TMC0356 in vivo did not exhibit altered immune responses in terms of cytokine and IgA product...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Gaku Harata, Fang He, Manabu Kawase, Akira Hosono, Kyoko Takahashi, Shuichi Kaminogawa Tags: Note Source Type: journals

Increase of regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of dogs with metastatic tumorsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It is well known that lymphocytes from patients with advanced-stage cancer have impaired immune responsiveness and that type1 T lymphocyte subsets in tumor bearing hosts are suppressed. Treg have been reported to comprise a subgroup which inhibits T cell mediated immune responses. In the present study, the percentage of Treg, Th1 and Tc1 in the peripheral blood of tumor bearing dogs with or without metastases was evaluated. The percentages of Th1 and Tc1 in dogs with metastatic tumor were significantly less, and that of Treg was significantly greater, than those of dogs without metastatic tumor. The percentage of Treg show...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yutaka Horiuchi, Makiko Tominaga, Mika Ichikawa, Masao Yamashita, Yuri Jikumaru, Yoko Nariai, Yuko Nakajima, Masato Kuwabara, Masayoshi Yukawa Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Study of the immunological profile towards Mycobacterium bovis antigens in naturally infected cattleEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A number of studies have determined the contribution of Th1 and Th2 responses to the protective immunity and pathology of Mycobacterium bovis infection. However, much of that information is derived from experimentally infecting cattle with M. bovis and few data from naturally infected animals are available. The aim of this study was to characterize the immunological profile towards M. bovis antigens of naturally infected cattle by measurement of cytokine mRNA expression in PBMC, and to determine which lymphocyte subsets are involved in recall responses of PBMC from M. bovis infected cattle to M. bovis antigens. Consistent ...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Federico C. Blanco, Pablo Schierloh, María Verónica Bianco, Karina Caimi, Virginia Meikle, Alicia E. Alito, Angel A. Cataldi, María del Carmen Sasiain, Fabiana Bigi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Characteristics of dengue virus-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cell death that correlates with the severity of illnessEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, our data highlight the adverse effect of apoptosis induced by DENV and by pro-inflammatory cytokines during natural DENV infection. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yanin Jaiyen, Promsin Masrinoul, Siripen Kalayanarooj, Rojjanaporn Pulmanausahakul, Sukathida Ubol Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Analysis of herpesvirus host specificity determinants using herpesvirus genomes as bacterial artificial chromosomesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Almost all mammalian alphaherpesviruses can grow in cells derived from several types of animals in vitro. However, FHV-1 can only infect feline cell lines. For this reason, FHV-1 should be a good model to investigate species barriers to herpesviruses in vivo. To apply bacterial mutagenesis of FHV-1, we cloned the FHV-1 genome as a BAC. Using [lambda] and flp recombinations, we introduced a monomeric red fluorescence protein into the C-terminus of glycoprotein D. Although GFP in the constructed recombinant FHV-1, a transfectant of the bacmid of FHV-1 that possessed the GFP, acted in non-feline cell lines, the virus could no...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Jun Arii, Kentaro Kato, Yasushi Kawaguchi, Yukinobu Tohya, Hiroomi Akashi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Human plasmacytoid dendritic cells express an atrial natriuretic peptide receptor, guanylyl cyclase-AEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined GC-A expression on blood pDC and found that GC-A was not expressed on fresh pDC but was induced after stimulation with CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide AAC-30, IL-3, or interleukin-3 plus CD40 ligand. Activated pDC responded to ANP with an increase in cGMP production, indicating that GC-A expressed on pDC was functional. We investigated whether tonsillar pDC express GC-A by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. We found that GC-A+ HLA-DR+ cells were present in the T-cell areas and the perivascular areas. Flow cytometric analysis with tonsillar cells confirmed that lineage[minus] CD123high pDC express GC...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Rimpei Morita, Tomoko Fujita, Takashi Uchiyama, Toshiyuki Hori Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Rapid, sensitive and simple detection method for koi herpesvirus using loop-mediated isothermal amplificationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
New methods were developed for the detection of koi herpesvirus (KHV, CyHV-3) by LAMP, which were compared with the PCR for specificity and sensitivity. We designed two primer sets targeting a specific sequence within the 9/5 PCR amplicon (9/5 LAMP) and the upper region of the SphI-5 PCR amplicon (SphI-5 LAMP), including a sequence highly conserved among the strains. The amplification was monitored in real-time based on the increase in turbidity, with magnesium pyrophosphate as the by-product. The reactions were carried out under isothermal conditions at 65°C for 60 min. The detection limit of both LAMP was six copies, eq...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Manabu Yoshino, Hajime Watari, Tadashi Kojima, Masanari Ikedo, Jun Kurita Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Development of recombinant OmpA and OmpB proteins as diagnostic antigens for rickettsial diseaseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study the diagnostic potential of Rickettsia conorii recombinant antigens was analyzed. For this, site-specific PCR primers were used to clone the OmpA and OmpB genes of R. conorii into pMAL-c2X plasmids. Six fragments of OmpA and four of OmpB were expressed as fusion proteins with maltose-binding protein in Escherichia coli. OmpA1350-1784, OmpB801-1269, and OmpB1227-1634 regions from truncated proteins were selected as diagnostic candidate antigens by ELISA using control sera. ELISA results of three antigens were compared to the results obtained by using a commercial ELISA kit which contained whole OmpA and OmpB a...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 27, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Eun-Ju Do, Jung-Eun Kim, Jin-Mi Park, Kyung-Min Lee, Mi-Yun Jung, Haeng-Jung Lee, Hyun-Woo Cho, Yeon-Joo Choi, Seung-Hyun Lee, Kyung-Hee Park, Won-Jong Jang Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Interaction between superantigen and T-cell receptor Vβ element determines levels of superantigen-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells in induction and effector phasesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Specific superantigens activate different T-cell fractions with distinct TCR V[beta] elements in association with MHC class II molecules and also induce SDCC against MHC class II+ target cells. In the present study, to determine whether the responsiveness of each CD8+ T-cell fraction expressing a different TCR V[beta] element is primarily determined by the TCR V[beta], we compared the levels of proliferation and SDCC in V[beta]3+ and V[beta]11+ T cells upon stimulation with SEA. Upon stimulation with SEAwt, the levels of proliferation were higher in V[beta]3+ T cells than in V[beta]11+ T cells. The levels of SDCC were also...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 6, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Zhong-Juan Li, Katsuhiko Omoe, Kunihiro Shinagawa, Junji Yagi, Ken'ichi Imanishi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Effect of GM-CSF on cytokine induction by soluble β-glucan SCG in vitro in β-glucan-treated miceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
SCG is a 6-branched 1,3-[beta]-d-glucan, which are major cell wall structural components in fungi. Leukocytes from DBA/1 and DBA/2 mice are highly sensitive to SCG, producing cytokines such as GM-CSF, IFN-[gamma], TNF-[alpha] and IL-12p70, but not IL-6. GM-CSF plays a key biological role in this activity. In the present study, we examined the effect of giving i.p. SCG to DBA/2 mice on cytokine production in vitro. SCG was given i.p. to DBA/2 mice on day 0. Splenocytes were prepared on day 7 and cultured in the presence of SCG in vitro. The levels of cytokine production induced by SCG in vitro were lower in the cells from S...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 6, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Toshie H. Hida, Hiromi Kawaminami, Ken-ichi Ishibashi, Noriko N. Miura, Yoshiyuki Adachi, Toshiro Yadomae, Naohito Ohno Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Improved cellular immune response elicited by a ubiquitin-fused ESAT-6 DNA vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The present study evaluated the immune response elicited by a ubiquitin-fused ESAT-6 DNA vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BALB/c mice were vaccinated with plasmid DNA encoding ESAT-6 protein, ubiquitin-fused ESAT-6 DNA vaccine (UbGR-ESAT-6), pcDNA3-ubiquitin and blank vector, respectively. ESAT-6 DNA vaccine immunization induced a Thl-polarized immune response. The production of Thl-type cytokine (IFN-[gamma]) and proliferative T-cell responses was enhanced significantly in mice immunized with UbGR-ESAT-6 fusion DNA vaccine, compared to non-fusion DNA vaccine. This fusion DNA vaccine also resulted in an increase...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - April 6, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Qing-min Wang, Lin Kang, Xiao-hua Wang Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Distinct genotype and antigenicity among genogroup II sapovirusesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
SaV, a pathogen of acute gastroenteritis, is divided into five genogroups, GI to GV. However, the relation between SaV antigenicity and genetic clusters is not fully understood. We have recently identified two GII SaV strains, Mc10 and C12, which are grouped into the same cluster based on the polymerase but are grouped into distinct clusters based on the capsid. To evaluate the difference in antigenicity between these two strains, VLP were expressed in mammalian cells. An antigen ELISA demonstrated for the first time that strains in the same GII SaV genogroup, but within different clusters, have distinct antigenicities. (S...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 16, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Tomoichiro Oka, Kana Miyashita, Kazuhiko Katayama, Takaji Wakita, Naokazu Takeda Tags: Notes Source Type: journals

Association between antibody response against cytomegalovirus strain-specific glycoprotein H epitopes and HLA-DREmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The gH of CMV is a major target for strain-specific neutralizing antibodies. To verify whether there is a correlation between HLA-DR type and strain-specific antibodies, antibodies against CMV gH in potential donors and recipients for renal transplantation were investigated. Among 471 subjects, 404 (86%) showed reactivity to CMV gH, but no antibodies against gH were detected in 67 (14%) subjects. The positive rates were over 80% in most HLA subpopulations. Fewer subjects with HLA-DR10 and DR11 had antibodies to CMV gH than did those without HLA-DR10 and DR11. HLA-DR10 and DR11 may be associated with fewer/non-responders fo...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 16, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Kei Ishibashi, Tadahiko Tokumoto, Hiroki Shirakawa, Koichi Hashimoto, Nobuhiro Kushida, Tomohiko Yanagida, Keiichi Shishido, Ken Aikawa, Osamu Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Toma, Kazunari Tanabe, Tatsuo Suzutani Tags: Notes Source Type: journals

Seroepidemiological study of norovirus infection in Aichi Prefecture, JapanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The serological prevalence of IgG antibody to seven NoV strains (GI.1, GI.4, GII.3, GII.4, GII.10, GII.12 and GII.15) among inhabitants aged 1[ndash]62 years of Aichi Prefecture, Japan was studied. Age-related seroprevalence was measured by ELISA using baculovirus-expressed recombinant VLP antigens. Seropositive rates for all seven VLP antigens gradually increased with age. Among the tested antigens, the highest seropositive rate was for the GII.4 strain. This result is consistent with the recent epidemic of NoV infection due to GII.4 strain in Japan. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 16, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Shinichi Kobayashi, Noriko Fujiwara, Naokazu Takeda, Hiroko Minagawa Tags: Notes Source Type: journals

Screen of multifunctional monoclonal antibodies against hepatitis B core virus-like particlesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, a multifunctional mAb was produced using a novel research strategy. A truncated HBc-VLP bone vector with a special conformation was used as an immunogen and the target hybridoma cell lines were screened by a series of tests; including ELISA, Western blot, and cellular immunofluorescence based on the epitope presentation system. The screened monoclonal antibody was used to identify the HBc-VLP vector, a fusion HBc-VLP vaccine, and intracellular HBV capsids. The new strategy facilitated acquisition of the desired mAbs and will serve as a reference for other VLP-related research. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 16, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Chang Sun, Fei-Xiang Ding, Fang Wang, Xiao-Wen He, Ying He, Zhao-Shen Li, Shu-Han Sun Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Leuconostoc citreum HJ-P4 (KACC 91035) regulates immunoglobulin E in an ovalbumin-induced allergy model and induces interleukin-12 through nuclear factor-kappa B and p38/c-Jun N-terminal kinases signaling in macrophagesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that L. citreum is able to regulate serum IgE generation at the induction and effector phases of allergic response through overall control over antibody production and that its involvement of IL-12 production was mediated through NF-[kappa]B and p38/JNK. Taken together, the use of L. citreum can be useful in preventing the development and progression of IgE production. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 16, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Hee Kang, Yoo-Joung Oh, Kyoo-Seok Ahn, Hyun-Ju Eom, NamSoo Han, Yoon-Bum Kim, Nak-Won Sohn Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Suppression of anti-Candida activity of macrophages by a quorum-sensing molecule, farnesol, through induction of oxidative stressEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Farnesol is well known as a quorum-sensing molecule of Candida albicans. To assess the pathological function of farnesol, its effects on macrophage viability and functions including growth inhibitory activities against C. albicans were examined in vitro. Murine macrophages, when cultured in the presence of 56[ndash]112 [mu]M of farnesol for 1[ndash]2 hr, decreased their activity inhibiting the mycelial growth of C. albicans and lost their viability. This suppression of macrophage function by farnesol was neutralized by the coexistence of the anti-oxidants probucol and trolox. Macrophages cultured in the presence of farneso...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 12, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Shigeru Abe, Rumi Tsunashima, Ryosuke Iijima, Tsuyoshi Yamada, Naho Maruyama, Tatsuya Hisajima, Yoshie Abe, Haruyuki Oshima, Masatoshi Yamazaki Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Occurrence of the African subgroup (Ia) of BK polyomavirus in younger Japanese childrenEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
BK polyomavirus (BKV) is ubiquitous among humans, usually infecting them asymptomatically during childhood. BKV persists in renal tissue of individuals and their progeny are excreted in urine, particularly in immunocompromised patients. JC virus, another human polyomavirus, has been considered to be transmitted from parents to children during prolonged cohabitation. However, BKV has been supposed to be transmitted not only within but also outside the family. In the present study, to clarify this possibility, we analyzed phylogenetically 35 BKV which were excreted in the urine by Japanese children and adults undergoing stem...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 12, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Kaori Tanaka, Tsukasa Hori, Naoki Hatakeyama, Masaki Yamamoto, Rumiko Takayama, Yuko Yoto, Nobuhiro Suzuki, Toshiaki Hayashi, Yukiho Ikeda, Hiroshi Ikeda, Tadao Ishida, Hiroyuki Tsutsumi Tags: Original articles Source Type: journals

Identification of novel putative virulence factors, adhesin AIDA and type VI secretion system, in atypical strains of fish pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda by genomic subtractive hybridization.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Edwardsiella tarda, which is known to be the causative agent of edwardsiellosis in freshwater and marine fish, has two motility phenotypes. Typical strains exhibiting motility are isolated mainly from freshwater fish and Japanese flounder. Atypical strains exhibiting non-motility are isolated mainly from marine fish, with the exception of Japanese flounder. Subtractive hybridization was performed to identify genomic differences between these two phenotypes. Two fragments which showed homology to potential virulence factors were isolated from atypical strains: the autotransporter adhesin AIDA and a component of T6SS. We...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Sakai T, Matsuyama T, Sano M, Iida T Tags: Microbiol Immunol Source Type: journals

Analysis of cis-regulatory elements in the 5' untranslated region of murine leukemia virus controlling protein expression.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It has previously been reported by us that high-level expression of the Env protein of Fr-MLV clone A8 in brains is crucial for induction of spongiform neurodegeneration, and that the 0.3-kb fragment containing the R, U5, and the 5' leader sequence of A8 is responsible for neuropathogenicity. In the present study, the role of the 5' untranslated region in protein expression was investigated. Luciferase expression vectors containing the LTR (R-U3-U5) and 5' leader sequence of A8 and non-neuropathogenic 57 Fr-MLV, designated gl-A8 and gl-57, and their chimeric vectors, were constructed, and transfected into rat glial cel...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Yamamoto N, Takase-Yoden S Tags: Microbiol Immunol Source Type: journals

Real-time polymerase chain reaction as a rapid and efficient alternative to estimation of picornavirus titers by tissue culture infectious dose 50% or plaque forming units.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Quantification of viral infectious units is traditionally measured by methods based on forming plaques in semisolid media (PFU) or endpoint dilution of a virus-containing solution (TCID(50)), methods that are laborious, time-consuming and take on average 3-7 days to carry out. Quantitative real-time PCR is an established method to quantify nucleic acids at high accuracy and reproducibility, routinely used for virus detection and identification. In the present study, a procedure was developed using a two-step real-time PCR and the SYBR Green detection method to study whether there are correlations between TCID(50)/ml, P...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Jonsson N, Gullberg M, Lindberg AM Tags: Microbiol Immunol Source Type: journals

Identification of multiple sites suitable for insertion of foreign genes in herpes simplex virus genomes.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Information on sites in HSV genomes at which foreign gene(s) can be inserted without disrupting viral genes or affecting properties of the parental virus are important for basic research on HSV and development of HSV-based vectors for human therapy. The intergenic region between HSV-1 UL3 and UL4 genes has been reported to satisfy the requirements for such an insertion site. The UL3 and UL4 genes are oriented toward the intergenic region and, therefore, insertion of a foreign gene(s) into the region between the UL3 and UL4 polyadenylation signals should not disrupt any viral genes or transcriptional units. HSV-1 and HS...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Morimoto T, Arii J, Akashi H, Kawaguchi Y Tags: Microbiol Immunol Source Type: journals

Engagement of Penicillium marneffei conidia with multiple pattern recognition receptors on human monocytes.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
P. marneffei is a thermal dimorphic fungus which causes penicilliosis, an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients in South and Southeast Asia. Little is known about the innate immune response to P. marneffei infection. Therefore, the initial response of macrophages to P. marneffei conidia was evaluated by us. Adhesion between monocytes from healthy humans and fungal conidia was examined and found to be specifically inhibited by MAbs against PRR, such as MR, (TLR)1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, CD14, CD11a, CD11b, and CD18. To study the consequences of these interactions, cytokines were also examined by ELISA. Bindin...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Srinoulprasert Y, Pongtanalert P, Chawengkirttikul R, Chaiyaroj SC Tags: Microbiol Immunol Source Type: journals

Immunolocalization and serum antibody responses to Brugia malayi pepsin inhibitor homolog (Bm-33).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
cDNA coding for Brugia malayi pepsin inhibitor homolog (Bm-33) from the human filarial parasite was cloned in pRSET for large-scale expression and functional characterization. The pRSET-B cloned gene did not yield recombinant protein expression and the reason was attributed to the presence of an N-terminal signal peptide. The gene was subcloned in pRSET-A without a signal peptide and the 33 kDa histidine-tagged recombinant protein was purified by IMAC. All individuals from an endemic area generated IgG responses against Bm-33 in the order MF>CP>EN. Isotype analysis indicated an elevated IgG4 reactivity in the ord...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Krushna NS, Shiny C, Dharanya S, Sindhu A, Aishwarya S, Narayanan RB Tags: Microbiol Immunol Source Type: journals

Phenotypic characteristics and pathogenic ability across distinct morphotypes of Burkholderia pseudomallei DT.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Burkholderia pseudomallei DT is unusual as it exhibits six distinct colony morphotypes. Types III and V show stronger motility, whereas type VI exhibits the highest levels of bacterial association with peritoneal exudate cells. Although the bacterial loads in the organs are not significantly different for infections by the six distinct morphotypes, higher mortality (100% and 89%, respectively) and larger areas of abnormal liver debris (20.6% and 22.4%, respectively) are found with types I- and III-infected mice compared to the others. These morphotypes sometimes undergo switching to a mucoid type in the body of mice, b...
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - March 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Chen YS, Lin HH, Hung CC, Mu JJ, Hsiao YS, Chen YL Tags: Microbiol Immunol Source Type: journals

Mitogen-activated protein kinases are involved in tumor necrosis factor alpha production in macrophages infected with Orientia tsutsugamushiEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, our data indicate that MAPK signaling is required to induce maximal TNF-[alpha] production in macrophages during Orientia infection. (Source: Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - February 18, 2009 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ji-Hyun Yun, Jung-Eun Koo, Young-Sang Koh Tags: Notes Source Type: journals