Herd prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae producing CTX‐M‐type and CMY‐2 β‐lactamases among Japanese dairy farms

Aims

To determine the herd prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae producing CTX‐M‐type extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases (ESBLs) among 381 dairy farms in Japan.

Methods and Results

Between 2007 and 2009, we screened 897 faecal samples using BTB lactose agar plates containing cefotaxime (2 μg ml^?1). Positive isolates were tested using ESBL confirmatory tests, PCR and sequencing for CTX‐M, AmpC, TEM and SHV. The incidence of Enterobacteriaceae producing CTX‐M‐15 (n = 7), CTX‐M‐2 (n = 12), CTX‐M‐14 (n = 3), CMY‐2 (n = 2) or CTX‐M‐15/2/14 and CMY‐2 (n = 4) in bovine faeces was 28/897 (3·1%) faecal samples. These genes had spread to Escherichia coli (n = 23) and three genera of Enterobacteriaceae (n = 5). Herd prevalence was found to be 20/381 (5·2%) dairy farms. The 23 E. coli isolates showed clonal diversity, as assessed by multilocus sequence typing and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. The pandemic E. coli strain ST131 producing CTX‐M‐15 or CTX‐M‐27 was not detected.

Conclusions

Three clusters of CTX‐M (CTX‐M‐15, CTX‐M‐2, CTX‐M‐14) had spread among Japanese dairy farms.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This is the first report on the prevalence of multidrug‐resistant CTX‐M‐15–producing E. coli among Japanese dairy farms.     

Para‐psychobiotic Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 ameliorates stress‐related symptoms and sleep quality

Aims

To confirm the stress‐relieving effects of heat‐inactivated, enteric‐colonizing Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 (paraprobiotic CP2305) in medical students taking a cadaver dissection course.

Methods and Results

Healthy students (21 males and 11 females) took paraprobiotic CP2305 daily for 5 weeks during a cadaver dissection course. The General Health Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were employed to assess stress‐related somatic symptoms and sleep quality respectively. The aggravation of stress‐associated somatic symptoms was observed in female students (P = 0·029). Sleep quality was improved in the paraprobiotic CP2305 group (P = 0·038), particularly in men (P = 0·004). Among men, paraprobiotic CP2305 shortened sleep latency (P = 0·035) and increased sleep duration (P = 0·048). Diarrhoea‐like symptoms were also effectively controlled with CP2305 (P = 0·005) in men. Thus, we observed sex‐related differences in the effects of paraprobiotic CP2305. In addition, CP2305 affected the growth of faecal Bacteroides vulgatus and Dorea longicatena, which are involved in intestinal inflammation.

Conclusions

CP2305 is a potential paraprobiotic that regulates stress responses, and its beneficial effects may depend on specific cell component(s).

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study characterizes the effects of a stress‐relieving para‐psychobiotic in humans.     

A meta‐analysis of the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and hyperemesis gravidarum

Background

Hyperemesis gravidarum remains a common, distressing, and significant yet poorly understood disorder during pregnancy. The association between maternal Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and hyperemesis gravidarum has been increasingly recognized and investigated. This study thus aimed to provide an updated review and meta‐analysis of the topic.

Methods

Using the search terms (H. pyloriOR Helicobacter ORHelicobacter pyloriOR infection) AND (pregnancy OR emesis OR hyperemesis gravidarum OR nausea OR vomiting), a preliminary search on the PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and WanFang database yielded 372 papers published in English between January 1st, 1960 and June 1st, 2017.

Results

A total of 38 cross‐sectional and case‐control studies, with a total of 10 289 patients were eligible for review. Meta‐analysis revealed a significant association between H. pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.348 (95% CI: 1.156‐1.539, P < .001). Subgroup analysis found that serologic and stool antigen tests were comparable methods of detecting H. pylori as they yielded similar odds ratios.

Limitations

Although the studies did not have high heterogeneity (I² = 28%), publication bias was observed, and interstudy discrepancies in the diagnostic criteria adopted for hyperemesis gravidarum limit the reliability of findings. Also, 15 of the included studies were from the same country (Turkey), which could limit the generalizability of current findings. The prevalence of H. pylori infection varies throughout the world, and there may also be pathogenic differences as most strains of H. pylori in East Asia carry the cytotoxin‐associated gene A gene.

Conclusion

H. pylori infection was associated with an increased likelihood of hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy. Given the high prevalence of H. pylori infections worldwide, detecting H. pylori infection and the eradication of maternal H. pylori infection could be part of maternal hyperemesis gravidarum management. Further confirmation with robust longitudinal studies and mechanistic investigations are needed.     

Crucial role of zebrafish <Emphasis Type="Italic">prox1</Emphasis>in hypothalamic catecholaminergic neurons development

Background  

Prox1, the vertebrate homolog of prospero in Drosophila melanogaster, is a divergent homeogene that regulates cell proliferation, fate determination and differentiation during vertebrate embryonic development.     

Exocytosis and protein secretion in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trypanosoma</Emphasis>

Background  

Human African trypanosomiasis is a lethal disease caused by the extracellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The proteins secreted by T. brucei inhibit the maturation of dendritic cells and their ability to induce lymphocytic allogenic responses. To better understand the pathogenic process, we combined different approaches to characterize these secreted proteins.     

Simultaneous extraction of carotenoids and transfructosylating enzyme from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous</Emphasis> by a bead beater

Purpose of work  

Conditions for the cell disruption of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous by using a bead beater have been optimized with respect to maximizing the recovery of carotenoids and transfructosylating enzymes in a one-step process.     

RecA Proteins from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deinococcus geothermalis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deinococcus murrayi</Emphasis> - Cloning,Purification and Biochemical Characterisation

Background  

Escherichia coli RecA plays a crucial role in recombinational processes, the induction of SOS responses and mutagenic lesion bypasses. It has also been demonstrated that RecA protein is indispensable when it comes to the reassembly of shattered chromosomes in γ-irradiated Deinococcus radiodurans, one of the most radiation-resistant organisms known. Moreover, some functional differences between E. coli and D. radiodurans RecA proteins have also been shown.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">MB2</Emphasis> gene family of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium</Emphasis> species has a unique combination of S1 and GTP-binding domains

Background  

Identification and characterization of novel Plasmodium gene families is necessary for developing new anti-malarial therapeutics. The products of the Plasmodium falciparum gene, MB2, were shown previously to have a stage-specific pattern of subcellular localization and proteolytic processing.     

Microarray for serotyping of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bartonella</Emphasis> species

Background  

Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are responsible for a large variety of human and animal diseases. Serological typing of Bartonella is a method that can be used for differentiation and identification of Bartonella subspecies.     

Attenuation of fibrosis <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">SPARC</Emphasis> siRNA

Introduction  

SPARC is a matricellular protein, which, along with other extracellular matrix components including collagens, is commonly over-expressed in fibrotic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine whether inhibition of SPARC can regulate collagen expression in vitro and in vivo, and subsequently attenuate fibrotic stimulation by bleomycin in mouse skin and lungs.     

A longitudinal study on the occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptosporidium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Giardia</Emphasis> in dogs during their first year of life

Background  

The primary aim of this study was to obtain more knowledge about the occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in young dogs in Norway.     

The minimal kinome of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Giardia lamblia</Emphasis> illuminates early kinase evolution and unique parasite biology

Background  

The major human intestinal pathogen Giardia lamblia is a very early branching eukaryote with a minimal genome of broad evolutionary and biological interest.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> bioassay as a predictor of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> response

Background  

There is a substantial discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo experiments. The purpose of the present work was development of a theoretical framework to enable improved prediction of in vivo response from in vitro bioassay results.     

Chemically defined medium and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis elegans</Emphasis>

Background  

C. elegans has been established as a powerful genetic system. Use of a chemically defined medium (C. elegans Maintenance Medium (CeMM)) now allows standardization and systematic manipulation of the nutrients that animals receive. Liquid cultivation allows automated culturing and experimentation and should be of use in large-scale growth and screening of animals.     

The prevalence of gene duplications and their ancient origin in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodobacter sphaeroides</Emphasis> 2.4.1

Background  

Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 is a metabolically versatile organism that belongs to α-3 subdivision of Proteobacteria. The present study was to identify the extent, history, and role of gene duplications in R. sphaeroides 2.4.1, an organism that possesses two chromosomes.     

Association between <Emphasis Type="Italic">IL-18</Emphasis>gene polymorphisms and biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis

Introduction  

The objective was to investigate the potential implication of the IL18 gene promoter polymorphisms in the susceptibility to giant-cell arteritis (GCA).     

Raw starch–degrading α‐amylase from Bacillus aquimaris MKSC 6.2: isolation and expression of the gene,bioinformatics and biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme

Aims

The aims were to isolate a raw starch–degrading α‐amylase gene baqA from Bacillus aquimaris MKSC 6.2, and to characterize the gene product through in silico study and its expression in Escherichia coli.

Methods and Results

A 1539 complete open reading frame of a starch–degrading α‐amylase gene baqA from B. aquimaris MKSC 6·2 has been determined by employing PCR and inverse PCR techniques. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that B. aquimaris MKSC 6.2 α‐amylase (BaqA) has no starch‐binding domain, and together with a few putative α‐amylases from bacilli may establish a novel GH13 subfamily most closely related to GH13_1. Two consecutive tryptophans (Trp201 and Trp202, BaqA numbering) were identified as a sequence fingerprint of this novel GH13 subfamily. Escherichia coli cells produced the recombinant BaqA protein as inclusion bodies. The refolded recombinant BaqA protein degraded raw cassava and corn starches, but exhibited no activity with soluble starch.

Conclusions

A novel raw starch–degrading B. aquimaris MKSC 6.2 α‐amylase BaqA is proposed to be a member of new GH13 subfamily.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study has contributed to the overall knowledge and understanding of amylolytic enzymes that are able to bind and digest raw starch directly.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium marinum mel2</Emphasis> locus displays similarity to bacterial bioluminescence systems and plays a role in defense against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species

Background  

Mycobacteria have developed a number of pathways that provide partial protection against both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). We recently identified a locus in Mycobacterium marinum, mel2, that plays a role during infection of macrophages. The molecular mechanism of mel2 action is not well understood.     

Functional analysis of the copy 1 of the fixNOQP operon of Ensifer meliloti under free‐living micro‐oxic and symbiotic conditions

Aim

In this work, phenotypic analyses of a Ensifer meliloti fixN1 mutant under free‐living and symbiotic conditions have been carried out.

Methods and Results

Ensifer meliloti fixN1 mutant showed a defect in growth as well as in TMPD‐dependent oxidase activity when cells were incubated under micro‐oxic conditions. Furthermore, haem c staining analyses of a fixN1 and a fixP1 mutant identified two membrane‐bound c‐type cytochromes of 27 and 32 kDa, present in microaerobically grown cells and in bacteroids, as the FixO and FixP components of the E. meliloti cbb₃ oxidase. Under symbiotic conditions, fixN1 mutant showed a clear nitrogen fixation defect in alfalfa plants that were grown in an N‐free nutrient solution during 3 weeks. However, in plants grown for a longer period, fixNOQP1 copy was not indispensable for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Conclusions

The copy 1 of the fixNOQP operon is involved in E. meliloti respiration and growth under micro‐oxic conditions as well as in the expression of the FixO and FixP components of the cbb₃ oxidase present in free‐living microaerobic cultures and in bacteroids. This copy is important for nitrogen fixation during the early steps of the symbiosis.

Significance and Impact of the Study

It is the first time that a functional analysis of the E. meliloti copy 1 of the fixNOQP operon is performed. In this work, the cytochromes c that constitute the cbb₃ oxidase operating in free‐living micro‐oxic cultures and in bacteroids of E. meliloti have been identified.     

A link of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> to cAMP oscillations in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyostelium</Emphasis>: the calmodulin antagonist W-7 potentiates cAMP relay and transiently inhibits the acidic Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-store

Background  

During early differentiation of Dictyostelium the attractant cAMP is released periodically to induce aggregation of the cells. Here we pursue the question whether pulsatile cAMP signaling is coupled to a basic Ca²⁺-oscillation.