Draft Genome Sequence of Lactococcus lactis Strain 12-16-PSH, Isolated from Prostokvasha from the Arkhangelsk Region of Russia.

A draft genome sequence of Lactococcus lactis strain 12-16-PSH, which was isolated from prostokvasha, is reported. The genome assembly of strain 12-16-PSH contained 63 contigs, with a total length of 2,468,647 bp. A total of 2,421 protein-coding genes were predicted, among which 6 encoded bacteriocins while 15 encoded glycosyl transferases, presumably involved in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis.

Microbial Communities of Artisanal Fermented Milk Products from Russia.

Fermented milk products (FMPs) have numerous health properties, making them an important part of our nutrient budget. Based on traditions, history and geography, there are different preferences and recipes for FMP preparation in distinct regions of the world and Russia in particular. A number of dairy products, both widely occurring and region-specific, were sampled in the households and local markets of the Caucasus republics, Buryatia, Altai, and the Far East and European regions of Russia.

Turning cellulose waste into electricity: hydrogen conversion by a hydrogenase electrode.

Hydrogen-producing thermophilic cellulolytic microorganisms were isolated from cow faeces. Rates of cellulose hydrolysis and hydrogen formation were 0.2 mM L(-1) h(-1) and 1 mM L(-1) h(-1), respectively.

Synthetic analogues of bovine bactenecin dodecapeptide reduce herpes simplex virus type 2 infectivity in mice.

We have evaluated the potential of four synthetic peptides (denoted HH-2, 1002, 1006, 1018) with a distant relationship to the host defense peptide bovine bactenecin dodecapeptide for their ability to prevent genital infections with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in mice. All four peptides showed antiviral properties in vitro and reduced HSV-2 infection of Vero cells in a dose-dependent manner. Detailed analysis showed that the peptides were able to interfere with both viral attachment and entry, but not with replication post-entry, and were effective antivirals also when HSV-2 was introduced in human semen.

STAT4 regulates antiviral gamma interferon responses and recurrent disease during herpes simplex virus 2 infection.

STAT4 is an important transcription factor that contributes to the incidence and severity of different autoimmune diseases and is implicated in the antiviral immune responses in mice. In this study, we evaluated the role of STAT4 in human and murine herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infections. We show that STAT4 regulates antiviral gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses and disease severity during chronic HSV-2 infections in humans and vaccine-induced IFN-γ-mediated protection against HSV-2 infection in mice.

Lactoferricin but not lactoferrin inhibit herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in mice.

We have evaluated the potential of bovine lactoferrin and lactoferricin for their ability to prevent and/or treat genital HSV-2 infection in mice. We confirm previous data showing that both lactoferrin and lactoferricin have antiviral properties in vitro and can inhibit HSV-2 infection of GMK cells in a dose-dependent manner. When tested in vivo, lactoferricin but not lactoferrin was also a potent inhibitor of HSV-2 infection.

Inhibition of γ-secretase cleavage in the notch signaling pathway blocks HSV-2-induced type I and type II interferon production.

We have evaluated the role of γ-secretase, which is a crucial component in the Notch-induced signaling cascade, on herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-induced innate and acquired interferon responses in human CD4(+) T cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). We found that blockade of the Notch signaling pathway with a pharmacological γ-secretase inhibitor blocked both HSV-2-induced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in CD4(+) T cells, and HSV-2-induced IFN-α production in pDC in a dose-dependent fashion. These effects were not due to an overall suppressive capacity of the γ-secretase inhibitor, as it affected neither phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced IFN-γ production in CD4(+) T cells, nor CpG-induced IFN-α production in pDC.

Resistin competes with lipopolysaccharide for binding to toll-like receptor 4.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of cellular structures activated by recognition of pathogen associated molecular sequences. The activation of TLRs triggers a variety of intracellular mechanisms aiming to protect the host from the invading microorganisms. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the main ligand for TLR4.

Orchid-associated bacteria produce indole-3-acetic acid, promote seed germination, and increase their microbial yield in response to exogenous auxin.

Germination of orchid seeds is a complex process. In this paper we focus on interactions between the host-plant and its bacterial partners via indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Originally isolated from the roots of the epiphytic orchid Dendrobium moschatum, the strains of Rhizobium, Microbacterium, Sphingomonas, and Mycobacterium genera were among the most active IAA producers.