Inoviruses.

Tropini and Burckhardt introduce inoviruses and discuss how they are unique amongst bacteriophages.

Single-strain behavior predicts responses to environmental pH and osmolality in the gut microbiota.

Changes to gut environmental factors such as pH and osmolality due to disease or drugs correlate with major shifts in microbiome composition; however, we currently cannot predict which species can tolerate such changes or how the community will be affected. Here, we assessed the growth of 92 representative human gut bacterial strains spanning 28 families across multiple pH values and osmolalities . The ability to grow in extreme pH or osmolality conditions correlated with the availability of known stress response genes in many cases, but not all, indicating that novel pathways may participate in protecting against acid or osmotic stresses.

Gut commensal Enterocloster species host inoviruses that are secreted in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Bacteriophages in the family Inoviridae, or inoviruses, are under-characterized phages previously implicated in bacterial pathogenesis by contributing to biofilm formation, immune evasion, and toxin secretion. Unlike most bacteriophages, inoviruses do not lyse their host cells to release new progeny virions; rather, they encode a secretion system that actively pumps them out of the bacterial cell. To date, no inovirus associated with the human gut microbiome has been isolated or characterized.

Hybridization decreases native cutthroat trout reproductive fitness.

Examining natural selection in wild populations is challenging, but crucial to understanding many ecological and evolutionary processes. Additionally, in hybridizing populations, natural selection may be an important determinant of the eventual outcome of hybridization. We characterized several components of relative fitness in hybridizing populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in an effort to better understand the prolonged persistence of both parental species despite predictions of extirpation.

Variable hybridization outcomes in trout are predicted by historical fish stocking and environmental context.

Hybridization can profoundly affect the genomic composition and phenotypes of closely related species, and provides an opportunity to identify mechanisms that maintain reproductive isolation between species. Recent evidence suggests that hybridization outcomes within a species pair can vary across locations. However, we still do not know how variable outcomes of hybridization are across geographic replicates, and what mechanisms drive that variation.

Surgical and Patient Risk Factors for Severe Arterial Line Complications in Adults.

Background: Prior research has provided inconsistent data regarding the risk factors associated with complications from arterial cannulation. The goal of this study was to clearly define the incidence and risks factors associated with arterial cannulation complications.

Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, all patients requiring arterial line placement with documentation were included in this retrospective study between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2012.

Global metabolic responses of mice to Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is transmitted by tsetse flies and, if untreated, is fatal. Treatment depends on infection stage, and early diagnosis is crucial for effective disease management. The systemic host biochemical changes induced by HAT that enable biomarker discovery or relate to therapeutic outcome are largely unknown.

Prevalence of human T-cell leukemia virus types I and II in Switzerland.

The retroviruses human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1/2 and human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-I/II share modes of transmission, suggesting that efforts to monitor the current HIV-1 epidemic in Switzerland should be complemented by assessment of HTLV-I/II prevalence. This study presents an updated evaluation of HTLV-I/II infection among groups within the Swiss population polarized towards either low or increased risk of infection. Archived serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples were examined for evidence of HTLV-I/II infection by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), type-specific Western blot, type-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequence analysis, and virus culture.

High frequency of non-B subtypes in newly diagnosed HIV-1 infections in Switzerland.

HIV-1 subtypes were determined in newly diagnosed residents of Switzerland. Blood was anonymously collected from patients with a first confirmed positive HIV-1 test result. Viral DNA from the env V3-V5 region was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and screened for subtype B by heteroduplex mobility assay.

Assessment of needs for plasma for fractionation in Europe.

In the early 1990s, a series of outbreaks of hepatitis C (HCV) infections clustering among recipients of certain lots of plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMP) alarmed regulatory authorities, manufacturers and the public alike. Also, a few episodes of Hepatitis A (HAV) infections occurred in haemophiliacs receiving solvent-detergent-treated factor VIII concentrates. Thus, several measures were brought into effect to reestablish the safety of the incriminated products and to further increase the margin of safety of PDMP in general.

Safety and activity of saquinavir in HIV infection.

We evaluated saquinavir, an orally active, selective inhibitor of HIV proteinase, in a randomised, double-blind, dose-ranging study in 49 zidovudine-naive HIV-positive patients with few or no symptoms and CD4 cell counts of 500 or less. The study was designed to assess the antiviral activity and tolerability of saquinavir. Patients were randomised to receive 25, 75, 200, or 600 mg of saquinavir three times daily for 16 weeks.

Prevention of hepatitis C infection in haemodialysis units. A prospective study.

A prospective study was begun in our haemodialysis unit after four previously negative patients were found to be anti-HCV positive. A dedicated area and dedicated dialysis equipment (but not a separate room) were assigned to anti-HCV-positive patients and testing for HCV antibodies was performed every 3 months. A total of 131 patients were treated during the study period of 18 months.

Amplification of DNA from whole blood.

A method is described for the amplification by PCR of human chromosomal DNA sequences from whole blood samples. Various amounts of blood samples, with either EDTA, citrate, or heparin used as the anticoagulant, have been used to determine optimal PCR conditions for each type of sample. Up to 80% (vol/vol) of whole blood sample is tolerated in PCR with Taq polymerase.

Biochemistry and molecular biology of MCA.

The mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) is a mucin with a molecular weight of 350-500 kD. It circulates in the serum and its serum content can be determined with the Cobas Core MCA EIA test. Patients with breast cancer show elevated MCA serum levels.

[Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in hemophiliacs in Switzerland].

The sera of patients with hemophilia and von Willebrand factor deficiency, collected during clinical trials with virus-inactivated coagulation factor preparations, were retrospectively screened for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV). Using the anti-HCV c100-3 assay, 10 out of 35 study patients had no HCV antibodies when entering the studies. The samples originally negative for anti-HCV were retested with a second-generation assay: all negative samples except two were positive on retesting.

Human serum induced opsonization of immunoglobulin G-coated polystyrene microspheres with complement components C3 and C4 as measured by flow cytometry.

Human IgG-coated polystyrene microspheres (IgG-ms) were incubated with human serum followed by biotinylated monoclonal anti-C3d or anti-C4d antibody, and phycoerythrin-streptavidin. The intensity of fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry and corresponds to the amount of deposited C3 and C4. Binding of C3 and C4 was dependent on the activation of the classical pathway of complement and on the amount of IgG adsorbed to the particles.

[No HCV seroconversion in hemophilia following substitution with virus-inactivated coagulation factor VIII and IX concentrates].

Since 1986 the factor VIII and IX concentrates of the Central Laboratory, Swiss Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service have been virus inactivated with tri-(n-butyl) phosphate and Tween 80. Clinical studies had shown that both preparations were well tolerated and hemostatically effective; no HIV infection was transmitted. However, safety from transmission of non-A/non-B hepatitis could not be shown since the study included no previously untreated patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus DNA amplification and serology in blood donors.

The significance of indeterminate screening antibody test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology is still difficult to evaluate, especially in low-risk populations. One hundred twenty-seven blood donors with an initially reactive screening test for HIV antibodies were enrolled in this study. The sera of 95 of these blood donors were reactive on repetition of the test, and none had detectable circulating p24 antigen.

Laboratory workshop on the characterization of anti-platelet antibodies in immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

The aim of this laboratory workshop was to evaluate the state of knowledge concerning the demonstration of membrane glycoprotein specific anti-platelet antibodies. The main interest lay in investigating whether specific antibody detection offers possibilities to distinguish the chronic from the acute form of ITP. In five laboratories four different methods were applied to demonstrate such antibodies.

Immunoglobulin G subclass distribution in three human intravenous immunoglobulin preparations.

In immunodeficiency patients the lack of immunoglobulins (Ig) can be total or partial with a specific IgG subclass imbalance masked by normal values for total IgG. In the latter case therapy with intravenous IgG preparations (IVIG) is generally beneficial, provided the IVIG preparations used originate from large pools of normal blood donors and exhibit a normal IgG subclass distribution. We have analyzed the subclass distribution of three IVIG products: Sandoglobulin (SAGL), GamimuneN (GI), Gammagard (GG), 6-10 lots each, in four different laboratories.