When the body becomes no more than the sum of its parts: the neural correlates of scrambled versus intact sexualized bodies.

Recent research found that configural information is less important for the processing of sexualized bodies than for the processing of nonsexualized bodies. The present investigation aims to expand these findings by directly manipulating configural versus analytic processing of sexualized and nonsexualized bodies. We posited that disrupting first-order relational information through scrambling should be associated with larger N170 amplitudes (scrambling effect) for nonsexualized bodies, whereas the scrambling manipulation should not modulate N170 amplitudes associated with sexualized bodies and objects.

Biochemical and immunological characterization of a cpn60.1 knockout mutant of Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

Pathogenic mycobacteria possess two homologous chaperones encoded by cpn60.1 and cpn60.2.

Effect of PstS sub-units or PknD deficiency on the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The membrane-associated phosphate-specific transporter (Pst) complex is composed of four different proteins: PstS, PstC, PstA and PstB. The PstS component detects and binds Pi with high affinity; the PstA and PstC form transmembrane pores for Pi entry, while PstB provides energy through ATP hydrolysis. In the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, four different gene clusters encode three PstS, and two of each of the other sub-units.

Mechanisms of induction and action of interferons.

Since the discovery that interferons responses constitute an efficient transition between innate and adaptive immunity to infectious microorganisms, the function and role of these cytokines are better understood. Interferons act on specific cell receptors, which activate well-defined transduction pathways to enhance the expression of hundreds of different Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISGs) leading to the so-called antiviral state. Several of these genes including those encoding proteins (such as PKR, OAS, and ADAR1) depending on the presence of intracellular double stranded RNA for the activation of their enzymatic function, were studied in more detail.

IS1096-mediated DNA rearrangements play a key role in genome evolution of Mycobacterium smegmatis.

The acquisition of DNA and the loss of genetic information are two important mechanisms that contribute to strain-specific differences in genome content. In this study, comparative genomics has allowed us to infer the roles of genomic rearrangement and changes in both distribution and copy number of the insertion element, IS1096, in the evolution of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 from its progenitor, M. smegmatis ATCC 607.

Optimization of polymerase chain reaction for detection of Clostridium botulinum type C and D in bovine samples.

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The economic, medical and alimentary consequences can be catastrophic in case of an epizooty. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed for the detection of C.

Cloning, sequencing, and cell surface expression pattern of bovine immunoreceptor NKG2D and adaptor molecules DAP10 and DAP12.

NKG2D is an activating lectin-like receptor that initiates natural killer (NK) cell responses against transformed tumor cells expressing its ligands, i.e., molecules related to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules.

A derivative of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 that lacks the duplicated chromosomal region.

The genome of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 contains a 56kb duplicated region. We isolated a mutant of mc(2)155 lacking this duplication (DeltaDRKIN). This mutation did not affect the growth rate, surface properties or transformation efficiency of the organism, confirming the potential utility of DeltaDRKIN for the study of genes contained within the duplicated region.

Expression of a bioactive recombinant human interleukin-11 in chicken HD11 cell line.

To direct the synthesis and secretion of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) in chicken HD11 cells, a plasmid targeting the c-lysozyme gene has been constructed which contains the mature cytokine cDNA in frame with the lysozyme leader sequence. The upregulation of rhIL-11 mediated by LPS proves the knock-in of hIL-11 cDNA in the lysozyme gene. The bioactivity of the expressed protein is demonstrated and quantified with the hIL-11 dependent 7TD1 and B9 cell lines.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis with disruption in genes encoding the phosphate binding proteins PstS1 and PstS2 is deficient in phosphate uptake and demonstrates reduced in vivo virulence.

By measuring phosphate uptake by Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with the pstS1 and pstS2 genes genetically inactivated, we showed that these pstS genes encode high-affinity phosphate binding proteins. In a mouse infection model, both mutants were attenuated in virulence, suggesting that M. tuberculosis encounters limiting phosphate concentrations during its intracellular life span.

Antimycobacterial activity of synthetic pamamycins.

Objectives: Early studies have indicated that pamamycins, a group of macrodiolides first isolated from Streptomyces alboniger, have potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and mycobacteria but not against Gram-negative bacteria. The recent availability of highly purified and reasonable quantities of several pamamycins through their total syntheses has rendered possible more extensive studies on their effects on mycobacteria.

Methods: Bioluminescent strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium smegmatis, expressing the luxA and luxB genes from Vibrio harveyi were used for the comparison of the antimycobacterial activity of the two synthetic macrodiolides pamamycin-607 and pamamycin-621A and a non-naturally occurring cyclic dimer of pamamycin-607, i.

Characterization of a potent human interleukin-11 agonist.

Human interleukin-11 (hIL-11) is a multi-potential cytokine that is involved in numerous biological activities, such as haematopoiesis, osteoclastogenesis, neurogenesis and female fertility, and also displays anti-inflammatory properties. IL-11 is used clinically to treat chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. Because of its broad spectrum of action, improved IL-11 agonists, as well as IL-11 antagonists, could be of interest for numerous clinical applications.

Effects of VOCs on herbaceous plants in an open-top chamber experiment.

A selection of herbaceous plants representing the ground flora around a typical chemical installation in the UK was exposed continuously for 7 weeks to a mixture of six VOCs (acetone, acetonitrile, dichloromethane, ethanol, methyl t-butyl ether and toluene) in open-top chambers. Exposure concentrations were based on predictions of atmospheric dispersion from a single source, at a distance of approximately 2 km. The effects of continuous exposure, representing a worst-case, were measured in terms of uncontrolled water loss from leaves, leaf wettability, chlorophyll content and fluorescence, dry matter production and detailed observations of changes in plant growth and phenology.

Specific identification of Listeria welshimeri and Listeria monocytogenes by PCR assays targeting a gene encoding a fibronectin-binding protein.

We have cloned and sequenced a Listeria welshimeri DNA fragment homologous to the previously described fibronectin-binding protein-encoding gene (fbp) of Listeria monocytogenes (P. Gilot, Y. Jossin, and J.

Engineering and use of (32)P-labeled human recombinant interleukin-11 for receptor binding studies.

Human interleukin-11 (hIL-11) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is involved in numerous biological activities such as hematopoiesis, osteoclastogenesis, neurogenesis and female fertility. IL-11 is obviously a key reagent to study the IL-11 receptors. However, conventional radio-iodination techniques lead to a loss of IL-11 bioactivity.

Disruption of adhC reveals a large duplication in the Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 genome.

Disruption of the adhC gene of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155, by standard gene replacement methods, revealed that there are two copies of this gene within a large duplication of the M. smegmatis mc(2)155 genome. M.

Protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding antigen 85A from Mycobacterium bovis BCG against Buruli ulcer.

Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is characterized by deep and necrotizing skin lesions, mostly on the arms and legs. Together with tuberculosis and leprosy, this mycobacterial disease has become a major health problem in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in central and western Africa. No specific vaccine is available for Buruli ulcer.

Molecular and biochemical characterisation of Mycobacterium smegmatis alcohol dehydrogenase C.

The gene encoding of an alcohol dehydrogenase C (ADHC) from Mycobacterium smegmatis was cloned and sequenced. The protein encoded by this gene has 78% identity with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG ADHC. The M.

The cell surface associated phosphatase activity of Mycobacterium bovis BCG is not regulated by environmental inorganic phosphate.

Non-specific phosphomonoesterase activities (alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.

Vaccinia expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-secreted proteins: tissue plasminogen activator signal sequence enhances expression and immunogenicity of M. tuberculosis Ag85.

There is increasing evidence to implicate a role for CD8(+) T cells in protective immunity against tuberculosis. Recombinant vaccinia (rVV) expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) proteins can be used both as tools to dissect CD8(+) T-cell responses and, in attenuated form, as candidate vaccines capable of inducing a balanced CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-cell response. A panel of rVV was constructed to express four immunodominant secreted proteins of MTB: 85A, 85B and 85C and ESAT-6.

Mycobacterium intracellulare as a cause of a recurrent granulomatous tenosynovitis of the hand.

We report a case of recurrent granulomatous tenosynovitis with M. intracellulare in a 55-year-old HIV negative diabetic woman. Identification of the causative agent further than belonging to the M.

Cloning, sequencing and characterisation of a Listeria monocytogenes gene encoding a fibronectin-binding protein.

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, non-sporulating food-borne pathogen of man and animals that is able to invade many eukaryotic cells. L. monocytogenes possesses several proteins that bind fibronectin.

The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transport systems of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

We have undertaken the inventory and assembly of the typical subunits of the ABC transporters encoded by the complete genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These subunits, i.e.

What are the immunologically active components of bacille Calmette-Guérin in therapy of superficial bladder cancer?

The subcomponents of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) involved in the mechanism of action of intravesical BCG immunotherapy used for prophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer recurrences have been poorly investigated. We purified various BCG subcomponents and analyzed in vitro their ability to enhance a Th1 polarized immune response as well as to increase lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against bladder tumors. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy purified protein derivative-positive subjects were incubated for 7 days with whole BCG and various fractions (BCG cell wall, plasma membrane, cytosol, purified polysaccharides as glucan or arabinomannan, purified native proteins from BCG culture filtrate, recombinant 22 kDa protein, phosphate transporter PstS-2 and -3 proteins).

The Mycobacterium bovis homologous protein of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis serine/threonine protein kinase Mbk (PknD) is truncated.

We previously identified a 70-kDa serine/threonine protein kinase (MbK or PknD) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman containing a transmembrane domain and bearing a 270-amino acid N-terminal kinase domain. With the use of a polyclonal serum, Mbk has now been identified by Western blotting in protein extracts from M. tuberculosis and confirmed to be localised in the envelope.