Temporal control of Staphylococcus aureus intracellular pH by sodium and potassium.

Adaptation to environmental change during both colonization and infection is essential to the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus. Like other bacterial pathogens that require potassium to fulfill nutritional and chemiosmotic requirements, S. aureus has been shown to utilize potassium transport to modulate virulence gene expression, antimicrobial resistance, and osmotic tolerance.

Genistein Has Antiviral Activity against Herpes B Virus and Acts Synergistically with Antiviral Treatments to Reduce Effective Dose.

Herpes B virus is a deadly zoonotic agent that can be transmitted to humans from the macaque monkey, an animal widely used in biomedical research. Currently, there is no cure for human B virus infection and treatments require a life-long daily regimen of antivirals, namely acyclovir and ganciclovir. Long-term antiviral treatments have been associated with significant debilitating side effects, thus, there is an ongoing search for alternative efficacious antiviral treatment.

A novel antiviral inhibits Zika virus infection while increasing intracellular glutathione biosynthesis in distinct cell culture models.

We investigated the effects of a specific free-form amino acids formulation on Zika virus replication in two different cell culture model systems, one representative of humans and the other of Old World primates from whom Zika virus was first isolated. Here we present data demonstrating that the formulation of the specific free-form amino acid (FFAAP), comprising cystine, glycine, and a glutamate source, along with a minute concentration of selenium inhibited Zika virus replication by up to 90% with an ED (effective dose at which 90% of a dose of Zika virus was inhibited) of 2.5 mM in human cells and 4 mM Vero cells.

LONG-TERM SURVEILLANCE OF LANGUR ALPHAHERPESVIRUS IN A ZOO POPULATION OF SILVERED LANGURS ( TRACHYPITHECUS CRISTATUS).

  Langur alphaherpesvirus (HVL), a provisionally named alphaherpesvirus in the Simplexvirus genus, was first identified in 1991 at the Bronx Zoo in wild-origin silvered langurs ( Trachypithecus cristatus) and their descendants. HVL is closely related to B virus ( Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1) based on serologic and genetic data, but its natural history and zoonotic potential remain unknown. A cohort study was undertaken to describe the epidemiology, clinical impact, and potential management implications of this virus in a naturally infected, zoo-based population of silvered langurs.

Identification of unique B virus (Macacine Herpesvirus 1) epitopes of zoonotic and macaque isolates using monoclonal antibodies.

Our overall aim is to develop epitope-based assays for accurate differential diagnosis of B virus zoonotic infections in humans. Antibodies to cross-reacting epitopes on human-simplexviruses continue to confound the interpretation of current assays where abundant antibodies exist from previous infections with HSV types 1 and 2. To find B virus-specific epitopes we cloned ten monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from the hybridomas we produced.

Regulation of PI3K/Akt dependent apoptotic markers during b virus infection of human and macaque fibroblasts.

B virus (Macacine herpesvirus 1), a simplex virus endemic in macaques, causes encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, and death in 80% of untreated zoonotically infected humans with delayed or no treatment. Here we report a significant difference in PI3K/Akt-dependent apoptosis between B virus infected human and macaque dermal fibroblasts. Our data show that B virus infection in either human or macaque fibroblasts results in activation of Akt via PI3K and this activation does not require viral de novo protein synthesis.

B Virus (Macacine Herpesvirus 1) Divergence: Variations in Glycoprotein D from Clinical and Laboratory Isolates Diversify Virus Entry Strategies.

Unlabelled: B virus (Macacine herpesvirus 1) can cause deadly zoonotic disease in humans. Molecular mechanisms of B virus cell entry are poorly understood for both macaques and humans. Here we investigated the abilities of clinical B virus isolates to use entry receptors of herpes simplex viruses (HSV).

Polytrauma Increases Susceptibility to Pseudomonas Pneumonia in Mature Mice.

Pneumonia is the most common complication observed in patients with severe injuries. Although the average age of injured patients is 47 years, existing studies of the effect of injury on the susceptibility to infectious complications have focused on young animals, equivalent to a late adolescent human. We hypothesized that mature adult animals are more susceptible to infection after injury than younger counterparts.

Klebsiella pneumoniae FimK Promotes Virulence in Murine Pneumonia.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a chief cause of nosocomial pneumonia, is a versatile and commonly multidrug-resistant human pathogen for which further insight into pathogenesis is needed. We show that the pilus regulatory gene fimK promotes the virulence of K. pneumoniae strain TOP52 in murine pneumonia.

B Virus (Macacine herpesvirus 1) Glycoprotein D Is Functional but Dispensable for Virus Entry into Macaque and Human Skin Cells.

Unlabelled: Glycoprotein D (gD) plays an essential role in cell entry of many simplexviruses. B virus (Macacine herpesvirus 1) is closely related to herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and encodes gD, which shares more than 70% amino acid similarity with HSV-1 gD. Previously, we have demonstrated that B virus gD polyclonal antibodies were unable to neutralize B virus infectivity on epithelial cell lines, suggesting gD is not required for B virus entry into these cells.

PNI Biomarkers and Health Outcomes in College Women.

Sleep disturbance has been found to trigger a stress response with a subsequent activation of the psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) pathway associated with adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the association among selected PNI biomarkers, sleep disturbances, and adverse health outcomes (depressive symptoms, physical symptoms). A stratified, quota sample (14 poor sleepers and 15 good sleepers) was drawn from a pool of healthy college women from a larger scale of study.

Herpes B virus, macacine herpesvirus 1, breaks simplex virus tradition via major histocompatibility complex class I expression in cells from human and macaque hosts.

B virus of the family Herpesviridae is endemic to rhesus macaques but results in 80% fatality in untreated humans who are zoonotically infected. Downregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I in order to evade CD8(+) T-cell activation is characteristic of most herpesviruses. Here we examined the cell surface presence and total protein expression of MHC class I molecules in B virus-infected human foreskin fibroblast cells and macaque kidney epithelial cells in culture, which are representative of foreign and natural host initial target cells of B virus.

Pulmonary contusion is associated with toll-like receptor 4 upregulation and decreased susceptibility to pseudomonas pneumonia in a mouse model.

Pulmonary contusion is a major cause of respiratory failure in trauma patients. This injury frequently leads to immune suppression and infectious complications such as pneumonia. The mechanism whereby trauma leads to an immune-suppressed state is poorly understood.

An automated ELISA using recombinant antigens for serologic diagnosis of B virus infections in macaques.

B virus (Macacine herpesvirus 1) occurs naturally in macaques and can cause lethal zoonotic infections in humans. Detection of B virus (BV) antibodies in macaques is essential for the development of SPF breeding colonies and for diagnosing infection in macaques that are involved in human exposures. Traditionally, BV infections are monitored for presence of antibodies by ELISA (a screening assay) and western blot analysis (WBA; a confirmatory test).

Reassessing the detection of B-virus-specific serum antibodies.

B virus, a natural pathogen of macaques, can cause a fatal zoonotic disease in humans. Serologic screening of macaques by titration ELISA (tELISA, screening test) and by Western blot analysis (WBA, confirmatory test) is one of the principle measures to prevent human infection. Here we slightly modified these 2 tests and reevaluated their correlation.

Synthesis and in vitro Efficacy Studies of Silver Carbene Complexes on Biosafety Level 3 Bacteria.

A series of N-heterocyclic carbene silver complexes have been synthesized and tested against the select group of bio-safety level 3 bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia mallei, Bacillus anthracis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia pestis. Minimal inhibitory concentrations, minimal bactericidal and killing assays demonstrated the exceptional efficacy of the complexes against these potentially weaponizable pathogens.

Viral infection of cells in culture detected using infrared microscopy.

FTIR microscopy has been used to collect spectra for uninfected (mock) Vero cells, and cells that have been infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human adenovirus type 5 (Ad-5). Cells were infected at a multiplicity of infection of 10, and studied at 24 hours post exposure. The spectra for infected samples display many differences compared to the spectra for uninfected samples.

The antimicrobial efficacy of sustained release silver-carbene complex-loaded L-tyrosine polyphosphate nanoparticles: characterization, in vitro and in vivo studies.

The pressing need to treat multi-drug resistant bacteria in the chronically infected lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has given rise to novel nebulized antimicrobials. We have synthesized a silver-carbene complex (SCC10) active against a variety of bacterial strains associated with CF and chronic lung infections. Our studies have demonstrated that SCC10-loaded into L-tyrosine polyphosphate nanoparticles (LTP NPs) exhibits excellent antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo against the CF relevant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Infrared microscopy for the study of biological cell monolayers. I. Spectral effects of acetone and formalin fixation.

Infrared spectroscopy of biological cell monolayers grown on surfaces is a poorly developed field. This is unfortunate because these monolayers have potential as biological sensors. Here we have used infrared microscopy, in both transmission and transflection geometries, to study air-dried Vero cell monolayers.

Synthesis, stability, and antimicrobial studies of electronically tuned silver acetate N-heterocyclic carbenes.

A series of methylated imidazolium salts with varying substituents on the 4 and 5 positions of the imidazole ring were synthesized. These salts were reacted with silver acetate to afford their corresponding silver N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. These complexes were then evaluated for their stability in water as well as for their antimicrobial efficacy against a variety of bacterial strains associated with cystic fibrosis and chronic lung infections.

Naturally transmitted herpesvirus papio-2 infection in a black and white colobus monkey.

Case Description: A 6.5-year-old female eastern black and white colobus monkey (Colobus guereza) was evaluated after acute onset of ataxia and inappetence.

Clinical Findings: The monkey was ataxic and lethargic, but no other abnormalities were detected via physical examination, radiography, or clinicopathologic analyses.

Production of herpes B virus recombinant glycoproteins and evaluation of their diagnostic potential.

B virus (cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) is the only deadly alphaherpesvirus that is zoonotically transmissible from macaques to humans. The detection of humoral immune responses is the method of choice for the rapid identification of B virus-infected animals. We evaluated the diagnostic potential of recombinant B virus glycoproteins for the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in monkey and human sera.