The latency-associated UL138 gene product of human cytomegalovirus sensitizes cells to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) signaling by upregulating TNF-alpha receptor 1 cell surface expression.

Many viruses antagonize tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) signaling in order to counteract its antiviral properties. One way viruses achieve this goal is to reduce TNF-α receptor 1 (TNFR1) on the surface of infected cells. Such a mechanism is also employed by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), as recently reported by others and us.

Efficacy of calcium hydroxide, Er:YAG laser or gaseous ozone against Enterococcus faecalis in root canals.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of Ca(OH)2, Er:YAG laser or gaseous ozone (either alone or combined with instrumentation and various irrigants) against Enterococcus faecalis in root canals.

Methods: 180 extracted, human, single-rooted teeth were divided into four groups of 45 teeth each. In Group 1 root canal enlargement up to ISO-size 60 (MAF) was performed, whereas only initial shaping (MAF ISO-size 40) was carried out in Groups 2 to 4.

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of human intestinal spirochetosis by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Human intestinal spirochetosis (HIS) is associated with overgrowth of the large intestine by spirochetes of the genus Brachyspira. The microbiological diagnosis of HIS is hampered by the fastidious nature and slow growth of Brachyspira spp. In clinical practice, HIS is diagnosed histopathologically, and a significant portion of cases may be missed.

High rate of resistance to locally used antibiotics among enteric bacteria from children in Northern Ghana.

Objectives: Information on antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens is scarce in resource-poor settings. We determined the susceptibility of bacterial enteric pathogens and faecal Escherichia coli isolates obtained from children in urban Tamale, Northern Ghana, to antibiotics widely used in the that area [ampicillin or amoxicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) and chloramphenicol] and to alternative drugs.

Methods: Five Shigella spp.

Community-acquired Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 10 linked to the private home.

We describe the case of a 66-year-old man with a culture-proven Legionella pneumonia after kidney transplantation. The patient developed the infection 15 days after discharge from a university hospital. Legionella pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 5/10 was established by positive direct fluorescence assay, positive urinary-antigen detection and isolation of the causative agent.

Human cytomegalovirus blocks tumor necrosis factor alpha- and interleukin-1beta-mediated NF-kappaB signaling.

NF-kappaB plays an important role in the early cellular response to pathogens by activating genes involved in inflammation, immune response, and cell proliferation and survival. NF-kappaB is also utilized by many viral pathogens, like human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), to activate their own gene expression programs, reflecting intricate roles for NF-kappaB in both antiviral defense mechanisms and viral physiology. Here we show that the NF-kappaB signaling pathway stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) becomes inhibited in HCMV-infected cells.

High frequency of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Georgetown, Guyana.

Emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates constitutes a threat to public health worldwide. This study aimed at acquiring first epidemiological data for Guyana. Thirty-six M.

Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains isolated in 1991 and 2001-2002 from poultry and humans in Berlin, Germany.

The susceptibilities of 430 Campylobacter jejuni strains and 79 C. coli strains to six antimicrobial agents were tested and analyzed. The two sets of strains originated from retail market chicken and turkey samples and from humans, respectively, in Berlin, Germany.

Susceptibilities of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from Germany to ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline.

To elucidate Campylobacter jejuni resistance to antibiotics in Germany, MICs of ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline were determined (using agar dilution) for 144 clinical isolates. The data indicate a considerable ciprofloxacin resistance (45.1%) without a clonal relationship of the strains and a greater in vitro activity of moxifloxacin, erythromycin, and clindamycin.

Comparison of broth microdilution, E Test, and agar dilution methods for antibiotic susceptibility testing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli.

A standardized broth microdilution method was compared to the E test and an agar dilution method for the antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli isolates. A group of 47 human clinical isolates, 37 isolates from retail poultry, and 29 isolates from living turkeys (total, 113 isolates) was included in the study.