Genetic diversity of the Helicobacter pylori sialic acid-binding adhesin (sabA) gene.

A putative virulence factor, SabA, a sialic acid-binding adhesin, has recently been characterized in Helicobacter pylori from European isolates. However, little genetic information is available for sabA genes in strains isolated from Japanese patients. Here, we investigated the presence of the sabA gene in 23 H.

Analysis of monthly isolation of respiratory viruses from children by cell culture using a microplate method: a two-year study from 2004 to 2005 in yamagata, Japan.

Although well over 200 viral agents have been implicated in acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among children, no system able to detect such a wide range of viruses has been established. Between January 2004 and December 2005, a modified microplate method, including HEF, HEp-2, Vero E6, MDCK, RD-18S, and GMK cell lines (HHVe6MRG plate), was adopted to isolate viruses. A total of 1,551 viruses were isolated, representing both outbreaks and sporadic cases, from 4,107 nasopharyngeal specimens, at monthly isolation rates of 22.

A slow spread of adenovirus type 7 infection after its re-emergence in Yamagata, Japan, in 1995.

We have continued the epidemiological study on adenovirus type 7 (Ad7), which re-emerged in 1995 in Yamagata, Japan. Between 1999 and 2004, we isolated only four strains from 10,778 throat swab specimens among children with acute respiratory infections. A serological survey of 303 specimens revealed the antibody-positive rate against Ad7 to be 0-7.

[Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis from healthy persons in Japan].

Between September 2000 and March 2003 healthy subjects in 10 prefectures of Japan were investigated to identify carriers of Neisseria meningitidis. Twenty-five N. meningitidis strains were isolated from 5886 throat swab specimens collected from healthy persons, such as students, elderly, and foreigners.

Re-emergence of echovirus type 13 infections in 2002 in Yamagata, Japan.

Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of echovirus type 13 (Echo13) in Yamagata, Japan.

Methods: Virus isolation was performed from 6514 clinical specimens using six cell lines between January 1999 and December 2002. We also carried out a seroepidemiological study against Echo13, using 234 serum samples collected in 2001.