N-linked glycosylation of Gn (but not Gc) is important for Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus glycoprotein localization and transport.

The mature Gn glycoprotein of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus contains two predicted glycosylation sites (557N and 755N). Of these, N-glycans are added only at 557N, as evidenced by abrogation of Gn-glycosylation by mutation of 557N but not 755N site. Mutational block of Gn-glycosylation at 557N did not significantly affect Gn proteolytic processing but did result in mislocalization and retention of Gn and other proteins synthesized from the virus M segment ORF (GP160, GP85, GP38 and Gc) in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Application of knowledge-driven spatial modelling approaches and uncertainty management to a study of Rift Valley fever in Africa.

Background: There are few studies that have investigated uncertainties surrounding the scientific community's knowledge of the geographical distribution of major animal diseases. This is particularly relevant to Rift Valley fever (RVF), a zoonotic disease causing destructive outbreaks in livestock and man, as the geographical range of the disease is widening to involve previously unaffected regions. In the current study we investigate the application of methods developed in the decision sciences: multiple criteria decision making using weighted linear combination and ordered weighted averages, and Dempster-Shafer theory, implemented within the geographical information system IDRISI, to obtain a greater understanding of uncertainty related to the geographical distribution of RVF.

History and evolution of HPAI viruses in southeast Asia.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been recognized as a serious viral disease of poultry since 1878. The number of outbreaks of this disease globally has increased in the past 10 years culminating in 2004 with the unprecedented outbreak of H5N1 HPAI involving nine countries in East and South East Asia. Apart from the geographical extent of this outbreak and apparent rapid spread, this epidemic has a number of unique features, among which is the carriage of highly pathogenic AI viruses by asymptomatic domestic waterfowl.

Microbial sensors for small molecules: development of a mevalonate biosensor.

We describe a novel biosensor strain for detection and quantification of a small molecule, mevalonate. The biosensor strain is an Escherichia coli mevalonate auxotroph that expresses the green fluorescent protein and reports on the mevalonate concentration in the growth medium through a change in growth rate. A model describing the growth rate dependence on mevalonate was developed in order to use the biosensor strain for high-throughput screening (HTS) and quantitative measurement of mevalonate in the extracellular environment.

Characterization of DitA3, the [Fe3S4] ferredoxin of an aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase from a diterpenoid-degrading microorganism.

DitA3, a small soluble ferredoxin, is a component of a ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase involved in the microbial degradation of the diterpenoid, dehydroabietic acid. The anaerobic purification of a heterologously expressed his-tagged DitA3 yielded 20 mg of apparently homogeneous recombinant protein, rcDitA3, per liter of cell culture. Each mole of purified rcDitA3 contained 2.

Marburgvirus genomics and association with a large hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Angola.

In March 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated a large hemorrhagic fever (HF) outbreak in Uige Province in northern Angola, West Africa. In total, 15 initial specimens were sent to CDC, Atlanta, Ga., for testing for viruses associated with viral HFs known to be present in West Africa, including ebolavirus.

Efficacy of Rizatriptan 10 mg administered early in a migraine attack.

Objective: To determine if administration of rizatriptan 10 mg is superior to placebo for the early treatment of acute migraine, while the pain is mild.

Background: Past studies have suggested that treatment outcomes can be improved if a triptan is administered early in the time course of a migraine attack.

Methods: Two randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies.

Sequential O-methylation of tricetin by a single gene product in wheat.

Flavonoid compounds are ubiquitous in nature. They constitute an important part of the human diet and act as active principles of many medicinal plants. Their O-methylation increases their lipophilicity and hence, their compartmentation and functional diversity.

Transmission of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus by organ transplantation.

Background: In December 2003 and April 2005, signs and symptoms suggestive of infection developed in two groups of recipients of solid-organ transplants. Each cluster was investigated because diagnostic evaluations were unrevealing, and in each a common donor was recognized.

Methods: We examined clinical specimens from the two donors and eight recipients, using viral culture, electron microscopy, serologic testing, molecular analysis, and histopathological examination with immunohistochemical staining to identify a cause.

Ovarian hormones and migraine headache: understanding mechanisms and pathogenesis--part 2.

Migraine headache is strongly influenced by reproductive events that occur throughout the lifespan of women. Each of these reproductive events has a different "hormonal milieu," which might modulate the clinical course of migraine headache. Estrogen and progesterone can be preventative or provocative for migraine headache under different circumstances depending on their absolute serum levels, constancy of exposure, and types of estrogen/progesterone derivatives.

Conserved receptor-binding domains of Lake Victoria marburgvirus and Zaire ebolavirus bind a common receptor.

The GP(1,2) envelope glycoproteins (GP) of filoviruses (marburg- and ebolaviruses) mediate cell-surface attachment, membrane fusion, and entry into permissive cells. Here we show that a 151-amino acid fragment of the Lake Victoria marburgvirus GP1 subunit bound filovirus-permissive cell lines more efficiently than full-length GP1. An homologous 148-amino acid fragment of the Zaire ebolavirus GP1 subunit similarly bound the same cell lines more efficiently than a series of longer GP1 truncation variants.

Engineering cotton (+)-delta-cadinene synthase to an altered function: germacrene D-4-ol synthase.

The combined approaches of rational design and random mutagenesis were applied to generate a sesquiterpene synthase with an altered activity. Due to the lack of a convenient screen for sesquiterpene synthase activity, a high-throughput dual-activity screen was used by fusing (+)-delta-cadinene synthase to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). The gene encoding (+)-delta-cadinene synthase was mutagenized using error-prone PCR.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and their association with migraine headache.

Objectives: To determine the association between the severity of premenstrual (PMS) symptoms and headache outcome measures during natural menstrual cycles and after medical oophorectomy.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome may occur in 64% of those with pure menstrual migraine and 33% of those with menstrually related migraine. Few past studies have examined the relationship between the severity of PMS symptoms and migraine headache.

Ovarian hormones and migraine headache: understanding mechanisms and pathogenesis--part I.

Ovarian hormones have a significant effect on the central nervous system of female migraineurs. Reproductive milestones such as menarche, pregnancy, and menopause are associated with changes in the clinical course of migraine headache. Migraine attacks are commonly triggered during declines in serum estrogen levels that occur before and during the time of menstruation.

Recognizing Rift Valley Fever.

This article describes the epidemiology, distribution, prevalence, pathogenesis, transmission, clinical signs, differential diagnosis, prevention and control of Rift Valley Fever in domestic animals, wild animals and man.

Crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus glycoprotein precursor is cleaved by Furin-like and SKI-1 proteases to generate a novel 38-kilodalton glycoprotein.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (genus Nairovirus, family Bunyaviridae) genome M segment encodes an unusually large (in comparison to members of other genera) polyprotein (1,684 amino acids in length) containing the two major structural glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, that are posttranslationally processed from precursors PreGn and PreGc by SKI-1 and SKI-1-like proteases, respectively. The characteristics of the N-terminal 519 amino acids located upstream of the mature Gn are unknown. A highly conserved furin/proprotein convertase (PC) cleavage site motif (RSKR247) is located between the variable N-terminal region that is predicted to have mucin-like properties and the rest of PreGn.

Defining the relationship between ovarian hormones and migraine headache.

Objective: (1) To determine whether the attack characteristics of migraine differ between different intervals of the menstrual cycle; (2) To ascertain whether the "rate of change,""magnitude of change," or "total burden" of urinary hormone metabolites correlates with headaches outcome measures during different intervals of the menstrual cycle.

Background: The mechanisms through which migraines are influenced by ovarian hormones remain unclear. No previous studies until now have identified "hormonally defined" time intervals within the female menstrual cycle and compared headache outcome measures among these intervals in female migraineurs.

The predictive value of abbreviated migraine diagnostic criteria.

Objective: To determine the operating characteristics and predictive value of abbreviated criteria for the diagnosis of migraine headache.

Background: The International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria for migraine have been adopted in limited fashion in clinical practice. Primary care physicians in particular deal with innumerable conditions and diagnostic algorithms.

Chloroquine is a potent inhibitor of SARS coronavirus infection and spread.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a newly discovered coronavirus (SARS-CoV). No effective prophylactic or post-exposure therapy is currently available.

Results: We report, however, that chloroquine has strong antiviral effects on SARS-CoV infection of primate cells.

Treating early versus treating mild: timing of migraine prescription medications among patients with diagnosed migraine.

Introduction: Although research suggests that early treatment of migraine headache when the pain is mild results in better outcomes for patients, many patients delay taking their acute-migraine medication until their headaches are moderate or severe. Understanding when and why patients use their migraine medications is an important first step to improve migraine management.

Methods: A prospective observational study, conducted at a major national retail pharmacy chain with stores across the United States between April 2001 and November 2002, enrolled men and women between 18 and 55 years of age with a physician diagnosis of migraine with or without aura.

Evaluating the safety and tolerability profile of acute treatments for migraine.

Among the medications that have been used as acute treatments for migraine are nonspecific agents, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics (either single or combination), and narcotics, as well as migraine-specific medications, including ergot alkaloids and triptans (5-hydroxytryptamine 1B/1D agonists). All of these drugs have side effects that vary in type and severity. Side effects of nonspecific medications, including gastrointestinal (GI) and renal effects with NSAIDs and cognitive effects and the potential for abuse with narcotics and butalbital-containing medications, have been documented over time, as these medications have been used for various indications.

Implication of proprotein convertases in the processing and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of SARS. Analysis of SARS-CoV spike glycoprotein (S) using recombinant plasmid and virus infections demonstrated that the S-precursor (proS) exists as a approximately 190 kDa endoplasmic reticulum form and a approximately 210 kDa Golgi-modified form. ProS is subsequently processed into two C-terminal proteins of approximately 110 and approximately 80 kDa.