Leptospiral Immunoglobulin-Like Domain Proteins: Roles in Virulence and Immunity.

The virulence mechanisms required for infection and evasion of immunity by pathogenic species remain poorly understood. A number of surface proteins have been discovered, lying at the interface between the pathogen and host. Among these proteins, the functional properties of the Lig (leptospiral immunoglobulin-like domain) proteins have been examined most thoroughly.

GspD, The Type II Secretion System Secretin of , Protects Hamsters against Lethal Infection with a Virulent Isolate.

The wide variety of pathogenic serovars and the weak protection offered by the available vaccines encourage the search for protective immunogens against leptospirosis. We found that the secretin GspD of the type II secretion system (T2S) of serovar Canicola was highly conserved amongst pathogenic serovars and was expressed in vivo during infection, as shown by immunohistochemistry. Convalescent sera of hamsters, dogs, and cows showed the presence of IgG antibodies, recognizing a recombinant version of this protein expressed in (rGspDLC) in Western blot assays.

Transposon Sequencing in Leptospira interrogans.

Our limited understanding of the relationship of genotype to phenotype in the spirochete Leptospira interrogans stems from the inefficiency of the genetic tools available to manipulate the pathogen. The recent development of random transposon mutagenesis in L. interrogans has allowed the creation of large libraries of mutants, permitting the identification of several genes involved in certain functions such as virulence.

-Acting Determinant Limiting Expression of Sphingomyelinase Gene in Leptospira interrogans, Identified with a Reporter Plasmid.

Many strains of the spirochete serovar Pomona express the osmotically inducible sphingomyelinase gene at much higher levels than strains from other serovars. We developed a new green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter plasmid to examine gene expression determinants. The vector enables the fusion of the test promoter to the ribosome-binding site and coding region of We fused the promoters from the serovar Lai strain 56601 and from the serovar Pomona strain LC82-25 to to examine the molecular determinants of differential expression between the two strains.

Familial aggregation of major depressive disorder in an African-American community.

Background: African Americans (AAs) with major depressive disorder (MDD) experience more impairment and poorer treatment outcomes relative to Whites, yet are underrepresented in family studies of MDD. This is the first study to investigate the familial aggregation of major depression among AAs.

Methods: Participants' reports of depression from clinical and family history (FH) interviews were used to examine depression rates among 435 first-degree relatives and half-siblings of 63 depressed cases and 222 relatives of 33 nondepressed controls.

High-throughput Parallel Sequencing to Measure Fitness of Leptospira interrogans Transposon Insertion Mutants During Golden Syrian Hamster Infection.

In this manuscript, we describe a transposon sequencing (Tn-Seq) technique to identify and quantify Leptospira interrogans mutants altered in fitness during infection of Golden Syrian hamsters. Tn-Seq combines random transposon mutagenesis with the power of high-throughput sequencing technology. Animals are challenged with a pool of transposon mutants (input pool), followed by harvesting of blood and tissues a few days later to identify and quantify the number of mutants in each organ (output pools).

The species of (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) and related genera recorded from the Hawaiian Islands.

An illustrated identification key is provided to 17 species of Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae from Hawaii that are members of the Tribe Haplothripini, together with a further species that is similar in general appearance to members of that Tribe. Of these 18 species, 13 are considered introduced from other parts of the world, but five appear to be endemics. Known only from Hawaii, is considered to have been based on a teratological specimen and is placed as a synonym of the Hawaiian endemic .

Immunoprotective properties of recombinant LigA and LigB in a hamster model of acute leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis and is considered a major public health problem worldwide. Currently, there is no widely available vaccine against leptospirosis for use in humans. A purified, recombinant subunit vaccine that includes the last six immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domains of the leptospiral protein LigA (LigA7'-13) protects against lethal infection but not renal colonization after challenge by Leptospira interrogans.

What Makes a Bacterial Species Pathogenic?:Comparative Genomic Analysis of the Genus Leptospira.

Leptospirosis, caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, is a globally widespread, neglected and emerging zoonotic disease. While whole genome analysis of individual pathogenic, intermediately pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira species has been reported, comprehensive cross-species genomic comparison of all known species of infectious and non-infectious Leptospira, with the goal of identifying genes related to pathogenesis and mammalian host adaptation, remains a key gap in the field. Infectious Leptospira, comprised of pathogenic and intermediately pathogenic Leptospira, evolutionarily diverged from non-infectious, saprophytic Leptospira, as demonstrated by the following computational biology analyses: 1) the definitive taxonomy and evolutionary relatedness among all known Leptospira species; 2) genomically-predicted metabolic reconstructions that indicate novel adaptation of infectious Leptospira to mammals, including sialic acid biosynthesis, pathogen-specific porphyrin metabolism and the first-time demonstration of cobalamin (B12) autotrophy as a bacterial virulence factor; 3) CRISPR/Cas systems demonstrated only to be present in pathogenic Leptospira, suggesting a potential mechanism for this clade's refractoriness to gene targeting; 4) finding Leptospira pathogen-specific specialized protein secretion systems; 5) novel virulence-related genes/gene families such as the Virulence Modifying (VM) (PF07598 paralogs) proteins and pathogen-specific adhesins; 6) discovery of novel, pathogen-specific protein modification and secretion mechanisms including unique lipoprotein signal peptide motifs, Sec-independent twin arginine protein secretion motifs, and the absence of certain canonical signal recognition particle proteins from all Leptospira; and 7) and demonstration of infectious Leptospira-specific signal-responsive gene expression, motility and chemotaxis systems.

Role of sph2 Gene Regulation in Hemolytic and Sphingomyelinase Activities Produced by Leptospira interrogans.

Pathogenic members of the genus Leptospira are the causative agents of leptospirosis, a neglected disease of public and veterinary health concern. Leptospirosis is a systemic disease that in its severest forms leads to renal insufficiency, hepatic dysfunction, and pulmonary failure. Many strains of Leptospira produce hemolytic and sphingomyelinase activities, and a number of candidate leptospiral hemolysins have been identified based on sequence similarity to well-characterized bacterial hemolysins.

Joining characteristics of titanium-based orthodontic wires connected by laser and electrical welding methods.

This study investigated the possibility of electrical and laser welding to connect titanium-based alloy (beta-titanium and nickel-titanium) wires and stainless-steel or cobalt-chromium alloy wires for fabrication of combination arch-wires. Four kinds of straight orthodontic rectangular wires (0.017 × 0.

Kinetics of Leptospira interrogans infection in hamsters after intradermal and subcutaneous challenge.

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by highly motile, helically shaped bacteria that penetrate the skin and mucous membranes through lesions or abrasions, and rapidly disseminate throughout the body. Although the intraperitoneal route of infection is widely used to experimentally inoculate hamsters, this challenge route does not represent a natural route of infection.

Methodology/principal Findings: Here we describe the kinetics of disease and infection in hamster model of leptospirosis after subcutaneous and intradermal inoculation of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni, strain Fiocruz L1-130.

Prospective Comparison of One-Piece and Three-Piece Tecnis Aspheric Intraocular Lenses: 1-year Stability and its Effect on Visual Function.

Purpose: To compare the stability and visual function of one-piece hydrophobic intraocular lens (IOL) (ZCB00, Abbot Medical Optics) and a three-piece hydrophobic IOL (ZA9003, Abbot Medical Optics) after cataract surgery.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen eyes of 18 patients with the one-piece IOL and 20 eyes of 20 patients with the three-piece IOL who underwent cataract surgery were evaluated prospectively on best corrected distance visual acuity, postoperative refractive error, IOL decentration and tilt, anterior chamber depth (ACD), spherical aberration and contrast sensitivity. Measurements were performed 1 week and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

In vitro examination of surface light scattering in hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To evaluate laboratory models using accelerated aging to assess surface light scattering in hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Setting: Miyata Eye Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan.

Design: Experimental study.

Oral immunization with Escherichia coli expressing a lipidated form of LigA protects hamsters against challenge with Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni.

Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal zoonosis transmitted by reservoir host animals that harbor leptospires in their renal tubules and shed the bacteria in their urine. Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni transmitted from Rattus norvegicus to humans is the most prevalent cause of urban leptospirosis. We examined L.

Role for cis-acting RNA sequences in the temperature-dependent expression of the multiadhesive lig proteins in Leptospira interrogans.

The spirochete Leptospira interrogans causes a systemic infection that provokes a febrile illness. The putative lipoproteins LigA and LigB promote adhesion of Leptospira to host proteins, interfere with coagulation, and capture complement regulators. In this study, we demonstrate that the expression level of the LigA and LigB proteins was substantially higher when L.

Large axillary defect after lymph node dissection directly closed by suturing the pectoralis major to the latissimus dorsi.

In 2009, the Union for International Cancer Control defined lymph node (LN) metastasis ≥6 cm in diameter as stage 4 in squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Lesions from such LNs become ulcerated and infected and bleed without treatment. A 67-year-old man suffered from skin cancer on his right back and a 7-cm-diameter LN metastasis.

Leptospiral outer membrane protein microarray, a novel approach to identification of host ligand-binding proteins.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with worldwide distribution caused by pathogenic spirochetes belonging to the genus Leptospira. The leptospiral life cycle involves transmission via freshwater and colonization of the renal tubules of their reservoir hosts. Infection requires adherence to cell surfaces and extracellular matrix components of host tissues.

Ray-tracing intraocular lens power calculation using anterior segment optical coherence tomography measurements.

Purpose: To assess the efficiency of ray-tracing intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in normal eyes with cataract.

Setting: Miyata Eye Hospital, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki, Japan.

Design: Case series.

Positive regulation of Leptospira interrogans kdp expression by KdpE as Demonstrated with a novel β-galactosidase reporter in Leptospira biflexa.

Leptospirosis is a potentially deadly zoonotic disease that afflicts humans and animals. Leptospira interrogans, the predominant agent of leptospirosis, encounters diverse conditions as it proceeds through its life cycle, which includes stages inside and outside the host. Unfortunately, the number of genetic tools available for examining the regulation of gene expression in L.

Multiple leptospiral sphingomyelinases (or are there?).

Culture supernatants of leptospiral pathogens have long been known to haemolyse erythrocytes. This property is due, at least in part, to sphingomyelinase activity. Indeed, genome sequencing reveals that pathogenic Leptospira species are richly endowed with sphingomyelinase homologues: five genes have been annotated to encode sphingomyelinases in Leptospira interrogans.

Antibodies to a novel leptospiral protein, LruC, in the eye fluids and sera of horses with Leptospira-associated uveitis.

Screening of an expression library of Leptospira interrogans with eye fluids from uveitic horses resulted in identification of a novel protein, LruC. LruC is located in the inner leaflet of the leptospiral outer membrane, and an lruC gene was detected in all tested pathogenic L. interrogans strains.