Multilocus Sequence Typing of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Competently Depicts the Population Structure of the Species.

We developed a multilocus sequence typing scheme (MLST) for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans based on seven housekeeping genes, , , , , , , and . A total of 188 strains of seven serotypes were separated into 57 sequence types. Whole-genome sequences were available for 140 strains, and in contrast to comparison of 16S rRNA genes, phylogenetic analysis of concatenated MLST gene fragments was in accordance with the population structure revealed by alignment of 785 core genes.

Endothelin-1 induces a strong pressor effect in ball pythons (Python regius).

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a very potent vasoactive peptide released from endothelial cells, and ET-1 plays an important role in the maintenance and regulation of blood pressure in mammals. ET-1 signaling is mediated by two receptors: ET and ET. In mammals, ET receptors are located on vascular smooth muscle where they mediate vasoconstriction.

Whole Genome Sequencing of Cultured from Blood Stream Infections Reveals Three Major Phylogenetic Groups Including a Novel Lineage Expressing Serotype a Membrane O Polysaccharide.

Twenty-nine strains of cultured from blood stream infections in Denmark were characterised. Serotyping was unremarkable, with almost equal proportions of the three major types plus a single serotype e strain. Whole genome sequencing positioned the serotype e strain outside the species boundary; moreover, one of the serotype a strains was unrelated to other strains of the major serotypes and to deposited sequences in the public databases.

Core and Shell Song Systems Unique to the Parrot Brain.

The ability to imitate complex sounds is rare, and among birds has been found only in parrots, songbirds, and hummingbirds. Parrots exhibit the most advanced vocal mimicry among non-human animals. A few studies have noted differences in connectivity, brain position and shape in the vocal learning systems of parrots relative to songbirds and hummingbirds.

Only repeated administration of the serotonergic agonist 8-OH-DPAT improves place learning of rats subjected to fimbria-fornix transection.

Serotonergic agonists may act neuroprotectively against brain injury. This study addressed the therapeutic potential of 8-hydroxy-2-di-n-propylamino-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), a selective 5-HT1A/7 receptor agonist, after mechanical brain injury, and evaluated its effects in terms of acquisition of an allocentric place learning task in a water maze. Rats were divided into 6 experimental groups, three of which were subjected to bilateral transection of fimbria-fornix (FF), while three groups were given control surgery (Sham).

Delayed intensive acquisition training alleviates the lesion-induced place learning deficits after fimbria-fornix transection in the rat.

This study evaluates the effects of two learning paradigms, intensive vs. baseline, on the posttraumatic acquisition of a water maze based place learning task. Rats were subjected either to a control operation (Sham) or to a fimbria-fornix (FF) transection, which renders the hippocampus dysfunctional and disrupts the acquisition of allocentric place learning.

Differential activation of spinal cord glial cells in murine models of neuropathic and cancer pain.

Activation of spinal cord microglia and astrocytes is a common phenomenon in nerve injury pain models and is thought to exacerbate pain perception. Following a nerve injury, a transient increase in the presence of microglia takes place while the increased numbers of astrocytes stay elevated for an extended period of time. It has been proposed that activated microglia are crucial for the development of neuropathic pain and that they lead to activation of astrocytes which then play a role in maintaining the long term pathological pain sensation.