Incomplete tumour control following DNA vaccination against rat gliomas expressing a model antigen.

Background: Vaccination against tumour-associated antigens is one approach to elicit anti-tumour responses. We investigated the effect of polynucleotide (DNA) vaccination using a model antigen (E. coli lacZ) in a syngeneic gliosarcoma model (9L).

Transmission of hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs: viral stability and association with drug preparation equipment.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among people who inject drugs remains a challenging public health problem. We investigated the risk of HCV transmission by analyzing the direct association of HCV with filters, water to dilute drugs, and water containers.

Methods: Experiments were designed to replicate practices by people who inject drugs and include routinely used injection equipment.

Anti-infective properties of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a component of green tea.

The consumption of green tea (Camellia sinensis) has been shown to have many physiological and pharmacological health benefits. In the past two decades several studies have reported that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main constituent of green tea, has anti-infective properties. Antiviral activities of EGCG with different modes of action have been demonstrated on diverse families of viruses, such as Retroviridae, Orthomyxoviridae and Flaviviridae and include important human pathogens like human immunodeficiency virus, influenza A virus and the hepatitis C virus.

Specific acquisition of functional CD59 but not CD46 or CD55 by hepatitis C virus.

Viruses of different families encode for regulators of the complement system (RCAs) or acquire such RCAs from the host to get protection against complement-mediated lysis (CML). As hepatitis C virus (HCV) shares no genetic similarity to any known RCA and is detectable at high titers in sera of infected individuals, we investigated whether HCV has adapted host-derived RCAs to resist CML. Here we report that HCV selectively incorporates CD59 while neither CD55, nor CD46 are associated with the virus.

Comparison of virucidal activity of alcohol-based hand sanitizers versus antimicrobial hand soaps in vitro and in vivo.

Three ethanol-based sanitizers were compared with three antimicrobial liquid soaps for their efficacy to inactivate polio-, adeno-, vaccinia- and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) as well as feline calicivirus (FCV) and murine norovirus (MNV) as surrogates for human norovirus in a suspension test. Additionally, sanitizers and soaps were examined against MNV in a modified fingerpad method. All sanitizers sufficiently inactivated the test viruses in the suspension test whereas two soaps were active only against vaccinia virus and BVDV.

FACS purification and transcriptome analysis of drosophila neural stem cells reveals a role for Klumpfuss in self-renewal.

Drosophila neuroblasts (NBs) have emerged as a model for stem cell biology that is ideal for genetic analysis but is limited by the lack of cell-type-specific gene expression data. Here, we describe a method for isolating large numbers of pure NBs and differentiating neurons that retain both cell-cycle and lineage characteristics. We determine transcriptional profiles by mRNA sequencing and identify 28 predicted NB-specific transcription factors that can be arranged in a network containing hubs for Notch signaling, growth control, and chromatin regulation.

Multiplex PCR for rapid and improved diagnosis of bloodstream infections in liver transplant recipients.

This prospective study evaluated the utility of the SeptiFast (SF) test in detecting 25 clinically important pathogens in 225 blood samples from 170 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with suspected sepsis after liver transplantation (LTX) or after other major abdominal surgery (non-LTX). SF yielded a significantly higher positivity rate in the LTX group (52.3%) than in the non-LTX group (30.

Results and relevance of molecular detection of pathogens by SeptiFast--a retrospective analysis in 75 critically ill children.

Background: Sepsis is a common cause of death in children. Early detection of bloodstream pathogens is crucial for the appropriate antibio­tic treatment. Blood cultures (BC) are the gold standard test used for detection.

Inactivation and survival of hepatitis C virus on inanimate surfaces.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cross-contamination from inanimate surfaces or objects has been implicated in transmission of HCV in health-care settings and among injection drug users. We established HCV-based carrier and drug transmission assays that simulate practical conditions to study inactivation and survival of HCV on inanimate surfaces.

Methods: Studies were performed with authentic cell culture derived viruses.

Outbreak due to a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain harbouring KPC-2 and VIM-1 in a German university hospital, July 2010 to January 2011.

We describe the epidemiology and characteristics of the pathogen and patients (n=7) associated with an outbreak of a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strain in a German university hospital from July 2010 to January 2011. Species identification and detection of carbapenem resistance were carried out using standard microbiological procedures. Carbapenemases were detected by phenotypic methods and specific polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).

Indication of electron neutrino appearance from an accelerator-produced off-axis muon neutrino beam.

The T2K experiment observes indications of ν(μ) → ν(e) appearance in data accumulated with 1.43×10(20) protons on target. Six events pass all selection criteria at the far detector.

The tumour suppressor L(3)mbt inhibits neuroepithelial proliferation and acts on insulator elements.

In Drosophila, defects in asymmetric cell division often result in the formation of stem-cell-derived tumours. Here, we show that very similar terminal brain tumour phenotypes arise through a fundamentally different mechanism. We demonstrate that brain tumours in l(3)mbt mutants originate from overproliferation of neuroepithelial cells in the optic lobes caused by derepression of target genes in the Salvador-Warts-Hippo (SWH) pathway.

The green tea polyphenol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, inhibits hepatitis C virus entry.

Unlabelled: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current antiviral therapy fails to clear infection in a substantial proportion of cases. Drug development is focused on nonstructural proteins required for RNA replication.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in cystic fibrosis: improved detection by the use of selective agar and evaluation of antimicrobial resistance.

Background: We implemented a selective medium for improved detection of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in sputum samples from CF patients. We also performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing with eight antibiotics.

Methods: A total of 623 consecutive sputum samples from 165 CF patients in a German CF center were cultured onto conventional media and onto Steno medium agar (SMA).

Aquaporin 5 gene promoter--1364A/C polymorphism associated with 30-day survival in severe sepsis.

Background: Because the aquaporin (AQP) 5 promoter -1364A/C polymorphism is associated with altered AQP5 expression, this association could have an impact on key mechanisms in sepsis, such as cell migration, activity of the rennin-angiotensin- aldosterone system (RAAS), and water transport across biologic membranes. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the AQP5 promoter -1364A/C polymorphism is associated with increased 30-day survival in severe sepsis.

Methods: In a prospective study, adults with severe sepsis (N = 154) were genotyped for the AQP5 promoter -1364A/C polymorphism.

A community effort towards a knowledge-base and mathematical model of the human pathogen Salmonella Typhimurium LT2.

Background: Metabolic reconstructions (MRs) are common denominators in systems biology and represent biochemical, genetic, and genomic (BiGG) knowledge-bases for target organisms by capturing currently available information in a consistent, structured manner. Salmonella enterica subspecies I serovar Typhimurium is a human pathogen, causes various diseases and its increasing antibiotic resistance poses a public health problem.

Results: Here, we describe a community-driven effort, in which more than 20 experts in S.

Vancomycin MIC creep in MRSA blood culture isolates from Germany: a regional problem?

The aim of this study was to assess the vancomycin MIC distribution for MRSA blood culture isolates over a period of six years in Germany. The study examined 287 MRSA isolates from blood cultures collected at several hospitals in two German cities between 2004 and 2009. The vancomycin MIC was determined by Etest.

Mesenchymal stem cells together with mycophenolate mofetil inhibit antigen presenting cell and T cell infiltration into allogeneic heart grafts.

Donor-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can induce long-term acceptance in a rat heart transplantation model when injected prior to transplantation in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). In contrast, MSC alone cause accelerated graft rejection. To better understand these conflicting data we studied the effects of MSC and MMF on lymphocyte populations in heart allografts and secondary lymphatic organs.

Discrimination of Scedosporium prolificans against Pseudallescheria boydii and Scedosporium apiospermum by semiautomated repetitive sequence-based PCR.

The laboratory identification of Pseudallescheria and Scedosporium isolates at the species level is important for clinical and epidemiological purposes. This study used semiautomated repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) to identify Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium. Reference strains of Pseudallescheria boydii (n = 12), Scedosporium prolificans (n = 8), Scedosporium apiospermum (n = 9), and clinical/environmental isolates (P.

Comparison and evaluation of a novel bioassay and high-performance liquid chromatography for the clinical measurement of serum voriconazole concentrations.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a novel bioassay for determining serum voriconazole (VRC) concentrations and to compare its routine clinical performance with that of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The biological activity of VRC was measured by a plate diffusion assay using a VRC-hypersusceptible Candida kefyr strain. The bioassay's utility was tested by measuring steady-state VRC concentrations in 100 serum probes from VRC-treated patients.

Can vaccinia virus be replaced by MVA virus for testing virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants?

Background: Vaccinia virus strain Lister Elstree (VACV) is a test virus in the DVV/RKI guidelines as representative of the stable enveloped viruses. Since the potential risk of laboratory-acquired infections with VACV persists and since the adverse effects of vaccination with VACV are described, the replacement of VACV by the modified vaccinia Ankara strain (MVA) was studied by testing the activity of different chemical biocides in three German laboratories.

Methods: The inactivating properties of different chemical biocides (peracetic acid, aldehydes and alcohols) were tested in a quantitative suspension test according to the DVV/RKI guideline.

How stable is the hepatitis C virus (HCV)? Environmental stability of HCV and its susceptibility to chemical biocides.

Background: In the absence of a cell culture system for propagation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the antiviral activity of disinfectants against HCV was extrapolated from studies with the bovine viral diarrhea virus. The recent development of an HCV infection system allowed the direct assessment of environmental stability and susceptibility to chemical disinfectants.

Methods: Studies were performed using cell-culture grown HCV.