Septic shock is associated with receptor for advanced glycation end products ligation of LPS.

Septic shock is a severe systemic response to bacterial infection. Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays a role in immune reactions to recognize specific molecular patterns as pathogen recognition receptors. However, the interaction between LPS, the bioactive component of bacterial cell walls, and RAGE is unclear.

Genome sequence of a nephritogenic and highly transformable M49 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes.

The 1,815,783-bp genome of a serotype M49 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]), strain NZ131, has been determined. This GAS strain (FCT type 3; emm pattern E), originally isolated from a case of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, is unusually competent for electrotransformation and has been used extensively as a model organism for both basic genetic and pathogenesis investigations. As with the previously sequenced S.

Analysis of children with Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratoryinfections by real-time PCR assay and serological tests.

We examined 73 children with respiratory infections for Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae using real-time PCR assay and serological tests. C. pneumoniae and M.

Association of oral yeast carriage with specific host factors and altered mouth sensation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if there was a significant association between the presence of altered mouth and taste sensations with oral carriage of yeasts and to assess the factors that influence the yeast carriage.

Study Design: The oral and dental status including unstimulated (USFR) and stimulated (SSFR) whole salivary flow rates of a total of 509 subjects was recorded. Saliva specimens were collected for microbiologic examination.

Antibacterial activity of honey from stingless honeybees (Hymenoptera; Apidae; Meliponinae).

The aim of the study was to examine antibacterial activity of the honey of stingless honeybees (Meliponinae). An agar well diffusion assay demonstrated that many honey samples of stingless honeybees inhibited the growth of test strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; moreover, they exhibited non-peroxide antibacterial activity against those strains. This is the first time that non-peroxide antimicrobial activity of honey from a number of species of stingless honeybees has been demonstrated.

Occurrence of the Fimbria Gene hifA in clinical isolates of nonencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae.

The adherence of Haemophilus influenzae to epithelial cells plays a crucial role in infections. However, little is known about the occurrence of fimbriae. In this study, we examined the distribution of the fimbria gene (hifA) by PCR among 167 H.

Proteinase activity of prevotella species associated with oral purulent infection.

Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens are often regarded as principal causes of acute dentoalveolar infection; however, other species within the genus are also known to be associated with such infection. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro proteolytic activity of these different Prevotella species that have been implicated with dentoalveolar infection. A total of 234 strains were obtained from pus specimens from dentoalveolar infection and from the plaque of healthy volunteers.

Detection of cfxA and cfxA2, the beta-lactamase genes of Prevotella spp., in clinical samples from dentoalveolar infection by real-time PCR.

While most bacteria involved in dentoalveolar infection are highly susceptible to penicillin, some Prevotella strains exhibit resistance to this agent through the production of beta-lactamase. The production of beta-lactamase by Prevotella spp. is in turn associated with the expression of the genes cfxA and cfxA2.

Colonization by Clostridium difficile of neonates in a hospital, and infants and children in three day-care facilities of Kanazawa, Japan.

The intestinal-carriage rates of Clostridium difficile in neonates hospitalized in the University Hospital's Center for Perinatal and Reproductive Health and in infants and children enrolled in two day-nurseries and a kindergarten were examined. Swab samples from the floors of these facilities were also analyzed to determine the extent of environmental contamination by this organism. C.

Clostridium sardiniense Prévot 1938 and Clostridium absonum Nakamura et al. 1973 are heterotypic synonyms: evidence from phylogenetic analyses of phospholipase C and 16S rRNA sequences, and DNA relatedness.

Clostridium sardiniense Prévot 1938 and Clostridium absonum Nakamura et al. 1973 have long been considered similar in terms of their biological and biochemical properties, but their taxonomic positions have not been clarified by DNA-DNA hybridization studies or rigorous analysis of 16S rRNA genes. In the present study, DNA-DNA hybridization analysis revealed that C.

Phthisis bulbi caused by late congenital syphilis untreated until adulthood.

Purpose: To report a case of phthisis bulbi resulting from late congenital syphilis untreated until adulthood.

Design: Observational case report.

Methods: We report clinical and laboratory evaluations of a 43-year-old woman who presented with a palpebral ulcer of the right eye.

Incidence and bacteriology of bacteremia associated with various oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and bacteriology of bacteremia associated with various oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.

Methods: A total of 237 patients who underwent oral and maxillofacial surgery were included in this study. Blood samples were obtained for bacteriological examination immediately after the essential steps of the surgical procedure had been performed.

PCR identification of the plasmid-borne enterotoxin gene (cpe) in Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from food poisoning outbreaks.

It is generally accepted that Clostridium perfringens strains associated with food poisoning carry their enterotoxin gene, cpe, on the chromosome, while C. perfringens strains isolated from non-food-borne diseases, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and sporadic diarrhea, carry cpe on the plasmid. However, we recently encountered a food poisoning outbreak caused by C.

Clostridium difficile colonization in healthy adults: transient colonization and correlation with enterococcal colonization.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the colonization status of Clostridium difficile in healthy individuals. In total, 139 healthy adults from two study groups were examined at intervals of 3 months. Among the 18 positive subjects, the number of subjects from whom C.

Clostridium absonum alpha-toxin: new insights into clostridial phospholipase C substrate binding and specificity.

Clostridium absonum phospholipase C (Caa) is a 42.7 kDa protein, which shows 60% amino acid sequence identity with the Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C, or alpha-toxin (Cpa), and has been isolated from patients suffering from gas gangrene. We report the cloning and sequencing, purification, characterisation and crystal structure of the Caa enzyme.

Intraperitoneal fluid accumulation induced by Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin (phospholipase C).

We report that the intraperitoneal injection of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin into mice induces ascites. This phenomenon was monitored by measuring fluid volume and analyzing hematologic data. The mouse toxicity test provides a simple and useful model for examining C.

Clostridium sordellii phospholipase C: gene cloning and comparison of enzymatic and biological activities with those of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium bifermentans phospholipase C.

The gene encoding Clostridium sordellii phospholipase C (Csp) was cloned and expressed as a histidine-tagged (His-tag) protein, and the protein was purified to compare its enzymatic and biological activities with those of Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C (Cpa) and Clostridium bifermentans phospholipase C (Cbp). Csp was found to consist of 371 amino acid residues in the mature form and to be more homologous to Cbp than to Cpa. The egg yolk phospholipid hydrolysis activity of the His-tag Csp was about one-third of that of His-tag Cpa, but the hemolytic activity was less than 1% of that of His-tag Cpa.

Sequence of the gene for Clostridium botulinum type B neurotoxin associated with infant botulism, expression of the C-terminal half of heavy chain and its binding activity.

Previously, we demonstrated that the neurotoxin of strain 111 (111/NT) associated with type B infant botulism showed antigenic and biological properties different from that (Okra/NT) produced by a foodborne botulism-related strain, Okra. In this study, the neurotoxin genes of 111/NT and Okra/NT were amplified and the sequences determined. The nucleotide sequences of the genes for both neurotoxins possessed an open reading frame of 3873 bp that encoded 1291 amino acids.

Cloning and characterization of genes encoding homologues of the B subunit of cholera toxin and the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin from clinical isolates of Citrobacter freundii and E. coli.

We identified and characterized a gene encoding a homologue of the B subunits of cholera toxin (CTB) and heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) of Escherichia coli from a clinical isolate of Citrobacter freundii that was found to produce a factor in the culture supernatant that cross-reacted with antibodies to CTB and LTB when assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The gene encoding the ELISA-positive factor, cfxB, consisted of 375 nucleotides and was located downstream of an 852-nucleotide open reading frame, cfxA, with a 56-nucleotide intergenic space. The cfxB gene was predicted to encode a 125-amino-acid polypeptide, which had 73.

Mucosal immunisation with Clostridium botulinum type C 16 S toxoid and its non-toxic component.

Clostridium botulinum types C and D produce a 16 S (500 kDa) toxin that is formed by conjugation of neurotoxin with a non-toxic component (nonTox). The amino acid sequences of type C and D nonTox components are almost identical. In a previous report it was proposed that nonTox is necessary for the effective absorption of the toxin from the small intestine.

Characterization of Clostridium butyricum neurotoxin associated with food-borne botulism.

The neurotoxin of Clostridium butyricum strain LCL155 (BuNT/LCL155) associated with type E food-borne botulism showed antigenic and biological properties different from those of C. botulinum type E (BoNT/E) andC. butyricum strain BL5262 (BuNT/BL5262).