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Triticum Mosaic Poacevirus Enlists P1 Rather Than Hc-Pro To Suppress Rna Silencing-Mediated Host Defense, Satyanarayana Tatineni, Feng Qu, Ruhui Li, Thomas Jack Morris, Roy French Jan 2012

Triticum Mosaic Poacevirus Enlists P1 Rather Than Hc-Pro To Suppress Rna Silencing-Mediated Host Defense, Satyanarayana Tatineni, Feng Qu, Ruhui Li, Thomas Jack Morris, Roy French

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) is the type species of the newly established Poacevirus genus in the family Potyviridae. In this study, we demonstrate that in contrast to the helper component- proteinase (HC-Pro) of Potyvirus species, the P1 proteins of TriMV and Sugarcane steak mosaic poacevirus function in suppression of RNA silencing (SRS). TriMV P1 effectively suppressed silencing induced by single- or double-stranded RNAs (ss/ds RNAs), and disrupted the systemic spread of silencing signals at a step after silencing signal production. Interestingly, contrary to enhanced SRS activity of potyviral HC-Pro by co-expression with P1, the presence of TriMV HC-Pro reduced …


Identification Of Molecular Determinants From Moloney Leukemia Virus 10 Homolog (Mov10) Protein For Virion Packaging And Anti-Hiv-1 Activity, Aierken Abudu, Xiaojun Wang, Ying Dang, Tao Zhou, Shi-Hua Xiang, Yong -Hui Zheng Jan 2012

Identification Of Molecular Determinants From Moloney Leukemia Virus 10 Homolog (Mov10) Protein For Virion Packaging And Anti-Hiv-1 Activity, Aierken Abudu, Xiaojun Wang, Ying Dang, Tao Zhou, Shi-Hua Xiang, Yong -Hui Zheng

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Background: MOV10 inhibits HIV-1 replication after being packaged.

Results: A Gag binding plus all but one of seven helicase domains are required for MOV10 packaging. Nearly all residues are required for anti-HIV-1 activity. Conclusion: Gag binding is not sufficient for MOV10 packaging, and multiple discontinuous domains regulate MOV10 activity.

Significance: These findings uncover a new packaging mechanism and provide new insights into MOV10 antiviral activity.


Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections In Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children And Adolescents, George K. Siberry, Toni Frederick, Patricia Emmanuel, Mary E. Paul, Beverly Bohannon, Travis Wheeling, Theresa Barton, Mobeen H. Rathore, Kenneth L. Dominguez Jan 2012

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections In Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children And Adolescents, George K. Siberry, Toni Frederick, Patricia Emmanuel, Mary E. Paul, Beverly Bohannon, Travis Wheeling, Theresa Barton, Mobeen H. Rathore, Kenneth L. Dominguez

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection incidence has increased in healthy US children. Our objective was to evaluate MRSA incidence and correlates in HIV-infected youth. Methods. The CDC-sponsored LEGACY study is a US multicenter chart abstraction study of HIV-infected youth. We identified MRSA infections among participants with ≥1 visit during 2006. We used bivariate and multivariable analyses to compare sociodemographic and HIV clinical factors between MRSA cases and noncases. Results. Fourteen MRSA infections (1 invasive, 12 soft tissue, 1 indeterminate) occurred among 1,813 subjects (11.1 infections/1,000 patient-years (PY), 95% CI: 11.06–11.14). Most (86%) isolates were clindamycin susceptible. …


Research Annual Report 2012, Children's Mercy Hospital Jan 2012

Research Annual Report 2012, Children's Mercy Hospital

Research Annual Reports

Annual report of the research at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City MO, a pediatric medical center.


Community Based Weighing Of Newborns And Use Of Mobile Phones By Village Elders In Rural Settings In Kenya: A Decentralised Approach To Health Care Provision, Peter Gisore, Evelyn Shipala, Kevin Otieno, Betsy Rono, Irene Marete, Constance Tenge, Hillary Mabeya, Sherri Bucher, Janet Moore, Edward Liechty, Fabian Esamai Jan 2012

Community Based Weighing Of Newborns And Use Of Mobile Phones By Village Elders In Rural Settings In Kenya: A Decentralised Approach To Health Care Provision, Peter Gisore, Evelyn Shipala, Kevin Otieno, Betsy Rono, Irene Marete, Constance Tenge, Hillary Mabeya, Sherri Bucher, Janet Moore, Edward Liechty, Fabian Esamai

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Identifying every pregnancy, regardless of home or health facility delivery, is crucial to accurately estimating maternal and neonatal mortality. Furthermore, obtaining birth weights and other anthropometric measurements in rural settings in resource limited countries is a difficult challenge. Unfortunately for the majority of infants born outside of a health care facility, pregnancies are often not recorded and birth weights are not accurately known. Data from the initial 6 months of the Maternal and Neonatal Health (MNH) Registry Study of the Global Network for Women and Children’s Health study area in Kenya revealed that up to 70% of newborns did …


Modulation Of Anti-Tumor Immune Response By Tgf-Β-Inducible Early Gene 1 (Tieg1), Andi Cani Jan 2012

Modulation Of Anti-Tumor Immune Response By Tgf-Β-Inducible Early Gene 1 (Tieg1), Andi Cani

Wayne State University Theses

Cancer immunotherapy has had limited clinical efficacy partly because regulatory T cells (Treg) suppress the immune response to tumor-associated antigens. Inducible regulatory T cells (iTreg), which are converted from naïve CD4 T cells by TGF-β, an abundant cytokine in the tumor microenvironment, may contribute to this immune suppression. Induction of Foxp3 by TGF-β is mediated by the transcription factor TIEG1 and abrogation of this protein prevents Foxp3 expression. We are testing the hypothesis that blockade of TIEG1 to prevent iTreg conversion will enhance immune response in DNA vaccination to the tumor associated antigen Her-2. Wild type and TIEG1 knockout mice …


Dynamics Of Envelope Evolution In Clade C Shiv-Infected Pig-Tailed Macaques During Disease Progression Analyzed By Ultra-Deep Pyrosequencing, For Yue Tso, Damien C. Tully, Sandra Gonzalez, Christopher Quince, On Ho, Patricia Polacino, Ruth M. Ruprecht, Shiu-Lok Hu, Charles Wood Jan 2012

Dynamics Of Envelope Evolution In Clade C Shiv-Infected Pig-Tailed Macaques During Disease Progression Analyzed By Ultra-Deep Pyrosequencing, For Yue Tso, Damien C. Tully, Sandra Gonzalez, Christopher Quince, On Ho, Patricia Polacino, Ruth M. Ruprecht, Shiu-Lok Hu, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Understanding the evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope during disease progression can provide tremendous insights for vaccine development, and simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection of nonhuman primate provides an ideal platform for such studies. A newly developed clade C SHIV, SHIV-1157ipd3N4, which was able to infect rhesus macaques, closely resembled primary HIV-1 in transmission and pathogenesis, was used to infect several pig-tailed macaques. One of the infected animals subsequently progressed to AIDS, whereas one remained a nonprogressor. The viral envelope evolution in the infected animals during disease progression was analyzed by a bioinformatics approach using ultra-deep …


Vip And Host Immunity, Xiaoyu Jiang Jan 2012

Vip And Host Immunity, Xiaoyu Jiang

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of the current dissertation was to examine how VIP regulates host immunity and corneal healing, specifically, its control of growth factors and TLR expression in the P. aeruginosa infected cornea. Firstly, VIP treatment increased growth factor expression (EGF, GHF, FGF and VEGF) in infected cornea. Notably, treatment with a mixture of EGF, FGF and HGF prevented corneal perforation, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and bacterial plate count, while increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobials such as murine beta-defensin2 and 3.

We also investigated the expression of TLR-signaling pathways in P. aeruginosa infected corneas with or without VIP treatment. PCR array and …


Penile Enhancement Procedures With Simultaneous Penile Prosthesis Placement, Tariq S. Hakky, Jessica Suber, Gerard Henry, David Smith, Paul Bradley, Daniel Martinez, Rafael E. Carrion Jan 2012

Penile Enhancement Procedures With Simultaneous Penile Prosthesis Placement, Tariq S. Hakky, Jessica Suber, Gerard Henry, David Smith, Paul Bradley, Daniel Martinez, Rafael E. Carrion

Surgery Faculty Publications

Here we present an overview of various techniques performed concomitantly during penile prosthesis surgery to enhance penile length and girth. We report on the technique of ventral phalloplasty and its outcomes along with augmentation corporoplasty, suprapubic lipectomy, suspensory ligament release, and girth enhancement procedures. For the serious implanter, outcomes can be improved by combining the use of techniques for each scar incision. These adjuvant procedures are a key addition in the armamentarium for the serious implant surgeon


Risks To Early Childhood Health And Development In The Postconflict Transition Of Northern Uganda, Theresa A. Mcelroy, Stella Atim, Charles P. Larson, Robert Armstrong Jan 2012

Risks To Early Childhood Health And Development In The Postconflict Transition Of Northern Uganda, Theresa A. Mcelroy, Stella Atim, Charles P. Larson, Robert Armstrong

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Research from numerous fields of science has documented the critical importance of nurturing environments in shaping young children’s future health and development. We studied the environments of early childhood (birth to 3 years) during postconflict, post displacement transition in northern Uganda. The aim was to better understand perceived needs and risks in order to recommend targeted policy and interventions. Methods. Applied ethnography (interview, focus group discussion, case study, observational methods, document review) in 3 sites over 1 year. Results. Transition was a prolonged and deeply challenging phase for families. Young children were exposed to a myriad of risk factors. Participants …


Critical Issues For Integrating Srh And Hiv/Aids Services To Provide Dual Protection Against Unintended Pregnancy And Hiv/Sti Acquisition, Population Council Jan 2012

Critical Issues For Integrating Srh And Hiv/Aids Services To Provide Dual Protection Against Unintended Pregnancy And Hiv/Sti Acquisition, Population Council

Reproductive Health

This document reports on a one-day symposium that was held by the STEP UP (Strengthening Evidence for Programming on Unintended Pregnancy) Research Program Consortium, coordinated by the Population Council. STEP UP generates policy-relevant research to promote an evidence-based approach for improving access to family planning and safe abortion in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Kenya, and Senegal. The symposium’s objectives were to review and discuss critical and emerging issues around integrating SRH and HIV and AIDS services to enable dual protection, including new directions in dual protection technology and behaviour change interventions. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the programmatic …


Promoting Mitochondrial Biogenesis With The Sirti Activator Srt1720 To Improve Mitochondrial And Renal Function After Acute Kidney Injury, Jason Allen Funk Jan 2012

Promoting Mitochondrial Biogenesis With The Sirti Activator Srt1720 To Improve Mitochondrial And Renal Function After Acute Kidney Injury, Jason Allen Funk

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a primary pathological consequence of acute kidney injury (AKI). Induction of mitochondrial biogenesis via the nuclear coactivator of transcription PPARγ-coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, rescues mitochondrial function in renal cells after oxidant injury. The primary goal of this project was to evaluate the recovery of mitochondrial function after in vivo AKI, and to determine the influence of mitochondrial biogenesis during the repair process. Deacetylation of PGC-1α by the class III HDAC SIRT1 produces a more active form of the protein and stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis. The potent SIRT1 activator SRT1720 induced deacetylation of PGC-1α, increased …


The Burden Of Breast Cancer In Italy: Mastectomies And Quadrantectomies Performed Between 2001 And 2008 Based On Nationwide Hospital Discharge Records., Prisco Piscitelli, Maddalena Barba, Massimo Crespi, Massimo Di Maio, Antonio Santoriello, Massiliamo D'Aiuto, Alfredo Fucito, Arturo Losco, Francesca Pentimalli, Pasquale Maranta, Giovanna Chitano, Alberto Argentiero, Cosimo Neglia, Alessandro Distante, Gian Luca Di Tanna, Maria Luisa Brandi, Alfredo Mazza, Ignazio R Marino, Antonio Giordano Jan 2012

The Burden Of Breast Cancer In Italy: Mastectomies And Quadrantectomies Performed Between 2001 And 2008 Based On Nationwide Hospital Discharge Records., Prisco Piscitelli, Maddalena Barba, Massimo Crespi, Massimo Di Maio, Antonio Santoriello, Massiliamo D'Aiuto, Alfredo Fucito, Arturo Losco, Francesca Pentimalli, Pasquale Maranta, Giovanna Chitano, Alberto Argentiero, Cosimo Neglia, Alessandro Distante, Gian Luca Di Tanna, Maria Luisa Brandi, Alfredo Mazza, Ignazio R Marino, Antonio Giordano

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Where population coverage is limited, the exclusive use of Cancer Registries might limit ascertainment of incident cancer cases. We explored the potentials of Nationwide hospital discharge records (NHDRs) to capture incident breast cancer cases in Italy.

METHODS: We analyzed NHDRs for mastectomies and quadrantectomies performed between 2001 and 2008. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) and related 95% Confidence Interval (CI) in the actual number of mastectomies and quadrantectomies performed during the study period were computed for the full sample and for subgroups defined by age, surgical procedure, macro-area and singular Region. Re-admissions of the same patients were separately …


Substance P And The Host Immune Response, Megan Elizabeth Foldenauer Jan 2012

Substance P And The Host Immune Response, Megan Elizabeth Foldenauer

Wayne State University Dissertations

This body of work examined the mechanism by which SP regulates host immunity, specifically, its control of growth factors and TLR expression in the P. aeruginosa-infected cornea. The role of mTOR and VIP in corneal infection and inflammation also was tested.

SP has a dual role in bacterial infection, unexpectedly upregulating growth factor production. This was accompanied by macrophage-specific upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, downregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and upregulation of anti-apoptotic genes, as well as a decrease in arginase-producing macrophages (M2 cells), important in stromal healing in these mice. All of these lead to worsened disease, despite the stimulatory effects …


Infectious Intracranial Aneurysms: Collaboration For Treatment Success, Erin M. Conahan Rn, Bsn, Cnrn Jan 2012

Infectious Intracranial Aneurysms: Collaboration For Treatment Success, Erin M. Conahan Rn, Bsn, Cnrn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.


Chloroviruses: Not Your Everyday Plant Virus, James L. Van Etten, David D. Dunigan Jan 2012

Chloroviruses: Not Your Everyday Plant Virus, James L. Van Etten, David D. Dunigan

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Viruses infecting higher plants are among the smallest viruses known and typically have four to ten protein-encoding genes. By contrast, many viruses that infect algae (classified in the virus family Phycodnaviridae) are among the largest viruses found to date and have up to 600 protein- encoding genes. This brief review focuses on one group of plaque-forming phycodnaviruses that infect unicellular chlorella-like green algae. The prototype chlorovirus PBCV-1 has more than 400 protein-encoding genes and 11 tRNA genes. About 40% of the PBCV-1 encoded proteins resemble proteins of known function including many that are completely unexpected for a virus. In many …


Molecular Genetic And Biochemical Characterization Of The Vaccinia Virus I3 Protein, The Replicative Single-Stranded Dna Binding Protein, Matthew D. Greseth, Kathleen A. Boyle, Matthew S. Bluma, Bethany Unger, Matthew S. Wiebe, Jamaria A. Soares-Martins, Nadi T. Wickramasekera, James Wahlberg, Paula Traktman Jan 2012

Molecular Genetic And Biochemical Characterization Of The Vaccinia Virus I3 Protein, The Replicative Single-Stranded Dna Binding Protein, Matthew D. Greseth, Kathleen A. Boyle, Matthew S. Bluma, Bethany Unger, Matthew S. Wiebe, Jamaria A. Soares-Martins, Nadi T. Wickramasekera, James Wahlberg, Paula Traktman

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Vaccinia virus, the prototypic poxvirus, efficiently and faithfully replicates its approximately 200-kb DNA genome within the cytoplasm of infected cells. This intracellular localization dictates that vaccinia virus encodes most, if not all, of its own DNA replication machinery. Included in the repertoire of viral replication proteins is the I3 protein, which binds to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with great specificity and stability and has been presumed to be the replicative ssDNA binding protein (SSB). We substantiate here that I3 colocalizes with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled nascent viral genomes and that these genomes accumulate in cytoplasmic factories that are delimited by membranes derived from …


Lineage-Specific Differences Between Human And Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Regulation Of Gp120 Trimer Association And Cd4 Binding, Andrés Finzi, Beatriz Pacheco, Shi-Hua Xiang, Marie Pancera, Alon Herschhorn, Liping Wang, Xing Zeng, Anik Desormeaux, Peter D. Kwong, Joseph Sodroski Jan 2012

Lineage-Specific Differences Between Human And Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Regulation Of Gp120 Trimer Association And Cd4 Binding, Andrés Finzi, Beatriz Pacheco, Shi-Hua Xiang, Marie Pancera, Alon Herschhorn, Liping Wang, Xing Zeng, Anik Desormeaux, Peter D. Kwong, Joseph Sodroski

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Metastable conformations of the gp120 and gp41 envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) must be maintained in the unliganded state of the envelope glycoprotein trimer. Binding of gp120 to the primary receptor, CD4, triggers the transition to an open conformation of the trimer, promoting interaction with the CCR5 chemokine receptor and ultimately leading to gp41-mediated virus-cell membrane fusion and entry. Topological layers in the gp120 inner domain contribute to gp120-trimer association in the unliganded state and to CD4 binding. Here we describe similarities and differences between HIV-1 and SIVmac gp120. In both …


Subunit Organization Of The Membrane-Bound Hiv-1 Envelope Glycoprotein Trimer, Youdong Mao, Liping Wang, Christopher Gu, Alon Herschhorn, Shi-Hua Xiang, Hillel Haim, Xinzhen Yang, Joseph Sodroski Jan 2012

Subunit Organization Of The Membrane-Bound Hiv-1 Envelope Glycoprotein Trimer, Youdong Mao, Liping Wang, Christopher Gu, Alon Herschhorn, Shi-Hua Xiang, Hillel Haim, Xinzhen Yang, Joseph Sodroski

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The trimeric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike is a molecular machine that mediates virus entry into host cells and is the sole target for virus-neutralizing antibodies. The mature Env spike results from cleavage of a trimeric gp160 precursor into three gp120 and three gp41 subunits. Here we describe an ~11-Å cryo-EM structure of the trimeric HIV-1 Env precursor in its unliganded state. The three gp120 and three gp41 subunits form a cage-like structure with an interior void surrounding the trimer axis. Interprotomer contacts are limited to the gp41 transmembrane region, the torus-like gp41 ectodomain, and …


Comparative Analysis Of The Fusion Efficiency Elicited By The Envelope Glycoprotein V1–V5 Regions Derived From Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmitted Perinatally, Hongyan Guo, Levon Abrahamyan, Chang Liu, Mackenzie Waltke, Yunqi Geng, Qimin Chen, Charles Wood, Xiaohong Kong Jan 2012

Comparative Analysis Of The Fusion Efficiency Elicited By The Envelope Glycoprotein V1–V5 Regions Derived From Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmitted Perinatally, Hongyan Guo, Levon Abrahamyan, Chang Liu, Mackenzie Waltke, Yunqi Geng, Qimin Chen, Charles Wood, Xiaohong Kong

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Understanding the properties of viruses preferentially establishing infection during perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is critical for the development of effective measures to prevent transmission. A previous study demonstrated that the newly transmitted viruses (in infants) of chronically infected mother–infant pairs (MIPs) were fitter in terms of growth, which was imparted by their envelope (Env) glycoprotein V1–V5 regions, than those in the corresponding chronically infected mothers. In order to investigate whether the higher fitness of transmitted viruses was conferred by their higher entry efficiency directed by the V1–V5 regions during perinatal transmission, the fusogenicity of Env …


Antibody Responses To Lytic And Latent Human Herpesvirus 8 Antigens Among Hiv-Infected Patients In Central China, Tiejun Zhang, Na He, Yingying Ding, Qingwu Jiang, Charles Wood Jan 2012

Antibody Responses To Lytic And Latent Human Herpesvirus 8 Antigens Among Hiv-Infected Patients In Central China, Tiejun Zhang, Na He, Yingying Ding, Qingwu Jiang, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is an important opportunistic infection of HIV/AIDS. However, very little is known about antibody seropositivities to HHV8 lytic and latent antigens among HIVinfected patients in China. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to explore HHV8 serostatus among 316 HIV-infected patients in a rural area of central China. The antibody seropositivity to HHV8 ORF65 (lytic) and LANA (latent) antigens was 12.7% and 10.4%, respectively. Patients who were naïve to antiretroviral therapy (ART) were more likely to be seropositive for antibodies to ORF65 (OR: 3.79; 95% CI: 1.71–8.42) and LANA (OR: 3.77; 95% CI: 1.55–9.14) than patients receiving …


Heme Oxygenase-1 Regulates The Immune Response To Influenza Virus Infection And Vaccination In Aged Mice, Nathan W. Cummins, Eric A. Weaver, Shannon M. May, Anthony J. Croatt, Oded Foreman, Richard B. Kennedy, Gregory A. Polan, Michael A. Barry, Karl A. Nath, Andrew D. Badley Jan 2012

Heme Oxygenase-1 Regulates The Immune Response To Influenza Virus Infection And Vaccination In Aged Mice, Nathan W. Cummins, Eric A. Weaver, Shannon M. May, Anthony J. Croatt, Oded Foreman, Richard B. Kennedy, Gregory A. Polan, Michael A. Barry, Karl A. Nath, Andrew D. Badley

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Underlying mechanisms of individual variation in severity of influenza infection and response to vaccination are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of reduced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression on vaccine response and outcome of influenza infection. HO-1-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice (kingdom, Animalia; phylum, Chordata; genus/species, Mus musculus) were infected with influenza virus A/PR/8/34 with or without prior vaccination with an adenoviral-based influenza vaccine. A genome-wide association study evaluated the expression of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HO-1 gene and the response to influenza vaccination in healthy humans. HO-1-deficient mice had decreased survival after influenza infection compared to WT mice (median …


Resistance Patterns Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Isolates From Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients In Nairobi, Perpetual Wangui Ndung’U, Samuel Kariuki, Zipporah Ng’Ang’A, Gunturu Revathi Jan 2012

Resistance Patterns Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Isolates From Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients In Nairobi, Perpetual Wangui Ndung’U, Samuel Kariuki, Zipporah Ng’Ang’A, Gunturu Revathi

Pathology, East Africa

Introduction: In Kenya, which ranks thirteenth of 27 high tuberculosis burden countries, diagnosis is based on Ziehl-Neelsen staining alone and patients are treated without information on sensitivity patterns. This study aimed to determine resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from pulmonary samples.

Methodology: Pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Nairobi were randomly sampled after informed consent and recruited into the study using a structured questionnaire. Specimens were cultured in liquid and solid media, and drug susceptibility tests were performed for first-line drugs including (isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide).

Results: Eighty-six (30%) of 286 isolates were resistant to at least one of …


Evaluation Of Protection Induced By Dna Vaccine Candidate Against Leishmania Mexicana In Balb/C Mice Model, Rosina Rodarte Jan 2012

Evaluation Of Protection Induced By Dna Vaccine Candidate Against Leishmania Mexicana In Balb/C Mice Model, Rosina Rodarte

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance. The leishmaniases are a diverse group of diseases with four major clinical manifestations: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, and diffuse. Approximately 21 Leishmania species and 30 sandfly vectors have been implicated in human leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries, 72 are developing countries. Currently, 350 million people live in leishmaniasis-endemic areas around the world. The true incidence of the disease is not known. However, the estimated incidence for visceral leishmaniasis is 500,000 cases per year, and for cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis 1.5-2 million cases per year. Visceral leishmaniasis causes 70,000 deaths each year. In the Americas region, …


Role Of Human Protein Disulfide Isomerase (Pdi) In The Redox Regulation Of Anthrax Receptor 2 (Antxr2), Naima Mohamed Alshrif Jan 2012

Role Of Human Protein Disulfide Isomerase (Pdi) In The Redox Regulation Of Anthrax Receptor 2 (Antxr2), Naima Mohamed Alshrif

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by B. anthracis, a gram-positive and spore-forming bacterium. Anthrax toxin is a tripartite AB toxin composed of a receptor binding/pore-forming moiety, protective antigen (PA), and two catalytic moieties, edema factor (EF) and lethal factor (LF). Anthrax toxin PA binds to cell-surface receptors, where it gets activated by furin, and assembles into a ring-like heptameric structure. The toxin-receptor complex is internalized into endosomes where the acidic pH triggers PA pore formation on the endosomal membrane that translocates the toxin catalytic moieties. Recent study has shown that anthrax toxin receptors play a critical role in …


Mobilizing Subdominant Hiv-Specific Ctls As A Novel Vaccine Strategy, Margaret Christina Costanzo Jan 2012

Mobilizing Subdominant Hiv-Specific Ctls As A Novel Vaccine Strategy, Margaret Christina Costanzo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

To overcome the extreme antigenic diversity of HIV, there is increasing interest in developing vaccines that target CD8 T cell responses to conserved regions of the viral proteome. Understanding the immunogenic potential of these domains is therefore critical for the success of this vaccine strategy. CD8 T cell responses to conserved domains restricted by the "neutral" and highly prevalent HLA-A2 allele have not been extensively characterized. Here we describe a novel essentially invariant 10-mer epitope in HIV Gag (p2414-23, RTLNAWVKVV (RV10)) in that it is expressed by the majority HIV isolates from all clades. Here we examined the character of …


Clinical Spectrum And Severity Of Hemolytic Anemia In Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase-Deficient Children Receiving Dapsone, Allan Pamba, Naomi D. Richardson, Nick Carter, Stephan Duparc, Zul Premji, Alfred B. Tiono, Lucio Luzzatto Jan 2012

Clinical Spectrum And Severity Of Hemolytic Anemia In Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase-Deficient Children Receiving Dapsone, Allan Pamba, Naomi D. Richardson, Nick Carter, Stephan Duparc, Zul Premji, Alfred B. Tiono, Lucio Luzzatto

Pathology, East Africa

Drug-induced acute hemolytic anemia led to the discovery of G6PD deficiency. However, most clinical data are from isolated case reports. In 2 clinical trials of antimalarial preparations containing dapsone (4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone; 2.5 mg/kg once daily for 3 days), 95 G6PD-deficient hemizygous boys, 24 G6PD-deficient homozygous girls, and 200 girls heterozygous for G6PD deficiency received this agent. In the first 2 groups, there was a maximum decrease in hemoglobin averaging -2.64 g/dL (range -6.70 to +0.30 g/dL), which was significantly greater than for the comparator group receiving artemether-lumefantrine (adjusted difference -1.46 g/dL; 95% confidence interval -1.76, -1.15). Hemoglobin concentrations were decreased by …


High Isoniazid Resistance Rates In Rifampicin Susceptible Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Pulmonary Isolates From Pakistan, Naima Fasih, Yasraba Rafiq, Kausar Jabeen, Rumina Hasan Jan 2012

High Isoniazid Resistance Rates In Rifampicin Susceptible Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Pulmonary Isolates From Pakistan, Naima Fasih, Yasraba Rafiq, Kausar Jabeen, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:
Rapid new diagnostic methods (including Xpert MTB/RIF assay) use rifampicin resistance as a surrogate marker for multidrug resistant tuberculosis. Patients infected with rifampicin susceptible strains are prescribed first line anti-tuberculosis therapy. The roll out of such methods raises a concern that strains with resistance to other first line anti-tuberculosis drugs including isoniazid will be missed and inappropriate treatment given. To evaluate implications of using such methods review of resistance data from high burden settings such as ours is essential.
Objective:
To determine resistance to first line anti-tuberculosis drugs amongst rifampicin susceptible pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from Pakistan.
Material …


Is Nalidixic Acid Screening Still Valid For The Detection Of Reduced Susceptibility Of Fluoroquinolone With Salmonella Typhi?, Seema Irfan, Kauser Jabeen, Umair Anwar Jilani, Bushra Ahmed, Jaishri Mehraj, Tanwir Ahsan, Afia Zafar Jan 2012

Is Nalidixic Acid Screening Still Valid For The Detection Of Reduced Susceptibility Of Fluoroquinolone With Salmonella Typhi?, Seema Irfan, Kauser Jabeen, Umair Anwar Jilani, Bushra Ahmed, Jaishri Mehraj, Tanwir Ahsan, Afia Zafar

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction: Considering the limitations of screening with nalidixic acid to detect reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S.Typhi) strains, we evaluated the use of a 30 µg nalidixic acid disc screening method in Pakistan.
Methodology: Non duplicate nalidixic acid susceptible S. Typhi isolates (246) from 2003-2008 were retrieved from the Salmonella strain bank. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin for all strains were determined by agar dilution and further rechecked by ciprofloxacin E-tests.E. coli ATCC 25922 was used as the control strain. The MIC data for ciprofloxacin were compared with nalidixic acid disk (30µg) zone diameters.
Results: …


Prevalence And Factors Associated With Hepatitis B Immunization And Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In Beijing, China, Chao Wang, You Xin Wang, Xiao Jie Huang, Xia Li, Tong Zhang, Manshu Song, Li Juan Wu, Juan Du, Xiao Qin Lu, Shuang Shao, Fei Fei Zhao, Michele Ball, Hao Wu, Wei Wang Jan 2012

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Hepatitis B Immunization And Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In Beijing, China, Chao Wang, You Xin Wang, Xiao Jie Huang, Xia Li, Tong Zhang, Manshu Song, Li Juan Wu, Juan Du, Xiao Qin Lu, Shuang Shao, Fei Fei Zhao, Michele Ball, Hao Wu, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2012

Background: Among the Chinese population of 1.3 billion, there are an estimated 93 million carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for HBV infection; however, the prevalence of HBV immunization and infection among Chinese MSM remains undetermined. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1,114 eligible participants was conducted in Beijing, China. Multiple methods were used to recruit study participants. Demographic information and potential correlated factors were collected by questionnaire. Additionally, blood specimens were collected and tested for sexually transmitted infections and serologic markers of hepatitis B immunization and infection. Results: Laboratory …