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Purification And Scale-Up Of A Recombinant Heavy Chain Fragment C Of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E In Pichia Pastoris Gs115, Michael P. Dux, Rick Barent, Jayanta Sinha, Mark Gouthro, Todd Swanson, Ardis Barthuli, Mehmet Inan, John T. Ross, Leonard A. Smith, Theresa J. Smith, Robert Webb, Bonnie Loveless, Ian Henderson, Michael M. Meagher

Michael Meagher Publications

A recombinant C-terminus heavy chain fragment from botulinum neurotoxin serotype E (BoNT/E) is proposed as a vaccine against the serotype E neurotoxin. This fragment, rBoNTE(H_c), was produced intracellular in Pichia pastoris GS115 by a three-step fermentation process, i.e., glycerol batch phase and a glycerol fed-batch phase to achieve high cell densities, followed by a methanol fed-batch induction phase. The rBoNTE(H_c) protein was purified from the soluble fraction of cell lysates using three ion-exchange chromatography steps (SP Sepharose Fast Flow, Q Sepharose Fast Flow, Sp Sepharose High Performance) and polished with a hydrophobic charge induction chromatography step …

Interference Effects In The Memory For Serially Presented Locations In Clark’S Nutcrackers, Nucifraga Columbiana, Jody L. Lewis, Alan C. Kamil

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

The authors tested the spatial memory of serially presented locations in Clark’s nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana). Birds were serially presented with locations in an open room. The authors buried a seed in a sand-filled cup at each location and then tested nutcrackers for their memory for each location in the list by using the cluster method. For each item in the list, the authors opened a cluster of 6 holes. Accuracy was measured by how many tries were required for the bird to find the correct location within each cluster. In Experiments 1 and 2, the authors presented 2 …

Social Play In Kakapo (Strigops Habroptilus) With Comparisons To Kea (Nestor Notabilis) And Kaka (Nestor Meridionalis), Judy Diamond, Daryl Eason, Clio Reid, Alan B. Bond

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

The play behavior of the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus; Aves: Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) is here compared to that of its closest relatives, the kea (Nestor notabilis) and the kaka (Nestor meridionalis). Contrasting kakapos, which are relatively solitary, with the more social Nestor parrots provides an attractive test of the relative contributions of phylogeny and sociality to the evolution of play. Overlapping cluster analysis of play sequences using a hypergeometric similarity metric indicated that kakapo play is generally less complex, lacking the intensity, duration, structure, and reciprocity of play in the Nestor parrots. Kakapos have …

S-Adenosylmethionine Stabilizes Cystathionine Β-Synthase And Modulates Redox Capacity, Anna Prudova, Zachary Bauman, Aaron Braun, Victor Vitvitsky, Shelly C. Lu, Ruma Banerjee

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

The transsulfuration pathway converts homocysteine to cysteine and represents the metabolic link between antioxidant and methylation metabolism. The first and committing step in this pathway is catalyzed by cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), which is subject to complex regulation, including allosteric activation by the methyl donor, S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet). In this study, we demonstrate that methionine restriction leads to a >10-fold decrease in CBS protein levels, and pulse proteolysis studies reveal that binding of AdoMet stabilizes the protein against degradation by ≈12 kcal/mol. These observations predict that under pathological conditions where AdoMet levels are diminished, CBS, and therefore glutathione levels, will be reduced. …

Microsatellite Genotyping To Distinguish Colonies And Intraspecies Genetic Variation In The Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes Flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Timothy J. Husen, Shripat T. Kamble, Julie M. Stone

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Microsatellite markers and fingerprinting techniques have demonstrated great potential for assessing colony affiliation in Reticulitermes species. This study utilized microsatellite allele fingerprints and examined variation at eight micro satellite loci within five different R. flavipes collection sites in each of Lancaster and Madison counties in Nebraska. In the termite populations from Lancaster County, five of the eight microsatellite loci (Rf 1-3, Rf 3-1, Rf 5-1 0, Rf 6-1, and Rf 24-2) provided informative genotypic variability allowing colony distinction. DNA sequence data at locus Rf24-2 also provided conclusive evidence that populations sampled were distinct colonies. Five micro satellite loci (Rf 3-1, …

Purification And Initial Biochemical Characterization Of Atp:Cob(I)Alamin Adenosyltransferase (Eutt) Enzyme Of Salmonella Enterica, Nicole R. Baun, Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

ATP:cob(I)alamin adenosyltransferase (EutT) of Salmonella

enterica was overproduced and enriched to ~70% homogeneity,

and its basic kinetic parameters were determined. Abundant

amounts of EutT protein were produced, but all of it remained

insoluble. Soluble active EutT protein (~70% homogeneous) was

obtained after treatment with detergent. Under conditions in which

cobalamin (Cbl) was saturating, _Km(ATP) = 10 µM, k_cat = 0.03 s^-1,

and V_max = 54.5 nM min^-1. Similarly, under conditions in which

MgATPwas saturating,K_m(Cbl) = 4.1µM, k_cat = 0.06 s^-1, andV_max= …

Protein Binding Site Prediction Using An Empirical Scoring Function, Shide Liang, Chi Zhang, Song Liu, Yaoqi Zhou

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Most biological processes are mediated by interactions between proteins and their interacting partners including proteins, nucleic acids and small molecules. This work establishes a method called PINUP for binding site prediction of monomeric proteins. With only two weight parameters to optimize, PINUP produces not only 42.2% coverage of actual interfaces (percentage of correctly predicted interface residues in actual interface residues) but also 44.5% accuracy in predicted interfaces (percentage of correctly predicted interface residues in the predicted interface residues) in a cross validation using a 57-protein dataset. By comparison, the expected accuracy via random prediction (percentage of actual interface residues in …

Premature Induction Of An Immunosuppressive Regulatory T Cell Response During Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Jacob D. Estes, Qingsheng Li, Matthew R. Reynolds, Stephen W. Wietgrefe, Lijie Duan, Timothy Schacker, Louis J. Picker, David I. Watkins, Jeffrey D. Lifson, Cavan Reilly, John V. Carlis, Ashley T. Haase

Qingsheng Li Publications

Here we report the results of an investigation into the possibility that one mechanism responsible for the establishment of persistent human immunodeficiency virus infection is an early regulatory T (T_reg) cell response that blunts virus- specific responses. Using the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected rhesus macaque model, we show that, indeed, viral replication and immune activation in lymphatic tissue drive a premature immunosuppressive response, with dramatic increases in the frequencies of CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺ Treg cells, transforming growth factor–β1⁺ cells, interleukin–10+ cells, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase+CD3⁺ cells.When we compared SIV infection with rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV) …

Liberty, Gender, And The Family, Jennifer Mckitrick

Department of Philosophy: Faculty Publications

DISCUSSIONS OF JUSTICE within the classical liberal, libertarian tradition have been universalist. They have aspired to apply to any human community, whatever the makeup of its membership. Certainly some feminists have taken issue with this, arguing that the classical liberal, libertarian understanding of justice fails to address the concerns of women, indeed, does women an injustice. Among these we find Susan Moller Okin, and it will be my task in this essay to explore whether Okin's criticism is well founded. Susan Moller Okin's justice, Gender, and the Family is a landmark feminist discussion of distributive justice that raises issues no …

Parelaphostrongylus Odocoilei In Columbia Black-Tailed Deer From Oregon, Jack A. Mortenson, Arthur Abrams, Benjamin M. Rosenthal, Detiger Dunams, Eric P. Hoberg, Robert J. Bildfell, Richard L. Green

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Documenting the occurrence of Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei has historically relied on the morphological examination of adult worms collected from the skeletal muscle of definitive hosts, including deer. Recent advances in the knowledge of protostrongylid genetic sequences now permit larvae to be identified. Dorsal-spined larvae (DSLs) collected in 2003–2004 from the lung and feces of six Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) from Oregon were characterized genetically. The sequences from unknown DSLs were compared to those from morphologically validated adults and larvae of P. odocoilei at both the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome …

Fast-Nmr - Functional Annotation Screening Technology Using Nmr Spectroscopy, Kelly A. Mercier, Michael Baranski, Viswanathan Ramanathan, Peter Z. Revesz, Rong Xiao, Gaetano T. Montelione, Robert Powers

Robert Powers Publications

An abundance of protein structures emerging from structural genomics and the Protein Structure Initiative (PSI) are not amenable to ready functional assignment because of a lack of sequence and structural homology to proteins of known function. We describe a high-throughput NMR methodology (FAST-NMR) to annotate the biological function of novel proteins through the structural and sequence analysis of protein-ligand interactions. This is based on basic tenets of biochemistry where proteins with similar functions will have similar active sites and exhibit similar ligand binding interactions, despite global differences in sequence and structure. Protein-ligand interactions are determined through a tiered NMR screen …

Trends In High Incomes And Behavioral Responses To Taxation: Evidence From Executive Compensation And Statistics Of Income Data, Nada O. Eissa, Seth H. Giertz

Department of Economics: Faculty Publications

This paper examines income trends from 1992 to 2004 and the responsiveness of different income measures to tax changes for corporate executives and for the very highest income U.S. taxpayers. We detail the growth in executive compensation and break down the components of that growth by sources, such as the value of options and stock grants, as well as bonus income. We then examine income trends at various points in the income distribution for executives and for all taxpayers. An empirical strategy similar to that employed by Goolsbee (2000) is then used to examine the responsiveness to tax rates of …

Saudi Medical Journal. Maintaining The Previous, Achieving More Progress, Saleh M. Al-Deeb

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of A New Dot Blot Assay For Confirmation Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 And 2 Infections Using Recombinant P24, Gp41, Gp120 And Gp36 Antigens, Mehrdad Ravanshad, Farzaneh Sabahi, Fereidoun Mahboudi, Anoshirvan Kazemnejad

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: A sensitive and accurate dot blot assay using recombinant p24 (gag), gp41 and gp120 (env) proteins of HIV-1 and also recombinant gp36, the specific HIV-2 antigen was developed to confirm the presence of antibodies in sera reactive in screening enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. METHODS: We collected sera from Iranian 125 confirmed HIV positive Iranian samples (seropositive group) from AIDS patients, asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects, HIV-infected intravenous drug users and also hemophilic infected subjects. The samples were obtained from the AIDS Specimen Bank, Pasture Institute, Iran during 2002 to 2003. We also obtained 180 samples (seronegative group) from healthy blood donors. Recombinant …

A Study Of Bacterial Isolates From Corneal Specimens And Their Antibiotic Resistance Profile, Nurun N. Begum, Abdulaziz S. Al-Khattaf, Samir M. Al-Mansouri, Edward A. Yeboah, Abdel-Mageed M. Kambal

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: We aim to examine the spectrum of bacteria causing corneal infections and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. This will serve as a guideline for empiric therapy of corneal infections. METHODS: We conducted the study over a period of 18 months from March 2001 through December 2002 in King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Corneal specimens taken from 200 patients were inoculated directly onto different types of media. The isolates were identified and then tested against the appropriate topical or systemic antibiotics. RESULTS: Sixty-seven (33.5%) of the total specimens were culture positive and 133 (66.5%) were culture negative. …

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia In Surgical Emergency Intensive Care Unit, Bulent M. Ertugrul, Ayse Yildirim, Pinar Ay, Serkan Oncu, Atahan Cagatay, Nahit Cakar, Cemalettin Ertekin, Halit Ozsut, Haluk Eraksoy, Semra Calangu

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence, risk factors and the etiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in surgical emergency intensive care unit (ICU) patients. METHODS: We conducted this prospective cohort study in the surgical emergency ICU of Istanbul Medical Faculty between December 1999 and May 2001. We included 100 mechanically ventilated patients in this study. We diagnosed VAP according to the current diagnostic criteria. We identified the etiology of VAP cases by both quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspiration and blood cultures. To analyze the predisposing factors for the development of VAP, we recorded the following variables: age, gender, acute physiology and chronic …

A Serological Survey Of Measles, Mumps And Rubella Immunity Among School Aged Children In Western Saudi Arabia, Soad M. Jaber

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adequacy of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination among children and to assess risk of outbreak in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: We recruited a total of 527 children from schools located at different urban regions, and preschool children from those attending the well baby clinics in Jeddah, KSA. We tested for MMR viruses antibodies using ELISA technique. RESULTS: Approximately 99% of children received MMR vaccine. Overall seropositivity for measles antibodies was 71%, mumps 65% and rubella 90%, which were elevated in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated children (p<0.000). In vaccinated children, percentage of seropositivity for MMR was higher in public school children versus private (p<0.01) or those who did not attend school (p<0.01) and in Saudi versus non-Saudi children (p<0.000). In vaccinated children, percentage of seropositivity obtained according to age groups of 4-6 years for measles was 73.7%, for mumps 66.7% and for rubella 91.7%. As for 7-11 years age group, seropositivity for measles was 72.6%, for mumps 68.1% and for rubella 93%, while for the 12-14 years, seropositivity for measles was 66.4%, mumps 59.1% and for rubella 86.1%. The prevalence of seropositivity against the above-mentioned viruses decreased with progression of age. CONCLUSION: Measles, mumps and rubella mass vaccination program achieved high coverage rate among children, in Jeddah, KSA. However, there is still a high level of sera negative children among vaccinated ones for measles and mumps. Seropositivity decreased with age, which might raise possibility of outbreaks among adolescent. Additional doses of vaccine against measles and mumps are recommended and evaluation of new MMR protocol should be made.

Spectrum Of General Surgical Problems In The Developmentally Disabled Adults, Kamran Khalid, Saleh M. Al-Salamah

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: This study highlights the spectrum of general surgical problems necessitating admission on intellectually disabled adult patients. Problems encountered in the management and the ways to overcome various difficulties are highlighted. METHODS: Prospective collection of data on 63 consecutive developmentally disabled adult patients admitted to the Department of General Surgery, Riyadh Medical Complex (RMC), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for various indications from January 2000 through December 2004. Demographic details, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, associated physical and neurological disabilities, coexisting medical condition, treatment options, morbidity and mortality were analyzed. Various difficulties encountered during the management and mean to overcome these …

Associated Risk Factors With Ante-Partum Intra-Uterine Fetal Death, Lamia A. Shaaban, Rihab A. Al-Saleh, Buthina M. Alwafi, Rajaa M. Al-Raddadi

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To determine ante-partum maternal risk factors for intrauterine fetal death. METHODS: We carried out a case control retrospective study, at the Maternity and Children9s Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We included all pregnant women diagnosed as singleton intra-uterine fetal death in the third trimester with fetal weight of 1500 gm and more, admitted to the hospital over a 2-year (2001-2002) period (study group). We examined the following risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, abruptio-placenta, age, gestational age, parity, trauma, sepsis, booking, chromosomal abnormality, previous history of intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD) and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR). We compared the results to …

The Persian Version Of The Cardiff Acne Disability Index. Reliability And Validity Study, Shahin Aghaei, Nazila Mazharinia, Peyman Jafari, Zahra Abbasfard

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: The Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) assesses the impact of acne on a patients life. The aim of the present study was to translate the CADI into Persian language and to validate the Persian version. METHODS: Using standard forward-backward translation, 2 bilinguals translated the CADI into Persian language. We back translated it into English and the final version was provided. We conducted this study from February through December 2004 on 100 patients with acne attending the Department of Dermatology, Jahrom Medical School, Jahrom, Iran who completed the Persian version of the CADI questionnaire. We carried out all statistical analyses …

Epidemiology Of Travel-Related Malaria In A Non-Malarious Area In Saudi Arabia, Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: The study describes the epidemiology of malaria in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the species of Plasmodium causing the disease and the associated factors. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of the epidemiology of malaria at Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization in Dhahran, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The study included all patients with malaria from January 1994 to June 2005. We retrieved the cases from the archive epidemiology records on all notifiable diseases. The medical records of patients were reviewed and the following information was collected: age, gender, nationality, year and month of acquisition, travel history …

Rupture Of Spleen In A Mechanically Ventilated Patient With Falciparum Malaria Admitted With Pulmonary Edema, Wanis H. Ibrahim, Ahmed Kamha, Wisam Ghadban, Abdulatif Alkhal

Saudi Medical Journal

Rupture of the spleen in malaria may constitute a diagnostic challenge to many clinicians particularly in non-endemic areas where experience with malaria is limited. Our aim is to increase the awareness among clinicians from non-endemic areas of serious malarial complications. We present a young American military man who was admitted to Hamad General Hospital and had 2 serious malarial complications, namely, acute pulmonary edema and rupture of the spleen. He was unusual compared with what was published previously in 4 main points: 1. The rupture of spleen occurred while the patient on mechanical ventilation and under the effect of sedation, …

Prilocaine Induced Methemoglobinemia, Sahender G. Aygencel, Emine Akinci, Gul Pamukcu

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Intraligamentary Solid-Cystic Neoplasia With Histomorphological Features Of Sclerosing Stromal Tumor, Zuhal Gucin

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

The Factors Of Arteriovenous Fistula Failure In Hemodialysis Patient, Abdolhassan Talaiezadeh, Faramarz Paziar

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Dark-Lumen Magnetic Resonance Colonography, Mathias Goyen, Waleed Ajaj, Thomas Lauenstein

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Etoricoxib In Patients With Bronchial Asthma Associated With Aspirin Sensitivity, Ibrahim K. Nahar, Abdulaziz T. Muqim, Bassmah I. Al-Qhouti, Adeeba A. Al-Herz, Diaa K. Shehab, Singh S. Uppal, Mousa E. Khadadah

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Diagnostic Value Of Mr Imaging In Meniscal Tears Of The Knee, Khalilollah Nazem, Khashayar Jabalameli, Farhad Iranpour

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Intramuscular Artemether In The Treat-Ment Of Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria In Sudanese Patients, Ayda R. Mohammed-Ali, Musa M. Kheir, Ishag Adam

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Validity And Reliability Of The Turkish Version Of The Ferrans And Powers Quality Of Life Index Diabetes Version, Zeynep C. Ozer

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.