Search results for "Polymerase"
showing 10 items of 2127 documents
Atherogenic properties of enzymatically degraded LDL: selective induction of MCP-1 and cytotoxic effects on human macrophages.
1998
Abstract —The mechanisms underlying the selective accumulation of macrophages in early atherosclerotic lesions are poorly understood but are likely to be related to specific properties of altered low density lipoprotein (LDL) deposited in the subendothelium. Enzymatic, nonoxidative degradation of LDL converts the lipoprotein to a potentially atherogenic moiety, enzymatically altered LDL (E-LDL), which activates complement and is rapidly taken up by human macrophages via a scavenger receptor–dependent pathway. Immunohistological evidence indicates that E-LDL is present in an extracellular location in the early lesion. We report that E-LDL causes massive release of monocyte chemotactic prote…
Causative role of oxidative stress in a Drosophila model of Friedreich ataxia
2006
Friedreich ataxia (FA), the most common form of hereditary ataxia, is caused by a deficit in the mitochondrial protein frataxin. While several hypotheses have been suggested, frataxin function is not well understood. Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology of FA, but this view has been recently questioned, and its link to frataxin is unclear. Here, we report the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress the Drosophila frataxin gene (fh) expression. This model system parallels the situation in FA patients, namely a moderate systemic reduction of frataxin levels compatible with normal embryonic development. Under these conditions, fh-RNAi flies showed a shor…
Evidence for the presence of functional protease activated receptor 4 (PAR4) in the rat colon
2004
Background and aims: Protease activated receptors (PARs) have been postulated to play a role during intestinal inflammation. The presence and role played by PAR4 in gastrointestinal functions have not been fully clarified. The aims of this study were: (i) to examine expression of PAR4 in rat proximal colon; (ii) to determine the mechanical effects induced by PAR4 activation in longitudinal muscle; and (iii) to characterise the underlying mechanisms. Methods: PAR4 expression was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Mechanical activity was recorded as changes in isometric tension. Results: A PCR product corresponding to the predicted…
Phylogenetic analysis of Lymnaeid snails based on 18S rDNA sequences.
1997
The 18S rDNA sequences of the six most common European Lymnaeidae species (Mollusca:Gastropoda:Basommatophora) have been obtained by direct PCR cycle sequencing and silver staining methods. The sequence alignment and secondary structures of the 18S rRNA gene of Lymnaea stagnalis, L. auricularia, L. peregra, L. palustris, L. glabra, and L. truncatula are analyzed. This gene proves to be a good marker for both specific determination and supraspecific lymnaeid phylogeny. The malacological importance is evident, considering the specific determination problems of individual snails and the present systematic chaos in Lymnaeidae due to their pronounced morphoanatomic uniformity, which makes a clas…
Application of propidium monoazide-qPCR to evaluate the ultrasonic inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in fresh-cut vegetable wash water.
2012
The efficacy of sanitizing technologies in produce or in vegetable wash water is generally evaluated by plate count in selective media. This procedure is time consuming and can lead to misinterpretations because environmental conditions and sanitizing processes may affect bacterial growth or culturable capability. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the applicability of a propidium monoazide real-time PCR (PMA-qPCR) method to monitor the inactivation by ultrasound treatment of foodborne bacteria in fresh-cut vegetable wash water. To this aim, lettuce wash water was artificially inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 (10⁶ CFU/mL) and treated by means of a continuous ultrasonic irr…
Application of viability PCR to discriminate the infectivity of hepatitis A virus in food samples.
2015
Abstract Transmitted through the fecal–oral route, the hepatitis A virus (HAV) is acquired primarily through close personal contact and foodborne transmission. HAV detection in food is mainly carried out by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). The discrimination of infectious and inactivated viruses remains a key obstacle when using RT-qPCR to quantify enteric viruses in food samples. Initially, viability dyes, propidium monoazide (PMA) and ethidium monoazide (EMA), were evaluated for the detection and quantification of infectious HAV in lettuce wash water. Results showed that PMA combined with 0.5% Triton X-100 (Triton) was the best pretreatment to assess HAV infectivity and completely eliminate…
Application of propidium monoazide quantitative PCR for selective detection of live Escherichia coli O157:H7 in vegetables after inactivation by esse…
2012
The use of propidium monoazide (PMA) is enjoying increased popularity among researchers in different fields of microbiology. Its use in combination with real-time PCR (qPCR) represents one of the most successful approaches to detect viable cells. PMA-qPCR has successfully been used to evaluate the efficacy of various disinfection technologies in different microorganisms. Initially, in this study the effect of four essential oils (EOs), cumin, clove, oregano and cinnamon, was evaluated on suspensions of the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 by PMA-qPCR, LIVE/DEAD BacLight flow cytometry analysis (LIVE/DEAD-FCM), and plate count. E. coli O157:H7 cells treated with EOs at killing conc…
Deregulation of miR-324/KISS1/kisspeptin in early ectopic pregnancy: mechanistic findings with clinical and diagnostic implications
2019
[Abstract] BACKGROUND: Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition for which novel screening tools that would enable early accurate diagnosis would improve clinical outcomes. Kisspeptins, encoded by KISS1, play an essential role in human reproduction, at least partially by regulating placental function and possibly embryo implantation. Kisspeptin levels are elevated massively in normal pregnancy and reportedly altered in various gestational pathologic diseases. Yet, the pathophysiologic role of KISS1/kisspeptin in ectopic pregnancy has not been investigated previously. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes of KISS1/kisspeptin levels in ectopic pregnancy and thei…
Development of fluorogenic probe-based PCR assays for the detection and quantification of bovine piroplasmids.
2009
This paper reports two new quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, developed in an attempt to improve the detection of bovine piroplasmids. The first of these techniques is a duplex TaqMan assay for the simultaneous diagnosis of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. This technique is ideal for use in South America where bovids harbour no theilerids. The second technique, which is suitable for the diagnosis of both babesiosis and theileriosis worldwide, involves fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes. In FRET assays, Babesia bovis, B. divergens, Babesia sp. (B. major or B. bigemina), Theileria annae and Theileria sp. were all identifiable based on the melting temperatures of their amplified f…
Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from migratory birds in southern Norway
2020
Birds are important hosts for the first life stages of the Ixodes ricinus tick and they can transport their parasites over long distances. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Rickettsia helvetica in ticks collected from migratory birds in Norway. A total of 815 Ixodes ricinus ticks from 216 birds trapped at Lista Bird Observatory in southern Norway during spring and autumn migration in 2008 were analysed by real-time PCR. B. burgdorferi s. l. was the most prevalent pathogen, detected in 6.1% of the ticks. The prevalence of N. mikurensis, A. phagocytophilum and R. helvetica was 1.2%…