scholarly journals Persistence of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki in Urban Environments following Spraying

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (22) ◽  
pp. 7954-7961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Van Cuyk ◽  
Alina Deshpande ◽  
Attelia Hollander ◽  
Nathan Duval ◽  
Lawrence Ticknor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Lymantria Dispar ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Fairfax County ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Installation ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACTBacillus thuringiensissubsp.kurstakiis applied extensively in North America to control the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar. SinceB. thuringiensissubsp.kurstakishares many physical and biological properties withBacillus anthracis, it is a reasonable surrogate for biodefense studies. A key question in biodefense is how long a biothreat agent will persist in the environment. There is some information in the literature on the persistence ofBacillus anthracisin laboratories and historical testing areas and forBacillus thuringiensisin agricultural settings, but there is no information on the persistence ofBacillusspp. in the type of environment that would be encountered in a city or on a military installation. Since it is not feasible to releaseB. anthracisin a developed area, the controlled release ofB. thuringiensissubsp.kurstakifor pest control was used to gain insight into the potential persistence ofBacillusspp. in outdoor urban environments. Persistence was evaluated in two locations: Fairfax County, VA, and Seattle, WA. Environmental samples were collected from multiple matrices and evaluated for the presence of viableB. thuringiensissubsp.kurstakiat times ranging from less than 1 day to 4 years after spraying. Real-time PCR and culture were used for analysis.B. thuringiensissubsp.kurstakiwas found to persist in urban environments for at least 4 years. It was most frequently detected in soils and less frequently detected in wipes, grass, foliage, and water. The collective results indicate that certain species ofBacillusmay persist for years following their dispersal in urban environments.

scholarly journals Diversity of Listeria Species in Urban and Natural Environments

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 4420-4433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D. Sauders ◽  
Jon Overdevest ◽  
Esther Fortes ◽  
Katy Windham ◽  
Ynte Schukken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Allelic Diversity ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Molecular Source ◽  
Listeria Seeligeri

ABSTRACTA total of 442Listeriaisolates, including 234Listeria seeligeri, 80L. monocytogenes, 74L. welshimeri, 50L. innocua, and 4L. marthiiisolates, were obtained from 1,805 soil, water, and other environmental samples collected over 2 years from four urban areas and four areas representing natural environments.Listeriaspp. showed similar prevalences in samples from natural (23.4%) and urban (22.3%) environments. WhileL. seeligeriandL. welshimeriwere significantly associated with natural environments (P≤ 0.0001),L. innocuaandL. monocytogeneswere significantly associated with urban environments (P≤ 0.0001). Sequencing ofsigBfor all isolates revealed 67 allelic types with a higher level of allelic diversity among isolates from urban environments. SomeListeriaspp. andsigBallelic types showed significant associations with specific urban and natural areas. Nearest-neighbor analyses also showed that certainListeriaspp. andsigBallelic types were spatially clustered within both natural and urban environments, and there was evidence that these species and allelic types persisted over time in specific areas. Our data show that members of the genusListerianot only are common in urban and natural environments but also show species- and subtype-specific associations with different environments and areas. This indicates thatListeriaspecies and subtypes within these species may show distinct ecological preferences, which suggests (i) that molecular source-tracking approaches can be developed forListeriaand (ii) that detection of someListeriaspecies may not be a good indicator forL. monocytogenes.

scholarly journals Differentiation of Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis on the Basis of thecsaBGene Reflects Host Source

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 3860-3863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinshui Zheng ◽  
Donghai Peng ◽  
Xiaoling Song ◽  
Lifang Ruan ◽  
Jacques Mahillon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Gene Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group I ◽  
Related Group ◽  
Animal Hosts ◽  
Group Ii

ABSTRACTcsaBgene analysis clustered 198 strains ofBacillus anthracis,Bacillus cereus, andBacillus thuringiensisinto two groups related to mammalian and insect hosts, respectively. Mammal-related group I strains also have more S-layer homology (SLH) protein genes than group II strains. This indicates thatcsaB-based differentiation reflects selective pressure from animal hosts.

scholarly journals Rapid Detection of Viable Bacillus anthracis Spores in Environmental Samples by Using Engineered Reporter Phages

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 2380-2387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha J. Sharp ◽  
Ian J. Molineux ◽  
Martin A. Page ◽  
David A. Schofield
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Gene ◽  
Light Output ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Assay Sensitivity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pure Cultures ◽  
Response Expression

ABSTRACTBacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, was utilized as a bioterrorism agent in 2001 when spores were distributed via the U.S. postal system. In responding to this event, the Federal Bureau of Investigation used traditional bacterial culture viability assays to ascertain the extent of contamination of the postal facilities within 24 to 48 h of environmental sample acquisition. Here, we describe a low-complexity, second-generation reporter phage assay for the rapid detection of viableB. anthracisspores in environmental samples. The assay uses an engineeredB. anthracisreporter phage (Wβ::luxAB-2) which transduces bioluminescence to infected cells. To facilitate low-level environmental detection and maximize the signal response, expression ofluxABin an earlier version of the reporter phage (Wβ::luxAB-1) was optimized. These alterations prolonged signal kinetics, increased light output, and improved assay sensitivity. Using Wβ::luxAB-2, detection ofB. anthracisspores was 1 CFU in 8 h from pure cultures and as low as 10 CFU/g in sterile soil but increased to 105CFU/g in unprocessed soil due to an unstable signal and the presence of competing bacteria. Inclusion of semiselective medium, mediated by a phage-expressed antibiotic resistance gene, maintained signal stability and enabled the detection of 104CFU/g in 6 h. The assay does not require spore extraction and relies on the phage infecting germinating cells directly in the soil sample. This reporter phage displays promise for the rapid detection of low levels of spores on clean surfaces and also in grossly contaminated environmental samples from complex matrices such as soils.

scholarly journals Rapid-Viability PCR Method for Detection of Live, Virulent Bacillus anthracis in Environmental Samples

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (18) ◽  
pp. 6570-6578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia E. Létant ◽  
Gloria A. Murphy ◽  
Teneile M. Alfaro ◽  
Julie R. Avila ◽  
Staci R. Kane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Incubation Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pcr Method

ABSTRACTIn the event of a biothreat agent release, hundreds of samples would need to be rapidly processed to characterize the extent of contamination and determine the efficacy of remediation activities. Current biological agent identification and viability determination methods are both labor- and time-intensive such that turnaround time for confirmed results is typically several days. In order to alleviate this issue, automated, high-throughput sample processing methods were developed in which real-time PCR analysis is conducted on samples before and after incubation. The method, referred to as rapid-viability (RV)-PCR, uses the change in cycle threshold after incubation to detect the presence of live organisms. In this article, we report a novel RV-PCR method for detection of live, virulentBacillus anthracis, in which the incubation time was reduced from 14 h to 9 h, bringing the total turnaround time for results below 15 h. The method incorporates a magnetic bead-based DNA extraction and purification step prior to PCR analysis, as well as specific real-time PCR assays for theB. anthracischromosome and pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids. A single laboratory verification of the optimized method applied to the detection of virulentB. anthracisin environmental samples was conducted and showed a detection level of 10 to 99 CFU/sample with both manual and automated RV-PCR methods in the presence of various challenges. Experiments exploring the relationship between the incubation time and the limit of detection suggest that the method could be further shortened by an additional 2 to 3 h for relatively clean samples.

scholarly journals A 50-Kilodalton Cry2A Peptide Is Lethal to Bombyx mori and Lymantria dispar

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (13) ◽  
pp. 4755-4757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masataka Ohsawa ◽  
Miki Tanaka ◽  
Kenta Moriyama ◽  
Mitsuaki Shimazu ◽  
Shin-ichiro Asano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Lymantria Dispar ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe Cry2Aa3 gene was introduced into asporogenicBacillus thuringiensis, and the synthesized protoxin killedBombyx moriandLymantria disparlarvae. Chymotrypsin hydrolyzed the linkages between 49Tyr/Val50 and 145Lys/Ser146 in the protoxin, and 50- and 58-kDa fragments were generated, respectively. Both peptides killed the larvae of both insects.

PubChem and ChEMBL Beyond Lipinski

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Louis Reymond ◽  
Mahendra Awale ◽  
Daniel Probst ◽  
Alice Capecchi
Keyword(s):  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Molecular Shape ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Large Molecules ◽  
Interactive Tools ◽  
Small Molecule Drugs ◽  
Pubchem Database ◽  
Nearest Neighbor Searches ◽  
Insight Into

<p>Seven million of the currently 94 million entries in the PubChem database break at least one of the four Lipinski constraints for oral bioavailability, 183,185 of which are also found in the ChEMBL database. These non-Lipinski PubChem (NLP) and ChEMBL (NLC) subsets are interesting because they contain new modalities that can display biological properties not accessible to small molecule drugs. Unfortunately, the current search tools in PubChem and ChEMBL are designed for small molecules and are not well suited to explore these subsets, which therefore remain poorly appreciated. Herein we report MXFP (macromolecule extended atom-pair fingerprint), a 217-D fingerprint tailored to analyze large molecules in terms of molecular shape and pharmacophores. We implement MXFP in two web-based applications, the first one to visualize NLP and NLC interactively using Faerun (http://faerun.gdb.tools/), the second one to perform MXFP nearest neighbor searches in NLP (http://similaritysearch.gdb.tools/). We show that these tools provide a meaningful insight into the diversity of large molecules in NLP and NLC. The interactive tools presented here are publicly available at http://gdb.unibe.ch and can be used freely to explore and better understand the diversity of non-Lipinski molecules in PubChem and ChEMBL.</p>

scholarly journals Complete Sequences of Two Plasmids Found in a Brazilian Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar israelensis Strain

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrício S. Campos ◽  
Fernando B. Cerqueira ◽  
Gil R. Santos ◽  
Eliseu J. G. Pereira ◽  
Roberto F. T. Corrêia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Bacterial Genomes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complete Sequences

Plasmids play a crucial role in the evolution of bacterial genomes by mediating horizontal gene transfer. In this work, we sequenced two plasmids found in a Brazilian Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis strain which showed 100% nucleotide identities with Bacillus thuringiensis serovar kurstaki plasmids.

Rethinking bibliographic utilities for library consortia

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Author(s):  
Israel Odede
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Distributed Network ◽  
Network Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Consortia ◽  
Individual Ownership ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The paper aims to critically examine the bibliographic utility as a roadmap to increase library consortia and provide an insight into a new library consortia strategy that integrates librarians into a system of sharing both resources and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a literature review approach with a focus on bibliographic utility as a necessary prerequisite for effective library consortia, which is a paradigm shift from the concept of individual ownership to a collective access of distributed network resources and knowledge. Findings The reviewed literature indicated that significant bibliographic utilities and integrated library systems are factors that shaped and developed consortia activities in libraries. Originality/value The bibliographic utility has limited literature, and a few published scholarly studies have combined bibliographic utility and library consortia as strategies to share resources and knowledge

Formation of contracts for the international sale of goods under Korean law and the CISG

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-223
Author(s):  
Byung Mun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Case Law ◽  
The Other ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Sale Of Goods ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
International Sales ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the rules on the formation of contracts under Korean law and the Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) in a comparative way and introduce the relevant proposed rules under the Amendment Draft of the Korean Civil Code (KCC). In addition, it attempts to compare and evaluate them in light of the discipline of comparative law. Design/methodology/approach In order to achieve the purposes of the study, it executes a comparative study of the rules as to the formation of contracts of the CISG, Korean law and the Amendment Draft of the KCC. The basic question for this comparative study is placed on whether a solution from one jurisdiction is more logical than the others and to what extent each jurisdiction has responded to protect the reasonable expectations of the parties in the rules as to the formation of contracts. Findings The comparative study finds that most of the rules under the CISG are quite plausible and logical and they are more or less well reflected in the proposals advanced by the KCC amendment committee. On the other hand, the other rules under the CISG which have brought criticisms in terms of their complexity and inconsistent case law invite us their revision or consistent interpretation. The drawbacks of the CISG have also been well responded in the Amendment Draft of the KCC. Nevertheless, it is quite unfortunate that the Amendment Draft of the KCC still has a rule that regards any purported performance with non-material alteration of the terms of an offer as an acceptance. Originality/value This study may provide legal and practical advice to both the seller and the buyer when they enter into a contract for international sales of goods. In addition, it may render us an insight into newly developed or developing rules in this area and show us how they interact with each other. Furthermore, it may be particularly useful in Korea where there is an ongoing discussion for revision of the KCC.

Professionals freaking out: the case of accreditation in Dutch higher education

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 473-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Everard van Kemenade ◽  
Teun W. Hardjono
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Iso 9000 ◽  
Preliminary Survey ◽  
External Evaluation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evaluation Systems ◽  
System A ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define what factors cause willingness and/or resistance among lecturers in universities towards external evaluation systems, especially accreditation.Design/methodology/approachA model has been designed to describe possible factors of willingness and/or resistance towards accreditation based on Ajzen and Metselaar. A literature review has been undertaken on the effects of external evaluation like ISO 9000 as well as accreditation systems such as Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and European Quality Improvement System. A questionnaire has been administered to a group of 63 lecturers from three departments at Fontys University in The Netherlands. The results of this preliminary survey have been presented to 1,500 academics in The Netherlands and Flanders to collect empirical data.FindingsResistance to accreditation can be found in the consequences of accreditation for the work of the lecturer (workload), negative emotions (stress and insecurity); the lack of knowledge and experience (help from specialists is needed); and lack of acceptance (other paradigm).Originality/valueThe paper provides more insight into the difficulties that organizations, especially universities, have to commit their employees to external evaluation. It might be possible to generalize the findings to other professionals in other organizations. Little research in this field has been undertaken so far.

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