@article{LatifHeoRazuinetal.2013, author = {Latif, Baha and Heo, Chong Chin and Razuin, Rahimi and Shamalaa, Devi V.}, title = {Autochthonous Human Schistosomiasis, Malaysia}, series = {Emerging Infectious Diseases}, volume = {19}, journal = {Emerging Infectious Diseases}, number = {8}, doi = {10.3201/eid1908.121710}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-131692}, pages = {1340-1341}, year = {2013}, abstract = {No abstract available.}, language = {en} } @article{NtoukasTappePfuetzeetal.2013, author = {Ntoukas, Vasileios and Tappe, Dennis and Pf{\"u}tze, Daniel and Simon, Michaela and Holzmann, Thomas}, title = {Cerebellar Cysticercosis Caused by Larval Taenia crassiceps Tapeworm in Immunocompetent Woman, Germany}, series = {Emerging Infectious Diseases}, volume = {19}, journal = {Emerging Infectious Diseases}, number = {12}, doi = {10.3201/eid1912.130284}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-131686}, pages = {2008-2011}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Human cysticercosis caused by Taenia crassiceps tapeworm larvae involves the muscles and subcutis mostly in immunocompromised patients and the eye in immunocompetent persons. We report a successfully treated cerebellar infection in an immunocompetent woman. We developed serologic tests, and the parasite was identified by histologic examination and 12s rDNA PCR and sequencing.}, language = {en} } @article{BenzMerkelOffneretal.2013, author = {Benz, Peter M. and Merkel, Carla J. and Offner, Kristin and Abeßer, Marco and Ullrich, Melanie and Fischer, Tobias and Bayer, Barbara and Wagner, Helga and Gambaryan, Stepan and Ursitti, Jeanine A. and Adham, Ibrahim M. and Linke, Wolfgang A. and Feller, Stephan M. and Fleming, Ingrid and Renn{\´e}, Thomas and Frantz, Stefan and Unger, Andreas and Schuh, Kai}, title = {Mena/VASP and alphaII-Spectrin complexes regulate cytoplasmic actin networks in cardiomyocytes and protect from conduction abnormalities and dilated cardiomyopathy}, series = {Cell Communication and Signaling}, volume = {11}, journal = {Cell Communication and Signaling}, number = {56}, doi = {10.1186/1478-811X-11-56}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128760}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: In the heart, cytoplasmic actin networks are thought to have important roles in mechanical support, myofibrillogenesis, and ion channel function. However, subcellular localization of cytoplasmic actin isoforms and proteins involved in the modulation of the cytoplasmic actin networks are elusive. Mena and VASP are important regulators of actin dynamics. Due to the lethal phenotype of mice with combined deficiency in Mena and VASP, however, distinct cardiac roles of the proteins remain speculative. In the present study, we analyzed the physiological functions of Mena and VASP in the heart and also investigated the role of the proteins in the organization of cytoplasmic actin networks. Results: We generated a mouse model, which simultaneously lacks Mena and VASP in the heart. Mena/VASP double-deficiency induced dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction abnormalities. In wild-type mice, Mena and VASP specifically interacted with a distinct αII-Spectrin splice variant (SH3i), which is in cardiomyocytes exclusively localized at Z- and intercalated discs. At Z- and intercalated discs, Mena and β-actin localized to the edges of the sarcomeres, where the thin filaments are anchored. In Mena/VASP double-deficient mice, β-actin networks were disrupted and the integrity of Z- and intercalated discs was markedly impaired. Conclusions: Together, our data suggest that Mena, VASP, and αII-Spectrin assemble cardiac multi-protein complexes, which regulate cytoplasmic actin networks. Conversely, Mena/VASP deficiency results in disrupted β-actin assembly, Z- and intercalated disc malformation, and induces dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction abnormalities.}, language = {en} } @article{WichmannPoppertVonThienetal.2013, author = {Wichmann, Dominic and Poppert, Sven and Von Thien, Heidrun and Clerinx, Johannes and Dieckmann, Sebastian and Jensenius, Mogens and Parola, Philippe and Richter, Joachim and Schunk, Mirjam and Stich, August and Zanger, Philipp and Buchard, Gerd D. and Tannich, Egbert}, title = {Prospective European-wide multicentre study on a blood based real-time PCR for the diagnosis of acute schistosomiasis}, series = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, volume = {13}, journal = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, number = {55}, issn = {1471-2334}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2334-13-55}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121952}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: Acute schistosomiasis constitutes a rare but serious condition in individuals experiencing their first prepatent Schistosoma infection. To circumvent costly and time-consuming diagnostics, an early and rapid diagnosis is required. So far, classic diagnostic tools such as parasite microscopy or serology lack considerable sensitivity at this early stage of Schistosoma infection. To validate the use of a blood based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the detection of Schistosoma DNA in patients with acute schistosomiasis who acquired their infection in various endemic regions we conducted a European-wide prospective study in 11 centres specialized in travel medicine and tropical medicine. Methods: Patients with a history of recent travelling to schistosomiasis endemic regions and freshwater contacts, an episode of fever (body temperature >= 38.5 degrees C) and an absolute or relative eosinophil count of >= 700/mu l or 10\%, were eligible for participation. PCR testing with DNA extracted from serum was compared with results from serology and microscopy. Results: Of the 38 patients with acute schistosomiasis included into the study, PCR detected Schistosoma DNA in 35 patients at initial presentation (sensitivity 92\%). In contrast, sensitivity of serology (enzyme immunoassay and/or immunofluorescence assay) or parasite microscopy was only 70\% and 24\%, respectively. Conclusion: For the early diagnosis of acute schistosomiasis, real-time PCR for the detection of schistosoma DNA in serum is more sensitive than classic diagnostic tools such as serology or microscopy, irrespective of the region of infection. Generalization of the results to all Schistosoma species may be difficult as in the study presented here only eggs of S. mansoni were detected by microscopy. A minimum amount of two millilitre of serum is required for sufficient diagnostic accuracy.}, language = {en} } @article{LopezMielichSuessSchneider2013, author = {Lopez, Daniel and Mielich-S{\"u}ss, Benjamin and Schneider, Johannes}, title = {Overproduction of Flotillin Influences Cell Differentiation and Shape in Bacillus subtilis}, doi = {10.1128/mBio.00719-13}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-111369}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Bacteria organize many membrane-related signaling processes in functional microdomains that are structurally and functionally similar to the lipid rafts of eukaryotic cells. An important structural component of these microdomains is the protein flotillin, which seems to act as a chaperone in recruiting other proteins to lipid rafts to facilitate their interaction. In eukaryotic cells, the occurrence of severe diseases is often observed in combination with an overproduction of flotillin, but a functional link between these two phenomena is yet to be demonstrated. In this work, we used the bacterial model Bacillus subtilis as a tractable system to study the physiological alterations that occur in cells that overproduce flotillin. We discovered that an excess of flotillin altered specific signal transduction pathways that are associated with the membrane microdomains of bacteria. As a consequence of this, we detected significant defects in cell division and cell differentiation. These physiological alterations were in part caused by an unusual stabilization of the raft-associated protease FtsH. This report opens the possibility of using bacteria as a working model to better understand fundamental questions related to the functionality of lipid rafts. IMPORTANCE The identification of signaling platforms in the membrane of bacteria that are functionally and structurally equivalent to eukaryotic lipid rafts reveals a level of sophistication in signal transduction and membrane organization unexpected in bacteria. It opens new and promising venues to address intricate questions related to the functionality of lipid rafts by using bacteria as a more tractable system. This is the first report that uses bacteria as a working model to investigate a fundamental question that was previously raised while studying the role of eukaryotic lipid rafts. It also provides evidence of the critical role of these signaling platforms in orchestrating diverse physiological processes in prokaryotic cells.}, subject = {Heubacillus}, language = {en} }