Search

In this study, we describe the first response regulator of Streptococcus suis serotype 2, designated RevS. RevS was cloned and the sequence was determined. No histidine kinase was found in the vicinity ofrevS , therefore RevS was considered to be an orphan response regulator. An isogenic knock-out mutant of RevS was shown to be attenuated in colonising the S. suis specific organs in a competitive assay in four piglets, indicating thatrevS plays a role in the pathogenesis of S. suis infections. We analysed the protein expression profiles of various fractions of the wild-type strain 10 and the mutant strain 10¿RevS. The expression of known virulence factors ofS. suis by wild-type and the mutant strain, was not different. However, one protein in the protoplast fraction, with unknown identity was shown to be repressed by revS in the exponential growth phase of the mutant

The PCW (Polar Communications and Weather) mission is a dual satellite mission with each satellite in a highly eccentric orbit with apogee ~ 42,000 km and a period (to be decided) in the 12-24 hour range to deliver continuous communications and meteorological data over the Arctic and environs. At and near apogee the viewing is quasi-geostationary due to the slow satellite motion. The operational meteorological instrument is a 21-channel spectral imager with UV, visible, NIR and MIR channels similar to MODIS and ABI. The PHEMOS WCA (Weather, Climate and Air quality) mission is an atmospheric science complement to the operational PCW mission. The PHEMOS WCA instrument package consists of FTS and UVS imaging sounders with viewing range of ~4.5 degrees or a Field of Regard (FoR) ~ 3400x3400 km2 from near apogee. The spatial resolution at apogee of each imaging sounder is targeted to be 10Ã--10 km2 or better and the image repeat time is targeted at ~ 2 hours or better. The FTS has 4 bands that span the MIR and NIR. The MIR bands cover 700-1500 cm-1 and 1800-2700 cm-1 with a spectral resolution of 0.25 cm-1 i,e, a similar spectral resolution to IASI. They should provide vertical tropospheric profiles of temperature and water vapour in addition to partial columns of other gases of interest for air quality such as O3, CO, HCN, CH3OH, etc and also CO2 and CH4. The two NIR bands cover 5990-6010 cm-1 (0.25 cm-1) and 13060-13168 cm-1 (0.5 cm-1) and target columns of CO2 and CH4 and the O2-A band for surface pressure, aerosol OD and albedo. The UVS is an imaging spectrometer that covers the spectral range of 280 â€" 650 nm with 0.9 nm resolution and targets the tropospheric column densities of O3 and NO2. It is also planned to obtain the tropospheric columns of BrO, SO2, HCHO and (HCO)2 and the aerosol index (AI) as well as stratospheric columns of O3, NO2 and BrO. The quasi-stationary viewing will provide the ability to measure the diurnal behavior of atmospheric properties under the satellites and the ability to provide data for weather forecasting and also chemical data assimilation. Important goals for PHEMOS-WCA include measurement of meteorological and air quality data and the measurement of changes in CO2 and CH4 throughout the day-lit hours in the NIR near apogee (see FTS poster). In addition, the imaging design is to be sufficiently flexible so that it can be directed at special events possibly with the FoR reduced to have more rapid spatial coverage. In this paper we will outline the scientific objectives, status of retrieval algorithms and also the viewing geometry necessary with 2 satellites. PHEMOS WCA Phase A study was completed in March 2012. It was funded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The identification of environmentally regulated genes of Streptococcus suis by the use of iron-restricted conditions in vitro and by experimental infection of piglets is described. Eighteen unique iron-restriction-induced (iri) genes and 22 unique in-vivo-selected (ivs) genes of Strep. suis were found. None of the ivs genes was exclusively expressed in vivo. Four iri genes were identical to four clones selected in piglets. Two ivs genes were similar to genes for putative virulence factors. One of these ivs genes was identical to the epf gene of virulent Strep. suis serotype 2 strains and the other showed homology to a gene encoding a fibronectin-binding protein of Streptococcus gordonii. Two additional ivs genes showed homology to environmentally regulated genes previously identified by using an in vivo expression technology (IVET) selection system in other bacterial species. One of these showed similarity to the agrA gene of Staphylococcus aureus, a key locus involved in the regulation of numerous virulence proteins. The promoter selection system described in this paper has been successfully used for the identification of many environmentally regulated genes potentially involved in the pathogenesis of Strep. suis infections in piglets.

Aims: To determine the incidence and impact of shoulder pain after a neck dissection clinically and to identify risk factors. Method: In-patients after a neck dissection filled out a questionnaire the day before discharge. Pain intensity of the shoulder (VAS 100 mm) and activities of daily life provoking shoulder pain were assessed. Type of surgery was retrieved from the medical records. Results: Patients (n = 171) : 68, :103 Age: mean (S.D.) 60.3(12) Non-selective neck dissection 81% (radical or modified) Sacrificing cervical branches 35% Shoulder pain present 70% Pain intensity: mean (S.D.) 14 mm (16) Pain when moving the shoulder 31% Pain when laying upon the shoulder 30% Intensity of pain correlated with the number pain provoking activities (r = 0.73). A non-selective dissection increased the risk for shoulder pain from 50 to 75% and sacrificing the cervical plexus increases the risk from 57 to 95%. Conclusion: Incidence of clinical shoulder pain after neck dissection is 70%. Shoulder pain has a considerable impact on activities of daily living. Risk factors for development of shoulder pain are non-selective neck dissections and sacrificing the cervical plexus.