Small heat shock proteins (sHsp) also known as HspB are a large family of widely expressed proteins that contain a 90 residues domain known as α-crystallin. Here, we focus on the family member H11/HspB8 and its herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) homologue ICP10PK, and discuss the possible impact of this relationship on human disease. H11/HspB8 and ICP10PK are atypical protein kinases. They sha...

Escherichia coli O26:H11 strains were able to outgrow O157:H7 companion strains in planktonic and biofilm phases and also to effectively compete with precolonized O157:H7 cells to establish themselves in mixed biofilms. E. coli O157:H7 strains were unable to displace preformed O26:H11 biofilms. Therefore, E. coli O26:H11 remains a potential risk in food safety.

Of 3,200 cultures of Escherichia coli isolated from streams in Pennsylvania over a 7-year period, 82.46% or 2,639 were O serogrouped. The largest number of cultures (33.4%) belonged to O groups 1 to 26, and the second highest number (16.8%) belonged to O groups 60 to 88. The individual E. coli O groups most frequently isolated were ADO3, 18ac, 2a, 3, 7, 73, 139, and OX13. Practically every know...

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) displays megakaryopoietic activity. We constructed super-cytokine Hyper- IL11 (H11) by linking soluble IL-11 receptor α (sIL-11Rα) with IL-11, which directly targets β-receptor (gp130) signal transducing subunit. The effects of H11 on hematopoiesis with a focus on megakaryopoiesis were studied. The expansion, differentiation and type of colony formation of cord blood prog...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to develop a method for selective detection of the calcific (hydroxyapatite) component in human aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro and in calcified cardiovascular tissues ex vivo. This method uses a novel optical molecular imaging contrast dye, Cy-HABP-19, to target calcified cells and tissues. METHODS A peptide that mimics the binding affinity of ost...

The incidence of cancer is constantly increasing. Chemo/radiotherapy is one of major methods of treating cancer. Although adverse chemo/radiotherapy events, such as anemia and neutropenia, can be successfully cured, thrombocytopenia is still problematic. We constructed the Hyper-IL11 (H11) cytokine by linking soluble interleukin 11 receptor alpha (sIL-11Ralpha) with IL-11. In vivo H11 activity ...

Three human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines (Rh10, Rh18, and Rh28) have been established from three independently derived xenografts. These lines have been characterized as mesenchymal in origin (reactivity to desmin and vimentin antibodies) and as expressing a human fetal muscle surface antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody 5.1 H11. Measurable levels of creatine phosphokinase have been detecte...

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are isolated from human patients with bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis (HC), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). In the last years, the infections with non-O157 serotypes are increasing their frequency of association with human disease. STEC produce Shiga toxin (Stx) and other virulence factors that could contribute to human pathogenesis. Cattle are the...

The purpose of the present study was to histopathologically and immunohistochemically investigate the distribution of proteoglycans in human periodontal ligament (PDL). Specimens from osteotomy and tooth extraction having healthy PDL were studied. Histologically, PDL consisted of fibrous tissues, involving a compact arrangement area and edematous or myxoid area. Immunohistochemically, versican ...

Escherichia coli strains of serogroup O26 comprise two distinct groups of pathogens, characterized as enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). Among the several genes related to type III secretion system-secreted effector proteins, espK was found to be highly specific for EHEC O26:H11 and its stx-negative derivative strains isolated in European countries. E. coli O2...