Neuregulin is a neural factor implicated in upregulation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) synthesis at the neuromuscular junction. Previous studies have demonstrated that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) subgroup of MAP kinases is required for neuregulin-induced AChR gene expression. We report here that the neuregulin-mediated increase in AChR epsilon-subunit mRNA was a delayed r...

To elucidate the nature of signals that control the level and spatial distribution of mRNAs encoding acetylcholine receptor (AChR), alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta- and epsilon-subunits in muscle fibers chronic paralysis was induced in rat leg muscles either by surgical denervation or by different neurotoxins that cause disuse of the muscle or selectively block neuromuscular transmission pre- or p...

Clostridium perfringens type D isolates cause enterotoxemia in sheep, goats, and probably cattle. While the major disease signs and lesions of type D animal disease are usually attributed to epsilon toxin, a class B select agent, these bacteria typically produce several lethal toxins. Understanding of disease pathogenesis and development of improved vaccines are hindered by the lack of a small-...

Shiga toxin-negative Escherichia coli O157 strains of various H types have been associated with diarrhea in children and are considered potentially pathogenic for humans. In this study, we describe non-Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 E. coli strains previously obtained from dogs in Argentina. Different E. coli phylogenetic lineages corresponding to flagellar types H16, H29 and H45 were ident...

The Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin, a select agent, is responsible for a severe, often fatal enterotoxemia characterized by edema in the heart, lungs, kidney, and brain. The toxin is believed to be an oligomeric pore-forming toxin. Currently, there is no effective therapy for countering the cytotoxic activity of the toxin in exposed individuals. Using a robust cell-based high-throughput ...

Background and Objective: In Indonesia, diphtheria cases caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae are still occurring until today. One of the causes is probably the diphtheria toxin repressor (dtxR) gene which influences toxin expression. Therefore, in this study the characterization of the gene was performed to determine the mutations that affect the DtxR protein.   Methods: The dtxR genes of ...

Alternaria brown spot disease is caused by the alternata tangerine pathotype, which relies on ACT-toxin for infection. At present, all identified biosynthesis-related genes are multi-copy genes. In this study, we summarized advances in important host-specific toxins (HSTs), and listed key required pathogenicity of A. pathotype. Toxin virulence test results revealed that different citrus species...

As classical phase II detoxification enzymes, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been implicated in insecticide resistance and may have evolved in response to toxins in the niche-defining feeding substrates of Drosophila species. We have annotated the GST genes of the 12 Drosophila species with recently sequenced genomes and analyzed their molecular evolution. Gene copy number variation is ...

The evolution of the probabilities of genetic identity within and between the loci of a multigene family is investigated. Unbiased gene conversion, equal crossing over, random genetic drift, and mutation to new alleles are incorporated. Generations are discrete and nonoverlapping; the diploid, monoecious population mates at random. The linkage map is arbitrary, and the location dependence of th...