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S Krakowka

Publications and source records attributed to S Krakowka.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Effect of gastric pH on urease-dependent colonization of gnotobiotic piglets by Helicobacter pylori.

Thirty-seven gnotobiotic piglets from seven litters were infected with either Helicobacter pylori N6 or urease-negative H. pylori N6ureG::Km which contains an insertion in the ureG gene and produces inactive urease. To produce achlorhydria, piglets were treated throughout the experiment with omeprazole (5 mg intravenously every 12 h) and ranitidine (75 mg orally every 6 h). Treatment resulted in elevation of gastric pH to 7.0 +/- 1.1 throughout the experiment. Control piglets were not treated and remained normochlorhydric. Strain N6 colonized well in both normal and achlorhydric piglets. All 10 piglets were colonized, and colonization ranged from 4.4 +/- 1.5 log10 CFU/g of gastric mucosa in normochlorhydric piglets sacrificed after 2 days to 6.9 +/- 0.5 log10 CFU/g in normochlorhydric piglets sacrificed after 5 days. Strain N6ureG::Km did not colonize any of seven normochlorhydric piglets and was recovered only in low numbers (< 100 CFU/g) from four of nine achlorhydric piglets. In the second experiment, piglets were coinoculated with both strains N6 and N6ureG::Km. Coinoculation did not affect colonization by urease-positive N6. Urease-deficient N6ureG::Km was unable to colonize even in the presence of urease-positive bacteria. These results confirm that urease enzymatic activity (and not urease protein) is essential for colonization, that this effect is independent of diffusible products of urea metabolism, and that gastric pH protection is not a major role of urease in promoting colonization by H. pylori.

Animals↗

Enhanced production of morbillivirus gene-specific RNAs following induction of the cellular stress response in stable persistent infection.

Previous in vitro work demonstrated the incorporation of the major inducible 70k heat shock protein (i.e., 72k HSP) into the biologically active light nucleocapsid (L-NC) variant of canine distemper virus (CDV). Here, in vitro induction of the cellular stress response, characterized by elevated cytoplasmic and intranuclear 72k HSP, enhanced L-NC expression in mink lung cells supporting stable persistent infection by raccoon-origin CDV. Increases in L-NC were correlated to increased viral RNA production in cell-free transcriptional assays. The enhanced production of viral transcripts within infected cells following stress response induction was confirmed by slot blot and Northern blot analysis of total cellular RNA and was reflected in increased total viral protein production. Post-shock increases in viral fusion (F) gene transcripts and F protein were associated with dramatic increases in viral cytopathic effect. Modest induction of cell-free infectious viral progeny was also documented. A similar effect of the cellular stress response upon viral protein expression, cytopathic effect, and cell-free infectious progeny release was demonstrated in murine neuroblastoma cells persistently infected with a canine CDV isolate. Alterations of the persistent viral phenotype were independent of the specific mechanism of stress-response induction (i.e., heat or sodium arsenite), supporting the role of the stress response and not a particular stressor in mediating these changes. These results document the ability of the cellular environment to alter persistent viral RNA metabolism, thereby altering the infection phenotype.

Animals↗

Animal models of bacterial gastritis: the role of host, bacterial species and duration of infection on severity of gastritis.

Gastric bacteria from cheetahs with gastritis were used to inoculate specific-pathogen free kittens and conventional mice. Helicobacter sp. and Gastrospirillum sp. colonized kittens, while only Gastrospirillum sp. colonized mice. In kittens, both bacterial species induced mild lymphofolliclar gastritis which did not change over the course of the 11 months observation period. In mice, Gastrospirillum sp. induced lymphoplasmacytic and follicular gastritis which increased in severity over 6 months and persisted for the 12 month observation period. Gastric ulcers and gastric mucosal hypertrophy were present in chronically infected mice. These results indicate that host but not bacterial factors influence the severity of gastritis, and that in mice, bacterial gastritis increases in severity with time and may lead to gastric ulceration in some individuals.

Animals↗

Loss of neutrophil and natural killer cell function following feline immunodeficiency virus infection.

Experimental infection with the Mt. Airy isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIVMA), a lentivirus isolated from a domestic cat exhibiting signs of an immunodeficiency-like syndrome, results in transient lymphadenopathy, fever, stomatitis, enteritis, neurologic abnormalities, and immunosuppression. The effects of FIVMA infection on neutrophil and natural killer cell (NK) function were examined in vitro. Suppression of neutrophil chemiluminescence (CL) responses, as well as reduction in NK-mediated cytotoxicity were demonstrated. Neutrophil CL was decreased by 50% in infected cats when compared to control values. This loss of CL was present through 6 months after infection. In addition, NK-mediated cytotoxicity was approximately 50% less in FIVMA infected cats than in controls. Loss of innate immunity was paralleled with inversion in feline CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratios and decreases in lymphocyte mitogenesis seen as early as 5 weeks after infection. These results suggest that FIVMA infection induces an immunodeficiency disorder in infected cats similar to that seen in human immunodeficiency virus infections.

Animals↗

Helicobacter acinonyx sp. nov., isolated from cheetahs with gastritis.

Four strains of a novel Helicobacter species were isolated from the stomachs of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubilatus) with gastritis. These isolates were phenotypically similar to Helicobacter pylori. The isolates were gram-negative, spiral bacteria which grew under microaerophilic conditions at 37 degrees C, but not at 25 or 42 degrees C, and produced urease, catalase, oxidase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. The isolates did not ferment glucose, mannitol, inositol, sorbitol, rhamnose, sucrose, melibiose, amygdalin, or arabinose; hydrolyze hippurate or indoxyl acetate; or reduce nitrate. They did not produce H2S from triple sugar iron agar, and they did not grow in the presence of 1.0% glycine or 1.5% NaCl. They were resistant to nalidixic acid and sensitive to cephalothin and metronidazole. Cells were typically 0.3 by 2.0 microns and possessed tufts of two to five sheathed, monopolar flagella. The G+C content of strain 90-119 was 30 mol%. Cluster analysis of densitometry scans of polyacrylamide protein gels revealed more than 70% similarity of the cheetah isolates to H. pylori, less than 60% similarity to Helicobacter felis, and less than 50% similarity to Helicobacter mustelae. Complete 16S rRNA sequences were determined for two of the cheetah isolates. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparing the cheetah sequences to those of 19 reference strains, including H. pylori, H. felis (two strains), H. mustelae, Helicobacter muridarum, "Flexispira rappini," Wolinella succinogenes, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter concisus, Campylobacter curvus, Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter hyointestinalis, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter lari, Campylobacter rectus, Campylobacter sputorum subsp. bubulus, a Campylobacter sp. (pig isolate), [Bacteroides] gracilis, and [Bacteroides] ureolyticus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acinonyx↗

Epizootic gastritis associated with gastric spiral bacilli in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).

An outbreak of vomiting in a group of captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) was investigated, and histologic examination revealed chronic gastritis characterized by infiltration of lymphocytes and numerous plasma cells and epithelial erosions. Lymphoid follicles, globule leukocytes, scattered neutrophils, and (in one animal) abscessed gastric glands were inconsistent findings. In addition, necropsy of three cheetahs revealed gastric mucosal hyperplasia. Two kinds of bacteria were identified in the stomachs of infected cheetahs. Numerous long, tightly coiled motile Gastrospirillum-like organisms were seen in gastric mucus and in Warthin-Starry-stained sections of mucosa. These bacteria could not be cultured but were transmitted to conventional mice in homogenates of gastric mucosa from infected cheetahs. Ultrastructural examination revealed helical filaments on some of these bacteria. In addition, a smaller Helicobacter sp. was isolated. This organism could be cultured in vitro under microaerophilic conditions. One or both of these bacterial species was probably responsible for the gastritis in these cheetahs.

Acinonyx↗

AIDS-associated encephalopathy with experimental feline immunodeficiency virus infection.

Experimental intravenous challenge of 8-week-old kittens with the feline immunodeficiency virus Maryland isolate (FIV-MD) was investigated for its ability to infect the central nervous system (CNS) and induce neurologic abnormalities. Six cats were inoculated with 1,000 TCID50 units of FIV-MD isolate, with six age-matched cats serving as uninfected controls. Clinical and immunological evaluation documented that challenged cats developed immunodeficiency and growth delay. Neurologic examination revealed an abnormal stereotypic motor behavior consisting of repetitive, compulsive roaming that developed as early as 4 weeks postinfection (PI) and persisted throughout the 16-month study in three cats. Serial neuroelectrodiagnostic evaluation revealed persistent abnormal electroencephalographic recordings in three infected cats. Serial evoked potential (EP) recordings at 3, 8, and 12 months PI demonstrated significantly prolonged interpeak latencies III-V at 3 months PI and I-III at 12 months PI for brainstem EP recordings. Alterations of visual EPs were detected only at the 3-month time period. Retinocortical time, however, was significantly different from that in control cats at 3 and 12 months PI. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of FIV-MD-infected cats at 12 months PI revealed cortical atrophy, mild ventricular enlargement, and discrete white matter lesions. At 16 months PI, however, histopathological examination of brain tissue indicated only mild lesions limited to satellitosis and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates. Virus was detected in the CNS by reverse transcriptase, immunofluorescence, and antigen capture. Evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed intrathecal anti-FIV-MD antibody despite lack of detectable viremia in five challenged cats. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the induction of virus-associated neurologic disease following parenteral FIV challenge in conjunction with an immunodeficiency state. The nature of the nervous system infection is analogous to HIV-1 pediatric encephalopathy.

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Cellular stress response induces selective intranuclear trafficking and accumulation of morbillivirus major core protein.

BACKGROUND: Using canine distemper virus (CDV) encephalomyelitis as a model for morbillivirus-induced intranuclear inclusion body (INB) formation, we previously demonstrated that the cellular basis for INB within infected astrocytes are viral antigen-associated nucleolar derivatives known as complex nuclear bodies. Here, we examined the relationship between the cellular stress response and intranuclear CDV protein trafficking so that we may begin to define cellular events leading to formation of complex nuclear bodies containing viral protein. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Confocal dual-label immunofluorescence microscopy was used to simultaneously determine the distribution of CDV antigen and the major inducible 70 kilodalton (kd) heat shock protein (i.e., 72 kd heat shock protein (HSP)) within infected canine central nervous tissue. This dual-label immunofluorescent technique was also used to test the relationship between cellular stress and CDV core protein distribution in a CDV persistently infected cell line. RESULTS: The cytoplasm of INB-positive astrocytes expressed elevated 72 kd HSP characteristic of the cellular stress response; INB contained 72 kd HSP and the major CDV nucleocapsid protein (i.e., N). Intranuclear inclusion bodies did not stain positively for the CDV nucleocapsid phosphoprotein nor was intranuclear N protein observed in the absence of nuclear or elevated cytoplasmic 72 kd HSP. In the persistently infected cell line, induction of the cellular stress response elevated 72 kd HSP and produced translocation of the CDV N protein to the nucleus from its normal location in the cytoplasm of unstressed infected cells. As observed in vivo, the transport was specific to N and was correlated to the induction of complex nuclear bodies. The latter was documented by transmission electron microscopy, where complex nuclear bodies formed in shocked infected cells, but not shocked uninfected cells or nonshocked infected cells. CONCLUSIONS: CDV infection in vivo induces the cellular stress response. Paradoxically, this normally protective cellular response mediates redistribution of viral N protein from the cytoplasm into infected cell nuclei, which is the likely basis for complex nuclear body formation and a unique form of virus-induced cytopathic effect.

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Chronic active gastritis due to Helicobacter pylori in immunized gnotobiotic piglets.

In gnotobiotic piglets, parenteral vaccination with formalin-killed Helicobacter pylori and oral vaccination with live bacteria induced H. pylori-specific serum immunoglobulins G, M, and A. Vaccination reduced but did not prevent infection by subsequent challenge with viable H. pylori. Oral vaccination with killed bacteria was less effective in inducing serum antibody and had no effect on bacterial colonization. Immunization status influenced the histologic response of piglets to challenge by H. pylori. Lymphoplasmacytic gastritis was more severe in parenterally vaccinated piglets than in the other groups. In addition, neutrophilic infiltrates and neutrophilic gland abscesses in the gastric mucosa were present in 5 of 7 parenterally immunized piglets, none of the orally immunized piglets, and only 1 of 8 infected nonimmune control piglets. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between immunoglobulin G, M, and A titer at challenge and severity of both neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammation. These results suggest that although vaccination does not prevent infection by H. pylori, infection of an immune host leads to increased severity and activity of gastritis.

Administration, Oral↗

Motility as a factor in the colonisation of gnotobiotic piglets by Helicobacter pylori.

Non-motile variants of Helicobacter pylori (strain 26695) occurred with a frequency of 1.6 (SD 0.4) x 10(-4) variants/cell/division cycle, and reversion to the motile form occurred with a frequency of less than 10(-7) variants/cell/division cycle. The two forms remained greater than 90% pure for up to 50 cell divisions and differed only in the presence or absence of motility and flagella. Bacteria were recovered from nine of 10 gnotobiotic piglets inoculated orally with motile H. pylori, but from only two of eight inoculated with the non-motile variant. The motile form survived for 21 days in infected piglets, but the non-motile variant survived for only 6 days. Bacteria recovered from piglets inoculated with the non-motile variant were non-motile. These data support the hypothesis that motility is a colonisation factor for H. pylori.

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Ultrastructural study of Helicobacter pylori adherence properties in gnotobiotic piglets.

Ultrastructural examination of gastric mucosa from Helicobacter pylori-infected gnotobiotic piglets identified four general adherence patterns comparable to those observed in human patients. Intimate associations between the bacterial and mucosal cell membranes, including cuplike invaginations and adherence pedestals, were present and were accompanied by alterations to microvilli and cell membrane morphology.

Animals↗

Role of Helicobacter felis in chronic canine gastritis.

Five gnotobiotic Beagle dogs were orally inoculated with a pure culture of Helicobacter felis. The remaining two littermates served as contact controls. Thirty days after infection, all animals were euthanatized and specimens were collected for evaluation. In infected dogs, H. felis was recovered from all areas of the stomach. Colonization was heaviest in the fundus and antrum. H. felis was not cultured from any segment of the gastrointestinal tract distal to the duodenum. Two weeks after infection, all five infected dogs had detectable IgM and IgG serum antibody to H. felis, whereas control dogs had no measurable H. felis serum antibody throughout the study. Histopathologic changes in the stomachs of infected dogs included large numbers of lymphoid nodules throughout all regions of the gastric mucosa and were most numerous in the fundus and body. A mild, diffuse lymphocytic infiltrate with small numbers of plasma cells and eosinophils was also present in the subglandular region of all portions of the gastric mucosa. Electron microscopic examination revealed large numbers of spiral-shaped H. felis in gastric mucus adjacent to or superimposed over the areas of inflammation. Occasionally, however, H. felis was observed within the canaliculi of gastric parietal cells. Histopathologic changes in the stomachs of the contact control dogs were limited to focal infiltrates of eosinophils and small aggregates of lymphocytes in the subglandular portions of the gastric mucosa in one animal. Infection with H. felis is a likely cause of naturally occurring lymphofollicular gastritis.

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Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in dogs with a genetically determined deficiency of the third component of complement.

Renal disease is a common clinical manifestation of genetically determined deficiencies of the complement system in man. Like their human counterparts, dogs with a genetically determined complete deficiency of C3 also develop renal disease. Five of 20 C3-deficient dogs developed clinical evidence of renal failure. However, 14 of the 15 remaining dogs had histological evidence of type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The lesions were characterized by mesangial cell proliferation, an increase in the mesangial matrix, thickening of the glomerular capillary wall, electron-dense deposits in the mesangium and subendothelial space, and the presence of IgG and IgM. In order to determine the effect of treatment with C3 on the renal disease of C3-deficient dogs, two C3-deficient dogs were infused with normal canine plasma twice weekly for 3 weeks. Their urinary protein excretion rose progressively from less than 200 mg/24 hr to greater than 1000 mg/24 hr; renal function remained normal. Renal biopsies performed 1 week after the last infusion revealed more severe glomerulonephritis and the presence of C3. As controls, a C3-deficient dog was given C3-deficient canine plasma and a normal dog was given normal canine plasma; neither control animal developed proteinuria or changes in their renal biopsy. These observations suggest that renal disease may be more common in humans with complement deficiencies than would be suspected based on clinical assessment. Furthermore, these results suggest that treatment with complement-containing blood products may worsen preexisting renal disease in complement-deficient individuals.

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Transmission of Helicobacter spp. A challenge to the dogma of faecal-oral spread.

Faecal oral spread is claimed by many to be the mode of transmission of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. This idea is based not on experimental data but because the epidemiology of H. pylori infection resembles that of other pathogens known to be spread by the faecal-oral route. This is in spite of the observation that no-one has been successful in culturing H. pylori from human stool. In this study, a series of transmission experiments are reported on animals infected with the gastric spirilla, Helicobacter felis and 'Gastrospirillum hominis'. Germfree mice and rats infected with H. felis did not transmit their infection to uninoculated mice despite prolonged contact in the same cage nor could the bacterium be isolated from their intestinal contents. This was confirmed in specific pathogen free mice where infected dams did not pass the helicobacter to their progeny. Similarly, mice infected with a human isolate of 'Gastrospirillum hominis' did not transmit the infection while in close contact with uninoculated mice. In contrast, in a limited series of experiments, both H. pylori and H. felis were transmitted from infected gnotobiotic Beagle puppies to uninfected animals in the same enclosure. In addition, the gastric mucus from a cat with indigenous 'Gastrospirillum'-like organisms was infectious for mice, whereas faecal content from the same animal was not. It is suggested that the difference between the murine and canine experiments is that the dogs are more likely to have oral-oral contact than rodents. Unlike dogs, mice and rats do not vomit and are coprophagous. It is concluded that the case for faecal-oral spread of Helicobacter species is 'not proven' and that the inter-oral route is more likely.

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Intranasal infection of ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with canine parainfluenza virus.

Immunocompetent and cyclophosphamide-immunosuppressed ferrets were intranasally infected with canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) and observed for clinical signs, histopathologic lesions, the immunocytochemical demonstration of CPIV antigen in the respiratory tract and scanning electron microscopic alterations of the tracheal epithelium until 36 days post infection (p.i.). In both groups, clinical signs were minimal, restricted to the upper respiratory tract and consisted of cough elicited by tracheal compression between 3 and 7 days p.i. Microscopically, inflammatory and degenerative lesions were observed in the trachea and less frequently in the nasal cavity; bronchiolitis or interstitial pneumonia was not demonstrated. By immunocytochemistry, CPIV antigen was demonstrated in tracheal epithelial cells, whereas nasal cavity, bronchi, bronchioles and lung were devoid of viral antigen. Ferrets given CPIV alone developed a minimal lymphocytic tracheitis with minimal loss of cilia and CPIV antigen was observed only 4 days p.i. 17 days p.i., normal epithelial organization and ciliary reappearance was reestablished. Ferrets treated with cyclophosphamide and infected with CPIV exhibited mild to moderate histological lesions as above with similar scanning electron microscopic changes until 36 p.i. Tracheal lesions consisted of intraepithelial and submucosal infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages, focal epithelial hyperplasia and multifocal loss of cilia. In addition, mild and transient neutrophilic infiltration was observed. In immunosuppressed ferrets, viral antigen expression was prominent and demonstrated 4 and 8 days p.i. These data suggest that ferrets are susceptible to aerosol CPIV infection.

Animals↗

Essential role of urease in pathogenesis of gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori in gnotobiotic piglets.

A mutant strain of Helicobacter pylori with weak urease activity was created by using N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The urease activity of the mutant (0.036 +/- 0.009 nmol of urea per micrograms of bacterial protein per min) was 0.4% of that of the parental strain (8.20 +/- 2.30 nmol of urea per micrograms of bacterial protein per min). The mutant was otherwise indistinguishable from the parental strain. Both demonstrated prominent catalase and oxidase activities, and both produced vacuolating cytotoxin. Restriction endonuclease and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns and ultrastructure were identical for the two strains. The mutant was fully motile, as evaluated by spreading in soft agar and by direct microscopic examination. Growth rate and colony size and morphology were identical for the mutant and parental strains. Seventeen gnotobiotic piglets were challenged with either the mutant or the parental strain and sacrificed 3 or 21 days after challenge. Gastric tissue was examined histologically and cultured for H. pylori. Of seven piglets challenged with the parental strain, all became infected. H. pylori was not recovered from any of 10 piglets challenged with the urease-negative strain. Lymphofollicular gastritis was present in all seven piglets challenged with the parental strain but in none of the piglets challenged with the urease-negative strain. These results suggest that prominent urease activity is essential for colonization by H. pylori.

Animals↗

In vitro cytopathogenicity and in vivo virulence of two strains of canine parainfluenza virus.

In vivo and in vitro properties of two strains of canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) were investigated. One strain, designated CPIV(+), induced syncytial giant cell formation and cytolysis in vitro, whereas the second strain, CPIV(-), caused only a mild strand-forming cytopathic effect with few, small syncytial giant cells. Vero cells infected with CPIV(+) or CPIV(-) were 100% positive for CPIV antigen as determined by immunofluorescent staining; however, 100% of CPIV(+) and less than 10% of CPIV(-) infected cells were hemadsorption positive. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed no differences in electrophoretic mobility of viral polypeptides between both strains; however, in CPIV(-), reduced or absent synthesis of the putative HN and F1 proteins was observed. Isopycnic separation of CPIV(+) progeny virions showed a high proportion of viral particles with a buoyant density of 1.18 g/cm3. In contrast, CPIV(-) progeny virions had a heterogeneous density profile ranging from 1.08 to 1.18 g/cm3. Intracerebral infection of six ferrets with CPIV(+) resulted in moderate lymphocytic and histiocytic choroiditis, meningitis, and ependymitis, whereas CPIV(-) infection caused only mild to moderate inflammation. Immunohistologically, CPIV antigen was prominent in ependymal lining cells of the ventricles in CPIV(+)-infected ferrets and was reduced or lacking in CPIV(-)-infected ferrets (n = 6). Sham-injected ferrets (n = 6) did not have histologic lesions and no viral antigen was identified. The present findings suggest that certain changes in the activities of CPIV glycoproteins may lead to alterations of CPIV virulence in vivo.

Animals↗