We have previously shown that Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces an immunosuppressive factor encoded by the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt)B gene. In this study, we used rCdt peptides to study the contribution of each subunit to toxin activity. As previously reported, CdtB is the only Cdt subunit that is capable of inducing cell cycle arrest by itself. Although CdtA and CdtC do not...

BACKGROUND Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is a promising biomarker of alcohol abuse. We describe the development and multicenter evaluation of N Latex CDT (Dade Behring), an automated, particle-enhanced, homogeneous immunonephelometric assay for directly determining CDT. METHODS N Latex CDT uses a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the structure of transferrin glycoforms lacking 1 ...

Introduction. Cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs), encoded by cdt genes, have DNase activity leading to cellular and nuclear distension, resulting in irreversible cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of target cells. cdt-positive Escherichia coli strains have been isolated from children with diarrhoea. There is, however, scant information on the prevalence and clinical presentation of diarrhoeal dis...

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has been considered one of the major threats to patients worldwide. To evaluate carbapenemase in several clinical isolates using phenotypic and genotypic approaches. A total 49 A. were tested against imipenem meropenem discs on Muller Hinton agar, then screened phenotypically through modified Hodge test (MHT), combined disc (CDT) carbapenem inactivat...

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is associated with localized aggressive periodontitis, a disease characterized by rapid loss of the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. Receptor activator of NF-kappaB Ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are two molecules that regulate osteoclast formation and bone resorption. RANKL induces osteoclast differentiation and activation, whereas OPG blocks ...

The brain is the ultimate genetic system to which a large number of genes are devoted. In the post-sequencing era, it is now possible to elucidate how the brain develops and functions on a genetic basis. We are focusing on the postnatal development of mouse cerebellum as a model system, since it develops through a series of cellular developmental events on schedule within the fist three weeks o...

BACKGROUND Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is used for diagnosis of chronic alcohol abuse. Some 200-300 reports on CDT have been published in impact factor-listed journals. The aims of this review were to condense the current knowledge and to resolve remaining issues on CDT. APPROACH The literature (1976-2000) was searched using MEDLINE and Knowledge Server with "alcohol and CDT" as ...

The cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a well characterized bacterial genotoxin encoded by several Gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella enterica (S. enterica). The CDT produced by Salmonella (S-CDT) differs from the CDT produced by other bacteria, as it utilizes subunits with homology to the pertussis and subtilase toxins, in place of the traditional CdtA and CdtC subunits. Previously...