Biomedical subjects

Werner Lubitz

Publications and source records attributed to Werner Lubitz.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Agrococcus baldri sp. nov., isolated from the air in the 'Virgilkapelle' in Vienna.

Five coccoid, Gram-positive strains were isolated from the air of the 'Virgilkapelle' in Vienna. A representative of these five strains, V-108T, shared 99.0 and 98.4% 16S rDNA sequence similarity, respectively, with Agrococcus jenensis DSM 9580 and Agrococcus citreus DSM 12453T. Colonies of the five strains were white when grown in the dark and turned yellow in the light. The strains displayed highly similar biochemical and physiological characteristics and showed only small differences in their protein patterns obtained after SDS-PAGE. Based on Fourier-transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectra, the five strains were grouped together and separated from the other members of the genus, A. jenensis and A. citreus. Chemotaxonomic characteristics analysed from selected members of the five isolates, including polar lipids, quinone systems, polyamine patterns, cell wall composition and fatty acid profiles, were in good agreement with those of the two species of the genus Agrococcus described to date. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be within the narrow range of 73.8-74.9 mol%. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization with A. citreus DSM 12453T and A. jenensis DSM 9580T, as well as differences in biochemical/physiological characteristics, peptidoglycan composition, fatty acids, polar lipid profiles and FT-IR spectra, demonstrated that the five isolates represent a novel species of the genus Agrococcus. The name Agrococcus baldri sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, of which strain V-108T (= DSM 14215T = CCM 4953T) is the type strain.

Actinomycetales↗

PubMed2002

Microbacterium aerolatum sp. nov., isolated from the air in the 'Virgilkapelle' in Vienna.

Three rod-shaped, Gram-positive strains were isolated from the air of the chapel 'Virgilkapelle' in Vienna. A representative of these three strains, strain V-73T, shared the highest 16S rDNA sequence similarities with members of the genus Microbacterium, in particular Microbacterium foliorum, Microbacterium testaceum, Microbacterium esteraromaticum, Microbacterium keratanolyticum and Microbacterium arabinogalactanolyticum. The strains displayed almost identical biochemical and physiological characteristics and showed no differences in their protein patterns obtained after SDS-PAGE. On the basis of Fourier-transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectra and genomic fingerprints, the three strains were grouped together and separated from the other relevant members of the genus Microbacterium. The chemotaxonomic characteristics analysed, including polar lipids, quinone systems, cell wall composition and fatty acid profiles, were in good agreement with the characteristics described for the genus Microbacterium. The G+C content of the DNAs was determined to be in the narrow range 69.3-69.7 mol %. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization, biochemical/physiological characterization, ERIC-PCR-generated genomic fingerprints and FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the three isolates represent a novel species of the genus Microbacterium. The name Microbacterium aerolatum sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, of which strain V-73T (= DSM 14217T = CCM 4955T) is the type strain.

Actinomycetales↗

PubMed2002

Citricoccus muralis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from a medieval wall painting.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, spherical actinobacterium, designated strain 4-0(T), was isolated from a medieval wall painting and characterized to determine its taxonomic position. The peptidoglycan of strain 4-0(T) was of type A4alpha, with lysine as the diagnostic cell wall diamino acid and an interpeptide bridge of Lys-Gly-Glu. Its quinone system contained predominantly MK-9(H2) (64%) and its polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, four unknown glycolipids, two unknown phospholipids and an unknown lipid. The fatty acid profile of strain 4-0(T) was represented by significant amounts of ai-C15:0 and moderate amounts of ai-C17:0, i-C16:0 and i-C15:0 fatty acids. Spermidine was predominant in the polyamine pattern. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68 mol%. Comparative 16S rDNA sequence studies revealed the highest similarity values (95.4-96.1%) between strain 4-0(T) and species of the genus Micrococcus and certain species of the genus Arthrobacter, including Arthrobacter pascens DSM 20545(T), Arthrobacter ramosus DSM 20546(T), Arthrobacterprotophormiae DSM 20168(T), Arthrobacternicotianae DSM 20123(T) and Arthrobacter globiformis DSM 20124(T). Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that strain 4-0(T) branches deeply on the Micrococcus lineage. Because it is almost equidistant phylogenetically from the genera Micrococcus and Arthrobacter and possesses significant differences in chemotaxonomic characteristics from members of these genera, it is suggested that strain 4-0(T) be classified as a novel species in a new genus; the name Citricoccus muralis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain 4-0(T) (= DSM 11442(T) CCM 4981(T)).

Austria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Proteomics and bioinformatics strategies to design countermeasures against infectious threat agents.

The potential devastation resulting from an intentional outbreak caused by biological warfare agents such as Brucella abortus and Bacillus anthracis underscores the need for next generation vaccines. Proteomics, genomics, and systems biology approaches coupled with the bacterial ghost (BG) vaccine delivery strategy offer an ideal approach for developing safer, cost-effective, and efficacious vaccines for human use in a relatively rapid time frame. Critical to any subunit vaccine development strategy is the identification of a pathogen's proteins with the greatest potential of eliciting a protective immune response. These proteins are collectively referred to as the pathogen's immunome. Proteomics provides high-resolution identification of these immunogenic proteins using standard proteomic technologies, Western blots probed with antisera from infected patients, and the pathogen's sequenced and annotated genome. Selected immunoreactive proteins can be then cloned and expressed in nonpathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. Subsequently, a temperature shift or chemical induction process is initiated to induce expression of the PhiX174 E-lysis gene, whose protein product forms an E tunnel between the inner and outer membrane of the bacteria, expelling all intracellular contents. The BG vaccine system is a proven strategy developed for many different pathogens and tested in a complete array of animal models. The BG vaccine system also has great potential for producing multiagent vaccines for protection to multiple species in a single formulation.

Bacillus anthracis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bacterial ghosts as novel efficient targeting vehicles for DNA delivery to the human monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Recombinant bacterial ghosts loaded with plasmids were tested as an antigen delivery system and as a potential mediator of maturation for human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). Bacterial ghosts are cell envelopes derived from Gram-negative bacteria; the intracellular content is released by the controlled expression of plasmid-encoded lysis gene E of PhiX174. All the cell surface structures of the native bacteria, including the outer membrane proteins, adhesins, LPS, lipid A, and peptidoglycans, are preserved. Co-incubation of immature DCs with ghosts resulted in decreased expression of CD1a, CD80, and CD83 molecules, while addition of maturation mix (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and PGE2) to the cultures enhanced expression of these molecules. No marked changes were observed in the expression of the CD11c, CD40, and CD86 surface molecules. The exposure of DCs to ghosts in combination with maturation mix resulted in a nonsignificant increase in their ability to activate T cells. DCs co-incubated with bacterial ghosts carrying plasmids encoding GFP in combination with maturation mix exhibited high expression levels of GFP (up to 85%). These results indicate that in addition to their well-established use as vaccines, bacterial ghosts can also be used as carriers of nucleic acid-encoded antigens.

Annexin A5↗