Added to this is the evidence of the heterogeneity in the measurement of the outcome of back pain within this review. Studies differed in their assessment (patient rated, biomechanical testing, compensation selleck compound status, different time scales for assessment) which makes comparisons all the more complex; future reviews should consider this issue. Comparison with other reviews This review has concentrated on the effects of employment social support, whereas most other reviews have considered this as part of

a wider search of employment psychosocial factors. This has led other reviews to include only a small number of studies on which to base their conclusions, for example, Steenstra et al. (2005) based theirs on four studies, Hoogendoorn et al. (2000) on six studies and Hartvigsen et al. (2004) on nine studies. The greater number of studies included in this review (thirty-two)

has enabled a more specified focus on employment support type and outcome (risk and prognosis), which we believe has overcome some of the issues of heterogeneity and inconsistency described by previous reviews. Strengths and limitations While this review has a comprehensive systematic search strategy, it did not include studies in languages other than English and so may have missed important findings; however, we did include studies from a range of countries worldwide. In addition, no review is completely immune from publication Dinaciclib bias, and it may be the case that there are other findings (grey literature) we have not accessed. Strengths of the study are: the use of a systematic critical synthesis of the evidence which has enabled a closer Ilomastat concentration inspection of the term employment social support and a better assessment of the types of support combined with an examination of individual study bias on the associations. Further research This review has highlighted a need for consensus on what is meant by the term ‘employment social support’. As mentioned previously, there are find more a number of differing conceptualisations and future

research needs to report on those concepts to facilitate easier comparisons for future reviews but also, more importantly, to understand what factors of employment social support associate with outcomes. Secondly, and related to the first point, there is a need for research to consider the role of theoretical models within their research. Many studies (over 50 % in this review) employed the Karasek Job Content Questionnaire, or a derivative, as their measure of employment social support. However, studies did not perform the appropriate analysis techniques to ascertain whether employment social support is a moderator component as prescribed by the Karasek model. Conclusion This review has shown that employment-related support has little to no effect on risk of occurrence but a more notable effect on prognosis for those with back pain.

Discussion MNPs have gained considerable interest for biomedical applications over the past two decades [17]. Although

this excitement has been driven mostly by the success of MNPs as T2 MR contrast agents [18], the recent investigative trend has turned toward therapy with respect to cancer. The key properties of MNPs for cancer include drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, and MR imaging. Thus, MNPs contribute both diagnostic and therapeutic accomplishments in a single system. Drug delivery systems are required to ensure that the drug is properly delivered to target, and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been developed as potential drug carriers for decades. Because the large surface-to-volume ratio of MNPs, like other nano-carriers, enables a high loading of various functional ligands on a single platform, marked attention has been paid to their see more use as drug delivery vehicles. In our study, the loading efficiency of doxorubicin was 100%. The ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy at 480 nm confirmed that there was not any doxorubicin left in the aqueous solution, which led to a conclusion that washing step to remove unbound doxorubicin was not required. MNP coatings provide anchor points to which drug molecules can be coupled and have incorporated traditional

small molecules such as doxorubicin for cancer therapy [19], as in our study. Resovist is coated with carboxydextran, to which doxorubicin was linked via ionic complexation EPZ015938 by dropping synthesis with an average size of less than 100 nm in our study (buy CBL0137 Figure 2). When Resovist/doxorubicin

complex reached tumor tissues after intratumoral injection, the Immune system complex was able to carry higher concentrations and exhibited prolonged release of doxorubicin in the tumor tissues as measured by fluorescence microscopy (Figure 9). Magnetic hyperthermia can be used to selectively kill tumor cells via increases in tissue temperature [4]. When MNPs accumulating at the tumor site are exposed to AMF, MNPs absorb this energy and convert it into heat owing to the relaxation of the rotating magnetic moments induced by the AC field. Tumors are usually heated to the temperature range of 41–47°C, and cancer tissues exhibit higher heat sensitivity than normal tissues [20]. It also has been believed that the drug delivery to target could be increased by hyperthermia through its effects on convection and diffusion in tissues, increasing cell uptake of the drug, tumor blood flow and vascular permeability [21]. In our study, Resovist or the Resovist/doxorubicin complex also induced temperature increases to approximately 41°C (Figure 5A). Although magnetic hyperthermia is a promising cancer therapy, the risk of local overheating (and thus damage to normal tissues) remains the major concern, as in other clinical hyperthermia therapies such as radiofrequency ablation or high-intensity focused ultrasound.

Figure 7 Lymphangiogenesis in lymph nodes adjacent and contralateral to tumor-bearing sentinel lymph nodes. (A), (B) Double immunofluorescent

images of tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1; green) and lymphatic DMXAA concentration vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1; red) in lymph nodes (LNs) adjacent (A) and contralateral (B) to tumor-bearing sentinel LNs (SLNs), showing an increase in LYVE-1-positive sinuses in the medulla. aLN, adjacent lymph node; cLN, contralateral find more lymph node; arrowhead, TRP-1-positive melanoma cells. Scale bar = 50 μm. (C) Measurement of LYVE-1-positive lymphatic sinus area in LNs adjacent and contralateral to tumor-bearing SLNs. Columns, mean; bar, standard error. *, P<0.001 relative to controls. Immunohistochemical interactions between VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in tumor-associated LNs Recent studies demonstrated that VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling promotes tumor lymphangiogenesis and contributes to the promotion of metastasis [13, 14]. We examined immunohistochemical interactions between VEGF-C and its receptor, Flt-4 (VEGFR-3), in tumor-associated LNs. First, we demonstrated VEGF-C mRNA expression in B16F10 melanoma cells and tumor-bearing LN tissues Selleckchem EPZ004777 by RT-PCR (Figure 8A). VEGF-C mRNA expression was evident in both cells and tissues. Immunofluorescent detection of VEGF-C revealed a cytoplasmic location

in B16F10 cells (Figure 8B). Next, we performed double immunofluorescent staining for VEGF-C and Flt-4 in primary melanoma of the tongue (Figure 8C), tumor-bearing SLNs (Figure 8D), and LNs adjacent to tumor-bearing SLNs (Figure 8E). In both tongue melanomas and tumor-bearing SLNs, close interaction was observed between VEGF-C-positive Amrubicin melanoma cells and Flt-4-positive lymphatic vessels. Adjacent LNs showed increased Flt-4-positive sinuses from the hilum to the medulla. Tumor-associated LNs without metastasis such as SLNs and LNs contralateral to metastatic SLNs also showed increased sinuses expressing Flt-4 (data not shown). In control LNs, anti-Flt-4 antibody was unreactive with lymphatic sinuses (data not shown). Figure 8 Correlation

between Vascular endothelial growth factor C and Fms-related tyrosine kinase expressions in tumor-associated lymph nodes. (A) Expression of Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) mRNA detected by reverse transcription PCR in B16/F10 cells and tumor-bearing lymph nodes (LNs). Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression was used as a loading control. (B) Immunofluorescence image of VEGF-C expression in B16/F10 cells. Scale bar = 50 μm. (C)-(E) Double immunofluorescence images using antibodies specific for VEGF-C (green) and Fms-related tyrosine kinase (Flt-4; red) in primary melanoma of the tongue (C), tumor-bearing sentinel LNs (D), and LNs adjacent (aLN) to tumor-bearing LNs (E). Photographs show an increase in Flt-4-positive lymphatic vessels and sinuses. Scale bars = 50 μm.

The Netherlands is divided in 11 separate trauma regions, each region contains a level one trauma center [8]. In this selleck kinase inhibitor study prospective data from the Dutch National Trauma Database (DNTD) for the area Central Netherlands were used. The DNTD contains documentation on all trauma patients that are treated at the emergency department and subsequently admitted. Data in the DNTD were collected in a standardized manner and include learn more detailed information on demographics, trauma event and mechanism, primary trauma survey, initial treatment and injuries. Injuries were diagnosed at primary survey, subsequent surgery or during admission. Thoracic

and pelvic x-ray imaging were performed for all trauma patients and when indicated supplemented with ultrasound and computed tomography (CT). The database accuracy is constantly evaluated by two database managers. All injuries were coded using Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) location codes allocated to one of the six body regions (head and neck, face, chest, abdomen, extremities and external) to calculate the Injury of Severity Score (ISS) [9]. Patients with a clavicle fracture were selected using AIS location codes. The ISS provides an overall score for patients with multiple injuries and is used to determine injury severity; 0 corresponds with no injury, the maximum score of 75

corresponds with injury leading to death [10]. Patients with an ISS ≥ 16, obtained from ≥2 AIS regions and physiological alterations due to the injuries are considered severely injured and were included in our analysis [11]. For these patients, age, gender, trauma mechanism, SBE-��-CD in vitro injured side, additional injuries, department Vitamin B12 of admission (Intensive care Unit, Medium Care Unit, Operation Room) and discharge facility were collected from the DNTD. In all patients trauma mechanism was analysed and determined if it was a high energy trauma. The ATLS

definition for high energy trauma was used [5]. Furthermore death associated with the trauma was obtained from the electronic patient documentation (EPD). To evaluate the clavicle fractures we used the imaging studies performed. These radiological tests allowed for clear images of the fracture and of possible dislocation in anterior-posterior or cranial-caudal direction. Fractures were classified by the researchers (JL, SF and MH) using the Robinson classification. This classification divides the clavicle in a medial fifth (type 1), a diaphyseal part (type 2) and a lateral fifth (type 3). This is further divided by three other variables; intra-articular extent, degree of comminution, and degree of displacement [12]. Data analysis Mean numbers were noted with standard deviation (SD), median numbers were noted with interquartile range (IQR). Statistical analysis was performed using the χ 2 test for categorical variables and t-test and one-way-ANOVA for continuous variables.

Small 2013, 9:1686–1690.CrossRef Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Authors’ contributions WW carried out the immunoassays, participated in the design of the study, drafted the manuscript, and performed the statistical analysis. ZL carried out the materials study, participated in the design of the study, and drafted the

manuscript. JD carried out the cell culture. CW and YF provided the graphene, participated in the design of the study, and helped to draft the manuscript. X-DY conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
“Background Transparent electrodes

are a required component of many Givinostat devices such as organic solar cells, electronic displays, and touch screens. The most commonly used transparent conductor is indium tin oxide PFT�� concentration (ITO). ITO, however, is expensive, not suitable for flexible applications, and requires sputtering, high temperatures, and vacuum for its deposition. Several materials have been proposed to Blasticidin S price replace ITO such as graphene [1], carbon nanotubes [2, 3], and copper [4, 5] and silver nanowires [6–8]. Of these, silver nanowire electrodes have been identified as the lead alternative because they have the lowest sheet resistance at a given transparency [9–11]. Not only can silver nanowire electrodes provide the same sheet resistance and transparency as ITO, but they are also highly flexible [12, 13] and inexpensive [11], and their fabrication is compatible with

roll-to-roll processes. In spite of all the advantages Methocarbamol of nanowire electrodes, there are certain issues that need to be addressed before their widespread use in devices. One of these most important issues is their surface roughness. Because there are typically junctions on an electrode where three or more nanowires are stacked on top of one another, maximum peak-to-valley values can reach three times the diameter of the nanowires or more [12, 14]. Nanowires with diameters of 90 nm are commonly used, and so, these electrodes have peak-to-valley values around or exceeding 270 nm. This is problematic for many devices, especially ones that consist of thin layers. In organic electronic devices, for example, the low electron mobility and fast recombination times require organic layers to be less than 100-nm thick (typically 40 to 80 nm depending on the device and materials used) [15, 16]. Several reports where silver nanowire electrodes have been used in organic solar cells have reported lower efficiencies than equivalent devices built on ITO. The rough surface of the nanowire electrodes causes a lower shunt resistance, which increases the dark current and hinders the efficiency of the solar cells [17–19].

The six clones (acc.no. GQ423062) had 100% similarity to Shigella flexneri and E. fergusonii. Enterobacter sakazakii (AB004746) was used as an outgroup. Sequence accession numbers are presented. Figure 4 Gastric mucosa of horse 50L with erosive gastritis associated with bacteria. Applying a fluorescein labelled probe for Gammaproteobacteria and a Cy3 labelled probe for Enterococcus, an E. coli like organism (green)

(arrowhead) was found intracellular within epithelial cells and on the epithelial surface whereas E. faecium (red) (‘white star’(only colonised the epithelial surface. Filter set 43/38, bar = 10 μm. Figure 5 Gastric mucosa of horse 50L with erosive gastritis associated with bacteria. High magnification demonstrating E. coli like rods (green) Ruboxistaurin within extruded epithelial cells. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation with the probe targeting Gammaproteobacteria, filter set 38, bar = 10 μm. Discussion Previous

studies involving the MRT67307 equine stomach have e.g. used PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of especially Helicobacter spp. [12]. The disadvantages using PCR are that the amount and location of the bacteria is not known and it is uncertain whether the bacteria are alive or even if the DNA is naked. Hence, it was decided that using the FISH technique would provide better and more information of the bacteria found in the glandular stomach of the horse, as these issues are overcome with this technique. This technique has been used previously to describe the spatial distribution of Helicobacter spp. in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and in the stomach of healthy horses to demonstrate the

microbiota of the normal appearing squamous and glandular mucosa [15, 16]. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study using FISH to examine lesions of the glandular stomach. In the present study one case of gastritis associated with bacterial colonisation was revealed. Especially the distribution of bacteria suggested a connection with the pathology observed. The amount of bacteria was markedly increased around the lesion and were tightly adhered to the epithelial cells, with the bacteria extending into the crypts and MM-102 mouse located intracellular. The cloning showed that it was a double infection with Enterococcus Epothilone B (EPO906, Patupilone) faecium and an Escherichia like bacterium, but it was subsequently verified using the in situ hybridisation with a gamma proteobacteria probe that it was only the Escherichia like bacterium which infiltrated the superficial ulcerations and were found intracellular in epithelial cells and within neutrophilic granulocytes. Enterobacterial infection in the intestine is a common phenomenon, but it is rare to find these infections in the stomach and it has never before been reported in adult horses. This result is very intriguing but further studies need to clarify how common this phenomenon is in horses. Also, whether this type of infection is of primary or secondary origin would need further clarification.

Below, we introduce the grand and the middle-range theories, which can be critically and systematically applied. The Earth system metaphor This sub-theme deals with emerging attempts to conceptualise and study natural and social systems as a single interrelated Earth system. According to this approach, the Earth system consists of two main components: the ecosphere with four subsystems (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere) and the Captisol concentration anthroposphere that accounts

for all human activity (Schellnhuber 1999; Steffen et al. 2004). Building upon a view from space provided by remote sensing technology, global databases and sophisticated computer models, the quest of Earth system science is consequently to move beyond the study of each subsystem as a self-contained entity in favour of a holistic and interdisciplinary understanding TPCA-1 chemical structure of how they are connected and interlinked. While this approach acknowledges the complexity, non-linearity and surprise built into ‘the coupled socio-ecological system,’ it may also epitomise BTK inhibitor modern virtues such as rationality, control and predictability. Hence, this sub-theme can help scrutinise the tensions built into the Earth system metaphor and analyse their implications for the understanding of sustainability

(Lövbrand et al. 2009). The world system dynamics metaphor: theories of unequal exchange The world system perspective was created by economic historians and sociologists in the field of development theory (Wallerstein 1974), but is now also core to discussions on sustainability and political ecology. Whereas conventional economic science

seems unable to accommodate concepts of unequal exchange, except in the sense of monopoly (i.e. market power), several strands of trans-disciplinary ecological economics are developing methodological tools for defining unequal exchange in objective, biophysical terms. Two potentially useful tools for assessing asymmetric resource flows are Ecological Footprints (Wackernagel et al. 2000) and Material Flow Analysis (Weisz 2007), as discussed below. Biophysical accounting tools, measuring the physical volumes exchanged or the Tau-protein kinase land requirements of their production, tend to provide completely different perspectives on international trade than conventional economic statistics based on monetary value (Hornborg 2001; Martinez-Alier 2002). These new approaches to global, societal metabolism are of crucial significance for the topic of sustainability. Climate change, for example, will be one major, to some extent predictable, driver of changes in the global distribution of vital ecosystem services, which can be integrated into existing frameworks for addressing and projecting exchange patterns. Resilience of coupled social–ecological systems As an analytical framework, resilience emerged in ecology during the 1970s in reaction to ideas of equilibrium.

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1970, 65:737–744.PubMedCrossRef 27. Lakaye B, Makarchikov AF, Antunes AF, Zorzi W, Coumans B, De Pauw E, Wins P, Grisar T, Bettendorff L: Molecular characterization of a specific thiamine triphosphatase widely expressed in mammalian tissues. J Biol Chem 2002, 277:13771–13777.PubMedCrossRef 28. Peterson GL: A simplification of the protein assay method of Lowry et al. which is more generally applicable. Anal Biochem 1977, 83:346–356.PubMedCrossRef 29. Bettendorff L, Peeters M, Jouan C, Wins P, Schoffeniels E: Determination

of thiamin and its phosphate esters in cultured neurons and astrocytes using an ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method. Anal Biochem 1991, 198:52–59.PubMedCrossRef 30. Gangolf M, BI 10773 Wins P, Thiry M, El Moualij B, Bettendorff L: Thiamine triphosphate selleck screening library synthesis in the rat brain is mitochondrial and coupled

to the respiratory chain. J Biol Chem 2010, 285:583–594.PubMedCrossRef Authors’ contributions TG made most of the experimental work. BL and PW participated in the design of the study and the interpretation of the data. BEM and WZ contributed to the interpretation of the data and were responsible for the respiratory experiments. LB was the project leader. The manuscript was written by LB and PW. All authors read and approved the study.”
“Background Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is recognized as one of the major infective agents in the pig industry worldwide these since its appearance in the 1980s. It

was first diagnosed in the USA in 1987 [1], immediately found in Europe, soon disseminated to the rest of the world [2]. The disease is characterized by reproductive failure in pregnant sows and respiratory distress particularly in suckling piglets, thereupon getting its name. PRRSV is a single-stranded positive RNA virus and a member of the family Arteriviridae in the order of Nidovirales [3]. Based on phylogenetic analyses of different virus isolates around the world, PRRSV can be differentiated into two genotypes: Type I, represented by the European prototype Lelystad strain LV, and Type II, the prototype being the Northern American ATCC strain VR2332. Chinese isolates were assigned as members of the genotype II [4]. Extensive molecular studies show that PRRSV is highly variable in antigenicity, Blasticidin S in vivo virulence and sequence diversity [5, 6]. PRRSV is a small, enveloped, single positive-stranded RNA virus including a genome of about 15 kb, encoding nine ORFs [2, 7, 8]. The PRRSV genome is comprised of two polymerase genes, ORF1a and 1b, and seven structural genes, ORF2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 [9]. ORF1a and ORF1b constitutes approximately 75% of the viral genome, and are characterized by a process of ribosomal frame shifting translated into a large polyprotein; which by self-cleavage gives rise to the non-structural proteins (NSPs) including the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [10].

Therefore, it is possible that the concentration of effective molecules this website is different as the DPD concentration changes. These findings indicate that AI-2 could complement the effect of luxS mutation on biofilm formation and act in a concentration-dependent manner in S. aureus. AI-2 inhibits biofilm formation in flow cell To further compare the different biofilm formation ability

owing to luxS deletion, biofilm formation of WT and the ΔluxS strains was assessed using a flow-cell assay. After 3 days of incubation, MEK inhibitor review biofilms produced by WT strain were undetectable as monitored by CLSM. In contrast, the ΔluxS strain began to form intact and rough biofilms. At the 5th day, the WT strain produced biofilms similar to that formed by the ΔluxS strain 2 days before; meanwhile, the ΔluxS strain formed thicker and stronger biofilms (Figure 2A and B). Analysis of the biofilms by COMSTAT is shown in Table 3. The ΔluxS strain exhibited significantly increased total biomass and average thickness of biofilms relative to those of the WT strain. Figure 2 Biofilm formation in flow cell and chemical complementation by DPD. Biofilms of WT (RN6390BG) and ΔluxS (ΔluxSG) were grown in a flow cell in 2% TSB with chloramphenicol (15 μg/ml). Biofilm integrity and GFP fluorescence

were monitored at the 3rd day and the 5th day by CLSM. For chemical complementation, 3.9 nM DPD was added to the TSB medium at the beginning of the experiment. CLSM images are representative www.selleckchem.com/products/baricitinib-ly3009104.html of two separate

experiments and each grid square represents 20 μm Reverse transcriptase (A) WT. (B) ΔluxS. (C) WT supplemented with DPD. (D) ΔluxS supplemented with DPD. Table 3 Biofilm formation of WT and ΔluxS strains Strains Biofilm biomass (μm3/μm2) Average thickness (μm)   Day 3 Day 5 Day 3 Day 5 WT 3.01 ± 0.2 11.71 ± 1.25 3.81 ± 0.35 11.51 ± 0.92 ΔluxS 20.16 ± 1.59* 25.67 ± 1.16* 20.79 ± 1.47* 26.18 ± 0.43* WT + AI-2 0.11 ± 0.01 10.44 ± 0.51 0.12 ± 0.01 9.45 ± 0.5 ΔluxS + AI-2 0.49 ± 0.018 14.31 ± 0.59 0.59 ± 0.06 13.53 ± 0.5 * Significantly different results compared with WT (P < 0.01). In the flow-cell assay, 3.9 nM DPD was added to the culture medium at the beginning of the experiment. As expected, examination with CLSM showed that the ΔluxS strain complemented with 3.9 nM DPD did not produce biofilms after 3 days of growth in the flow cell, and formed biofilms similar to that of the WT strain at the 5th day (Figure 2C and D). As shown in Table 3, they both formed ~10-μm thick biofilms until the 5th day. These results suggest that AI-2 supplementation decreases biofilm formation under flow conditions. Inactivation of luxS results in increased biofilm formation in vivo To further verify the effect of AI-2 on biofilm formation in vivo, a murine model of catheter-associated biofilm formation was used.

On the left side of the integration side an inverted repeat (IR) is indicated. Upstream of the IR a gene encoding a tRNACys is located. In B. bronchiseptica GI3::tetR is once more integrated in a gene encoding a tRNAGly (tRNA45) leading to a 18 bp duplication of its 3′-end. Much alike in B. petrii the direct repeat

sequence is followed by an inverted repeat (IR). Below the schematic presentations of the integration regions the respective DNA sequences of the integration sites are shown. The PP2 manufacturer start points of the tRNA genes are indicated by horizontal arrows indicating transcriptional polarity of the genes followed by a bar marked with a star which indicates the end of the tRNA gene. Vertical arrows indicate the integration sites of the GIs in the tRNA genes. Related inverted repeat sequences (IR) present in both species are boxed. In the case of B. bronchiseptica the sequence position indicated is taken from the genome sequence IACS-10759 chemical structure of strain RB50 [13]. Conclusion The data presented here underline the previous notion of a highly mosaic genome of B. petrii. By MK 8931 microarray analysis of spontaneous phenotypic variants of B. petrii and by direct detection of excised circular intermediates of the B. petrii GIs we show that all of them are active at least in terms of excision. We provide evidence that the adjacent integration of highly related elements may enable these elements to pick up additional

genomic material placed between the integration sites thereby leading to

an increase in the size of the islands. Moreover, the adjacent placement of islands encoding highly similar integrases and attachment sites may also lead to the formation of novel huge composite islands. For ICE-GI3 we show that without selective pressure this island is lost from the bacterial population. Moreover, http://www.selleck.co.jp/products/Paclitaxel(Taxol).html we show that this island is self transmissible and can be transferred to another Bordetella species, B. bronchiseptica. Therefore, the evolution of B. petrii involved massive horiztonal gene transfer, while in the classical pathogenic Bordetella species only very few examples of HGT have been reported, e.g. the horizontal transfer of insertion elements, the acquisition of an genomic region encoding an iron uptake system in B. holmesii and, possibly, the inactivation of the genes encoding adenylate cyclase toxin in a specific B. bronchiseptica lineage by a horizontally acquired gene cluster encoding peptide transport genes [12, 23, 24]. This may indicate that their unique habitat due to an obligate host association has dramatically limited the impact on horizontal gene transfer for the pathogenic Bordetellae once they had acquired their capacity to infect and to persist exclusively in vertebrate hosts. Methods Bacterial strains and growth conditions In this study B. petrii DSM12804, the type strain of the species [5], B. bronchiseptica BB7866 [25], and B.