Lack of Protection following Passive Transfer of Polyclonal Highly Functional Low-Dose Non-Neutralizing Antibodies

Recent immune correlates analysis from the RV144 vaccine trial has renewed interest in the role of non-neutralizing antibodies in mediating protection from infection. While neutralizing antibodies have proven difficult to induce through vaccination, extra-neutralizing antibodies, such as those that mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), are associated with long-term control of infection. However, while several non-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have been tested for their protective efficacy in vivo, no studies to date have tested the protective activity of naturally produced polyclonal antibodies from individuals harboring potent ADCC activity. Because ADCC-inducing antibodies are highly enriched in elite controllers (EC), we passively transferred highly functional non-neutralizing polyclonal antibodies, purified from an EC, to assess the potential impact of polyclonal non-neutralizing antibodies on a stringent SHIV-SF162P3 challenge in rhesus monkeys. Passive transfer of a low-dose of ADCC inducing antibodies did not protect from infection following SHIV-SF162P3 challenge. Passively administered antibody titers and gp120-specific, but not gp41-specific, ADCC and antibody induced phagocytosis (ADCP) were detected in the majority of the monkeys, but did not correlate with post infection viral control. Thus these data raise the possibility that gp120-specific ADCC activity alone may not be sufficient to control viremia post infection but that other specificities or Fc-effector profiles, alone or in combination, may have an impact on viral control and should be tested in future passive transfer experiments

Synthesis and Characterization of Cu–Mn Substituted SrFe12O19 Hexaferrites

In this study, bimetallic (Cu-Mn) substituted SrFe12O19 hexaferrites [Sr1-2xMnxCuxFe12O19 (0.0 <= x <= 0.1)] were synthesized via sol-gel auto-combustion approach. The effect of bimetallic substitution on structure, morphology and magnetism of SrFe12O19 was investigated. SEM images divulge the nano-size of the prepared products with speck morphology. X-ray powder diffraction analysis affirmed their complete conversion to SrFe12O19 hexagonal crystal phase. The results from Fe-57 Mossbauer suggested that all five important sextets of Sr1-2xMnxCuxFe12O19 hexaferrites effected due to the substitution of Cu and Mn ions. Cation distribution calculation showed that as the percentage of Mn and Cu increased in Sr1-2xMnxCuxFe12O19 (0.0 <= x <= 0.1), particularly for x = 0.03 the relative area of 12k and 4f(2) site increased. This indicates that Fe ions are migrated towards 12k and 4f(2) octahedral site

Knowledge Management for Adult and Higher Education: Mapping the Recent Literature

The recent literature shows that the field of knowledge management (KM) has a potential importance for the education area. It has been argued that KM concepts, models, and practices may be beneficial to teachers, learners, and university managers. An open issue, however, is whether and how the research and practice in these two distinct fields\u2014education and KM\u2014are really converging. This chapter proposes a systematic analysis of the literature to shed light onto the intersection between the fields of KM and adult and higher education. The main research trends are detected and highlighted. The analysis shows that there are promising applications of KM to higher education and university management. However, there is still the need to carry out more theoretical or applicative research with the purpose to facilitate the effective incorporation of KM notions, concepts, or practices into the education field