8 research outputs found
What did we achieve with VALITEST an EU project on validation in plant pest diagnostics?
peer reviewedEnsuring the reliability of diagnostic activities is an essential cornerstone of Plant Health strategies to reduce the risk of entry and spread of plant pests in a region and ultimately their impacts. Diagnostic tests should be validated to ensure that they are fit for purpose. Validation is usually done by diagnostic laboratories although companies commercializing diagnostic kits also produce validation data for their products. Due to the high number of pest , matrix and method combinations and given the significant resources required to validate tests, it is essential that validation data are shared with the entire diagnostic community and produced in a harmonized way to facilitate their use by different stakeholders. Indeed, the selection of tests to be used in specific contexts is not the sole responsibility of diagnostic laboratories and also involve National Plant Protection Organizations. The VALITEST EU project (2018-2021) was established to tackle all these issues. New validation data for tests targeting important pests for the EPPO region were produced. Guidelines to improve and harmonize the validation framework were developed. Sharing of validation data and experience was ensured through the development of new or existing databases, the organization of training courses and the dissemination of the project outputs in scientific publications and Standards. Finally, the involvement of researchers, diagnosticians, policy makers, inspectors, industries etc. and the establishment of the European Plant Diagnostic Industry Association were important actions to strengthen the interactions between Plant Health stakeholders
Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells Interactions With Natural Killer Cells and Pro-angiogenic Activities: Roles in Tumor Progression
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contribute to the induction of an immune
suppressive/anergic, tumor permissive environment. MDSCs act as immunosuppression
orchestrators also by interacting with several components of both innate and adaptive
immunity. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells functioning as primary
effector of immunity, against tumors and virus-infected cells. Apart from the previously
described anergy and hypo-functionality of NK cells in different tumors, NK cells in cancer
patients show pro-angiogenic phenotype and functions, similar to decidual NK cells. We
termed the pro-angiogenic NK cells in the tumor microenvironment \u201ctumor infiltrating
NK\u201d (TINKs), and peripheral blood NK cells in cancer patients \u201ctumor associated NK\u201d
(TANKs). The contribution of MDSCs in regulating NK cell functions in tumor-bearing
host, still represent a poorly explored topic, and even less is known on NK cell regulation
of MDSCs. Here, we review whether the crosstalk between MDSCs and NK cells
can impact on tumor onset, angiogenesis and progression, focusing on key cellular
and molecular interactions. We also propose that the similarity of the properties of
tumor associated/tumor infiltrating NK and MDSC with those of decidual NK and
decidual MDSCs during pregnancy could hint to a possible onco-fetal origin of these
pro-angiogenic leukocytes.Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contribute to the induction of an immune suppressive/anergic, tumor permissive environment. MDSCs act as immunosuppression orchestrators also by interacting with several components of both innate and adaptive immunity. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells functioning as primary effector of immunity, against tumors and virus-infected cells. Apart from the previously described anergy and hypo-functionality of NK cells in different tumors, NK cells in cancer patients show pro-angiogenic phenotype and functions, similar to decidual NK cells. We termed the pro-angiogenic NK cells in the tumor microenvironment "tumor infiltrating NK" (TINKs), and peripheral blood NK cells in cancer patients "tumor associated NK" (TANKs). The contribution of MDSCs in regulating NK cell functions in tumor-bearing host, still represent a poorly explored topic, and even less is known on NK cell regulation of MDSCs. Here, we review whether the crosstalk between MDSCs and NK cells can impact on tumor onset, angiogenesis and progression, focusing on key cellular and molecular interactions. We also propose that the similarity of the properties of tumor associated/tumor infiltrating NK and MDSC with those of decidual NK and decidual MDSCs during pregnancy could hint to a possible onco-fetal origin of these pro-angiogenic leukocytes