MWCNTs of different physicochemical properties cause similar inflammatory responses, but differences in transcriptional and histological markers of fibrosis in mouse lungs

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are extensively produced and used in composite materials and electronic applications, thus increasing risk of worker and consumer exposure. MWCNTs are an inhomogeneous group of nanomaterials that come in various lengths, shapes and with different metal contaminations, which makes hazard evaluation difficult. However, several studies suggest that length plays an important role in the toxicity induced by MWCNTs. How the length influences toxicity at the molecular level is yet to be characterized. Female C57BL/6 mice were exposed by single intratracheal instillation to 18, 54 or 162 µg/mouse of a short MWCNT (NRCWE-026, 847±102 nm in length) or long MWCNT (NM-401, 4048±366 nm in length). The two MWCNTs were extensively characterized. Lung tissues were harvested 24 h, 3 d and 28 d after exposure. We employed DNA microarrays, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis, comet assay and dichlorodihydrofluorescein assay in order to profile the pulmonary responses. Bioinformatics tools were then applied to compare and contrast the expression profiles and to build a length dependent property-response matrix for gene-by-gene comparison. The toxicogenomic analysis of the global mRNA changes after exposure to the short, entangled NRCWE-026 or the longer, stiffer NM-401 showed high degree of similarities. The toxicity of both MWCNTs was driven by strong inflammatory and acute phase responses, which peaked at day 3 and was observed both in bronchoalveolar lavage cell influx and in gene expression profiles. The inflammatory response was sustained at post-exposure day 28. Also, at the sub-chronic level, we identified a sub-set of 14 fibrosis related genes that were uniquely differentially regulated after exposure to NM-401. Acellular ROS production occurred almost exclusively with NRCWE-026, however the longer NM-401 induced in vivo DNA strand breaks and differential regulation of genes involved in free radical scavenging more readily than NRCWE-026. Our results indicate that the global mRNA response after exposure to MWCNTs is length independent at the acute time points, but that fibrosis may be length dependent sub-chronic end point.JRC.H.6-Digital Earth and Reference Dat

Coevolution between a Family of Parasite Virulence Effectors and a Class of LINE-1 Retrotransposons

Parasites are able to evolve rapidly and overcome host defense mechanisms, but the molecular basis of this adaptation is poorly understood. Powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphales, Ascomycota) are obligate biotrophic parasites infecting nearly 10,000 plant genera. They obtain their nutrients from host plants through specialized feeding structures known as haustoria. We previously identified the AVRk1 powdery mildew-specific gene family encoding effectors that contribute to the successful establishment of haustoria. Here, we report the extensive proliferation of the AVRk1 gene family throughout the genome of B. graminis, with sequences diverging in formae speciales adapted to infect different hosts. Also, importantly, we have discovered that the effectors have coevolved with a particular family of LINE-1 retrotransposons, named TE1a. The coevolution of these two entities indicates a mutual benefit to the association, which could ultimately contribute to parasite adaptation and success. We propose that the association would benefit 1) the powdery mildew fungus, by providing a mechanism for amplifying and diversifying effectors and 2) the associated retrotransposons, by providing a basis for their maintenance through selection in the fungal genome

La función educativa en las constituciones del estado de Aguascalientes

Este trabajo presenta un análisis de la definición de la función educativa en la construcción de la juridicidad constitucional del estado de Aguascalientes, en México. Se basa en fuentes documentales, primero, para ubicar y comprender el tema en el entorno nacional y en el proceso de formación de esta entidad y, segundo, por sustentarse en los textos constitucionales del propio estado. El análisis muestra que la formación de la función educativa de Aguascalientes, hasta culminar con la definición del derecho a la educación, está vinculada al largo proceso de organización jurídico-política de México, por un lado, y al establecimiento de Aguascalientes como entidad política, por el otro. Ambos procesos se realizaron en sus orígenes, entre otros factores filosófico-políticos y sociales, a partir de la difusión e influencia del pensamiento liberal y, contemporáneamente, siguiendo el movimiento que se propone garantizar el cumplimiento del derecho de toda persona a la educación. La realización de este derecho exige el conocimiento de su historia, así como la estimación del contenido de la ley por su vínculo ontológico con la dignidad de la persona y sus derechos; ésta es la base para mejorar los procesos gubernativos y, en consecuencia, la participación social en la educación

Effects of volume mismatch and electronic structure on the decomposition of ScAlN and TiAlN solid solutions

Thin solid films of metastable rocksalt structure (c-) Sc1-xAlxN and Ti1-xAlxN were employed as model systems to investigate the relative influence of volume mismatch and electronic structure driving forces for phase separation. Reactive dual magnetron sputtering was used to deposit stoichiometric Sc0.57Al0.43N(111) and Ti0.51Al0.49N(111) thin films, at 675 °C and 600 °C, respectively, followed by stepwise annealing to a maximum temperature of 1100 °C. Phase transformations during growth and annealing were followed in situ using X-ray scattering. The results show that the as-deposited Sc0.57Al0.43N films phase separate at 1000 °C – 1100 °C into non-isostructural c-ScN and wurtzite-structure (w-) AlN, via nucleation and growth at domain boundaries. Ti0.51Al0.49N, however, exhibits spinodal decomposition into isostructural coherent c-TiN and c-AlN, in the temperature interval of 800 °C – 1000 °C. X-ray pole figures show the coherency between c-ScN and w-AlN, with AlN(0001) || ScN(001) and AlN<01ɸ10> || ScN<1ɸ10>. First principles calculations of mixing energy-lattice spacing curves explain the results on a fundamental physics level and open a route for design of novel metastable pseudobinary phases for hard coatings and electronic materials.Original Publication:Carina Höglund, Björn Alling, Jens Birch, Manfred Beckers, Per O. Å. Persson, Carsten Baehtz, Zsolt Czigány, Jens Jensen and Lars Hultman, Effects of volume mismatch and electronic structure on the decomposition of ScAlN and TiAlN solid solutions, 2010, Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, (81), 22, 224101.http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.224101Copyright: American Physical Societyhttp://www.aps.org

Different Immunological Phenotypes Associated with Preserved CD4+ T Cell Counts in HIV-Infected Controllers and Viremic Long Term Non-Progressors

BACKGROUND: HIV-infected controllers control viral replication and maintain normal CD4+ T cell counts. Long Term Non-Progressors (LTNP) also maintain normal CD4+ T cell counts, but have on-going viral replication. We hypothesized that different immunological mechanisms are responsible for preserved CD4+ T cell counts in controllers and LTNP. METHODS: 25 HIV-infected controllers and 14 LTNP were included in this cross-sectional study. For comparison, 25 progressors and 34 healthy controls were included. Production and destruction of T cells were addressed by determination of T cell receptor excision circles (TREC), recent thymic emigrants, naïve cells, immune activation, senescence and apoptosis. Furthermore, telomere length was determined, and the amount of lymphoid tissue in tonsil biopsies was quantified. RESULTS: Controllers presented with partly preserved thymic output, preserved expression of the IL-7 receptor and IL-7 receptor density, and lower levels of destruction of cells than progressors resembling HIV-negative healthy controls. In contrast, LTNP appeared much like progressors, and different from controllers in immune activation, senescence, and apoptosis. Interestingly, CD8+ RTE, TREC and telomere length were partly preserved. Finally, both controllers and LTNP displayed decreased amounts of lymphoid tissue compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Controllers presented with an immunological profile different from LTNP. While controllers resembled healthy controls, LTNP were similar to progressors, suggesting different immunological mechanisms to be responsible for preserved CD4+ T cell counts in LTNP and controllers. However, both controllers and LTNP presented with reduced amounts of lymphoid tissue despite preserved CD4+ T cell counts, indicating HIV to cause damage even in non-progressors