47 research outputs found
HTLV-I antisense transcripts initiating in the 3'LTR are alternatively spliced and polyadenylated
BACKGROUND: Antisense transcription in retroviruses has been suggested for both HIV-1 and HTLV-I, although the existence and coding potential of these transcripts remain controversial. Thorough characterization is required to demonstrate the existence of these transcripts and gain insight into their role in retrovirus biology. RESULTS: This report provides the first complete characterization of an antisense retroviral transcript that encodes the previously described HTLV-I HBZ protein. In this study, we show that HBZ-encoding transcripts initiate in the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) at several positions and consist of two alternatively spliced variants (SP1 and SP2). Expression of the most abundant HBZ spliced variant (SP1) could be detected in different HTLV-I-infected cell lines and importantly in cellular clones isolated from HTLV-I-infected patients. Polyadenylation of HBZ RNA occurred at a distance of 1450 nucleotides downstream of the HBZ stop codon in close proximity of a typical polyA signal. We have also determined that translation mostly initiates from the first exon located in the 3' LTR and that the HBZ isoform produced from the SP1 spliced variant demonstrated inhibition of Tax and c-Jun-dependent transcriptional activation. CONCLUSION: These results conclusively demonstrate the existence of antisense transcription in retroviruses, which likely plays a role in HTLV-I-associated pathogenesis through HBZ protein synthesis
Genetic and antigenic characterization of complete genomes of Type 1 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome viruses (PRRSV) isolated in Denmark over a period of 10 years
AbstractPorcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV) is considered one of the most devastating swine diseases worldwide. PRRS viruses are divided into two major genotypes, Type 1 and Type 2, with pronounced diversity between and within the genotypes. In Denmark more than 50% of the herds are infected with Type 1 and/or Type 2 PRRSV. The main objective of this study was to examine the genetic diversity and drift of Type 1 viruses in a population with limited introduction of new animals and semen. A total of 43 ORF5 and 42 ORF7 nucleotide sequences were obtained from viruses collected from 2003 to February 2013. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF5 nucleotide sequences showed that the Danish isolates formed two major clusters within the subtype 1. The nucleotide identity to the subtype 1 protogenotype Lelystad virus (LV) spanned 84.9â98.8% for ORF5 and 90.7â100% for ORF7. Among the Danish viruses the pairwise nucleotide identities in ORF5 and ORF7 were 81.2â100% and 88.9â100%, respectively. Sequencing of the complete genomes, including the 5âČ- and 3âČ-end nucleotides, of 8 Danish PRRSV Type 1 showed that the genome lengths differed from 14,876 to 15,098 nucleotides and the pairwise nucleotide identity among the Danish viruses was 86.5â97.3% and the identity to LV was 88.7â97.9%. The study strongly indicated that there have been at least two independent introductions of Type 1 PRRSV in Denmark and analysis of the full genomes revealed a significant drift in several regions of the virus
School toilets : queer, disabled bodies and gendered lessons of embodiment
In this paper we argue that school toilets function as one civilising site (Elias, 1978) in which children learn that disabled and queer bodies are out of place. This paper is the first to offer queer and crip perspectives on school toilets. The small body of existing school toilet literature generally works from a normative position which implicitly perpetuates dominant and oppressive ideals. We draw on data from Around the Toilet, a collaborative research project with queer, trans and disabled people (aroundthetoilet.wordpress.com) to critically interrogate this work. In doing this we consider âtoilet trainingâ as a form of âcivilisationâ, that teaches lessons around identity, embodiment and ab/normal ways of being in the world. Furthermore, we show that âtoilet trainingâ continues into adulthood, albeit in ways that are less easily identifiable than in the early years. We therefore call for a more critical, inclusive, and transformative approach to school toilet research
The toilet debate: stalling trans possibilities and defending âwomen's protected spacesâ
As one of the few explicitly gender-separated spaces, the toilet has become a prominent site of conflict and a focal point for âgender-criticalâ feminism. In this article we draw upon an AHRC-funded project, Around the Toilet, to reflect upon and critique trans-exclusionary and trans-hostile narratives of toilet spaces. Such narratives include ciscentric, heteronormative and gender essentialist positions within toilet research and activism which, for example, equate certain actions and bodily functions (such as menstruation) to a particular gender, decry the need for all-gender toilets, and cast suspicion upon the intentions of trans women in public toilet spaces. These include explicitly transmisogynist discourses perpetuated largely by those calling themselves âgender-criticalâ feminists, but also extend to national media, right-wing populist discourses and beyond. We use Around the Toilet data to argue that access to safe and comfortable toilets plays a fundamental role in making trans lives possible. Furthermore, we contend that â whether naive, ignorant or explicitly transphobic â trans-exclusionary positions do little to improve toilet access for the majority, instead putting trans people, and others with visible markers of gender difference, at a greater risk of violence, and participating in the dangerous homogenisation of womanhood
Genetic dissection of complete genomes of Type 2 PRRS viruses isolated in Denmark over a period of 15 years
AbstractType 2 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) was first detected in Europe in 1996 co-incident with the introduction of a live attenuated vaccine. Since then, only limited ORF5 and ORF7 sequences of Type 2 PRRS viruses have been reported throughout Europe. In the present study, the genetic and antigenic diversity of 11 complete genomes and 49 ORF5 and 55 ORF7 nucleotide sequences obtained from 57 viruses in Denmark from 2003 to 2012 were examined. The genetic identity of the 11 complete genomes to the vaccine strain (Ingelvac PRRS MLV) ranged between 93.6 and 99.6% while the 49 ORF5 sequences examined were 94.0â99.8% identical to the vaccine strain. Among the Danish sequences, the pairwise nucleotide identity was 90.9â100% and 93.0â100.0% for ORF5 and ORF7, respectively. Analysis of the genetic region encoding NSP2 revealed high diversity among the Danish viruses with an 86.6â98.9% range in similarity. Furthermore, several of the sequenced viruses harbored deletions in the NSP2 coding region. Phylogenetic analysis in a global Type 2 PRRSV framework classified all Danish isolates to a single cluster (sub-lineage 5.1) which comprised strains closely-related to the Type 2 prototype isolate VR2332
N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide as a functional eROP initiator for the preparation of nanoparticles under âgreenerâ reaction conditions
N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide was used as a functional initiator for the enzymatic ring-opening polymerisation of Δ-caprolactone and Ύ-valerolactone. N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide was found not to undergo self-reaction in the presence of Lipase B from Candida antarctica under the reaction conditions employed. By contrast, this is a major problem for 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate which both show significant transesterification issues leading to unwanted branching and cross-linking. Surprisingly, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide did not react fully during enzymatic ring-opening polymerisation. Computational docking studies helped us understand that the initiated polymer chains have a higher affinity for the enzyme active site than the initiator alone, leading to polymer propagation proceeding at a faster rate than polymer initiation leading to incomplete initiator consumption. Hydroxyl end group fidelity was confirmed by organocatalytic chain extension with lactide. N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide initiated polycaprolactones were free-radical copolymerised with PEGMA to produce a small set of amphiphilic copolymers. The amphiphilic polymers were shown to self-assemble into nanoparticles, and to display low cytotoxicity in 2D in vitro experiments. To increase the green credentials of the synthetic strategies, all reactions were carried out in 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, a solvent derived from renewable resources and an alternative for the more traditionally used fossil-based solvents tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, and toluene
Charting the course for a Blue Economy in Peru: A Research Agenda
Ocean- and coastal-based economic activities are increasingly recognised as key drivers for supporting global economies. This move towards the âblue economyâ is becoming globally widespread, with the recognition that if ocean-based activities are to be sustainable, they will need to move beyond solely extractive and exploitative endeavours, aligning more closely with marine conservation and effective marine spatial planning. In this paper we define the âblue economyâ as a âplatform for strategic, integrated and participatory coastal and ocean development and protection that incorporates a low carbon economy, the ecosystem approach and human well-being through advancing regional industries, services and activitiesâ. In Peru, while the seas contribute greatly to the national economy, the full potential of the blue economy has yet to be realised. This paper presents the findings of an early career scientist workshop in Lima, Peru, in March 2016. The workshop âAdvancing Green Growth in Peruâ brought together researchers to identify challenges and opportunities for green growth across three Peruvian economic sectorsâtourism, transport and the blue economy with this paper exploring in detail the priorities generated from the âblue economyâ stream. These priorities include themes such as marine spatial planning, detailed evaluations of existing maritime industries (e.g. guano collection and fisheries), development of an effective MPA network, support for sustainable coastal tourism, and better inclusion of social science disciplines in understanding societal and political support for a Peruvian blue economy. In addition, the paper discusses the research requirements associated with these priorities. While not a comprehensive list, these priorities provide a starting point for future dialogue on a co-ordinated scientific platform supporting the blue growth agenda in Peru, and in other regions working towards a successful âblue economyâ
First Direct Observation of Collider Neutrinos with FASER at the LHC
We report the first direct observation of neutrino interactions at a particle
collider experiment. Neutrino candidate events are identified in a 13.6 TeV
center-of-mass energy collision data set of 35.4 fb using the
active electronic components of the FASER detector at the Large Hadron
Collider. The candidates are required to have a track propagating through the
entire length of the FASER detector and be consistent with a muon neutrino
charged-current interaction. We infer neutrino interactions
with a significance of 16 standard deviations above the background-only
hypothesis. These events are consistent with the characteristics expected from
neutrino interactions in terms of secondary particle production and spatial
distribution, and they imply the observation of both neutrinos and
anti-neutrinos with an incident neutrino energy of significantly above 200 GeV.Comment: Submitted to PRL on March 24 202
First neutrino interaction candidates at the LHC
FASER at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is designed to directly
detect collider neutrinos for the first time and study their cross sections at
TeV energies, where no such measurements currently exist. In 2018, a pilot
detector employing emulsion films was installed in the far-forward region of
ATLAS, 480 m from the interaction point, and collected 12.2 fb of
proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. We describe
the analysis of this pilot run data and the observation of the first neutrino
interaction candidates at the LHC. This milestone paves the way for high-energy
neutrino measurements at current and future colliders.Comment: Auxiliary materials are available at
https://faser.web.cern.ch/fasernu-first-neutrino-interaction-candidate
The FASER Detector
FASER, the ForwArd Search ExpeRiment, is an experiment dedicated to searching
for light, extremely weakly-interacting particles at CERN's Large Hadron
Collider (LHC). Such particles may be produced in the very forward direction of
the LHC's high-energy collisions and then decay to visible particles inside the
FASER detector, which is placed 480 m downstream of the ATLAS interaction
point, aligned with the beam collisions axis. FASER also includes a
sub-detector, FASER, designed to detect neutrinos produced in the LHC
collisions and to study their properties. In this paper, each component of the
FASER detector is described in detail, as well as the installation of the
experiment system and its commissioning using cosmic-rays collected in
September 2021 and during the LHC pilot beam test carried out in October 2021.
FASER will start taking LHC collision data in 2022, and will run throughout LHC
Run 3