2016 Philippine Climate Change Assessment (PhilCCA): The Physical Science Basis

This initial assessment of the state of climate change science in the Philippines indicates that climate science in the country is still in its infancy. This report identifies many areas that need further examination, such as the influence of large-scale climate drivers (e.g., ENSO, the Madden-Julian Oscillation, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation) on Philippine climate, the effect of sea level rise on saltwater intrusion and storm surges along coastal areas, and local climate impacts of aerosols and land use change, as well as their interaction with the enhanced greenhouse effect

Incorporation of a Dietary Omega 3 Fatty Acid Impairs Murine Macrophage Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

by creating an immunosuppressive environment. We hypothesized that incorporation of n-3 PUFA suppresses activation of macrophage antimycobacterial responses and favors bacterial growth, in part, by modulating the IFNγ-mediated signaling pathway.. The fatty acid composition of macrophage membranes was modified significantly by DHA treatment. DHA-treated macrophages were less effective in controlling intracellular mycobacteria and showed impaired oxidative metabolism and reduced phagolysosome maturation. Incorporation of DHA resulted in defective macrophage activation, as characterized by reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-6 and MCP-1), and lower expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD40 and CD86). DHA treatment impaired STAT1 phosphorylation and colocalization of the IFNγ receptor with lipid rafts, without affecting surface expression of IFNγ receptor. in response to activation by IFNγ, by modulation of IFNγ receptor signaling and function, suggesting that n-3 PUFA-enriched diets may have a detrimental effect on host immunity to tuberculosis