Studying neuroanatomy using MRI

The study of neuroanatomy using imaging enables key insights into how our brains function, are shaped by genes and environment, and change with development, aging, and disease. Developments in MRI acquisition, image processing, and data modelling have been key to these advances. However, MRI provides an indirect measurement of the biological signals we aim to investigate. Thus, artifacts and key questions of correct interpretation can confound the readouts provided by anatomical MRI. In this review we provide an overview of the methods for measuring macro- and mesoscopic structure and inferring microstructural properties; we also describe key artefacts and confounds that can lead to incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, we believe that, though methods need to improve and caution is required in its interpretation, structural MRI continues to have great promise in furthering our understanding of how the brain works

Global patterns in monthly activity of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and metapneumovirus: a systematic analysis

Background Influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and metapneumovirus are the most common viruses associated with acute lower respiratory infections in young children (= 65 years). A global report of the monthly activity of these viruses is needed to inform public health strategies and programmes for their control.Methods In this systematic analysis, we compiled data from a systematic literature review of studies published between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2017; online datasets; and unpublished research data. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported laboratory-confirmed incidence data of human infection of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, or metapneumovirus, or a combination of these, for at least 12 consecutive months (or 52 weeks equivalent); stable testing practice throughout all years reported; virus results among residents in well-defined geographical locations; and aggregated virus results at least on a monthly basis. Data were extracted through a three-stage process, from which we calculated monthly annual average percentage (AAP) as the relative strength of virus activity. We defined duration of epidemics as the minimum number of months to account for 75% of annual positive samples, with each component month defined as an epidemic month. Furthermore, we modelled monthly AAP of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus using site-specific temperature and relative humidity for the prediction of local average epidemic months. We also predicted global epidemic months of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus on a 5 degrees by 5 degrees grid. The systematic review in this study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018091628.Findings We initally identified 37 335 eligible studies. Of 21 065 studies remaining after exclusion of duplicates, 1081 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which 185 were identified as eligible. We included 246 sites for influenza virus, 183 sites for respiratory syncytial virus, 83 sites for parainfluenza virus, and 65 sites for metapneumovirus. Influenza virus had clear seasonal epidemics in winter months in most temperate sites but timing of epidemics was more variable and less seasonal with decreasing distance from the equator. Unlike influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus had clear seasonal epidemics in both temperate and tropical regions, starting in late summer months in the tropics of each hemisphere, reaching most temperate sites in winter months. In most temperate sites, influenza virus epidemics occurred later than respiratory syncytial virus (by 0.3 months [95% CI -0.3 to 0.9]) while no clear temporal order was observed in the tropics. Parainfluenza virus epidemics were found mostly in spring and early summer months in each hemisphere. Metapneumovirus epidemics occurred in late winter and spring in most temperate sites but the timing of epidemics was more diverse in the tropics. Influenza virus epidemics had shorter duration (3.8 months [3.6 to 4.0]) in temperate sites and longer duration (5.2 months [4.9 to 5.5]) in the tropics. Duration of epidemics was similar across all sites for respiratory syncytial virus (4.6 months [4.3 to 4.8]), as it was for metapneumovirus (4.8 months [4.4 to 5.1]). By comparison, parainfluenza virus had longer duration of epidemics (6.3 months [6.0 to 6.7]). Our model had good predictability in the average epidemic months of influenza virus in temperate regions and respiratory syncytial virus in both temperate and tropical regions. Through leave-one-out cross validation, the overall prediction error in the onset of epidemics was within 1 month (influenza virus -0.2 months [-0.6 to 0.1]; respiratory syncytial virus 0.1 months [-0.2 to 0.4]).Interpretation This study is the first to provide global representations of month-by-month activity of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and metapneumovirus. Our model is helpful in predicting the local onset month of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus epidemics. The seasonality information has important implications for health services planning, the timing of respiratory syncytial virus passive prophylaxis, and the strategy of influenza virus and future respiratory syncytial virus vaccination. Copyright (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd

Recombinant adenovirus vectors expressing interleukin-5 and -6 specifically enhance mucosal immunoglobulin A responses in the lung

In this study, we have examined the in vivo effects of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-6 over-expression on systemic and mucosal immune responses using recombinant human type 5 adenoviruses capable of expressing these cytokines upon infection. A recombinant adenovirus containing the murine IL-5 gene within the E3 region was constructed and found to express high levels of IL-5 protein both in vitro and in vivo. Intranasal inoculation of mice with this vector or a vector expressing murine IL-6 increased adenovirus-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) titres in lung lavage fluid threefold compared with those elicited by control virus. The simultaneous expression of both cytokines by co-inoculation altered the kinetics of the mucosal anti-adenovirus IgA response and resulted in a more than additive increase in antibody titres. The co-expression effect on IgA synthesis was not due to an increase in numbers of antigen-specific resident lung tissue lymphocytes. When mucosal IgG responses were examined, IL-6 expression had the largest impact on anti-adenovirus levels, whereas co-expression produced an intermediate response. Systemic immune responses were also affected by IL-6 expression as a twofold increase in serum IgG anti-adenovirus titres was observed after a secondary challenge with wild-type adenovirus. These results demonstrate a relevant role for IL-5 and IL-6 in the development of mucosal immune responses in vivo and suggest that the incorporation of either IL-5 and/or IL-6 into recombinant adenovirus vectors may be a useful tool in the development of mucosal vaccines

MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation and induction of CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell responses in autoimmune diabetes-prone NOD mice.

The common class I alleles (e.g., Kd and Db) within the H2g7 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) clearly contribute to autoimmune IDDM in NOD mice, but the mechanism by which this occurs has been controversial. One laboratory has reported that the peptide transporter encoded by the Tap1 gene within H2g7 is defective, and this contributes to IDDM by impairing MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation. If true, defective MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation should segregate with the H2g7 haplotype. NOD mice, related congenic stocks, and other control strains were used to test this hypothesis. H2g7-positive strains did not differ from those expressing other MHC haplotypes in ability to present MHC class I-restricted H3aa or H3ab minor histocompatibility (H) antigens to cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL). The H2g7 haplotype was found to have a reduced capacity to mediate MHC class I-restricted presentation of the H47a minor H antigen. However, MHC class I-restricted presentation of H47a was found to be Tap independent. NOD mice and control strains also did not differ in ability to activate adenovirus-specific MHC class I restricted CTL. Thus, the H2g7 haplotype is not characterized by a Tap gene defect that only impairs the inductive phase of the immune response. In addition, MHC class I-restricted presentation of either minor H or adenoviral antigens was equivalent in male and female NOD mice. Therefore, while the class I alleles of the H2g7 haplotype exert diabetogenic functions in NOD mice, this is not elicited through a Tap gene defect. The absence of female-specific Tap gene defects also indicates this cannot account for the reduced male incidence of IDDM in some NOD mouse colonies

Mucosal but Not Parenteral Immunization with Purified Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Virus-Like Particles Induces Neutralizing Titers of Antibodies throughout the Estrous Cycle of Mice

We have recently shown that nasal immunization of anesthetized mice with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) virus-like particles (VLPs) is highly effective at inducing both neutralizing immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG in genital secretions, while parenteral immunization induced only neutralizing IgG. Our data also demonstrated that both isotypes are similarly neutralizing according to an in vitro pseudotyped neutralization assay. However, it is known that various amounts of IgA and IgG are produced in genital secretions along the estrous cycle. Therefore, we have investigated how this variation influences the amount of HPV16 neutralizing antibodies induced after immunization with VLPs. We have compared parenteral and nasal protocols of vaccination with daily samplings of genital secretions of mice. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis showed that total IgA and IgG inversely varied along the estrous cycle, with the largest amounts of IgA in proestrus-estrus and the largest amount of IgG in diestrus. This resulted in HPV16 neutralizing titers of IgG only being achieved during diestrus upon parenteral immunization. In contrast, nasal vaccination induced neutralizing titers of IgA plus IgG throughout the estrous cycle, as confirmed by in vitro pseudotyped neutralization assays. Our data suggest that mucosal immunization might be more efficient than parenteral immunization at inducing continuous protection of the female genital tract