Rapid Dissemination of SIV Follows Multisite Entry after Rectal Inoculation

Receptive ano-rectal intercourse is a major cause of HIV infection in men having sex with men and in heterosexuals. Current knowledge of the mechanisms of entry and dissemination during HIV rectal transmission is scarce and does not allow the development of preventive strategies. We investigated the early steps of rectal infection in rhesus macaques inoculated with the pathogenic isolate SIVmac251 and necropsied four hours to nine days later. All macaques were positive for SIV. Control macaques inoculated with heat-inactivated virus were consistently negative for SIV. SIV DNA was detected in the rectum as early as four hours post infection by nested PCR for gag in many laser-microdissected samples of lymphoid aggregates and lamina propria but never in follicle-associated epithelium. Scarce SIV antigen positive cells were observed by immunohistofluorescence in the rectum, among intraepithelial and lamina propria cells as well as in clusters in lymphoid aggregates, four hours post infection and onwards. These cells were T cells and non-T cells that were not epithelial cells, CD68+ macrophages, DC-SIGN+ cells or fascin+ dendritic cells. DC-SIGN+ cells carried infectious virus. Detection of Env singly spliced mRNA in the mucosa by nested RT-PCR indicated ongoing viral replication. Strikingly, four hours post infection colic lymph nodes were also infected in all macaques as either SIV DNA or infectious virus was recovered. Rapid SIV entry and dissemination is consistent with trans-epithelial transport. Virions appear to cross the follicle-associated epithelium, and also the digestive epithelium. Viral replication could however be more efficient in lymphoid aggregates. The initial sequence of events differs from both vaginal and oral infections, which implies that prevention strategies for rectal transmission will have to be specific. Microbicides will need to protect both digestive and follicle-associated epithelia. Vaccines will need to induce immunity in lymph nodes as well as in the rectum

Polish energy security in the context of gas, crude oil and electricity supplies

Publikacja recenzowana / Peer-reviewed publicationBezpieczeństwo energetyczne jest współcześnie powiązane ze sprawnym działaniem administracji publicznej, staje się fundamentem funkcjonowania gospodarki oraz wpływa na jakość życia społeczeństwa. Uzależnienie od energii wciąż wzrasta, dlatego aspekty związane z zaopatrzeniem w gaz ziemny, szczególnie istotny dla przemysłu oraz coraz ważniejszy dla gospodarstw domowych i sektora energetycznego, ropę naftową, warunkującą sprawny transport, oraz w energię elektryczną niezbędną dla funkcjonowania wszelkich podmiotów są podstawą bezpieczeństwa współczesnego państwa. Celem artykułu jest analiza bezpieczeństwa energetycznego Polski pod kątem kluczowych składowych oraz wskazanie głównych wyzwań i problemów wraz z sygnalizacją podejmowanych działań.Nowadays energy security is strictly connected with the efficient functioning of public administration and industry and with the standard of citizens’ life. The dependence on energy security is still growing because natural gas is more often used by households, crude oil provides functioning of transportation and electricity is widely used by all subjects and that makes it crucial for ensuring security and providing welfare of a modern state. In this context the main goal of the article is to characterize Polish energy security and to show and explain its key challenges and problems

Reminiscence of the Egyptian - image of the egyptian revolution of 1919 in novel "Return of the spirit" of Tawfīq Al-Ḥakīm

Praca jest próbą odnalezienia elementów życiorysu Tawfīqa Al-Ḥakīma w jego powieści "Dom nie spełnionych marzeń", poprzez analizę sposobu przedstawienia w niej rewolucji egipskiej 1919 roku. Tezą pracy są wnioski Józefa Bielawskiego dotyczące książki. Wstęp historyczny przybliża czytelnikowi najważniejsze przyczyny wybuchu rewolucji, nastroje panujące w społeczeństwie egipskim oraz postać Saʿda Zaġlūla. Autor pracy w swojej analizie skupia się na obrazie rewolucji w powieści we fragmentach o niej opowiadających, elementach symbolicznych związanych ze społeczeństwem i polityką Egiptu oraz czynnikach wskazujących na związek Tawfīqa Al-Ḥakīma z głównym bohaterem powieści.The work is an attempt to find elements of the biography of Tawfīq Al-Ḥakīma in his novel "Return of the spirit", by analyzing how it presents the Egyptian revolution of 1919. Józef Bielawski's conclusions about the book serve as a thesis of the work. The historical entry introduces the most important causes of the outbreak of the revolution, the mood prevailing in Egyptian society and the character of Saʿd Zaġlūl. In his analysis, the author focuses on the image of the revolution in the novel in fragments of it, symbolic elements related to the society and politics of Egypt, and factors indicating the relationship between Tawfīq Al-Ḥakīma and the main character of the novel