The use of niobia in oxidation catalysis

This paper summarises the background to work carried out at the University of Twente on the use of niobia as a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene and discusses the development of promoted niobia catalysts for this reaction. Results are also presented which illustrate the use of niobia in catalysts for other reactions such as the oxidative coupling of methane, the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane and the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol. It appears that niobia and niobia-modified catalysts, when used in high-temperature oxidation processes, can exhibit relatively high selectivities compared with more conventional catalysts

Wat kleine microben groot maakt

Oratie uitgesproken door Prof.dr. Hermelijn H. Smits bij de aanvaarding van het ambt van hoogleraar Gastheer-commensaal interacties en immune modulatie aan de Universiteit van Leiden op 3 februari 2023Oratie uitgesproken door Prof.dr. Hermelijn H. Smits bij de aanvaarding van het ambt van hoogleraar Gastheer-commensaal interacties en immune modulatie aan de Universiteit van Leiden op 3 februari 2023LUMC / Geneeskund

Alterations in Peripheral Blood B Cell Subsets and Dynamics of B Cell Responses during Human Schistosomiasis

Antibody responses are thought to play an important role in control of Schistosoma infections, yet little is known about the phenotype and function of B cells in human schistosomiasis. We set out to characterize B cell subsets and B cell responses to B cell receptor and Toll-like receptor 9 stimulation in Gabonese schoolchildren with Schistosoma haematobium infection. Frequencies of memory B cell (MBC) subsets were increased, whereas naive B cell frequencies were reduced in the schistosome-infected group. At the functional level, isolated B cells from schistosome-infected children showed higher expression of the activation marker CD23 upon stimulation, but lower proliferation and TNF-α production. Importantly, 6-months after 3 rounds of praziquantel treatment, frequencies of naive B cells were increased, MBC frequencies were decreased and with the exception of TNF-α production, B cell responsiveness was restored to what was seen in uninfected children. These data show that S. haematobium infection leads to significant changes in the B cell compartment, both at the phenotypic and functional level

Heterogeneity in allergic rhinitis: explained by inducible mechanistic traits?

Host-parasite interactio

The Self Model and the Conception of Biological Identity in Immunology

The self/non-self model, first proposed by F.M. Burnet, has dominated immunology for sixty years now. According to this model, any foreign element will trigger an immune reaction in an organism, whereas endogenous elements will not, in normal circumstances, induce an immune reaction. In this paper we show that the self/non-self model is no longer an appropriate explanation of experimental data in immunology, and that this inadequacy may be rooted in an excessively strong metaphysical conception of biological identity. We suggest that another hypothesis, one based on the notion of continuity, gives a better account of immune phenomena. Finally, we underscore the mapping between this metaphysical deflation from self to continuity in immunology and the philosophical debate between substantialism and empiricism about identity

Aanmerking BBT kleine sectoren = Consider BAT for small livestock sectors

Possible techniques to reduce ammonia emission from houses for smaller animal categories (veal calves, goats, rearing laying hens (before egg production), rearing broiler breeders, turkey (meat type) and mink) were explored. Some of the techniques are proposed to consider as best available techniques (BBT)

Potential of immunoglobulin A to prevent allergic asthma

Allergic asthma is characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness, a defective barrier function, and eosinophilic lower airway inflammation in response to allergens. The inflammation is dominated by Th2 cells and IgE molecules and supplemented with Th17 cells in severe asthma. In contrast, in healthy individuals, allergen-specific IgA and IgG4 molecules are found but no IgE, and their T cells fail to proliferate in response to allergens, probably because of the development of regulatory processes that actively suppress responses to allergens. The presence of allergen-specific secretory IgA has drawn little attention so far, although a few epidemiological studies point at a reverse association between IgA levels and the incidence of allergic airway disease. This review highlights the latest literature on the role of mucosal IgA in protection against allergic airway disease, the mechanisms described to induce secretory IgA, and the role of (mucosal) dendritic cells in this process. Finally, we discuss how this information can be used to translate into the development of new therapies for allergic diseases based on, or supplemented with, IgA boosting strategies

Overzicht van maatregelen om de ammoniakemissie uit de veehouderij te beperken

Present and future possibilities are described to reduce ammonia emissions from livestock production in or near Natura 2000 areas

Modulating local airway immune responses to treat allergic asthma: lessons from experimental models and human studies

With asthma affecting over 300 million individuals world-wide and estimated to affect 400 million by 2025, developing effective, long-lasting therapeutics is essential. Allergic asthma, where Th2-type immunity plays a central role, represents 90% of child and 50% of adult asthma cases. Research based largely on animal models of allergic disease have led to the generation of a novel class of drugs, so-called biologicals, that target essential components of Th2-type inflammation. Although highly efficient in subclasses of patients, these biologicals and other existing medication only target the symptomatic stage of asthma and when therapy is ceased, a flare-up of the disease is often observed. Therefore, it is suggested to target earlier stages in the inflammatory cascade underlying allergic airway inflammation and to focus on changing and redirecting the initiation of type 2 inflammatory responses against allergens and certain viral agents. This focus on upstream aspects of innate immunity that drive development of Th2-type immunity is expected to have longer-lasting and disease-modifying effects, and may potentially lead to a cure for asthma. This review highlights the current understanding of the contribution of local innate immune elements in the development and maintenance of inflammatory airway responses and discusses available leads for successful targeting of those pathways for future therapeutics