An engineered HIV-1 Gag-based VLP displaying high antigen density induces strong antibody-dependent functional immune responses

Antigen display on the surface of Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) improves immunogenicity compared to soluble proteins. We hypothesised that immune responses can be further improved by increasing the antigen density on the surface of VLPs. In this work, we report an HIV-1 Gag-based VLP platform engineered to maximise the presence of antigen on the VLP surface. An HIV-1 gp41-derived protein (Min), including the C-terminal part of gp41 and the transmembrane domain, was fused to HIV-1 Gag. This resulted in high-density MinGag-VLPs. These VLPs demonstrated to be highly immunogenic in animal models using either a homologous (VLP) or heterologous (DNA/VLP) vaccination regimen, with the latter yielding 10-fold higher anti-Gag and anti-Min antibody titres. Despite these strong humoral responses, immunisation with MinGag-VLPs did not induce neutralising antibodies. Nevertheless, antibodies were predominantly of an IgG2b/IgG2c profile and could efficiently bind CD16-2. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MinGag-VLP vaccination could mediate a functional effect and halt the progression of a Min-expressing tumour cell line in an in vivo mouse model

La Agenda de Política Urbana Regional: Algunas Reflexiones para el Caso de Mexico y Latinoamericano

Este trabajo presenta algunas reflexiones en torno a la agenda pendiente del desarrollo urbano regional de México. Si bien un mucho de esta ponencia se refiere a este país, una parte del análisis también podría aplicarse al contexto latinoamericano e internacional. De hecho, la arquitectura del trabajo se apoya en literatura proveniente justamente de los contextos internacional y latinoamericano. Se argumenta que la amplitud y complejidad de esta agenda rara vez son reflejadas en las respuestas gubernamentales sobre la materia. La economía no puede ser cabalmente entendida sino es desde su vertiente territorial. Lás más recientes discusiones sobre globalización e integración económica, pasando por las crecientes exigencias de una economía más competitiva, están subrayando el carácter crucial de lo urbano-regional. En términos muy simples, por ejemplo, el eficiente funcionamiento del aparato productivo está intimamente relacionado con su localización geográfica. Es precisamente esta inquietud con los aspectos regionales del desarrollo, con los que se inicia este trabajo. El caso de México parece evidenciar la presencia de una problemática doble pero interrelacionada: La inexistencia de conocimiento para abordar problemas graves o la toma de decisiones no informada (al no considerar el conocimiento que sí existe). El déficit que ya se tenía en materia de investigación económica regional, por ejemplo, se ha ensanchado con una economía más abierta. Una toma de decisiones más informada requiere atender las urgencias y rezagos pasados, pero también considerar las nuevas avenidas en el campo de lo territorial y la necesidad de enfoques más interdisciplinarios. Esto es particularmente válido para el campo de la economía y el desarrollo regional. En lo que sigue se discuten algunos de los puntos que, en opinión del autor, conforman la agenda pendiente (y apremiante) en el desarrollo urbano regional de México (y de otras naciones latinoamericanas).Latin American Studie

Climate threats, water supply vulnerability and the risk of a water crisis in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (Northeastern Mexico)

This paper evaluates the risk of a water crisis - a substantial, sudden reduction in water supply - in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA), posed by climate threats and the vulnerability of its water supply system. Our analysis of long-term precipitation, water supply and water availability data reveals that the MMA is highly vulnerable to recurring periods of exceptionally low precipitation and scarce surface water availability. We identify two episodes in the recent past (1998 and 2013) when the MMA water supply system almost collapsed as reservoirs neared depletion in the face of abnormally dry weather. Furthermore our climate projections point to warmer and drier future conditions for the region and consequently, heightened climate threats. We conclude that the risk of a water crisis in the MMA is substantial and probably will increase due to climate change. This establishes a clear and pressing need for a comprehensive package of adaptation measures to mitigate the consequences of a water crisis should one occur as well as to reduce the likelihood of such an event. © 2015 The Authors

Green Infrastructure for Urban Flood Resilience: A Review of Recent Literature on Bibliometrics, Methodologies, and Typologies

Urban flood resilience can critically diminish the negative effects of extreme climatic conditions. In recent decades, green infrastructure has been gaining attention among researchers and authorities in terms of its use in urban contexts to enhance urban resilience. This paper tries to provide knowledge on how urban flood resilience has been recently approached through green infrastructure. To do this, the distribution of the topics of interest, authors, and sources/regions of publication are investigated through a systematic review of recent articles. Additionally, the methodological approaches and green infrastructure typologies are examined. Findings show an agglomeration of publications in developed countries. It was also observed that there is a predominance of quantitative methodological approaches and a low connectivity for some hot topics within this field of research (e.g., biodiversity). The most common green infrastructure typologies used in urban flood resilience research are also discussed. It is noticeable that more than half of the papers used general terms (e.g., urban park/open space) to describe green infrastructure rather than using technical typologies providing more information on water flow management characteristics. The outcomes are discussed to give an overview of the latest hotspots and gaps in this field of research, which gives some future directions/expectations to be followed in forthcoming investigations