Adaptations of Natural Killer Cells to Self-MHC Class I.

Natural Killer (NK) cells use germ line encoded receptors to detect diseased host cells. Despite the invariant recognition structures, NK cells have a significant ability to adapt to their surroundings, such as the presence or absence of MHC class I molecules. It has been assumed that this adaptation occurs during NK cell development, but recent findings show that mature NK cells can also adapt to the presence or absence of MHC class I molecules. Here, we summarize how NK cells adjust to changes in the expression of MHC class I molecules. We propose an extension of existing models, in which MHC class I recognition during NK cell development sequentially instructs and maintains NK cell function. The elucidation of the molecular basis of the two effects may identify ways to improve the fitness of NK cells and to prevent the loss of NK cell function due to persistent alterations in their environment

Document de consens per a la coinfecció pel Virus de la Immunodeficiència Humana i els Virus de les Hepatitis a Catalunya

VIH; Virus de les Hepatitis; CoinfeccióVIH; Virus de las Hepatitis; CoinfecciónHIV; Hepatitis virus; CoinfectionAquest manual ha estat preparat amb la intenció d'abordar els problemes que planteja el maneig de les persones malaltes amb coinfecció pel virus de la sida i els virus de l'hepatitis. A més, facilita als metges i metgesses assistencials els recursos necessaris per al diagnòstic i la presa de decisions terapèutiques, així com els criteris per ampliar la prevenció en tots aquells grups de població exposats a contraure aquestes infeccions.Este manual ha sido preparado con la intención de abordar los problemas que plantea el manejo de las personas enfermas con coinfección por el virus del sida y los virus de la hepatitis. Además, facilita a los médicos asistenciales los recursos necesarios para el diagnóstico y la toma de decisiones terapéuticas, así como los criterios para ampliar la prevención en todos aquellos grupos de población expuestos a contraer estas infecciones

Immunogenicity of pandemic influenza A H1N1/2009 adjuvanted vaccine in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients

The aim of this study was to assess the immunogenicity of a vaccine against this virus in a prospective cohort of transplanted pediatric patients without previous influenza infection who received one dose of MF59 (R)-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1/2009 vaccine. Seventeen patients who were being regularly followed up at the Outpatient Clinic of the Children's Transplant Unit (liver and kidney transplantation) in Hospital Universitari Vall dHebron (Barcelona) were included. Seroconversion was demonstrated in 15 of 17 (88.2%) vaccinated children. There were no rejection episodes or major adverse events. The MF59 (R)-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1/2009 vaccine was safe and elicited an adequate response