A human MAP kinase interactome.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways form the backbone of signal transduction in the mammalian cell. Here we applied a systematic experimental and computational approach to map 2,269 interactions between human MAPK-related proteins and other cellular machinery and to assemble these data into functional modules. Multiple lines of evidence including conservation with yeast supported a core network of 641 interactions. Using small interfering RNA knockdowns, we observed that approximately one-third of MAPK-interacting proteins modulated MAPK-mediated signaling. We uncovered the Na-H exchanger NHE1 as a potential MAPK scaffold, found links between HSP90 chaperones and MAPK pathways and identified MUC12 as the human analog to the yeast signaling mucin Msb2. This study makes available a large resource of MAPK interactions and clone libraries, and it illustrates a methodology for probing signaling networks based on functional refinement of experimentally derived protein-interaction maps

Poxvirus Protein N1L Targets the I-κB Kinase Complex, Inhibits Signaling to NF-κB by the Tumor Necrosis Factor Superfamily of Receptors, and Inhibits NF-κB and IRF3 Signaling by Toll-like Receptors

Poxviruses encode proteins that suppress host immune responses, including secreted decoy receptors for pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and the vaccinia virus proteins A46R and A52R that inhibit intracellular signaling by members of the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) and Toll-like receptor (TLR) family. In vivo, the TLRs mediate the innate immune response by serving as pathogen recognition receptors, whose oligomerized intracellular Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domains can initiate innate immune signaling. A family of TIR domain-containing adapter molecules transduces signals from engaged receptors that ultimately activate NF-kappaB and/or interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) to induce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Data base searches detected a significant similarity between the N1L protein of vaccinia virus and A52R, a poxvirus inhibitor of TIR signaling. Compared with other poxvirus virulence factors, the poxvirus N1L protein strongly affects virulence in vivo; however, the precise target of N1L was previously unknown. Here we show that N1L suppresses NF-kappaB activation following engagement of Toll/IL-1 receptors, tumor necrosis factor receptors, and lymphotoxin receptors. N1L inhibited receptor-, adapter-, TRAF-, and IKK-alpha and IKK-beta-dependent signaling to NF-kappaB. N1L associated with several components of the multisubunit I-kappaB kinase complex, most strongly associating with the kinase, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). Together these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that N1L disrupts signaling to NF-kappaB by Toll/IL-1Rs and TNF superfamily receptors by targeting the IKK complex for inhibition. Furthermore, N1L inhibited IRF3 signaling, which is also regulated by TBK1. These studies define a role for N1L as an immunomodulator of innate immunity by targeting components of NF-kappaB and IRF3 signaling pathways

Patterns of Diversity in Soft-Bodied Meiofauna: Dispersal Ability and Body Size Matter

Background: Biogeographical and macroecological principles are derived from patterns of distribution in large organisms, whereas microscopic ones have often been considered uninteresting, because of their supposed wide distribution. Here, after reporting the results of an intensive faunistic survey of marine microscopic animals (meiofauna) in Northern Sardinia, we test for the effect of body size, dispersal ability, and habitat features on the patterns of distribution of several groups.Methodology/Principal Findings: As a dataset we use the results of a workshop held at La Maddalena (Sardinia, Italy) in September 2010, aimed at studying selected taxa of soft-bodied meiofauna (Acoela, Annelida, Gastrotricha, Nemertodermatida, Platyhelminthes and Rotifera), in conjunction with data on the same taxa obtained during a previous workshop hosted at Tjärnö (Western Sweden) in September 2007. Using linear mixed effects models and model averaging while accounting for sampling bias and potential pseudoreplication, we found evidence that: (1) meiofaunal groups with more restricted distribution are the ones with low dispersal potential; (2) meiofaunal groups with higher probability of finding new species for science are the ones with low dispersal potential; (3) the proportion of the global species pool of each meiofaunal group present in each area at the regional scale is negatively related to body size, and positively related to their occurrence in the endobenthic habitat.Conclusion/Significance: Our macroecological analysis of meiofauna, in the framework of the ubiquity hypothesis for microscopic organisms, indicates that not only body size but mostly dispersal ability and also occurrence in the endobenthic habitat are important correlates of diversity for these understudied animals, with different importance at different spatial scales. Furthermore, since the Western Mediterranean is one of the best-studied areas in the world, the large number of undescribed species (37%) highlights that the census of marine meiofauna is still very far from being complete

Zika beyond the Americas: Travelers as sentinels of Zika virus transmission. A GeoSentinel analysis, 2012 to 2016.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) was first isolated in Africa; decades later, caused large outbreaks in the Pacific, and is considered endemic in Asia. We aim to describe ZIKV disease epidemiology outside the Americas, the importance of travelers as sentinels of disease transmission, and discrepancies in travel advisories from major international health organizations. Methods and findings This descriptive analysis using GeoSentinel Surveillance Network records involves sixty-four travel and tropical medicine clinics in 29 countries. Ill returned travelers with a confirmed or probable diagnosis of ZIKV disease acquired in Africa, Asia and the Pacific seen between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2016 are included, and the frequencies of demographic, trip, and diagnostic characteristics described. ZIKV was acquired in Asia (18), the Pacific (10) and Africa (1). For five countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cameroon), GeoSentinel patients were sentinel markers of recent Zika activity. Additionally, the first confirmed ZIKV infection acquired in Kiribati was reported to GeoSentinel (2015), and a probable case was reported from Timor Leste (April 2016), representing the only case known to date. Review of Zika situation updates from major international health authorities for country risk classifications shows heterogeneity in ZIKV country travel advisories. Conclusions: Travelers are integral to the global spread of ZIKV, serving as sentinel markers of disease activity. Although GeoSentinel data are collected by specialized clinics and do not capture all imported cases, we show that surveillance of imported infections by returned travelers augments local surveillance system data regarding ZIKV epidemiology and can assist with risk categorization by international authorities. However, travel advisories are variable due to risk uncertainties

Experimentalisierung des Politischen

Der Workshop geht von dem Befund aus, dass in der eskalierenden Phase gouvernementalen, territorialstaatlich gehegten Regierens, als die die erste Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts begriffen werden kann, eine Experimentalisierung des Politischen stattfindet. Dies betrifft sowohl Begriffe des Politischen an sich als auch ein von Sekuritätsdenken bestimmtes Regierungswissen. Mit dem Begriff des Experiments bleibt es trotz diverser Verunsicherungen epistemologischer und politiktheoretischer Natur möglich, mit Kontingentem zu operieren, ohne die Zweckorientierung aufzugeben oder im Numinosen zu versinken. Das Experiment galt dementsprechend künstlerischen und politischen Avantgarde-Bewegungen als Instrument innovativer, ja subversiver Gesellschafts- wie Selbstentwürfe. In diesen wurde das Dysfunktionale, die Störung, das Nicht-Wahrgenommene – also Bereiche, die traditionell mit Semantiken der Fiktion, der Phantasie, des Ästhetischen bekleidet worden waren – nicht länger ausgeschlossen, sondern nunmehr als integrale Bestandteil ihres Funktionierens identifziert. Andererseits führt die in den 20er Jahren aufkommende Ausweitung experimenteller Verfahren, psychotechnischer Prüfungen und Tests auf sozialpolitische Gebiete wie z.B. Erziehungsfragen, sozialmedizinische Maßnahmen, politische Kampagnen oder auch den Rundfunk zur Adaptierung experimenteller Forschungsmethoden für gouvernementale Regierungstechniken. In diesem Sinne wird es Hannah Arendt möglich, den Nationalsozialismus retrospektiv als eine gnadenlose &#8216;Experimentalisierung des Politischen&#8217;, als ein &#8216;Labor der Angst&#8217; zu beschreiben. Im Unterschied zu zahlreichen, in den letzten Jahren entstandenen wissenschaftshistorischen Arbeiten zu Experimentalkulturen und zu wissenssoziologischen Laborstudien geht es in diesem Workshop explizit darum, das gespannte Verhältnis zwischen Regierungswissen und Experiment zu sondieren, dies unter der Perspektive einer Zusammenschau naturwissenschaftlich-technischer und ästhetischer Verfahren und ihrer politischen wie philosophischen Implikationen, die, so die These, gemeinsam an einer Neukonfiguration der Semantiken des Experiments wie des Politischen arbeiten.Experimentalisierung des Politischen, workshop, ICI Berlin, 27–28 November 2008 <https://doi.org/10.25620/e081127

Association of the adaptor TANK with the IκB kinase (IKK) regulator NEMO connects IKK complexes with IKKε and TBK1 kinases

Canonical activation of NF-kappaB is mediated via phosphorylation of the inhibitory IkappaB proteins by the IkappaB kinase complex (IKK). IKK is composed of a heterodimer of the catalytic IKKalpha and IKKbeta subunits and a presumed regulatory protein termed NEMO (NF-kappaB essential modulator) or IKKgamma. NEMO/IKKgamma is indispensable for activation of the IKKs in response to many signals, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here we identify TANK (TRAF family member-associated NF-kappaB activator) as a NEMO/IKKgamma-interacting protein via yeast two-hybrid analyses. This interaction is confirmed in mammalian cells, and the domains required are mapped. TANK was previously shown to assist NF-kappaB activation in a complex with TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) or IKKepsilon, two kinases distantly related to IKKalpha/beta, but the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. Here we show that TBK1 and IKKepsilon synergize with TANK to promote interaction with the IKKs. The TANK binding domain within NEMO/IKKgamma is required for proper functioning of this IKK subunit. These results indicate that TANK can synergize with IKKepsilon or TBK1 to link them to IKK complexes, where the two kinases may modulate aspects of NF-kappaB activation