Retrospective assessment of the antigenic similarity of egg-propagated and cell culture-propagated reference influenza viruses as compared with circulating viruses across influenza seasons 2002–2003 to 2017–2018

Producción CientíficaSuboptimal vaccine effectiveness against seasonal influenza is a significant public health concern, partly explained by antigenic differences between vaccine viruses and viruses circulating in the environment. Haemagglutinin mutations within vaccine viruses acquired during serial passage in eggs have been identified as a source of antigenic variation between vaccine and circulating viruses. This study retrospectively compared the antigenic similarity of circulating influenza isolates with egg- and cell-propagated reference viruses to assess any observable trends over a 16-year period. Using annual and interim reports published by the Worldwide Influenza Centre, London, for the 2002–2003 to 2017–2018 influenza seasons, we assessed the proportions of circulating viruses which showed antigenic similarity to reference viruses by season. Egg-propagated reference viruses were well matched against circulating viruses for A/H1N1 and B/Yamagata. However, A/H3N2 and B/Victoria cell-propagated reference viruses appeared to be more antigenically similar to circulating A/H3N2 and B/Victoria viruses than egg-propagated reference viruses. These data support the possibility that A/H3N2 and B/Victoria viruses are relatively more prone to egg-adaptive mutation. Cell-propagated A/H3N2 and B/Victoria reference viruses were more antigenically similar to circulating A/H3N2 and B/Victoria viruses over a 16-year period than were egg-propagated reference viruses

Variation in Base-Substitution Mutation in Experimental and Natural Lineages of Caenorhabditis Nematodes

Variation among lineages in the mutation process has the potential to impact diverse biological processes ranging from susceptibilities to genetic disease to the mode and tempo of molecular evolution. The combination of high-throughput DNA sequencing (HTS) with mutation-accumulation (MA) experiments has provided a powerful approach to genome-wide mutation analysis, though insights into mutational variation have been limited by the vast evolutionary distances among the few species analyzed. We performed a HTS analysis of MA lines derived from four Caenorhabditis nematode natural genotypes: C. elegans N2 and PB306 and C. briggsae HK104 and PB800. Total mutation rates did not differ among the four sets of MA lines. A mutational bias toward G:C→A:T transitions and G:C→T:A transversions was observed in all four sets of MA lines. Chromosome-specific rates were mostly stable, though there was some evidence for a slightly elevated X chromosome mutation rate in PB306. Rates were homogeneous among functional coding sequence types and across autosomal cores, arms, and tips. Mutation spectra were similar among the four MA line sets but differed significantly when compared with patterns of natural base-substitution polymorphism for 13/14 comparisons performed. Our findings show that base-substitution mutation processes in these closely related animal lineages are mostly stable but differ from natural polymorphism patterns in these two species

Safety of procuring research tissue during a clinically indicated kidney biopsy from patients with lupus: data from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership RA/SLE Network

Objectives In lupus nephritis the pathological diagnosis from tissue retrieved during kidney biopsy drives treatment and management. Despite recent approval of new drugs, complete remission rates remain well under aspirational levels, necessitating identification of new therapeutic targets by greater dissection of the pathways to tissue inflammation and injury. This study assessed the safety of kidney biopsies in patients with SLE enrolled in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership, a consortium formed to molecularly deconstruct nephritis.Methods 475 patients with SLE across 15 clinical sites in the USA consented to obtain tissue for research purposes during a clinically indicated kidney biopsy. Adverse events (AEs) were documented for 30 days following the procedure and were determined to be related or unrelated by all site investigators. Serious AEs were defined according to the National Institutes of Health reporting guidelines.Results 34 patients (7.2%) experienced a procedure-related AE: 30 with haematoma, 2 with jets, 1 with pain and 1 with an arteriovenous fistula. Eighteen (3.8%) experienced a serious AE requiring hospitalisation; four patients (0.8%) required a blood transfusion related to the kidney biopsy. At one site where the number of cores retrieved during the biopsy was recorded, the mean was 3.4 for those who experienced a related AE (n=9) and 3.07 for those who did not experience any AE (n=140). All related AEs resolved.Conclusions Procurement of research tissue should be considered feasible, accompanied by a complication risk likely no greater than that incurred for standard clinical purposes. In the quest for targeted treatments personalised based on molecular findings, enhanced diagnostics beyond histology will likely be required

Kommunaler Sport

Breuer C, Hallmann K, Meier R, Wicker P. Kommunaler Sport. In: Woll A, Mess F, Haag H, eds. Handbuch Evaluation im Sport. Beiträge zur Lehre und Forschung im Sport. Vol 177. Schorndorf: Hofmann; 2010: 144-154

Sustainable management of trace element contaminated soils – Development of a decision tool system and its evaluation for practical application (SUMATECS) - Final Research Report

The development of “gentle”, in-situ remediation technologies (i.e. phytoremediation, in situ immobilisation, etc.) has been under intensive research over the last few decades. A great deal of progress has been achieved at the experimental level, but the application of these technologies as practical solutions is still at its early stage. First; methods for determination of the trace element (metals and non-metals) fractions relevant for their ecotoxicology (i.e., the bioavailable fraction) still have their limitations since they may insufficiently reflect the potential risks. Second, a number of gentle in-situ remediation options are available and thus a decision tool system has to be developed allowing to choose the most suitable technique. Third, the application of gentle remediation options may have significant implications for the environment and the socio-economic situation of the local population. TECS (trace element contaminated soils) management moved into a new century where environmental decisions must be ‘socially-robust’ within a context of sustainable development and is a part of the conceptual framework “Risk-based land management”. All efforts need to ensure management and/or remediation is affordable, feasible, effective and sustainable. The aim of this project was to summarise the current state of the art using data from literature (SCI journals, project reports) and from a questionaire that has been sent to all kind of experts involved in remeddiation of trace element contaminated soils (scientists, stakeholders, policy makers, etc.). All collected information was used to identify the current status of research and application in Europe and to (i) derive decision tool systems, remediation scenarios including the potential impacts on the local environment and (ii) define further research needs

Sustainable management of trace element contaminated soils – Development of a decision tool system and its evaluation for practical application (SUMATECS) - Final Research Report

The development of “gentle”, in-situ remediation technologies (i.e. phytoremediation, in situ immobilisation, etc.) has been under intensive research over the last few decades. A great deal of progress has been achieved at the experimental level, but the application of these technologies as practical solutions is still at its early stage. First; methods for determination of the trace element (metals and non-metals) fractions relevant for their ecotoxicology (i.e., the bioavailable fraction) still have their limitations since they may insufficiently reflect the potential risks. Second, a number of gentle in-situ remediation options are available and thus a decision tool system has to be developed allowing to choose the most suitable technique. Third, the application of gentle remediation options may have significant implications for the environment and the socio-economic situation of the local population. TECS (trace element contaminated soils) management moved into a new century where environmental decisions must be ‘socially-robust’ within a context of sustainable development and is a part of the conceptual framework “Risk-based land management”. All efforts need to ensure management and/or remediation is affordable, feasible, effective and sustainable. The aim of this project was to summarise the current state of the art using data from literature (SCI journals, project reports) and from a questionaire that has been sent to all kind of experts involved in remeddiation of trace element contaminated soils (scientists, stakeholders, policy makers, etc.). All collected information was used to identify the current status of research and application in Europe and to (i) derive decision tool systems, remediation scenarios including the potential impacts on the local environment and (ii) define further research needs

Safety of procuring research tissue during a clinically indicated kidney biopsy from patients with lupus: data from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership RA/SLE Network.

In lupus nephritis the pathological diagnosis from tissue retrieved during kidney biopsy drives treatment and management. Despite recent approval of new drugs, complete remission rates remain well under aspirational levels, necessitating identification of new therapeutic targets by greater dissection of the pathways to tissue inflammation and injury. This study assessed the safety of kidney biopsies in patients with SLE enrolled in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership, a consortium formed to molecularly deconstruct nephritis. 475 patients with SLE across 15 clinical sites in the USA consented to obtain tissue for research purposes during a clinically indicated kidney biopsy. Adverse events (AEs) were documented for 30 days following the procedure and were determined to be related or unrelated by all site investigators. Serious AEs were defined according to the National Institutes of Health reporting guidelines. 34 patients (7.2%) experienced a procedure-related AE: 30 with haematoma, 2 with jets, 1 with pain and 1 with an arteriovenous fistula. Eighteen (3.8%) experienced a serious AE requiring hospitalisation; four patients (0.8%) required a blood transfusion related to the kidney biopsy. At one site where the number of cores retrieved during the biopsy was recorded, the mean was 3.4 for those who experienced a related AE (n=9) and 3.07 for those who did not experience any AE (n=140). All related AEs resolved. Procurement of research tissue should be considered feasible, accompanied by a complication risk likely no greater than that incurred for standard clinical purposes. In the quest for targeted treatments personalised based on molecular findings, enhanced diagnostics beyond histology will likely be required