Empowering Do-it-yourself Biology by Doing-it-together: Collective Responsibility in Maximizing Benefit and Mitigating Risk

Rapid technological advances in genome editing and synthetic biology have created an unprecedented ability for science to be conducted outside traditional research institutions. This open science movement, known as do-it-yourself biology (DIY Bio) has gained significant traction and has grown exponentially in the last decade with over 160 active groups and thousands of DIY Biologists from a range of backgrounds worldwide. As a result, the movement has become a platform for biotechnology entrepreneurship and an instrument for discovery-based science education and outreach (Kolodziejczyk 2017; Landrain et al. 2013). The COVID-19 pandemic has also further emphasised the potential positive impact that the DIY Bio community can bring towards enhancing the innovative capacity of the larger scientific enterprise. As DIY biologists and scientists from traditional institutions share experimental data and designs on various platforms including online forums in response to the current pandemic, it is becoming evident that the scientific ecosystem has much to gain by being more inclusive. However, the inherent fast-evolving, open and relatively unregulated nature of DIY Bio creates substantial safety and security concerns. Here, we discuss the benefits and risks of DIY Bio and how multiple stakeholders, especially the government and academia, might work together with the DIY Bio community to co-develop global and locally contextualized policies, regulatory frameworks and action plans for maximum benefit and minimum risk.The Global Young Academy receives its core funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the GYA DIY Biology Working Group’s activities have been co-funded by the Volkswagen Foundation

CD56negCD16+ NK cells are activated mature NK cells with impaired effector function during HIV-1 infection

BACKGROUND: A subset of CD3(neg)CD56(neg)CD16⁺ Natural Killer (NK) cells is highly expanded during chronic HIV-1 infection. The role of this subset in HIV-1 pathogenesis remains unclear. The lack of NK cell lineage-specific markers has complicated the study of minor NK cell subpopulations. RESULTS: Using CD7 as an additional NK cell marker, we found that CD3(neg)CD56(neg)CD16⁺ cells are a heterogeneous population comprised of CD7⁺ NK cells and CD7(neg) non-classical myeloid cells. CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells are significantly expanded in HIV-1 infection. CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells are mature and express KIRs, the C-type lectin-like receptors NKG2A and NKG2C, and natural cytotoxicity receptors similar to CD7⁺CD56⁺CD16⁺ NK cells. CD7⁺CD56(neg) NK cells in healthy donors produced minimal IFNγ following K562 target cell or IL-12 plus IL-18 stimulation; however, they degranulated in response to K562 stimulation similar to CD7⁺CD56⁺ NK cells. HIV-1 infection resulted in reduced IFNγ secretion following K562 or cytokine stimulation by both NK cell subsets compared to healthy donors. Decreased granzyme B and perforin expression and increased expression of CD107a in the absence of stimulation, particularly in HIV-1-infected subjects, suggest that CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells may have recently engaged target cells. Furthermore, CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells have significantly increased expression of CD95, a marker of NK cell activation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells are activated, mature NK cells that may have recently engaged target cells

Mitigating losses: how scientific organisations can help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career researchers

Scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and to build international partnerships as part of science diplomacy is a well-established notion. The international flow of people and ideas has played an important role in the advancement of the ‘Sciences’ and the current pandemic scenario has drawn attention towards the genuine need for a stronger role of science diplomacy, science advice and science communication. In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, visible interactions across science, policy, science communication to the public and diplomacy worldwide have promptly emerged. These interactions have benefited primarily the disciplines of knowledge that are directly informing the pandemic response, while other scientific fields have been relegated. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists of all disciplines and from all world regions are discussed here, with a focus on early-career researchers (ECRs), as a vulnerable population in the research system. Young academies and ECR-driven organisations could suggest ECR-powered solutions and actions that could have the potential to mitigate these effects on ECRs working on disciplines not related to the pandemic response. In relation with governments and other scientific organisations, they can have an impact on strengthening and creating fairer scientific systems for ECRs at the national, regional, and global level

Dynamics of Mask Use as a Prevention Strategy against SARS-CoV-2 in Panama.

Early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many national public health authorities implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate disease outbreaks. Panamá established mandatory mask use two months after its first documented case. Initial compliance was high, but diverse masks were used in public areas. We studied behavioral dynamics of mask use through the first two COVID-19 waves in Panama, to improve the implementation of effective, low-cost public health containment measures when populations are exposed to novel air-borne pathogens. Mask use behavior was recorded from pedestrians in four Panamanian populations (August to December 2020). We recorded facial coverings and if used, the type of mask, and gender and estimated age of the wearer. Our results showed that people were highly compliant (>95%) with mask mandates and demonstrated important population-level behaviors: (1) decreasing use of cloth masks over time, and increasing use of surgical masks; (2) mask use was 3-fold lower in suburban neighborhoods than other public areas and (3) young people were least likely to wear masks. Results help focus on highly effective, low-cost, public health interventions for managing and controlling a pandemic. Considerations of behavioral preferences for different masks, relative to pricing and availability, are essential for optimizing public health policies. Policies to increase the availability of effective masks, and behavioral nudges to increase acceptance, and to facilitate mask usage, during the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and for future pandemics of respiratory pathogens, are key tools, especially for nations lagging in access to expensive vaccines and pharmacological approaches

Mitigating losses: how scientific organisations can help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career researchers.

Scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and to build international partnerships as part of science diplomacy is a well-established notion. The international flow of people and ideas has played an important role in the advancement of the 'Sciences' and the current pandemic scenario has drawn attention towards the genuine need for a stronger role of science diplomacy, science advice and science communication. In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, visible interactions across science, policy, science communication to the public and diplomacy worldwide have promptly emerged. These interactions have benefited primarily the disciplines of knowledge that are directly informing the pandemic response, while other scientific fields have been relegated. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists of all disciplines and from all world regions are discussed here, with a focus on early-career researchers (ECRs), as a vulnerable population in the research system. Young academies and ECR-driven organisations could suggest ECR-powered solutions and actions that could have the potential to mitigate these effects on ECRs working on disciplines not related to the pandemic response. In relation with governments and other scientific organisations, they can have an impact on strengthening and creating fairer scientific systems for ECRs at the national, regional, and global level

Latin America: Reduced S&T Investment Puts Sustainable Development at Risk

Latin America is home to more than 600 million people and has considerable natural and human resources. However, investment in science and technology (S&T) lags far behind that in developed countries. This gap represents a barrier to the development of economies based on knowledge and hampers the region's ability to tackle environmental and social problems. This lack of investment is evident in the extreme case of Venezuela, where much of the science workforce has fled economic chaos, but also in every Latin American country, including science powers such as Brazil and Argentina, where federal budgets in science, technology and education have been drastically reduced in recent years. Investments in S&T foster cooperation, commerce and good will and enhance resilience in the face of environmental and social turmoil. Therefore, scientists must start to actively engage governments and encourage long-term spending in S&T to support the development of Latin American societies.Universidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaSistema Nacional de Investigación/[]/SNI/SENACYT/PanamáUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno (EEAFBM)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL

CD56negCD16+NK cells are activated mature NK cells with impaired effector function during HIV-1 infection

BACKGROUND: A subset of CD3(neg)CD56(neg)CD16(+) Natural Killer (NK) cells is highly expanded during chronic HIV-1 infection. The role of this subset in HIV-1 pathogenesis remains unclear. The lack of NK cell lineage-specific markers has complicated the study of minor NK cell subpopulations. RESULTS: Using CD7 as an additional NK cell marker, we found that CD3(neg)CD56(neg)CD16(+) cells are a heterogeneous population comprised of CD7(+) NK cells and CD7(neg) non-classical myeloid cells. CD7(+)CD56(neg)CD16(+) NK cells are significantly expanded in HIV-1 infection. CD7(+)CD56(neg)CD16(+) NK cells are mature and express KIRs, the C-type lectin-like receptors NKG2A and NKG2C, and natural cytotoxicity receptors similar to CD7(+)CD56(+)CD16(+) NK cells. CD7(+)CD56(neg) NK cells in healthy donors produced minimal IFNγ following K562 target cell or IL-12 plus IL-18 stimulation; however, they degranulated in response to K562 stimulation similar to CD7(+)CD56(+) NK cells. HIV-1 infection resulted in reduced IFNγ secretion following K562 or cytokine stimulation by both NK cell subsets compared to healthy donors. Decreased granzyme B and perforin expression and increased expression of CD107a in the absence of stimulation, particularly in HIV-1-infected subjects, suggest that CD7(+)CD56(neg)CD16(+) NK cells may have recently engaged target cells. Furthermore, CD7(+)CD56(neg)CD16(+) NK cells have significantly increased expression of CD95, a marker of NK cell activation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, CD7(+)CD56(neg)CD16(+) NK cells are activated, mature NK cells that may have recently engaged target cells

Editorial: NK Cells in Human Diseases: Friends or Foes?

International audienc

Palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic approach of the middle bronze age (level MIR 4) from El Mirador Cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain)

This article undertakes a palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstruction of the Middle Bronze Age on the basis of a study of the small mammals from level MIR 4 of El Mirador Cave. The chronology of the level under study is 3,720-3,140 cal. yr BP. The palaeoenvironmental analysis indicates that it represents the period of transition between the Subboreal and the Subatlantic, during which prevailed a very humid habitat, dominated by woodland and wet meadows. Otherwise, the palaeoclimatic analysis, carried out using the Mutual Climatic Range method (MCR), reveals that level MIR 4 falls within an interval in which the temperatures were very similar to present-day ones, while mean annual precipitation was notably higher than at present, i.e. 485 mm above the present level for Burgos.Cet article propose une reconstitution paléoenvironnementale et paléoclimatique de l’Âge du Bronze moyen à partir de l’étude des petits mammifères du niveau MIR 4 de la grotte El Mirador. La chronologie du niveau étudié est comprise entre 3 720-3 140 ans cal. BP. L’analyse paléoenvironnementale indique qu’il s’agit d’une période de transition entre le Subboréal et le Subatlantique, où prédomine un habitat très humide, dominé par la forêt et les prairies humides. Par ailleurs, l’analyse paléoclimatique, basée sur la méthode du Domaine Climatique Commun (MCR) révèle que le niveau MIR 4 appartient à un intervalle dans lequel les températures sont similaires aux températures actuelles, alors que les précipitations moyennes annuelles étaient notablement supérieures, i.e. 485 mm au dessus des moyennes actuelles pour Burgos