Use of Plasmodium falciparum culture-adapted field isolates for in vitro exflagellation-blocking assay

International audienceA major requirement for malaria elimination is the development of transmission-blocking interventions. In vitro transmission-blocking bioassays currently mostly rely on the use of very few Plasmodium falciparum reference laboratory strains isolated decades ago. To fill a piece of the gap between laboratory experimental models and natural systems, the purpose of this work was to determine if culture-adapted field isolates of P. falciparum are suitable for in vitro transmission-blocking bioassays targeting functional maturity of male gametocytes: exflagellation. Plasmodium falciparum isolates were adapted to in vitro culture before being used for in vitro gametocyte production. Maturation was assessed by microscopic observation of gametocyte morphology over time of culture and the functional viability of male gametocytes was assessed by microscopic counting of exflagellating gametocytes. Suitability for in vitro exflagellation-blocking bioassays was determined using dihydroartemisinin and methylene blue. In vitro gametocyte production was achieved using two isolates from French Guiana and two isolates from Cambodia. Functional maturity of male gametocytes was assessed by exflagellation observations and all four isolates could be used in exflagellation-blocking bioassays with adequate response to methylene blue and dihydroartemisinin. This work shows that in vitro culture-adapted P. falciparum field isolates of different genetic background, from South America and Southeast Asia, can successfully be used for bioassays targeting the male gametocyte to gamete transition, exflagellation

Using picture books in middle school geography classrooms

This capstone is an overview detailing why picture books are effective to use for middle school geography. It documents the advantages to using picture books. These include activating prior knowledge and building background information motivating and interesting students through emotional connections and relevance the power in the images and the opportunity picture books provide for differentiation. This capstone is a curriculum project and a list of picture books suggested for teacher use is provided along with a summary of each book and connection to the 2011 Minnesota Social Studies Standards for 8th Grade Global Studies. A section of instructional strategies and resources for teachers to use with different picture books is included

Australasian Sleep Association position statement on consensus and evidence based treatment for primary snoring

Primary snoring impacts a significant portion of the adult population and has the potential to significantly impair quality of life. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide evidence-based recommendations to assist Australasian practitioners in the management of adult patients who present with primary snoring without significant obstructive sleep apnoea. The Timetable, Methodology and Standards by which this Position Statement has been established is outlined in the Appendix S1. The main recommendations are: Weight loss, and reduced alcohol consumption should be recommended, where appropriate If clinical judgement dictates, benzodiazepine and opioid reduction or avoidance may be advised Positional therapy should be considered in supine dominant snorers In dentate patients, Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) should be recommended as a first line treatment following assessment by both an appropriate Dentist and Sleep physician Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices may be recommended in patients with primary snoring in those already committed to their use or willing to try Surgical treatment of primary snoring by an appropriately credentialled surgeon may be advised and includes nasal (adjunctive), palatal and other interventions. This position statement has been designed based on the best available current evidence and our combined expert clinical experience to facilitate the management of patients who present with primary snoring. It provides clinicians with a series of both non-surgical and surgical options with the aim of achieving optimal symptom control and patient outcomes. This is the first such set of recommendations to be established within Australasia and has also been reviewed and endorsed by the Australasian Sleep Association

PRR2, a pseudo-response regulator, promotes salicylic acid and camalexin accumulation during plant immunity

Calcium signalling mediated by Calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like (CML) proteins is critical to plant immunity. CaM and CML regulate a wide range of target proteins and cellular responses. While many CaM-binding proteins have been identified, few have been characterized for their specific role in plant immunity. Here, we report new data on the biological function of a CML-interacting partner, PRR2 (PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR 2), a plant specific transcription factor. Until now, the physiological relevance of PRR2 remained largely unknown. Using a reverse genetic strategy in A. thaliana, we identified PRR2 as a positive regulator of plant immunity. We propose that PRR2 contributes to salicylic acid (SA)-dependent responses when challenged with the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae. PRR2 is transcriptionally upregulated by SA and P. syringae, enhances SA biosynthesis and SA signalling responses; e.g. in response to P. syringae, PRR2 induces the production of SA and the accumulation of the defence-related protein PR1. Moreover, PRR2 overexpressing lines exhibit an enhanced production of camalexin, a phytoalexin that confers enhanced resistance against pathogens. Together, these data reveal the importance of PRR2 in plant immune responses against P. syringae and suggest a novel function for this particular plant specific transcription factor in plant physiology

Estágio curricular supervisionado: diversificando cenários e fortalecendo a interação ensino-serviço Práctica curricular supervisionada: diversificando escenarios y fortaleciendo la interacción enseñanza-servicio Supervised curricular clinical clerkship: diversifying settings and strenghtening teaching-service interaction

Relato de experiência do Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem da Unochapecó, apresentando a trajetória de implantação do estágio curricular supervisionado, visando destacar as contribuições referentes à ampliação do papel do enfermeiro através da diversificação dos cenários de prática e as possibilidades de fortalecimento da integração ensino-serviço. A partir de 2006 houve uma ampliação significativa da inserção dos estudantes com ações de cuidado, gerência e educação nos cenários da rede de atenção básica, escolas e espaços da comunidade. Isso viabilizou maior inserção dos estudantes no contexto social, possibilitando seu aprimoramento nas habilidades requeridas ao profissional enfermeiro. Por outro lado, fortaleceu relações de parceria entre a instituição formadora, profissionais, gestores e usuários, ampliando as possibilidades de integração ensino serviço.<br>Relato de la experiencia del Curso de Graduación en Enfermería de la Unochapecó, presentando la trayectoria de implantación de la práctica curricular supervisada, buscando señalar las contribuciones referentes a la ampliación del papel del enfermero a través de la diversificación de los Escenarios de la Práctica y las posibilidades de fortalecimiento de la integración enseñanza-servicio. A partir del 2006 hubo una ampliación significativa en la inserción de los estudiantes con acciones de cuidado, gerencia y educación en los escenarios de la red de atención básica, escuelas y espacios de la comunidad. Eso permitió una mayor inserción de los mismos en el contexto social, posibilitando su perfeccionamiento en las habilidades que le son requeridas al profesional enfermero. Por otro lado, fortaleció las relaciones de cooperación entre la institución formadora, profesionales, gestores y usuarios, ampliando así, las posibilidades de integración enseñanza/ servicio.<br>Experience report of the Unochapecó Graduation Nursing Course presenting the implantation trajectory of the supervised curricular practical professional training, striving for the stand out of the contributions referring to the enlargement of the nurse role through the diversification of the practical settings and the possibilities of strengthening of the integration teaching-service. From 2006 on, there was a meaningful enlargement on the insertion of the students with care actions, management and education in the settings of the basic attention system, schools, and community spaces. This made a greater insertion of the students in the social context possible, making feasible its improvement in the abilities required to the professional nurse. On the other hand, it fortified the partnership relations among the graduating institution, professionals, managers and users, enlarging the possibilities of integration education service

Complex Interplay of Genes Underlies Invasiveness in Fibrosarcoma Progression Model.

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumours, with a great variability in their clinical behaviour. While our knowledge of sarcoma initiation has advanced rapidly in recent years, relatively little is known about mechanisms of sarcoma progression. JUN-murine fibrosarcoma progression series consists of four sarcoma cell lines, JUN-1, JUN-2, JUN-2fos-3, and JUN-3. JUN-1 and -2 were established from a single tumour initiated in a H2K/v-jun transgenic mouse, JUN-3 originates from a different tumour in the same animal, and JUN-2fos-3 results from a targeted in vitro transformation of the JUN-2 cell line. The JUN-1, -2, and -3 cell lines represent a linear progression from the least transformed JUN-2 to the most transformed JUN-3, with regard to all the transformation characteristics studied, while the JUN-2fos-3 cell line exhibits a unique transformation mode, with little deregulation of cell growth and proliferation, but pronounced motility and invasiveness. The invasive sarcoma sublines JUN-2fos-3 and JUN-3 show complex metabolic profiles, with activation of both mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis and a significant increase in spared respiratory capacity. The specific transcriptomic profile of invasive sublines features very complex biological relationships across the identified genes and proteins, with accentuated autocrine control of motility and angiogenesis. Pharmacologic inhibition of one of the autocrine motility factors identified, Ccl8, significantly diminished both motility and invasiveness of the highly transformed fibrosarcoma cell. This progression series could be greatly valuable for deciphering crucial aspects of sarcoma progression and defining new prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets