10,480 research outputs found
Cytokine Profile of Mouse Vaginal and Uterus Lymphocytes at Estrus and Diestrus
It is known that sex hormones regulate IgA and IgG levels in the female
reproductive tract. Moreover, antigen presentation by uterine and vaginal epithelial
cells is also under strict hormonal control. The effect of the estrous cycle on
cytokine secretion by vaginal and uterine lymphoid cells has been examined in
mice using simultaneous staining for cytoplasmic cytokines and surface markers
after ex vivo culture with PMA/ionomycin in the presence of Brefeldin A, and flow
cytometry analysis. Two different mice strains, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, were
used. The most relevant finding was the increase in the proportion of vaginal cells
secreting IFN-γ at diestrus in both strains of mice. Other cytokines (IL-2 and IL-4) as
well as some T cell subsets seemed to be modified in a strain dependent
fashion. Data also suggest that NK cells are at least partially responsible for
IFN-γ secretion. Our data indicate that vaginal and uterus lymphoid cells isolated
at diestrus were in vivo activated to secrete cytokines
after ex vivo
culture. IFN-γ seems to be the key cytokine, since it increases in both strains of mice
Hydra tropomyosin TROP1 is expressed in head-specific epithelial cells and is a major component of the cytoskeletal structure that anchors nematocytes
A cDNA clone encoding a 253 amino acid tropomyosin was
isolated from
Hydra in a differential screen for headspecific
genes. The Hydra tropomyosin gene, designated
trop1, is a single copy gene, lacks introns and is strongly
expressed in tentacle-specific epithelial cells. Analysis of
protein synthesis in head and gastric tissue indicated a high
rate of tropomyosin synthesis in head tissue. Immunolocalization
of tropomyosin in tentacle tissue revealed a
cushion-like tropomyosin-containing structure within
battery cells at the base of nematocytes. The structure
appears to form part of the cytoskeletal anchor for nematocytes.
Tropomyosin cushions were also observed in
epithelial cells along the body column, which contain
mounted stenotele nematocytes
Study of the stress intensity factors in the bulk of the material with synchrotron diffraction
Artículo de Proceedings de Congreso Internacional Fatigue2017In this work we present the results of a hybrid experimental and
analytical approach for estimating the stress intensity factor. It uses the
elastic strains within the bulk obtained by synchrotron X-ray diffraction
data. The stress intensity factor is calculated using a multi-point overdeterministic
method where the number of experimental data points is
higher than the number of unknowns describing the elastic field
surrounding the crack-tip. The tool is tested on X-ray strain
measurements collected on a bainitic steel. In contrast to surface
techniques the approach provides insights into the crack tip mechanics
deep within the sample.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. The authors are grateful to the ESRF for ID15 beamtime awarded under MA-1483. Financial
support of Universidad de Malaga through Plan Propio, Junta de Andalucía through Proyectos de
Excelencia grant reference TEP-3244, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR)
and Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad through grant reference MAT2016-76951-C2-2-P is
also acknowledged. PJW acknowledges an ERC advanced grant
Nanomedicines for the delivery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)
Microbial infections are still among the major public health concerns since several yeasts and fungi, and other pathogenic microorganisms, are responsible for continuous growth of infections and drug resistance against bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance rate is fostering the need to develop new strategies against drug-resistant superbugs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptide-based molecules of 5–100 amino acids in length, with potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. They are part of the innate immune system, which can represent a minimal risk of resistance development. These characteristics contribute to the description of these molecules as promising new molecules in the development of new antimicrobial drugs. However, efforts in developing new medicines have not resulted in any decrease of drug resistance yet. Thus, a technological approach on improving existing drugs is gaining special interest. Nanomedicine provides easy access to innovative carriers, which ultimately enable the design and development of targeted delivery systems of the most efficient drugs with increased efficacy and reduced toxicity. Based on performance, successful experiments, and considerable market prospects, nanotechnology will undoubtedly lead a breakthrough in biomedical field also for infectious diseases, as there are several nanotechnological approaches that exhibit important roles in restoring antibiotic activity against resistant bacteria.Elena Sanchez-Lopez belongs to 2017SGR-1477. Elena Sanchez-Lopez, Marta Espina and Maria L. GarciaacknowledgethesupportfromtheInstituteofNanoscienceandNanotechnology(ART2018project). Eliana B. Souto acknowledges the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT) and European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE) for the projects M-ERA-NET-0004/2015-PAIRED and UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-funded by FEDER, under the partnership Agreement PT2020. Maria C. Teixeira wishes to acknowledge FCT for the individual fellowship (PD/BDE/135086/2017).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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Genome-wide analyses of cassava Pathogenesis-related (PR) gene families reveal core transcriptome responses to whitefly infestation, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid.
BACKGROUND:Whiteflies are a threat to cassava (Manihot esculenta), an important staple food in many tropical/subtropical regions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating cassava's responses against this pest is crucial for developing control strategies. Pathogenesis-related (PR) protein families are an integral part of plant immunity. With the availability of whole genome sequences, the annotation and expression programs of the full complement of PR genes in an organism can now be achieved. An understanding of the responses of the entire complement of PR genes during biotic stress and to the defense hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), is lacking. Here, we analyze the responses of cassava PR genes to whiteflies, SA, JA, and other biotic aggressors. RESULTS:The cassava genome possesses 14 of the 17 plant PR families, with a total of 447 PR genes. A cassava PR gene nomenclature is proposed. Phylogenetic relatedness of cassava PR proteins to each other and to homologs in poplar, rice and Arabidopsis identified cassava-specific PR gene family expansions. The temporal programs of PR gene expression in response to the whitefly (Aleurotrachelus socialis) in four whitefly-susceptible cassava genotypes showed that 167 of the 447 PR genes were regulated after whitefly infestation. While the timing of PR gene expression varied, over 37% of whitefly-regulated PR genes were downregulated in all four genotypes. Notably, whitefly-responsive PR genes were largely coordinately regulated by SA and JA. The analysis of cassava PR gene expression in response to five other biotic stresses revealed a strong positive correlation between whitefly and Xanthomonas axonopodis and Cassava Brown Streak Virus responses and negative correlations between whitefly and Cassava Mosaic Virus responses. Finally, certain associations between PR genes in cassava expansions and response to biotic stresses were observed among PR families. CONCLUSIONS:This study represents the first genome-wide characterization of PR genes in cassava. PR gene responses to six biotic stresses and to SA and JA are demonstrably different to other angiosperms. We propose that our approach could be applied in other species to fully understand PR gene regulation by pathogens, pests and the canonical defense hormones SA and JA
Characterization of HIV-1 RNA forms in the plasma of patients undergoing successful HAART
An assay to characterize plasma human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) sequences for patients with low viral loads was developed by combining the selective binding of anti-CD44 MicroBeads with a nested RT-PCR targeting the env C2V4 region. Sequences were obtained from 10 of 20 HIV+ patients who had viral loads below 48 copies/ml. Sequences derived from plasma were compared to those from CD14+ CD16 +monocytes and CD4+ T cells. The plasma sequences were most closely related to those amplified from monocytes, suggesting that during successful antiretroviral therapy, the predominant plasma virus originates from myeloid cells. By characterizing HIV-1 RNA sequences from 8 ml of plasma while avoiding multiple steps, which can lead to contamination and deterioration, this method can help elucidate the viral forms in patients with therapeutically suppressed HIV-1. Understanding the source of residual viremia is crucial in developing approaches for viral eradication
Switching from a protease inhibitor-based regimen to a dolutegravir-based regimen : a randomized clinical trial to determine the effect on peripheral blood and ileum biopsies from antiretroviral therapy-suppressed human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals
Background: Optimization of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can impact the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir. We evaluated the effect on the HIV reservoir in peripheral blood and ileum biopsies in patients switching from boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r)-based therapy to dolutegravir (DTG)-based therapy.
Methods: Impact of Integrase-inhibitor DOlutegravir On the viral Reservoir (INDOOR) is a phase 4 open-label clinical trial that randomly included 42 HIV type 1-infected individuals on effective cART: 20 who switched from PI/r-based to DTG-based cART (switch group), and 22 who remained in PI/r-based regimens (control group). We analyzed blood and ileum biopsies to quantify episomal, total, and integrated HIV DNA, cell-associated HIV RNA, residual plasma viremia, T-cell subsets, cell activation, and inflammation markers.
Results: There were no related adverse events or treatment discontinuations due to drug intolerance. The HIV reservoir was consistently larger in ileal than in peripheral CD4(+) T cells in both groups (P <.01). Residual viremia in plasma decreased in the switch group (P =.03). However, we did not observe significant longitudinal changes in low-level viral replication, total and integrated HIV reservoir, HIV transcription, T-cell maturation subsets, immunoactivation markers, inflammatory soluble proteins, or cellular markers of latently infected cells.
Conclusions: The INDOOR study is the first evaluation of changes in HIV reservoir size in ileum biopsies and in peripheral blood in individuals switched from PI/r- to DTG-based cART. Although this switch was safe and well tolerated, it had no impact on a large array of immunological and inflammatory markers or on HIV reservoir markers in peripheral or in ileal CD4(+) T cells
Diversity of nickel ligands in nodule cytosol, nickel transport, and expression of a nickel-dependent enzyme in endosymbiotic bacteria as affected by the legume host
Provision of metals to endosymbiotic bacteria represents a potential limitation for metalloenzyme synthesis inside legume nodules. Metal ions are usually bound to organic ligands in the cell cytoplasm, and the nature of such metal-ligand complexes might affect metal availability. We have observed a strong effect of the legume host on hydrogenase synthesis when the same Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain establishes a symbiotic interaction with pea (Pisum sativum) or lentil (Lens sculenta) plants. These data, along with the different phenotypes of mutants altered in nickel (Ni) transport in these hosts, suggest a role for the chemical form of Ni on metal provision to the bacteroid. The biochemical analysis of cytosolic fractions of pea and lentil nodules has revealed the different nature and concentration of organic ligands chelating Ni in these host
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