TH17 cells promote microbial killing and innate immune sensing of DNA via interleukin 26.

Interleukin 17-producing helper T cells (TH17 cells) have a major role in protection against infections and in mediating autoimmune diseases, yet the mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. We found that interleukin 26 (IL-26), a human TH17 cell-derived cytokine, is a cationic amphipathic protein that kills extracellular bacteria via membrane-pore formation. Furthermore, TH17 cell-derived IL-26 formed complexes with bacterial DNA and self-DNA released by dying bacteria and host cells. The resulting IL-26-DNA complexes triggered the production of type I interferon by plasmacytoid dendritic cells via activation of Toll-like receptor 9, but independently of the IL-26 receptor. These findings provide insights into the potent antimicrobial and proinflammatory function of TH17 cells by showing that IL-26 is a natural human antimicrobial that promotes immune sensing of bacterial and host cell death

Patient-Specific Bioimplants and Reconstruction Plates for Mandibular Defects: Production Workflow and In Vivo Large Animal Model Study

A major challenge with extensive craniomaxillofacial bone reconstruction is the limited donor-site availability to reconstruct defects predictably and accurately according to the anatomical shape of the patient. Here, patient-specific composite bioimplants, consisting of cross-linked poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) networks and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), are tested in vivo in twelve Gottingen minipigs in a large mandibular continuity defect model. The 25 mm defects are supported by patient-specific titanium reconstruction plates and receive either osteoconductive composite bioimplants (PTMC+TCP), neat polymer network bioimplants (PTMC), autologous bone segments (positive control), or are left empty (negative control). Postoperatively, defects treated with bioimplants show evident ossification at 24 weeks. Histopathologic evaluation reveals that neat PTMC bioimplant surfaces are largely covered with fibrous tissue, while in the PTMC+TCP bioimplants, bone attached directly to the implant surface shows good osteoconduction and histological signs of osteoinductivity. However, PTMC+TCP bioimplants are associated with high incidence of necrosis and infection, possibly due to rapid resorption and/or particle size of the used beta-TCP. The study highlights the importance of testing bone regeneration implants in a clinically relevant large animal model and at the in situ reconstruction site, since results on small animal models and studies in nonloadbearing areas do not translate directly.Peer reviewe

Electrons, Photons, and Force: Quantitative Single-Molecule Measurements from Physics to Biology

Single-molecule measurement techniques have illuminated unprecedented details of chemical behavior, including observations of the motion of a single molecule on a surface, and even the vibration of a single bond within a molecule. Such measurements are critical to our understanding of entities ranging from single atoms to the most complex protein assemblies. We provide an overview of the strikingly diverse classes of measurements that can be used to quantify single-molecule properties, including those of single macromolecules and single molecular assemblies, and discuss the quantitative insights they provide. Examples are drawn from across the single-molecule literature, ranging from ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy studies of adsorbate diffusion on surfaces to fluorescence studies of protein conformational changes in solution

Oklahoma

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Oklahoma City Business and professional Women's Club will hear M. Scott Nickson Jr., trust officer of a city bank, speak on " Estate planning" at its dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the patrician room of O'Mealey's Cafeteria.

Figure 2 in Changes in a soil microarthropod community in the vicinity of dominant tree species under trampling management at the Safari Zoological Center, Israel

Figure 2 The abundance (individuals per 10 g dry soil substrate; mean ± SD) of soil microarthropod taxa extracted from core samples at different treatment sites at the Safari Zoological Center, Israel, December 2013. OE = open places under enclosure, OT = open places under trampling; EE =E. camaldulensis canopy habitat under enclosure, ET =E. camaldulensis canopy habitat under trampling, TE = T. aphylla canopy habitat under enclosure, TT =T. aphylla canopy habitat under trampling, CE = C. sempervirens canopy habitat under enclosure, CT =C. sempervirens canopy habitat under trampling. Different letters within the same group represent significance at p<0.05.Published as part of Liu, Rentao, Meller, Roy & Steinberger, Yosef, 2019, Changes in a soil microarthropod community in the vicinity of dominant tree species under trampling management at the Safari Zoological Center, Israel, pp. 33-45 in Acarologia 59 (1) on page 40, DOI: 10.24349/acarologia/20194308, http://zenodo.org/record/448766