Characterisation of the Wnt signalling component in prostate cancer cells

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Characterisation of the Wnt signalling component in prostate cancer cells

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Immunodominant Linear B-Cell Epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike, Identified by Sera from K18-hACE2 Mice Infected with the WT or Variant Viruses

SARS-CoV-2 surface spike protein mediates the viral entry into the host cell and represents the primary immunological target of COVID-19 vaccines as well as post-exposure immunotherapy. Establishment of the highly immunogenic B-cell epitope profile of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in general, and that of the spike protein in particular, may contribute to the development of sensitive diagnostic tools and identification of vaccine` candidate targets. In the current study, the anti-viral antibody response in transgenic K18-hACE-2 mice was examined by implementing an immunodominant epitope mapping approach of the SARS-CoV-2 spike. Serum samples for probing an epitope array covering the entire spike protein were collected from mice following infection with the original SARS-CoV-2 strain as well as the B.1.1.7 Alpha and B.1.351 Beta genetic variants of concern. The analysis resulted in distinction of six linear epitopes common to the humoral response against all virus variants inspected at a frequency of more than 20% of the serum samples. Finally, the universality of the response was probed by cross-protective in vitro experiments using plaque-reducing neutralization tests. The data presented here has important implications for prediction of the efficacy of immune countermeasures against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants

Correlation between serum klotho levels and IGF-1 (as assessed with the Pearson correlation coefficient).

<p>Correlation between serum klotho levels and IGF-1 (as assessed with the Pearson correlation coefficient).</p

Laboratory measurements according to GH status.

<p>OGHD: organic growth hormone deficiency; IGHD: idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.</p><p>*GH sufficient compared to organic and idiopathic GHD.</p><p>**Organic GHD compared to both other groups.</p><p>Laboratory measurements according to GH status.</p

Clinical and anthropometric characteristics according to GH status^$.

<p>GH: growth hormone; GHD: growth hormone deficiency; Δ height-SDS: difference between participants’ height SDS and the genetic target height (height-SDS - MPH^‡-SDS); BA/CA: ratio between bone age and chronological age.</p>

Continuous variables were compared using one way ANOVA; categorical variables (gender, pubertal state) were compared using the Chi-square (χ2) test.

*Organic GHD lower than both Idiopathic GHD and GHS.

**Idiopathic GHD higher than both organic GHD and GHS.

***GHS significantly lower than IGHD.

‡

MPH: Mid-parental height (average of the heights of the parents, plus 6.5 cm for male patients and minus 6.5 cm for females).

Clinical and anthropometric characteristics according to GH status^</a>.</p</sup>