124 research outputs found

    Chlamydia trachomatis Immune Evasion via Downregulation of MHC Class I Surface Expression Involves Direct and Indirect Mechanisms

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    Genital C. trachomatis infections typically last for many months in women. This has been attributed to several strategies by which C. trachomatis evades immune detection, including well-described methods by which C. trachomatis decreases the cell surface expression of the antigen presenting molecules major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, MHC class II, and CD1d in infected genital epithelial cells. We have harnessed new methods that allow for separate evaluation of infected and uninfected cells within a mixed population of chlamydia-infected endocervical epithelial cells to demonstrate that MHC class I downregulation in the presence of C. trachomatis is mediated by direct and indirect (soluble) factors. Such indirect mechanisms may aid in priming surrounding cells for more rapid immune evasion upon pathogen entry and help promote unfettered spread of C. trachomatis genital infections

    Quantitative evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 inactivation using a deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode

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    Inactivation technology for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is certainly a critical measure to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode (DUV-LED) would be a promising candidate to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, based on the well-known antiviral effects of DUV on microorganisms and viruses. However, due to variations in the inactivation effects across different viruses, quantitative evaluations of the inactivation profile of SARS-CoV-2 by DUV-LED irradiation need to be performed. In the present study, we quantify the irradiation dose of DUV-LED necessary to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose, we determined the culture media suitable for the irradiation of SARS-CoV-2 and optimized the irradiation apparatus using commercially available DUV-LEDs that operate at a center wavelength of 265, 280, or 300 nm. Under these conditions, we successfully analyzed the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and the irradiation dose of the DUV-LEDs at each wavelength without irrelevant biological effects. In conclusion, total doses of 1.8 mJ/cm2 for 265 nm, 3.0 mJ/cm2 for 280 nm, and 23 mJ/cm2 for 300 nm are required to inactivate 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2. Our results provide quantitative antiviral effects of DUV irradiation on SARS-CoV-2, serving as basic knowledge of inactivation technologies against SARS-CoV-2

    シシュンキ ノ コドモ オ モツ オヤ エノ HIV ト セイ ニ カンスル プログラム ノ ジッタイ

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    目的: HIV予防プログラムの開発に活かすことを目的として, 思春期の子どもをもつ親に対するHIVと性に関するプログラムを検討する.方法: 本稿は, 海外と国内の1999年-2006年の性行動に関連する親子関係に焦点を当てた文献と, 親へのプログラムについての文献を検討した. そして, 親のための教育内容, 方法, 評価を追究した.結果: (1) 親に思春期の性行動に関係する親子のコミュニケーションを含む養育態度を伝える. (2) 子どもの発達段階に応じた, 親への介入の目標を明らかにすることが必要である. (3) 親が家庭でビデオや会報を利用するプログラムは, 親の教育をする可能性を高める. (4) プログラムの評価として, 子どもの健康を観る必要がある. (5) わが国の文化的な特徴に適した親への教育プログラムの開発が示唆された.研究ノー

    HIV prevention through extended education encompassing students, parents, and teachers in Japan

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    ObjectivesWe developed an extended HIV prevention program for students, parents, and school teachers, and then evaluated its effectiveness.MethodsThe participants were 490 students, aged 13–14 years, attending four public junior high schools in Saga Prefecture, Japan. They were divided into two groups: control and intervention. All the students received group education by health professionals. In the control group, students received only two group education sessions given by health professionals. In the intervention group, there were three intervention components: parent education, teacher education, and student individual counseling by health professionals. Before and 3 months after the intervention, participants underwent evaluation of their frequency of communication about AIDS with parents or teachers, their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and attitudes to sexual intercourse, self-esteem, and high-risk behavior.ResultsA total of 135 students (80 boys and 55 girls) from the intervention group and 236 students (115 boys and 121 girls) from the control group participated in the evaluation 3 months after intervention. Adolescents in the intervention group showed more positive changes than those in the control group from baseline to follow-up. Intervention had a significant impact on the frequency of communication about AIDS with teachers (p = 0.027) and HIV/AIDS knowledge among females (p = 0.023), and intervention also had a significant impact on refusal of sexual activity by males (p = 0.045).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that effective prevention of HIV might be achieved by an expanded education program for students and teachers such as that described, and individual counseling that takes into consideration the sexual differences of Japanese adolescents.Regular Articl

    Use of Cap Analysis Gene Expression to detect human papillomavirus promoter activity patterns at different disease stages

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    Transcription of human papillomavirus (HPV) genes proceeds unidirectionally from multiple promoters. Direct profiling of transcription start sites (TSSs) by Cap Analysis Gene Expression (CAGE) is a powerful strategy for examining individual HPV promoter activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate alterations of viral promoter activity during infection using CAGE technology. We used CAGE-based sequencing of 46 primary cervical samples, and quantitatively evaluated TSS patterns in the HPV transcriptome at a single-nucleotide resolution. TSS patterns were classified into two types: early promoter-dominant type (Type A) and late promoter-dominant type (Type B). The Type B pattern was more frequently found in CIN1 and CIN2 lesions than in CIN3 and cancer samples. We detected transcriptomes from multiple HPV types in five samples. Interestingly, in each sample, the TSS patterns of both HPV types were the same. The viral gene expression pattern was determined by the differentiation status of the epithelial cells, regardless of HPV type. We performed unbiased analyses of TSSs across the HPV genome in clinical samples. Visualising TSS pattern dynamics, including TSS shifts, provides new insights into how HPV infection status relates to disease state

    IFPA meeting 2018 workshop report II: Abnormally invasive placenta; inflammation and infection; preeclampsia; gestational trophoblastic disease and drug delivery

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    Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting as they allow for discussion of specialized topics. At IFPA meeting 2018 there were nine themed workshops, five of which are summarised in this report. These workshops discussed new perspectives and knowledge in the following areas of research: 1) preeclampsia; 2) abnormally invasive placenta; 3) placental infection; 4) gestational trophoblastic disease; 4) drug delivery to treat placental dysfunction
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