pH Dependence and Stoichiometry of Binding to the Fc Region of IgG by the Herpes Simplex Virus Fc Receptor gE-gI

Herpes simplex virus type 1 encodes two glycoproteins, gE and gI, that form a heterodimer on the surface of virions and infected cells. The gE-gI heterodimer has been implicated in cell-to-cell spread of virus and is a receptor for the Fc fragment of IgG. Previous studies localized the gE-gI-binding site on human IgG to a region near the interface between the CH2 and CH3 domains of Fc, which also serves as the binding site for bacterial and mammalian Fc receptors. Although there are two potential gE-gI-binding sites per Fc homodimer, only one gE-gI heterodimer binds per IgG in gel filtration experiments. Here we report production of recombinant human Fc molecules that contain zero, one, or two potential gE-gI-binding sites and use them in analytical ultracentrifugation experiments to show that two gE-gI heterodimers can bind to each Fc. Further characterization of the gE-gI interaction with Fc reveals a sharp pH dependence of binding, with KD values of ~340 and ~930 nM for the first and second binding events, respectively, at the slightly basic pH of the cell surface (pH 7.4), but undetectable binding at pH 6.0. This strongly pH-dependent interaction suggests a physiological role for gE-gI dissociation from IgG within acidic intracellular compartments, consistent with a mechanism whereby herpes simplex virus promotes intracellular degradation of anti-viral antibodies

Share of open access journal articles published by Berlin authors from 2018: data

The publication output from nine research institutions from Berlin (Germany) was analysed and the share of open access for journal articles published in 2018 was determined. Journal articles whose authors are affiliated with at least one of the nine institutions were analysed. The data description includes: description of provided files and respective sheets, list of data fields and their source, data re-use cases. The data described here were retrieved from multiple bibliographic databases. Due to license terms raw data from individual databases cannot be provided for download. Data was aggregated, normalised and analysed with a Python script which is available at https://github.com/tuub/oa-eval (code documentation in English). For a detailed description of the retrieval process and the analysis steps see the report (https://doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-9606). Search queries and the respective download settings for these databases are included in the data file

Impacts of climate change of seaports: A survey of knowledge, perceptions, and planning efforts among port administrators

Port authorities from around the world were surveyed to ascertain how administrators feel climate change might impact their operations, what level of change would be problematic, and how they plan to adapt to new conditions. The survey was distributed to 350 major ports through two leading international port organizations, the International Association of Ports and Harbors and the American Association of Port Authorities. (PDF contains 4 pages

Consumer Credit in America: Past, Present, and Future

In September 2016, in conjunction with Law & Contemporary Problems at Duke University School of Law, we organized a symposium on Consumer Credit in America. We sought to assess the state of consumer credit in America — to review and examine its recent history, to consider arguments for and against regulation, and to discuss the potential for future innovation. This is the introduction to the volume of articles coming out of that symposium

The Development of a Physical Education Teachers\u27 Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Instrument

In the present investigation a questionnaire was developed to assess physical education teachers\u27 self-efficacy for teaching classes in which their students were engaged in high levels of physical activity (i.e., at least 50% of class time). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses resulted in the development of a 16-item, 4-factor, multidimensional physical education teachers\u27 physical activity self-efficacy scale (PETPAS) that produced reliable and valid scores. The Student factor reflected teachers\u27 efficacy for managing students who didn\u27t enjoy or value physical activity. The Time factor was indicative of teachers\u27 efficacy when they didn\u27t have enough time to teach. The Space factor reflected teachers\u27 efficacy perceptions when they had difficulty teaching because of a lack of space. Finally, the Institution factor was composed of questions that represented teachers\u27 efficacy beliefs for overcoming a lack of institutional support. The results of the current study provide preliminary psychometric support for the PETPAS

Familial aggregation of migraine and depression: Insights from a large Australian twin sample

Free to read\ud \ud Objectives: This research examined the familial aggregation of migraine, depression, and their co-occurrence.\ud \ud Methods: Diagnoses of migraine and depression were determined in a sample of 5,319 Australian twins. Migraine was diagnosed by either self-report, the ID migraine™ Screener, or International Headache Society (IHS) criteria. Depression was defined by fulfilling either major depressive disorder (MDD) or minor depressive disorder (MiDD) based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria. The relative risks (RR) for migraine and depression were estimated in co-twins of twin probands reporting migraine or depression to evaluate their familial aggregation and co-occurrence.\ud \ud Results: An increased RR of both migraine and depression in co-twins of probands with the same trait was observed, with significantly higher estimates within monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs compared to dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs. For cross-trait analysis, the RR for migraine in co-twins of probands reporting depression was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.24–1.48) in MZ pairs and 1.04 (95% CI: 0.95–1.14) in DZ pairs; and the RR for depression in co-twins of probands reporting migraine was 1.26 (95% CI: 1.14–1.38) in MZ pairs and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.94–1.11) in DZ pairs. The RR for strict IHS migraine in co-twins of probands reporting MDD was 2.23 (95% CI: 1.81–2.75) in MZ pairs and 1.55 (95% CI: 1.34–1.79) in DZ pairs; and the RR for MDD in co-twins of probands reporting IHS migraine was 1.35 (95% CI: 1.13–1.62) in MZ pairs and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.93–1.22) in DZ pairs.\ud \ud Conclusions: We observed significant evidence for a genetic contribution to familial aggregation of migraine and depression. Our findings suggest a bi-directional association between migraine and depression, with an increased risk for depression in relatives of probands reporting migraine, and vice versa. However, the observed risk for migraine in relatives of probands reporting depression was considerably higher than the reverse. These results add further support to previous studies suggesting that patients with comorbid migraine and depression are genetically more similar to patients with only depression than patients with only migraine

Shared genetic factors underlie migraine and depression

Free to read\ud \ud Migraine frequently co-occurs with depression. Using a large sample of Australian twin pairs, we aimed to characterize the extent to which shared genetic factors underlie these two disorders. Migraine was classified using three diagnostic measures, including self-reported migraine, the ID migraine screening tool, or migraine without aura (MO) and migraine with aura (MA) based on International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and minor depressive disorder (MiDD) were classified using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria. Univariate and bivariate twin models, with and without sex-limitation, were constructed to estimate the univariate and bivariate variance components and genetic correlation for migraine and depression. The univariate heritability of broad migraine (self-reported, ID migraine, or IHS MO/MA) and broad depression (MiDD or MDD) was estimated at 56% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53-60%) and 42% (95% CI: 37-46%), respectively. A significant additive genetic correlation (r G = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.29-0.43) and bivariate heritability (h 2 = 5.5%, 95% CI: 3.6-7.8%) was observed between broad migraine and depression using the bivariate Cholesky model. Notably, both the bivariate h 2 (13.3%, 95% CI: 7.0-24.5%) and r G (0.51, 95% CI: 0.37-0.69) estimates significantly increased when analyzing the more narrow clinically accepted diagnoses of IHS MO/MA and MDD. Our results indicate that for both broad and narrow definitions, the observed comorbidity between migraine and depression can be explained almost entirely by shared underlying genetically determined disease mechanisms

Estrategia de alimentación de los estadios juveniles tempranos de la centolla Lithodes santolla en el Golfo San Jorge, Argentina

Se analizó el contenido estomacal de 313 ejemplares juveniles de centolla de ambos sexos con longitudes de caparazón (CL) entre 8,40 y 49,04 mm, estudiándose la influencia del sexo, talla, estado de muda y estación del año. Los animales fueron capturados mediante buceo en muestreos estacionales en el infralitoral rocoso del área central del Golfo San Jorge. Se determinó la frecuencia de ocurrencia (FO) y abundancia relativa (AR) de las presas halladas, estado de repleción y peso del contenido estomacal. Se registró un 14,4% de animales con el estómago vacío, un 55,1% con repleción menor del 50% y un 30,5% mayor al 50%. Los juveniles no se alimentan antes de mudar, durante la muda ni en postmuda reciente. Se identificaron 27 grupos de presas diferentes, incluidas varias especies de algas, protistas e invertebrados. Las mayores FO fueron registradas en algas coralináceas (45,1%), ofiuroideos (34,8%), equinoideos (25,1%), isópodos (21,7%), moluscos bivalvos (19,5%), poliquetos (16,9%) y briozoos (15%). En términos de AR, los principales componentes de la dieta fueron ofiuroideos, isópodos y coralinaceas. La composición de la dieta es diferente en animales menores de 15 mm CL de aquellos mayores a esa talla, debido a la mayor abundancia de isópodos y briozoos en este intervalo. La gran diversidad de presas registradas indica que los juveniles son esencialmente depredadores macrófagos y omnívoros, que aprovechan los complejos hábitats infralitorales rocosos y biogénicos del área estudiada para su alimentación y refugio durante los primeros años de vida.Stomach content analysis was performed on 313 juveniles of Lithodes santolla, with carapace lengths (CL) measuring between 8.40 and 49.04 mm. The influence of season, sex, size and moult stage on their diet were studied. Crabs were captured seasonally from the rocky sublittoral zone in the central area of San Jorge Gulf using SCUBA. The frequency of prey occurrence (FO), relative abundance (RA), degree of fullness and the stomach content weight were registered. Empty stomachs were found in 14.4% of the specimens, while stomach fullness below 50% occurred in 55.0% of crabs and over 50% in 30.6% of crabs. Juveniles did not feed prior to and immediately after moult. A total of 27 prey groups were identified, which included several species of algae, protists and invertebrates. The higher FO was observed for coralline red algae (41.5%), ophiuroids (34.8%), echinoids (25.1%), isopods (21.7%), bivalves (19.5%), polychaetes (16.6%) and bryozoans (15.0%). In terms of RA, the main prey items were ophiuroids, isopods and coralline red algae. No significant differences were found in the amount of food consumed and diet composition between sexes. A seasonal variation in the prey species composition was recorded. The diet of crabs smaller than 15 mm CL differed significantly from that of larger juveniles, due to a higher abundance of bryozoans and isopods in smaller juveniles. The great diversity of prey found in juvenile king crab indicates that they are macrophages and opportunistic omnivorous predators, which take advantage of complex rocky and biogenic subtidal habitats for food and shelter.Fil: Vinuesa, Julio Hector. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina;Fil: Varisco, Martin Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina; Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia; Argentina;Fil: Balzi, Pamela. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia; Argentina