Nanostructured interfacial self-assembled peptide-polymer membranes for enhanced mineralization and cell adhesion

This work was supported by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the project PTDC/CTM-BIO/0814/2012 and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Operational Competitiveness Programme “COMPETE” (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028491). J. Borges and R. P. Pirraco gratefully acknowledge funding support from FCT for postdoctoral (SFRH/BPD/103604/2014) and investigator (IF/00347/2015) grants, respectively. Y. Shi acknowledges China Scholarship Council for her PhD scholarship (no. 201307060020). H. S. Azevedo also acknowledges financial support from the EU-funded project “SuprHApolymers” (PCIG14-GA-2013-631871) and A. Mata acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant “STROFUNSCAFF” and the Marie Curie Career Integration Grant “BIOMORPH”

Use of Arthropod Rarity for Area Prioritisation: Insights from the Azorean Islands

We investigated the conservation concern of Azorean forest fragments and the entire Terceira Island surface using arthropod species vulnerability as defined by the Kattan index, which is based on species rarity. Species rarity was evaluated according to geographical distribution (endemic vs. non endemic species), habitat specialization (distribution across biotopes) and population size (individuals collected in standardized samples). Geographical rarity was considered at ‘global’ scale (species endemic to the Azorean islands) and ‘regional’ scale (single island endemics)

Genome-wide profiling of humoral immunity and pathogen genes under selection identifies immune evasion tactics of Chlamydia trachomatis during ocular infection

The frequency and duration of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) ocular infections decrease with age, suggesting development of partial immunity. However, there is a lack of clear correlates of immunity to Ct infection in humans. We screened sera from a cohort of Gambian children followed for six-months against a Ct-proteome microarray. At genome sequence level, we detected signatures of selection from a population of ocular Ct isolates from Guinea-Bissau. Together these approaches allowed us to highlight the focus of humoral responses and hypothesise new modes of pathogen immune evasion. Children who were susceptible to frequent and/or prolonged Ct infection had a less focussed antibody response, including preferential recognition of forty-two antigens. There was evidence of positive and purifying selection across the genome, but little balancing selection. In contrast, most antigens that were associated with susceptibility were under neutral selection. These data suggest an evasion strategy in which Ct presents a large panel of irrelevant antigens to the immune system to block or misdirect protective responses. Development of a focused immune response, possibly induced through vaccination, may be an effective strategy to promote protection to Ct infection

Tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and cessation counseling among medical students: cross-country data from the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS), 2005-2008

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>GHPSS is a school-based survey that collects self-administered data from students in regular classroom settings. GHPSS produces representative data at the national or city level in each country. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and cessation counseling among medical students using the GHPSS data.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) was conducted among 3^rdyear medical students in 47 countries and the Gaza Strip/West Bank from 2005-2008 to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and amount of formal training in cessation counseling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 26 of the 48 sites, over 20% of the students currently smoked cigarettes, with males having higher rates than females in 37 sites. Over 70% of students reported having been exposed to secondhand smoke in public places in 29 of 48 sites. The majority of students recognized that they are role models in society (over 80% in 42 of 48 sites), believed they should receive training on counseling patients to quit using tobacco (over 80% in 41 of 48 sites), but few reported receiving formal training (less than 40% in 46 of 48 sites).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Tobacco control efforts must discourage tobacco use among health professionals, promote smoke free workplaces, and implement programs that train medical students in effective cessation-counseling techniques.</p