Virus-like particles derived from major capsid protein VP1 of different polyomaviruses differ in their ability to induce maturation in human dendritic cells

AbstractAs polyomavirus major capsid protein VP1-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) have been demonstrated to be highly immunogenic, we studied their interaction with human dendritic cells (hDCs). Exposure of hDCs to VLPs originating from murine (MPyV) or hamster polyomavirus (HaPyV) induced hDC maturation. In contrast, exposure of hDCs to VLPs derived from human polyomaviruses (BK and JC) and simian virus 40 (SV40) only marginally induced DC maturation. The hDCs stimulated by HaPyV- or MPyV-derived VLPs readily produced interleukin-12 and stimulated CD8-positive T-cell responses in vitro. The highest frequencies of activated T cells were again observed after pulsing with HaPyV- and MPyV-derived VLPs. Monocyte-derived hDCs both bound and internalized the various tested polyomavirus VP1-derived VLPs with different levels of efficiency, partially explaining their individual maturation potentials. In conclusion, our data suggest a high variability in uptake of polyomavirus-derived VLPs and potency to induce hDC maturation

β2-Adrenoceptor Deficiency Results in Increased Calcified Cartilage Thickness and Subchondral Bone Remodeling in Murine Experimental Osteoarthritis

Purpose: Recent studies demonstrated a contribution of adrenoceptors (ARs) to osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. Several AR subtypes are expressed in joint tissues and the β2-AR subtype seems to play a major role during OA progression. However, the importance of β2-AR has not yet been investigated in knee OA. Therefore, we examined the development of knee OA in β2-AR-deficient (Adrb2-/- ) mice after surgical OA induction. Methods: OA was induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) in male wildtype (WT) and Adrb2-/- mice. Cartilage degeneration and synovial inflammation were evaluated by histological scoring. Subchondral bone remodeling was analyzed using micro-CT. Osteoblast (alkaline phosphatase - ALP) and osteoclast (cathepsin K - CatK) activity were analyzed by immunostainings. To evaluate β2-AR deficiency-associated effects, body weight, sympathetic tone (splenic norepinephrine (NE) via HPLC) and serum leptin levels (ELISA) were determined. Expression of the second major AR, the α2-AR, was analyzed in joint tissues by immunostaining. Results: WT and Adrb2-/- DMM mice developed comparable changes in cartilage degeneration and synovial inflammation. Adrb2-/- DMM mice displayed elevated calcified cartilage and subchondral bone plate thickness as well as increased epiphyseal BV/TV compared to WTs, while there were no significant differences in Sham animals. In the subchondral bone of Adrb2-/- mice, osteoblasts activity increased and osteoclast activity deceased. Adrb2-/- mice had significantly higher body weight and fat mass compared to WT mice. Serum leptin levels increased in Adrb2-/- DMM compared to WT DMM without any difference between the respective Shams. There was no difference in the development of meniscal ossicles and osteophytes or in the subarticular trabecular microstructure between Adrb2-/- and WT DMM as well as Adrb2-/- and WT Sham mice. Number of α2-AR-positive cells was lower in Adrb2-/- than in WT mice in all analyzed tissues and decreased in both Adrb2-/- and WT over time. Conclusion: We propose that the increased bone mass in Adrb2-/- DMM mice was not only due to β2-AR deficiency but to a synergistic effect of OA and elevated leptin concentrations. Taken together, β2-AR plays a major role in OA-related subchondral bone remodeling and is thus an attractive target for the exploration of novel therapeutic avenues

Terpenes from Marine-Derived Fungi

Terpenes from marine-derived fungi show a pronounced degree of structural diversity, and due to their interesting biological and pharmacological properties many of them have aroused interest from synthetic chemists and the pharmaceutical industry alike. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the structural diversity of terpenes from marine-derived fungi, highlighting individual examples of chemical structures and placing them in a context of other terpenes of fungal origin. Wherever possible, information regarding the biological activity is presented

Enabling planetary science across light-years. Ariel Definition Study Report

Ariel, the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, was adopted as the fourth medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision programme to be launched in 2029. During its 4-year mission, Ariel will study what exoplanets are made of, how they formed and how they evolve, by surveying a diverse sample of about 1000 extrasolar planets, simultaneously in visible and infrared wavelengths. It is the first mission dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of transiting exoplanets, enabling planetary science far beyond the boundaries of the Solar System. The payload consists of an off-axis Cassegrain telescope (primary mirror 1100 mm x 730 mm ellipse) and two separate instruments (FGS and AIRS) covering simultaneously 0.5-7.8 micron spectral range. The satellite is best placed into an L2 orbit to maximise the thermal stability and the field of regard. The payload module is passively cooled via a series of V-Groove radiators; the detectors for the AIRS are the only items that require active cooling via an active Ne JT cooler. The Ariel payload is developed by a consortium of more than 50 institutes from 16 ESA countries, which include the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, and a NASA contribution

Die Vermessung der Kindheit. Eine soziologische Untersuchung zu Praktiken des Vergleichens in Professionen, insbesondere der Elementarpädagogik

Schützeichel R. Die Vermessung der Kindheit. Eine soziologische Untersuchung zu Praktiken des Vergleichens in Professionen, insbesondere der Elementarpädagogik. In: Dorn C, Tacke V, eds. Vergleich und Leistungen in der funktional differenzierten Gesellschaft. Wiesbaden: Springer VS; 2018: 17-39

Web Service Discovery and Composition for Virtual Enterprises

ec3- electronic commerce competence cente

MOVE is an acronym for Management and Optimization of

ec3- electronic commerce competence cent

Global and regional pest insects and their antagonists in orchards : spatial dynamics

The spatial dynamics of herbivores gains importance when slowly acting pest-management tools are employed. The temporal pattern of the techniques to be used in an agroecosystem has received some attention, particularly with respect to the preservation of certain natural enemies (e.g. predatory mites) as well as with respect to resistance-management programs. The spatial pattern of the techniques applied in neighbouring plots, however, deserves increased attention especially when slowly acting pest-management techniques are involved. This will be exemplified with Cydia pomonella. Laboratory investigations on the flight capacity and the reproductive behaviour revealed characteristics which are in good accordance with unexpected results in the field. Female codiing moths showed on a computer-linked flight device a flight capacity which was at least as high as that of the males. Even mated females were capable of long distance flights and subsequent deposition of a sizeable number of eggs. An insecticide frequently used for codling moth control, azinphosmethyl, at certain sublethal dosages altered codling moth behaviour and accelerated egg deposition within the first 24 h after treatment. The implications of these findings from laboratory studies for strategies on both pest management and resistance management are discussed. The spatial dynamics of natural enemies are directed by a number of different cues. Knowledge of these cues may contribute to a more efficient biological control of pest species in the future. The searching behaviour of parasitic antagonists of leafminers Phyllonorycter spp. is reviewed with particular emphasis on the role of olfactory and vibrational stimuli. On long range, olfactory stimuli can lead the parasitoid to the infested host, as was demonstrated for Pholetesor bicolor in the laboratory using a Y-tube olfactometer. On short range, vibrations emitted by the concealed herbivore play a role in the host location as was demonstrated for Sympiesis sericeicornis using a laser Doppler vibrometer. The vibrational signals detected were specific for a certain activity and development stage of the leafminer and clearly distinguishable from abiotic sources of vibration. The impact of these cues on the success of parasitisation in a variable ecological environment is discussed with particular focus on density-dependent effects