The Baculovirus Uses a Captured Host Phosphatase to Induce Enhanced Locomotory Activity in Host Caterpillars

The baculovirus is a classic example of a parasite that alters the behavior or physiology of its host so that progeny transmission is maximized. Baculoviruses do this by inducing enhanced locomotory activity (ELA) that causes the host caterpillars to climb to the upper foliage of plants. We previously reported that this behavior is not induced in silkworms that are infected with a mutant baculovirus lacking its protein tyrosine phosphatase (ptp) gene, a gene likely captured from an ancestral host. Here we show that the product of the ptp gene, PTP, associates with baculovirus ORF1629 as a virion structural protein, but surprisingly phosphatase activity associated with PTP was not required for the induction of ELA. Interestingly, the ptp knockout baculovirus showed significantly reduced infectivity of larval brain tissues. Collectively, we show that the modern baculovirus uses the host-derived phosphatase to establish adequate infection for ELA as a virion-associated structural protein rather than as an enzyme

Obesity and male breast cancer: Provocative parallels?

While rare compared to female breast cancer the incidence of male breast cancer (MBC) has increased in the last few decades. Without comprehensive epidemiological studies, the explanation for the increased incidence of MBC can only be speculated. Nevertheless, one of the most worrying global public health issues is the exponential rise in the number of overweight and obese people, especially in the developed world. Although obesity is not considered an established risk factor for MBC, studies have shown increased incidence among obese individuals. With this observation in mind, this article highlights the correlation between the increased incidence of MBC and the current trends in obesity as a growing problem in the 21st century, including how this may impact treatment. With MBC becoming more prominent we put forward the notion that, not only is obesity a risk factor for MBC, but that increasing obesity trends are a contributing factor to its increased incidence

Current opinion on the role of testosterone in the development of prostate cancer: a dynamic model

Background: Since the landmark study conducted by Huggins and Hodges in 1941, a failure to distinguish between the role of testosterone in prostate cancer development and progression has led to the prevailing opinion that high levels of testosterone increase the risk of prostate cancer. To date, this claim remains unproven. Presentation of the Hypothesis: We present a novel dynamic mode of the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer by hypothesizing that the magnitude of age-related declines in testosterone, rather than a static level of testosterone measured at a single point, may trigger and promote the development of prostate cancer. Testing of the Hypothesis: Although not easily testable currently, prospective cohort studies with population-representative samples and repeated measurements of testosterone or retrospective cohorts with stored blood samples from different ages are warranted in future to test the hypothesis. Implications of the Hypothesis: Our dynamic model can satisfactorily explain the observed age patterns of prostate cancer incidence, the apparent conflicts in epidemiological findings on testosterone and risk of prostate cancer, racial disparities in prostate cancer incidence, risk factors associated with prostate cancer, and the role of testosterone in prostate cancer progression. Our dynamic model may also have implications for testosterone replacement therapy

MM-wave rotational spectrum of methyl nitrate

Methyl nitrate (CH$_{3}$NO$_{3}$), is a toxic liquid known for it’s explosive properties. It is metabolically expressed in trace amounts in exhaled human breath and is a potential candidate for interstellar detection. Previous microwave studies of methyl nitrate have yielded a handful line transitions in its vibrational ground state in the 8-34 GHz range. This paper discusses the high-resolution spectrum of methyl nitrate in 210-270 GHz range, and extends the spectroscopic assignment of its rotational transitions in the ground and first excited vibrational states

TARJETA POSTAL NAVIDEÑA [Material gráfico]

ITALIACopia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, 201

Verkaufen, kaufen und konsumieren – Eine Synthesestudie zu den Ernährungsunterschieden in den verschiedenen Gross- und Sprachregionen der Schweiz.

Bisherige Untersuchungen zu regionalen Ernährungsunterschieden in der Schweiz haben einzelne Datensätze ausgewertet, die vor allem die Konsum-Perspektive beispielsweise nach Sprachregionen berücksichtigt haben. Hingegen wurden bis anhin Daten über Lebensmittelverkäufe und Haushaltseinkäufe in den Analysen nicht berücksichtigt. Im vorliegenden Projekt wurden verschiedene schweizweite Datensätze zur Ernährung auf der Ebene der 7 administrativen Grossregionen (Mittelland, Genferseeregion, Nordwestschweiz, Ostschweiz, Tessin, Zentralschweiz und Zürich) verglichen. Zusätzlich wurden Datensätze zum Verkauf und Einkauf miteinbezogen. Wir analysierten 8 verschiedene Datensätze (6 Konsum, 1 Einkauf, 1 Verkauf). Die regionalen Unterschiede decken sich gut bei einigen Lebensmittelgruppen, besonders für Fisch und Milchprodukte. Es wird deutlich, dass in der Genferseeregion, der französischsprechenden Region des Mittellandes und im Tessin mehr Fisch gekauft, verkauft und konsumiert wird als in den Regionen der Deutschschweiz, wohingegen in der Deutschschweiz mehr Milchprodukte verkauft, eingekauft und konsumiert werden. Unterschiede zwischen Verkauf, Einkauf und Konsum sind für Früchte/Nüsse, Gemüse und Fleisch ersichtlich. Ebenso konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Sprachregionen und somit die kulturellen Unterschiede den grösseren Einfluss auf die Ernährung haben als die Grossregionen. Besonders gut ersichtlich ist dies beim Mittelland, wo wir die deutsch- und die französischsprechende Region separat ausgewertet haben und erhebliche Unterschiede zeigen konnten