Productive Lifecycle of Human Papillomaviruses that Depends Upon Squamous Epithelial Differentiation

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) target the stratified epidermis, and can causes diseases ranging from benign condylomas to malignant tumors. Infections of HPVs in the genital tract are among the most common sexually transmitted diseases, and a major risk factor for cervical cancer. The virus targets epithelial cells in the basal layer of the epithelium, while progeny virions egress from terminally differentiated cells in the cornified layer, the surface layer of the epithelium. In infected basal cells, the virus maintains its genomic DNA at low-copy numbers, at which the viral productive lifecycle cannot proceed. Progression of the productive lifecycle requires differentiation of the host cell, indicating that there is tight crosstalk between viral replication and host differentiation programs. In this review, we discuss the regulation of the HPV lifecycle controlled by the differentiation program of the host cells

The molecular mechanisms of TOR signaling pathway regulating associative learning in C.elegans

学位の種別: 課程博士審査委員会委員 : （主査）東京大学教授 黒田 真也, 東京大学教授 飯野 雄一, 東京大学教授 多羽田 哲也, 東京大学教授 饗場 篤, 東京大学准教授 前田 達哉University of Tokyo(東京大学

富山県立山室堂平周辺の蘚苔類

63 taxa of mosses and 33 taxa of liverworts were recorded from the district around Murododaira Plains, Mt. Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture, central Japan. The bryophyte flora indicates that the investigated area belongs to the subalpine to alpine zone. They include possible alien invasive species such as Barbula unguiculata, Rosulabryumcapillare, Philonotis thwaitesii, Brachythecium populeum and Marchantia polymorpha, and threatened species such as Andreaea nivalis, Brachydontium trichodes, Oedipodium griffithianum, Schistostega pennata and Barbilophozia floerkei

Over 10 years follow-up of Coats’ disease in adulthood

Coats’ disease diagnosed in adulthood is rare; therefore, the treatment options and longer clinical course are not well established. We report on two cases of adult onset Coats’ disease, which have been observed for more than 10 years after conventional treatment. In the first case, a 76-year-old man with 9 years of diabetic retinopathy noticed a visual field defect in his left eye. Yellowish subretinal exudation with serous retinal detachment in his superior peripheral retina, and telangiectatic vessels with fluorescein leakage, numerous microaneurysms, and areas of capillary nonperfusion observed in a fluorescein angiography indicated adult Coats’ disease, and retinal photocoagulation was applied. Within 1 year, subretinal exudation was regressed and visual acuity was improved from 20/50 to 20/20, and was maintained for the next 11 years. In the second case, a 71-year-old man presented with decreased vision in his right eye. The fundus of his right eye showed multiple telangiectasic vessels and subretinal exudates extended to the fovea, which is diagnosed as adult Coats’ disease. Despite retinal photocoagulation, an increase of exudation and an enlargement of retinal detachment was observed within 1 month, and subsequently, additional treatment of cryotherapy was performed. Two months after these therapies, the exudation was regressed without retinal detachment, and visual acuity was improved to 20/200 which was maintained for the next 10 years. Even with adult Coats’ disease, conventional therapies of retinal photocoagulation and cryotherapy are effective and are the initial choice for improving or maintaining visual function

A Sexually Conditioned Switch of Chemosensory Behavior in C. elegans

In sexually reproducing animals, mating is essential for transmitting genetic information to the next generation and therefore animals have evolved mechanisms for optimizing the chance of successful mate location. In the soil nematode C. elegans, males approach hermaphrodites via the ascaroside pheromones, recognize hermaphrodites when their tails contact the hermaphrodites' body, and eventually mate with them. These processes are mediated by sensory signals specialized for sexual communication, but other mechanisms may also be used to optimize mate location. Here we describe associative learning whereby males use sodium chloride as a cue for hermaphrodite location. Both males and hermaphrodites normally avoid sodium chloride after associative conditioning with salt and starvation. However, we found that males become attracted to sodium chloride after conditioning with salt and starvation if hermaphrodites are present during conditioning. For this conditioning, which we call sexual conditioning, hermaphrodites are detected by males through pheromonal signaling and additional cue(s). Sex transformation experiments suggest that neuronal sex of males is essential for sexual conditioning. Altogether, these results suggest that C. elegans males integrate environmental, internal and social signals to determine the optimal strategy for mate location

Mohawk promotes the maintenance and regeneration of the outer annulus fibrosus of intervertebral discs.

The main pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation involves disruption of the annulus fibrosus (AF) caused by ageing or excessive mechanical stress and the resulting prolapse of the nucleus pulposus. Owing to the avascular nature of the IVD and lack of understanding the mechanisms that maintain the IVD, current therapies do not lead to tissue regeneration. Here we show that homeobox protein Mohawk (Mkx) is a key transcription factor that regulates AF development, maintenance and regeneration. Mkx is mainly expressed in the outer AF (OAF) of humans and mice. In Mkx(-/-) mice, the OAF displays a deficiency of multiple tendon/ligament-related genes, a smaller OAF collagen fibril diameter and a more rapid progression of IVD degeneration compared with the wild type. Mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing Mkx promote functional AF regeneration in a mouse AF defect model, with abundant collagen fibril formation. Our results indicate a therapeutic strategy for AF regeneration

富山県出身の蘚類研究のパイオニア: 笹岡久彦(1889-1945?)

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First-in-human phase 1 trial of hemoglobin vesicles as artificial red blood cells developed for use as a transfusion alternative

[Figure: see text