Recombinant Flag-tagged E1E2 glycoproteins from three hepatitis C virus genotypes are biologically functional and elicit cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies in mice

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a globally disseminated human pathogen for which no vaccine is currently available. HCV is highly diverse genetically and can be classified into 7 genotypes and multiple sub-types. Due to this antigenic variation, the induction of cross-reactive and at the same time neutralizing antibodies is a challenge in vaccine production. Here we report the analysis of immunogenicity of recombinant HCV envelope glycoproteins from genotypes 1a, 1b and 2a, with a Flag tag inserted in the hypervariable region 1 of E2. This modification did not affect protein expression or conformation or its capacity to bind the crucial virus entry factor, CD81. Importantly, in immunogenicity studies on mice, the purified E2-Flag mutants elicited high-titer, cross-reactive antibodies that were able to neutralize HCV infectious particles from two genotypes tested (1a and 2a). These findings indicate that E1E2-Flag envelope glycoproteins could be important immunogen candidates for vaccine aiming to induce broad HCV-neutralizing responses

Spatial and Temporal Variability in MLT Turbulence Inferred from in situ and Ground-Based Observations During the WADIS-1 Sounding Rocket Campaign

In summer 2013 the WADIS-1 sounding rocket campaign was conducted at the Andøya Space Center (ACS) in northern Norway (69° N, 16° E). Among other things, it addressed the question of the variability in mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) turbulence, both in time and space. A unique feature of the WADIS project was multi-point turbulence sounding applying different measurement techniques including rocket-borne ionization gauges, VHF MAARSY radar, and VHF EISCAT radar near Tromsø. This allowed for horizontal variability to be observed in the turbulence field in the MLT at scales from a few to 100 km. We found that the turbulence dissipation rate, ε varied in space in a wavelike manner both horizontally and in the vertical direction. This wavelike modulation reveals the same vertical wavelengths as those seen in gravity waves. We also found that the vertical mean value of radar observations of ε agrees reasonably with rocket-borne measurements. In this way defined 〈εradar〉 value reveals clear tidal modulation and results in variation by up to 2 orders of magnitude with periods of 24 h. The 〈εradar〉 value also shows 12 h and shorter (1 to a few hours) modulations resulting in one decade of variation in 〈εradar〉 magnitude. The 24 h modulation appeared to be in phase with tidal change of horizontal wind observed by SAURA-MF radar. Such wavelike and, in particular, tidal modulation of the turbulence dissipation field in the MLT region inferred from our analysis is a new finding of this work

New method for differentiation of granuloviruses (Betabaculoviruses) based on multitemperature single stranded conformational polymorphism.

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Anatomical variations of the abductor pollicis longus: a pilot study

Background: The abductor pollicis longus (APL) originates from the lateral part of the dorsal surface of the body of the ulna below the insertion of the anconeus muscle, from the interosseous membrane, and from the middle third of the dorsal surface of the body of the radius. However, the number of its accessory bands and their insertion vary considerably.Materials and methods: Fifty upper limbs (2 paired, 31 male, 19 female) were obtained from adult Caucasian cadavers, and fixed in 10% formalin solution before examination.Results: The APL muscle was present in all specimens. The muscles were divided into three main categories, with type II and III being dived into subtypes. Type I was characterised by a single distal attachment, with the tendon inserting to the base of the I metacarpal bone. Type II was characterised by a bifurcated distal attachment, with the main tendon inserting to the base of the first metacarpal bone; this type was divided into three subtypes (a–c). Type III was characterised by the main tendons inserting to the base of the first metacarpal bone, while the accessory band was characterised by mergers (fusion) with other tendons. This type was divided into two subtypes (a, b).Conclusions: The abductor pollicis longus is characterised by high morphological variability

Planetary Detection Efficiency of the Magnification 3000 Microlensing Event OGLE-2004-BLG-343

OGLE-2004-BLG-343 was a microlensing event with peak magnification A_{max}=3000+/-1100, by far the highest-magnification event ever analyzed and hence potentially extremely sensitive to planets orbiting the lens star. Due to human error, intensive monitoring did not begin until 43 minutes after peak, at which point the magnification had fallen to A~1200, still by far the highest ever observed. As the light curve does not show significant deviations due to a planet, we place upper limits on the presence of such planets by extending the method of Yoo et al. (2004b), which combines light-curve analysis with priors from a Galactic model of the source and lens populations, to take account of finite-source effects. This is the first event so analyzed for which finite-source effects are important, and hence we develop two new techniques for evaluating these effects. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that OGLE-2004-BLG-343 is no more sensitive to planets than two previously analyzed events with A_{max}~100, despite the fact that it was observed at ~12 times higher magnification. However, we show that had the event been observed over its peak, it would have been sensitive to almost all Neptune-mass planets over a factor of 5 of projected separation and even would have had some sensitivity to Earth-mass planets. This shows that some microlensing events being detected in current experiments are sensitive to very low-mass planets. We also give suggestions on how extremely high-magnification events can be more promptly monitored in the future.Comment: 50 pages, 13 figures, published in The Astrophysical Journa

Types of inferior phrenic arteries: a new point of view based on a cadaveric study

Background: The diaphragm is supplied by the superior and inferior phrenic arteries. This present study focusses on the latter. The inferior phrenic arteries (IPA) usually originate from the abdominal aorta. The two arteries have different origins, and knowledge of these is important when performing related surgical interventions and interventional radiological procedures. The aim of this study was to identify variations in the origin of the IPA and conduct relevant morphometric analyses.Materials and methods: The anatomical variations in the origins of the left inferior phrenic artery (LIPA) and the right inferior phrenic artery (RIPA) were examined in 48 cadavers fixed in 10% formalin solution. A dissection of the abdominal region of the cadavers was performed according to a pre-established protocol using traditional techniques. Morphometric measurements were then taken twice by two of the researchers.Results: In the cadavers, six types of origin were observed. In type 1, the most common type, the RIPA and LIPA originate from the abdominal aorta (AA) (14 = 29.12%). In type 2, the RIPA and the LIPA originate from the coeliac trunk (CT) (12 = 24.96%). In type 3, the RIPA and the LIPA originate from the left gastric artery, with no CT observed (3 = 6.24%). Type 4 has two subtypes: 4A, in which the LIPA originates from the AA and the RIPA originates from the CT (9 = 18.72%) and 4B, in which the RIPA originates from the AA and the LIPA originates from the CT (6 = 12.48%). In type 5, the LIPA originates from the AA and the RIPA originates from the AA (1 = 2.08%). Type 6 is characterised by the RIPA and LIPA forming a common trunk originating from the CT (3 = 6.24%). Conclusions: Our findings suggest the presence of six different types of LIPA and RIPA origin. The most common form is type 1, characterised by an IPA originating from the abdominal aorta, while the second most common is type 2, in which the IPA originates from the AA by a common trunk. The diversity of other types of origin is associated with the occurrence of coeliac trunk variation (type 3). No significant differences in RIPA diameter could be found, whereas LIPA diameter could vary significantly. No significant differences in RIPA and the LIPA diameter could be found according to sex