Molecular assessment of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in hooded crows (Corvus cornix) in Tehran, Iran

Abstract Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are two closely related protozoan parasites that have been detected from various species of bird hosts. However, little is known about the prevalence of N. caninum and T. gondii in crows. Hence, we examined the molecular frequency of N. caninum and T. gondii in the brain samples of hooded crows (Corvus cornix) that collected from different public parks of Tehran, Iran by nested-PCR method. We used the primers targeting the Nc5 and GRA6 genes for detection of N. caninum and T. gondii, respectively. From a total of 55 brain samples, 5 (9.9%) and 9 (16.36%) samples were positive for N. caninum and T. gondii, respectively. Sequencing of a N. caninum isolate revealed 95%–100% identity with the deposited N. caninum in GenBank. Genotyping of T. gondii isolates by PCR-RFLP analysis of the GRA6 gene revealed type III genotype in 8 isolates. The results of this study indicate that hooded crows may have a putative role in transmission of N. caninum and T. gondii to canines and felines definitive hosts, respectively

A theoretical first principles computational investigation into the potential of aluminum-doped boron nitride nanotubes for hydrogen storage

Hydrogen storage remains a largely unsolved problem facing the green energy revolution. One approach is physisorption on very high surface area materials incorporating metal atoms. Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are a promising material for this application as their behaviour is largely independent of the nanoscopic physical features providing a greater degree of tolerance in their synthesis. Aluminum doping has been shown to be a promising approach for carbon nanotubes but has been underexplored for BNNTs. Using first principles density functional theory, the energetics, electronics and structural impacts of aluminum adsorption to both zigzag and armchair polymorphs of BNNTs was investigated along with their potential capacity to adsorb hydrogen. The fine atomic structural and electronic details of these interactions is discussed. We predicted that in an ideal situation, highly aluminum-doped armchair and zigzag BNNTs could adsorb up to 9.4 and 8.6 weight percent hydrogen, well above the United States Department of Energy targets marking these as promising materials worthy of further study

1549TiP DeLLphi-303: Phase Ib first-line combination study of tarlatamab, a DLL3-targeting half-life extended bispecific T-cell engager (HLE BiTE®), with carboplatin, etoposide, and PD-L1 inhibition in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)

Background: The inhibitory Notch ligand, delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), is a compelling therapeutic target due to its aberrant expression on the cell surface in most small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Tarlatamab (AMG 757) is a half-life extended bispecific T-cell engager (HLE BiTE®) molecule designed to specifically bind DLL3 on target cancer cells and CD3 on T cells, resulting in T cell-dependent killing of tumor cells. Data from an ongoing first-in-human monotherapy study show acceptable safety with evidence of tarlatamab efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory SCLC (NCT03319940). Adding programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors to first-line platinum chemotherapy is the emerging standard-of-care (SOC) in ES-SCLC and preclinical data suggests increased antitumor activity of BiTE molecules when combined with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition or chemotherapy.1 These data support a clinical trial of tarlatamab combined with frontline carboplatin, etoposide, and PD-L1 inhibition in ES-SCLC. Trial design: This is a phase 1b, multicenter, open-label study evaluating tarlatamab in combination with first-line SOC chemo-immunotherapy in subjects with ES-SCLC. Tarlatamab will be evaluated in two separate settings: A) In combination with carboplatin, etoposide, and a PD-L1 inhibitor followed by maintenance cycles of tarlatamab plus PD-L1 inhibitor, and B) In combination with PD-L1 inhibitor following SOC chemo-immunotherapy as a maintenance only approach. Key eligibility criteria include patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed ES-SCLC with no prior systemic treatment (except as specified in protocol) and ECOG performance status ≤1. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and determine the recommended phase 2 dose and/or maximum tolerated dose of tarlatamab in combination with PD-L1 inhibition with or without chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints are objective response rate, duration of response, disease control, progression-free survival, overall survival, and pharmacokinetics

Phase 1 doseâ finding study of metformin in combination with concurrent cisplatin and radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153201/1/cncr32539.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153201/2/cncr32539_am.pd

Identification of a humanized mouse model for functional testing of immune-mediated biomaterial foreign body response.

Biomedical devices comprise a major component of modern medicine, however immune-mediated fibrosis and rejection can limit their function over time. Here, we describe a humanized mouse model that recapitulates fibrosis following biomaterial implantation. Cellular and cytokine responses to multiple biomaterials were evaluated across different implant sites. Human innate immune macrophages were verified as essential to biomaterial rejection in this model and were capable of cross-talk with mouse fibroblasts for collagen matrix deposition. Cytokine and cytokine receptor array analysis confirmed core signaling in the fibrotic cascade. Foreign body giant cell formation, often unobserved in mice, was also prominent. Last, high-resolution microscopy coupled with multiplexed antibody capture digital profiling analysis supplied spatial resolution of rejection responses. This model enables the study of human immune cell-mediated fibrosis and interactions with implanted biomaterials and devices

Molecular characterization of zoonotic isolates of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Iran

Background: Microsporidia infections occur in all invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. The most common microsporidia infecting humans and animals are Enterocytozoon bieneusi. This study aimed to characterize the zoonotic isolates of E. bieneusi using a molecular method among the slaughtered cattle in Tehran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 126 fecal samples from slaughtered cattle in Tehran were analyzed for Enterocytozoon bieneusi. A transcribed spacer region (500 bp) for rRNA gene of E. bieneusi was amplified using a nested PCR technique. For genotyping, positive samples were sequenced and the phylogenetic tree was reconstructed to determine the relationship between the isolates from human, animal and zoonotic isolates. Results: Nineteen out of 126 E. bieneusi PCR-positive samples were sequenced. A high degree of genetic polymorphism, represented by four genotypes (IREb4, IREb5, D, M), was found among the E. bieneusi isolated from cattle. In this study, the most common genotypes were D (38.6), M and IREb4 (26.3), respectively followed by IREb5 (10.5) in the next stage. In phylogenetic analysis, 89.5 percent of the isolates (D� IREb4 � IREB5) formed a distinct cluster consisting of genotypes from humans and other domestic animals, but one genotype clustered as E. bieneusi genotypes taken from cattle and pig. Conclusion: Only some E. bieneusi isolates taken from cattle may be of public health importance. However, further studies should be conducted on cattle and other hosts to determine the role of animals in the transmission of infection to human