Shedding Light on Dasineura oleae Parasitoids: Local and Landscape Effects

Dasineura oleae was considered a minor pest in olive orchards. However, in the last decade, outbreaks have been reported all over its distribution area. Little is known about D. oleae biological control strategies; therefore, investigations into the biology and ecology of D. oleae parasitoids are urgently needed. In this scenario, the present field study reported the flight period of D. oleae parasitoids, evaluating their relative abundance over other parasitoids living in olive orchards. Furthermore, it estimated the effect of local and landscape features on D. oleae parasitoids within the frame of the overall parasitoid community. Lastly, we aimed to provide useful insights into the effectiveness of parasitoids for D. oleae population management. Hymenopteran parasitoids were sampled using Malaise traps in six sampling sites in central Italy. Results showed that Platygaster demades was the most abundant D. oleae parasitoid. Its presence was associated with high rates of D. oleae parasitism. The abundance of this parasitoid was influenced by the abundance of seminatural habitats

Ground-dwelling arthropods as biodiversity indicators in maize agroecosystems of Northern Italy

Reliable monitoring of arthropod diversity in a given agroecosystem is essential for the conservation of the related ecosystem services, such as biological control. The often daunting complexity of arthropod collection and identification, however, highlights the need for surrogate taxa that can be easily sampled and be representative of a number of other taxa in term of diversity, general community features and specific composition. In this study, we used pitfall traps to sample three ground-dwelling arthropod taxa important as biocontrol agents (ground beetles, rove beetles and spiders) in 9 conventionally managed maize agroecosystems of Northern Italy over the course of two years, with the goal of characterizing their assemblages and evaluating their reciprocal potential as indicators of activity density, species richness, community turnover and species co-occurrence. Although dominated by few generalist species, sampled arthropod communities were relatively species-rich, and included the first Italian record of the spider Zelotes metellus (Roewer) (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Ground beetles as a group were confirmed as promising indicators for the species richness and community composition turnover of rove beetles and spiders. Additionally, several abundant arthropod species acted as indicators of the species richness of their respective groups, and the ground beetle Pterostichus macer (Marsham) also worked as an indicator of overall rove beetle activity density. While the co-occurrence of individual arthropod species was limited for the studied taxa, a few species such as the ground beetle Parophonus maculicornis (Duftschmid) did show promise as species-specific bioindicators. Our results could be useful in improving the monitoring and management of these important natural enemies in maize-growing regions

A BARF1-specific mAb as a new immunotherapeutic tool for the management of EBV-related tumors.

The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for the diagnosis and treatment of malignancies is acquiring an increasing clinical importance, thanks to their specificity, efficacy and relative easiness of use. However, in the context of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related malignancies, only cancers of B-cell origin can benefit from therapeutic mAb targeting specific B-cell lineage antigens. To overcome this limitation, we generated a new mAb specific for BARF1, an EBV-encoded protein with transforming and immune-modulating properties. BARF1 is expressed as a latent protein in nasopharyngeal (NPC) and gastric carcinoma (GC), and also in neoplastic B cells mainly upon lytic cycle induction, thus representing a potential target for all EBV-related malignancies. Considering that BARF1 is largely but not exclusively secreted, the BARF1 mAb was selected on the basis of its ability to bind a domain of the protein retained at the cell surface of tumor cells. In vitro, the newly generated mAb recognized the target molecule in its native conformation, and was highly effective in mediating both ADCC and CDC against BARF1-positive tumor cells. In vivo, biodistribution analysis in mice engrafted with BARF1-positive and -negative tumor cells confirmed its high specificity for the target. More importantly, the mAb disclosed a relevant antitumor potential in preclinical models of NPC and lymphoma, as evaluated in terms of both reduction of tumor masses and long-term survival. Taken together, these data not only confirm BARF1 as a promising target for immunotherapeutic interventions, but also pave the way for a successful translation of this new mAb to the clinical use

Combining Classification and Clustering for Tweet Sentiment Analysis

The goal of sentiment analysis is to determine opinions, emotions, and attitudes presented in source material. In tweet sentiment analysis, opinions in messages can be typically categorized as positive or negative. To classify them, researchers have been using traditional classifiers like Naive Bayes, Maximum Entropy, and Support Vector Machines (SVM). In this paper, we show that a SVM classifier combined with a cluster ensemble can offer better classification accuracies than a stand-alone SVM. In our study, we employed an algorithm, named 'C POT.3'E-SL, capable to combine classifier and cluster ensembles. This algorithm can refine tweet classifications from additional information provided by clusterers, assuming that similar instances from the same clusters are more likely to share the same class label. The resulting classifier has shown to be competitive with the best results found so far in the literature, thereby suggesting that the studied approach is promising for tweet sentiment classification.Capes (Proc. DS-7253238/D)CNPq (Proc. 303348/2013-5)FAPESP (Proc. 2013/07375-0 and 2010/20830-0

Adoptive cell therapy of triple negative breast cancer with redirected cytokine-induced killer cells

Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) cells share several functional and phenotypical properties of both T and natural killer (NK) cells. They represent an attractive approach for cell-based immunotherapy, as they do not require antigen-specific priming for tumor cell recognition, and can be rapidly expanded in vitro. Their relevant expression of Fc\u3b3RIIIa (CD16a) can be exploited in combination with clinical-grade monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to redirect their lytic activity in an antigen-specific manner. Here, we report the efficacy of this combined approach against triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive tumor that still requires therapeutic options. Different primitive and metastatic TNBC cancer mouse models were established in NSG mice, either by implanting patient-derived TNBC samples or injecting MDA-MB-231 cells orthotopically or intravenously. The combined treatment consisted in the repeated intratumoral or intravenous injection of CIK cells and cetuximab. Tumor growth and metastasis were monitored by bioluminescence or immunohistochemistry, and survival was recorded. CIK cells plus cetuximab significantly restrained primitive tumor growth in mice, either in patient-derived tumor xenografts or MDA-MB-231 cell line models. Moreover, this approach almost completely abolished metastasis spreading and dramatically improved survival. The antigen-specific mAb favored tumor and metastasis tissue infiltration by CIK cells, and led to an enrichment of the CD16a+ subset. Data highlight the potentiality of this novel immunotherapy strategy where a nonspecific cytotoxic cell population can be converted into tumor-specific effectors with clinical-grade antibodies, thus providing not only a therapeutic option for TNBC but also a valid alternative to more complex approaches based on chimeric antigen receptor-engineered cells. List of abbreviations: ACT, Adoptive Cell Transfer; ADCC, Antibody-Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity; ADP, Adenosine diphosphate; BLI, Bioluminescence Imaging; CAR, Chimeric Antigen Receptor; CIK, Cytokine Induced Killer cells; CTX, Cetuximab; DMEM, Dulbecco\u2019s Modified Eagle Medium; EGFR, Human Epidermal Growth Factor 1; ER, Estrogen; FBS, Fetal Bovine Serum; FFPE, Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded; GMP, Good Manufacturing Practices; GVHD, Graft Versus Host Disease; HER2, Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2; HRP, Horseradish Peroxidase; IFN-\u3b3, Interferon-\u3b3; IHC, Immunohistochemistry; IL-2, Interleukin-2; ISO, Irrelevant antibody; i.t., intratumoral; i.v., intravenous, mAbs, Monoclonal Antibodies; mIHC, Multiplex Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry; MHC, Major Histocompatibility Complex; NK, Natural Killer; NKG2D, Natural-Killer group 2 member D; NSG, NOD/SCID common \u3b3 chain knockout; PARP, Poly ADP-ribose polymerase; PBMCs, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells; PBS, Phosphate-buffered saline; PDX, Patient-derived xenograft; PR, Progesterone; rhIFN-\u3b3, Recombinant Human Interferon-\u3b3; RPMI, Roswell Park Memorial Institute; STR, Short tandem Repeat; TCR, T Cell Receptor; TNBC, Triple Negative Breast Cancer; TSA, Tyramide Signal Amplification

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter regulates breast cancer progression via HIF-1α

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the most aggressive breast tumor subtype. However, the molecular determinants responsible for the metastatic TNBC phenotype are only partially understood. We here show that expression of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), the selective channel responsible for mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, correlates with tumor size and lymph node infiltration, suggesting that mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake might be instrumental for tumor growth and metastatic formation. Accordingly, MCU downregulation hampered cell motility and invasiveness and reduced tumor growth, lymph node infiltration, and lung metastasis in TNBC xenografts. In MCU-silenced cells, production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) is blunted and expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is reduced, suggesting a signaling role for mROS and HIF-1α, downstream of mitochondrial Ca(2+) Finally, in breast cancer mRNA samples, a positive correlation of MCU expression with HIF-1α signaling route is present. Our results indicate that MCU plays a central role in TNBC growth and metastasis formation and suggest that mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake is a potential novel therapeutic target for clinical intervention

Come to the dark side! The role of functional traits in shaping dark diversity patterns of south-eastern European hoverflies

1. Dark diversity represents the set of species that can potentially inhabit a given area under particular ecological conditions, but are currently 'missing' from a site. This concept allows characterisation of the mechanisms determining why species are sometimes absent from an area that seems ecologically suitable for them. 2. The aim of this study was to determine the dark diversity of hoverflies in south-eastern Europe and to discuss the role of different functional traits that might increase the likelihood of species contributing to dark diversity. Based on expert opinion, the Syrph the Net database and known occurrences of species, the study estimated species pools, and observed and dark diversities within each of 11 defined vegetation types for 564 hoverfly species registered in south-eastern Europe. To detect the most important functional traits contributing to species being in dark diversity across different vegetation types, a random forest algorithm and respective statistics for variable importance were used. 3. The highest dark diversity was found for southwest Balkan sub-Mediterranean mixed oak forest type, whereas the lowest was in Mediterranean mixed forest type. Three larval feeding modes (saproxylic, and phytophagous on bulbs or roots) were found to be most important for determining the probability of a species contributing to hoverfly dark diversity, based on univariate correlations and random forest analysis. 4. This study shows that studying dark diversity might provide important insights into what drives community assembly in south-eastern European hoverflies, especially its missing components, and contributes to more precise conservation prioritisation of both hoverfly species and their habitats.Peer reviewe

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter regulates breast cancer progression via HIF-1\u3b1

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the most aggressive breast tumor subtype. However, the molecular determinants responsible for the metastatic TNBC phenotype are only partially understood. We here show that expression of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), the selective channel responsible for mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, correlates with tumor size and lymph node infiltration, suggesting that mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake might be instrumental for tumor growth and metastatic formation. Accordingly, MCU downregulation hampered cell motility and invasiveness and reduced tumor growth, lymph node infiltration, and lung metastasis in TNBC xenografts. In MCU-silenced cells, production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) is blunted and expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is reduced, suggesting a signaling role for mROS and HIF-1α, downstream of mitochondrial Ca(2+) Finally, in breast cancer mRNA samples, a positive correlation of MCU expression with HIF-1α signaling route is present. Our results indicate that MCU plays a central role in TNBC growth and metastasis formation and suggest that mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake is a potential novel therapeutic target for clinical intervention

An increase in food production in Europe could dramatically affect farmland biodiversity

Conversion of semi-natural habitats, such as field margins, fallows, hedgerows, grassland, woodlots and forests, to agricultural land could increase agricultural production and help meet rising global food demand. Yet, the extent to which such habitat loss would impact biodiversity and wild species is unknown. Here we survey species richness for four taxa (vascular plants, earthworms, spiders, wild bees) and agricultural yield across a range of arable, grassland, mixed, horticulture, permanent crop, for organic and non-organic agricultural land on 169 farms across 10 European regions. We find that semi-natural habitats currently constitute 23% of land area with 49% of species unique to these habitats. We estimate that conversion of semi-natural land that achieves a 10% increase in agricultural production will have the greatest impact on biodiversity in arable systems and the least impact in grassland systems, with organic practices having better species retention than non-organic practices. Our findings will help inform sustainable agricultural development

Gains to species diversity in organically farmed fields are not propagated at the farm level

Organic farming is promoted to reduce environmental impacts of agriculture, but surprisingly little is known about its effects at the farm level, the primary unit of decision making. Here we report the effects of organic farming on species diversity at the field, farm and regional levels by sampling plants, earthworms, spiders and bees in 1470 fields of 205 randomly selected organic and nonorganic farms in twelve European and African regions. Species richness is, on average, 10.5% higher in organic than nonorganic production fields, with highest gains in intensive arable fields (around +45%). Gains to species richness are partly caused by higher organism abundance and are common in plants and bees but intermittent in earthworms and spiders. Average gains are marginal +4.6% at the farm and +3.1% at the regional level, even in intensive arable regions. Additional, targeted measures are therefore needed to fulfil the commitment of organic farming to benefit farmland biodiversity