Stadtgesellschaft und Memoria: Die Ausrichtung auf das Jenseits und ihre sozialen Implikationen

Die Beschäftigung mit der Memoria, dem mittelalterlichen Totengedenken, zieht sich leitmotivisch durch die Forschungstätigkeit von Thomas Schilp 19. Oktober 1953 – 28. September 2019). Angeregt durch die Arbeiten von Otto Gerhard Oexle zur mittelalterlichen Erinnerungskultur erschloss er mit seiner ihn auszeichnenden Sorgfalt im historischen Sehen und Denken sowie in der präzisen und gleichzeitig interdisziplinären Analyse der uellen immer weitere Dimensionen dieses alle sozialen Schichten und alle Bereiche des täglichen Lebens umfassenden Phänomens. Dabei war für ihn von zentraler Bedeutung – wie auch in diesem Band – die Art und Weise, wie die Konstituierung unterschiedlichster gesellschaftlicher Gruppen zur Gewährleistung des Totengedenkens erfolgte. Seine Forschungen verdeutlichen auf verschiedenen, sich durchdringenden Ebenen eine von heutigen Denkformen unterschiedene Auffassung gesellschaftlichen Lebens. Dabei rücken die neue Leseart von Bildern, die Interpretation von Tönen und Klängen (wie beispielsweise Schlag und Geläute von Glocken) als akustische Zeichen sowie ephemere Erscheinungen wie etwa die mittelalterlichen Lichtinszenierungen in Kirchen immer stärker in den Blickpunkt seiner Ausführungen. Thomas Schilps früher Tod ermöglichte es ihm nicht mehr, die begonnene umfassende Monographie zum Thema Stadt und Memoria fertig zu stellen. Dieser Band vereint eine Auswahl von Aufsätzen, welche die Dimensionen seiner intensiven Beschäftigung mit Formen mittelalterlichen Denkens und Handelns reflektieren

Adenoviral vector with shield and adapter increases tumor specificity and escapes liver and immune control

Most systemic viral gene therapies have been limited by sequestration and degradation of virions, innate and adaptive immunity, and silencing of therapeutic genes within the target cells. Here we engineer a high-affinity protein coat, shielding the most commonly used vector in clinical gene therapy, human adenovirus type 5. Using electron microscopy and crystallography we demonstrate a massive coverage of the virion surface through the hexon-shielding scFv fragment, trimerized to exploit the hexon symmetry and gain avidity. The shield reduces virion clearance in the liver. When the shielded particles are equipped with adaptor proteins, the virions deliver their payload genes into human cancer cells expressing HER2 or EGFR. The combination of shield and adapter also increases viral gene delivery to xenografted tumors in vivo, reduces liver off-targeting and immune neutralization. Our study highlights the power of protein engineering for viral vectors overcoming the challenges of local and systemic viral gene therapies

Adenoviral vector with shield and adapter increases tumor specificity and escapes liver and immune control

Viral gene therapy can be limited by the efficacy of virion sequestration, immune responses and the silencing of genetic payloads. Here the authors engineer an advenovirus protein coat which shields the virion from the immune system while targeting cancer cells

Malaria after international travel: A GeoSentinel analysis, 2003-2016

BACKGROUND: More than 30,000 malaria cases are reported annually among international travellers. Despite improvements in malaria control, malaria continues to threaten travellers due to inaccurate perception of risk and sub-optimal pre-travel preparation. METHODS: Records with a confirmed malaria diagnosis after travel from January 2003 to July 2016 were obtained from GeoSentinel, a global surveillance network of travel and tropical medicine providers that monitors travel-related morbidity. Records were excluded if exposure country was missing or unascertainable or if there was a concomitant acute diagnosis unrelated to malaria. Records were analyzed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of international travellers with malaria. RESULTS: There were 5689 travellers included; 325 were children <18 years. More than half (53%) were visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). Most (83%) were exposed in sub-Saharan Africa. The median trip duration was 32 days (interquartile range 20-75); 53% did not have a pre-travel visit. More than half (62%) were hospitalized; children were hospitalized more frequently than adults (73 and 62%, respectively). Ninety-two per cent had a single Plasmodium species diagnosis, most frequently Plasmodium falciparum (4011; 76%). Travellers with P. falciparum were most frequently VFRs (60%). More than 40% of travellers with a trip duration ≤7 days had Plasmodium vivax. There were 444 (8%) travellers with severe malaria; 31 children had severe malaria. Twelve travellers died. CONCLUSION: Malaria remains a serious threat to international travellers. Efforts must focus on preventive strategies aimed on children and VFRs, and chemoprophylaxis access and preventive measure adherence should be emphasized