National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.publishedVersio

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid induces limited changes in the transcriptome of primary CD4(+) T cells

OBJECTIVE: To assess the off-target effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in human primary CD4 T cells.DESIGN: A pharmacologically relevant concentration (340 nmol/l) of SAHA was shown to significantly increase histone hyperacetylation by 24 h and this length of treatment was selected to determine its impact on gene expression in primary CD4 T cells.METHODS: Illumina Beadchips for microarray gene expression analysis were used to analyze differential gene expression between cells treated or not with SAHA with a paired analysis using multivariate permutation tests. Gene ontology, biological pathway and protein interaction network analyses were used to identify the higher order biological processes affected by SAHA treatment.RESULTS: Modest modulation by SAHA was observed for 1847 genes with 80% confidence level of no more than 10% false positives. A thousand genes were upregulated by SAHA and 847 downregulated. Pathways and gene ontologies overrepresented in the list of differentially expressed genes included Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, tRNA Modification, and the Histone Acetyltransferase Complex. Protein interaction network analysis revealed that transcription factor c-Myc, which was downregulated by SAHA treatment at the mRNA level, interacts with a number of SAHA-responsive genes.CONCLUSIONS: The effects on transcription by SAHA were sufficiently modest to support trials to activate HIV replication as part of an eradication strategy. SAHA did not appear to modulate proliferative or apoptotic processes to a great extent, which might impact the ability of patients to eradicate the virus reservoir following activation by HDACi treatment

An in-depth comparison of latent HIV-1 reactivation in multiple cell model systems and resting CD4+ T cells from aviremic patients

The possibility of HIV-1 eradication has been limited by the existence of latently infected cellular reservoirs. Studies to examine control of HIV latency and potential reactivation have been hindered by the small numbers of latently infected cells found in vivo. Major conceptual leaps have been facilitated by the use of latently infected T cell lines and primary cells. However, notable differences exist among cell model systems. Furthermore, screening efforts in specific cell models have identified drug candidates for “anti-latency” therapy, which often fail to reactivate HIV uniformly across different models. Therefore, the activity of a given drug candidate, demonstrated in a particular cellular model, cannot reliably predict its activity in other cell model systems or in infected patient cells, tested ex vivo. This situation represents a critical knowledge gap that adversely affects our ability to identify promising treatment compounds and hinders the advancement of drug testing into relevant animal models and clinical trials. To begin to understand the biological characteristics that are inherent to each HIV-1 latency model, we compared the response properties of five primary T cell models, four J-Lat cell models and those obtained with a viral outgrowth assay using patient-derived infected cells. A panel of thirteen stimuli that are known to reactivate HIV by defined mechanisms of action was selected and tested in parallel in all models. Our results indicate that no single in vitro cell model alone is able to capture accurately the ex vivo response characteristics of latently infected T cells from patients. Most cell models demonstrated that sensitivity to HIV reactivation was skewed toward or against specific drug classes. Protein kinase C agonists and PHA reactivated latent HIV uniformly across models, although drugs in most other classes did not

The Concordiasi Project in Antarctica

International audienceThe Concordiasi project is making innovative observations of the atmosphere above Antarctica. The most important goals of the Concordiasi are as follows: 1. To enhance the accuracy of weather prediction and climate records in Antarctica through the assimilation of in situ and satellite data, with an emphasis on data provided by hyperspectral infrared sounders. The focus is on clouds, precipitation, and the mass budget of the ice sheets. The improvements in dynamical model analyses and forecasts will be used in chemical-transport models that describe the links between the polar vortex dynamics and ozone depletion, and to advance the understanding of the Earth system by examining the interactions between Antarctica and lower latitudes. 2. To improve our understanding of microphysical and dynamical processes controlling the polar ozone, by providing the first quasi-Lagrangian observations of stratospheric ozone and particles, in addition to an improved characterization of the 3D polar vortex dynamics. Techniques for assimilating these Lagrangian observations are being developed. A major Concordiasi component is a field experiment during the austral springs of 2008-10. The field activities in 2010 are based on a constellation of up to 18 long-duration stratospheric super-pressure balloons (SPBs) deployed from the McMurdo station. Six of these balloons will carry GPS receivers and in situ instruments measuring temperature, pressure, ozone, and particles. Twelve of the balloons will release drop-sondes on demand for measuring atmospheric parameters. Lastly, radiosounding measurements are collected at various sites, including the Concordia station